vs Arsenal

If I shook my magic 8-ball I could probably come as close to figuring out what is going on with the team than I was on the sideline Sunday. Clearly Sodium was the better team. Time of possession, shots on goal, control of the game all went our way, but the girls just couldn't find the net. Several shots within and just outside the 18 sailed high or wide. On a couple occasions the ball was on the turf in the 6 yard box. Still, Sodium couldn't seal the deal and walked away with a disappointing 1-1 tie. Sodium's only score came after Kelly, from her center back position, drove the ball right down the center of the pitch and dished to McKayla who found the top of the net from about 19 yards. A great game was turned in by the Arsenal keeper who stopped many Sodium attempts.

From the Sidelines
From my vantage point it almost looks like the girls are trying too hard. There seems to be a lot of one-on-one play where players are taking too many touches and loosing the ball as opposed to finding the open player. Play seems to be centralized in the center of the pitch instead up the sidelines where we are the most dangerous. A couple time Aliyah pushed up the sidelines and resulted in a couple good crosses. Other than that the ball was being played right into the heart of the ESUFC defense.

The team needs to just cut loose. Stop playing tentative and worrying about making the "right" decision or the perfect "touch". Just go and play the way you can. I think it would even be better to make the wrong decision if you were giving it 100% than to over-think it and only be at 50 or 70% and lose the ball. Trust your teammates. When we scored it was because Kelly gave it 100% and drove the ball deep and made the defense commit. Once they did she dished to a wide open McKayla. Exactly the way it SHOULD be. I am seeing players instead of taking a pass and looking to advance to a teammate they are trying to beat the other team singlehandedly and resulting in loosing the ball. Selfish play. Utilize your teammates, they are very good! It is better for an attacking mid to have 3 assists in a match than to have her take 6 shots and score 1. You are a team, not a bunch of individuals.

Let's get back to fundamentals. Everyone should know what their positions responsibilities are. (IMHO)

Strikers/forwards - Score. Penetrate and finish.
Midfield - Create opportunity for the forwards to finish. Score when the opportunity presents itself. Penetrate and make the defense commit to you.
Backs - Stop the opponents attack. Feed the midfielders.
Keeper - Keep the ball out of the net.

It seems the players are more worried if they look good and get a bunch of touches than finding the open player and creating an opportunity for the team.

Think About This...
Remember how it felt when we won Beaverton Cup, Cascade Cup, LO Nike Cup and then went to the finals in Mustang Stampede? Remember how it felt to string 5, 6, 7 passes together and create a great look at the goal? It was free-flowing, players were looking for players, creating opportunities to finish. Play was fast and every pass from the defensive backfield was an opportunity to make a run and score. We need to find that place again. We need to gel as the cohesive unit you are. Don't worry so much about doing it right, just do it at 100% and it will be right. No one ever faulted a player who gave 100% of themselves on the field of battle.

Above all else; team.

Never give up. Never back down. Never lose faith.

GO SODIUM!!