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UNC, Santa Clara, Portland back in familiar territory

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By Scott French, Soccer America

If the NCAA Division I women's soccer College Cup seems to have a familiar look, it's because it does. No. 2 North Carolina, No. 4 Santa Clara and No. 7 Portland -- teams ranked 1-3-2 in the Soccer America Preseason Top 25 -- are three-quarters of the Final Four for the fourth time in six years.

They're joined by fellow national power Penn State, which faces a daunting task in Friday's opening semifinal at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus, taking on a Portland team that coach Clive Charles acknowledges is his best in 14 years as Pilots coach.

The second semifinal is a showdown between the nation's two finest programs and a rematch of last year's final, won by Santa Clara on a strike from U.S. national team standout Aly Wagner. The Broncos have won both meetings with North Carolina since reaching the NCAA scholarship maximum in 1998.

The Tar Heels, who have steamrolled foes since the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, outscoring their past seven foes, 28-3, have won 17 national titles and been in every NCAA Final Four. Only once have they missed the title game, in 1995, and they've never failed to win the championship in successive seasons.

"I was asked the question after we won the championship last year against North Carolina: Does that make us the top program in women's soccer?" Santa Clara coach Jerry Smith said after the Broncos' quarterfinal triumph over Michigan. "I was very quick to answer and say no. We cannot claim that. North Carolina is still the program to beat.

"They're not the No. 1 seed, but everybody knows they're the team to beat. And it's going to take, I think, two or three years of them not winning the championship before they're no longer the team to beat."

Smith's Broncos, which can match Carolina's talent if not its depth, are in their ninth College Cup and their sixth in seven years. Fellow West Coast Conference power Portland, making its third successive Final Four appearance (and its fourth in five years and seventh in nine seasons), looks like the team to beat this weekend.

The Pilots are superb all over the field, and striker Christine Sinclair's presence is has been more than most foes can overcome. Portland is 16-1-1 when the Canadian national-teamer is on the field. She's scored 23 of the Pilots' 44 goals.

"I have a tendency to score a couple goals," says Sinclair, who says she's recovered completely from a sprained ankle that slowed her down in the quarterfinals. "It's something I've always done. I'm a forward; that's my job: Put the ball in the back of the net."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Portland swept through [the Final Four]," North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance said. He's speaking from experience. Carolina played Portland to a 0-0 draw in Oregon at the end of September, but the Pilots thoroughly dominated that match.

Stanford, the top-ranked team most of the season, agrees. After falling to Portland on penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie in the quarterfinals, the Cardinal's coaches and players formed a chorus when asked whom they favored at the Final Four.

"Hands down, they're the best team we've played all year," Stanford co-coach Stephanie Erickson, whose squad routed Santa Clara and outplayed North Carolina in a 1-0 loss this season, proclaimed as Cardinal heads bobbed up and down.

"Without a doubt," interjected midfielder Callie Withers, Stanford's on-field leader.

"I think they're very classy," Erickson continued. "They're great defensively, they've got an incredible attack and they pressured the ball well. They kept the ball well. They're a great possession team -- they're a great soccer team."

Penn State knows it's an underdog in Austin, just as it was in San Jose back in 1999.

"When we were [at the Final Four] in '99, we were definitely looked at as a dark horse," acknowledges senior striker Christie Welsh, who has been slowed with plantar fasciatis in her right foot this season. "We're the ugly duckling -- that's what we call ourselves. ... We know our role: We expect it and like it. We like being the underdog."

Friday's winners will meet in the title game on Sunday.

Friday's Semifinals

Portland (17-4-3) vs. Penn State (19-3-1): 4 p.m. CST. TV: ESPN2, live

Portland synopsis: Clive Charles says this is the most technically gifted side the Pilots have ever fielded, and when Canadian national-teamer Christine Sinclair is on the field, they're nearly unbeatable. She's scored 23 of Portland's 44 goals, but this is no one-woman show. Lauren Orlandos anchors a solid back line, and the midfield -- seniors Betsy Barr and Erin Misaki and fab freshman Lindsey Huie -- might be the nation's best. Key players: G Lauren Arase, Sr. (0.36 GAA, 11 shutouts); M Betsy Barr, Sr. (1 goal-1 assist); D Imani Dorsey, Jr. (0-0); M Lindsey Huie, Fr. (5-7); M Erin Misaki, Sr. (6-7); D Kristen Moore, Soph. (0-3); D Lauren Orlandos, Sr. (1-1); F Emily Patterson, Sr. (1-8); D Kristen Rogers, Soph. (1-4); F Wanda Rozwadowska, Jr. (4-5); F Christine Sinclair, Soph. (23-3). Head coach: Clive Charles (14th season, 223-52-14). Road to College Cup: Defeated Idaho State (3-0), Utah (3-0) and Richmond (4-0), tied Stanford (0-0, advanced on penalties, 4-2). Previous final-four appearances: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001. School enrollment: 2,800.

Penn State synopsis: The Nittany Lions' front six are as good as it gets. A foot injury has slowed Christie Welsh, but only so far: She's got 13 goals and 13 assists. Heidi Drummond (14 goals) is dangerous wide or up top, and there are few midfielders in Joanna Lohman's class. The Nittany Lions' weakness, against this kind of competition, is in the back. Key players: G Amanda Brown, Fr. (1.09 GAA, 9 shutouts); F-M Heidi Drummond, Jr. (14 goals-6 assists); D Leigh Hamilton, Jr. (1-1); D Natalie Jacobs, Fr. (0-0); D Amanda Lentz, Soph. (3-1); M Joanna Lohman, Jr. (10-11); M Carmelina Moscato, Fr. (0-1); M Stephanie Pezzullo, Soph. (0-0); D Gillian Samuel, Sr. (0-0); M Stephanie Smith, Jr. (4-2); F Tiffany Weimer, Fr. (12-6); F Christie Welsh, Sr. (13-13). Head coach: Paula Wilkins (2nd season, 40-7-2). Road to the College Cup: Defeated Princeton (2-0), Maryland (2-1), Virginia (3-0) and Connecticut (2-1). Previous final-four appearances: 1999. School enrollment: 40,050.

Prediction: Portland 2 Penn State 0.

Santa Clara (19-4-1) vs. North Carolina (21-1-4): 6:30 p.m. CST. TV: ESPN2, Saturday, 6 p.m. EST

Santa Clara synopsis: It took awhile for the Broncos to hit stride this year, which is how Coach Jerry Smith said it would be. It took awhile to cement the back line, which had been depleted by graduation, and the absences of U.S. U-19s Jessica Ballweg, Megan Kakadelas and Leslie Osborne at season's start and U.S. national-teamer Aly Wagner at various points along the way didn't make things easy. Everything's humming along wonderfully now. The attack revolves around Wagner, and a healthier Veronica Zepeda and Ballweg's move to central defense have been critical. Key players: D Holly Azevedo, Soph. (0 goals-0 assists); D Jessica Ballweg, Soph. (1-0); D Jaclyn Campi, Soph. (0-0); D Lana Bowen, Soph. (1-3); F Kristi Candau, Jr. (13-2); D-M Micaela Esquivel, Fr. (6-3); M Devvyn Hawkins, Sr. (5-4); F Tracy Hess, Jr. (4-0); F Bree Horvath, Soph. (3-3); F Megan Kakadelas, Soph. (7-14); F-M Leslie Osborne, Soph. (11-10); D Chardonnay Poole, Jr. (1-0); G Alyssa Sobolik, Soph. (0.79 GAA, 4 shutouts); M Aly Wagner, Sr. (9-9); F-M Veronica Zepeda, Jr. (5-2). Head coach: Jerry Smith (16th season, 261-64-15). Road to the College Cup: Defeated Creighton (5-1), Arizona State (5-1), Nebraska (3-2) and Michigan (3-1). Previous final-four appearances: 1989, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001. Championships: 2001. School enrollment: 7,000.

North Carolina synopsis: Carolina is Carolina: Nobody has the kind of depth the Tar Heels possess, and freshman Lori Chalupny's return from an ankle ailment (and Jenni Branam's recovery from a knee injury) has solidified their lineup. Cat Reddick, who has spent time in midfield and up front in recent weeks, returns to the back line. The front three -- senior Susan Bush, junior Alyssa Ramsey and freshman Lindsay Tarpley -- have combined for 37 goals and 42 assists. Key players: F-D Elizabeth Ball, Jr. (2 goals-8 assists); M Leigh Blomgren, Soph. (1-3); G Jenni Branam, Sr. (0.33 GAA, 4 shutouts); F-M Susan Bush, Sr. (5-15); M Lori Chalupny, Fr. (3-7); M Anne Felts, Soph. (3-4); M Kendall Fletcher, Fr. (1-1); D Leslie Gaston, Sr. (1-0); M Mary McDowell, Soph. (5-8); F Anne Morrell, Soph. (9-5); F Alyssa Ramsey, Jr. (17-12); M-D Sara Randolph, Soph. (2-4); D-M-F Catherine Reddick, Jr. (6-4); F Lindsay Tarpley, Fr. (15-15); M Maggie Tomecka, Jr. (3-1); D Carmen Watley, Jr. (0-1); M Kacey White, Fr. (3-3); G Aly Winget, Fr. (0.93 GAA, 3 shutouts). Head coach: Anson Dorrance (24th season, 532-24-15). Road to the College Cup: Defeated Radford (6-1) Previous final-four appearances: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001. Championships: 1981 (AIAW), 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996. 1997, 1999, 2000. School enrollment: 24,180.

Prediction: Santa Clara 3 North Carolina 2.

Scott French is senior editor at Soccer America magazine.

 

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