Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Getting Ready for the Stanford 4v4 Tournament

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Sunday we will play in the Stanford 4 v 4 tournament. This is going to be a fun tournament for our girls. All teams will play six games. Rather than trying to organize anything too elaborate for food, I would like the girls to bring their own lunch with them to the field. Last year, some of our best fun was found playing soccer on the field during lunchtime with parents. Here is list of things to bring:

* backpack and ball
* both shirts and both socks (shirts are very important)
* sunscreen, chapstick, and hats
* jackets and sweats
* lots of water
* lunch and lots of healthy snacks
* something to keep them occupied between games
* blanket, towel, chair, umbrella for hanging out
* soccer sandals for in between games
* money if you choose for snacks and/or soccer merchandise
* a pack mule to carry all of their stuff :)

I will be at the tournament very early to save a spot and check in our team. We have five Alliance teams coming to the tournament. We are going to try to set up together in the Eucalyptus grove together. We will play on the Cagan Field and our home base will be in the Masters Grove next to that field. Here is a link to a [campus map]

I personally think that the most clear driving directions (not necessarily the fastest) to the field are to take 280 north, take the Page Mill exit and make a right on Page Mill. Follow Page Mill all the way to the El Camino. Make a left on the El Camino. The field is on the left a few minutes up. If you hit the Embarcadero, you have gone too far.

The girls should be at the field by 8:15. We will have three, twenty-minute games between 9am and noon. There will be a two hour lunch break. The girls can get autographs from Stanford players during lunch. Play will resume at 2pm. They will play three more games from 2pm to 5pm.

I will be at the field all day. If you need to leave, just let me know and I will supervise your daughter.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the tournament.

Coach Sonya

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4/26/09 Game Recap (2-0 Loss)

The Devils suffered their first loss in 4 games on Sunday as they played the back end of a weekend double header against the West Valley Surefire at the Sunnyvale Soccer Complex, falling 2-0.

Since losing to the Los Gatos Wildcats in the first week of the season, the girls have steadily improved their game. Even though they came out on the short end of the score, they turned in one of their better performances of the year.

Playing a tenacious game, the Devils played an up and down game, exchanging scoring chances early in the contest before the Devils settled down.

The Devils got a bit of a pick-me-up, when Audrey showed up for the game, battling the flu. She would start the first half in goal, which turned out to be a bigger plus for the team. The Surefire would put three shots on goal in the first half, but she collected each shot.

Grace continues to get batter with each game. She controlled the midfield with her aggressiveness to the ball.

The game looked as if it might end in stalemate until West Valley put a shot across the goal on a deflection following a corner kick with 7 minutes to play. They would convert 2 minutes later on a shot from inside the box.

Putting one more rush on the attack, the Devils tried to cut into the Surefire lead, but an indirect kick went awry.

The defense deserve kudos for their play. Ruhi, Karsyn, Clara, Jess, and Lindsay played exceptionally as a unit, limiting the opposition’s offensive chances for a majority of the game.

Game Positives—

Marking: This was a point of contention against the Jaguars and it was self corrected by the girls after we discussed this following Saturday’s game. It was nice to see the focus on this part of the defensive play.

Toughness & Intensity: We asked the girls to step up and they all responded with great results. Pursuit of the ball and not backing down to the physical play of the opposition was great to see.

Fundamentally Strong: We emphasized the basics, and the girls responded. There were few mistakes in the game, which was the result of strong fundamental play

Development Areas—

Attention to Details: The girls tried to create opportunities (which is a good thing), but the execution was stymied by breakdowns with simple skills. Small game play along the lines was affected by simple passing mistakes.

Lack of Shooting: We didn’t generate many scoring opportunities, even though the ball was deep in the offensive zone on several opportunities. Rather than creating offensive chances by putting the ball on net, there were several instances when the ball was held too long.

Response on Corners: West Valley utilized a short corner kick to a midfielder down the line, but the Devils were slow to react to the play.

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Spring 2009 Game 4 Photos

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[Click here] for a slideshow

[Click here] for all photos

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4/25/09 Game Recap (0-0 Tie)

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Playing on the road for the first time this Spring, the Devils turned in another defensive gem, tying the Central Valley Jaguars 0-0 at Femmatre Middle School in San Jose on Saturday. The Devils held the Jaguars to a single shot on goal, while applying plenty of offensive pressure on their cross-town opponents.

Courtney turned in a fine performance, demonstrating her quickness on the right side. She employed several crossing chances that setup scoring chances for the other forwards.

Marlene almost converted midway through the first half with a shot that hit the goaltender in the arm and slipped through her grasp. With the ball rolling toward the goal, Courtney pursued the loose ball, but the keeper pounced on it with a big lunge before the Devils forward could reach the ball.

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Jess has quietly become a solid defender, and her initiative to the ball is being recognized by the coaching staff. She played one of the most aggressive games we’ve seen from a Devils backliner, stopping offensive chances by anticipating passes and moving to the ball well.

The Devils almost scored what may have been the games only goal early in the second half with a booming shot from well outside the box. A Jaguars defender just managed to step in front of the shot, deflecting it just enough to push the ball wide of the right post. The shot only missed by an agonizing 2 to 3 feet.

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Sammie played with cool confidence on the backline, stepping into several attempts by the Jaguars to move the ball up the line. She has become more fearless when an opposing player tries to barrel up the line. She used her strength to flat out stonewall several attempts by the Jaguars to encroach into the Devils zone on Saturday.

Game Positives—

Good Offensive Drives: When we gained possession of the ball, the forwards and mids drove to the goal in proper formations, which enabled several quality scoring chances.

Crosses: The forwards are starting to employ crosses much more effectively. Courtney had several chances from the right side, and Christene put two chances into the box from the left side.

Defense: The mid and full backs were well positioned and did a great job of stepping into shooting lanes when the opposition would wind up for a shot. The defense limited the Jaguars to two shots on goal, both of which were not high percentage shots.

Development Areas—

Right of Way: There were numerous occurrences of players stepping into the path of a teammate who had control of the ball, or would try to overtake a teammate when facing the wrong direction.

Lack of Shooting: Rather than taking shots when the opportunities arose, we had too many instances of ball handlers trying to walk the ball deeper into the attacking zone.

Defensive Stance: While the overall defense was fantastic, we had several instances of the defenders be flat footed with hips open to the attacker, rather than being in the defensive stance that we have been practicing. This led to attackers moving around the defense.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

Spring 2009 Game 3 Photos

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[Click here] for a slideshow

[Click here] for all photos

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4/18/09 Game Recap (1-0 Win)

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The Devils built on their big win over the De Anza Tidal Waves with another strong performance on Saturday, defeating the MVLA Typhoons 1-0 at the Sunnyvale Soccer Complex. The Devils played a big defensive game, thanks in part to a big goaltending performance in the second half.

The girls wasted little time dictating play, taking the control of play from the opening whistle. Courtney put a big shot from the right wing 4 minutes into the game, missing wide right.

The Devils would convert the only goal of the game 2 minutes before half-time. Marlene carried the ball up the left side, before cutting back to her right just short of the end-line. She put the ball on her right foot and sent a 35-foot crossing pass to the far side of the small box, where Audrey was waiting. Audrey collected the pass and chipped home the 5-foot shot for the 1-0 lead.

She would almost score her second goal of the game 4 minutes later, when Grace setup a scoring chance with a booming free kick from mid field. A pair of Typhoon defenders collapsed on Audrey to snuff out the chance, but not before a shot attempt missed to the left.

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The back-liners rarely allowed the ball to enter their own box, playing exceptionally well in tight quarters. Ruhi played her typical solid game, snuffing out anything that came her way. Lindsay played one of her strongest games as a Devil on the back line, carrying several deep balls out of the corner to avert any Typhoon scoring chances.

Game presence was the theme of the day. On a Typhoon goal kick, Courtney read a short ball, intercepting it at the top of the box with a one-time shot that sailed just wide right. Three feet to the left and the rocket shot catches net in the top right corner.

Making her first start at center-mid, Grace played exceptionally well, commanding the play with aggressiveness to the ball. Her nose for the ball was evident late in the game when she played back and picked the pocket of two Typhoon forwards as they started to press the offense.

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The Typhoons would turn up the heat midway through the second half with a series of shots that reached the goal. Audrey played huge in net, making two big saves. She knocked down a shot that was just above her head and calmly scooped up the deflection, then was forced to make a save by moving laterally on a shot that was sent across the goal mouth.

E played several positions, showing her versatility. Katrina played a strong game at outside mid, and consistently shut down her mark with nice footwork and persistency toward the ball.

Game Positives—

Through Balls: Pushing the ball up the lines for the forwards to chase was a point of focus in practice and the girls applied the technique wonderfully during the game. Courtney and Marlene were given the opportunity chase several balls that were pushed up by the mids.

Switching & Passing: Another emphasis in practice has been on positional switching and moving the ball to a teammate who has switched positions with the person carrying the ball. It was great to see this being utilized, especially in traffic.

Head Balls & Traps: While we haven’t spent as much time focusing on head balls and traps, they were both used frequently in the game. More importantly, the girls are recognizing when it makes sense to utilize these moves.

Development Areas—

Goal Side Marks: This has proven to be the one thing we need to reiterate every few practices. With the defense playing so well, the girls started to move away from playing good, fundamental soccer. Allowing your opposition to get position toward your own goal will only lead to bad things. It’s a simple technique that pays big dividends.

Quick Releases: There were several instances of players holding the ball too long, which allows the defense to collapse on the attack. We need to make sure that line-mates are moving to space to create passing opportunities, and that the player controlling the ball looks to advance the ball in traffic with quick passing.

Mid Transitions: The mids were not making the transition from offense to defense, and vice versa as diligently as we would like to see. Defensive responsibility is priority, so not getting back to help back on defense is something we want to curb as much as possible. Making transitions from defense to offense quickly is what creates scoring chances. The score was indicative of our failure to capitalize on these type of transitions.

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring 2009 Game 2 Photos

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[Click here] for a slideshow

[Click here] for all photos

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4/11/09 Game Recap (9-0 Win)

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The Devils offense exploded on Saturday for 9 goals en route to a 9-0 win over the newly formed De Anza Tidal Waves at the Sunnyvale Soccer Complex. After failing to generate any goals the week prior, the Devils spread the wealth with six different Devils scoring goals. Christene led the charge with her first hat trick as a Devil.

Not knowing what to expect, the Devils started the game with players starting in their regular positions. The goals came early and often. Christene got the Devils on the board in the first minute of play, taking a pass up the left wing from Grace, then racing in on goal and launching a 25-foot shot that tucked inside the left post.

She would repeat the play 2 minutes later, racing around the left wing then sending a shot across the grain for the 2-0 lead.

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Jessica O scored her first goal as a Devil 4 minutes later after a wild scrum in front of the Tidal Wave net. Kelly and Marlene took a series of shots from inside the box before the ball chipped outside the right post. Jessica gathered the loose ball on the right side and knocked the rebound in for the 3-0 lead.

Christene completed her hat trick with a rocket from the left corner of the box that hit the top right corner of the box right before the end of the first half.

The big lead allowed the coaches to move players to positions they don’t normally play.

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Traditionally a back, Karsyn was given an opportunity to play at forward and capitalized on the chance by taking a pass from Ruhi up the right wing, before ripping a 30 foot shot past the goaltender at the start of the 2nd half for her first career goal.

Lindsay would make it 6-0 less than two minutes later when she scooped up a deflection on the left side then lofted a shot over the goaltender for her second career goal.

Ruhi, the team sweeper, was given a chance to play up and would scored her second career goal as a Devil 3 minutes later, splitting two Tidal Wave defenders then snapping a shot into the goal from the left side.

Sammie got in on the action and made it 8-0 with a shot from the left side after beating a defender up the left side. She took a line feed near midfield, then raced in on net. She used her left foot to punch the ball past the Tidal Wave goaltender for her 2nd career goal.

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Defensively, Grace, Clara and Jess put the clamps on the Tidal Wave offense, only allowing two shots on goal the entire game. Jessica O made her debut in goal and came up with a big save late in the game, punching a chest high shot clear of the goal.

Ruhi would cap the game’s scoring by punching in her second of the game on a deflection from the left side. Using her left foot, she rocketed a shot that hit the back of the net.

The game turned out to be a mismatch, to no fault of the Tidal Waves, but the girls must prepare for their next opponent with the midset that the competition will get tougher this season.

Game Positives:

Shots, Shots, Shots – There was no shortage of shooting in this game, which has been a focus in practice. You don’t score if you don’t shoot, and this game was a great indicator of what can happen when you put the ball on goal.

Passing – The starting forward played several crossing chances exceptionally well. Marlene alone had three beautiful crossing passes that resulted in scoring chances.

Momentum – The entire team never took their foot off the gas, which in a blowout, isn’t always the best way to treat an opponent, but for those players that don’t get many chances to play forward it was an understandable reaction.

Development Areas:

Defensive Marking – The team showed improvement in this area, but it is still something we must develop, especially as we match up against strong teams. Veteran and new players alike must focus more attention on reading defensive situations and understand how to counter those situations.

Recognizing Outlets – Younger players tend to get drawn into the mindset that you must always move the ball forward. Utilizing open teammates in front or behind is something we will focus on in practice and hopefully apply more readily in game situations.

Passing to space – This was a good opportunity for the girls to hone their passing to open areas. We are focusing more and more attention on dump and chase tactics up the wings, which can translate into scoring chances when followed up with crossing passes. We have the crosses down, now we need to develop the situations that allow for deeper attacks.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Devils help launch new WPS FC Gold Pride

Celebrate!
Several Devils players and their families attended the inaugural FC Gold Pride game at Buck Shaw Stadium on Sunday, to kick off the new Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league vs. the Boston Breakers. Those in attendance were treated to a thrilling 2-1 win by the Pride, on a goal by US National Team player Tiffeny Milbrett in the 90th minute of play.

The game was fast paced and a great example of what soccer is like at the highest ranks in the world. Players from Brazil, Japan and Canada all join the large U.S. contingent that makes up these rosters.

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The Pride are led by team captain Leslie Osborne (U.S. National Team), Milbrett, and World Cup hero (and local girl) Brandi Chastain.

Chastain subbed in for Osborne early in the second half and showed why she’s still one of the world’s finest midfielders in the women’s game today. Chastain’s international days are over, but her participation in the WPS helps bring immediate legitimacy to the league.

Former Brazilian superstar Sissi is also an assistant coach for the Pride.

The starting goaltender, Nicole Barnhart, was tested often during the match, which pegged the Pride against current U.s. National team players Kristine Lilly, Heather Mitts and Angela Hucles.

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As an added bonus, the girls were invited to play at on the field in a scrimmage following the contest. The Devils were teamed up with players from the SASC Blades, and scrimmaged against the SASC Top Gun. Thanks goes out to the Blades for extending the invitation to join in on the action.

For more information on the Pride, checkout their website at: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/bayarea/

For more photos of the event, [click here for a slideshow] or [click here for individual shots].

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Monday, April 6, 2009

4/4/09 Game Recap (2-0 Loss)

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The Devils started their 2009 Spring campaign with a hard fought game against the Los Gatos Wildcats on Saturday morning. Having been elevated to a bracket consisting of some teams that were in the higher Class 3 – A Group last fall, the Devils will face stiffer competition this season. That was evident from the opening whistle.

Los Gatos struck early, taking the opening kickoff and driving up field and scoring in the game’s first minute. A Wildcat forward pumped a shot from the right corner of the box across the goal mouth from 40 feet. Starting in goal, Karsyn lunged to her right in an effort to stop the shot, but the ball slipped under her right arm and into the net.

6 inches lower and Karsyn makes that stop.

The remainder of the half was spent shaking out the cob webs of a long winter break, although the girls looked good in the season opener. The coaches started most of the returning roster players in an attempt to let some of the new Devils get to track the pace of the game before being cast into a live game situation.

Our five new Devils looked great....

Coach Sonya subbed in the new Devils over the first two substitutions, and the girls looked right at home in their first league game donning the red, black and white.

Clara and Grace rotated at center-mid and played exceptionally well. Both girls were aggressive to the ball, and let their natural instincts keep the Wildcats in check for a majority of the game.

Katrina and Jessica played at the outside mid, and both played well. Holding position is a difficult concept for rec players to grasp when they make the move to comp level play, but the pair did a great job.

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Elizabeth (E), played dual roles, first at outside defender, then at goaltender in the second half of the game. She used her speed effectively, helping to stave off several chances by the Wildcats. In net, she looked like a seasoned pro, but fell victim to a crazy hop on a long shot that skipped over her shoulder. There was little she could do to stop the shot, which was skipping across the grass, before it jumped on her at the last second.

Having scrimmaged the Wildcats last fall, the coaches elected to go with two taller players in net, to offset the high shots we saw last October. That strategy backfired as both goals were low line drives. Hats off to both our goaltenders for being the first to get the call in net this season.

Our veteran players continue work hard and gelled well as a team with the new comers. Ruhi once again anchored a solid backline that spent much of the game clearing chances safely to the outside. The defensive corps was spearheaded by Shivani, Jess, Lindsay and Karsyn (Clara and Grace both took turns in the back as well), who all helped suppress a very potent Wildcat offense.

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Sammie continues to build on her aggressiveness at mid and helped ease the newer mids into the fray. The forward rotation of Marelene, Audrey, Christene and Courtney got off to a slow stat, but by the start of the second half, they began to formulate scoring opportunities by making passes that were on target and directed to open space.

While the score wasn’t in their favor, the girls played exceptionally well. It was clearly a testament to their progression as a team.

As is the case with all game recaps, the coacheds try to identify areas that we want to commend and focus some attention on areas of development:

Game Positives:

Good line movement – The girls did a great job of moving the ball up the lines, and moving laterally when necessary. This has been a focus for the backs, mids and forwards, and it was applied well in this game.

Solid defensively – The defense continues to be a strength for the Devils. They kept a very talented offensive team in check for a majority of the game.

Free kick situations – The entire team reacted well to defensive free kick situations, which has been an Achilles heel in the past. The girls also had two free kick opportunities that turned into scoring chances.

Development Areas:

Defensive marking - Marking the middle of the field on defense created several chances for the Wildcats, who figured out how to generate breaks. The girls were drawn to the ball, rather than playing goal-side and eliminating these chances.

Moving to the ball – We will be focusing more attention on being assertive in attacking the ball. This is not a natural trait in young players, who need to be aggressive to the ball. Fast teams take advantage of this, as was the case on Saturday.

Passing to space - Rather than always directing passes directly to a teammate, we need to focus on leading the pass. This is typically done by mids to forwards who have open space in front.

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