The ACC Tournament victory by Maryland was about as comprehensive a win as I have seen from this program in the past two years. Coach Missy Meharg was not being hyperbolic when she said "Every player on Maryland's team played like a champion."
Look, nobody scores five goals on UNC. It just doesn't happen. There were only two previous games this season where the Tar Heels allowed more than one goal: the 3-2 loss to the Terps in College Park and a 3-2 victory over UVA three weeks ago. They pitched 11 shut-outs this year. Same deal in 2009 when they won the NT and had only one game where they allowed more than 1 goal: a 4-1 loss to Maryland in the regular season. The UNC defense is always big, fast, skilled, tough, and smart....and Maryland really burned them yesterday.
The key development from the ACC title game was this: you pay too much attention to Maryland's All-Universe forward Katie O'Donnell and somebody like Jenna Buckley steps up and rams a hat-trick past you; and then a real phenom like Jill Witmer shows why she was named ACC Freshman of the Year. I thought her steal and assist on OD's goal was the play of the game.
On to the NCAA Tournament and there is no question that Maryland is hitting its stride at the right time. They will go in as #1 and well deserved at that. None the less, we haven't heard the last of UNC. No doubt they are still the top challenger to Maryland, and as the ACC Tournament showed, as usual, Wake Forest is for real. They have to be encouraged by taking Maryland into double OT in the ACC Semis, which followed up a solid win for them over BC, 2-1. UVA also proved to be tough by taking UNC to overtime before losing 1-0 in the other semi.
As to Maryland Women's Soccer, although the penalty kick loss was disappointing, there is no reason for the Terps to be ashamed. First of all, TV instant replay showed they clearly should have been awarded a penalty kick in the first half; had they converted it that would have been the game winner. Secondly, although they were outshot by the Deacs 12-8, they were way ahead on corner kicks 7-1 and controlled play for long stretches of the game. Overall, it was a great game by two tired teams that could have gone either way.
Furthermore, this reverses a discouraging record Maryland has had in the ACC Tournament. It was the first time since 2003 they had won an ACC Tournament game and the first time since 1997 that they had made the tournament final. That was when Alan Kirkup was the coach. You have to go back to the old glory days of Kari Sarver, Emmy Harbo, and Robin McCullough, when the Terps were playing this well.
This has been a break through season in so many ways. Yes, they broke through last year to the Sweet 16, but there was a feeling at that time that they had gone about as far as they can go. This team clearly has what it takes to go further. The NCAA selection tonight will reveal much. I should certainly think Maryland has done more than enough to host at least the first two rounds and probably a third.
This post was edited on 11/8 10:21 AM by Fekula
Look, nobody scores five goals on UNC. It just doesn't happen. There were only two previous games this season where the Tar Heels allowed more than one goal: the 3-2 loss to the Terps in College Park and a 3-2 victory over UVA three weeks ago. They pitched 11 shut-outs this year. Same deal in 2009 when they won the NT and had only one game where they allowed more than 1 goal: a 4-1 loss to Maryland in the regular season. The UNC defense is always big, fast, skilled, tough, and smart....and Maryland really burned them yesterday.
The key development from the ACC title game was this: you pay too much attention to Maryland's All-Universe forward Katie O'Donnell and somebody like Jenna Buckley steps up and rams a hat-trick past you; and then a real phenom like Jill Witmer shows why she was named ACC Freshman of the Year. I thought her steal and assist on OD's goal was the play of the game.
On to the NCAA Tournament and there is no question that Maryland is hitting its stride at the right time. They will go in as #1 and well deserved at that. None the less, we haven't heard the last of UNC. No doubt they are still the top challenger to Maryland, and as the ACC Tournament showed, as usual, Wake Forest is for real. They have to be encouraged by taking Maryland into double OT in the ACC Semis, which followed up a solid win for them over BC, 2-1. UVA also proved to be tough by taking UNC to overtime before losing 1-0 in the other semi.
As to Maryland Women's Soccer, although the penalty kick loss was disappointing, there is no reason for the Terps to be ashamed. First of all, TV instant replay showed they clearly should have been awarded a penalty kick in the first half; had they converted it that would have been the game winner. Secondly, although they were outshot by the Deacs 12-8, they were way ahead on corner kicks 7-1 and controlled play for long stretches of the game. Overall, it was a great game by two tired teams that could have gone either way.
Furthermore, this reverses a discouraging record Maryland has had in the ACC Tournament. It was the first time since 2003 they had won an ACC Tournament game and the first time since 1997 that they had made the tournament final. That was when Alan Kirkup was the coach. You have to go back to the old glory days of Kari Sarver, Emmy Harbo, and Robin McCullough, when the Terps were playing this well.
This has been a break through season in so many ways. Yes, they broke through last year to the Sweet 16, but there was a feeling at that time that they had gone about as far as they can go. This team clearly has what it takes to go further. The NCAA selection tonight will reveal much. I should certainly think Maryland has done more than enough to host at least the first two rounds and probably a third.
This post was edited on 11/8 10:21 AM by Fekula
