November 12, 2004

Post Game Quotes

Nov. 12, 2004

NCAA Women’s Soccer Division I First Round
Game 2 — Kansas 3, Creighton 1
Postgame Quotes

Creighton Head Coach Bruce Erickson
On the game:
“I am extremely proud of our team.In the last couple of weeks we have come out firing.To get an early goal against this team was certainly a priority for us. I thought we played a great 90 minutes.In my opinion, Kansas is the best team we have played.They are talented and there is no drop-off in terms of their depth and I thought they played well today.”

On scoring the first goal:
“To open the game we knew we had to get that first goal. I think being up 1-0, it was about getting the second goal. We couldn’t just sit back and absorb it, we had to go after it.When we got in at halftime, we felt like the next goal was huge. We knew this was not going to be a one-goal type of game.There were going to be a couple of goals scored and we wanted to strive for that next goal.”

Creighton Sophomore Defender Emily Munn
On her goal:
“It was a great pass from my teammate (Katie Heitke).She did a great touch pass and I called for it. Basically I just hit it into the top right-hand corner of the net with my right foot.”

Kansas Head Coach Mark Francis
On the game:
“We are obviously happy that we won, but I was disappointed in the first half. I thought we came out a little flat and I think we had a lot of people who weren’t mentally in tune with what we needed to do.I felt like the second half was a lot better and I thought that our bench was a big key today. We had players coming off the bench that really contributed in a big way for us in establishing a rhythm and keeping possession of the ball.”

On playing Nebraska:
“The last time we played Nebraska, they scored in 50 seconds and we lost 1-0.If we come out flat on Sunday, we could be in for a long day.We have to come out focused and ready to play.When you are playing for a spot in the Sweet 16, there is no reason that you shouldn’t be focused.I think we are confident, but Nebraska is always a tough team to play against.We saw that when we played against them the first time.We don’t lose too many games here at home and we lost one here against them.We have to make sure that we are focused right from the beginning of the game because we didn’t do that last time we played them. They are a tough opponent though.”

On Kansas’ bench:
“A lot of the changes we made early in the second half we because people weren’t playing well. We have a lot of good players.I said to my assistant when they did the lineups before the game that we have some pretty good players here on our bench. Ironically, those players ended up being the difference in the game today for us.”

Kansas Senior Forward Monica Brothers
On her goal:
“On my goal, it was just a great cross from Caroline (Smith) and I should have finished it the first time.I stayed composed and just put it away.”

Kansas Senior Goalkeeper Meghan Miller
Onallowing an earlygoal:
“I was mad that they scored so early in the game, but I wasn’t too worried. I was more mad at myself because I hate getting scored on. I would have liked to finish the game 3-0, but they (Creighton) put in a good shot and I have to give them credit for that. Hopefully Sunday I can do a better job of keeping them out of the net.”

On playing Nebraska:
“I don’t think that the pressure is ever off because this is the NCAA Tournament and if we lose one, we are done. I am not ready to be done. We just need to go out there and realize that today could be our last day.”