USA Cup Game #3 vs Tonka United (MN)

Our third group game pitted us against a Tonka United team from Minnetonka. I had seen the Tonka girls play earlier in the week vs Fondy, and was confident that we would find a result with a decent performance.

We came out a little slow, and allowed Tonka a few forays into our half.  Nothing too dangerous, but more attacking play for our opponents than I would have liked to see.  We'd given up a soft goal to FC Barrington on Tuesday, and I wanted the girls to take some pride in our defending, like we've done all year.

We settled in around the 15 minute mark and began to play some good soccer. 

In the 17th minute, Mackie (LF) played a low cross into to the box that Millie (CF) finished to give us the lead.

5 minutes later, the ball popped out to the top of the box from a volleyed clearance by a Tonka defender.  Nash (CM) tired to smartly controlled the ball with her head, then sprang forward to challenge for the loose ball in our opponents box.  The ball ricocheted out to the left and dropped to Maddie (LF) who took a touch and finished.

Within another 3 minutes we got our third.  The Tonka GK didn't get everything into a punt and the ball went straight to Maddie (now at RF) about 20 yards from goal.  Maddie controlled it well and rocketed a shot into the top of the net.

Our fourth came 10 minutes into the second half when Brownie's (LF) cross found Scratch (RF) in space, and Scratch buried a shot for her first goal of the tournament. 

We played well this game and I'm looking forward to some tougher competition heading into the playoff rounds tomorrow.