Russo and TCNJ look to cap remarkable run with fourth title
EWING » As Joe Russo, the 32year women’s soccer coach at The College of New Jersey heads into his final games, many are looking at it as a storybook ending to his unbelievable career.
Yes, in the sense of being able to go out potentially with another national championship, it is a storybook ending.
But, Russo and longtime assistant Bob Turner have grown this program into one of the premier women’s soccer’s groups in the nation.
During their 32-year run this is the 13th Final Four for the Lions, who are looking for their fourth national championship.
TCNJ (20-0-2) will face Wesleyan (18-1-2) in the national semifinal in Greensboro, NC at 1:45 p.m. on Friday.
The other semifinal will have Loras facing Christopher Newport at 11 a.m. The winners will meet on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. for the national championship.
“This is what we do and out of the 32 years we have been to 13 final fours, that’s almost half of the years,’’ said Russo.
“I’m content,’’ declared Russo. “We’ve accomplished everything we can at this level. I don’t want to sound pompous, but there is not an award, a championship and a trophy we haven’t won. When the girls said they want to do it for me I told them you do it for yourself and the person standing next to you, that is what it’s all about.’’
Russo brings an amazing 556-66-45 record into the Final Four, and just like every other trip it’s about the kids and coaching the kids and giving them the best possible chance at success.
He hasn’t even allowed the thought to creep into his head about retirement. He still has games to win.
“I haven’t even thought about it, I keep watching film on Wesleyan
and I think they are good,’’ said Russo, when asked about his emotions heading a final Final Four. “Whatever the outcome is that lays ahead of us, these kids have done all I have asked of them.’’
This is a special team, a very close team and a team that appears ready for the challenge.
“We want to finish this ride off on the right note,’’ said Julia Obst, a former Hopewell Valley player and TCNJ senior. “When he told us everyone was so still and it was really sad, but also it is making us want to win that much more, We want to win for him and mostly we want to win for each other. We are all onboard and passionate about wanting to win.’’
Obst and goalie Alex Panasuk are the only two with Final Four experience having been there in their freshman season. The pair decided to come back for their extra season.
“It’s a huge advantage for us because those two kids have been the backbone of this whole
group,’’ said Russo. “Having them come back and them being here is such a boost to the entire team.’’
While the accomplishments have been many this season, this NCAA run has been something a cup above.
They had to get past an old nemesis in Messiah in the first two rounds, and then despite being the No.1 ranked team in the nation all year they took to the road at Scranton to win twice to advance to the Final Four.
“The chemistry of the group is exceptional and that’s a credit to the captains and the seniors,’’ said Russo. “We have tried to impress on this group about not being satisfied. We can’t make the moment bigger than it is.’’
That pretty much sums up Russo’s career. Don’t make his retiring bigger than the task at hand and just go out and play TCNJ women’s soccer.
“It’s been a great run,’’ said Russo.
It’s not storybook ending — it’s been a storybook 32 years.