University of North Carolina Athletics
Post Game Quotes From The UNC Press Conference
December 5, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Dec. 5, 2003
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Dorrance's overall statement of the game:
"We're ecstatic to beat a tremendous UCLA team and to be in the final. I felt we played as well as we possibly could have in the first half. The timeout was critical because that was a critical goal.
"The second goal gave us a bit of breathing room going into halftime. And of course in our game, the backbreaker is always the third goal. To see Heather using a protractor to measure where to shoot that thing...great sense of relief to go up 3-0.
"I never felt comfortable until that third goal."
Kendall Fletcher on her goal:
"That's my job to cover the back post at all cost. I'm ready for it every time."
Fletcher on where the ball hit her:
"It hit my chest and then bounced off and hit my head and went in."
Dorrance:
"We wanted to present them a different avenue to the back of our net and I think that was very effective. The game was played on our terms because of the risk we took and it is a risk..."
"Without question, the margin of victory was these kids reaching down and expending enormous energy."
"If we have anything left for Sunday, I will be ecstatic."
Dorrance on putting four in the back:
"UCLA started to take over for a bit. We had a different system in reserve waiting for that possibility. We thought we would go to four if we started to lose control of the match."
"Maxwell is a hell of a player and we wanted to get her back on the field. Getting her back on the field was also a part of that consideration."
Reddick on getting back to the final:
"It's our goal every year to get to the final game. We've been playing every day since August of 2000 to do that. With this team, everyone puts everything on the line for each other. We won't be happy unless [winning the championship] comes true. Each one of these girls has touched my life in some way."
Ramsey on getting back to the championship game:
"[Our motivation] was Dallas two years ago."
Fletcher on her flip:
"I'm so excited when I get a score. I love celebrating. A lot of the girls like me to do it. Cat asked me to do it when she scored against Santa Clara. I hope it inspires the girls. It's a round-out."
O'Reilly on putting so much pressure on UCLA right away:
"I hope we have enough juice left for Sunday. I know all of us will be off our feet for the next 24 hours."
Dorrance on UConn's position for Sunday's game:
"I would love to be in Connecticut's position. Everyone thinks that the final was on Friday between UNC and UCLA. If I was a player from UConn, that would really motivate me. UConn can come out with motivational platform that they have. Right now, the UConn Huskies have the motivational edge."
Dorrance on Roy Williams being at the game:
"Roy and I go back to when we were both students together at UNC. Part of your degree is in basketball. I get more nervous watching our basketball team play than I do watching my soccer team play."
"I think that was a wonderful gesture for him to come support our team."
Dorrance on the team being harmonious and different than past teams:
"This team is incredibly well led. [In the Navy game] Jordan Walker sacrificed her own glory and playing time. That is typical of this season. There hasn't been one crisis. In athletics, that's incredibly rare."
