State Cup Semifinals vs Wings

There was a good vibe among the players prior to our semifinal match up against the Wings. Many girls had arrived early to the Coon Rapids fields and the chatter and goofiness as we sat around to watch the U14 semifinals was fun to be around. I had the girls head to our field to begin our warm-up about 35 minutes prior to kick off. We started with some athletic movements, then took a break to stretch and cheer on our U14 White team as they headed into PKs vs Eden Prairie on an adjacent field. I wanted to keep the girls focused on the game, but the drama and potential upset brewing on the other field was impossible to battle against. I didn’t see much of the U14 game so I don’t know how the game flowed, but I think most people would agree with me that it would be an upset if our White team won.

As it happens, Ripper’s sister Chelsea (GK for our U14 team) made a key save (with us cheering her on in support) and the White team won the shootout to advance to the finals against our Blue team.

It was a great result for the White team and for the club as a whole to have a Bangu vs Bangu match up in Minnesota’s biggest soccer competition. The goal was now to mimic the same match up at the U13 age group. Our U13 White team would need to get past a very much improved Green team in one semi, and we’d have to get past the Wings.

It was really neat to see three of our club teams in the semifinals.  All three teams had played well to get where they were, and the draw had also been favorable as none of the teams had to face each other in pool play.  I expected our Blue and White teams to make it this far, I did not expect it of our Green coming, having to battle their way through a group with Cottage Grove, EP, and Blaine.  The Green team has worked very hard these past 10 months and deserve to be where they are at.

To be honest, I wasn’t too worried about getting a result today. This is taking nothing away from the Wings coach, his players, nor from the Wings club as a whole. I had seen the team play a few games already this tournament, and I just didn’t think they had the technique nor the athleticism to put up much of a fight. Is this egotistical? I don’t think so… just an opinion based on what I’ve see and what I think I know about the game. If I was proved wrong, so be it.

We came out and got on the score board in the 2^nd minute. Lily’s (CM) persistence and hard work saw her block a Wings defender’s clearance at the top of their box. She followed the ball as it ricocheted towards the endline to the left of the goal (as we faced it), kept the ball in play with some great skill, and hit a tough angle shot at goal. The Wings GK got a hand to it, but the ball snuck in the near post. Nice start.

We controlled most of the half, but were unable to break through for another 20 minutes. The girls doubled their lead in the 22^nd minute as Jilly (RF) served in a dangerous cross of a corner kick. The ball was deflected out to the top of the 6 yard box by the GK in traffic, and Blondie (LF) pounced on the loose ball and slid the ball into the net.

Five minutes later, Millie (LF) received a ball in the left corner of the field, danced along the endline towards goal at an acute angle, and pulled a ball back to Brownie (CM) who finished first time.

Our final goal of the half came at the 31^st minute as Maddie (LD) found Millie (LF) with a terrific 30-yard pass to feet. Millie turned, beat the last Wing’s defender 1v1, and finessed the ball past the Wings GK.

At halftime, we talked about increasing our challenge in the game by going to 3-touch in the attacking half (except on breakaways) and looking to keep the ball on the ground (no long balls) except off crosses. I mentioned to the girls that even though the game was pretty well in hand, they should not let up defensively and take pride in the fact that we’ve been able to keep clean sheets in every game thus far.

The second half was pretty much like the first, seeing us with the great majority of possession and attack. It was more difficult for us in the attacking half with the touch restriction, but that was the idea. We created a handful more chances, finally finishing our 5^th goal one minute from time with Scratch hitting a left foot shot off the near post on a breakaway.

Our White team got by our Green team 1-0 in the other semifinal, so the anticipated Blue vs White match up was set.