SAN JOSE, Calif. Mike Modano Jersey . -- Midway through the first half of Sundays national championship game at Avaya Stadium, USCs Kayla Mills took a West Virginia shot flush in the face from no more than a few yards away. It felt, well, unpleasant. A ball to the nose will feel that way.I wanted to cry, Mills said after the game. I wanted to stop, but I was like Oh my gosh, the ball is still in our half. I cannot let them score, because I did not get hit in the face for nothing. And so, I was just trying to get myself sorted out. I didnt want to take that for nothing.It hurt, and I wanted to cry a little bit. But nothing came out, so were good.It just didnt hurt as much as missing the NCAA tournament, which she experienced in a freshman season that went very wrong.Three years later, a senior, Mills was on the field when the final whistle brought the college season to an end. And after No. 2 USCs 3-1 win over No. 1 West Virginia, she stayed there to celebrate a national championship with her teammates. So, no, it wasnt for nothing.Put aside for a moment the pair of goals from USCs Katie Johnson that first put her team ahead and later allowed them to breathe easy for the final few minutes. Put aside goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhommes championship-preserving saves. Leave all of that for later.USC won the title while outscoring its six opponents by a total of seven goals. That is the smallest goal differential of any champion since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 2001. USC survived a shootout in the second round, the earliest an eventual champion ever partook in that lottery during the same time span. It won three consecutive 1-0 games to reach Sundays final. It was outshot in each of its final three games, including 21-8 by the Mountaineers on Sunday.The Trojans didnt dominate the tournament. That isnt the objective. It is to be there at the end. The Trojans had a plan for that.To understand what transpired, as USC broke down one of the stingiest defenses in recent College Cup memory to become just the fourth program to win multiple titles, start with a ball to the face. A group of players -- for whom the start of their college experience was like a ball to the face -- did over four seasons just what Mills did on this night. They played on.Six seniors played major minutes. Four transfers played major minutes.They accounted for all three goals and two of the assists. Oh yes, and eight saves.Those were courtesy of Prudhomme, who played against USC in her first two college seasons at Oregon State. Back in the bad old days. After winning a title in 2007, USC fell off the map. The nadir was a losing record and missed tournament in 2013.It just didnt seem to be working out, like they were just a little underachieving, and we didnt understand why, Prudhomme said of her view from the other goal. But I knew how good those players were.Keidane McAlpine arrived prior to the 2014 season and talked of a plan to contend for a title. Mills said it seemed the coaches saw things in the players that even the players didnt see at that point, which made it a difficult sell.Theres no way, from where we are right now, Mandy Freeman recalled thinking, that we could get a natty champ by my senior year.But that is exactly what they did.USC did what no one else in the NCAA tournament could when it took the lead against West Virginia. No worse than tied in its five previous games, the Mountaineers trailed after just 82 seconds in the final. The set-piece goal, Savannah Levin heading a corner kick deep into the box to set up Morgan Andrews for a headed finish, wasnt the fastest in the history of the final, but it was a lightning bolt. Undaunted, West Virginia piled up possession and shots until Ashley Lawrence tied the game with a 66th-minute strike. Still, the Mountaineers pressed on.But USC was outshot 41-25 in its final three games. Defending wasnt uncomfortable territory. And when Andrews launched a quick counterattack with a long pass that Leah Pruitt, another transfer, turned into an assist on the first of Johnsons two goals, USC had the lead back at 2-1.Weve talked about our team defending, day one, McAlpine said. Im big on defending. But we always talk about we defend so we can attack. Weve been able to create chances. I said it the other day, weve always been able to create chances and been very opportunistic all year. Weve got a quality group of forwards. And today was no different. We had to stay unified in what we were doing, disciplined in what we were doing. ... I thought our individual defending, especially in the box with crosses coming in, was fantastic.And we knew we had a solid netminder. Shes good; shots from distance she can take care of. Not to mention the special saves, which I think she made a handful today as well.Yes, Prudhomme did. None of them better than with 10 minutes remaining and USC still leading by a single goal. In a game in which West Virginia showed off the skill worthy of a team with so many players experienced at the international level, nothing was more impressive than the first-touch pass that Lawrence slid through a gap and the incredible control of Heather Kaleiohi to spin away from a defender as she gathered in the ball and faced no one but Prudhomme. That level of execution at the college level leads to goals almost every time.But only almost. Sliding to her right as Kaleiohi spun that direction, Prudhomme reached back across her momentum and pawed away the shot headed toward the far post. Johnson capped the scoring with a deft long-range finish on another counter with barely three minutes left.Like Andrews, the Notre Dame transfer so instrumental in two of the three goals, Prudhomme was a late but invaluable addition to USCs rebuilding effort.Transferring within the Pac-12 meant that Prudhomme had to sit out a season, a penalty most transfers dont pay in sports other than football and basketball. But that was a small price to pay for what she found in Los Angeles.I came from a situation where it was very intense and very upsetting and you didnt feel comfortable playing, Prudhomme said. You didnt feel like you did anything right, and you felt kind of worthless. We came here, and they made me confident again. I was actually getting to the point where I wanted to quit, because thats how much I hated soccer. And it wasnt because I actually hated the game. ...I think this coaching staff did an amazing job bringing these players that came from a similar situation that I did and bringing them back to a place mentally where they believe theyre good players. Because they are good players.All of that would have been true no matter the outcome in the final. For a group of players and coaches so open about not only their soccer experiences, but their conversations about matters of cultural significance and the roles they hope to play in the wider world, Sundays result didnt really define them any more than the loss defined a brilliant West Virginia team.But they are also good players who earned the trophy they held aloft.And if youre going to get hit in the face, well, its nice to know it wasnt for nothing. Esa Lindell Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Mike Gartner Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. http://www.hockeystarsonline.com/adidas+stephen+johns+stars+jersey . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists.Leinster will put their 100 per cent record in the PRO12 semi-finals on the line when they face neighbours Ulster at a sold-out RDS, live on Sky Sports 3 HD. Fridays provincial derby will be Leinsters seventh semi-final appearance. They have won the previous six, while Ulster have won only once at the RDS in 12 attempts.However, Les Kisss side head to the Irish capital on the back of four successive victories, including a 30-6 drubbing of Leinster in Belfast on April 30. Four points separated the teams in the final PRO12 table and a close contest is predicted on Friday. Who will prevail? Lets look at some of the key battles which could decide this derby.Johnny Sexton v Paddy Jackson Paddy Jackson won his duel with Johnny Sexton in Belfast last month Jackson has lived in Sextons shadow at international level but got the better of his fellow fly-half during their recent encounter in Belfast, and broke away for a late interception try.The Ulsterman has raised his game another notch this season, bringing the best out of a talented backline and shouldering some of the responsibility normally placed on Ruan Pienaars shoulders. Another impressive showing in Dublin should see Jackson leapfrog Ian Madigan in the fly-half pecking order for Irelands tour of South Africa, but Sexton will be out to prove a point.The 30-year-old has forged a good understanding with Ben Teo and continues to use the wrap-around to good effect. Leinster rely heavily on Sexton to unlock opposition defences and Ulster will be in his face all night, although that is familiar territory for the seasoned international.Sexton was highly critical of Leinsters performance in Belfast last month and will be desperate to exact revenge on Friday.Ben Teo v Stuart McCloskey Ben Teo is off to Worcester this summer and international rugby with England Teo plays his final game on Irish soil for Leinster ahead of his big-money move to Worcester and he could not have asked for a tougher assignment.McCloskeys form this season earned him an Ireland debut at Twickenham during the Six Nations and he looks to have nailed down the No 12 jersey in a highly competitive Ulster backline. Stuart McCloskey made his Ireland debut during the Six Nations Both players are excellent gain-line options, McCloskey averaging 4.18 metres per carry in the PRO12, while Teo has the ability to terrorise opposition defences with his running lines and offloading ability.While Sam Burgess flopped in rugby union, fellow league convert Teo has thrived in the 15-man code. With England reportedly set to fast-track him into their squad, he and McClloskey could be facing off at international level in the near future. Bobby Smith Jersey. .Isa Nacewa v Jared Payne Jared Payne was among the tryscorers when Ulster defeated Leinster in Belfast last month Nacewa moves to full-back in place of the injured Rob Kearney and offers a different attacking threat to the Irishman at 15.The Leinster skipper has enjoyed a highly impressive comeback season and Ulster know any loose kicks will be punished by the 33-year-old. Jared Payne has been making up for lost time since his return from injury Paynes defensive attributes sees him start at outside centre for Ireland but he has been in scintillating form at full-back for Ulster since his return from the foot injury that ended his World Cup. He has scored four tries in as many PRO12 games, including one against Leinster last month.Both players are fantastic counter-attackers who rarely waste possession. Payne is excellent in the air while Nacewa has a quality kicking game; they will bring out the best in the players around them.Richardt Strauss v Rory BestRory Best took over the Ireland captaincy from Paul OConnell in this years Six Nations, but rather than being buoyed by the honour, the responsibility appeared to weigh the 33-year-old down.This weekend he has a chance for redemption as he goes head to head against the man who wants his Ireland jersey, Richardt Strauss. Rory Best of Ulster Strauss has played slightly more PRO12 than Best this season - less than an hour of playing time separates them - and their lineout statistics are identical, with both boasting an 87% success rate.The statistics that separate them is at the breakdown, where Strauss 11 turnovers outweighs Best with five, and tackles, with Strauss putting in 64 hits to Bests 43. Richardt Strauss Aside from those numbers, the hookers have been making a practically even contribution on the field, but which one will make the greater impact on the day?The Ireland skipper is in no immediate threat of losing his spot in the team, but Strauss will view Fridays game as an opportunity to prove his worth to Joe Schmidt and his coaching staff who will no doubt be watching on. 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