As a fan of All White Kit, I was pretty excited to do the latest edition of 'Five for Friday' as we interviewed Chris Henderson, the College Soccer Editor for the site. Henderson spends countless hours covering women's college soccer and his in-depth analysis is second to none. With the NCAA Division I tournament starting this weekend, we thought it would be a great idea to find out more about him and to pick his brain on the brackets. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in the NCAA tournament, follow Chris on Twitter @chris_awk
Soccer Banter: Why Soccer?
Chris Henderson: The live experience. I had a lot of friends in high school who played soccer and naturally were always bugging people to come out to their games. After a lot of prodding, I decided to give it a try and got hooked pretty quickly. I'm not sure there's another sport out there that benefits as much from the live experience as soccer does. While the latest innovations in technology like HDTV, DVRs, and soccer specific television channels have certainly made it easier to immerse yourself in the sport, nothing beats going out and catching a match live.
SB: Why Women’s College Soccer?
CH: It's a bit of a crazy story. I started out like most college kids did, looking for something to do as an extracurricular activity. I had been a soccer fan in earlier years, but that was mostly European stuff and following my local high school team. I didn't even know there was a women's college soccer team on campus! But it was hard to not get reeled in. We didn't have a men's college soccer team on campus, a problem with a lot of schools in the South generally. The thing that women's college soccer really benefits from is that generally everyone in Division I fields a team, so the general collegiate rivalries are intact for the most part.
I think also, you get a feeling with women's college soccer that you're getting a more accurate representation of the best talent at this age group as opposed to the men's college game. The best men's players are usually now going to Europe to try and make it or catch on with MLS Developmental Academies at a younger age. There's not that issue with the women's game, as the best in the 18-23 age group in the U.S. are all in the college game.
Soccer Banter: Why Soccer?
Chris Henderson: The live experience. I had a lot of friends in high school who played soccer and naturally were always bugging people to come out to their games. After a lot of prodding, I decided to give it a try and got hooked pretty quickly. I'm not sure there's another sport out there that benefits as much from the live experience as soccer does. While the latest innovations in technology like HDTV, DVRs, and soccer specific television channels have certainly made it easier to immerse yourself in the sport, nothing beats going out and catching a match live.
SB: Why Women’s College Soccer?
CH: It's a bit of a crazy story. I started out like most college kids did, looking for something to do as an extracurricular activity. I had been a soccer fan in earlier years, but that was mostly European stuff and following my local high school team. I didn't even know there was a women's college soccer team on campus! But it was hard to not get reeled in. We didn't have a men's college soccer team on campus, a problem with a lot of schools in the South generally. The thing that women's college soccer really benefits from is that generally everyone in Division I fields a team, so the general collegiate rivalries are intact for the most part.
I think also, you get a feeling with women's college soccer that you're getting a more accurate representation of the best talent at this age group as opposed to the men's college game. The best men's players are usually now going to Europe to try and make it or catch on with MLS Developmental Academies at a younger age. There's not that issue with the women's game, as the best in the 18-23 age group in the U.S. are all in the college game.
SB: Which schools do you think will be in the Final Fou?
CH: I'm really conflicted. I don't want to pick all four #1 seeds, but I think I'm going to have to. I think you'd have to be a fool to not pick Stanford to make it to Kennesaw given their form this season. I feel that Wake Forest might be the weakest of the #1 seeds, but they also might have the most doable path to the Final Four. Duke also got a pretty generous draw, and I don't see anyone other than UCLA providing a stern challenge. I would pick West Virginia to emerge from their quadrant, but I picked Florida State to win it all at the beginning of the year and can't back down now. I did likewise with Notre Dame at the beginning of last year and wavered, so I'm backing the Noles!
SB: Outside of the top ranked teams, which unheralded team could make some noise in the NCAA tournament?
CH: There's plenty. I mean, I looked through the bracket and was stunned to realize that I thought that eighteen teams had a reasonable chance of getting to Kennesaw. Eighteen! I remember some seasons where that number was more like five or six. That leads me to believe that we could be in for a year crazier than last season when two number ones went down on the first weekend and a side like Ohio State made it to the College Cup.
I think West Virginia's a team that everybody has to keep a close eye on. Nikki Izzo-Brown is for my money one of the best coaches in the country and doesn't get nearly the recognition she should. Her side has a lot of tournament experience, balanced scoring, and a blue-collar mentality that should serve them well. They've been in amazing form as well and almost always peak at the right time. I think they could've easily been seeded. The seeded teams for prospective second and third round games are both youthful and vulnerable to teams like WVU. I wouldn't be shocked if the Mountaineers end up in Kennesaw.
Other teams I'd keep an eye on? Dayton, who have a fantastic weapon in Colleen Williams, AKA the only player this year with fifteen goals and 15 assists. Oregon State has two great forwards in Chelsea Buckland and Jenna Richardson who are catching fire at exactly the right time. And whoever ends up winning that UC Irvine/San Diego match. Both teams are littered with talent to make a deep run.
CH: I'm really conflicted. I don't want to pick all four #1 seeds, but I think I'm going to have to. I think you'd have to be a fool to not pick Stanford to make it to Kennesaw given their form this season. I feel that Wake Forest might be the weakest of the #1 seeds, but they also might have the most doable path to the Final Four. Duke also got a pretty generous draw, and I don't see anyone other than UCLA providing a stern challenge. I would pick West Virginia to emerge from their quadrant, but I picked Florida State to win it all at the beginning of the year and can't back down now. I did likewise with Notre Dame at the beginning of last year and wavered, so I'm backing the Noles!
SB: Outside of the top ranked teams, which unheralded team could make some noise in the NCAA tournament?
CH: There's plenty. I mean, I looked through the bracket and was stunned to realize that I thought that eighteen teams had a reasonable chance of getting to Kennesaw. Eighteen! I remember some seasons where that number was more like five or six. That leads me to believe that we could be in for a year crazier than last season when two number ones went down on the first weekend and a side like Ohio State made it to the College Cup.
I think West Virginia's a team that everybody has to keep a close eye on. Nikki Izzo-Brown is for my money one of the best coaches in the country and doesn't get nearly the recognition she should. Her side has a lot of tournament experience, balanced scoring, and a blue-collar mentality that should serve them well. They've been in amazing form as well and almost always peak at the right time. I think they could've easily been seeded. The seeded teams for prospective second and third round games are both youthful and vulnerable to teams like WVU. I wouldn't be shocked if the Mountaineers end up in Kennesaw.
Other teams I'd keep an eye on? Dayton, who have a fantastic weapon in Colleen Williams, AKA the only player this year with fifteen goals and 15 assists. Oregon State has two great forwards in Chelsea Buckland and Jenna Richardson who are catching fire at exactly the right time. And whoever ends up winning that UC Irvine/San Diego match. Both teams are littered with talent to make a deep run.
SB: A little fun, you were AD at a women's school that was fully funded. Who would you hire as a coach (any college coach is available) and what current GK, defender, midfielder, and forward (1 at each position) would you want on your squad.
CH: Coach - Anson Dorrance. It's pretty hard to ignore the trophy cabinet. I'm not sure anyone will ever approach a quarter of what he's won at this level.
Goalkeeper - Bianca Henninger, Santa Clara. A no-brainer. She has the potential to be the best goalkeeper of this generation. We've gone away from true goalkeepers playing between the pipes these days, just opting for great athletes who can make great reflex saves but have poor command of their area, can't organize a defense, and have shoddy decision making. Henninger is a true goalkeeper. Her command of her area is unreal for her age and size. And she has the swagger and confidence that you need to dominate at this level and the next. I refuse to believe she won't be something special at the next level.
Defender - Crystal Dunn, North Carolina. OK, this is cheating a little bit since she hasn't played in defense this season. But she was one of the top defenders in the country last year and would be the consummate attacking full-back in a climate where having rampaging wide defenders is a necessity for victory. Her work rate is second to none and naturally could be used in attack in a pinch as she has this year.
Midfielder - Morgan Brian, Virginia. This one kind of kills me, because there are so many great playmaking midfielders like Ingrid Wells, Katy Frierson, and Teresa Noyola in the college game right now. But Brian has the ability to be something special. I mean REALLY special. You watch her play and notice that she's got the "it" factor right away. Her upside is through the stratosphere, and you just shake your head when you realize she's still got three plus years in college to develop her game further.
Forward - Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame. People just don't realize how good she is. She is a complete forward with the perfect combo of pace and power to dismantle defenses. She's constantly surrounded by a phalanx of defenders and still scores in droves. And more than anything, she's a winner. Good things happen when she's on the pitch, and that's as big a compliment as I can give to a player.
CH: Coach - Anson Dorrance. It's pretty hard to ignore the trophy cabinet. I'm not sure anyone will ever approach a quarter of what he's won at this level.
Goalkeeper - Bianca Henninger, Santa Clara. A no-brainer. She has the potential to be the best goalkeeper of this generation. We've gone away from true goalkeepers playing between the pipes these days, just opting for great athletes who can make great reflex saves but have poor command of their area, can't organize a defense, and have shoddy decision making. Henninger is a true goalkeeper. Her command of her area is unreal for her age and size. And she has the swagger and confidence that you need to dominate at this level and the next. I refuse to believe she won't be something special at the next level.
Defender - Crystal Dunn, North Carolina. OK, this is cheating a little bit since she hasn't played in defense this season. But she was one of the top defenders in the country last year and would be the consummate attacking full-back in a climate where having rampaging wide defenders is a necessity for victory. Her work rate is second to none and naturally could be used in attack in a pinch as she has this year.
Midfielder - Morgan Brian, Virginia. This one kind of kills me, because there are so many great playmaking midfielders like Ingrid Wells, Katy Frierson, and Teresa Noyola in the college game right now. But Brian has the ability to be something special. I mean REALLY special. You watch her play and notice that she's got the "it" factor right away. Her upside is through the stratosphere, and you just shake your head when you realize she's still got three plus years in college to develop her game further.
Forward - Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame. People just don't realize how good she is. She is a complete forward with the perfect combo of pace and power to dismantle defenses. She's constantly surrounded by a phalanx of defenders and still scores in droves. And more than anything, she's a winner. Good things happen when she's on the pitch, and that's as big a compliment as I can give to a player.
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