For the last game of the MSPSP league season we faced the Troy Alliance...a co-champion from last year's league and winner of several pre-season tournaments. But we finally had our full roster available. In a pre-warmup discussion, we made it a priority to focus our efforts and properly prepare for the game. I also told the players to end this season like they started it...in control and with a "W". They did not disappoint.
The team came out from the opening whistle pressing the Alliance players back into their own half of the field while out-possessing them by keeping the ball on the ground and playing to feet and open spaces. For the game, the Warriors outshot Troy 18-2, with 11 shots in the first half alone. Things were a little frustrating to start as we racked up a number of shots...with no goals to show for them. Hannah Huff broke things open with a 20 yard strike from center to give us our first goal.
In the second half, the Alliance came out strong (as I coached the team they would) and made a couple of good attempts on our net. Katie Ging was subbed in at forward after playing the first half as the keeper...and the team keeper proceded to nail a low driven ball at the Troy net that resulted in our second goal. It quieted the Troy comeback to say the least. Erin Castillo weathered the attempted comeback by Troy as the keeper in the second half and played excellently.
Emily Loza pursued a ball all the way to the Troy endline, pulled it back, and sent a beautiful arcing cutback pass back into the six yard box. Kara Birrell was there to receive and made a very creative play on the ball - curling it up and over the keepers head and into the net with her back to the net. It was a good way to put a cap on the game and the outdoor season.
The defense, led by Kelsey Beach, denied all attempts by the Troy team to penetrate. Aimee Jackson, Emily Mayer, Faith Lieder, Lisa Zaffina, and Shellie Marentette cleared early in our own defensive third...but played the ball under control in the midfield as directed. They filled space and shaped their defensive line based on what the game was showing them. The maturity of this group was impressive.
The midfield contracted and expanded as needed, and played wide and long as the game developed. Jessica Cook had an impressive outing, battling for every ball and setting up several opportunities. Similarly, Emily Loza, Hannah Rhoades, and Erin Castillo all added strength on the outsides...playing the touchline and switch/flighted ball well. Emily Rozin and Hannah Huff owned the middle of the field allowing very little penetration while setting up a lot of our wide play and strikes from the middle.
As we played most of the game in a 4-4-2 shape to counteract Troy's midfield, our forwards had their work cut out for them as they had to work to avoid being stranded. To be most effective they would have to play within the width of the frame of the net and allow the midfield to wrap around them to develop the attack. For the most part that is how things evolved...but we have a very fast set of strikers in the grouping of Shelby Watts, Meggy McConkey, Andrea Dumais, Alyssa Bolling, and Kara Birrell, so it is tough for the midfield to catch up to them. A few well-placed chips and splits and the strikers found themselves in a couple of breakaways...which unfortunately were not finished. The forwards did combine very well with each other and set up some very good opportunities.
This was probably the most well-played game of the season for the team. We were able to make use of all of our weapons, stuck to the game plan, and executed when it really mattered. They made it look easy against a very good opponent. We need to carry this effort into our indoor and training season...and ultimately into their high school seasons.
The team ended the outdoor season 5-2-2, with only 2 goals separating us from the top team in the division. It was a competitive division with the top 4 teams being separated by one point between each. Officially, we had the most potent offense with 24 goals in the league and the second most effective defense giving up only 9 goals in 9 games. Every game, every goal, and every play ultimately matters in the MSPSP season...as we found out once again this year.
Congratulations on a solid season.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
MSPSP League Game #8 vs. Clarkston Shadows (Loss 1-0)
An extremely competitive and exciting game between cross town rivals is one way to describe this contest. Another way is to say this game is the reason they make heart medication. Once again, injuries and absences factored into the final result...but we definitely had our share of opportunities.
We took the offensive from the first whistle and played extremely good possession soccer for the first 10-15 minutes. The passing game set up several good runs and two very good scoring chances in the early minutes of the game. Everyone played with extra intensity due to the familiarity with the opponent. In particular, Andrea Dumais who is a Clarkston HS student, played a great game and gave the Clarkston defense a lot to contend with. Shelby Watts and Alyssa Bolling played aggressively in the midfield and in the attacking third, as well as Emily Rozin who had a tough assignment all afternoon with Clarkston's star midfielder.
After a few fruitless attempts on net, the momentum began to swing over to Clarkston as they mounted the attack. Their strikers up top displayed a lot of speed and good ball control. Our defense still contained them all afternoon with the exception of one run on the outside where the striker took the inside track and struck on net for the only goal of the game.
Katie Ging made some exciting saves during this period to keep us in the game, but even as we pressed the attack...we could not find the back of the net. Panic in front of the net and failure to force the opposing keeper to do the hard work cost us this game.
We took the offensive from the first whistle and played extremely good possession soccer for the first 10-15 minutes. The passing game set up several good runs and two very good scoring chances in the early minutes of the game. Everyone played with extra intensity due to the familiarity with the opponent. In particular, Andrea Dumais who is a Clarkston HS student, played a great game and gave the Clarkston defense a lot to contend with. Shelby Watts and Alyssa Bolling played aggressively in the midfield and in the attacking third, as well as Emily Rozin who had a tough assignment all afternoon with Clarkston's star midfielder.
After a few fruitless attempts on net, the momentum began to swing over to Clarkston as they mounted the attack. Their strikers up top displayed a lot of speed and good ball control. Our defense still contained them all afternoon with the exception of one run on the outside where the striker took the inside track and struck on net for the only goal of the game.
Katie Ging made some exciting saves during this period to keep us in the game, but even as we pressed the attack...we could not find the back of the net. Panic in front of the net and failure to force the opposing keeper to do the hard work cost us this game.
MSPSP League Game # 7 vs. Michigan Gators (Loss 3-2)
At this point in the season, this game was between the #1 and #2 teams in the division. Unfortunately, we came into this game with a series of unfortunate injuries and absences, half of which happened to be in the defense. We made several adjustments to bolster the defense while balancing the midfield and strikers. We had several individual standouts in the game, but just never seemed to click as a team on this cold gameday.
Alyssa Bolling aided the defense and played an extremely physical game on both ends. She added a goal off a well placed corner kick from Hannah Rhoades to give us the first lead. Shelby Watts made a good run into the attacking third and got dumped in the 18 yard box. Moments later, Hannah Huff would finish a penalty kick to give us our 2nd and last goal of the game. Kelsey Beach anchored the defense as we were forced to play a little more lean than normal under certain circumstances. Emily Loza played a physical game forcing several turnovers on the outside lane, while Hannah Rhoades contributed several flighted balls into the attacking third including one that rebounded off the crossbar and missed being a goal by mere inches.
Our main issue in this game came from the Gators star striker. Basically placing herself with the last defenders and waiting for thru-ball passes. The Gators only managed about 35% possession time with fewer than half the shots on goal as us...but they converted 3 of them into goals. It was a very competitive game overall...but definitely one we could have won. Tied 2-2, we got caught in transition between our 3-4-3 formation (to push for goal) and converting back to our 4-3-3 formation (to defend/balance). The Gators striker took the ball with a defender on her heels and finished one on us with minutes left in the game.
Alyssa Bolling aided the defense and played an extremely physical game on both ends. She added a goal off a well placed corner kick from Hannah Rhoades to give us the first lead. Shelby Watts made a good run into the attacking third and got dumped in the 18 yard box. Moments later, Hannah Huff would finish a penalty kick to give us our 2nd and last goal of the game. Kelsey Beach anchored the defense as we were forced to play a little more lean than normal under certain circumstances. Emily Loza played a physical game forcing several turnovers on the outside lane, while Hannah Rhoades contributed several flighted balls into the attacking third including one that rebounded off the crossbar and missed being a goal by mere inches.
Our main issue in this game came from the Gators star striker. Basically placing herself with the last defenders and waiting for thru-ball passes. The Gators only managed about 35% possession time with fewer than half the shots on goal as us...but they converted 3 of them into goals. It was a very competitive game overall...but definitely one we could have won. Tied 2-2, we got caught in transition between our 3-4-3 formation (to push for goal) and converting back to our 4-3-3 formation (to defend/balance). The Gators striker took the ball with a defender on her heels and finished one on us with minutes left in the game.
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