Very warm 30C/86F and sunny with almost no breeze, we hosted Holy Cross for the first time after visiting them last fall. They had only a couple subs but did well to survive the heat! We had some fans, including Bri's wife Alice and Lizzie's folks! Callie went to get more water -- thanks! Lindsey, still in rehab for her ACL, took photos of the team during the game!
All five new players from the Class of 2022 -- Carly Brown, Caroline Collins-Pisano, Sophia Greszczuk, Katie Reisman and Cate Rozelle -- were with us, so with 12 returning players we had 17. Grad student addition, Jordan Fredricksen Isaacs, had a conflict but will join us in the future.
We spoke about making good passes and moving the ball quickly in order to make efficient use of our energy on such a hot day. The captains had decided, smartly, to play 30-minute halves.
We didn't waste any time getting off shots! Meredith S got off her first shot after only a couple minutes, and Namya curled the ball into the upper right corner for our first goal in the 4th minute.
After Jenny's shot was saved, Tina earned a corner in the 8th minute. With long grass and hot sun, it was very exhausting for either team to connect passes, especially long-distance passes. But we maintained most of the possession and were in their third of the field more than they were in our third.
Caroline, subbing in for Jenny at left mid, got off her first shot with our team in the 16th minute -- only about 5 minutes after stepping onto the field. The other 22's added great skill, strength and energy, with Sophia in the middle, Carly up top, and Cate and Katie R on outside back. It looked as if the 22s had been playing with our team for months already!
Holy Cross made an effective attack and their corner kick in the 20th minute required Bri's help with a save. Only a minute later, Carly got a breakaway and easily accelerated past her defender but had her shot saved.
A minute later, Dani's shot was saved. In the 26th minute, Carly's shot was saved but Caroline picked off the rebound and put it into the right side of the Holy Cross goal.
Just before the half, Meredith G dribbled through several defenders and set up Sarah J (SJ) for our 3rd goal. Immediately after that, Meredith S had two shots saved.
During the half-time break we discussed more diagonal passes to feet, switching the attack to the opposite side, more communication and making our passes sooner. It was great that Callie brought more water and that there was some shade beside the field!
After Holy Cross earned a corner, Lizzie made a cross to the far post that Jenny almost scored with a header, but it went wide. In the 35th minute, Meredith G had her shot saved. Soon after that, Meredith G got her head on Jenny's free kick, but the ball went just wide.
In the 39th minute, Dani set up Caroline for our 4th goal, then, two minutes later, Carly did the same for Caroline for our 5th goal. Carly had her shot go over the cross bar a couple minutes later, and Meredith G's free kick was saved.
Carly earned us corner in the 46th minute (taken by SJ), Cate's shot two minutes later went just a little high, then Jenny had two shots go over the Holy Cross cross bar.
In the 53rd minute, SJ's shot was saved, then, only a minute later, Meredith G made a long dribble past multiple defenders before she slotted the ball into the Holy Cross net for our 6th goal.
Lizzie had a shot go over the cross-bar before SJ and Meredith S's shots were saved. In the last minute of play, Namya's shot was blocked for a corner kick. Meredith S's corner kick found Meredith G, whose header went over the cross-bar.
Surprisingly, some of our players said they got accustomed to the heat and felt better as the game progressed, but it was smart to have limited the game to two 30-minute halves!
G: Bri
CD: Tina+Julia F-O'L
OD: Katie B+Izzy, Cate+Katie R
CM: Nam+Meredith G, Sophia
OM: Jenny+Meredith S, Caroline
F: Lizzie+SJ, Dani+Carly
Shots 28:1 Saves 1:11
3 Meredith S shot over
4 Namya upper right 90 from 25m+ --> 1:0
8 Jenny shot saved, Tina earned a corner
16 Caroline shot saved
20 Holy Cross corner, Bri save for another HC corner
21 Carly breakaway! shot saved
22 Dani shot saved
26 Carly shot saved, Caroline got the rebound! --> 2:0
30 Meredith G dribble through multiple defenders, set up SJ --> 3:0
32 Meredith S shot saved
32 Meredith S shot saved
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32 Holy Cross corner
35 Lizzie's cross to Jenny whose header went wide
36 Meredith G shot saved
38 Jenny free kick found Meredith G whose header went wide
39 Dani set up Caroline --> 4:0
41 Carly set up Caroline --> 5:0
43 Carly shot over
44 Meredith G free kick saved
46 Carly earned a corner taken by SJ
48 Cate shot over
50 Jenny shot over
52 Jenny shot over
53 SJ shot saved
54 Meredith G long dribble then scored --> 6:0
56 Lizzie shot over
57 SJ shot saved
58 Meredith S shot saved
59 Nam shot blocked for a corner taken by Meredith S,
Meredith G header over
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