USA Cup Game #1 vs FC Barrington (IL)

I love the USA Cup. I remember playing in the event back in 1985 when I was a U16 player in Rochester, MN. We opened the tournament against a team from Hungary, peeing in our shorts from nervousness playing an international team. Before our shorts dried we were down 3-0, but battled back to win the game 4-3. It’s fond memories like this that I still carry with me to this day thanks to this event, and memories like this that I want my girls to experience. Yes, the price of admission is not cheap to participate here, but I think the positives about being part of this event are priceless (cliché, I know).

We won the event last year, fighting our way early in the week against teams from Montréal, Hawaii, California, and Illinois, before beating a very strong Vancouver team in the final in overtime.   The girls were excited to be back in the tournament this year.

My thought this year is to end our season with an event that will not only be fun for the girls, but also likely allow me to play the girls in many different positions, allow them to hopefully see lots of success, and head into the upcoming tryouts confident of their own abilities.

We opened the event yesterday against FC Barrington (IL). For the first time I can remember, we stepped on the field against a non-Minnesota team who looked scared to play us. I don’t know what they knew about us, but like I would have done, I bet their coaches researched a bit the teams they would face. I think they knew about our success this summer and were a little bit in awe. I could tell from the way their girls eyed the Goo Girls as they approached the field and in warm-ups. I wanted to try and capitalize on this apparent fear and subsequent tentative early play, so we came out with a powerful attacking formation. It worked out well for us.

In the first 90 seconds, some creative combination play from Ripper (CM) and Millie (CM) in the middle of the field and then some more combination play from Bidi (RD) and Becs (RF) on the right flank finished with a great cross by Becs to the far post that Sting (LF) slotted home.

Two minutes later, some panicked defending at the top of the Barrington penalty box resulted in a direct free kick being awarded for us. Millie (CM) stepped up and hammered the ball over the wall into the top of the net to double our lead.

In the 22^nd minute, another great diagonal cross from Becs (now at RD) found Sting (LF) over the top and Sting finished neatly for her second goal of the match.

Five minutes later, Sting completed her hat trick. Millie (now at CF) went 1v1 down the right flank and pulled a cross back to the top of the box for Hannah (CM). Hannah went in for the 50/50 challenge and the ball popped out to Sting (LF) who finished her third.

4-0 at the end of the half in a very good performance.

Barrington came out stronger in the second half, but we didn’t let up. Three minutes after the kick off, Maddie (LD) found Ripper (CF) on a diagonal run with a great left-footed ball down the line from midfield. Ripper controlled the ball, turned to face the defender, and went 1v1. She cut across the field onto her right foot, danced by another recovering defender, and smacked a hard shot into the far post. 5-0.

Barrington got on the board in the 42^nd minute. A free kick from midfield was sent to the top of our box. We had two girls go to challenge for the ball, but it squirted past them to a wide open Barrington forward. Our players were caught watching instead of marking and tracking after the ball was initially struck, and the Barrington forward was left with too much time and space. She settled the ball, took a third touch, then toe-poked the ball into the net. Their team went wild, I was a little disappointed on the poor defending from all our players.

Two minutes from time, Maddie (LD) found Lily (LF) with another neat ball down the line. Lily controlled the ball, cut inside onto her good foot, and sent a great cross to the far post that Bidi (RF) ran onto and finished.

6-1 and a good start to the event.