MRL Playoffs vs Ohio Premier Green (OH)

In our second game on Saturday we came up against Ohio Premier Green,  OP had beat Internationals and tied Michigan in their regular season, leaving them with 4 points coming into the weekend. 

We stayed with our 3-5-2 formation, and threatened from the get go.  With the wind at our backs we pressed the attack and created a number of chances in the first part of the half.  We lacked some finishing precision and didn’t get numbers in the box when we attacked the endline wide.

OP played 3 up top, so our only real tactical change was to invert our central midfield triangle to allow Ripper to play the lone defensive mid, floating in front of the OP attackers. 

The half ended 0-0.

OP was not better than us, they just out worked us in the game.  They wanted more than we did.  OP won most every air ball and 50/50 battle and had a talented player in the central midfield position who basically had her way with our central midfield players. 

3 minutes into the second half, we gave up a bad goal.  We knocked the ball out of bounds 10 yards into our own half on the left side, and then proceeded to tune out.  OP took a quick throw in and caught many of our girls by surprise and out of position.  Our panic led to a half clearance that OP won back and sent in a cross to the top of our box.  The ball took a hop past Hannah (RD) and an OP forward raced behind our back three to lob the ball over an on rushing Macky in goal.  Ugh. 

The rest of the half was one to forget.  We just lacked energy, effort, and passion on the field.  OP was decent but not better than us.  We just couldn’t get anything going.  It was very frustrating because I know the level that these girls can play at.  We didn’t get the results today, results that would have likely sent us to the MRL Premier League, but that wasn’t what had me concerned.  I just questioned if we were good enough to fight for a Regional title next weekend.  If we came in with the performances of the last two games, we’d be happy to go 2-1-0 in group play (because we wouldn’t beat Vardar) and make the drive back to MN.

By the way, when I say one to forget, we'll all never forget it.  We want to learn from it and build upon it to maximise future performance and development. 

Cook and I had a come to Jesus talk with the girls at the field after the game.  Everyone we came against this weekend and everyone we could come up against next weekend knows we are Region champs.  This means that our opponents are going to be focused and intense against us, knowing the level of competition they face.  We need to match that focus and intensity.  We need to battle harder for loose balls and in tackles.  We need to play with pride and desire in each and every game - today we didn’t.  We can’t make the girls want to play, make them want to compete.  Coaches can help motivate, but in the end the girls have to find that little extra in themselves if they want to excel at the top level. 

It’s all very frustrating to me as I know the quality of talent we have on this team.  I have to look at myself as well here and re-evaluate if I’ve done what I could to get the girls to the point they need to be to compete next weekend. 

Man, I feel for the Hannah and Macky who stepped in to play GK today.  It couldn't have been easy on either of them and I was proud of their willingness to take one for the team, so to speak.  It would be really nice to have Zazu back next weekend.