WSoc: Stanford 3 USC 2 (F) - Printable Version
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WSoc: Stanford 3 USC 2 (F) - Viking_Guy - 09-28-2019
Game's in about 30 minutes, but I had to comment beforehand.
What the hell is the Pac-12 Network thinking? It's a game between 2 of the top 5 teams in the country. It will shape the rest of the season. They have a production crew there.
And the main Pac-12 network is showing... a 20 year old repeat of a Stanford-Oregon State game (2000), and then game in 60 minutes repeat of Stanford-Oregon State 2017. The women's soccer game is relegated to regional coverage on Pac-12 Bay Area and LA.
Um, yeah.
Seriously, I get that the repeats may draw a larger audience than a women's soccer match, though it pains me. But do Larry Scott and company think a whole lot of people outside the Stanford and Oregon State fan bases would be more interested in those presentations than a live game, and will grow their viewership beyond its current limits?
VG
Okay, a more on-point comment.
The interesting matchup today is Hocking and McKeown against Girma and Hiatt, hopefully supported by whoever's back at holding mid. I'm betting that SC will be able to disrupt our possession, but will be interested in seeing how the Cardinal respond - working through the middle, with Macario dropping deeper, or over the top. I think that SC's backline is too solid for the second option to be very successful, and with DeMelo being out with an Achilles injury, the midfield should hold some opportunity. And at least force SC's midfield to defend our midfield, rather than dropping back to smother Stanford's attack.
Oh, and who will defend McKeown in the air? She’s a major threat on set pieces, and we haven’t shown well there.
Time to watch,
VG
RE: WSoc: Stanford @ USC - martyup - 09-28-2019
Here's a livestream link to this match:
https://pac-12.com/live?network=P12BAY
I am so sorry. I tune into the match and SC promptly scores 2 goal to go up 2 to 1.
RE: WSoc: Stanford 3 USC 2 (HALF) - Viking_Guy - 09-28-2019
Okay, watch this game. Stanford 3 USC 2 at halftime.
Stanford opener a wonderful service off a Macario freekick about 30 yards away on the right. Curling ball perfectly weighted finds Madison Haley getting inside and holding off McKeown for a wonderful header just inside the far post on the ground.
SC response two goals in quick succession from Hocking and McKeown. The first, Sophia Smith hits an absolute hospital ball from the right side back into the center of the defense. Girma showed that tendency I've seen too often from Stanford defenders - anticipated the back pass and tried to run inside, and Hocking turned with the ball and slotted it through to McKeown, who was "posted up" on Hiatt. McKeown turned through, shrugged off a challenge from Harber, and finished calmly past Rood.
Second goal, a throw-in on the right side, Macario is late to cover the thrower, who receives the return pass and lofts a ball into the area. Hiatt completely misjudges it attempting a header, and takes herself out of the play, leaving Hocking alone 6 yards out off the near post. Rood makes a valiant effort, but can only tip the ball into the side netting.
So Macario goes to work. First cutting across the face of goal from the left, getting her right foot clear, and burying the ball inside the left post from the top of the box. Then, serving the ball out to Pickett on the right, who holds, and waits for runs. Doms makes a very nice clearing run into the right corner, dragging a defender with her... and leaving a wide-open Macario at the 18, who takes a calm touch and smacks the ball just inside the far post.
Stanford was pressing for a fourth late, but SC held on.
And yes, this is more exciting than a rerun of football.
VG
RE: WSoc: Stanford 3 USC 2 (F) - BobK - 09-28-2019
Super exciting Game. I’m sure Viking guy is typing away with more :)
RE: WSoc: Stanford 3 USC 2 (F) - Viking_Guy - 09-28-2019
Tale of two halves. Both sides' offenses shone in the first half, and defenses in the second.
Best chance for either side in the second half a Greubel breakaway midway through the half. She was at the top of the box with a defender recovering, and took way too heavy of a touch instead of shooting, ending up pushing the ball far enough forward to end up with the next touch being a 50-50 ball with the keeper. The keeper won.
Stanford also had Greubel hit the far post on a lovely shot earlier in the half, as Abby found herself more open as SC concentrated on Macario and Haley.
SC had a couple of good chances off scrums in the box, but never really got a great look.
The stats tell the story of the game. Stanford was fairly dominant, getting a 26-6 shot advantage and a 12-3 SOG advantage. The Trojans took two shots in the first half, and both went in. And that's how Stanford gives up goals. The defense contests the ball, and wins a lot, but if they don't, they give up good looks.
I think we should set aside gameball this year - because Macario is in a league of her own. The two goals and an assist in the first half, paired with some good defending in the second. Apart from Catarina, I'd probably give it to one of Girma, Breide, or Pickett.
Girma played pretty stellar defense all game long, in the style I just described - she tries to take the ball away, or cut it out early in the play. It cost in the first half, when she anticipated and got burned, but it also stops a lot of shots before they happen by changing possession before they can.
Breide, because I'm normally very tough on her. A solid match this game, especially as the Trojans played two up top and took away switching the ball through the back by marking those two against the two CBs. Stanford moved the switching one level forward, with the outside backs switching the ball through defensive midfield rather than around the back. Belle for the most part handled it well, and had some nice momemts on defense.
And Kiki Pickett showed why other teams are trying to force the ball up our left side, and away from her. Marauding forward, playing wirh an aggression and speed that obviates her lack of size, she was a force around the pitch today.
Special mention to Madison Haley for the excellent headed finish of the Macario freekick to open the scoring. Stanford has been lacking an aerial threat, and it would be nice to see her develop in that role, given the number of set pieces the Cardinal wins.
My major worry at this point is turning into the left side. The announcing team was talking up Harber today, but I disagree. I think her play up the left was mostly because that was what SC was willing to concede. With Malatskey in front of her, there's not a ton of speed to threaten a throughball, and on Harbers' forays forward, especially one early in the second half, she got a little lost. And late in the game, they had Greubel playing in front of her, and with Stanford laying back to protect a one-goal lead, Abby had some issues on defense. SC's best chance late was a corner kick Greubel conceded by letting her player get in behind her to the endline off a simple play, where Abby was ballwatching while her mark turned and served a ball in that had to be headed away, conceding the corner. Luckily, Rood came out strong and plucked the ball out of the air, at least temporarily assuaging our concern about her aggressiveness in controlling the box.
Wesley, who subbed for Harber about 25 minutes into both halves, had some freshman moments, to be sure, but I'd like to see her get some minutes with Smith in front of her. She appears to be a more natural, if less seasoned, left back option.
But all in all, an exciting and signifying win. With it, and Cal's last-minute upset of UCLA in Westwood last night, the Cardinal is definitely in the driver's seat moving forward, with the UCLA match at Cagan in mid-October.
Go Card!
VG
(EDIT: P.S. And Bob, of course, was right :) )