5/30/09 Game Recap (3-2 Win)

Wow. That one word best describes Saturday’s regular season finale. The Devils overcame a late deficit to take a thrilling 3-2 win against the Hollister Tremors at Veterans Memorial Sports Complex in Hollister. The Devils trailed 2-1 with 5 minutes to play in the game, before rallying with a pair of goals to wrap up a 5 win, 2 draw, 2 loss season.

The girls came ready to play, as was indicative from the strong warm up before the game. When the opening whistle sounded, the Devils immediately went on the offensive.

Starting at the left fullback position, Sammie opened the game with a blast from the left side that sailed just wide of the right post. It would serve as a precursor to the salvo of shots that was forthcoming.

Marlene would split two defenders on the subsequent possession, putting a shot on goal from 15 feet out. The Tremors goal keeper gloved the shot to help Hollister weather the initial wave. The Devils would get another chance 4 minutes later on another drive up the left side by Marlene, but that ended with another save by the Tremors keeper.

Hollister would push the ball deep in the Devils zone midway through the opening half, drawing a corner kick. They would score on that chance at the 12 minute mark when the Tremor player assigned to take the corner lofted a huge ball over the Devils defense. The kick landed right on the foot of a teammate, positioned on the far post for the easy tap in.

The goal didn’t affect the drive in the Devils, who would continue to force the play to the Tremors half of the field with a constant stream of through balls that created more offensive chances. Audrey would take one of those balls up the left side before firing another shot that the Tremors keeper was forced to handle.

Marlene would knot the game at 1-1 a minute later with a 15-foot rocket that she unleashed from the just inside the left post. The shot was a live drive that hit the top right corner of the net a good 6 feet off the ground.

The second half of the game could have justified admission for the show that was about to begin.

The Devils continued to use through balls to jump the Hollister defense, but Tremor’s goal keeper played a fantastic game, gloving shot after shot.

Hollister would stake out a 2-1 lead with six minutes to play, when a dump-in was gloved by Shivani outside the box, setting up an indirect kick from just left of the penalty shot dot. The Tremors converted with the free chance, sending a shot right of the Devils wall and into the net.

Rather than pack it in so late in the game, the Devils went to work. Defensively, the Tremors would muster only one shot on goal that didn’t come off a corner or free kick.

The tide would begin to turn when JoJo got off a nice shot from the right side that was knocked down by a Tremors defender right in front of the goal line. Another Devil’s shot was turned aside by a hand ball in the box, but it went uncalled.

Clara would re-tie the game with four minutes left in the game when Courtney chipped a pass to her left across the goal line. Clara read the pass and headed for the goal, deflecting the ball with her knee into the goal. It was her first as a Devil, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The next minute turned out to be a goal keeper’s nightmare. First the Devils were awarded a direct kick 30 feet out. Grace took the shot and rang it off the right post. The deflection would land on Kelly’s boot for another shot that slammed off the opposite post.

The crowd was buzzing with all the shots that were being thrown on goal. The anticipation would come to a crescendo with the biggest goal of the season.

That goal would come in the waning minutes of the game after another wild flurry in front of the Tremors net. Grace would start the sequence with a corner kick that deflected off Tremors defender in the box. After a partial clear, the ball would find its way on a trajectory with the goal line. Clara grabbed the ball on the right post and chipped a pass to Courtney, who was parked right on the goal line. There was no doubt where the ball would end up after Courtney’s foot slammed the orb into the back of the net.

Game over. FANTASTIC way to wrap up the regular season.

Game Positives--

Defense: It’s important to recognize the fullbacks in this game, as they allowed only one shot on goal from the field. The Tremors goals came off a corner and a free kick. Clara, Jess, Karsyn, Lindsay, Ruhi and Sammie consistently shut down drives toward the Devils net all game, which was a great way to cap their overall performance this season. The Defense accounted for 5 shutouts in 9 games this season.

Quick Releases: As has been the theme in practice the last two weeks, the girls applied quick release shots, and it paid huge dividends for them. All three goals came on direct shots while receiving the ball, rather then trying to control and setup a shot.

Poise: After falling behind twice in the game, the team never got down on themselves. In fact, the Tremors goals seemed to inspire them to turn the level of play up a notch. They answered both goals with equalizers within 2 minutes of both tallies. When they needed that third goal, the intensity was elevated and it paid dividends.

Development Areas--

Consistency: Heading into the D2 Cup, the girls need to maintain their drive and desire to control the game. We didn’t stress this during the fall Cup and it hurt us. The girls will have four games in two days, so it will be important for them to focus on maintaining the same intensity they exhibited this past weekend.