RU vs Northwestern further thoughts

[rudad02]

Not going to try to give a rundown on each player's performance, but some general observations. This team simply built on it's previous very good recent outings. They moved the ball beautifully for long stretches of the game. We have 5 women, all forwards, Tiernan, Ciarrocca, Hendley, Murphy & LaPlante who can all score & who are a threat at any time. Our two Frosh center backs Visco & Swaby are showing increased poise. Our two outside backs Smith & Wright were simply lights out--great anticipation, quickness, speed, skill & toughness. Our middies, Prager, Andresen, & Whitley were outstanding. And we play defense all over the field. Our forwards are taught to back check, to use a hockey term. We limited NW to 3 shots, our lowest total allowed this year. We had 20. Of the 17 field players Coach O'Neil used 8 were freshmen, and seven played substantial minutes. This team is playing with increased confidence & chemestry. And when you're confident, you play fast & loose. And, as a team, they are playing that way more & more. On to Illinois at home tomorrow at 1pm. Go RU.

 

[richthedentist]

question for rudad02: I have been so busy that I have not been able to get to any games yet but it seems like we are getting 20 shots or so a game and only scoring 1 or 2 goals. Is that because we are not finishing like we should? and do you think this will come back to bite us in a big game? very excited to see the women play!!

 

[ho26rus]

rich i will let rudad handle that since its his thread. but if he is busy at the football game i will tackle it later.but your question will not be ignored

 

[rudad02]

question for rudad02: I have been so busy that I have not been able to get to any games yet but it seems like we are getting 20 shots or so a game and only scoring 1 or 2 goals. Is that because we are not finishing like we should? and do you think this will come back to bite us in a big game? very excited to see the women play!!

rich, once in a while we are getting a good look & not finishing, more often than not our look is not that good, sometimes we are doing a great job under difficult circumstances &/or close quarters & we just can't get enough on the shot or are stopped by a great effort. Overall, I believe this team is finishing better than in the past, & I think it will finish even better yet. Just my opinion. Interested in ho26's take.

 

[richthedentist]

Thanks how is our midfield this year because that is where I thought we lost to Penn State last year?

 

[ho26rus]

Well while reeling from the Iowa game i will give it a shot. But remember I am not a mod and what I say is personal opinion.
Put the last 2 games on the back burner for a second
From game 1 you had an enviable but difficult situation. No one has a year whwn you have 13 new players coming in. That said up and down they are talented, some very talented. They had to have a realistic audition for playing time because that period would end at the first big ten game

So for 6 games you played 23-24 field players and 26 in the first two games. You had to define talent and also determine what combinations work. Part of the dilemna is these are lifetime stars with everything revolving around them. Now you want them to be cogs in a machine.

So in the first six you were racking up 20-25 shots a game , but also missed passes in the offensive end, passes where shots should have been taken , and players breaking open but girls who were stars are unaccustomed to hitting those.

So your answer is learning experience and they will grow, But to your point we had 7 of those 20 shots were realistic chances of scoring. Madison seems to have carte blanche to fire from 30yards out . The positives if she hits it high and hard she scores. The ancilary benefits on rockets in the box are blocks by a goalie and a fee ball, an unsuspecting defender gets a hands ball, or the ball bounces off a defender out of bounds for a corner kick. But those 5 shots had no chance of scoring.
It will not hurt you down the line but what will is , no names, a girl setting up infront of the goal, but wide of the goal, and the soft cross was headed correctly but the goal was behind her. Then three games in a row a striker broke free on a slant towards the goal. The issue with all three is they were at full speed anticipating the pass on first touch. The mid touched it twice then passed... offside... no goal. Those were 2 goal unachieved and that can haunt you down the line

The plus is this team has a lot of girls who run track and is very, very fast. Especially the back line . When Northwestern came in 9-0 in looks like they play with great confidence in their fullbacks and tried to attack 5. They had no clue had to deal with the speed of the game. For 5 minutes the ball did not cross midfield. A good move by the coach to reconfigure and draw three back to defend but he sacrificed the offense he runs to do it.

What may hurt them down the line is our mids and even defenders go really hard after the ball and if they miss you have a chance to score. But so far conventional offenses dont do squat.
Remember 9 games 4 goals against but 2 were penalty kicks

So my dentist friend I overstayed my posting welcome but trust I answered, from my viewpoint, all your questions
RUDAD are you there tomorrow? if so look for me

 

[richthedentist]

Thanks!!

 

[rudad02]

Thanks how is our midfield this year because that is where I thought we lost to Penn State last year?

Excellent. Senior Tori Prager has stepped up to take over the middle & is just playing excellent soccer. Senior Jennifer Andresen on one side is also playing tremendous soccer, as is frosh Nicole Whitley on the other. Frosh Taylor Aylmer, in particular, is providing quality minutes off the bench. IMO midfield is stronger this year.

 

[Loyal-Son]

Gentlemen, thanks for the detailed commentary. I am loving every word of your reports.