Well Done!

Girls,
I think tonight was a testament to how much you have improved!  I wasn't at either indoor game, but when you played that team, I know it wasn't a good result.  I also know we played with 1/2 of our team each time, but regardless, today you did really well.

I felt, as Coach Eric mentioned, your passing out of the back was really nice to watch today!  They were holding a flat line the first half, and sometimes the second half.  The first half we possessed well, but were missing many opportunities to take advantage of the speed mismatches we had up top. Sometimes we might have possessed a little too much, when playing a little more direct, and allowing our speed to go 1 on 1 with their backs would have made more sense.  When we did do that, you saw what happened with the break aways!  One unfortunately being a blatant tackle from the goalie holding onto Morgans ankles--should have definitely been a PK, but... "if 'ifs and buts' were fruits and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas!"--girls, that basically means no excuses!

Anyway great first half goal.  Megan, so proud to see you slot that in, thanks for running in on it Danielle, and Jenna, GREAT strike for goal off of the deflection!  We have a few more great opportunities on wide open goal, but shot too high, or right to the goalie.  Anyway, we definatley had more opportunities and better possession.

I felt we began to expose them a little more.  Many times we beat their defender, and instead of attacking space and going straight to goal after we beat our mark, we passed into pressure for some reason?  Remember, when you beat your defender, explode into space with your dribble, unless someone is wide open for a better shot.

I have to say the other team has a nice team, and Coach Gesner does a good job with them.  And I knew Taylor Tolles was a good player, but she is better than I thought.  She is really a top notch striker.  Seeing that, and seeing we kept all of her shots just around the 18 yard mark, says a lot for our defense.  I know we began to focus on her and you guys did a great job, because like I said, she is very good and confident with the ball, and has great timing on her chop/cut with the ball.--well done defense.  And Olivia, thank you for making so many of those outside shots they had seem like very routine save for you--We don't take that for granted and appreciate you making things look easy!

I could talk about the good things each player did, because you all did very good things at times today.  But, I do want to take this time to give credit to one player that I thought had a very good game yesterday, and really had a GREAT game today.  Hope Karnes!  You were great with your defense on the ball, and great with the ball at your feet.  You ran through and won so many 50/50 balls, and you dribbled and exploited space in front of you, and almost always connected your passes.  Well done Hope!  Keep that up.

Oh, and definitely should have been a second PK call that second half--I know, I felt bad for you girls walking away with at Tie when two blatant PK calls were missed--but again, if ifs and buts were fruit and nuts....!  Moral to take away--finish the chances you get so we don't put games like that in the refs hands...

Well done girls, lets get the Win tomorrow and go 2-0-1 with these three games in three days!

Coach Brian