10/18/08 Game Recap (2-1 Win)
The Devils got back into the win column on Saturday with a tightly contested 2-1 road win over Real Salinas GFC at the Constitution Soccer Complex. Coming off one of the best games of the season, the Devils had to renew their focus in order to come away with the victory.
Things didn’t quite start the way they had planned, falling behind early. Playing off a throw in from the left corner, a Real Salinas forward traversed through the Devils defense before putting a shot past Audrey for the 1-0 lead.
The speed of the Real Salinas forwards had the Devils on their heels, but the defense buckled down and kept the opposition off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.
The Devils would knot things up at 1-1 after Christene powered a shot past the Real Salinas goaltender. The play started with a long booming shot attempt from Marlene from midfield that drifted toward the left corner. Christene gathered the ball in and worked the ball around two defenders before pumping a shot that was partially blocked by the goaltender. The shot had enough velocity to find the back of the net.
The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 entering the break.
Anchored by solid defense that consistently shut down attempt to drive the ball up the middle of the field, the Devils preserved the tie and set themselves up for the opportunity to win.
That opportunity would surface on a pretty play that evolved with some very unselfish play.
Audrey would setup the game winner by carrying the ball up field, drawing two defenders to her. With a gap opening in the Real Salinas defense, she slipped a pass to the center forward spot, where Christene was perfectly positioned. All that remained was Christene’s deposit into the net with a shot from 20 yards.
The victory propelled the Devils into 2nd place in the Delgado Class 3 standings, just 2 points behind the West Valley Surefire.
Positives from the Game--
Resilience: The girls once again overcame a deficit, which is a testament to their composure. They’ve shown consistently this season that an early deficit is not something that will rattle them.
Energy: The effort in the 2nd half of the game was very impressive. They came on strong, and were rewarded with a goal. They also pressed the other team’s offense, which prevented many scoring chances by the opposition.
Defensive Teamwork: Real Salinas had several quick forwards that worked the ball well. That became moot because of the team defense the girls played, consistently stopping drives down the middle of the field. An honorable mention to Ruhi for her defensive play. Jessica, Karsyn, and Maanasa all stepped up their defensive game to control a very fast opponent.
Areas of Development--
Marking: The midfielders were consistently pulling back to mark the other teams forwards leaving the other teams midfielders open for attack. The girls also got caught double marking opposing players on the line, which resulted in unmarked opponents in the center of the field.
Understanding Switches: Real Salinas provided a great example of how positional switching can work to your advantage. The girls need to find their marks quickly in order to prevent easy opportunities to strike by the opposition.
Capitalizing on the Advantage: While it’s been a focus in practice, the girls need to recognize the advantage of indirect kicks when they are within shooting range. Confusion on one sequence prevented the Devils from capitalizing on a prime scoring opportunity. This will continue to be addressed in practice. The need for quick and decisive action when we are given the advantage will be stressed.
Things didn’t quite start the way they had planned, falling behind early. Playing off a throw in from the left corner, a Real Salinas forward traversed through the Devils defense before putting a shot past Audrey for the 1-0 lead.
The speed of the Real Salinas forwards had the Devils on their heels, but the defense buckled down and kept the opposition off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.
The Devils would knot things up at 1-1 after Christene powered a shot past the Real Salinas goaltender. The play started with a long booming shot attempt from Marlene from midfield that drifted toward the left corner. Christene gathered the ball in and worked the ball around two defenders before pumping a shot that was partially blocked by the goaltender. The shot had enough velocity to find the back of the net.
The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 entering the break.
Anchored by solid defense that consistently shut down attempt to drive the ball up the middle of the field, the Devils preserved the tie and set themselves up for the opportunity to win.
That opportunity would surface on a pretty play that evolved with some very unselfish play.
Audrey would setup the game winner by carrying the ball up field, drawing two defenders to her. With a gap opening in the Real Salinas defense, she slipped a pass to the center forward spot, where Christene was perfectly positioned. All that remained was Christene’s deposit into the net with a shot from 20 yards.
The victory propelled the Devils into 2nd place in the Delgado Class 3 standings, just 2 points behind the West Valley Surefire.
Positives from the Game--
Resilience: The girls once again overcame a deficit, which is a testament to their composure. They’ve shown consistently this season that an early deficit is not something that will rattle them.
Energy: The effort in the 2nd half of the game was very impressive. They came on strong, and were rewarded with a goal. They also pressed the other team’s offense, which prevented many scoring chances by the opposition.
Defensive Teamwork: Real Salinas had several quick forwards that worked the ball well. That became moot because of the team defense the girls played, consistently stopping drives down the middle of the field. An honorable mention to Ruhi for her defensive play. Jessica, Karsyn, and Maanasa all stepped up their defensive game to control a very fast opponent.
Areas of Development--
Marking: The midfielders were consistently pulling back to mark the other teams forwards leaving the other teams midfielders open for attack. The girls also got caught double marking opposing players on the line, which resulted in unmarked opponents in the center of the field.
Understanding Switches: Real Salinas provided a great example of how positional switching can work to your advantage. The girls need to find their marks quickly in order to prevent easy opportunities to strike by the opposition.
Capitalizing on the Advantage: While it’s been a focus in practice, the girls need to recognize the advantage of indirect kicks when they are within shooting range. Confusion on one sequence prevented the Devils from capitalizing on a prime scoring opportunity. This will continue to be addressed in practice. The need for quick and decisive action when we are given the advantage will be stressed.
Labels: 2008 Fall Season, league play, Real Salinas GFC
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