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Pilots sports in context - Portland ranked 4th and still in the mix
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The Portland Pilots women’s soccer program has finished the non-conference portion of their 2009 season with a single loss on their record, but remain in the top five in the country. Here’s a quick look at the rest of the national top five, according to the latest NSCAA poll.
#1 Stanford – The last time we checked in with Stanford, they were sitting at 2-0 after wins over Hawaii and Cal Poly, and there was some question as to what would happen when they faced some real competition. Those questions were answered over the course of the following month as Stanford rattled off wins against Virginia Tech, Purdue, and Notre Dame, all teams that are currently ranked in the top 25.
As the Pilots who were ushered out of last year’s national tournament by Stanford are no doubt aware,the Cardinal are for real. Keep your eye on Stanford for the next couple of weeks, as they will face tough Oregon, USC, and UCLA teams. If they navigate those treacherous waters successfully, the Cardinal could very well finish the regular season undefeated and in the top spot.
#2 North Carolina – The Lady Tar Heels are so dominant in women’s college soccer that any loss they suffer is nearly as monumental as other school’s national championships. But this is especially true within ACC play, where in the past 31 years of Coach Dorrance’s tenure, the Tar Heels had lost only seven times.
But on October 4th, Virginia Tech added loss number eight to that tally, beating the titan Tar Heels 1-0. The loss marked the second time UNC failed to come out the victor this 2009 season, having played to a scoreless tie at home versus Auburn on September 20.
The Tar Heels have one more major test in their 2009 regular season schedule on October 22, when they will face fellow top five opponent Florida State.
#3 UCLA – After an embarrassing 7-2 loss to then top-ranked North Carolina to open their season, followed by a 1-1 tie against San Diego, UCLA has won nine straight and are back in the top five in the nation. True, the list of teams they’ve defeated include only one currently-ranked opponent, but the Bruins appear to be firing on all cylinders again.
The Bruins may have one more chance at a number one ranked team on October 23rd when they visit Stanford, and will be looking to make a stronger showing than their last attempt.
#4 Portland – The Lady Pilots can’t have liked dropping their only match of the year in the very stadium that they hope to return to in early December. On September 18, Portland found themselves on the losing end of a 3-1 match against Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
Portland is aiming to return to College Station on December 4, as one of the final four teams in the country on their search for their third national title.
The Pilots begin conference play tonight against Gonzaga, and may need to run the table in the WCC to ensure a top seed in the national tournament.
#5 Florida State - There was a little fun poked at Florida State last time we took a look at the top five in women’s soccer. At that point, FSU had scored a bunch of goals against some really inferior opponents. Since then, Florida State has beaten some teams from schools that we've at least heard of, but have earned a lukewarm 3-2 record against ranked opponents. Their latest match was a loss to Wake Forest on Thursday, October 8, and may likely serve as the boot that kicks the 'Noles out of the top five by the next poll.
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