at WPI 17Sep2016

We got a beautiful day with bright sunshine and a little wind at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Their turf field is directly above a parking garage -- hence the name Rooftop Field.

We spoke about moving the ball quickly in order to control the game and conserve our energy (it got fairly warm!). 

WPI looked much brighter than last year, when our score was 8:0. They pressed quickly and got off the first shot in the 3rd minute. Rose took a free kick that WPI saved. 

In the 8th minute, WPI got off a high shot from a long distance that seemed to be right where the sun was in the sky -- Laura did her best to get her fingers on it but she was having to back-pedal and couldn't hold onto it.

Christyn had a free kick saved before she scored from a perfect pass from Rose in the 13th minute. Haley almost scored in the 25th minute but her shot rebounded off the upright! Namya got off a shot that went wide, then Laura saved a shot from WPI in the 33rd minute. Nat had a good chance in the 37th minute but her shot went wide.

Just after Jenna's shot was saved, Mel and Namya had shots that rebounded out for Jenna, who scored in the 44th minute, putting the Class of 2020 on the scoreboard! Maria had a good chance right after that, as the half ended.

The half-time discussion was entirely upbeat -- we were improving as we played, with better passes and often winning the ball. We spoke about better communication and more diagonal passes and runs. 

In the first minute of the 2nd half Rose got off a shot that was saved, and then our good passing put Christyn through for a breakaway goal in the 50th minute. Rose and Christyn had more shots saved, and Laura saved one of WPI's shots before WPI got off a perfect shot into the upper left of our goal in the 66th minute.

WPI had a shot over the cross-bar before Haley and Namya had shots saved. Meredith got off two corner kicks in the 76th minute before she got off a shot that was saved.

Namya got off a shot wide just before Haley scored in the 82nd minute, sealing our win. Just before time, WPI got off a shot wide and Jenna made a shot that was saved.

We felt rewarded by our high level of play -- especially the great quality of the new players! Our passing and commitment to a very high work rate paid off wonderfully. 

Callie's mother, Heather, had the perfect treat for the warm temperature -- watermelon! And Lizzie's family sent the most amazing chocolate covered rice krispies! The team surprised me by singing Happy Birthday and giving me two scrumptious cup cakes!

G: Laura
CD: Mari+Christina, Lindsey, Izzy
OD: Izzy+Elise, Callie+Katie
CM: Caroline+Lindsey, Maria+Namya
OM: Sarah L+Julia, Meredith+Lizzie, Sarah A+Jenna
F: Rose+Christyn, Mel+Haley, Nat

Shots 22:8  Saves 2:13

3 WPI shot wide
5 Rose's free kick saved
8 Laura got her fingers on the ball but the sun blocked her view!
   WPI shot went just under the cross-bar --> 0:1
10 Christyn's free kick saved
12 WPI shot wide
13 Rose's pass to Christyn --> 1:1
25 Haley's shot hit the post
28 Namya's shot wide
33 WPI shot saved
37 Nat's shot wide
41 Jenna's shot saved
44 Shots by Mel and Namya rebounded, Jenna scored --> 2:1
45 Maria's shot wide
46 Rose's shot saved
50 Christyn's breakaway! --> 3:1
54 Rose's free kick saved
55 Christyn's shot saved
58 WPI shot saved
60 Mel had two corner kicks
66 WPI shot upper left corner --> 3:2
70 WPI shot over
71 Haley's shot saved
73 Namya's shot saved
76 Haley's shot saved for corner taken by Meredith
76 Meredith took a 2nd corner kick
80 Meredith's shot saved
81 Namya's shot wide
82 Haley --> 4:2
83 WPI corner
88 WPI shot wide
89 Jenna's shot saved