Soccer Watch

Defending champ Germany outclassed Norway, 3-0, to win the first Women's World Cup semifinal Wednesday, but all of the talk around Hangzhou, China, was about the Thursday semifinal, the much anticipated USA-Brazil game. And in particular, about U.S. coach Greg Ryan's late decision to bench goalie Hope Solo in favor of veteran Briana Scurry, one of the heroes of the 1999 World Cup title team. Ryan pointed to Scurry's unbeaten record against Brazil and implied that she might have to make a lot of "reaction-type saves" against the creative Brazilian attack. My guess is, the team will play fine for either keeper, and I do expect the U.S. to win this game – but it certainly isn't a sign of strength – is it? – for the top-ranked team in the world to be pulling their keeper just 24 hours before the World Cup semifinal. The championship final, Germany vs. ????, is Sunday, 7am, live on ESPN2.

The UT Lady Longhorns had a couple of laughers against two pretty good nonconference opponents this weekend, beating Houston and Stephen F. Austin, each 4-0. (And outshooting them 37-4 and 27-7, respectively.) Freshman striker Niki Arlitt got two goals in each game, to become the Horns' leading scorer for the season. UT starts their conference season this weekend, hosting Wright State at 7pm Friday, then Texas Tech at 7pm Sunday. Myers Stadium, Red River & Manor Road.