ADVERTISEMENT

Rutgers Women’s Soccer Set for Trips to Ohio State, Penn State

In the Hunt!!!! Sorry, couldn’t resist. Time to stay unbeaten and stay in first!
 
20 shots & 2 on goal. Awful. OSU with 8 shots & 2 or 3 on goal. Corners--RU 7 OSU 3. Put one decent corner in the box. Awful. If you watch us practice before games we're blasting shots over the goal, wide of the goal with no one defending. Have noticed this for years. If you practice lousy, you'll play lousy. As for corners--you're telling me that a D1 college soccer player can't serve a decent ball into the box more often than not. Clean the shots & corners up & we'll score more.
 
Ok so we need at worst a tie vs PSU tomorrow to remain at least tied for first in the B1G. Next week we have the two worst B1G teams in the last week of the regular season, MSU and Purdue. Path to at worst a share of our first B1G team title is clear: Win/Tie vs PSU, win both games vs MSU and Purdue.
 
20 shots & 2 on goal. Awful. OSU with 8 shots & 2 or 3 on goal. Corners--RU 7 OSU 3. Put one decent corner in the box. Awful. If you watch us practice before games we're blasting shots over the goal, wide of the goal with no one defending. Have noticed this for years. If you practice lousy, you'll play lousy. As for corners--you're telling me that a D1 college soccer player can't serve a decent ball into the box more often than not. Clean the shots & corners up & we'll score more.
Do you think maybe we need to upgrade offensive coordinators? If we get 2-3 goals a game we would be unstoppable with our defense.
 
We don't have an offensive coordinator. Believe Mike runs the offense. Meg Ryan runs the D. We should have won that game. Hit a crossbar or post. Uncharacteristically, Amirah banged a good look over the net. Nneka broke in on the goalie alone & banged it over the net. Brittany saw limited action--believe her shins are holding her back. If she were completely healthy it would make a big difference. We just don't have the legit consistent scorers available beyond Amirah. Nneka can score but isn't consistent yet. Nicole does not belong up front. Doesn't have the speed. In addition, can't tell you how many passes she has failed to connect on in recent weeks. Tierney has good speed but hangs on to the ball & plays with it too long & usually loses it. The younger girls off the bench don't have the experience or skill sets yet at this level. Plus we get no scoring from our middies. Still if we executed on our opportunities & created more of them with good corners & free kicks we would score more. Very frustrated with OSU game. It was a win we should have had & it would have put us in a commanding position heading into PSU.
 
Last edited:
I wonder where the rest of the team was. Based on views of our sideline shelter from above, it looked like we had about 4 subs total. No Ashley Atubi or Maya Daniels in the game; were they even there? After so many OT games, you'd think more subbing would be in order.
 
I wonder where the rest of the team was. Based on views of our sideline shelter from above, it looked like we had about 4 subs total. No Ashley Atubi or Maya Daniels in the game; were they even there? After so many OT games, you'd think more subbing would be in order.
Couldn't see the shelter well. Ashley & Maya haven't been able to contribute much yet. Sure they were there. Thought about that as well. My guess is that Mike knew the import of the game & was going with who he thought could best help win it. At least we got a point.
 
I wonder where the rest of the team was. Based on views of our sideline shelter from above, it looked like we had about 4 subs total. No Ashley Atubi or Maya Daniels in the game; were they even there? After so many OT games, you'd think more subbing would be in order.
Couldn't see the shelter well. Ashley & Maya haven't been able to contribute much yet. Sure they were there. Thought about that as well. My guess is that Mike knew the import of the game & was going with who he thought could best help win it. At least we got a point.
RUDad was saying to myself on corners we kick the ball to close to goalie every time so it’s just an easy punch out every time. It’s soccer 101 you kick the ball outside the 6 so goalie can’t make a play so easy. You are right also we can’t even get shots on goal terrible
 
It was evident LaPlants shins bothered her rather quickly in the 1st 1/2, but at least utilize her talents when it matters, she checked in with 1 minute left in regulation, didn't start the OT and then went in with only minutes left and then was taken out again, why? We needed some offense. The team on the field was not getting the job done and they played a lot of minutes. At least have your best offensive team on the field when you really need it. I did hear they have a diagnosis on her issue and will address it this off season, it only took 3 years! Tomorrows game is huge, RU can prevent goals and I suspect we will see that tomorrow, hopefully we see some adjustments to get some goals on the board. Just don't see enough adjustments made throughout the game, when what you're doing isn't working, make a change. Then again, you get a point for a tie, perhaps that was the objective? I picture Tierny in the back, LaPlant starting up front and playing as many minutes as possible and Whitley and maybe Holland in the mid field, she's somewhat of utility player and can play anywhere and has an impact. Try to get on the board early!!! Tierny proved herself as a defender last year, she is not a forward. Starting forwards, Amirah, Brittany and Nenka, Holland, Whitley and Gabby in the mid and Amanda, Madison, Tierny and Kenie in the back, more of an offensive lineup that will still get the same defensive result.
 
Agree with Killer re: LaPlant's playing time. Didn't get the use of it as well. Good to hear they finally diagnosed her shin problem. Hope she can come back 100% next year. Agree about Tierney not being a forward. Would you play her at center back? I would be uneasy with her as a back, due to her tendency to play with the ball & cough it up. I think I would play her at middie & utilize her speed & keep Holland back. Holland has impressed me as a Frosh--very steady, & as you say versatile. And I've been saying all along to start Brittany with Amirah & Nneka. Mike is exhibiting some real stubborness in continuing to start Nicole at forward & keep bringing her in there. Then again maybe he doesn't have too many good options. I think I would like to see Jezlyn Jimenez in there. Perhaps playing instead of Adora, whose feet are somewhat slow & who coughs the ball up with poor passes too often, or at least sharing time with her. Every time Mike has given Jimenez some time I thought that she has played well, though it has not been a large sample.
 
RUDad was saying to myself on corners we kick the ball to close to goalie every time so it’s just an easy punch out every time. It’s soccer 101 you kick the ball outside the 6 so goalie can’t make a play so easy. You are right also we can’t even get shots on goal terrible
Last night some of the corners were cloud makers, others were beyond the box.
 
Good points rudad02, I was just recommending Tierny in the back based on her success in the position last year, she started and played several games there last year and did well, perhaps she would adjust accordingly, but you're correct, perhaps utilize her speed in the mid field, only concern would be her ability to keep possession and her game knowledge, distribution, etc. At least in back she can utilize her athleticism and speed to break up service, run down balls and compete 1 v 1, I only recommended Holland in the mid for the reason you stated, she has impressed, composure, maturity, ability to keep possession, perhaps she could set up some additional chances especially with the forwards we recommended. I personally feel there are better options up top, put LaPlant up top until she has to go out, like you said, there are other options in the mid, we sacrifice some technical ability and general soccer knowledge with Adora in the mid field. Bottom line is RU will continue to defend and prevent goals, but they need to score and score early and then they can play their typical style for the remainder if the game, holding on for 90 minutes every game is an gamble, one mistake and your down chasing a goal and losing 3 points! If RU wins tomorrow they are a sure in for the regular season Big 10 title, its a big game!!!!!! I hope, the correct adjustments are made and RU rises to the challenge!
 
Also, while Pogarch, Whitley and Ahlmer are the primary free kick takers, someone on the team must be able to take a challenging shot on goal from 25 in. Corner kick service has been mediorce at best, and from 25 in you should be able to take a shot on goal thats challenges the keeper! Periodically RU plays a short ball on corners that takes a real chance of scoring out of the equation, run the play, serve the ball on spot and challenge the keeper, 7 corners are a lot and should result in at least 1 goal.
 
Killerbees3, agree with your points. Tierney did play well at outside back last year. I was only concerned with her at center back. Did you see her there or at outside. Perhaps Kenie could move to center back. Chantell leaving limits options. Agree that Holland in the mid has the potential to really help. She could even slide to forward during the course of the game. Bet she could do it & help. As you say, putting the pressure on our D for such long stretches increases the chances for a breakdown. An early goal or two [lets not get greedy here] by us would be huge. Again as you say, big game. We'll see in a couple of hours.
 
Feels like a Guaranteed loss playing PSU whenever title implications on the line ... B1G finals ... Final 4 ... hope the ladies prove it’s not a curse!!!!!
 
RU getting dominated ... watched last 10 min in 1st half ... entirely in RUs side ... some great goalie play by RU ... 0-0 and in it!!!!
 
Feels like a Guaranteed loss playing PSU whenever title implications on the line ... B1G finals ... Final 4 ... hope the ladies prove it’s not a curse!!!!!
As expected ... PSU 1 RU 0 ... PSU is just faster and crisper ... RU looks sluggish and no push into PSU ... outshot 9-2 so far.
 
PSU lives up to their preseason rank (#4) ... RU is a good team and can beat PSU, but PSU looks the part.
 
Even in a year where pen state has 3 losses and us none, can’t get it done. Our Achilles heal.
 
Its hard to win when the team has such difficulty scoring which in Rutgers case happens with far too many teams.
 
We’re a good team, but this whole not scoring in regulation thing is going to hurt us
 
This was an unranked PSU team yet they looked superior in the second half that I watched. Hard to be critical of one of our most successful programs but I don't think this is one of our best teams. Ali is terrific but I don't see a lot of additional offensively skilled players.

This may not be a good analogy but in some ways O'Neill's approach reminds me of CVS's strong womens basketball teams. Strong on D but challenged to find enough offense particularly against other top notch teams.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fairhavenfool
We don't have the horses up front other than Ali. Losing LaPlant really hurt. Nekka has ability but it's more raw--doesn't have the full skill set. Other than that no real threats. Losing Shea Holland sometime in the 1st hurt & probably contributed to PSU's goal.
 
Did anyone else think that Penn State was off sides on the goal? They never gave a good angle on the replays but man, it looked like when she received the ball she was quite a bit ahead of RU's defender and while it was a great ball, the pass was fairly short, I don't think there was enough time from the point the pass was made to receiving the ball that there coyld be that much separation, I really think when the ball was passed Penn State was off sides. It's great that RU continues to have one of the top defenses in the Country, but to win, you have to score goals! I agree with rudad02, if LaPlant was healthy and could play good minutes, RU would not only have more chances but would finish more on the chances they get. Issue now with LaPlants shins is by the time she chases balls on defense for 10 minutes, her shins are shot and she doesn't get the opportunity to contribute offensively, perhaps that alone is an opportunity........perhaps a different approach?
 
Did anyone else think that Penn State was off sides on the goal? They never gave a good angle on the replays but man, it looked like when she received the ball she was quite a bit ahead of RU's defender and while it was a great ball, the pass was fairly short, I don't think there was enough time from the point the pass was made to receiving the ball that there coyld be that much separation, I really think when the ball was passed Penn State was off sides. It's great that RU continues to have one of the top defenses in the Country, but to win, you have to score goals! I agree with rudad02, if LaPlant was healthy and could play good minutes, RU would not only have more chances but would finish more on the chances they get. Issue now with LaPlants shins is by the time she chases balls on defense for 10 minutes, her shins are shot and she doesn't get the opportunity to contribute offensively, perhaps that alone is an opportunity........perhaps a different approach?
Wasn't looking for it on the replay. Should have been. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Penn State always gets the call at critical junctures. Early in the game Pogarch broke behind the D with numbers going forward in PS's defensive third & was called for a ticky tac contact.
 
Yes, I wondered about the offsides too. They didn't have a view from the side to show for sure but it seemed like she was too many steps ahead for it to not be offsides. Either way, not surprised we lost. They had the upper head most of the day...except at the very beginning and at the end when we were really pushing to score.
 
Yes, I wondered about the offsides too. They didn't have a view from the side to show for sure but it seemed like she was too many steps ahead for it to not be offsides. Either way, not surprised we lost. They had the upper head most of the day...except at the very beginning and at the end when we were really pushing to score.

You can watch the game on the link below. It was very close, she was definitely behind our left back, but not sure if she was kept on-sides by Wright(it was very close and could not get a great angle).


https://www.btn2go.com/game/rutgers-at-penn-st-on-10142018
 
Jesus guys PSU isn’t ranked but still very good AND at home. I thought we dominated the 1st half. Unfortunately couldn’t close any opportunities.
 
Saw a replay of the game on BTN and was just scanning it for the scoring goal.. WOW PSU girl was way off-sides.. was staying offsides until the pass.. so weird... and the line judge was in posiiton and looking at it.. so odd.. we get screwed again
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT