12-02-2017, 01:06 AM
A bit more detail:
UCLA is one of the few teams both willing and capable to come forward and press our backline. As OA said, they "won" long stretches of the first game; I was never really sure why they backed off a bit in the latter portion of the first half and midway through the second. It could've just been fatigue; they don't go as deep as we do.
They also possess really well, and move the ball. The big key for us is going to be in the midfield, and it will be interesting to see how high up the pitch Macario and Carusa play outside, if they keep the same lineup and formation. With Haley in the middle, I'd almost rather see us in a 4-5-1 with Catarina playing in the attacking center mid role for knock down balls to Madison. But that doesn't generate the pressure that Ratcliffe loves. Tonight, playing her out on the left, she felt a bit too out of the run of play; she's much more threatening in the center of the pitch.
Individuals to watch out for:
- Jessie Fleming, the Canadian international in midfield - the Bruins' creative player
- forward Hailie Mace, a strong fast finisher; more of a pure striker than
- forward Ashley Sanchez - very quick and an excellent crosser
- midfielder Anika Rodriguez, defender MacKenzie Cerda, and keeper Teagan Micah are also very strong players.
Tactically, they owned the midfield against us in the last game - only success was going up the sidelines for the vast majority of the game, or sending the ball over the top (another issue with Haley up top - UCLA knows they don't have to worry as much about her breaking in behind).
Which is a problem for us, especially if they bring pressure on our backline. Today, the most anxious moments were interchanges between Pickett and Cook, or between one of them and a midfielder dropping back. That space between the backline and the mid is where the danger is for Stanford.
On the plus side of things, they're quick, but not really big - no one overpowering, although Mace and Cerda can be really dangerous in the air. But they're not going to knock Stanford off the ball as easily as other teams might. Having McGrady back is a very good thing - although Xiao will also be missed. Wondering if Macario wide might draw the Bruins to that side and open up space for Carusa and Pickett on the right. Need a midfielder to come through - hoping for Boissiere and DiBiasi to have good games. And really want to sent Sullivan out a champion.
On today's game, I was really disappointing in Duke - it felt like they played a VERY conservative game, especially with their excellent outside backs almost never coming forward. They didn't get a shot off in the overtimes, and UCLA deserved to win at the end - they were definitely the aggressor throughout.
Here's hoping that we take the lead with #115 on Sunday (and that neither the Bruins nor the Toejams make the water polo final)<
VG
UCLA is one of the few teams both willing and capable to come forward and press our backline. As OA said, they "won" long stretches of the first game; I was never really sure why they backed off a bit in the latter portion of the first half and midway through the second. It could've just been fatigue; they don't go as deep as we do.
They also possess really well, and move the ball. The big key for us is going to be in the midfield, and it will be interesting to see how high up the pitch Macario and Carusa play outside, if they keep the same lineup and formation. With Haley in the middle, I'd almost rather see us in a 4-5-1 with Catarina playing in the attacking center mid role for knock down balls to Madison. But that doesn't generate the pressure that Ratcliffe loves. Tonight, playing her out on the left, she felt a bit too out of the run of play; she's much more threatening in the center of the pitch.
Individuals to watch out for:
- Jessie Fleming, the Canadian international in midfield - the Bruins' creative player
- forward Hailie Mace, a strong fast finisher; more of a pure striker than
- forward Ashley Sanchez - very quick and an excellent crosser
- midfielder Anika Rodriguez, defender MacKenzie Cerda, and keeper Teagan Micah are also very strong players.
Tactically, they owned the midfield against us in the last game - only success was going up the sidelines for the vast majority of the game, or sending the ball over the top (another issue with Haley up top - UCLA knows they don't have to worry as much about her breaking in behind).
Which is a problem for us, especially if they bring pressure on our backline. Today, the most anxious moments were interchanges between Pickett and Cook, or between one of them and a midfielder dropping back. That space between the backline and the mid is where the danger is for Stanford.
On the plus side of things, they're quick, but not really big - no one overpowering, although Mace and Cerda can be really dangerous in the air. But they're not going to knock Stanford off the ball as easily as other teams might. Having McGrady back is a very good thing - although Xiao will also be missed. Wondering if Macario wide might draw the Bruins to that side and open up space for Carusa and Pickett on the right. Need a midfielder to come through - hoping for Boissiere and DiBiasi to have good games. And really want to sent Sullivan out a champion.
On today's game, I was really disappointing in Duke - it felt like they played a VERY conservative game, especially with their excellent outside backs almost never coming forward. They didn't get a shot off in the overtimes, and UCLA deserved to win at the end - they were definitely the aggressor throughout.
Here's hoping that we take the lead with #115 on Sunday (and that neither the Bruins nor the Toejams make the water polo final)<
VG