Game 16: Blue Valley

9 May at Blue Valley at 5:30 (0-1)

Ok, yes this result continued a string of not-so-good results. After we went 3-0 in Iowa, we have stumbled badly in our return home going 0-2-1. So.

But we played a lot of very good soccer tonight. Second half we were pinging it around 5-6 passes together over and over again.  Captains called for the girls to hit feet more, to string some passes together and for the most part we did. In fact, us finding Mallory's feet at defensive center midfield really added to that possession game. Mallory nicely served as that link to go forward. She constantly got turned and found more feet. BWhite named her as the BWhite Player of the Match.

And defensively we might have created the ultimate irony. They had no shots on goal; they actually shot the ball twice all game, and one of those was the PK at the very end of the match. So yes they did get one shot on goal, but not during the actual match. 

And yes we created 10, 10 corner kicks. But here is where the problems start.  With a team that plays this good of defense, and with a team that can string 5-6 passes together going forward, the group has to cash some goals. Set pieces have always been bread and butter for Aquinas soccer teams. But here are another 10 corners for naught. We don't challenge tough balls off the service; we don't head very well; we don't frame very well.  So we leave lots of goals on the table.

We also generated 19 shots. 19 shots to their 2 (and 1 a PK) and yes, many of those were on frame. Hallie had a couple that did just barely missed.  She does usually get one, but not always. So where are those STA balls; we did see them in Iowa, and we cashed goals from them.  It is so much easier to put that simple t-ball across to a framed goal.  We need to create and cash those easier goals.

So as we head into playoffs, we need to play more as we played in Iowa where we did create t-balls, cash corner kicks while still offering up the best defense around. That formula offers us a great chance for the success we want.

STATS:

First Half: Saints: Shots: 9 (3) Corners Created: 5 (Romme, Klanke 2, Loughman and K. Heying)

Tigers: Shots: 1 (0) Corners: 0

Second Half: Saints:  Shots: 10 (3) Corners: 5 (Klanke 3, M. Heying, K. Heying)

Tigers: Shots: 1 (1) Corners: 0

5:53 Howard (PK on a trip in the box)