Good grief. So disappointing...and I'm sure it's been extremely frustrating for them. The only positive spin I can put on this is that Vignola and Cousins are both good defensive players, and Angel City needs defensive help. I haven't seen much of the team in action--but I know that both LA and San Diego have been struggling defensively.
Lady Vols Soccer ⚽️ SEC TOURNAMENT 11/3-11/10
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Good grief. So disappointing...and I'm sure it's been extremely frustrating for them. The only positive spin I can put on this is that Vignola and Cousins are both good defensive players, and Angel City needs defensive help. I haven't seen much of the team in action--but I know that both LA and San Diego have been struggling defensively.
MAD
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Thanks for finding this podcast and interview with Pensky. It was good. Interesting to hear that the team has been working in the 3-5-2 formation. A lot of schools play with 3 in the back instead of the traditional four--but don't think Pensky has ever done it. By and large, he's been solid 4-3-3 guy at Tennessee, so I was impressed when he and his coaches switched to a 4-4-2 last year, because it worked so well. That was good coaching, as was moving Burdette to the 6 spot (defensive mid), which, as the coach mentioned, was a massively good decision.
I get a feeling we'll see the Vols playing some 3-5-2 in the fall, at least in some of the non-conference games to start the season, and the coaches can get a better sense of whether it works or not. I'm not sure if the coaches will try it against UNC and Duke--the first two games. My guess is that he'll stick with the 4-2-2 against those top teams unless Pensky & Co. really feel confident in the team's ability in the 3-5-2. For starters, you need 3 //good// defenders in the back to play it effectively. A 3-player back line would probably feature Raines on left side, Lawson Renie in the middle, and I don't know who would play on the right side--I'm curious to know who's been playing in that spot in the spring games. I suspect that Katz would be part of the 5-player midfield, as she is good in attack yet quick enough to get back and help defend on the right side. Essentially, her role would be quite similar to the outside back spot she's been playing in the 4-4-2. She's not the best 1v1 defender, which is why I don't think she's be the 3rd defender in the back. The others in the 5-player midfield would be Fusco, Huff, Burdette and probably Dipasupil. I'd be a bit worried about the left side: While Dipasupil and Zaluski each had solid years, and both have a good understanding of the game, and Dipasupil is talented with free kicks, neither of those two is especially athletic, pacey or physical. In games against top teams like UNC, Duke, Arkansas, others, they are apt to be our most vulnerable position points in run of play. I think in the 3-5-2 Huff would play a bit more centrally (along with Fusco) than the she did last year, which might open up more scoring chances for her--and we'd certainly want that.
In any case, I've already got Aug. 18th on my calendar as a game I intend to watch in person, at UNC's new and impressive stadium. It should be a very interesting match against Anson Dorrance's mighty Tar Heels. Arkansas started its season last year in just the same way--playing Duke and North Carolina. The razorbacks lost both games but were very competitive, losing by a goal in each. Like arkansas last year, Pensky has a talented and experienced team, and he has ambitions: With the strong Spring schedule and these two matches against ACC powerhouses to start the '22 season, the coach aims to get the team accustomed playing higher-level competition in the hope that it will pay off in the post-season.
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PROP approves changes to soccer overtime rules
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel during a virtual meeting Wednesday approved changes to overtime rules in men's and women's soccer for both the regular season and the postseason, effective for the 2022 season.
For the regular season, overtime has been eliminated, meaning if a game is tied after the regulation 90 minutes, it will end in a tie. Previously, teams played two 10-minute overtime periods in a sudden-victory (golden goal) format, and if neither team scored, the game ended in a tie.
In conference tournaments and NCAA postseason games, the sudden-victory component has been eliminated, and teams will play two 10-minute overtime periods instead. Also, when a substitution is made by the winning team in the last five minutes of the second overtime, the game clock will stop.
If the game remains tied, a penalty-kick shootout will be held to determine the winner.
Video review
The panel approved expanding video review to include whether a foul occurred inside or outside the penalty area.
Protests
Panel members approved expanding the protest rule to include a review of violent behavior II and fighting red cards.
- The protest, including video of the incident, must be filed within 48 hours of the completion of the game (the same as other protests) and be submitted by the conference office or coordinator of officials.
- The scope would be limited to changing a violent behavior II or fighting red card (two-game suspension) to a violent behavior I red card (one-game suspension).
- A committee consisting of the NCAA men's and women's soccer secretary-rules editor, NCAA national coordinator of soccer officials and one NCAA soccer regional advisor who is not affiliated with the team, conference or region will consider the protest and render a decision.
The NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee rescinded a change to the soccer reentry rules. Committee members voted in February to move forward a change where players would not be allowed to reenter a game after being substituted for in the second half.
However, after hearing feedback from the membership during the comment period on the proposed rules change, the committee agreed it is best to have more dialogue on this subject.
I really don't. I know that Hannah Tillett played in some sort Tennessee summer league last year--I think in Knoxville, but not positive. I could be wrong, but my sense is that only a few players play in a summer league--probably in their home states. Most, I think, opt to take it easy as I think fall training begins around August 1 or so.
Speaking of UNC, I'd almost forgotten that we played North Carolina in what I believe was our last game of the split, Covid season two years ago, when SEC teams played their conference games in the Spring (yes?) and then played 5-7 non-conference games in the fall to complete the season. As I recall, we were .500 in SEC play--not all that good--and then played better in the second part of the season, winning all our non-conference games...until the last two. It appeared that we had edged our way into the NCAA tourney--and then we played a mediocre, at best, Cincinnati team on the road and lost, giving up a late goal, and then UNC came to Knoxville and embarrassed us, winning 7-0. And with those bad losses we fell out of the NCAA tourney. Let's hope we show a lot better this fall in Chapel Hill.
RE the OT rule change, a lot of collegiate soccer people believe the condensed season, in which teams often play two games in a week, is tough on the players and increases the risk of injury. It's for that reason that the committee voted to eliminate the golden-goal OT rule, and it's for the same reason, to give players more rest, that it /didn't/ change the second-half substitution rule.
MAD
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Can't take /too much/ from spring games, for sure--but the Vols played a much more challenging spring schedule than we have in recent years--and beating Clemson and Virginia Tech, two very respectable ACC programs, should give the team added confidence. Playing UNC and Duke to start the season will be two big tests--but they are games that will show how the Vols stack up against two powerhouse programs, where we need to get better, and should benefit us over the course of the season. Getting a result (tie or win) in one of those matches would be a big boost to our RPI.
I read today that New Mexico coach Heather Dyche is likely to be the next head coach of Florida State. She's done well with the Lobos (Mountain West Conference) and has experience coaching U.S. youth national teams. Pretty impressive background and she'd seem to be a solid hire for the Noles. I also read that 7 FSU players are in the transfer portal--including two senior starters (Emily Madril and Clara Robbins, both midfielders/defenders) and 3 incoming freshmen. I thought that incoming freshmen who'd signed their scholarship papers couldn't transfer, but apparently I was wrong. Supposedly, the two starters have "do not contact" stipulations, meaning they would want to contact schools, not the opposite. They would each give a boost to the team she joins, that's for sure. (Would it be nice if one of them joined the Vols? Whew--yes, it would.) And some of these players might yet change their minds and stay where they are. No doubt a lot of FSU players are miffed at the circumstances of Krikorian's departure.
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How to Watch Angel City FC vs. Portland Thorns
Both Vols are still out. Hopefully they will be back when the regular season starts against North Carolina Courage on April 29.
Injuries/absences:
Angel City:
Both Vols are still out. Hopefully they will be back when the regular season starts against North Carolina Courage on April 29.
Injuries/absences:
Angel City:
- Sarah Gorden (knee) — OUT
- Katie Cousins (hip) — OUT
- Paige Nielsen (illness) — OUT
- M.A. Vignola (hip) — OUT
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