Dec. 5, 2005

College Cup Final Post-Match Quotes

PORTLAND HEAD COACH GARRETT SMITH: "What do you say after a game like that? The first thought through my head was, 'Clive (Charles), there's number two for you.' This program was built on a great foundation and this team just showed the whole country what it's built out of. It's built out of a lot of class, a lot of talent, and a lot of hard work, and a foundation that will always be with us. People always ask me, 'Is Clive in your thoughts?' He's always in my thoughts because of performances like that. He built this team a long, long time ago to come out and do something like that for a national championship, with world class players who have worked and dedicated themselves in the classroom and on the field to win one of those right there. It just happens to be our second one, and it's been an awesome run."

UP MIDFIELDER ANGIE WOZNUK: (on her goal and the first half in general) "I think as far as the goal goes, that's exactly what we needed. To score a goal that early makes the other team question a little bit what they are capable of. And (as far as) the half all together, I felt as a team we were knocking it all around. I've never felt so 'not tired' at the end of a half. The ball did so much work. I was the most tired after my celebration."

UP FORWARD CHRISTINE SINCLAIR: (on the team looking much more relaxed) "I think a lot had to with coming out and scoring early. It settled things down so much. We know with Cori (Alexander) in goal and our defense, we're not going to give up too many goals. That's probably the best half I've seen our team play. (It was) Perfect timing."

UP MIDFIELDER LINDSEY HUIE: (on the team looking much more relaxed) "I think one of the best things that happened to us was going into that double OT (Friday vs Penn State). It exhausted us to the point where after the game we knew from that minute on, we had something to take care of--that was resting, recuperating, and getting our minds and bodies right for today's game. When we did that, I felt like we were completely focused. Nothing could pull us away from what we planned to do because we had absolutely nothing to lose today."

UCLA HEAD COACH JILLIAN ELLIS: "Obviously it was a difficult day for us, but congratulations to Portland. They played a fantastic game. My hat's off to them. My heart and my soul are with my team though in trying to console them and to remind them of the things they've done this season, and the successes they've had. Obviously it's tough for us at this point."

(on the quick goal) "They did great job to capitalize on our mistake. A good team will punish you. That most certainly put us behind the 8-ball right off the bat. I think it was the third goal that was the backbreaker, because if we could have gone to the half (down) two...I thought we battled hard in the second half. It was unfortunate that we made a mistake that early in the game. We've been behind, it's not like it was a feeling we've never felt, but in this setting and in this arena I think it affected the players directly involved."

UCLA DEFENDER JILL OAKES: (on the quick goal) "That first goal didn't even phase me to be honest. We've been down before. I had total confidence that we'd be able to come back, unfortunately we didn't. But that first goal didn't phase me...the second goal even I was still confident we could do it. We fought hard and things didn't go our way. We certainly had opportunities and an inch was the difference, but unfortunately that inch wasn't in our favor."

UCLA MIDFIELDER DANESHA ADAMS: (on 1st-half opportunities) "It was a great ball from our team. I should have capitalized. Those are the chances I need to capitalize on. You only get a few in the game. That goal could have been a difference there. It could have easily been 1-0 us, or 1-1 and a tie game. I can't harp on it now. There's nothing I can do about it now. I'll just look back on it next year and remember that opportunity I had, and now I know I need to finish it because it can come down to that one opportunity you do get."