Monday, November 22, 2010

Final Post!

To all, this was a great experience again. We hope you were able to follow along and enjoy reading the blog about the tournament.

Congrats again to Colorado and UCSB for their national championship wins. Thanks to all volunteers, officials, Reach 11 and teams for making the tournament great!

I hope see everyone again and blog again next year when we return to Phoenix.

Remember to visit http://clubsoccerphotos.com/ for more and great action photos from the tournament.

Here is one last action photo. Here's a hint the one with the computer is doing all of the action!




Goodbye and Good Luck!

UCSB Goal v. Penn State

Video of a UCSB goal vs. Penn State in the semifinals. UCSB defeated Penn State and came back to defeat Texas to win their 4th straight national title.

Texas v. Missouri pics




Pics from the Texas-Missouri game. Missouri won 1-0 to advance to the championship game.

Among the hills



Great view of a hill that is located near the Reach 11 Sports Complex.

Arizona State v. Baylor Pic



This one from Arizona State v. Baylor.

Arizona PK vs. Colorado

Remember when I mentioned that I was 99% sure the 2 goals Colorado gave up in the knockout rounds were both PKs. Well I am 100% sure now. The 2nd one was in the final. The first was this PK given up in the semifinal v. Arizona.

Oh by the way a big Thanks to Vinnie for all of the video!

Texas Corner Kick

Video taken from the Texas-Texas A&M game played on Saturday. Texas advanced to the championship game where they lost to UCSB 5-4 in kicks from the mark after a 1-1 score.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

More to Come...

As I say good night from Phoenix please know that a whole load of "Thank yous" go out to the NIRSA, the NCCS, Arizona State University Campus Recreation, Reach 11 Sports Complex, Phoenix Regional Sports Commission, the volunteers and officials from all over the nation and the teams that make this tournament the best NCCS/NIRSA tournament there is.

Special thanks to Phoenix and the Reach 11 Sports Complex for their assistance in bringing the tournament back to Phoenix this year after a deal to go to Frisco, TX for this year's tournament did not happen. We are happy to come to Phoenix and are pleased to be able to come back in 2011.

I will continue to post photos (and maybe videos?) from the tournament over the next few days to share our experience with you.

So there is more to come...just not tonight.

Blogger signing off from Phoenix!

Good night!

Women's Championship Recap

Speaking of "destiny" it seems to me that UCSB is destined to win every tournament. Of course the blogger has seen 4 national tournaments, ALL 4 TIMES UCSB won the national championship. Maybe it IS me :).

But, more than maybe, it is the talent and commitment that UCSB shows at this tournament that leads them victory. They were unscored upon in the playoffs (even against 09 finalist Penn State) until a gritty Texas team took the lead early in the championship game. Champions find a way to win and take advantage of opportunities when they get them. In the 2nd half, UCSB scored to tie the game. Texas took UCSB to the edge and beyond as the game went to "Kicks from the Mark." But even as though the pressure from those kicks grew for each team, it was UCSB that came out on top again in 6 rounds.

I said at the beginning of this tournament (and last) that it all begins and ends with UCSB. However, it appears that it really doesn't end with UCSB...it just continues.

The major award winners were:
GK - Carolyn Upton - UC - Santa Barbara
MVP - Tannia Hernandez - UC - Santa Barbara

Congratulations (AGAIN!) to the 4-time national champions UCSB!

Men's Championship Recap

Colorado "Gold" seemed destined to win this title. At no point in the tournament did they win by less than 2 goals. As a matter of fact only Penn scored 2 goals on them. Tough to lose when you only give up 1 goal a game (or less than a goal per game as they allowed only 4 goals in 6 games). Even the championship game was not a letdown for them as they faced a scrappy and hungry Missouri team who entered the tournament as an at large. Not 100% sure on this, but maybe 99%, both goals scored against Colorado in the playoffs were by way of the penalty kick. Great offense and great defense are keys in winning championships. It was of no surprise that Colorado took the major awards.

GK - Karl Toot - University of Colorado "Gold"
MVP - Connor Hutchinson - University of Colorado "Gold"

Congratulations to the University of Colorado for winning the Men's National Championship.

Women's Open Recap

Sort of like the men's open tournament, it began with James Madison seeking a repeat as well. However it was not to be as Missouri ended JMU's repeat quest with a 1-0 victory. Oregon lost to JMU in the final in 2009 and were favored to return in 2010, but lost out to Colorado "Black" in the semifinals. The final saw Colorado take on Illinois. In the end, it was Illinois who took the Women's Open crown with a 1-0 victory.

The major award winners were:

GK - Carolyn Monroe - University of Illinois
MVP - Meagan Reitz - University of Illinois

Congratulations to Illinois on their Women's Open Championship!

Men's Open Recap

It began with James Madison trying to accomplish the repeat. It did not quite end up that way. It was hard fight for James Madison as they finished 2nd in their pool to Cal Poly SLO B. JMU lost in pool play to Cal Poly SLO 3-2. They fought their way back to face Cal Poly SLO in the Open final but in the end (and past the end) Cal Poly SLO B was able to end JMU's repeat with a 2-1 victory in OT.

The major award winners in the Men's Open were:

GK - Brian Murphy - James Madison University
MVP - Brian Romag - Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo "B"

Congratulations to our new Men's Open Champion Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo "B"

Late Night Blogging

You know those late night shows when the Olympics are on when they sit and talk about that day's action?

Think of the final entries to the blog as one of those late night recap shows.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

COLORADO WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Colorado wins national championship!

Colorado 3
Missouri 1

Next updates to come out later tonight.

See you then.

PK Awarded and Scored by Missouri

PK scored by Shane Rasch cut lead to 3-1...in 79th minute.

Colorado Scores Again!

A 2nd goal by Connor Hutchinson has given Colorado a commanding 3-0 lead in the 75th minute.

Halftime

Colorado scores literally seconds before halftime to take a 2-0 lead over Missouri.

Colorado takes 2-0 lead!

In the 40th minute goal by Anthony Smoller gives Colorado 2-0 lead!

Colorado Takes Lead!

In 18th minute goal by Connor Hutchinson gives Colorado 1-0 lead.

Men's National Championship now underway

Missouri v. Colorado

Men's National Championship Up Next

Missouri v. Colorado

UCSB WINS 4TH STRAIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Goal by Natalie Lemonnier wins it for UCSB!

Texas Blocked!

Still 4-4

UCSB can win it with the next one.

UCSB Scores

After Round 5:

4-4

Texas Scores

4-3

UCSB needs this to tie.

UCSB Scores

After Round 4

3-3

Texas Scores

3-2

UCSB Kicks Wide!

After round 3:

UCSB 2
Texas 2

Texas Scores

2-2

UCSB scores

After round 2

UCSB 2
Texas 1

Texas Scores

1-1 UCSB coming up

UCSB Scores

1-0 UCSB

Texas Blocked on First Kick

Kicks from The Mark

Texas Kicks First.

National Championiship Tied A.E.T.

At Extra Time

Texas 1
UCSB 1

National Championship to be decided by Kicks from the Mark!

OT Begins

Texas 1
UCSB 1

Going to Overtime

Texas 1
UCSB 1

UCSB Ties It!

GOAL by Kelsey Mulcahy gives UCSB the equalizer!

UCSB 1
Texas 1

55th minute

2nd Half Underway

Texas 1
UCSB 0

Halftime

Texas leads 1-0 over UCSB

Open Championship Scores

Men's:

Cal Poly SLO "B" 2
James Madison 1

Overtime

Women's:

Illinois 1
Colorado "Black" 0

More info to follow tonight after men's national championship.

Texas Leads 1-0!

Goal by Emily Gross in 10th minute gives Texas a 1-0 lead!

Consolation Championship Scores

Men's:

Minnesota 1
UCLA 0

Women's:

Arizona State 1
Michigan 0

Women's National Championship Game Underway

Texas v. UCSB

Other scores to come.

Other Duties As Assigned Part II

Blogger is also announcer for championship games so I must depart to prepare for those duties.

Final Scores will be provided at the end of the Open Championship games.

In Game Blog will be provided for the Women's and Men's National Championship Games.

See you at 3p MST.

Men's National Championship Set

Colorado v. Missouri

Colorado was a top seed and automatic qualifier from Region 5. Missouri was an at-large selection from Region 4.

Will Missouri claim the championship as an at-large? Can Colorado continue to roll?

Will Colorado need a 5th down to beat Missouri in the last minute?

Tune in at 5p for the men's national championship game blog.

Women's National Championship Set

UCSB v. Texas

3 time defending national champions UCSB are looking for their 4th straight title. Can Texas pull off what no team has done in the last 3 previous tournaments?

Tune in at 3p for the In game blog of the Women's National Championship.

Women's Semifnal Final Scores

UCSB 3 Penn State 0
Texas 1 Texas A&M 0

Semifinals Final Scores

Men's Semifinals

Missouri 1 Texas 0
Colorado "Gold" 4 Arizona 1

Halftime Scores at Halftime

Men's Championship Semifinals

Colorado 2 Arizona 1
Texas 0 Missouri 0

Women's Championship Semifinals

Texas 0 Texas A&M 0
UCSB 0 Penn State 0

Final Scores as they go final.