Eclipse Challenge Cup - Day #3

Saturday, Aug 16

Off to the fields at 8:30AM for a 10:30AM game.  Nice front row parking though games were already going on, and thus another relatively easy transport of the Hi-Pod equipment to the field.  Lots of weird stares though from parents watching the games in progress.  What?  Hasn't anyone ever seen an 80 lbs suitcase and 8 ft tall skinny cylinder being wheeled out to a soccer game before?

Hi-Pod set up took about 20 minutes.  Slowly getting the hang of it.

CIS, our morning opponents, was a good team.  I had told the girls that same thing even after we beat them 7-3 in April.  They played good soccer, with good ball movement and ideas, and were tough and athletic.  I did my best to get the girls ready for the challenge this morning, the challenge of playing a team who knew they got beat by us, who knew we were a stong team, and whose knowledge of all this would help them come out focused and sharp.  I was confident though that if we were able to match their intensity and desire we come out on top. 

I stayed with the 4-2-1-3 formation.  Though Normy was our strongest option in goal, I wanted to give her some field experience at this event as well.  I found out Novi, the third team in our group, had beaten CIS yesterday 2-1.  With what I thought would be a tougher game this afternoon, and likely only tougher games ahead tomorrow, this seemed like the best opportunity to get her on the field.  Mal and Phi Phi would split time today.  There was the danger of condeding goals on high shots since both girls maybe stand 5 ft nothing in heels, but that's OK.  Both are quick and have good reactions.  They just look so small in the big net!  

The first part of the game was a fairly even contest.  We played in their end more than they played in ours, but neither team could create anything dangerous. 

With about 7 minutes to go in the first half though, CIS got the go ahead goal.  A throw in to a CIS attacker and a quick ball into our penalty box saw us unbalanced.  Babes (Sweeper) tried to one time the ball out of danger on her week foot, but the half clearance went straight to another CIS attacker.  A great controlling touch and a percise left-footed pass back into the central area found the initial CIS attacked (the one who received the throw in) wide open in space with 4 of our girls unaware of her presence due to ball watching (following the ball with their eyes).  That attacker hit a one time shot with her left foot that sailed over Mal.  Lots of mistakes on our part before the ball found the net.  Will be a good one to go over in Video Analysis later.  

CIS Goal Against from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

A minute before the halftime whistle, I feel we should have been awarded a PK off a great solo run by Chels down the left flank and into the CIS box.  Was I wrong?

CIS Missed PK Call? Probably from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

At halftime we talked again about coming out in the second half and matching the CIS workrate and desire, battling harder for loose balls and 50/50 challenges, and looking to move the ball with quicker passing.  Phi Phi relieved Mal in between the posts and I pushed Babes up the field to give us more power in the attack. 

That move paid dividends early in the second half as her power gave us the equalizer.

CIS Goal For from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

A few minutes later we had a good chance to take the lead and Babes found Wiki on a cross.  Wiki's shot was somehow saved by the CIS GK's heel as she jumped up and turned away from the shot at the near post.

CIS Great Chance from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

We spent the next 10 minutes in their end but couldn't create anything dangerous.  

CIS then got some momentum back and pressed their attack, creating a dangerous scoring opportunity on us with some very good passing and movement at the top of our box.  The final shot just didn't pack the needed punch, but pretty good soccer to watch.

CIS Close Call from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

The MTA girls stepped up the intensity and after a great flick from Chels and some strong physical play from Babes, we should have done better with a little more composure on this 4 on 1 opportunity.

CIS 4 on 1 from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

But in the end, CIS would get the game winner with about 5 minutes left on the clock.  Again, from a throw in, CIS got down our right flank and into our box.  Maddog made a play to clear the ball then got completely steamrolled over by the CIS attacker.  I heard a whistle and looked at the ref, fully expecting a call to go our way, but he didn't have the whistle anywhere near his mouth.  Nothing.  What the heck?  Was the space time continum creating a visual warp field in this particular penalty box that prevented and ref from seeing infractions that occered here?  This was almost the exact same place that I felt we were fouled in the first half that he missed.  And where did that whistle come from?  Maybe I was hearing things.

I turned back to the field to see the CIS bulldozer hurdled Maddog and pounce on the loose ball.  I saw our defenders hesitate, also hearing the whistle, then pick up the defense again seeing the CIS player still playing.  The ensuing high shot over Phi Phi found the far post side netting to give CIS the result. 

CIS Goal Against 2 from Mark Abboud on Vimeo.

Crap.  I was fuming at what I thought was a clear foul that went ignored.  I yelled out to the ref, "Holy crap!  Didn't you just see that?  How can you not call that?  You just gave them the game!!!!!!"

Actually, I yelled that out in my head.  I harp on the girls to focus on controlling what they can control, and controlling the refs is not one of those things.  I can't preach something I think it super important to the girls and then demonstrate the exact opposite.  It's not like the ref is all of a sudden going to change his call.  It doesn't mean I can't think of making a case to the ref.  So we move on...

The CIS girls were obviously excited to come away with the win.  It was a tough battle though again I didn't think we played very sharp.  We'll see this team many times down the road I'm sure.