Sometimes it’s the games you don’t expect to be tough that can sneak up on you. Chippewa is mid pack in the Big Rivers and no real threat to Memorial, but….that’s why you play the games. Funny things can happen in a soccer game, you can have tons of possession, you can get a ton of shots, you can only give up 1-2 shots from the opposition….and yet, you can still find yourself tied 1-1 with 20 minutes to go.
That’s what happened Thursday night in Chippewa Falls when Memorial took on the Cardinals.
Maybe it was the lack of practice that caught up, maybe it was the crazy schedule with 6 games in the past 10 days, maybe it was just a lull in performance which is normal in mid-season, or maybe it was just on of those nights when the ball just can’t find the net and the opposing GK makes a few nice saves. The stats will say Memorial dominated the game. I think I saw 32-2 in shots for the game. Memorial dominated the possession as well, controlling 70-80% of the ball from my perspective. And the shots were coming. Early and often. Just a little wide, just a little high, off the cross bar, right at the GK. It just wasn’t meant to be in the first half. For a team that had scored 16 goals in the past two games, it just felt a little flat last night. The thing is, this is pretty normal in a season, the key is can you still find a way to stay patient and win these games and not get rattled. Play your game and trust then goals will come.
Tied 0-0 at then half after dominating play, the Abes found their rhythm in the early part of the second half and went up 1-0 on a very persistent spell of possession and just desire to get a goal. It really was just an attitude goal. We are not leaving the 18 until the ball is in the net. You need to hang on for the goal, several players involved, lots of touches, Sorenson is a major factor in the goal…creating with her possession, winning a ball back quickly…finding space and getting the ball into a dangerous spot for Stow. Stow just does Stow stuff and buries this one!
So game over right…the flood gates will open and the Abes will go on a 4 goal run to put this thing away. Well, hold your old Abes, Chippewa hung tough and battled. Most of the night it looked like a 4-5-1 with 9 players behind the ball defending. Space was limited. I guess a smart move really, can you score on a set play; corner or free kick and somehow just hold off the high powered Abes. It almost worked. at the 70 minute mark, Chippewa penetrated the Abes defense a bit and under pressure the Abes committed a foul. A free kick from Andrea Chihasky, maybe 30-35 yards. Too far really, no way to score from here…the kick is away and …oh no…that looks like it has a chance…wow…it just keeps drifting to the upper corner of the net…bam. 1-1. Game on! I think that one shocked everyone, the Memorial fans for sure, the Chippewa fans for sure, even the Chippewa players I think. So, pressure is back on Memorial. I must say, there was no panic. They continued to just play their possession game and look for openings to break down the Cardinal’s defense. Patience is a virtue they say and it usually pays dividends.
Here is another one of those hustle, persistence goals. It starts with a throw in and getting a dangerous ball into the box, bur CF avoids the goal and is working to clear when the Player of the Night…Serena Sorenson, whips a ball back into the six for Stow who knocks it down right into the path of Lauren Carmody who buries it upper 90 off the volley. 2-1. Game almost over. Memorial had to survive one last scare on CF second shot of the night. After pushing into the Abes half, Chippewa had a nice switch of play to the back side for an uncovered wing player who got in behind the defense on the left side of the 18. She cleared the defense and hit a nice hard low shot tracking for then left side of the net. I think the GK was beaten, but the shot drifted wide left. No goal. Danger averted…now Game Over! Whew. A few quick heart beats on that one!
A quick shout out to the Chippewa Falls GK Bayleigh Crawford who had 18 saves. Here was a nice one. Another Serena Soreson moment as well. Nice game for her.
A Few Thoughts
Memorial dropped a few spots but still holding onto the #5 spot in the latest Coaches Poll. Surprised not to see DC Everest. Maybe some unfortunate losses for them, but they were really good.
Big Week Next Week Should Decide the Conference Champ. Back to back games against River Falls after a Saturday trap game against Rice Lake. Stay focused Saturday and get past RL and then bring it hard for the back to backs. River Falls is the real deal. This should be a very exciting, and difficult two game stretch. Hope Bowe can make it back, fingers crossed.