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SANTA CLARA
Head Coach Jerry Smith
On tonight's game ...
"First, I would like to congratulate North Carolina on a great season and a
great match today. There were large portions of the game where they
outplayed us. In the first half, North Carolina took it to us and we sat
back and played conservatively. We were lucky to get out of the first half
ahead 1-0. In the second half, I felt that we played better, created some
chances and dodged some bullets. The last time that we were in a Final Four
and didn't win a game was 1999. I am very happy to be moving on to the
championship
On the changes he made in his midfield following halftime ...
"We felt that Carolina was exploiting space in our back four. We wanted to
win some balls there. That [formation] gives Aly Wagner tremendous freedom
and puts her in an attacking role, which is similar to the one she had with
the U.S. Women's National Team. The move increased her touches and also
gave a defensive presence in front of our back four."
On the championship match against Portland ...
"There are no secrets between Portland and Santa Clara. We come from the
same conference and we have had a lot of great battles over the years. We
played them earlier this year in Portland and recorded a 1-0 victory. They
were without Christine Sinclair [for that game] as she was playing for the
Canadian National Team. On Nov. 2, Aly Wagner played in Seattle for the
U.S. National Team; I drove up there to watch her and then drove her down to
Portland. We then played Portland on Nov. 3. We had Aly and they were
without Christine. Aly played a great game and we won 1-0."
Jr., Forward, Kristi Candau
On her part in creating the second goal of the game ...
"Carolina's goalkeeper has a mentality where she sometimes goes after balls
that she cannot always get to. I tried to do anything; poke it out or put
it through. Veronica [Zepeda] came out, took and amazing shot and just
buried it."
Jr., Forward, Veronica Zepeda,
On her two goals ...
"I really don't remember what happened. On the first goal, the ball was
played to my feet. I just spun and took a shot. On the second goal, Kristi
[Candau] did a good job of making the goalie come out. I just happened to
be in the right place at the right time and followed it up."
Sr., Midfielder, Aly Wagner,
Her thoughts on the game ...
"In the first half, we got strung out and didn't get support. In the second
half, we simply got numbers around the ball, were able to spinout, find each
other and keep possession of the ball."
NORTH CAROLINA
Head Coach Anson Dorrance
On tonight's game ...
"First, I want to congratulate Santa Clara on an exciting game and advancing
to the finals. I am also proud of how my team played. I thought they did
very well."
On the second half changes in Santa Clara's defense...
"It was interesting because in the first half they had a more aggressive
attacking system, but they didn't attack as well in that shape. The irony
was that they moved into a more defensive stance in the second half and
gained more confidence. That's just the nature of a defense when you're
trying to hold on to a lead."
On Sunday's championship game ...
"It's going to be a great matchup of two rivals who know each other well.
They play in the same conference, so there will be no surprises. I think it
will be a very exciting final, and I'd be hard pressed to predict the
outcome."
Jr., Defender, Catherine Reddick,
On her team's tempo change when she moved to the frontline ...
"Things changed because we felt pressure coming on. The team came together
and realized we had a chance. After that timeout, we were ready to go and
when I got moved, I just played as hard as I could."
Fr., Forward, Lindsay Tarpley
On her goal...
"I don't really remember exactly. The ball was in the right place, and I was
in the right place at the right time."
On her first trip to the Final Four ...
"It's been an unbelievable experience, and Texas was a wonderful place to
play in my first Final Four game. Things work out in odd ways, but Santa
Clara is a great team and they deserve to be in the finals."