Game #1 vs. NMSC Thundercats (MSPSPL Premier 1, State ranked #10 at U16)
http://www.nationalsoccerranking.com/michigan.htm
Lady Warriors 0 NMSC Thundercats 2
This game was planned from the very start as a defensive match requiring strict adherence to shape and patience. The Thundercats are a state ranked premier team. The last time we played this team (in Midland last fall) we were not prepared for what they were bringing to the game...and they subsequently handed us a rare butt whoopin'. This time was a much different story. We planned a patient 4-4-2 formation with a 4-back flat defensive unit playing tight conservative soccer, a midfield that expanded and contracted based on possession, and forwards that created time when the ball was played up top to allow the team to fill in behind them and attack as a group. We knew that we would only get a few counterstrike chances and we would need to push and play hard for those couple of minutes that each opportunity provided. The team was patient and stuck to the game plan except for the last 90 seconds of the first half and a short 5 minute section of the second half...in which NMSC turned those breakdowns into goals each time. Their first goal with time running out in the first half was really caused by our own decision making. We failed to recognize the best passing option and subsequently allowed our defense to be isolated 1v1 against a very good ball handler. Their second goal was really caused by our collpase of shape in our own defensive third, where we became too "flat" and their roving attacker found the gap and put a good strike on net.
Having said all of that, I consider this game really a victory for us. The girls proved to me (and everyone else) that they can play a defensive/counterstrike game and adhere to a strict game plan when needed (valuable for high school play against the Avondales, Lake Orions, and similar teams). The defensive lineup of this game was intentionally modified - Kelsey Beach, Shellie Marentette, Aimee Jackson, Emily Mayer, and Faith Lieder continued in the rotation...but Hannah Huff and Meggy McConkey were also added to give us speed and control to counter the NMSC depth of attack. The forwards (Alyssa, Andrea, Shelby) executed on the "delay" mechanism of the game plan most of the time and we got a few very good attempts in on net.
An unfortunate turn of events occurred when Meggy McConkey pulled her upper quad muscle (a result of an even earlier "charlie horse" she was sporting) early in the first half and she subsequently had to miss the remainder of the tournament. We all wish Meggy a speedy recovery and plan to see her back in action later this week.
Game #2 vs. LOBOS 94
Lady Warriors 1 LOBOS 0
After the earlier game against NMSC, it was nice to transition back to a style of play where we could dictate the play. From the beginning we pressed the LOBOS back into their own half and had several early opportunities off of flighted balls from Hannah Rhoades or dangerous runs from Alyssa, Andrea, and Shelby. Hannah Huff pushed from the central mid spot and split their defenders on a nice run but her shot went wide. Through a combination of hurried finish attepmts and pure bad luck, we weren't able to find the back of the net for all of the pressure we were putting on them and subsequently it gave the LOBOS team confidence. They started to build up their attack and pressed our defensive unit more frequently and possession started to even out. Our defensive unit was up to the task and repelled all of their attempts. Katie Ging made a couple of good saves during this period of mounting pressure from the LOBOS.
Just before the half, Andrea Dumais crossed the ball into the 18 yard box and Shelby Watts put the ball in the net by redirecting it over the keepers outstretched hands. It would be the only goal of the game. We had several more chances off set plays (corners and free kicks) but we continue to need to work on meeting the ball as it arrives in the box rather than finding ourselves standing and waiting for it. We will continue to put focus on this aspect of our game...the ability to convert on "free shots on net" is paramount.
This game saw the return of Emily Loza to normal playing minutes after being sidelined for the majority of recent games due to a lower leg injury. Emily made the most of her time by roughing up the LOBOS midfield, both on the outside and centrally, based on need. Her ability to flight the ball and complement the attack generated by Hannah Rhoades on the other side is a major advantage to us.
Game #3 vs. Westside Soccer Club (Lapeer)
Lady Warriors 1 WSC 0
For our final game of the tournament we drew the Westside Soccer Club, which is really just the Lapeer West HS team competing together in the offseason. The real story of this game though was the environment. This was a 7:45am game where the fog had really rolled in and settled down into the bowl shaped playing pitch that we were competing on. You literally could not see more than 20-30 yards in any direction...but the officials deemed the conditions playable and we started on-time. Realizing that a long play style would get us in trouble due to visibility, we played in smaller groups throughout most of the match and looked for ways to isolate their defenders and make runs into their attacking third. Even though we pressed WSC pretty hard throughout the first half, especially on some very aggressive play from Alyssa Bolling and Emily Rozin, we just were not connecting on enough short/simple passes to establish the kind of rhytmn needed to build up a cohesive attack. Our passing decisions were very "north" based, meaning that we were looking to go forward too much, versus using much simpler central or even backward support passes. We did have a well executed trick play in the first half between Hannah Rhoades and Emily Mayer off a corner kick, where the fog aided us in decieving the Lapeer team. The resulting exchange between Hannah and Emily allowed Hannah to dribble practically to the goal where her strike just happened to find a piece of the aluminum pole versus the back of the net. We had a goal by Shelby Watts called back off of a corner kick by Hannah Rhoades where the goalkeeper juggled the ball in the air like a circus performer before it went in...but the official deemed that she had possession (uh ok).
The second half was much of the same, except that instead of the sunlight burning off the fog it actually seemed to get thicker on the Lapeer end of the field (we will blame the fact that we could not see the goal for some of our issues LOL). Ten minutes into the half, Hannah Huff and Andrea Dumais treated us to some exciting soccer and supplied the only goal of the match. Hannah had been moved up into the forward role along with Andrea and Alyssa during this rotation, and stripped the ball from a WSC defender deep in their own defending third. Huff put a good cross into the box and Andrea's hard run through the center of the box was rewarded with a spectacular header goal. A good finish executed with authority. WSC would not recover and we put this game away.
Summary
The team as a whole is shaping up well in expectation of our first MSPSL league game next Sunday versus CW3 Extreme. The focus for the next couple of training sessions will really be on identifying the simple passing options and creating attack through possession (in addition to more set play work). Confidence and momentum are important elements of this game. Stringing together a few simple passes, or getting a couple of quick low pressure saves for a goalkeeper, helps a team build confidence in themselves. Confidence turns into momentum when your team as a whole has found a rhythmn that forces the other team to play "reactive" soccer...where they are reacting to our attack and unable to formulate a cohesive one of their own. When the transition from defending to attacking occurs, it is important not to panic. How we handle the ball after we have won it is actually more important than the act of winning it in the first place. Settle down, let your training take over, and build up an attack based on possession. Like I have said before..."I do not remember ever having a training session where I asked you to just blindly kick the ball away or to pass the ball to a waiting defender". We spend so much time in training sessions on possession for a reason.
Next events:
- Scrimmage versus the Dexter Soccer Club in Dexter. 6:30pm Wednesday night 9/9. Email with directions forthcoming.
- Thursday night training at Rotary Park 6:30pm - 8:00pm.
- First MSPSL league game on Sunday at 6:00pm vs. CW3 Extreme at home (Civic Center)
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