Topic: WVU upsets #3 Pitt and other soccer notes

[chris88]

WVU beat Pitt yesterday and would assume is poised to enter top 25.  Rankings in soccer may only come out every 2 weeks but WVU likely to be ranked when they come to Hton.

Speaking of which:

Next opponent Coastal Carolina lost at ranked High Point on Sunday

Also
- #2 Indiana needed to tie in 87th minute and goal in OT to get by unranked Notre Dame
- #4 UNC tied VCU on Sunday

Point being, it's not unusual in soccer for teams to be inconsistent early.  At least 12 of top 25 have either lost, tied, or both within the first 5 days of the season.

[herdorbust]

I just don?t think there is much difference between teams in soccer. And is everyone ranked or does it just seem like it?

[svherd]

Better to lose early than late. We'll be fine. The fact we lost on two PK's as a result of handball calls is a killer. As Mark pointed out, that is extremely rare at this level. Guys know how to avoid it. The refs have to make a judgement call. Good ole ACC refs.

[chris88]

I just don?t think there is much difference between teams in soccer. And is everyone ranked or does it just seem like it?

I think there are 120+ D1 teams so everyone is definately not ranked.  I think it depends on the style of play/matchup etc.  Everyone saw how Pitt blew through everyone in NCAAs but then got shut out by Indiana even though they outshot them. Like hockey, you have to be able to win vs a number of different styles/strategies and not having your "A" game can bite you much easier than in other higher scoring sports. Others probably know better than me.

[herdorbust]

It just seems odd to me that no matter who we play it?s usually close. Rio Grand, Charleston or UNC, Indiana or whoever. And it seems like everyone is ranked but I?m sure they aren?t. Akron last year, JMU this year. It just doesn?t seem to be a big difference in caliber of play compared to football etc.  JMO

[chris88]

It just seems odd to me that no matter who we play it?s usually close. Rio Grand, Charleston or UNC, Indiana or whoever. And it seems like everyone is ranked but I?m sure they aren?t. Akron last year, JMU this year. It just doesn?t seem to be a big difference in caliber of play compared to football etc.  JMO

Yes, but we've played an aweful lot of good teams going back to the spring. Starting with UNC Charlotte in spring, we have now played 8 straight ranked teams.  That doesn't include Rio (ranked in NAIA), UNC (ranked #4), and UC (ranked #1 in D2). Of the 8 that counted only one was at home. We lost once to VT under some questionable officiating. Hopefully, we're getting some rest this week.

[Luke80]

I became a big soccer fans when both of my sons were playing on top level club teams when growing up. I watch more soccer now than I do football. The hardest thing to come to terms with is that the best team simply doesn't always win in soccer.  I don't just mean the most talented team doesn't always win.  I mean the best team on the field that day.  A team can completely outplay it's opponent for pretty much the whole game and lose 1-0.  I love the sport, but it can be frustrating.

[marshallmark]

I became a big soccer fans when both of my sons were playing on top level club teams when growing up. I watch more soccer now than I do football. The hardest thing to come to terms with is that the best team simply doesn't always win in soccer.  I don't just mean the most talented team doesn't always win.  I mean the best team on the field that day.  A team can completely outplay it's opponent for pretty much the whole game and lose 1-0.  I love the sport, but it can be frustrating.

Very true.  Love my Herd, but Clemson was dominant in the NCAA quarters last year.  MU won b/c it happened to get a boom strike on a free kick and outlasted the Tigers in PKs.  Happens. 

[herdorbust]

I became a big soccer fans when both of my sons were playing on top level club teams when growing up. I watch more soccer now than I do football. The hardest thing to come to terms with is that the best team simply doesn't always win in soccer.  I don't just mean the most talented team doesn't always win.  I mean the best team on the field that day.  A team can completely outplay it's opponent for pretty much the whole game and lose 1-0.  I love the sport, but it can be frustrating.

I love what Marshall did last year and hope they can repeat. But I just can?t hardly watch it. I guess everyone likes different things. Hockey and soccer are 2 sports I just can?t watch. But I understand those that do.

[ThunderingHerdFan]

Welcome to the SEC of soccer.

It seems like everyone is good because we only play good teams.

[Herdadelphia]

Great soccer teams win at home and draw on the road. Expectations just different.

[coalherd]

MU right now plays as many ranked teams, at least early in the season, as anyone else, I would guess.  With such a gauntlet, I'd expect a stumble or two.  We know CUSA is already a powerhouse league, and only getting tougher, with WVU and Coastal coming in.

Difficult for me to say, I know you all can "relate", but as of now I'm an "EER Soccer Fan", hoping they keep winning and climb in the rankings until Friday the 17th when they venture into the Hoops to catch a dose of "HERD HELL" administered by the "Grassie Gang"!!!

[2xBison]

Very true.  Love my Herd, but Clemson was dominant in the NCAA quarters last year.  MU won b/c it happened to get a boom strike on a free kick and outlasted the Tigers in PKs.  Happens.

and Clemson was allowed a goal when clearly offside or it never even would have gone to OT for MU to "outlast" them....so they should have dominated to a 1-0 loss in regulation.

[HerdEcon]

The game was on ESPN+.  The announcer said at one point that WVU was moving to soccer powerhouse CUSA and that CUSA had become a powerhouse in soccer because of Marshall and others.  Marshall was the only CUSA school the announcer mentioned by name. 

That comment had to run all the way through the blue and yellow fans.     

[elginherd]

The game was on ESPN+.  The announcer said at one point that WVU was moving to soccer powerhouse CUSA and that CUSA had become a powerhouse in soccer because of Marshall and others.  Marshall was the only CUSA school the announcer mentioned by name. 

That comment had to run all the way through the blue and yellow fans.     

Econ, you didn't pass basic grammar in English 101. I'll correct your spelling for you: "piss-yellow" is how it is spelled. You are welcome.

[chris88]

The game was on ESPN+.  The announcer said at one point that WVU was moving to soccer powerhouse CUSA and that CUSA had become a powerhouse in soccer because of Marshall and others.  Marshall was the only CUSA school the announcer mentioned by name. 

That comment had to run all the way through the blue and yellow fans.     

Also remember that WVU coach Stratford was with Grassie at UC.  MU, WVU, and UC all in great hands from Grassie tree/style.  We will play MACs 3 best teams in consecutive games with at least one likely ranked and others either ranked or receiving votes (don't believe BG or Akron have been beaten yet).

[MUther]

The game was on ESPN+.  The announcer said at one point that WVU was moving to soccer powerhouse CUSA and that CUSA had become a powerhouse in soccer because of Marshall and others.  Marshall was the only CUSA school the announcer mentioned by name. 

That comment had to run all the way through the blue and yellow fans.     

I would imagine Charlotte didn't like it much, either, lol

[chris88]

I would imagine Charlotte didn't like it much, either, lol

I don't think UNCCs coach likes Marshall much anyway.  His comments after MU won CUSA title in hton spoke to that somewhat. Basically said we got a gift call and were lucky with a couple of bounces.  They also never congratulated MU after winning natl title...at least publically/social media. WVU beat them 3-0 last year as well. We have to play in Charlotte this year and the tourney is down there as well.  They did, however, lose their best player who finished his eligibility and signed a pro contract.

[MUther]

I don't think UNCCs coach likes Marshall much anyway.  His comments after MU won CUSA title in hton spoke to that somewhat. Basically said we got a gift call and were lucky with a couple of bounces.  They also never congratulated MU after winning natl title...at least publically/social media. WVU beat them 3-0 last year as well. We have to play in Charlotte this year and the tourney is down there as well.  They did, however, lose their best player who finished his eligibility and signed a pro contract.

Yeah they're whiners.  They dropped a game to unranked Maryland 1-0.  They complained that they got a red card and played short-handed but the goal was already scored and their guy tackled a guy that he couldn't keep up with.  Not like it was a bad call.  They thought soccer was their "turf" and now it's killing them that a school they look down on as trash has taken it away from them.  Charlotte can rot on their self-created vine.

[coalherd]

Yeah they're whiners.  They dropped a game to unranked Maryland 1-0.  They complained that they got a red card and played short-handed but the goal was already scored and their guy tackled a guy that he couldn't keep up with.  Not like it was a bad call.  They thought soccer was their "turf" and now it's killing them that a school they look down on as trash has taken it away from them.  Charlotte can rot on their self-created vine.

MUther, you need to check Coach Grassie's comments in the Roanoke paper in the Tech-Herd write-up.  Could easily also come under the category of "whining", especially about the 2 red cards.