11-02-2015, 04:52 PM
Lefty--
It's almost the evolution of a new formation - we essentially play a 4-3-3 defensively, and a 2-3-4-1 when in possession.
Up top, Kyra Carusa - tough, some size, and good back to goal settler. Scores mostly as a poacher on loose balls in the box. Plays almost always centrally. Not too fast or big, but tenacious.
Four in the attack from left to right:
McGrady - as mentioned, burner natural lefty freshman whose service is good enough that she hits the inswinger from the right on Stanford corner kicks.
DiBiasi and Rosen - although they interchange a lot, Rosen seems to prefer right to left movement to put the ball on her educated left foot in the center. DiBiasi roves, often covering for Rosen, quick but not fast, good reactions and control. Rosen is the only lethal long shooter in this 4, but her speed can be an issue. Scored a great goal at WSU by shrugging off multiple defender on a powerful run up the middle, but at "unstoppable battleship" rather than "split defenders with lightning speed" mode.
Xiao - a bit of a mystery. Obviously talented, slight of build, quick and with good control, but her first touch sometimes deserts her, and has a tendency to let the ball get away with too long of a dribble. But good server from the right side.
Three across holding the front of the defense:
Amack - aggressive and the best attacking header option starting, but can be dispossessed and caught out of position. Good size/speed combination, though. Sometimes a bit loose with her passes back and into the middle of the pitch, hitting them softly and creating "hospital balls."
Sullivan - the heart and linchpin of the team. Calm and collected on the ball, and a great distributor. Good speed and touch, but can get bumped off the ball. When Stanford played WSU, the Cougars literally had one player marking her at ALL TIMES, chasing her around the pitch.
Liedle - a conundrum. Great experienced right back, but has a tendency to get caught upfield and expose the center backs behind her. With Amack, the two most physical starters, and another good server from the right.
And then the two center backs:
Cook - freshman with good size and speed, and has bought into the center back distributor of the ball role. Best recovery defender (along with Sullivan), and solid in the air.
Bauer - experienced center back, good size, good defensive header, but not very quick, and can be attacked off the dribble. Sometimes holds the ball a bit too long trying to wait for a safe "possession" pass to open up.
Campbell in goal: good shot stopper and excellent with her feet, with good anticipation, she often covers the balls over the top by counterattacking teams trying to get behind the D. But only 5'9", so not as great in the air plucking crosses as say Nicole Barnhart.
Subs:
Mariah Lee - burner, compact and strong, stays on the ball, but almost completely right-footed. Rarely cuts the ball back in from the right side where she roams as a sub for Xiao.
Ashley Walker-Hartshorn - still a tall, strong player, but seems to be a little less quick than she was last year. Subs in for Carusa, mostly.
Megan Turner - hard worker in the midfield, mostly in for DiBiasi.
VG
It's almost the evolution of a new formation - we essentially play a 4-3-3 defensively, and a 2-3-4-1 when in possession.
Up top, Kyra Carusa - tough, some size, and good back to goal settler. Scores mostly as a poacher on loose balls in the box. Plays almost always centrally. Not too fast or big, but tenacious.
Four in the attack from left to right:
McGrady - as mentioned, burner natural lefty freshman whose service is good enough that she hits the inswinger from the right on Stanford corner kicks.
DiBiasi and Rosen - although they interchange a lot, Rosen seems to prefer right to left movement to put the ball on her educated left foot in the center. DiBiasi roves, often covering for Rosen, quick but not fast, good reactions and control. Rosen is the only lethal long shooter in this 4, but her speed can be an issue. Scored a great goal at WSU by shrugging off multiple defender on a powerful run up the middle, but at "unstoppable battleship" rather than "split defenders with lightning speed" mode.
Xiao - a bit of a mystery. Obviously talented, slight of build, quick and with good control, but her first touch sometimes deserts her, and has a tendency to let the ball get away with too long of a dribble. But good server from the right side.
Three across holding the front of the defense:
Amack - aggressive and the best attacking header option starting, but can be dispossessed and caught out of position. Good size/speed combination, though. Sometimes a bit loose with her passes back and into the middle of the pitch, hitting them softly and creating "hospital balls."
Sullivan - the heart and linchpin of the team. Calm and collected on the ball, and a great distributor. Good speed and touch, but can get bumped off the ball. When Stanford played WSU, the Cougars literally had one player marking her at ALL TIMES, chasing her around the pitch.
Liedle - a conundrum. Great experienced right back, but has a tendency to get caught upfield and expose the center backs behind her. With Amack, the two most physical starters, and another good server from the right.
And then the two center backs:
Cook - freshman with good size and speed, and has bought into the center back distributor of the ball role. Best recovery defender (along with Sullivan), and solid in the air.
Bauer - experienced center back, good size, good defensive header, but not very quick, and can be attacked off the dribble. Sometimes holds the ball a bit too long trying to wait for a safe "possession" pass to open up.
Campbell in goal: good shot stopper and excellent with her feet, with good anticipation, she often covers the balls over the top by counterattacking teams trying to get behind the D. But only 5'9", so not as great in the air plucking crosses as say Nicole Barnhart.
Subs:
Mariah Lee - burner, compact and strong, stays on the ball, but almost completely right-footed. Rarely cuts the ball back in from the right side where she roams as a sub for Xiao.
Ashley Walker-Hartshorn - still a tall, strong player, but seems to be a little less quick than she was last year. Subs in for Carusa, mostly.
Megan Turner - hard worker in the midfield, mostly in for DiBiasi.
VG