9/6/08 Game Recap (5-2 Win)

Devils Open the Fall 2008 Season HOT!

The Devils kicked off the 2008 Fall U10 season with a solid 5-2 win over the Monterey County FC Wolverines on Saturday. Mother Nature unleashed one of the warmest days of the summer, and the Devils responded with a hot hand, scoring three unanswered goals in the 2nd half to break a 2-2 deadlock to take their season opener.

The visiting Wolverines were playing with a roster of 8, which included one player who wasn’t feeling well. They were forced to play more than 10 minutes of the game down a player. To make things worse, they lost another player to injury with 5 minutes to play in the game.

The Devils took advantage of the Wolverines misfortunes by taking control of the game early in the 2nd period.

The girls opened the games scoring on a beautiful free kick that Marlene launched from 40 feet, tucking the ball inside the right post with a shot that sailed from left to right across the face of the goal.

MCFC tied the game three minutes later on a series of deflection that ended up in the back of the Devils net. Lindsay would help the Devils retake the lead at the 10 minute mark with a bomb from 60 feet that floated over the Wolverine goaltender. The Devil stood in stunned silence after booming the shot into the net.

MCFC would tie the game again late in the 1st half on a nice play after stealing the ball in the offensive zone and racing up field to put a laser into the back of the net. Several Devils stepped up their game, including Jessica who had several steals from the left mid position. She also teamed up with Courtney on several pretty give-and-go plays that resulted in scoring chances from the left side.

Steady midfield play by Maanasa and Kelly calmed things down and kept the ball in the offensive zone for much of the 2nd half. So much in fact, that Sammie faced no shots on goal the entire period.

Christene would give the Devils the lead for good two minutes into the 2nd half after she whipped around the left end and chipped a shot past the Wolverines goaltender. That goaltender would leave the game, giving the Devils a one-player advantage.

A minute later, Audrey narrowly missed on a shot from outside the box that rang off the left post. She wouldn’t miss on her next opportunity, working around a defender just outside the right post, then punching a 25-foot shot home for the 4-2 lead.
Ruhi anchored a solid defensive corps, stopping several breakaway chances after the Devils had established their two-goal lead. Her ability to stay calm under fire, along with great balling-handling skills secured the back line the entire second half of the game.

The Wolverines luck went from bad to worse with about four minutes to play. With the ball deep in their own zone, the MCFC goaltender tried clearing the ball, but it struck one of their own players in the face, dropping her near the penalty dot. Shivani scooped up the deflection then tucked a shot inside the left post for the final goal of the game.

Positive Takeaways from the Game --

Passing: This was one of the more consistent games the girls have played in terms of moving the ball. That in turn created more scoring chances and it forced the under-manned Wolverines to chase the play. Ball movement plays a more pronounced importance at this level, so it was great to see the girls putting these fundamentals into action.

Communication: The benefits we saw from the great passing, was a result of clearer communication on the field. We’ve been seeing more and more of this progression over time, but it really stood out in this game. The next step in evolving this skill is to make sure everyone on the roster, from goal-keeper to striker, employs this each and every play.

Big Foots: It was certainly obvious that the first two goals of the game for the Devils came as a result of big kicks, but the passing was also a benefactor of the increased velocity that the girls were getting on the ball. That was a focus area in practice leading up to this game, and will continue to be incorporated into training. We have a long way to go, but it was very encouraging to see the balls moving as they were.

Areas of Improvement--

Goal Side Marks: The first goal scored on the girls was a result of the opposition being allowed to roam in the box without clear coverage on the goal side of the ball. This is a fundamental skill that we’ll need to really drive home with everyone on the roster.

Transition to Defense at the Midfield Position: Midfield is arguably the toughest position to play in soccer, but it’s important to have a defensive minded approach, especially during transitions. We’re didn’t respond as well as we should have when the ball changed hands. This left the full backs in odd-man situations several times during the game.

Following Shots: Scoring opportunities can be few and far between in soccer, so it’s important to take full advantage of any chance you have. Chasing a ball that is already its way to the goal is not an innate skill that most players have, but if you learn to follow up on these chances, it will pay dividends from time-to-time.

All in all, a great start to the season. CYSA keeps league standings for all divisions including ours (Delgado Class 3 GU10), so be sure to follow them all season here. There is also a link to these standings in the links section of this team blog.