UMass B 29sep2018

Fabulously crisp morning air became warm and sunny 20+C/70+F with lots of fans! Lizzie's folks, Chris and Andi, brought oranges and Cate's folks, Marcie and Kacy, brought apples; Callie's folks, Heather and Jared brought their camera and and adorable puppy and took great photos; Julia Fissore O'Leary's dad came from Amherst bringing praise for the team after the game; Annie Saunders '12 and her friend Michael Hammer in town for a wedding later came from Seattle!!

We spoke about being quick and diagonal -- diagonal runs, passes or dribbles -- and not holding onto the ball since UMass would put us under great pressure.

There are two UMass teams -- this one called 'B' was strong last year, and we face 'A' next Sunday.

We came out strong, connecting many passes and being more diagonal than in past games. We were quick to win the ball back when we lost it, and we had a majority of the possession with more time in their third than they in ours.

In the 7th minute, Izzy took a free kick, and Callie followed with two more -- one a chance at goal with her shot going just over the cross-bar. Sophia had a shot go over as well before Julia Fissore O'Leary earned a free kick taken by Katie B in the 19th minute.

UMass got a free kick in the 21st minute, then Callie got two more free kick opportunities with the 2nd again just over the cross-bar. UMass got two more free kicks before Dani's shot on target was blocked in the 35th minute. Then UMass had their first shot go over our cross-bar and got another free kick.

In the 39th minute, Jenny got off a perfect cross for Dani to receive, but her shot on target was saved by the UMass goalkeeper. Just before the break, Izzy got off a free kick from which Nam got off a shot on target that was saved.

During the break we spoke about continuing the good passing to create scoring chances, crashing their net after our shots, saying the name of the player to whom we are passing the ball, using the sides of the field more, taking our free kicks quicker and giving our passes a little more force (given the abundant grass that slows down the ball).

We looked very bright -- Namya had a shot saved, Jordan had a shot go wide, Sarah J had a shot saved and Meredith had a shot go wide. Nine minutes later, Namya had her shot hit the upright. 

UMass finally got a shot off in the 65th minute that Bri saved. Sophia had a shot go over their cross-bar and Jordan took a corner kick before Jenny's powerful shot off their cross-bar in the 72nd minute found Namya, who put the rebound into the UMass net for the only goal of the game.

After that, Sarah J had two shots saved, Caroline and Callie (free kick) had shots go over the cross-bar and Jenny another of her shots saved.

We withstood the high pressure and physicality UMass threw at us and felt great about our playing style -- looking good for our fans and sad only about our two ACL-injured players, Carly and Cate, who were both there to cheer on their team.

G: Bri
CD: Julia F O'L+Callie
OD: Izzy+Katie B, Katie R
CM: Namya+Sarah J, Sophia
F: Lizzie+Dani, Jordan

Shots 19:2 Saves 1:8

7 Izzy free kick
15 Callie free kick
16 Callie shot over
17 Sophia shot over
19 Julia FO'L earned a free kick taken by Katie B
21 UMass free kick
24 Callie free kick
25 Callie free kick over the cross-bar
30 UMass free kick
33 UMass free kick
35 Dani shot blocked
36 UMass shot over
37 UMass free kick
39 Jenny cross to Dani shot saved
40 Izzy free kick, Namya shot saved
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43 Nam shot saved
44 Jordan shot wide
45 Sarah J shot saved
49 Meredith S shot wide
58 Nam shot hit the upright
65 UMass shot saved
68 Sophia shot over
69 Jordan took a corner kick
72 Jenny shot hit the cross-bar, Nam got the rebound --> 1:0
73 Sarah J shot saved
76 Caroline shot over
77 Sarah J shot saved
78 Callie free kick over
79 Jenny shot saved