Game #1 vs KC Legends

Our first game of the spring was finally here.  As usual I was anxious to see how we would perform.  While I think we have been doing well in training I was not sure how we would do against some tough regional competition.

Going into the game I felt if we could survive the first 15 minutes without getting blown out of the water we would be ok.  The first 15 minutes of your first tournament of the year are crucial in setting the tone.

We came out in our 4-2-1-3 formation and we were competitive from the opening kick off.  It wasn't pretty but we showed that we could play and were going to get better as the game went on.  Most of the first half was spent in the midfield with both teams struggling to really put together too many threats on goal.

At half time I asked the ref if I could have an extra minute to go and talk to our parents on the sideline.  To say that she had been biased during the game would have been an understatement as she proceeded to award KC free kick after free kick for reasons we could not see and our parents had been very vocal of their disapproval of her work.  As I got over to the parents I told them that even though things were not going our way don't get on the ref.  I told them that I knew it would be hard, but keep your comments to our girls only and we will focus on the things that we can control.

After talking with the parents I came back over to the girls and told them that I was happy that they had been battling.  We had done a couple of nice one-two's and we were starting to get used to the field.  We had been going with the wind for the first half so KC would have the wind the second half and we needed to be tight on their girls so they could not shoot from distance with the wind at their backs. 

The second half was a different story as both teams came out ready to attack.  Two minutes into the second half KC was on the board after one of their defenders played a long ball between our center d and left defender.  We had a chance to clear the ball before it bounced but we were not aggressive enough in getting to the ball.  Then there was a moments hesitation as to who should clear the ball and one of the KC forwards came flying in took a touch between our defenders and just as she was going to be tackled she slid and shot the ball into the far corner.  A great effort goal by the forward, but something we should have dealt with before she made the great play.

Four minutes later KC was on the board again.  Our lack of playing outside hurt us on this one.  A ball came rolling back to one of our defenders at the half line.  As she went up to deliver a ball into the box the ball took a bounce and hopped up over her foot sending their forward in on a break-a-way which she converted.  A tough break with the bounce but a good reminder that the person with the ball should not be the last person in case something unforeseen happens.

Two goals in the span of 4 minutes to a team that beat us 7-2 a year ago I wondered how we were going to respond.  Last night we had an excellent team building exercise that I was hoping made the girls trust each other more and it helped them to learn more about each other and what motivates them.

After the second goal went in there was no bad body language from anyone on the field.  Everyone on the bench encouraged the girls on the field to stay positive and there were no negative comments.  I told the girls if we can make it through this stretch we would get our chances to come back into the game.

I also did not make any subs after the goal.  I needed to show the girls who were on the field that I trusted them and if I subbed them out I would not be setting a good example. 

After the goal KC kept attacking, but then Bella seemed to make the decision that she was going force us into KC's half and end their dominance of play this half.  As she made a couple of hard tackles and drove the ball forward you could see the girls getting excited and they started to believe they could come back.

At the 46 minute mark Millie received a through ball from Bella and went in on the break away and slotted the ball home to bring the score to 2-1.  Now we were in full swing and we were dominating the run of play.  We were doing some nice give and gos and our counter attack was becoming dangerous.

Four minutes later a bouncing ball came out to Millie on the left side of the field.  Mack our CF made a great diagonal run to split their defenders as Millie lofted the ball over the top.  Just as Mack arrived on the edge of the 18 yard box she unloaded a wicked volley that stayed a foot off the ground the entire way into the far side netting.  All of the girls' hard work on ball striking over the winter was paying off.

We continued to carry the play and we had some other really good chances to win the game.  Then in the last minute we had a mysterious foul called on us about 35 yards out from goal.  The KC girl rocketed a shot that AJ was able to block down but as our girls were excited about the good save they forgot to track the KC girls that were running in for the rebound.  There were 3 KC girls there to run the ball into the back of our net and not one of our girls.  Since we haven't been able to practice set pieces all winter I could not blame the girls for this, but I hope it is something that we can learn from.

After they scored we had a great reaction.  We got the ball back up to the half line right away and took the ball into their end.  We put a cross into the box that was met with 3 of our girls right around the goalie.  She made two good saves and the ball was put out for a corner.  On the corner we had everyone up in the box and as the ball came in there was mass chaos with the ball bouncing off of a couple of girls in front of the goal and shots being blocked before the ball was cleared just as the ref was blowing her whistle to end the game.

As the girls were walking off the field from the final scrum I heard Blitz ask the ref if she always tries to lose the game for one team.  Luckily I heard this so I quickly pulled her aside and told her to go apologize to the ref before the handshakes took place.  To her credit she went over there and said sorry and good game to all the refs.  We all were not happy about how the game had been called but we still need to act with class.  Soccer is an emotional sport.

After the game I told the girls how incredibly proud I was after they had reacted as a team to come back from being 2 goals down in the second half.  They could have fallen apart, but they did not.  They kept it positive and fought their way back into the game.  I told them that it was a great sign for the future and it could be a turning point to our season even though it was only 36 minutes into the year.

MVPs:
Bella-For her hard work, great tackles, and inspiration
Mack-For her great volley and her defensive work up top
Sprout-For getting in the middle of scrums and her good dribbling