Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus #19 Wake Forest on September 25, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs #19 Wake Forest
2011 College Cup Quotes: Duke vs. Stanford
12/3/2011 5:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Duke Press Conference - Dec. 3, 2011
Head Coach Robbie Church - 11th Season
Nicole Lipp-Jr.-MF
Mollie Pathman- So.- F
Maddy Haller- Jr.- D
Head Coach Robbie Church
Opening Statement...
Obviously, we are very excited to be here. Going back and looking at the video from last night, we had a very good evening. I thought we played really, really well. I am very proud of our girls. They did a nice job of recovering after last night. We look forward to playing a fantastic Stanford team.
On adjustments after the first 20 minutes...
Thank goodness for TV timeouts. It was loud and couldn't get instructions out there or maybe they just weren't listening. We made two really big adjustments with our back four because we just too deep and their forwards came off of our back four . As they played balls in, our starting position wasn't great. The second one was in going to the center of the back. I thought that we were overplaying shoulders and they would run at our back and then run at the other three backs. Then when they would start to spin us, we had to bring them down or foul them at that point. We gave up a ton of corner kicks and we gave up a ton of set plays in that first 20 minutes. Right before the TV timeout, you could see that we were really starting to adjust, and our starting position got better. Our anticipation to step better, defend what we said we would. That was one of the things that we said from a defensive standpoint.
From an offensive standpoint, we had just started to establish Mollie on the left side, and we wanted to keep her there. We were getting to the endline; we were getting crosses up there; we were getting early crosses at that point, so that's something we wanted to continue with Mollie on the left-hand side.
On the task of beating a team that is undefeated...
It's going to be a tough match; no question about it. I think we match-up well with them. We both play a 4-3-3. For the most part, we think there are some areas where we can attack against them. I think there are some areas that we really have to pay attention to. They've got great attacking players. They are very solid in the midfield. They are very talented individuals both offensively and defensively. I thought their goalkeeper played really well yesterday. They are a great team. Obviously, they wouldn't be undefeated if they weren't. But, we are also a very, very good team. Our kids are excited about it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we're looking forward to going out and playing.
On dominating possession...
When we get the ball we cannot be chasing. Possession will be important. Stanford is a really strong possession team; there is no question about that. They have a beautiful shape; their speed of play is very, very good. When we do have the play, we have got to keep the ball. Our shape has to be good; our speed of play has to be good. We have to be able to transition from defensive to offense. What will be important is that when we get it, we have got to keep it.
On his playing days...
I always liked attacking. I was a forward at Woodward Academy here in Atlanta, and I know a lot about what soccer was in the Atlanta area. When I saw that this event was going to be in Atlanta, I thought it would be nice to come back because there are a lot of good memories. As I have gotten old and played in some of the rec leagues, I kind of went backwards a little bit. So as a back, I was always wanted to attack. I didn't want to just win balls. I really wanted to get our backs involved too. Obviously, it evolves over the years throughout the world of play. You pick up little ideas and you pick up things. Right now my favorite team is Barcelona. I love how they play, and we're not quite Barcelona yet. But, you know we are trying to play like that. Like a lot of teams, that's one of the great things people have talked about in this College Cup: the style of play. I think I have heard that more than any other time. Of course it comes down to the players. It's picking players who can play, players who can possess, get the players who can play out of pressure. I think we build off of that.
On competing for the national championship...
We have wanted to compete for the first year. We have been playing to get there. This is one of the special parts. When you hear the girls talk about it, it is absolutely a fantastic place. There is no question out there that we had a vision to compete for the national championship. We have learned that we wanted to recruit our style of player, but we also wanted to recruit for the ACC which is such an athletic conference. We have had to get more of our style of player as well as more of an athlete. That has taken a little while to work on that and get that type of player that can play out of pressure and a kid that is an athletic player too. I think the final piece of the puzzle we have found, as Mollie mentioned, is that it's all about leadership; it's about being an attacking team. We can attack you from many directions. Our three front runners have done a great job. You've got players coming out of the midfield. You've got outside backs attacking. So in that sense, we have the same philosophy also. So, hopefully it's an attacking game. Because we are talking about that, it's probably going to be nothing-nothing now because we have talked about so much attacking. It's taken a little while to get there; no question about it. We offer a world-class education in what we think is the best women's soccer conference in the country.
On what Coach K shared with him...
That's probably something they want to keep within our team.
On progression of the program...
It took awhile to learn ACC. Throughout mission process, it has been being able to get those type of kids who can excel in the classroom and on the soccer field. Some years there may be more kids available than others. I think it has been a little bit of both, but we knew it was coming. Ashley Rape was one of the first kids we really, one of the top players on the national team. She was captain of the U-16 National Team and the U-17 National Team. She believed in the vision we have had. She really wanted to be a part of the takeover of a good program and turn it into a great program. To go to the College Cup for the first time in a long time and win hopefully our first National Championship.
How valuable assistants have been...
No question. Number one, they are unbelievably fantastic people. The two of them are great, great people. Obviously, Carla works a lot with our back players. How special is it to have Carla Overbeck training everyday and working with you. They have a great mind for the game and they think a little different which is great. They see different things that they can point out at halftime, so I think we really complement each other very, very well. I think we have three head coaches at Duke, and we have been together for so long. Carla has been at Duke for 19 years.
On style of play between Duke and Stanford...
We each have some very young players, but these are experienced players. They have played for championships. There are a lot youth players who have played internationally. They have played at very high-levels so that when they go to conference, it's not such a big learning curve. They can make an impact right away.
On general percentage of how much man-marking...
A lot of it is the location of where the forwards are on the field and Katie stays high, and stays central a lot. At that point, we can have our two center backs -- one steps to her and one will cover. She's not easy to mark at that point, but I think once she stays central we can put a couple players on her. When they go wide and she would go wide to try to isolate our outside backs, this is when it may become a bit more difficult. Do we stay tucked in or do you step out and cover with the player. It depends a lot on what part of the field we are in. Obviously she's going to be much tighter in the closer you get to goal. Can we step first? We won't change anything. They have a dangerous three front. They are going to come at us with a lot of different strikers, but we are really confident in all of our back players. They know that they will be isolated at different times in one-v-ones. Sometimes we need to provide the cover and sometimes we will leave them out on an island to do a good job, and I'm sure they will.
On preparing for the second game...
We've kept an eye on Stanford all year. You've got to have a lot of respect for how they play and the mentality of their student athletes. There are a lot of wonderful young ladies over there. We're going to go through a tactical session now and walk through a couple of things. We look forward to it.
On one element or one player to watch...
The thing about them is that all of them are very talented. We are going to try to find any areas that we can attack. Playing through the left side and then finding a loop to get to the other side. Can we play out of the back against them?
Nicole Lipp
On her role...
It's just putting the ball in dangerous areas, trying to lure the goalkeeper out, and hope that one of us gets on it.
On moments that changed the season...
I think we would kind of have the Notre Dame game be that moment. We were down going into the half, and we came back. I think that was a huge moment for us when we realized that was a huge programs we had just beat after being down. That showed a lot of character for our team.
On Stanford's team...
I think we have a lot of the same players, but I think we are a different team this year. Throughout the season, we have really grown. I think what's been so great about this team is that we have been down against some very good teams and have come back. We have overcome adversity. We also have attacked teams and dominated. Looking forward to tomorrow, I know that we can get after them and that we know that put a challenge to them.
On friendship with Rachel Quon of Stanford...
Me and Quon go way back. We played together since w were about seven or eight. Growing up together, we are really close friends off the field. On the field, I think we push each other and make each other better. She's just an overall great person and teammate. It's awesome to be playing her in the finals tomorrow.
On being on recruiting trip...
When I was on campus maybe my second time, I think I got into the car and said to my mom, "I think I could commit right now." She was like, "Okay Nicole, let's try not to make any impulse decisions." So I was like, "Okay, fine I'll wait." It was just being on campus and meeting the team and the people.
On deciding factor of possibly winning first National Championship...
Yes, that was definitely a huge deciding factor for me. Being the first to do that, makes this feel really special, and I definitely want to be a part of that. I saw potential and I thought being in the top 10 for four years, it would be great getting the first national championship. It would be awesome.
Mollie Pathman
On the game against Wake Forest...
I think our team did a great job with getting everyone involved in the attack getting more space opened on the left side. I think that helped get out back four included. I think that's what makes us so dangerous. I think that our attack is everywhere.
On intimidation having a good bit of underclassmen on the team...
They've been to finals before and we haven't, but we have amazing senior leadership. Even if our seniors or our captions are not on the field, they have an amazing presence on our team. I don't think we really let that bother us. We are just really living off of the excitement of this. There are a lot of underclassmen on the team. But ultimately, they do an amazing job in whatever their role is on the team.
On living close to campus and wanting to play for this program...
I probably live like five miles from Duke in between Duke and Carolina. I remember Robbie actually coming into the program. I went to Duke soccer camp the first time that they had one for the girls, and I was nine years old. I met Robbie there at camp. From there, I always wanted to go to Duke; I always wore Duke stuff. I kept a really good relationship with Robbie until I finally committed. My club team, I guess since U-10) was club buddies with the Duke girls and we would come to the game with signs and make little desserts for the Duke players. I have wanted to be on the Duke soccer team ever since I was little.
On moments that standout in her mind from College Cup...
I think the whole environment. Every time I have been here, I have gotten more excited. It's great to finally be there. I have been hoping for this for so long. All the games are so competitive.
Maddy Haller
On being recruited...
I think for me it was coming to the campus. It is such an amazing place. I think there is such an amazing atmosphere around it. Meeting Robbie, and Robbie just a great job of showing us everything around campus, showing us all the food places. That was huge part of it, just being on campus and feeling the atmosphere.
On how it has come full circle with assistant coach Carla Overbeck...
Carla does a great job with us on the backline. Over the past three years that I have been here, she has been pretty hard on us. She picks up on all of the little things. I think early on in my first two years here on the defensive line, we got away with a lot of little mistakes. I think now that we have been here for a few years, she expects a lot more of us. We have seen video and we have seen film and what not. Now she expects so much of us. That has been really important throughout this whole season. It's one of the reasons we have done so well. With this game, it's the same mentality; it's the same expectations. W play the perfect ball as we have done all year. We can do it. Nothing really changes.
On progression as a defensive unit...
Fresh year was really hard because I don't think really any of us expected to be put in that situation. It was pretty overwhelming at first and we weren't really expected to do much. I think that we came up big where we could come up. It was definitely a learning experience. We learned a lot about each other. Libby is great at following her mark, staying tight out of the back and winning the ball. I don't know how she does it, but she always ends up winning head balls that you don't expect. I think it's always pretty amazing to see her come up big on those plays. Erin is just a great all-around player. She is great defending; she is great going forward. She plays amazing balls into the offense. I think our first year we had to do a lot of defending, trying to pull tight through our game. And now, a lot of our game is actually going into the offense and starting the offense. I think that is pretty much what has progressed the most. Not that we have gotten so solid as a back four at stopping balls from going into the goal, but progressing that into going forward and pushing the ball forward and making a dangerous counterattack.
Stanford Press Conference - Dec. 3rd 2011
Head Coach Paul Ratcliffe - Ninth Season
Alina Garciamendez - Jr - D
Teresa Noyola - Sr. - MF
Lindsay Taylor - Sr. - F
Head Coach Paul Ratcliffe
Opening Statement...
We are very excited to be playing in the championship match again. The team has worked very hard to get back to this stage. We are hoping to follow through and be the champions.
On being back in the championship game...
We are fortunate to get another chance. Normally you don't get a second chance in life and I feel like we are getting a second chance here. We have to learn from the past experiences and I think the feelings of not winning the final game are a great motivation. I am hoping those feelings are going to come up and we fight and play as hard as we can to get the win.
On what to do differently this year as opposed to last year's game...
I don't think there is much difference because both teams are very strong. It is going to take a special performance from your team and there will be key plays that make a difference in the game. I do think we have the experience now because they have been on this stage before and I hope that really helps along with the great senior leadership. I know the seniors will play their hearts out and the whole team will play for them as well.
On what adjustments need to be made based on the first 20 minutes of Friday's match...
The first 20 minutes of the game Friday had nerves involved but I think Florida State was a fantastic team. I was impressed with them because they spread the field and made it difficult on us. It was a game of whoever had the ball and Florida State had it in the beginning and put us under some pressure. At the end of the day, we have to play like we did for most of the game.
On Stanford's winning record against Duke in the past...
I don't look back at all the records because it is about here and now. Duke has a great team and so do we. It's which team that is going to perform tomorrow that will win.
On what you have been doing to prep for Duke...
I haven't watched them much prior to this because I want to take every game one at a time. I watched them last night and have been watching film as well. I usually get a general idea but my main concern is preparing our team to play to the best of their ability. I need to know what threat the only team is going to provide and where they have weaknesses.
On adjustments to use against Duke...
I think the game dictates a lot of what needs to be changed from game to game. At the end of the day, we have to play to our strengths to the best of our ability and that's what we are going to do. If we have to make adjustments that is what we will do but you never know until you get in the game.
On challenges seen in Duke...
I think it's going to be a tremendous game. I think Robbie has done a tremendous job with the Duke program, they play attractive soccer. They're a committed team, I'm very impressed with them. It's going to be a hard game, no doubt.
On his coaching style...
I think I have to adjust every year to the players I have. I think the best coaches are trying to adjust to what they have on the field. You're only as good as the players you have on the field. I'm only as good as the players sitting next to me. I'm very fortunate to have a super talented group that play a good brand of soccer and play to our strengths, that's what we're always trying to do as coaches.
On freshman Chioma Ubogagu...
She is a fantastic player. The bigger the stage, the more her game rises up to it. We have had some good games this year and she always steps up. I am very impressed with her and the fact she was able to get a goal and assist last night.
On the intellect of his team...
Sometimes I ask for their advice because they are smarter than I am. It is hard because you want to tell them the right information but at the end of the day, we must play to our strengths so you give them general information. You don't want to go too in-depth but these girls are smart. They do their homework and they understand what is going on. They are regular kids who want to be the best they can be.
Lindsay Taylor
On if things are different for this year's game as opposed to last year's...
I think this team has a competitive desire and after the loss last year, we have been working really hard to get back to this point. This team has a lot of confidence and a lot of hunger to win that championship.
On what the seniors are doing to motivate the team to win a championship...
We talk a lot about doing this for each other. The girls on the team are really close and we are like a family to each other. We want to do this for each other and the school but also finish what we started.
On the pressure of being in the championship game...
I don't think the burden of pressure is on us anymore. We just try to focus on ourselves and get the team back here. We know that Duke is a great team going into tomorrow, but we are just focused on ourselves and playing one game at a time.
On growing up so close to Stanford's campus...
I grew up a couple blocks away and always wanted to go to Stanford. It was a dream come true for me to play here and be on a great team like this. Being able to do it right in my backyard has been a great experience.
On what they tell themselves to get motivated...
It is giving everything we have for every second of the game. You don't want to leave a game with any regrets.
On similarities of ACC teams...
I think that one similarity I've noticed is that the girls are a bit more physical. We've seen in all the games that the teams come to battle from the second the whistle blows. But we've played other teams that were physical and we've taken each of those teams by themselves and not compared them to others.
On biggest factor to this season's success...
I think that I'm just surrounded by other talented players. You saw it last night when Chioma stepped up and had a great game. I think this team is just fantastic from the back of the field to the front. I've had a great season because the people around me have put me in the positions to score the goals I've been able to score.
On past injuries...
It's been frustrating for the last two years to be playing with injuries. I think it's been helpful to be in the full practice and do those finishing reps. It's definitely been great to be healthy this season.
On eagerness to jump ahead early against Duke...
I think we're just eager for the game, I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with Duke. We're just eager to be back in the national championship game and ready to prove ourselves in the first half and the second half tomorrow.
On playing with great teammates...
I think both of those players are great competitors. They both had a killer instinct for the goal and they were great leaders and I was fortunate to play with them my whole career except this year. It transcends both of them. For [Kelley O'Hara] she was a big competitor and her leadership for getting the team going was contagious. I think Christen [Press] has a killer instinct and just demanded excellence out of everyone around her.
On who she wanted to play like growing up...
I think Mia Hamm, I had a poster in my room.
Teresa Noyola
On finishing the offensive chances that happen on the field...
It is going to be extremely important because at this stage, you must put away the chances. Hopefully we will be able to generate enough offense to get multiple chances and opportunities to score. I think we also have to play our defense strong especially with how strong our back line has been. They have come up huge and we will need that again tomorrow.
On how the offense felt in the semifinal match Friday night...
I think that first goal was crucial for us. It gave us confidence that we have to take into our next game and try to get an early goal. It felt good for us to put more goals up and I knew we were always capable so it's good to show everyone what we can do in this tournament.
On how the play of Barcelona has influence her own style of play...
They have stuck with their style of play and believe that it is going to help them win. They play to their strengths as a team and as players.
On practical jokes...
Sometimes we have our freshmen do tasks in pre-season, so when Chioma scored her first goal she ran over and hugged Paul and we got a big kick out of that.
On growing up so close to Stanford's campus...
My high school is right across the street from our practice field so I am able to see it every day before practice. I would always go to different games with my dad and see how good the sports were especially soccer. It was an inspiration to me. I always wanted to go to Stanford.
On what moments remembered from this season...
I'd say we're huge jokesters off the field. Whether we're making fun of each other or whatever ridiculous reason, we work really hard in school and work really hard in soccer that we make it a point, because we work so hard in those areas, to be loose and happy and joking around when we're together and those are the moments I enjoy the most.
On who is the funniest player on the team...
Emily Oliver, she'll be happy with that.
On what they tell themselves to get motivated...
In yesterday's game, we didn't have as much possession of the ball as we are used to but that didn't frazzle us. In the past years, it has. It isn't going to be perfect but the teams we are playing are great teams. Florida State was a great team and we knew we wouldn't have the ball 100 percent of the time. I think we need to make sure we don't get frazzled tomorrow and live in every moment and enjoy the game.
On what the coaches have done to get the team back to the championship game...
The coaches give us a lot of freedom and want us to be leaders. They give us the reins a lot as captains. I think that has been passed on by previous leaders like Kelley O'Hara and Kristen. I definitely learned from them a lot and the coaches have allowed the leaders to grow on this team.
Alina Garciamendez
On the pressure of being in the championship game...
Both teams took a different road to get to the championship game but in the end, all that matters is whoever wants it more.
On teammate Kendall Romine...
Kendall brings a different aspect to the backline. She is tall, agile and really stepped into the center back role well. She wasn't able to play at all last year due to injury but came back and won the starting role this year. She is a fast learner and always Cami (Camille Levin), Quon (Rachel Quon) and me questions. She wants to know what she can do better in a play and is eager to learn.
On what they tell themselves to get motivated...
This is the last game I am going to play with the seniors who I have been with the longest besides my class so it's just a matter of playing for them and being there for them.
On what moments will be remembered from this season...
For me, living in the moment means wanting to play with my team one last practice, one last game. In the tournament it's single elimination so it's all about me wanting to keep the journey going by playing with my team. Although, after this game we won't be together but it's something I'll remember forever.
Players Mentioned
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
PLAYER
/ Women's Tennis
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
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