Wake Forest Athletics
Women's College Cup Media Day Quotes
12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 1, 2011
After arriving in Kennesaw, Ga. late Wednesday night, the Demon Deacons spent Thursday talking to national and local media in a press conference and sitting down with ESPN's Beth Mowins, Julie Foudy and Monica Gonzalez to talk about tomorrow's match. Afterwards, the team trained on the practice field and then walked around the beautiful KSU Soccer Stadium.
One highlight of the day for the ladies was getting their picture taken with Julie Foudy, the former national team player who is ESPN's analyst for the game.
Below are some quotes from media day:
Head Coach Tony da Luz
Opening statement...
"We are ecstatic to be here and represent the ACC and all of the Demon Deacon fans out there. It has been a fantastic season obviously, and we hope to cap it off here with a great achievement."
On playing Duke for the third time this season...
"It makes our preparation a little bit easier because we've already cut the video. It's been done twice now. All of our players know their players, and they know us. There's an advantage and disadvantage there. I think it maybe takes a little bit of the edge off in that we've already faced each other in a big stage like this. It may take away a little bit of the nervousness - knowing your opponent pretty well. It's the third game and we have to break the tie."
On the strength of the ACC...
"I think we've really proved ourselves this year. I think there was probably a lot of doubters out there, but the numbers don't lie. I think over the year, the ACC is probably at 80 percent winning percentage against non-conference (teams). For us and for the players, I think it's a big part of why they come to Wake and why they come to the ACC. They want to have that challenge every single game, and if you want to improve as a player, you want to put yourself in the best environment and I think the ACC provides that. Having three teams in the final four, I don't know how anyone can argue that our conference isn't the best in the country this year. And with the youth of our teams and the way recruiting is going, I can't see us going backwards. We're still progressing, so I wouldn't be surprised if next year we had 10 teams, maybe 11 teams, in the tournament the way that things are going."
On the importance of attacking with your outside backs...
"Our philosophy is exactly that. We want players attacking from everywhere. It's a combination of a lot of things - our ability to hold the ball up front gives us time to get our numbers forward, and Katie (Stengel) helps with that, our midfield has been generating a lot of possession and a lot of variety, and Jackie (Logue) and Alisha (Woodson) are our two fittest players on the team, running miles and miles every game. They want to go forward and they want to attack. I think that the way the women's game is going now, you have to have outside backs who can attack, otherwise it's too easy for opponents to shut you down. It has given us a great dimension, especially in the postseason. Jackie and Alisha have been fantastic.
Junior defender Jackie Logue
On what the difference between the two previous games against Duke...
"I think the difference was (that in the first match) both (Katie and I) barely played. I barely played and I think Katie (Stengel) was out for the whole game. I think we know that since we beat them once, that if we can play our game to the fullest and do everything that we can do, that we can win tomorrow that it will be our game."
On the team's strengths defensively...
"I think our defense kind of started from last season. We had Aubrey (Bledsoe) as a freshman goalkeeper and three players who are now juniors that were back there. We have the experience from all of last year, and Aubrey has had an unbelievable season. I think that we have just been defending as a team, so when the strikers defend and the midfield defends, it makes our job a lot easier. We really focus on blocking crosses and blocking shots and keeping Aubrey's saves (to a minimum)."
Sophomore forward Katie Stengel
On playing an attractive style of soccer...
"I was always impressed by the way that Wake played. We try to move the ball around and not play so direct. As the season has gone on, we've done even better with getting our outside backs forward and midfielders running in behind. For one, it contributes attacking-wise, and it makes a great game to play in and watch."
On the two previous games against Duke...
"I think that both of those games are in the past, they were almost a month ago, so it doesn't really reflect tomorrow or any time we play them in the future. They are good games to reflect on because we did play well in both of those games. In one, we got the result we wanted, and in the other one, we didn't. I think we're going to come tomorrow and do our best and hope that it pays off."
On whether she is constantly focused on attacking...
"Well I guess the first option as a forward is to go forward and try to score. But a big issue in our team is also paying attention to the defensive side and being the first line of defense. Whenever we do lose the ball, we try to get it back and help the team win back possession."
