W-D-L: 5-2-6 11-0-3
October 17, 2013
7:00 pm @ Rice University
The U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association uses the same ranking system for all of its sports, including women's soccer. It breaks down to an equation they call the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) based on three factors - 25% on winning percentage against Division I schools, 50% on opponent strength of schedule, and 25% on strength of opponents' opponent schedule. This ranking does not become critical until the end of the season, when a committee looks at it to select the numerous national tournament spots not filled by the various conference champions. The NCAA administration itself admits that this ranking system is not perfect, which is why the national tournament selection committee does not rely solely on the RPI, but also hears input from advisory boards of representatives from each conference.
This year, this blog began to include national ranks in its Game of the Week listing. As the season progresses, it becomes more and more clear that the RPI does not necessarily apply as a good predictor of match outcome. Based solely on current RPI, one would think that a team ranked 24th in the country would easily dispose of an opponent 110 places below them. The RPI could not have predicted that the two co-defending Conference USA league champions, separated by 110 rank places, would go into overtime, and only because #134 scored an own goal for #24, without which this game would have ended after 90 minutes. It is sagacious of the selection committee to consider many other factors in their decisions, and it may be best that coaches pay no heed to it either, for the RPI not only cannot be counted on, but may even be highly misleading. (If we compare these two positions in the FIFA world rankings, would we be so presumptuous as to expect that #24 Mexico should easily defeat #134 Congo?)
The writer of this blog on the other hand anticipated a very heated match between two programs that were dead even last year, their last two meetings won by CC each with a single goal. In contrast, this year's face off was a high-scoring affair, with four lead changes and a golden goal by junior striker Jessie Ayers, her second of the night and eighth on the season, surpassing her team-leading total from her sophomore year when she shared All-Conference First Team honors with Quinny Truong who put the Owls ahead first in the seventh minute of the game.
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| Jessie Ayers (7) surveys her options as she catches up to the ball, chased by Alexandra Trenary (22). Jessie, who lead the Tigers last year in scoring, nets two, including the game-winning golden goal. |
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| The Colorado College offense gets plenty of service from Kaeli Vandersluis (9), despite the pressure from Alexandra Trenary (22). |
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| Kaeli (9) provides the assist for Jessie Ayers's (7) first goal of the game. |
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| Kaeli (9) launches a cross from the right flank under pressure from Alexandra (22)... |
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| ...but the Owls defensive line stands ready for this one - including Jenny Fichera (24), Jasmine Isokpunwu (8), Ashton Geisendorff (16), and Hayley Williams (15). |
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| Jasmine Isokpunwu's (8) presence in the midfield is both an offensive and defensive boon for Rice. Jasmine is often effective even when she finds herself in traffic, surrounded by Jessie Ayers (7), Alexis Long (6) and Sarah Schweiss (black 8). Jasmine logs her second goal of the season to give the Owls back the lead. |
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| Lauren Hughes (7) escapes Sarah Schweiss's (8) slide. Lauren scores on an unassisted drive 26 seconds into the second half to tie it back up. |
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| Katie Uyenishi (27) has a busy night marking Lauren Hughes (7) and Jessica Howard (10). Katie's goal sends the game into overtime. |
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| Jessica Howard (10) outraces Katie Uyenishi (27) to the ball, as Kecia Morway (3) arrives with help. |
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| Jessica Howard (10) finds herself with space before Kecia Morway (3) can close in to serve up a cross for a charging Lauren Hughes (7), double-teamed by Sarah Haizlip (20) and Katie Uyenishi (27). |
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| Senior Kecia Morway (3) is the anchor of the CC backline. A full-on starter at Notre Dame before she transferred in her junior year, Kecia is the toughest defender on the field and one reason why the Tigers finished the 2012 campaign with a conference-leading 0.73 goal against average per match. |
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| Freshwoman Chanisse Hendrix (53) provides the Tigers with an offensive spark off the bench. The only one of the four freshwomen on the squad to see playing time tonight, quick, strong and smart Chanisse is the face of the future for Colorado College. |
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| Rice keeper Amy Czyz (00) pounces on the ball before Sarah Schweiss (8) gets a boot on it. |
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| With seven total goals scored in the match, scenes like this are plentiful in front of the frame... |
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| ...with bodies sometimes hurtling into the net. |
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| Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Scheele intercepts an incoming cross up high. |
(All photos by Kokoy Severino.)
With this junior generation about to turn seniors next season, it will be Quinny and Gabi's last and probably best chance to log a win in the series, while Jessie and Kaeli will look to make it a four-year sweep. This budding rivalry between Rice and Colorado College is going to explode in 2014 - regardless of the RPI.
UPCOMING MATCHES OF THE WEEK:
Thursday Oct 24 University of Central Florida (#12) @ U of H (#232) 7:00 pm (AAC)
Friday Oct 25 Grambling State University (#325) @ TSU (#327) 7:00 pm (SWAC)
Sunday Oct 27 University of South Florida (#174) @ U of H (#232) 1:00 pm (C-USA)
Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round:
University of Tulsa (#93) vs University of Alabama-Birmingham (#114) @ Rice 4:30
Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round:
Rice (#154) vs Marshall University (#131) @ Rice 7:00 pm
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals:
Florida International University (#158) vs UNT (#92) @ Rice 4:30
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals:
University of North Carolina-Charlotte (#112) vs Marshall or Rice @ Rice 7:00 pm
Friday Nov 8 Conference USA Tournament Semi-Finals @ Rice 4:30 and 7:00 pm
Saturday Nov 9 Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Final
@ Houston Amateur Sports Park 5:00 pm
Sunday Nov 10 Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament Final
@ Houston Amateur Sports Park 11:00 am
Sunday Nov 10 Conference USA Tournament Final @ Rice 1:00 pm
Friday-Sunday Nov 15-17 NCAA Division I Tournament 1st Round @ Campus TBA
Sunday Nov 24 NCAA Division I Tournament 3rd Round @ Campus TBA
Friday-Saturday Nov 29-30 NCAA Division I Tournament Quarter-Finals @ Campus TBA
Saturday Dec 7 NCAA Division III Tournament Final @ Blossom Stadium, San Antonio 1:30 pm
(Kokoy's Matches of the Week are those which I plan to attend. Schedule subject to change.)
Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.
"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)
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