09-13-2019, 05:10 PM
To Pepperdine 1 to 0. Stanford lot of chances but no finish.
Womens soccer loses
09-13-2019, 09:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-13-2019, 10:00 PM by Viking_Guy.)
Yep, Pepperdine scored an early goal off a corner kick (which Stanford did not defend well), and Stanford really didn't turn up the intensity until about 25 minutes were left in the match. They played a bit too much as if they were certain a goal was going to come.
Really tough matches for Haley and Smith - Haley missed a sitter about four yards out, and Smith failed to convert a perfect pass from Macario, banging off the left post under pressure.
More generally, as OA and others have said, the weakness of the team is the midfield. No one wants to make a possessing run through the middle, and there were a lot of passes tonight that were "I don't want it, you take it" types. One in particular, where a player passed into a TRIPLE covered Haley rather than take on one defender.
But more generally, the Waves simply packed it in, parked the bus (they had more than 4 players in the attacking end for about 15 minutes total in the entire game, and only about 5 after halftime), and got some good saves from their keeper. And they put four people on Macario, and dared the rest of the team to beat them. It was so bad, Macario was drifting out to the touch line to try to get the ball served to her. Because the Stanford MFs kept on trying to pass to her inside while she was surrounded by those four defenders and turning the ball over.
Everyone spurned chances. Macario hit the bar with a first half header. Haley and Smith's chances. Abby Greubel had a wide-open 12 yarder that she needed to settle late in the game, but instead hit the ball early and skyed it into the stratosphere.
Not a great day for Pac-12 women's soccer; in addition to Stanford, ranked Washington State lost at home to unranked Michigan, and Washington lost at Texas.
The takeaway for me is we need more in the midfield - Pepperdine, playing a 4-2-3-1 that most of the game was a 4-4-1-1, completely took away the center of the pitch. There was room outside, and Goad had some good runs there, but Harber and Pickett needed to be more in the attack, or Hiatt needed to be much higher up the pitch, playing a diamond in back. Doms, Malatskey, and Breide combined for ONE shot, none on goal, the entire match; that's one fewer of each than the two starting center backs.
Also, while she is the best player on the team, I have to disagree with Macario taking corners - why put your best finisher out of the play on every corner kick? I was hoping they would try a short corner and just let her dribble along the endline, but Pepperdine put defenders out there against that.
Sigh. It's a tough game sometimes.
VG
One other thing - I'm getting a little tired of watching Haley get hammered, never draw a foul, then respond with an equal amount of force and get called, if not carded.
Stanford had a whole lot of people get shoved down in the box tonight (one particularly on Girma), had the vast majority of the possession and chances, but somehow Pepperdine was only called for five fouls the entire match - 3 less than the Cardinal. As everyone playing back to goal had a Wave chopping at their ankles as they tried to receive the ball.
What can I say? Haven't quite cooled off yet, metaphorically and literally/
VG
Really tough matches for Haley and Smith - Haley missed a sitter about four yards out, and Smith failed to convert a perfect pass from Macario, banging off the left post under pressure.
More generally, as OA and others have said, the weakness of the team is the midfield. No one wants to make a possessing run through the middle, and there were a lot of passes tonight that were "I don't want it, you take it" types. One in particular, where a player passed into a TRIPLE covered Haley rather than take on one defender.
But more generally, the Waves simply packed it in, parked the bus (they had more than 4 players in the attacking end for about 15 minutes total in the entire game, and only about 5 after halftime), and got some good saves from their keeper. And they put four people on Macario, and dared the rest of the team to beat them. It was so bad, Macario was drifting out to the touch line to try to get the ball served to her. Because the Stanford MFs kept on trying to pass to her inside while she was surrounded by those four defenders and turning the ball over.
Everyone spurned chances. Macario hit the bar with a first half header. Haley and Smith's chances. Abby Greubel had a wide-open 12 yarder that she needed to settle late in the game, but instead hit the ball early and skyed it into the stratosphere.
Not a great day for Pac-12 women's soccer; in addition to Stanford, ranked Washington State lost at home to unranked Michigan, and Washington lost at Texas.
The takeaway for me is we need more in the midfield - Pepperdine, playing a 4-2-3-1 that most of the game was a 4-4-1-1, completely took away the center of the pitch. There was room outside, and Goad had some good runs there, but Harber and Pickett needed to be more in the attack, or Hiatt needed to be much higher up the pitch, playing a diamond in back. Doms, Malatskey, and Breide combined for ONE shot, none on goal, the entire match; that's one fewer of each than the two starting center backs.
Also, while she is the best player on the team, I have to disagree with Macario taking corners - why put your best finisher out of the play on every corner kick? I was hoping they would try a short corner and just let her dribble along the endline, but Pepperdine put defenders out there against that.
Sigh. It's a tough game sometimes.
VG
One other thing - I'm getting a little tired of watching Haley get hammered, never draw a foul, then respond with an equal amount of force and get called, if not carded.
Stanford had a whole lot of people get shoved down in the box tonight (one particularly on Girma), had the vast majority of the possession and chances, but somehow Pepperdine was only called for five fouls the entire match - 3 less than the Cardinal. As everyone playing back to goal had a Wave chopping at their ankles as they tried to receive the ball.
What can I say? Haven't quite cooled off yet, metaphorically and literally/
VG
(This post was last modified: 09-13-2019, 10:00 PM by Viking_Guy.)
Yep, Pepperdine scored an early goal off a corner kick (which Stanford did not defend well), and Stanford really didn't turn up the intensity until about 25 minutes were left in the match. They played a bit too much as if they were certain a goal was going to come.
Really tough matches for Haley and Smith - Haley missed a sitter about four yards out, and Smith failed to convert a perfect pass from Macario, banging off the left post under pressure.
More generally, as OA and others have said, the weakness of the team is the midfield. No one wants to make a possessing run through the middle, and there were a lot of passes tonight that were "I don't want it, you take it" types. One in particular, where a player passed into a TRIPLE covered Haley rather than take on one defender.
But more generally, the Waves simply packed it in, parked the bus (they had more than 4 players in the attacking end for about 15 minutes total in the entire game, and only about 5 after halftime), and got some good saves from their keeper. And they put four people on Macario, and dared the rest of the team to beat them. It was so bad, Macario was drifting out to the touch line to try to get the ball served to her. Because the Stanford MFs kept on trying to pass to her inside while she was surrounded by those four defenders and turning the ball over.
Everyone spurned chances. Macario hit the bar with a first half header. Haley and Smith's chances. Abby Greubel had a wide-open 12 yarder that she needed to settle late in the game, but instead hit the ball early and skyed it into the stratosphere.
Not a great day for Pac-12 women's soccer; in addition to Stanford, ranked Washington State lost at home to unranked Michigan, and Washington lost at Texas.
The takeaway for me is we need more in the midfield - Pepperdine, playing a 4-2-3-1 that most of the game was a 4-4-1-1, completely took away the center of the pitch. There was room outside, and Goad had some good runs there, but Harber and Pickett needed to be more in the attack, or Hiatt needed to be much higher up the pitch, playing a diamond in back. Doms, Malatskey, and Breide combined for ONE shot, none on goal, the entire match; that's one fewer of each than the two starting center backs.
Also, while she is the best player on the team, I have to disagree with Macario taking corners - why put your best finisher out of the play on every corner kick? I was hoping they would try a short corner and just let her dribble along the endline, but Pepperdine put defenders out there against that.
Sigh. It's a tough game sometimes.
VG
One other thing - I'm getting a little tired of watching Haley get hammered, never draw a foul, then respond with an equal amount of force and get called, if not carded.
Stanford had a whole lot of people get shoved down in the box tonight (one particularly on Girma), had the vast majority of the possession and chances, but somehow Pepperdine was only called for five fouls the entire match - 3 less than the Cardinal. As everyone playing back to goal had a Wave chopping at their ankles as they tried to receive the ball.
What can I say? Haven't quite cooled off yet, metaphorically and literally/
VG
Really tough matches for Haley and Smith - Haley missed a sitter about four yards out, and Smith failed to convert a perfect pass from Macario, banging off the left post under pressure.
More generally, as OA and others have said, the weakness of the team is the midfield. No one wants to make a possessing run through the middle, and there were a lot of passes tonight that were "I don't want it, you take it" types. One in particular, where a player passed into a TRIPLE covered Haley rather than take on one defender.
But more generally, the Waves simply packed it in, parked the bus (they had more than 4 players in the attacking end for about 15 minutes total in the entire game, and only about 5 after halftime), and got some good saves from their keeper. And they put four people on Macario, and dared the rest of the team to beat them. It was so bad, Macario was drifting out to the touch line to try to get the ball served to her. Because the Stanford MFs kept on trying to pass to her inside while she was surrounded by those four defenders and turning the ball over.
Everyone spurned chances. Macario hit the bar with a first half header. Haley and Smith's chances. Abby Greubel had a wide-open 12 yarder that she needed to settle late in the game, but instead hit the ball early and skyed it into the stratosphere.
Not a great day for Pac-12 women's soccer; in addition to Stanford, ranked Washington State lost at home to unranked Michigan, and Washington lost at Texas.
The takeaway for me is we need more in the midfield - Pepperdine, playing a 4-2-3-1 that most of the game was a 4-4-1-1, completely took away the center of the pitch. There was room outside, and Goad had some good runs there, but Harber and Pickett needed to be more in the attack, or Hiatt needed to be much higher up the pitch, playing a diamond in back. Doms, Malatskey, and Breide combined for ONE shot, none on goal, the entire match; that's one fewer of each than the two starting center backs.
Also, while she is the best player on the team, I have to disagree with Macario taking corners - why put your best finisher out of the play on every corner kick? I was hoping they would try a short corner and just let her dribble along the endline, but Pepperdine put defenders out there against that.
Sigh. It's a tough game sometimes.
VG
One other thing - I'm getting a little tired of watching Haley get hammered, never draw a foul, then respond with an equal amount of force and get called, if not carded.
Stanford had a whole lot of people get shoved down in the box tonight (one particularly on Girma), had the vast majority of the possession and chances, but somehow Pepperdine was only called for five fouls the entire match - 3 less than the Cardinal. As everyone playing back to goal had a Wave chopping at their ankles as they tried to receive the ball.
What can I say? Haven't quite cooled off yet, metaphorically and literally/
VG
09-14-2019, 10:05 AM
Thanks for the thorough report, VG.
Please clear the field! The game is not over!
09-14-2019, 12:00 PM
Spike--
Pepperdine was playing a fairly high line when we dinked the ball around the backline, daring us to beat it over the top. It mostly worked; among the few times it didn't, Macario got in on the near post (and probably should've shot from about 12 yards) and laid the ball off to Smith streaking far post perfectly in her path. That was the ball that Smith banged off the woodwork.
That high line also results in a clogged pitch - you have ten defenders compressed into about 30-40 vertical yards of field. Another reason why the midfield was problematic - instead of trying to work through that jam, they would as they've been coached to do pass the ball back to an open backline player, whose options were then pass it back to a covered midfielder (occasional), pass it back to the keeper of around the backline (often), or launch it over the top (more frequently as the game wore on.)
As soon as Stanford got the ball past midfield, that line collapsed back to a bunker defense, with all 10 defenders in the last 40 yards of the pitch. That pack of legs led to a lot of corner kicks, but not a lot of Stanford trying to shoot from 23 yards or further out; that was the "try to pass the ball inside to a covered Haley or Macario with their back to goal and three defenders around them" issue.
VG
Pepperdine was playing a fairly high line when we dinked the ball around the backline, daring us to beat it over the top. It mostly worked; among the few times it didn't, Macario got in on the near post (and probably should've shot from about 12 yards) and laid the ball off to Smith streaking far post perfectly in her path. That was the ball that Smith banged off the woodwork.
That high line also results in a clogged pitch - you have ten defenders compressed into about 30-40 vertical yards of field. Another reason why the midfield was problematic - instead of trying to work through that jam, they would as they've been coached to do pass the ball back to an open backline player, whose options were then pass it back to a covered midfielder (occasional), pass it back to the keeper of around the backline (often), or launch it over the top (more frequently as the game wore on.)
As soon as Stanford got the ball past midfield, that line collapsed back to a bunker defense, with all 10 defenders in the last 40 yards of the pitch. That pack of legs led to a lot of corner kicks, but not a lot of Stanford trying to shoot from 23 yards or further out; that was the "try to pass the ball inside to a covered Haley or Macario with their back to goal and three defenders around them" issue.
VG
Spike--
Pepperdine was playing a fairly high line when we dinked the ball around the backline, daring us to beat it over the top. It mostly worked; among the few times it didn't, Macario got in on the near post (and probably should've shot from about 12 yards) and laid the ball off to Smith streaking far post perfectly in her path. That was the ball that Smith banged off the woodwork.
That high line also results in a clogged pitch - you have ten defenders compressed into about 30-40 vertical yards of field. Another reason why the midfield was problematic - instead of trying to work through that jam, they would as they've been coached to do pass the ball back to an open backline player, whose options were then pass it back to a covered midfielder (occasional), pass it back to the keeper of around the backline (often), or launch it over the top (more frequently as the game wore on.)
As soon as Stanford got the ball past midfield, that line collapsed back to a bunker defense, with all 10 defenders in the last 40 yards of the pitch. That pack of legs led to a lot of corner kicks, but not a lot of Stanford trying to shoot from 23 yards or further out; that was the "try to pass the ball inside to a covered Haley or Macario with their back to goal and three defenders around them" issue.
VG
Pepperdine was playing a fairly high line when we dinked the ball around the backline, daring us to beat it over the top. It mostly worked; among the few times it didn't, Macario got in on the near post (and probably should've shot from about 12 yards) and laid the ball off to Smith streaking far post perfectly in her path. That was the ball that Smith banged off the woodwork.
That high line also results in a clogged pitch - you have ten defenders compressed into about 30-40 vertical yards of field. Another reason why the midfield was problematic - instead of trying to work through that jam, they would as they've been coached to do pass the ball back to an open backline player, whose options were then pass it back to a covered midfielder (occasional), pass it back to the keeper of around the backline (often), or launch it over the top (more frequently as the game wore on.)
As soon as Stanford got the ball past midfield, that line collapsed back to a bunker defense, with all 10 defenders in the last 40 yards of the pitch. That pack of legs led to a lot of corner kicks, but not a lot of Stanford trying to shoot from 23 yards or further out; that was the "try to pass the ball inside to a covered Haley or Macario with their back to goal and three defenders around them" issue.
VG
great insights VG. Some random thoughts: I think Rood should have come out to punch away the corner kick, she has to own the space that close to the goal right in the middle of the goal. Also, the best time to try some outside shots was the first half when the Pepperdine GK was looking into the sun. Doms has the speed and the moxie to dribble through the middle of the field, but I wonder if she was inhibited because she's new or because we had not encouraged that tactic.
great insights VG. Some random thoughts: I think Rood should have come out to punch away the corner kick, she has to own the space that close to the goal right in the middle of the goal. Also, the best time to try some outside shots was the first half when the Pepperdine GK was looking into the sun. Doms has the speed and the moxie to dribble through the middle of the field, but I wonder if she was inhibited because she's new or because we had not encouraged that tactic.
09-15-2019, 02:07 PM
The streak continues. Through the 1st half vs. UCSB, Stanford again has attacked the goal without success. 10 shots, 4 on goal. None went in.
UCSB has zero shots on goal through the 1st half. Teams are tied 0-0.
UCSB has zero shots on goal through the 1st half. Teams are tied 0-0.
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
The streak continues. Through the 1st half vs. UCSB, Stanford again has attacked the goal without success. 10 shots, 4 on goal. None went in.
UCSB has zero shots on goal through the 1st half. Teams are tied 0-0.
UCSB has zero shots on goal through the 1st half. Teams are tied 0-0.
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
09-15-2019, 02:18 PM
Not only that:
Madison Haley draws a pk early, and they let her take the shot. She hits one of the easiest pks to save, waist height just to one side of the keeper. So now their keeper has confidence.
Sophia Smith gets on the end of a great through ball, beats the keeper, has the entire goalmouth... and hits the ball into the near side netting. Slightly offbalance, but you have to be able to put that in.
Our midfield having no success in the middle, some out wide, but playing really a step slow.
And our goalie nearly getting beaten on a half field chip shot . Luckily, the wind was against the ball, and it drifted out of danger.
Santa Barbara is, of course, in a 4-5-1. Until we show we can beat it, we will see a lot of it.
Some positives. Kiki Pickett, in her hometown, being a lot more aggressive. Great recovery defense, for the most part. But still vulnerable to set pieces, and some bad caught in possession turnovers in the midfield.
And Belle Breide needs to learn to not Telegraph her passing quite as much. She’s hitting the player that was open two seconds ago, because she stares straight at the target and the defense adjusts.
Second half upcoming.
VG
Madison Haley draws a pk early, and they let her take the shot. She hits one of the easiest pks to save, waist height just to one side of the keeper. So now their keeper has confidence.
Sophia Smith gets on the end of a great through ball, beats the keeper, has the entire goalmouth... and hits the ball into the near side netting. Slightly offbalance, but you have to be able to put that in.
Our midfield having no success in the middle, some out wide, but playing really a step slow.
And our goalie nearly getting beaten on a half field chip shot . Luckily, the wind was against the ball, and it drifted out of danger.
Santa Barbara is, of course, in a 4-5-1. Until we show we can beat it, we will see a lot of it.
Some positives. Kiki Pickett, in her hometown, being a lot more aggressive. Great recovery defense, for the most part. But still vulnerable to set pieces, and some bad caught in possession turnovers in the midfield.
And Belle Breide needs to learn to not Telegraph her passing quite as much. She’s hitting the player that was open two seconds ago, because she stares straight at the target and the defense adjusts.
Second half upcoming.
VG
Not only that:
Madison Haley draws a pk early, and they let her take the shot. She hits one of the easiest pks to save, waist height just to one side of the keeper. So now their keeper has confidence.
Sophia Smith gets on the end of a great through ball, beats the keeper, has the entire goalmouth... and hits the ball into the near side netting. Slightly offbalance, but you have to be able to put that in.
Our midfield having no success in the middle, some out wide, but playing really a step slow.
And our goalie nearly getting beaten on a half field chip shot . Luckily, the wind was against the ball, and it drifted out of danger.
Santa Barbara is, of course, in a 4-5-1. Until we show we can beat it, we will see a lot of it.
Some positives. Kiki Pickett, in her hometown, being a lot more aggressive. Great recovery defense, for the most part. But still vulnerable to set pieces, and some bad caught in possession turnovers in the midfield.
And Belle Breide needs to learn to not Telegraph her passing quite as much. She’s hitting the player that was open two seconds ago, because she stares straight at the target and the defense adjusts.
Second half upcoming.
VG
Madison Haley draws a pk early, and they let her take the shot. She hits one of the easiest pks to save, waist height just to one side of the keeper. So now their keeper has confidence.
Sophia Smith gets on the end of a great through ball, beats the keeper, has the entire goalmouth... and hits the ball into the near side netting. Slightly offbalance, but you have to be able to put that in.
Our midfield having no success in the middle, some out wide, but playing really a step slow.
And our goalie nearly getting beaten on a half field chip shot . Luckily, the wind was against the ball, and it drifted out of danger.
Santa Barbara is, of course, in a 4-5-1. Until we show we can beat it, we will see a lot of it.
Some positives. Kiki Pickett, in her hometown, being a lot more aggressive. Great recovery defense, for the most part. But still vulnerable to set pieces, and some bad caught in possession turnovers in the midfield.
And Belle Breide needs to learn to not Telegraph her passing quite as much. She’s hitting the player that was open two seconds ago, because she stares straight at the target and the defense adjusts.
Second half upcoming.
VG
09-15-2019, 03:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-15-2019, 03:22 PM by Viking_Guy.)
FINALLY.
After hitting the post again, and several more spurned chances, I was resigning myself to a 0-0 draw. Santa Barbara refused to come out of their shell,and Stanford couldn’t navigate the sea of legs in the box to get a clean look. When Cierra Enge had a goal deservedly called back for being offsides in the crease following a corner kick scrum, I thought that was it.
But Macario got sprung down the right sideline (where Pickett had been pushed up to MF), got to 10 yards off the end line, and hit a beautiful ball on the ground to Sophia Smith, who hit the narrowest of redirect balls that found the far corner with about ten minutes left. And UCSB couldn’t find their way out of their shell after so long, not generating a shot in the entire second half, while Stanford had a few more good chances.
Kudos to the Gaucho keeper, who had a hell of a game.
More in a bit.
1-0 after full time.
VG
After hitting the post again, and several more spurned chances, I was resigning myself to a 0-0 draw. Santa Barbara refused to come out of their shell,and Stanford couldn’t navigate the sea of legs in the box to get a clean look. When Cierra Enge had a goal deservedly called back for being offsides in the crease following a corner kick scrum, I thought that was it.
But Macario got sprung down the right sideline (where Pickett had been pushed up to MF), got to 10 yards off the end line, and hit a beautiful ball on the ground to Sophia Smith, who hit the narrowest of redirect balls that found the far corner with about ten minutes left. And UCSB couldn’t find their way out of their shell after so long, not generating a shot in the entire second half, while Stanford had a few more good chances.
Kudos to the Gaucho keeper, who had a hell of a game.
More in a bit.
1-0 after full time.
VG
(This post was last modified: 09-15-2019, 03:22 PM by Viking_Guy.)
FINALLY.
After hitting the post again, and several more spurned chances, I was resigning myself to a 0-0 draw. Santa Barbara refused to come out of their shell,and Stanford couldn’t navigate the sea of legs in the box to get a clean look. When Cierra Enge had a goal deservedly called back for being offsides in the crease following a corner kick scrum, I thought that was it.
But Macario got sprung down the right sideline (where Pickett had been pushed up to MF), got to 10 yards off the end line, and hit a beautiful ball on the ground to Sophia Smith, who hit the narrowest of redirect balls that found the far corner with about ten minutes left. And UCSB couldn’t find their way out of their shell after so long, not generating a shot in the entire second half, while Stanford had a few more good chances.
Kudos to the Gaucho keeper, who had a hell of a game.
More in a bit.
1-0 after full time.
VG
After hitting the post again, and several more spurned chances, I was resigning myself to a 0-0 draw. Santa Barbara refused to come out of their shell,and Stanford couldn’t navigate the sea of legs in the box to get a clean look. When Cierra Enge had a goal deservedly called back for being offsides in the crease following a corner kick scrum, I thought that was it.
But Macario got sprung down the right sideline (where Pickett had been pushed up to MF), got to 10 yards off the end line, and hit a beautiful ball on the ground to Sophia Smith, who hit the narrowest of redirect balls that found the far corner with about ten minutes left. And UCSB couldn’t find their way out of their shell after so long, not generating a shot in the entire second half, while Stanford had a few more good chances.
Kudos to the Gaucho keeper, who had a hell of a game.
More in a bit.
1-0 after full time.
VG
09-15-2019, 04:23 PM
While Stanford only scored one goal, they really never were threatened on defense. I thought Girma was very good today, especially when it came possessing the ball and setting us up with controlled clearances. With how good she was, I thought Kiki Pickett was even better. She had such a great game in her home town, and had a ton of takeaways. I wouldn't be surprised if she forced 10+ turnovers against UCSB. The UCSB keeper did have a nice game overall, in a game that probably should've been 5 or 6 to 0. Even a tie in this game would've been a pretty disastrous weekend for the team overall.
While Stanford only scored one goal, they really never were threatened on defense. I thought Girma was very good today, especially when it came possessing the ball and setting us up with controlled clearances. With how good she was, I thought Kiki Pickett was even better. She had such a great game in her home town, and had a ton of takeaways. I wouldn't be surprised if she forced 10+ turnovers against UCSB. The UCSB keeper did have a nice game overall, in a game that probably should've been 5 or 6 to 0. Even a tie in this game would've been a pretty disastrous weekend for the team overall.
09-15-2019, 06:04 PM
TF--
You're definitely right about Girma, some great play today as UCSB gave our center backs room to roam, with their 4-5-...(dramatic pause)-1 setup. As in, their one forward was definitely on an island, and never really threatened. Heck, they rarely got beyond half.
But I was still worried, because almost the same level of dominance was apparent in Friday's match. All it would've take was one set play, one counterattack off a midfield turnover (which is where we're getting burned a lot), and some more resolute defending.
A couple of things happened.
(1) Ratcliffe adjusted. He brought in Enge in place of Breide, then brought Belle back in further upfield. He put in Doms for Goad. He brought in Kennedy Wesley at right back and pushed Kiki to right midfield. And dropped Macario back to attacking mid spaces. After about the 70th minute, they were essentially playing a 2-3-5, with everyone pushed forward.
(2) I think UCSB got tired out - they were chasing the ball all day long. On Catarina's long run right, there was a very slow recovery.
(3) Smith's fresh legs created problems up front.
OA, on the keeper question, I feel like our keepers are so focused on the game at their feet, that they sometimes get a little passive on playing the ball with their hands, except as forced by a shot. You're right, we haven't had a box-controlling GK since Campbell graduated, and even she was not the greatest at knowing when to come out for the punch on a cross. Yes, I miss Barnhart.
Again, for me the big issue is at holding MF. Whether Breide, or Enge's slightly better play today, that player is playing back to goal 80% of the time, never looking to turn after receiving the ball from the backline, but only to go back to a different defensive player. Today, I watched Enge push the ball immediately backwards inside the center circle with 15 yards of space behind her unoccupied. And both she and Belle are not quite as decisive with the ball at their feet as they need to be (like I said, a whole lot of "that was a pass that would've worked two or three seconds ago" balls being delivered.)
OTOH, we just graduated two of the best holding midfielders of this generation back to back in Andi and Tierna. A drop-off is not unreasonable :).
We need Madison to get out of the funk. I think Macario at attacking mid is great, especially if Haley is going to continue to be up top; those two can play off one another well, as long as we have Smith out wide to keep the defense slightly spread out. What we're running into is teams that put six players plus a keeper in essentially the square bounded by the two posts and the penalty area, and accept the shot from distance and the cross into a heavily marked player.
That brings up one last need. Who is our aerial player? We're generating corner after corner, and not getting consistent shots out of them. Girma has probably done the best, but they need more from Haley, and perhaps Hiatt.
Betting a drop to about #5.
VG
You're definitely right about Girma, some great play today as UCSB gave our center backs room to roam, with their 4-5-...(dramatic pause)-1 setup. As in, their one forward was definitely on an island, and never really threatened. Heck, they rarely got beyond half.
But I was still worried, because almost the same level of dominance was apparent in Friday's match. All it would've take was one set play, one counterattack off a midfield turnover (which is where we're getting burned a lot), and some more resolute defending.
A couple of things happened.
(1) Ratcliffe adjusted. He brought in Enge in place of Breide, then brought Belle back in further upfield. He put in Doms for Goad. He brought in Kennedy Wesley at right back and pushed Kiki to right midfield. And dropped Macario back to attacking mid spaces. After about the 70th minute, they were essentially playing a 2-3-5, with everyone pushed forward.
(2) I think UCSB got tired out - they were chasing the ball all day long. On Catarina's long run right, there was a very slow recovery.
(3) Smith's fresh legs created problems up front.
OA, on the keeper question, I feel like our keepers are so focused on the game at their feet, that they sometimes get a little passive on playing the ball with their hands, except as forced by a shot. You're right, we haven't had a box-controlling GK since Campbell graduated, and even she was not the greatest at knowing when to come out for the punch on a cross. Yes, I miss Barnhart.
Again, for me the big issue is at holding MF. Whether Breide, or Enge's slightly better play today, that player is playing back to goal 80% of the time, never looking to turn after receiving the ball from the backline, but only to go back to a different defensive player. Today, I watched Enge push the ball immediately backwards inside the center circle with 15 yards of space behind her unoccupied. And both she and Belle are not quite as decisive with the ball at their feet as they need to be (like I said, a whole lot of "that was a pass that would've worked two or three seconds ago" balls being delivered.)
OTOH, we just graduated two of the best holding midfielders of this generation back to back in Andi and Tierna. A drop-off is not unreasonable :).
We need Madison to get out of the funk. I think Macario at attacking mid is great, especially if Haley is going to continue to be up top; those two can play off one another well, as long as we have Smith out wide to keep the defense slightly spread out. What we're running into is teams that put six players plus a keeper in essentially the square bounded by the two posts and the penalty area, and accept the shot from distance and the cross into a heavily marked player.
That brings up one last need. Who is our aerial player? We're generating corner after corner, and not getting consistent shots out of them. Girma has probably done the best, but they need more from Haley, and perhaps Hiatt.
Betting a drop to about #5.
VG
TF--
You're definitely right about Girma, some great play today as UCSB gave our center backs room to roam, with their 4-5-...(dramatic pause)-1 setup. As in, their one forward was definitely on an island, and never really threatened. Heck, they rarely got beyond half.
But I was still worried, because almost the same level of dominance was apparent in Friday's match. All it would've take was one set play, one counterattack off a midfield turnover (which is where we're getting burned a lot), and some more resolute defending.
A couple of things happened.
(1) Ratcliffe adjusted. He brought in Enge in place of Breide, then brought Belle back in further upfield. He put in Doms for Goad. He brought in Kennedy Wesley at right back and pushed Kiki to right midfield. And dropped Macario back to attacking mid spaces. After about the 70th minute, they were essentially playing a 2-3-5, with everyone pushed forward.
(2) I think UCSB got tired out - they were chasing the ball all day long. On Catarina's long run right, there was a very slow recovery.
(3) Smith's fresh legs created problems up front.
OA, on the keeper question, I feel like our keepers are so focused on the game at their feet, that they sometimes get a little passive on playing the ball with their hands, except as forced by a shot. You're right, we haven't had a box-controlling GK since Campbell graduated, and even she was not the greatest at knowing when to come out for the punch on a cross. Yes, I miss Barnhart.
Again, for me the big issue is at holding MF. Whether Breide, or Enge's slightly better play today, that player is playing back to goal 80% of the time, never looking to turn after receiving the ball from the backline, but only to go back to a different defensive player. Today, I watched Enge push the ball immediately backwards inside the center circle with 15 yards of space behind her unoccupied. And both she and Belle are not quite as decisive with the ball at their feet as they need to be (like I said, a whole lot of "that was a pass that would've worked two or three seconds ago" balls being delivered.)
OTOH, we just graduated two of the best holding midfielders of this generation back to back in Andi and Tierna. A drop-off is not unreasonable :).
We need Madison to get out of the funk. I think Macario at attacking mid is great, especially if Haley is going to continue to be up top; those two can play off one another well, as long as we have Smith out wide to keep the defense slightly spread out. What we're running into is teams that put six players plus a keeper in essentially the square bounded by the two posts and the penalty area, and accept the shot from distance and the cross into a heavily marked player.
That brings up one last need. Who is our aerial player? We're generating corner after corner, and not getting consistent shots out of them. Girma has probably done the best, but they need more from Haley, and perhaps Hiatt.
Betting a drop to about #5.
VG
You're definitely right about Girma, some great play today as UCSB gave our center backs room to roam, with their 4-5-...(dramatic pause)-1 setup. As in, their one forward was definitely on an island, and never really threatened. Heck, they rarely got beyond half.
But I was still worried, because almost the same level of dominance was apparent in Friday's match. All it would've take was one set play, one counterattack off a midfield turnover (which is where we're getting burned a lot), and some more resolute defending.
A couple of things happened.
(1) Ratcliffe adjusted. He brought in Enge in place of Breide, then brought Belle back in further upfield. He put in Doms for Goad. He brought in Kennedy Wesley at right back and pushed Kiki to right midfield. And dropped Macario back to attacking mid spaces. After about the 70th minute, they were essentially playing a 2-3-5, with everyone pushed forward.
(2) I think UCSB got tired out - they were chasing the ball all day long. On Catarina's long run right, there was a very slow recovery.
(3) Smith's fresh legs created problems up front.
OA, on the keeper question, I feel like our keepers are so focused on the game at their feet, that they sometimes get a little passive on playing the ball with their hands, except as forced by a shot. You're right, we haven't had a box-controlling GK since Campbell graduated, and even she was not the greatest at knowing when to come out for the punch on a cross. Yes, I miss Barnhart.
Again, for me the big issue is at holding MF. Whether Breide, or Enge's slightly better play today, that player is playing back to goal 80% of the time, never looking to turn after receiving the ball from the backline, but only to go back to a different defensive player. Today, I watched Enge push the ball immediately backwards inside the center circle with 15 yards of space behind her unoccupied. And both she and Belle are not quite as decisive with the ball at their feet as they need to be (like I said, a whole lot of "that was a pass that would've worked two or three seconds ago" balls being delivered.)
OTOH, we just graduated two of the best holding midfielders of this generation back to back in Andi and Tierna. A drop-off is not unreasonable :).
We need Madison to get out of the funk. I think Macario at attacking mid is great, especially if Haley is going to continue to be up top; those two can play off one another well, as long as we have Smith out wide to keep the defense slightly spread out. What we're running into is teams that put six players plus a keeper in essentially the square bounded by the two posts and the penalty area, and accept the shot from distance and the cross into a heavily marked player.
That brings up one last need. Who is our aerial player? We're generating corner after corner, and not getting consistent shots out of them. Girma has probably done the best, but they need more from Haley, and perhaps Hiatt.
Betting a drop to about #5.
VG
09-15-2019, 08:40 PM
I posted on the Sears Board on both the men's and the women's "saveless" clean sheets (no goals or shots on goal from the opponents). I'm putting that at the bottom of this post after a few comments inspired by Viking Guy.
Both Pepperdine and UCSB denied us the middle. We need to get used to it. UCSB could easily have been 5-0. If Maddie scores on the PK, it's a very different game. Same is Sophia walks her ball in, as she easily could have. But, after winning 7-0 and 9-0, we need to adjust. I think Maya Doms should probably start for Belle Briede, with Sophia, Abby, and Maddie as forwards and Cat as attacking mid. (Though I wouldn't be unhappy with Cat as middle forward and Maddie at mid.) Goad, Doms, and Cat/Maddie at mid. And our back four is golden - Naomi and Kiki are or should be all-Americans, Sam Hiatt is very solid, and whoever we put at the other fullback (or, sort of, left back in the diamond we seem mainly to be playing) is fine.
I trust Paul Ratcliffe and I think we'll be fine. And I think an early season non-conference loss can be a blessing. But this weekend, especially after 7-0 and 9-0, will be a real wake-up call. Sadly, we don't see the women at home again until October but I hope a lot of fans will join my wife and me at Santa Clara next Sunday, Sept. 22. The Broncos beat UCLA and always play us tough. Go Card!\
From my Sears Board post:
One of those days against "inoffensive teams." The men beat 0-4-1 American University 3-0 at the Q. It was fairly tight for a while but we ended up with 25 shots. They had one, far over goal, in the first half. We had 8 to 10 corner kicks don't remember exactly). They had (I remember exactly) 0.
Both Pepperdine and UCSB denied us the middle. We need to get used to it. UCSB could easily have been 5-0. If Maddie scores on the PK, it's a very different game. Same is Sophia walks her ball in, as she easily could have. But, after winning 7-0 and 9-0, we need to adjust. I think Maya Doms should probably start for Belle Briede, with Sophia, Abby, and Maddie as forwards and Cat as attacking mid. (Though I wouldn't be unhappy with Cat as middle forward and Maddie at mid.) Goad, Doms, and Cat/Maddie at mid. And our back four is golden - Naomi and Kiki are or should be all-Americans, Sam Hiatt is very solid, and whoever we put at the other fullback (or, sort of, left back in the diamond we seem mainly to be playing) is fine.
I trust Paul Ratcliffe and I think we'll be fine. And I think an early season non-conference loss can be a blessing. But this weekend, especially after 7-0 and 9-0, will be a real wake-up call. Sadly, we don't see the women at home again until October but I hope a lot of fans will join my wife and me at Santa Clara next Sunday, Sept. 22. The Broncos beat UCLA and always play us tough. Go Card!\
From my Sears Board post:
One of those days against "inoffensive teams." The men beat 0-4-1 American University 3-0 at the Q. It was fairly tight for a while but we ended up with 25 shots. They had one, far over goal, in the first half. We had 8 to 10 corner kicks don't remember exactly). They had (I remember exactly) 0.
Meanwhile, the women, at UCSB, won 1-0. They had 23 shots to UCSB's 1 (not close to on goal). Still, they had to wait until the 79th to go ahead. UCSB's keeper had four or five great saves, including one on a PK by Madison Haley, and in the first half Sophia Smith brilliantly got past the defenders, the keeper, and then, from about 8 feet out, tapped it wide...she could have walked it in. Happily, she got the winner in the 79th on a great cross from Catarina Macario. Still, we went almost 3 hours without a goal; - 78+ minutes v UCSB, 90 minutes v Pepperdine, and the last 5:26 of the 9-0 blowout of USF. About 173 and change minutes (though Go Stanford says 164:18, which can't be right - 90 minutes at Pepperdine plus 78 at UCSB is more than that).
Anyway, two Ws, no saves. (Replace our keepers! No saves! - just joking.)
Go Card!
I posted on the Sears Board on both the men's and the women's "saveless" clean sheets (no goals or shots on goal from the opponents). I'm putting that at the bottom of this post after a few comments inspired by Viking Guy.
Both Pepperdine and UCSB denied us the middle. We need to get used to it. UCSB could easily have been 5-0. If Maddie scores on the PK, it's a very different game. Same is Sophia walks her ball in, as she easily could have. But, after winning 7-0 and 9-0, we need to adjust. I think Maya Doms should probably start for Belle Briede, with Sophia, Abby, and Maddie as forwards and Cat as attacking mid. (Though I wouldn't be unhappy with Cat as middle forward and Maddie at mid.) Goad, Doms, and Cat/Maddie at mid. And our back four is golden - Naomi and Kiki are or should be all-Americans, Sam Hiatt is very solid, and whoever we put at the other fullback (or, sort of, left back in the diamond we seem mainly to be playing) is fine.
I trust Paul Ratcliffe and I think we'll be fine. And I think an early season non-conference loss can be a blessing. But this weekend, especially after 7-0 and 9-0, will be a real wake-up call. Sadly, we don't see the women at home again until October but I hope a lot of fans will join my wife and me at Santa Clara next Sunday, Sept. 22. The Broncos beat UCLA and always play us tough. Go Card!\
From my Sears Board post:
One of those days against "inoffensive teams." The men beat 0-4-1 American University 3-0 at the Q. It was fairly tight for a while but we ended up with 25 shots. They had one, far over goal, in the first half. We had 8 to 10 corner kicks don't remember exactly). They had (I remember exactly) 0.
Both Pepperdine and UCSB denied us the middle. We need to get used to it. UCSB could easily have been 5-0. If Maddie scores on the PK, it's a very different game. Same is Sophia walks her ball in, as she easily could have. But, after winning 7-0 and 9-0, we need to adjust. I think Maya Doms should probably start for Belle Briede, with Sophia, Abby, and Maddie as forwards and Cat as attacking mid. (Though I wouldn't be unhappy with Cat as middle forward and Maddie at mid.) Goad, Doms, and Cat/Maddie at mid. And our back four is golden - Naomi and Kiki are or should be all-Americans, Sam Hiatt is very solid, and whoever we put at the other fullback (or, sort of, left back in the diamond we seem mainly to be playing) is fine.
I trust Paul Ratcliffe and I think we'll be fine. And I think an early season non-conference loss can be a blessing. But this weekend, especially after 7-0 and 9-0, will be a real wake-up call. Sadly, we don't see the women at home again until October but I hope a lot of fans will join my wife and me at Santa Clara next Sunday, Sept. 22. The Broncos beat UCLA and always play us tough. Go Card!\
From my Sears Board post:
One of those days against "inoffensive teams." The men beat 0-4-1 American University 3-0 at the Q. It was fairly tight for a while but we ended up with 25 shots. They had one, far over goal, in the first half. We had 8 to 10 corner kicks don't remember exactly). They had (I remember exactly) 0.
Meanwhile, the women, at UCSB, won 1-0. They had 23 shots to UCSB's 1 (not close to on goal). Still, they had to wait until the 79th to go ahead. UCSB's keeper had four or five great saves, including one on a PK by Madison Haley, and in the first half Sophia Smith brilliantly got past the defenders, the keeper, and then, from about 8 feet out, tapped it wide...she could have walked it in. Happily, she got the winner in the 79th on a great cross from Catarina Macario. Still, we went almost 3 hours without a goal; - 78+ minutes v UCSB, 90 minutes v Pepperdine, and the last 5:26 of the 9-0 blowout of USF. About 173 and change minutes (though Go Stanford says 164:18, which can't be right - 90 minutes at Pepperdine plus 78 at UCSB is more than that).
Anyway, two Ws, no saves. (Replace our keepers! No saves! - just joking.)
Go Card!
09-18-2019, 07:13 PM
We fall to #3 in the rankings, behind Virginia and USC.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/a...est-womens
BC
https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/a...est-womens
BC
We fall to #3 in the rankings, behind Virginia and USC.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/a...est-womens
BC
https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/a...est-womens
BC
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