11-03-2018, 05:31 PM
Yep, even if Macario and Haley are back, I would expect Xiao to be the third starter up front; maybe Kuhlmann, but Xiao provides more balance.
One other thing I noticed about the depleted lineup - there's not much of a left-footed finish or cross to be found. That is the role that McGrady plays to perfection from her wing back spot. It looked like defenders are waiting for our players to try to pull the ball back onto their right boot - against Cal, a lot of balls running toward the goal line on the left side were naturals for a left-footed cross that rarely came.
One positive - in the Pac-12 champions photo from yesterday, only Smith was on crutches or (from what I could see) in a boot or cast. Even Davidson looked like she was in warmups and running shoes.
Hoping it bodes well for returning to health. I think we go one round farther for each of Macario, Haley, and McGrady we see return to effectiveness - third round without them, College Cup with them, and then a crapshoot. If Davidson was back, we'd be a favorite. With a fully healthy lineup including Smith, we would have been a heavy favorite. As it is, making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively. Otherwise, we don't have the horses to punish teams for pressing us.
VG
One other thing I noticed about the depleted lineup - there's not much of a left-footed finish or cross to be found. That is the role that McGrady plays to perfection from her wing back spot. It looked like defenders are waiting for our players to try to pull the ball back onto their right boot - against Cal, a lot of balls running toward the goal line on the left side were naturals for a left-footed cross that rarely came.
One positive - in the Pac-12 champions photo from yesterday, only Smith was on crutches or (from what I could see) in a boot or cast. Even Davidson looked like she was in warmups and running shoes.
Hoping it bodes well for returning to health. I think we go one round farther for each of Macario, Haley, and McGrady we see return to effectiveness - third round without them, College Cup with them, and then a crapshoot. If Davidson was back, we'd be a favorite. With a fully healthy lineup including Smith, we would have been a heavy favorite. As it is, making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively. Otherwise, we don't have the horses to punish teams for pressing us.
VG