Tuesday, May 18, 2010

5/15/10 Game Recap (1-0) Win

The Devils got back on the winning track with an exciting 1-0 win over the Burlingame Twisters at the Sunnyvale Soccer Complex on Saturday afternoon. The girls dusted themselves off after their close loss to Santa Clara Sporting the week before, and went back to work on what turned out to be an unseasonably cold day.

The two teams opened the spring season back in April, playing to a 1-1 draw in Burlingame. This time, the Devils used their home field advantage to win the season series.

The Twisters opened the game with a jump in their step, and took it to the Devils defense through the first ten minutes of the contest. Making her second consecutive start in goal, Clara was up to the challenge, denying two quality shot in the opening minutes.

The Devils began to get their legs under them midway through the first half, creating a couple of runs up the flanks. Things turned ugly in the 15th minute, when a Twisters midfielder tackled Lindsay along the right sideline as the Devils defender streaked up the line. The tackle came from the blind-side, after Lindsay had released the ball. A yellow card was issued, but it wouldn't be the end of the physical play.

The Twisters countered in the 19th minute with a drive up the middle Clara made a spactaculr one-handed save off a bullet from the left side to preserve the 0-0 tie.

The Devils were then called for a hand-ball in the box on the next sequence, but the Twisters penalty shot sailed over the cross bar.

Ruhi, Karsyn, Lindsay and Jess did a fantastic job of surpressing the Twisters forwards, denying any breaks throughout the game.

The physical play would force Clara off after she was injured on a dangerous play in the box. Trying to field a ball from her keeper position, Clara was upended after a Twisters forward tried to get a foot on the ball. She would limp off the field after injuring her back.

The physicality served as motivation for the Devils, who regrouped at halftime, and put on a charge to start the second half.

Akayla would get things started by cranking a shot off the crossbar on a direct kick, after the Twisters goaltender was whistled for handling the ball outside of the box. Her shot bounced back into play where a wild series of shot attempts bounced around the perimeter of the goal before being cleared.

E would send a pretty 50-foot blast that missed just wide right at the 35 minute mark.

Audrey would finally crack the score sheet with a shot off a break on the left sidein the 37th minute. A Twisters defender stumbled on the play just as Audrey made a move to her left. As the Devils forward powered toward the goal, the Twisters keeper tried to atack the ball, attempting to tackle the ball by sliding sideways toward the attack. Audrey would get the shot off, before having her legs taken out by the keeper. The ball found the back of the net, and the entire Devils forward and midfields lines picked her up off the turf to celebrate.

The midfielders stepped up in the last 15 minutes, with consistent feeds to the forwards, keeping the ball out of the Devils zone. Grace controlled the middle with a timely interceptions throughout the afternoon. Christene excelled in a utility role, playing at forward, mid and defense.

Marlene would try to tack on to the Devils score with a shot in teh 50th minutes, that the keeper had to deny with a sprawling save. She would send another shot wide of the left post with 3 minutes to play.


Game Positives--

- Balls in the Air: The girls worked on improving traps and head balls throughout the week, and there was a marked improvement in this area. We still need to work on trapping high lofting balls.

- Perserverence: Rather than cowering from the physical play, the girls stepped up their own aggressivness on the field. We don't condone dirty play, but physical presence is a must as this team progresses to a high level of competition.


Development Areas--

- Communication: We had a number of times when there was confusion on which Devil would take the ball. he girls need to be more vocal on the field in order to communicate their intent.

- Right of Way: Along with communication, there were a few instances when we would step in front of a teammate preventing the player with the right of way from clearing the ball.

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