Post Match Quotes

Dec. 8, 2002

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Santa Clara Broncos

HEAD COACH, JERRY SMITH
On Portland
"Congratulations to the University of Portland. To be honest, I couldn't be happier for Clive. If we can't be the National Champions, I would want it to be my good friend Clive and the Portland Pilots. Congratulations to them on a great season and a great match today."

On Santa Clara's performance
"I am very proud of my team. I think we played well. We settled down in the second half and gained the momentum. I thought we had some good chances to score; there were a couple of close shots. Chardonnay's goal was almost over the goal line. A game this tight is a matter of inches. Again, I am very proud of my team. We gave everything we had out there today."

On the game-winning goal
"You've got to give Portland credit. They went after the ball really hard, got a piece of it, fought for it and put it into the net. I think Alyssa (Sobolik) made a good decision. In slick conditions, it's hard to know which way the ball is going to go, but you can't take anything away from Portland's effort. They did well to get into position and put it [the ball] into the net."

SOPHOMORE GOALKEEPER, ALYSSA SOBOLIK
On the game-winning goal
"The Portland player crossed the ball as I was coming across the goal and it hit me. My momentum then took me away from the ball. It [the ball] hit the post and was bouncing around. Portland then happened to be in great position to put the ball into the net."

SENIOR MIDFIELDER, ALY WAGNER
On Portland
"Portland is such a great team. If we can't win it all, I am glad it was Portland. Of course, we wanted to win, but you can't take anything away from them. This [national championship] has been long overdue for them. It's just too bad it had to be against us."

Portland Pilots

HEAD COACH, CLIVE CHARLES
On the game
"Once again, I would like to congratulate Santa Clara on a great year. They took a good stance and the game could have gone either way. They showed a lot of action tonight on the field. I am proud of our team. We are not a big squad, but we work hard at what we do and they deserve this win."

On the game-winning goal
"I was completely breathless. I was sitting there dreading penalty kicks and all of a sudden, there was a break and the ball ended up to the right person. It felt like 10 tons were lifted off my shoulders."

SENIOR MIDFIELDER, ERIN MISAKI
On the game
"I feel that Santa Clara's goal gave us momentum and helped us realize that we needed to get focused and win the game. Our past experiences have helped us prepare for this game. It's an awesome feeling."

SOPHOMORE FORWARD, CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
On her two goals
"For the first goal, I kept the ball down the line, made the cross towards the net and it found the far post. On the second goal, Kristen [Moore] made an excellent cross. It was nice to finish off the shot. The ball was slippery and it skipped. It was not the prettiest goal, but it counted and that is all that matters."

SOPHOMORE MIDFIELDER, KRISTEN MOORE
On the game-winning goal
"I was setting up the cross, looked right before I sent it and saw Christine (Sinclair). The goalkeeper [Alyssa Sobolik] gave me more room than I had expected. It was a great relief when the ball found the back of the net. We worked hard all season and this is an awesome feeling."