05-11-2014, 08:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-11-2014, 08:08 PM by Viking_Guy.)
MT-
You're right, the defense was the difference. In the first half, I was down on Gabby Stone, who let in a couple of long shots (one a lob, the other from about 8 meters) - they were good shots, but they were the kind of shots UCLA's keeper Sami Hill was knocking down.
But in the second half - wow. As I mentioned, they had ONE good shot in the entire half; everything else was from outside, or if it was inside, it was late in the shot clock and into a forest of field-blocking arms. Let me put it this way - Stone had to make one save in the second half - it was a good and important one, with the score still 5-5 and Donohoe getting a good look at 2 meters. But almost every other shot they took was from distance, late in the shot clock, or both.
Most important goal of the game? Yelizarova with 1 second left in the first half, hitting the inside of the right post only 18 seconds after UCLA had scored to make it 5-2 Bruins. Second most, Grossman's to tie it with under 5 seconds in the third period.
As someone else said, now hope that all the teams still in action can catch fire - it would be nice to cut further into UCLA's lead, and win another this year.
VG
P.S. MT - there was a penalty shot. Maggie Steffens had one saved by Sami Hill which would've put Stanford up 2-0. Through most of the first half, I was hoping that wouldn't be the key point in the match - Hill had already had a save, and Stanford had hit a post. The penalty miss was followed by another ball off the post and another UCLA save, so I was thinking the stars were aligned poorly today.
Oh so happy I was wrong.
You're right, the defense was the difference. In the first half, I was down on Gabby Stone, who let in a couple of long shots (one a lob, the other from about 8 meters) - they were good shots, but they were the kind of shots UCLA's keeper Sami Hill was knocking down.
But in the second half - wow. As I mentioned, they had ONE good shot in the entire half; everything else was from outside, or if it was inside, it was late in the shot clock and into a forest of field-blocking arms. Let me put it this way - Stone had to make one save in the second half - it was a good and important one, with the score still 5-5 and Donohoe getting a good look at 2 meters. But almost every other shot they took was from distance, late in the shot clock, or both.
Most important goal of the game? Yelizarova with 1 second left in the first half, hitting the inside of the right post only 18 seconds after UCLA had scored to make it 5-2 Bruins. Second most, Grossman's to tie it with under 5 seconds in the third period.
As someone else said, now hope that all the teams still in action can catch fire - it would be nice to cut further into UCLA's lead, and win another this year.
VG
P.S. MT - there was a penalty shot. Maggie Steffens had one saved by Sami Hill which would've put Stanford up 2-0. Through most of the first half, I was hoping that wouldn't be the key point in the match - Hill had already had a save, and Stanford had hit a post. The penalty miss was followed by another ball off the post and another UCLA save, so I was thinking the stars were aligned poorly today.
Oh so happy I was wrong.