JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Barry advanced to the Elite Eight with a 1-0 victory over Tampa Friday at McCown Field. Barry coach Denise Brolly and players Shanice Robe and Christy Grimshaw hold serve in the press conference. Robe scored the game-winner in the 107th-minute. Tampa coach Erin Switalski speaks for the Spartans.
Q: Start us off with a statement about the game today.
Brolly: It was a good game. I thought the players played well especially in the first half. It shows the character that we have that we could pull that one out. Very happy with the win obviously.
Q: It's a team that you have seen a lot, a team that you have had to go to overtime with this season. As the game was going on, what kind of adjustments were you making?
Brolly: As the game was going on I believe that Tampa was getting stronger and stronger. Quality team and quality football each side. Full credit to Erin and the Tampa side. Unfortunately it wasn't their day today and thankfully it was ours.
Q: Shanice, walk us through that last sequence. I'm not sure if it was actually a cross or if it was a shot, but walk us through that last sequence.
Robe: It was actually a cross but I hit it on the outside of my foot so that's why it curved all the way to the goal. It was a cross but it went in so I will take it.
Q: Christy, you took the throw-in on the last play which is unusual for us. Why did you take it and what did you see?
Grimshaw: There was four or three minutes left on the clock. I looked at the scoreboard and I had to take it. There was nothing to lose at that point in time. I just saw Shanice. I knew she was fast and could turn the player in and she did.
Q: Coach looking ahead at the next game, you have two teams with similar records. Do you have a preference on who in the final?
Brolly: No. No. Not at all. We just want to play football. We will get some rest. We are willing to play anybody If we want to get to the final match and to win the national championship we are going to have to play everybody. It doesn't matter to us. Both good sides.
Q: Are you thankful to play someone other than Tampa?
Brolly: Yes. It's really nice to play fresh teams. It's a great challenge for us. We are really excited about it. I just want to say that these guys are incredible. They never stop. This team is pretty special and they find a way to win to win no matter what. It's an absolute joy. I'm really proud of them.
Q: I know we had a limit on how many people we could bring up. Is there anyone else you want to single out for exceptional play today.
Brolly: I thought the defense was solid. Amber Smith. Shannell McDonell. Aly Picascio. Katie Turner. I think they all played their part. Paula [Forero] was pretty spot on today as well. When she had to make saves she did so shout out to everybody.
Q: When Amanda [Traynor] put the ball off of the crossbar, what were your thoughts before that happened?
Brolly: Amanda really connects with the ball. If it doesn't go in then it's hitting the crossbar or the post. It wasn't meant to be for her. I thought Hanna [Durocher] would finish the rebound. I was a little afraid because usually when that happens sometimes you get punished on the other end, but we were pretty solid. We saw it out and won the game.
Q: If you could open us up with a statement on this contest.
Switalski: The game as a whole I thought was a great soccer game. We had chances. They had chances. I think they got the first half. I think we got the second. Overtime is overtime. I told the kids in order to come up on top, it's high-risk, high-reward. We were victims of the high-risk part of it. Significant games are going to be like this. Credit to the girls they left everything out on the field. The three seniors, I can't express to them how appreciative I am for what they have done for me for this year and what they have done for the program. They are amazing individuals.
Q: In the first overtime session, they had a shot hit the crossbar. What did you do in between overtime sessions to say to your team we still have a shot?
Switalski: Having balls hit the crossbar and having them hit the side-post. It's something we have gotten through this year. Sometimes you are lucky. Sometimes you're not. Obviously we talk about the marking in the box things like that so they don't have opportunities, but we are just lucky that it hit the crossbar and it went another couple minutes.
Q: What did you say to the team after the game? I'm sure it's not easy for you as a coach and I know it's not easy for the players. What kinds of things did you say to the team?
Switalski: These moments are the moments that there is nothing that anyone can say to the seniors that are going to make it okay. It's a life-changing moment for them. The three of them and what they have done is just phenomenal and what they are going to do whether it's in their careers or continue to play. The message to the team is that we played well. I'm just so proud of the effort that they left on the field. We executed our gameplan what we wanted to. Barry is a very good team. They have been a very good team all year. We go toe-to-toe with them. Unfortunately someone has to not come back.
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