MRL Game #2 vs Madison 56ers (WI)

The first half of our warm-up was absolutely abysmal.  The girls were not sharp, too lackadaisical, and not very focused.  The captains brought the team together about 15 minutes prior to kickoff to try and get people on the same page.  The girls' touches improved, but we still didn't start the game off well. 

Madison had us on our heels for the first 5 minutes.  We created two clear chances on goal but couldn't find the back of the net.  Madison countered on us quickly and effectively, forcing Tori (GK) into one spectacular save early on.  We settled in a bit but still did not have very good control of the midfield.  Tired legs due to thick grass and lack of game fitness took their toll on our central players. 

 Madison played a ridiculously high offside trap, leaving a TON of space behind them.  We just couldn't attack it well enough as our forwards, not use to the trap line, were caught offside time and time again. 

At half time we made a key adjustment, switching from our 4-4-2 into a 4-5-1.  We wanted our wide forwards to be a bit withdrawn, allowing them to attack the space behind Madison's defense facing up the field. 

It proved to be a good change as the girls found themselves on breakaway after breakaway in the second 35 minutes.

We got on the board 12 minutes into the half as Macky (RM) pinged a ball across the field to Millie (Att Mid) at the top of the box.  Millie took a good prep touch and hammered the ball into the left side of the net from 18 out.  After a number of very good chances, it was good to finally get on the board.

That kind of opened the flood gates a bit as we found ourselves time and time again in behind their defense with some quick play and slotted through balls.  

21 minutes in Soph (LD), from about 20 yards from midfield in our half, played a 30 yard ball through to Jill.  Jill went 1v1 on goal and buried a low hard shot for our second.

At the 28 minute mark we put the game out of reach.  Blondie (LF) received a ball from Soph (LD) at midfield, right in front of our bench.  She turned up field and found Ripper's feet for a Give & Go.  Ripper, seeing the defenders track Blondie, faked the Give & Go and ran straight at the Madison defenders.  40 yards later the ball was in the back of the net.  Great individual effort.  

3-0 in a game that honestly could have been 8.  Looking forward to a tough challenge tomorrow with Mequon in the morning (the defending Wisconsin State Cup Champs and a team we saw in our group at Regionals last year) and then FC Milwaukee in the afternoon.   

We ended the half 0-0.