First two losses of the season for the Abes on the same weekend, both by one goal after leading both games. So….that’s the quick highlight, but lots to talk about, so let’s get into it.
After a 13 game run with 12 wins and a tie it finally happened. No real surprise, I don’t think anyone expected an undefeated season. Some early season injury trouble and still missing a critical cog in midfield were all signs a loss might come. The BRC has provided a few challenges but unscathed so far. The non-conference schedule was a beast. If a loss was coming, you figured this was the spot. 8 games in the past 12 days. Throw in a rest day and you end up with just a few practice sessions to work on things. You add in a back to back against two very good, highly rated and skilled programs and really no surprise it was this weekend when the loss occurred.
Is a loss good? Lots of theories on this one. Some coaches claim no loss is a good loss. Others have the philosophy that every loss is a coaching moment and lessons learned. You either win or you learn. Sometimes coaches need a loss to get the players attention. Keep them hungry. Every team has that moment in a season where they need to dig a little deeper, fight a little harder, play a little better and maybe this is that moment for Memorial. So does this weekend get the players attention…we are beatable…we can’t rely on a late goal in every close game…we need to make sure we are focused in every practice and during all 90 minutes of the game. Time will tell, but I think this team will respond well to the weekend. They have shown great resilience all season. They are a bunch of fighters…they are tough. Now, I would have loved for them to get the win in the second game this weekend, but it wasn’t meant to be. I am marking this down as the moment in the season this team rallies together and goes on to have a great finish. It feels like all their players may be available soon, they can get their rotations back to where they want and I think become a very dangerous team. I hope Coach DeRusha has some opportunity to practice soon, but the condensed season has been a challenge. Once they get past the Menomonie game on Thursday, it will be like a second pre-season camp as they fine tune for the playoffs. I am pretty sure he cant wait!
Memorial vs. Notre Dame
I was not at this game but was checking updates on the ECM twitter account. It felt like Memorial had this one in hand. Goal by Carmody, Barstsad, and Stow lead to a 3-1 halftime lead. The lone goal against on a free kick from Notre Dame. A recurring theme of the weekend will be SET PLAYS. 6 minutes into the second half and Stow gets her second for a 4-1 lead. Game over? Up three is a pretty strong lead considering the defense and GK for Memorial. So I am checking the account every few minutes and it goes from 4-1 to 4-3 really quick. One of the goals on a Corner Kick Set Play. Then no updates for about 24 minutes and I am hoping they are holding on….then in a three-minute span it goes to 4-4 and then down one 5-4. Ouch! I checked with a few folks who shared of the 5 goals, 4 were on set plays. Either corner kicks (2), a free kick from just outside the box and a PK with 12 minutes to go. So I watch a lot of soccer, have coached a few years and I must say..that is very unusual. In fact, if I go back and think about all the games I have seen, very few goals have been scored thru the normal course of play. I remember just a few, and some of those on crazy wind aided long balls. The Memorial defense is stout! But these darn Set Plays. What the heck! 4 of the 5 goals. Just weird. And a tough way to lose by 1 goal.
Memorial vs. DSHA
So I was really intrigued by how Memorial would respond to the loss. I decided to drive out and catch the early game on Saturday. The first half was a tale of two halves. DHSA really dominated possession early. Memorial was on their heels a bit. DSHA had a strong midfield and they really controlled the play for the first 20-25 minutes. From the games I have seen, it was probably the most possession against Memorial all year. Very aggressive and physical play had the Abes off their game. And then a Stow thing happened. Sort of out of nowhere a long ball gets played over the top. It did not look dangerous to me so I did not hit record on my phone. Stow chasing down a ball as it heads toward the DSHA goal keeper near the 18. The GK has it all under control and is just waiting to play a pass and clear the ball. Stow keeps coming, fast! The GK is really waiting to clear this ball…interesting…here comes Stow…here comes the clearance…bam…right in the back of Stow who is very close…defects towards the goal and Stow beats the GK and a defender to the ball and calmly slots it into the goal for a 1-0 lead. Wow. How did that even happen, again, just a Stow thing. Not sure I have seen that before. Why didn’t I get that on tape. It just did not look like anything could come from that. Check out the video below. This happened a few minutes later, almost identical to the goal….except this time the GK ( a new one by the way) clears the ball with a bit more urgency and Stow can’t block it. But imagine the ball bouncing off Stow’s back toward the goal and her running forward and tapping it into the goal. You can see it , right!
Memorial seems energized and then for the last 20 minutes of the half really takes control of the game. Possession improves, midfield play responds and takes charge. Opportunities to score, shots on goal, a really strong run of play. I think they left a few goals out there in the first half. Here is a nice sequence that almost leads to a 2-0 lead. Nice save!
And then the second half. DSHA came out strong again and really play energized soccer in the second half. A pretty even battle, but it did feel DSHA had better possession and time on the ball. Nothing too dangerous as far as shots on goal. Memorial was able to absorb the pressure and get balls cleared out of danger. About 12 minutes into the half and DSHA earns a corner kick. So, another set play. I have not recorded plays from Memorials opposition all year, I just try to catch goals for Memorial. I am down at the other end of the field but decide, maybe I will film this one. But, really it couldn’t happen again, not another goal on a corner kick after all the crazy goals yesterday. Bummer, 1-1. Strange, but hey , that’s soccer. With evenly matched team, it can sometimes come down to execution on set plays to determine a winner. I watched Memorials’s boys team get knocked out of a few Sectional Finals and State games on crazy set plays. It happens. And then for me, the play of the game happens. Tied a 1, Memorial starts to pick up possession game play and has a nice run of play. A beautiful thru ball and run by Carmody and she is in on goal. You can watch for yourself. There were a few groans out there on this one. I was not at the perfect angle, but I have watched it a bunch of times, I am not sure how she is offsides. I like to give the AR the benefit of doubt, but folks in line with the play seemed pretty clear it was not. It obviously was very close. Bummer. Felt like this might have made it 2-1, but it was not meant to be on this day.
So, you have probably guessed by now, the game winner by DSHA is another corner kick goal. Crazy but true. I happened to film this one also, but could not bring myself to posting either of these two goals. A tough way to lose, but I will also say I was really proud of how the girls kept fighting after the second goal. The never quit, they never lose their composure, they just play on. They had a few really good chances to equalize. Stow got loose a few times, Kison got up into the box for a few shots, Carmody looked dangerous in the middle. Time just ran out. Two really good teams with little separation. Good game.
A few Thoughts
Set plays are coachable. I feel pretty confident Memorial will work out the set play issues. They just need some practice time. Players need to stay with their marks, laser focus on getting the ball cleared. A little work with the team on positioning. Clean up the goals on set plays as the defense gives up very few opportunities for teams to score.
Practice time is coming soon. Get past this week and the schedule smooths out. Practice is coming…and I hope a key player comes back soon. Fingers crossed.
Still feeling really good about this team. A little wobble this weekend, but no worries. These girls are fighters. They will use this weekend to fuel their late season push and playoff run. Go Abes!