09-28-2018, 12:20 AM
A couple of other notes:
(1) The second goal by Macario was a wondrous thing. Also in the 46th minute (about 30 seconds after play restarted). Long ball into the box, headed to the top of the box and falls to Catarina. Striking it on a full side volley (as in, her right leg parallel to the ground when she hit it), hammered home into the upper netting. Keeping that ball on frame would be impressive enough, but she scored it.
(2) We're still missing Hiatt, and our midfield defense shows her and Tierna's absence. Both against UCLA's counter attack (although Stanford adjusted over the course of the game), but especially against their aerial game. We only can cover so many people with Alana. Our best defense appeared to be put one player in front of the ball carrier, giving ground but slowing them down, and have another defender overtake them from behind and nick the ball away back to our backline. UCLA didn't open the field after the ball turned over; their eagerness for a quick counter forestalled moving into a wider and more possession game. But give them credit, the Bruins never ran out of gas.
(3) Girma had a much tougher marking assignment today, and couldn't come off to help on other attacks. But the Bruins forwards and mids also shrugged off our smaller players and carried the ball through quite a few attempted tackles. They will be deadly when they get Mace and Fleming back, even if we do get Hiatt back in good shape.
VG
(1) The second goal by Macario was a wondrous thing. Also in the 46th minute (about 30 seconds after play restarted). Long ball into the box, headed to the top of the box and falls to Catarina. Striking it on a full side volley (as in, her right leg parallel to the ground when she hit it), hammered home into the upper netting. Keeping that ball on frame would be impressive enough, but she scored it.
(2) We're still missing Hiatt, and our midfield defense shows her and Tierna's absence. Both against UCLA's counter attack (although Stanford adjusted over the course of the game), but especially against their aerial game. We only can cover so many people with Alana. Our best defense appeared to be put one player in front of the ball carrier, giving ground but slowing them down, and have another defender overtake them from behind and nick the ball away back to our backline. UCLA didn't open the field after the ball turned over; their eagerness for a quick counter forestalled moving into a wider and more possession game. But give them credit, the Bruins never ran out of gas.
(3) Girma had a much tougher marking assignment today, and couldn't come off to help on other attacks. But the Bruins forwards and mids also shrugged off our smaller players and carried the ball through quite a few attempted tackles. They will be deadly when they get Mace and Fleming back, even if we do get Hiatt back in good shape.
VG