WDM Premier Games Game #2 vs JUSC (IA)

The wind had picked up considerably during the day and the wind played a huge factor in the U12 White's second game.  The first half was dominated by us scoring 3 goals and not letting the Blue Valley team out of their half.  The second half was controlled by them with us struggling to get out of our half, but they only managed to finish one of their chances.  I wondered if the wind would have an effect on our game.

Right after the game I took the scenic route through Des Moines to get to the Cownie Soccer Complex.  I arrived at the field just as the 12 Blues were kicking off on the field that we would be playing on.  It was really nice of the Tournament Director to set up Mark's 12's and my 13's with back to back game times on the same field.  

As the 12's began to dominate I made my way one field over to watch the Gladiator team from Nebraska playing Dakota Rev.  Whoever won this game would be the team who we would be playing tomorrow providing we played up to our potential in our 2nd game.  As soon as I arrived at the sideline Gladiator's CM cracked a 25 yard shot into the top part of the net to take a 1-0 lead.  1 minute later the same center mid played a through ball to set up a 2nd goal.  They scored another goal and missed a PK all in the first half.  

Gladiators were playing either a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3 but the key to their team was the 3 center midfielders.  I was really looking forward to playing against a team with 3 center mids because we have not played against a team with 3 center mids besides our 14's back when they were playing a 4-3-3.  With how well our center mids had played defensively in the first game I wanted to see how they could handle playing against a midfield trio.

Onto our game.  We started the game really well.  We were spread out and moved the ball all over the field.  We were very composed on the ball and the girls were seeing the benefit of proper spacing on the field and they were recognizing when to make certain runs.  Our only small issue was our forwards runs.  We haven't worked on them yet so I wasn't too worried, but we continued to talk to the girls on the sidelines about the different types of runs they could make.

We had numerous chances but the JUSC goalie continued to make good save after good save.  14 minutes in their goalie pushed a shot just wide of the post for a corner.  Becks swung the corner in and Sizzle ran onto it and flicked it to the penalty spot.  Jordy got a touch on the ball and it found it's way to Kari who hammered home the ball for our first goal.

Four minutes later we had a good passing movement that found Blitz (fwd) making a great diagonal through run towards the left corner, (Yes!  A run into space!) and after a controlling touch she found Kari running in from the right mid who took a touch and finished off her second goal in 4 minutes.  It was a great team goal.

After this goal we were really rolling and the girls were very fun to watch.

At the 26th minute we were fouled just inside our attacking half.  As everyone was running with their back to the ball to get set up for the free kick, LK found Sizzle making a quick run on the far side of the field and played her the ball.  Sizzle took a touch and crushed the ball past the diving keeper and into the net.  

This goal is one of the favorite goals that we've scored this year.  The fact that both LK and Sizzle were tuned in and were looking to be dangerous the second the foul was called shows another level of player.

Nothing to say at half time but to continue playing like we were in the first half and challenge the girls to not allow Johnston a single shot on goal.  Take pride in the shutout.  We continually talk about the idea that when we get up on a team and are playing well, we never ever want to give up a goal.

Second half was very similar to the first half as we continued to play really, really well.  We were finding a great balance of passing to feet and to space.  About 75% feet and 25% space.  I was happy to see that the wind was not having an effect on our game because we really like to keep the ball on the ground.  We had a handful of really good chances but their goalie continued to play well and we missed the net on a couple of other chances.

15 minutes into the half we were on the board again through some quick midfield passing that sprang Gaffer through on a break away and our 4th goal.

The girls didn't let up the rest of the game and we were able to keep the ball in Johnston's half until the final whistle.

After the game we talked about how our defenders and our defensive effort were what allowed us to play so well offensively.  It is crucial for the girls to stay focussed on defense.  We gave our defenders Brownie, Lydia, Jazzy, LK, Taz, and our goalie, AJ, the recognition they deserved for keeping 2 consecutive clean sheets and 3 in our last 3 games.

* * *
Just after we scored our first goal I received the news that this would be our last game of the tournament due to the weather.  I was a little disappointed that we wouldn't be able to play Gladiators and KC tomorrow.  This was the tournament that we had really been prepping for the entire spring and winter.  It was the culmination of our last month of games and how I was going to really judge what we needed to work on before State Cup and hopefully Regionals.  

Because we have to play our first State Cup games the last weekend in April we are not going to be able to play against any of the other top Regional teams that we would have been able to play at the Eclipse tournament that weekend.  So now the challenge will be to try and find local competition that will be able to prep us.

Right after I received the word that the rest of the tournament was cancelled a JUSC player went down injured after being hit with the ball.  It's incredible how much the ball stings when it is cold out.  This injury left the Johnston team with only 10 players.  

I thought about withdrawing one of our players but I decided that I wasn't going to short our kids playing time because they did not bring enough players to the tournament.  Especially after hearing that we were not going to be playing tomorrow.  

I decided that this would be a good training session for us on how to move the ball and keep our spacing with limited pressure.

I had watched part of their first game and they had 12 players.  I didn't ask their coach what the deal was with bringing so few players to a tournament but I had wished that I would have asked to change our schedule on Friday night to play the other top seeds.  I guess we can only play the teams put in front of us and this turned out to be a really good training session for us.

I made the decision that I wasn't going to drive home into the Storm of the Century.  I'd much rather go back to the hotel and watch the best team and college basketball, UNC, to see if they could continue their journey to the National Championship that everyone had said that they would win one year ago.  I love that they have been able to perform with the target on their back the entire year.