Dayton Coach Mike Tucker Opening Statement: Once again it was a heck of a game. They gave us almost everything that we thought they would. We didn't quite respond exactly the way we wanted. We did a lot of the things we thought we could take advantage of. We just did not finish well today. The better team won today. They out toughed us. They had one very special player up top that made a difference. Great job by Virginia Tech. They deserve to go on. I am very proud of our young ladies for the effort they gave. I feel badly that tomorrow we have nothing to do, but go to classes. We all want to be out there training and getting ready for a match, but it is not going to happen. It happens every year at some point in time, but it always a tough situation. You're training for the last game going 300 mph and then nothing. Not very happy about that, but that is life and you move on.
What kind of things made this team special?
Coach Tucker: Leadership from our three seniors as well as our junior captain Kelly Blumenschein that was evident from the very first training. They had a resolve that they were not going to go their careers without playing an NCAA tournament and they passed the work early on to the younger players that that was not an option to be doing anything, but playing this weekend. That was the biggest thing. The effort that our girls gave every day in training to try and get better was phenomenal. We had very few issues to deal with other than trying to get better on the soccer field.
Talk about Giner's goal and what happened.
Coach Tucker: We thought we could take advantage of our wide players today. When we got the ball to them, they were pretty isolated and dangerous. There were a couple occasions where we got the back side loose and had some chances to finish. In that sense, we got it done. Alli, when we have the opportunity to move her out of the back and to a wide spot in the midfield, is just so dangerous. She is like a rocket taking off. She got herself in the position to finish. As a coaching staff, maybe we can find a way next year to get her in that position more.
How did playing from behind effect the team?
Coach Tucker: It did. It was a killer way and very uncharacteristic of us to have that miscommunication in the back on that first goal. I thought we kind of sat back and felt sorry for ourselves for a little while. They took the play to us and when we finally figured out and started playing we dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half and created lots of opportunities. We figured if we got the game tied, we are in a great position. Second goal I am not going to say too much about. Just look at the film. Third goal, a great player makes a great play combined with the non-finished by us ends in a score of 3-1. It could have been the other way for that matter, but it wasn't so we take what we got and move on.
How does hosting an NCAA event like this help in recruiting?
Coach Tucker: Baujan Field is an incredible place to watch a game, an incredible place to play a game. Our fans are incredible. Anyone who can see that has to be enjoy being in the limelight. Being able to play a team out of the Big East and an ACC shows kids that want to play at a high level that we can and it makes recruiting easy.
Did you game plan for Gray at all?
Coach Tucker: Yes, but we took a great risk starting with three in the back. Gray is a great player and the whole package. We were aware of her and tried to keep her covered, but it was almost like women against little girls. She is 5'10 and I think our biggest back is 5'2 so she has 8 inches. They were battling all they could. Size makes a difference when ball is in the air. Gray is big, but she is quick. We have out quicked everyone we have played, but today we really had to battle. We have some taller girls coming in next year, but that didn't help us today. I mean it is what it is. Our girls were ankle biters out there doing a heck of a job and I am proud of them.
Virginia Tech Coach Kelly Cagle Opening Statement: First, we would like to thank the University of Dayton for hosting us. Just from an infrastructure stand point. We have been really taken care of. We really appreciate them putting on a good event. Credit goes to their program. We really feel even happier about this win because we are the first loss in their season. We have so much respect for the season they put together and the undefeated season in that case and to be their first and only loss not only tells a lot about our team, but our team should be really proud of themselves. Now we are really excited to be heading into the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The credit goes to the Hokie players. They are a fabulous group. I could not be happier for all of them.
What has gotten you to this point?
Coach Cagle: We have been working for a lot of years towards this and I am sure these girls could attest to that, Marika Gray being a junior, Kristin Carden being a sophomore and Kelly Conheeney being the newest and a freshman. This goes beyond this group. It has been about seven years in the making to put together a program here that we are proud of and we could not be more proud of the team on and off the field. We have a broad base of stuff outside of soccer that really helps us. We have one of the most talented and hard working group of girls and one of the first groups to really buy into putting the team first. That is a recipe for a successful season.
What was the confidence like coming into a game like this?
Coach Cagle: I think we were really confident. We knew we were a little bit of the underdogs and we played that card to ourselves a little bit having gone 0-8 against this group in the A-10 and them having no losses here at home. We wanted to instill a bulldog mentality. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves as they should and the girls should NEVER EVER doubt themselves with the group they have here. We had a good balance of humility and confidence. They have it in check and that is hard to find.
How big was that first goal in terms of boosting confidence?
Marika Gray: It was good. I wanted to put one on the board. Julia pressured the ball and it bounced out somehow. It was a miscommunication between a defender and the keeper and I just happened to run on and be there at the right time to put it in. I honestly thought the keeper would have had it, but it was just miscommunication so you always have to pressure.
Coach Cagle: We did that against Carolina to. Those are not always easy to finish when the ball just pops out like that. Sometimes you see that open goal there and you have a floppy ankle or swing and miss it for that matter so concentration is key. Marika has done a great job at opportunities that are must-go-ins. So credit goes to her.
What about the second goal?
Marika Gray: I got a great pass from Robin. She took a player on, got a great cross off and the keeper made a great save. I was just there to place it in the net.
What did you see from the defensive end?
Kristin Carden: I think we did a great job. I think it was a little bit tougher maybe because we were down shooting and then all the sudden it was on our end and they were getting crosses and shooting. I think it might have been hard to stay as engaged as normal which is why I think we gave up that one goal, but I do not think that we should be dwelling on it. Up 3-0, it was a slip-up and we had ten minutes left and were still up. It was unfortunate because we play for our shutouts and I think we earned it, but we gave up one slip and they capitalized. Just like when they slipped we capitalized.
Getting to this point, how cool is that?
All: It is awesome.
Carden: Everyone is hanging on that cliff. You know, any game it could just be over. We know that and fight for it. We earned it. That is part of our motivation going forward knowing that this could be our last game.
What do you see being a freshman?
Kelly Conheeney: Well going into the games I saw how much talent and will this team had to win. Every game we had so much heart and I expected it because I know these players wanted it and we wanted it for each other. That is why we are here.
Talk about your goal
Kelly: It was another from Robin. A girl actually had it between her legs. The keeper came out to help her and the ball popped out. I just slipped it past her. I was actually pretty close just watching it happen. I was there to finish it because I knew it was going to pop out.
