Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Soccer Press Conference - Video and Quotes
11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 29, 2011
Head Coach Tony da Luz
On getting to the College Cup in his 15th season at the helm...
"It's something that I saw the potential for when I got here back in '97. Wake Forest is a great school and a great community. We have a great facility. I really felt that making the move from California to here was the right one."
On whether or not he though this team could make the College Cup at the beginning of the season...
"I did, for sure. We have a lot of the elements that you need. You need chemistry, for one, and athleticism. It's a very technical team, and we have some special players, from Aubrey (Bledsoe) all the way through our back line. Our back line has been rock solid. The team defending has been our foundation, and our front line has added some great goals throughout the year. And we have a few freshmen who have made huge impacts on this team."
On the goals the he's been able to achieve in his 15 years at Wake Forest...
"My main goal is consistency and helping my players improve. From freshman to senior, I want them to get better and love the game, and when they leave here to still love the game. Whatever they do after that is icing on the cake. We've steadily climbed. We've been in the NCAA Tournament every year. Over the last three years, I feel like we've just hit another level and been building steadily over the three years to this point. I felt like this could happen for us. It's not that big of a surprise for me, really."
On his immediate thoughts after realizing they were headed for the College Cup...
"You start thinking about the final four right away, as a coach.You enjoy it for about 20 seconds and maybe have some time with your family, but the wheels are always turning about the next game and taking advantage of this opportunity. I'm sure it will hit me once this is over. We can look back on it, but right now I'm just completely immersed in trying to win this national championship."
On facing ACC-rival Duke for the third time this season...
"Both teams know each other very well, and both staffs know each other very well. The teams are very compatible and very athletic. We're going to have to settle the game down. Duke plays a high-pressure game. They mark you very tightly, so we're going to have to try to hold the ball, try to slow the game down, play at a pace that we want to play at and finish our chances. It's going to be a one-goal game. There is no doubt in my mind it's a one-goal game. I feel good about the way are kids are playing right now and their mentality going into this game. We're not done, and we're not satisfied. We're still hungry, so we'll put everything into it and see if we can come out with a win."
Junior Defender Alisha Woodson
On getting to this point in the season...
"It took a lot to get to this point, just like it did for the other three teams. I think that our team has a connection and a chemistry that no other team has, though. I think we have something special that's going to push us. At this point it's all about grit and heart and getting that last touch in and getting that last tackle in. I think that this is a goal that we've been working toward. We've been saying since preseason that we want to go to Kennesaw, and we're finally going. It's phenomenal for the program and for us."
On how facing adversity in the month of October will help the team this weekend...
"The good thing is now everyone is healthy. This is probably the first time that we can say 99 percent of our team is healthy. That adversity just showed us that we can get through any game, and we can play any opponent - even without two of our starters - and still get a result out of it. That was great for us."
On the feeling of being just one of four teams remaining in the tournament...
"It's great. It's kind of shocking when you wake up in the morning for practice. You want to grumble and moan about it, but then you're like, 'Wait, there are 300 teams that aren't playing right now, and we're still in it.' It's not scary yet because we're not on the bus or on the field. I think it's going to be a little nerve wracking and definitely exciting, but I think we're ready."
Sophomore Forward Rachel Nuzzolese
On making it to the College Cup...
"It's an amazing feeling.This is the best Wake Forest has ever done in getting this far. We're all excited, and I'm just really happy and really excited. We have a group of girls that works really hard and we play well together. We just want this really bad."
On her initial reaction after defeating UCF 3-0 to reach the College Cup...
"We had already played UCF earlier in the year and won 1-0, but I think we developed as a team and got much better throughout the season. To win, it was just great for us. I just remember Tony (da Luz) throwing that yellow hat he wears up in the air, and it was a great experience. We were all happy, and it was just a great team effort."
On the strength of the team on the field...
"Definitely defending. We all defend well, and we all keep pressing forward also. We also attack, and we've been doing well getting crosses in and getting runs in the box."
