Warm, rainy weather greeted us on our trip to Cambridge. We had a late start but arrived in time for about 20 minutes of warm-up.
We had 9 players from our fall roster, and welcome-guest players Kelly Zeilman '22 and Sara McClanahan '22 joined us. Izzy's sister Annie wanted to play, so we were delighted to include her.
The wind was so fierce that it was able to move the goal on Harvard's Jordan (turf) Field, but Izzy's dad, Doug, found sand bags to hold it down!
Tina -- having just zoomed through the Boston Marathon in 3hr 14min (!) last Monday -- offered to play in goal to help her healing process, and Annie was our only sub!
Neither team could string together more than a few passes during the first 15 minutes, but Harvard got four corner kicks and two shots that Tina saved. Harvard seemed better than we had seen in the past.
After about 20 minutes, we started to connect more passes, finding our own playing style amidst Harvard's quick pressure. It yielded a chance for Sarah J (SJ) in the 28th minute, whose shot went wide.
Our defending was also better because every player stepped more quickly to pressure Harvard when they had the ball.
Five minutes before the end of the first half, Harvard had a shot go over our crossbar then another go wide, so it was clear they were still playing hard.
At half-time we noted our team's turnaround and quick learning style -- connecting more passes, being quicker due to Harvard's immediate pressure and making more passes on the ground because of the strong winds.
We suggested using the sides more, switching the attack from one side to the other and communicating more often. Also invoked was advice from Sir Stanley Matthews that "the most important players are the ones without the ball" and Pep Guardiola's that those are the players whose runs set up the next play.
We didn't waste any time showing our adaptability: Izzy had a free kick after only a couple minutes, after which Caroline scored with a perfect shot to the upper right corner of the Harvard goal.
SJ and Jenna had a shots saved before Sophia had one go wide and Annie had one go over Harvard's crossbar. We were showing our much-improved quickness and shorter, more-accurate passes in Harvard "traffic", aided immensely by Annie's speed, composure and ability to hold the ball high up Harvard's third of the field.
We strung together several give-and-go passes to set up Annie for her goal in the 70th minute into the lower right side of the Harvard goal. She had another shot go wide just before Caroline's shot that was saved in the last minute of the game.
Playing so well against a good team was a perfect way to close out our spring games and to celebrate the contributions made by the six seniors on our team!
G: Tina!
CD: Sarah A+Sara McClanahan
OD: Izzy+Kelly
CM: SJ+Sophia, Annie
OM: Jenna+Meredith S, Caroline
F: Nam+Caroline, Annie
Shots 9:3 Saves 2:3
13 Harvard corners (4)
15 Harvard shot saved by Tina
24 Harvard shot saved by Tina
28 SJ shot wide
35 Harvard shot over, another wide
------------------
42 Izzy free kick
43 Caroline upper right 90 -> 1:0
46 SJ shot saved
53 Harvard free kick
58 Jenna shot saved
65 Sophia shot wide
66 Annie shot over
70 Annie shot lower right corner -> 2:0
78 Annie shot wide
79 Caroline shot saved
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Brandeis Tournament 13apr2019
To arrive at Brandeis in Waltham, MA, in time for a warm-up before our 10am game, we planned to leave at 7am; while driving to pick up Lindsey Hodel to take her to get the 2nd van I saw Kikkan Randall -- Olympic nordic gold medal winner with Jessie Diggins last winter -- out jogging! She was reported to be enrolled in a course at Tuck School. Wonderful that she's here!
We were delighted to have so many fans: Lizzie's folks, Caroline's dad, Sophia's folks and pup, Izzy's folks and three pups along with amazing hibachi-cooked kabobs, cookies and drinks!
Anticipating that we might need to add players, we invited back Kelly Zeilman '22, and added two ice hockey players Chloé Puddifant '22 and Sara McClanahan '22. Meredith Gurnee '17, who finished her two engineering degrees here last fall, and Shelby Schier '15, who works in Boston, also joined us!
Our three half-hour games were with Emmanuel College (varsity), Azzurri (club team) and host Brandeis College (varsity). We never know quite how we will fare with teams at this tournament, but we enjoy the challenge of playing mostly varsity teams!
F: Nam+Lizzie, Jenny+Chloé
CM: Meredith G+Sophia, Shelby, Nam
OM: Jenna+Sarah, Caroline, Lizzie
CD: Katie B+Sara
OD: Izzy+Katie R, Kelly
G: Lindsey, Sarah
Emmanuel
Meredith G got us going right away, earning a free kick and then taking a shot that went just wide in the 2nd minute. Emmanuel had a shot wide and a couple corner kicks before scoring on the rebound after Lindsey's great save in the 10th minute.
Nam had a shot go over their cross bar in the 11th minute before Emmanuel scored again in the 12th minute. Lindsey made another great save after that before Jenna had her shot saved. After Emmanuel's free kick in the 18th minute, Nam got off another shot that went wide.
Then Emmanuel scored on a header from a corner kick in the 24th minute before Sarah had her shot saved a minute before Lindsey made another save in the last minute of the game.
Shots 5:7 Saves 3:2
1 Meredith G earned a free kick taken by Katie B
3 Meredith G shot wide
4 Emmanuel shot wide
9 Emmanuel corner kick
10 Emmanuel corner kick, 1st shot saved, scored on rebound -> 0:1
11 Nam shot over
12 Emmanuel corner --> 0:2
14 Emmanuel shot saved by Lindsey
15 Jenna shot saved
18 Emmanuel free kick wide
20 Nam shot wide
24 Emmanuel corner kick scored on a header -> 0:3
29 Sarah shot saved
30 Emmanuel shot saved by Lindsey
Azzurri
A local club team of former college players, Azzurri always impresses us with their ball skills and use of space with good passing and movement. They wasted no time getting down to business and had most of the possession, but Lindsey kept us level with two great saves until Azzurri got the rebound after one of her saves and put the ball into the lower left side of our net in the 16th minute.
After Lindsey made another save, Jenna had a shot saved, and Meredith earned a free kick in the 20th minute. Azzurri scored their 2nd goal on a corner kick and then another to the lower right side of our net in the 27th minute.
Sophia and Meredith earned free kicks in the last few minutes, with Meredith's shot hitting the side netting.
Shots 2:9 Saves 3:1
2 Azzurri corner kick
5 Azzurri shot wide
7 Azzurri free kick wide
9 Azzurri shot over
12 Azzurri shot wide
13 Azzurri shot saved by Lindsey
15 Jenna shot saved
16 Azzurri 1st shot saved, scored on rebound -> 0:1
17 Azzurri shot saved by Lindsey
18 Jenny corner kick
20 Meredith G free kick
22 Azzurri corner kick -> 0:2
27 Azzurri shot lower right -> 0:3
29 Sophia earned a free kick taken by Katie B
30 Meredith G earned+took a free kick, hit side netting
Brandeis
Their varsity squad always impresses us with their speed/quickness and planned use of field width with give-and-go passing. We did well to hold them off for ten minutes, while they dominated possession. Sarah jumped in goal and made great saves!
Caroline earned a free kick in the 13th minute before they scored after a well-orchestrated series of passes. After another save by Sarah, Izzy sent a long pass down the middle of the field to Nam, who slotted her perfect shot into the left side of the Brandeis net.
Sarah made another save before Brandeis scored a third goal in the 18th minute, and they got their fourth goal with a powerful shot from 30+yd out.
Jenny earned a free kick taken by Katie B in the 24th minute, and were happy to be in their half of the field for the times we could mange it!
Shots 1:11 Saves 3:0
1 Brandeis corner kick
3 Brandeis corner kick, shot saved by Sarah
5 Brandeis corner kick
7 Brandeis shot over
8 Brandeis shot over
10 Brandeis roller lower right -> 0:1
13 Caroline earned/took a corner kick
14 Brandeis give-and-go shot to lower right -> 0:2
15 Brandeis shot saved by Sarah
16 Izzy send a long lofted pass down the middle to Nam -> 1:2
17 Brandeis shot saved by Sarah
18 Brandeis shot mid-height right side -> 1:3
21 Brandeis free kick, shot saved for a corner (2)
23 Brandeis shot from 30+yd -> 1:4
24 Jenny earned a free kick taken by Katie B
27 Brandeis corner kick
28 Brandeis free kick
29 Brandeis shot wide
We were delighted to have so many fans: Lizzie's folks, Caroline's dad, Sophia's folks and pup, Izzy's folks and three pups along with amazing hibachi-cooked kabobs, cookies and drinks!
Anticipating that we might need to add players, we invited back Kelly Zeilman '22, and added two ice hockey players Chloé Puddifant '22 and Sara McClanahan '22. Meredith Gurnee '17, who finished her two engineering degrees here last fall, and Shelby Schier '15, who works in Boston, also joined us!
Our three half-hour games were with Emmanuel College (varsity), Azzurri (club team) and host Brandeis College (varsity). We never know quite how we will fare with teams at this tournament, but we enjoy the challenge of playing mostly varsity teams!
F: Nam+Lizzie, Jenny+Chloé
CM: Meredith G+Sophia, Shelby, Nam
OM: Jenna+Sarah, Caroline, Lizzie
CD: Katie B+Sara
OD: Izzy+Katie R, Kelly
G: Lindsey, Sarah
Emmanuel
Meredith G got us going right away, earning a free kick and then taking a shot that went just wide in the 2nd minute. Emmanuel had a shot wide and a couple corner kicks before scoring on the rebound after Lindsey's great save in the 10th minute.
Nam had a shot go over their cross bar in the 11th minute before Emmanuel scored again in the 12th minute. Lindsey made another great save after that before Jenna had her shot saved. After Emmanuel's free kick in the 18th minute, Nam got off another shot that went wide.
Then Emmanuel scored on a header from a corner kick in the 24th minute before Sarah had her shot saved a minute before Lindsey made another save in the last minute of the game.
Shots 5:7 Saves 3:2
1 Meredith G earned a free kick taken by Katie B
3 Meredith G shot wide
4 Emmanuel shot wide
9 Emmanuel corner kick
10 Emmanuel corner kick, 1st shot saved, scored on rebound -> 0:1
11 Nam shot over
12 Emmanuel corner --> 0:2
14 Emmanuel shot saved by Lindsey
15 Jenna shot saved
18 Emmanuel free kick wide
20 Nam shot wide
24 Emmanuel corner kick scored on a header -> 0:3
29 Sarah shot saved
30 Emmanuel shot saved by Lindsey
Azzurri
A local club team of former college players, Azzurri always impresses us with their ball skills and use of space with good passing and movement. They wasted no time getting down to business and had most of the possession, but Lindsey kept us level with two great saves until Azzurri got the rebound after one of her saves and put the ball into the lower left side of our net in the 16th minute.
After Lindsey made another save, Jenna had a shot saved, and Meredith earned a free kick in the 20th minute. Azzurri scored their 2nd goal on a corner kick and then another to the lower right side of our net in the 27th minute.
Sophia and Meredith earned free kicks in the last few minutes, with Meredith's shot hitting the side netting.
Shots 2:9 Saves 3:1
2 Azzurri corner kick
5 Azzurri shot wide
7 Azzurri free kick wide
9 Azzurri shot over
12 Azzurri shot wide
13 Azzurri shot saved by Lindsey
15 Jenna shot saved
16 Azzurri 1st shot saved, scored on rebound -> 0:1
17 Azzurri shot saved by Lindsey
18 Jenny corner kick
20 Meredith G free kick
22 Azzurri corner kick -> 0:2
27 Azzurri shot lower right -> 0:3
29 Sophia earned a free kick taken by Katie B
30 Meredith G earned+took a free kick, hit side netting
Brandeis
Their varsity squad always impresses us with their speed/quickness and planned use of field width with give-and-go passing. We did well to hold them off for ten minutes, while they dominated possession. Sarah jumped in goal and made great saves!
Caroline earned a free kick in the 13th minute before they scored after a well-orchestrated series of passes. After another save by Sarah, Izzy sent a long pass down the middle of the field to Nam, who slotted her perfect shot into the left side of the Brandeis net.
Sarah made another save before Brandeis scored a third goal in the 18th minute, and they got their fourth goal with a powerful shot from 30+yd out.
Jenny earned a free kick taken by Katie B in the 24th minute, and were happy to be in their half of the field for the times we could mange it!
Shots 1:11 Saves 3:0
1 Brandeis corner kick
3 Brandeis corner kick, shot saved by Sarah
5 Brandeis corner kick
7 Brandeis shot over
8 Brandeis shot over
10 Brandeis roller lower right -> 0:1
13 Caroline earned/took a corner kick
14 Brandeis give-and-go shot to lower right -> 0:2
15 Brandeis shot saved by Sarah
16 Izzy send a long lofted pass down the middle to Nam -> 1:2
17 Brandeis shot saved by Sarah
18 Brandeis shot mid-height right side -> 1:3
21 Brandeis free kick, shot saved for a corner (2)
23 Brandeis shot from 30+yd -> 1:4
24 Jenny earned a free kick taken by Katie B
27 Brandeis corner kick
28 Brandeis free kick
29 Brandeis shot wide
Saturday, April 6, 2019
at Yale 6apr2019
With a little snow overnight, we headed down I-91 under overcast skies but warming temperatures. Sun and 15C/60F greeted us in New Haven -- perfect soccer weather!
We had fans! Katie Reisman's parents, Caroline's, my son Tucker (who played at Bates and was a DWCS assistant coach for a bit), and a family friend of guest player Kelly Zeilman, who is from CT.
Having cancelled last year's match there due to lack of players, we were happy to have two subs, thanks to Lindsey Hodel, who offered to play in goal. Yale wanted 30-minute halves, and that seemed good for us.
Both teams might have been a little rusty -- not having played much since the fall -- but it wasn't that obvious. We looked the more-skilled team, but they were quick to put pressure on us. We both had difficulty putting together very many passes.
Sarah got off a shot right away, then in the 19th minute Lizzie got one off that yielded a corner kick Meredith took.
Kelly, our guest player in outside back, sent in a lofted diagonal pass seemingly targeted for Lizzie, who volleyed it into the Yale net for our goal. DELIGHTFUL!!
After Katie B's free kick, Nam had a shot saved before the half-time break.
We spoke about using the sides more and switching the ball across the field more (rather than going straight up the field with our passes). Julia suggested going in hard for tackles rather than being half-hearted.
Yale came out with new energy! Maybe some more players arrived -- not sure. They had a shot go wide and then two shots on target that Lindsey saved within the same minute! Yale finally succeeded in the 35th minute with a lofted shot that snuck just under our goal's crossbar.
Nam showed her energy and desire to score with a shot that was blocked for a corner and then a cross also blocked for a corner.
After Yale's corner kick in the 45th minute, Jenna got off a shot that went wide. Then Yale sent a threatening cross that Lindsey touched out for a corner -- their header sailed wide.
Lindsey made another save in the 58th minute before Yale sent a shot over and another shot wide. We were happy to preserve our draw!
GK: Lindsey
CD: Julia+Katie B
OD: Izzy+Katie R, Kelly
CM: Nam+Sophia, Caroline
OM: Jenna+Meredith, Caroline, Katie R
F: Lizzie+Sarah, Nam, Jenna
Shots 6:7 Saves 3:2
2 Sarah shot wide
19 Lizzie shot tapped wide for a corner (Meredith)
22 Kelly to Lizzie for a volley -> 1:0
23 Katie B free kick
26 Nam shot saved
29 Yale corner
----------------
33 Yale shot wide
34 Lindsey saved TWO Yales shots
35 Yale shot from distance tucker just under the crossbar -> 1:1
38 Nam shot blocked for a corner
42 Nam cross blocked for a corner
45 Yale corner
50 Jenna shot wide
53 Yale cross out for a corner, header wide
58 Lindsey saved another Yale shot!
59 Yale shot over
60 Yale shot wide
We had fans! Katie Reisman's parents, Caroline's, my son Tucker (who played at Bates and was a DWCS assistant coach for a bit), and a family friend of guest player Kelly Zeilman, who is from CT.
Having cancelled last year's match there due to lack of players, we were happy to have two subs, thanks to Lindsey Hodel, who offered to play in goal. Yale wanted 30-minute halves, and that seemed good for us.
Both teams might have been a little rusty -- not having played much since the fall -- but it wasn't that obvious. We looked the more-skilled team, but they were quick to put pressure on us. We both had difficulty putting together very many passes.
Sarah got off a shot right away, then in the 19th minute Lizzie got one off that yielded a corner kick Meredith took.
Kelly, our guest player in outside back, sent in a lofted diagonal pass seemingly targeted for Lizzie, who volleyed it into the Yale net for our goal. DELIGHTFUL!!
After Katie B's free kick, Nam had a shot saved before the half-time break.
We spoke about using the sides more and switching the ball across the field more (rather than going straight up the field with our passes). Julia suggested going in hard for tackles rather than being half-hearted.
Yale came out with new energy! Maybe some more players arrived -- not sure. They had a shot go wide and then two shots on target that Lindsey saved within the same minute! Yale finally succeeded in the 35th minute with a lofted shot that snuck just under our goal's crossbar.
Nam showed her energy and desire to score with a shot that was blocked for a corner and then a cross also blocked for a corner.
After Yale's corner kick in the 45th minute, Jenna got off a shot that went wide. Then Yale sent a threatening cross that Lindsey touched out for a corner -- their header sailed wide.
Lindsey made another save in the 58th minute before Yale sent a shot over and another shot wide. We were happy to preserve our draw!
GK: Lindsey
CD: Julia+Katie B
OD: Izzy+Katie R, Kelly
CM: Nam+Sophia, Caroline
OM: Jenna+Meredith, Caroline, Katie R
F: Lizzie+Sarah, Nam, Jenna
Shots 6:7 Saves 3:2
2 Sarah shot wide
19 Lizzie shot tapped wide for a corner (Meredith)
22 Kelly to Lizzie for a volley -> 1:0
23 Katie B free kick
26 Nam shot saved
29 Yale corner
----------------
33 Yale shot wide
34 Lindsey saved TWO Yales shots
35 Yale shot from distance tucker just under the crossbar -> 1:1
38 Nam shot blocked for a corner
42 Nam cross blocked for a corner
45 Yale corner
50 Jenna shot wide
53 Yale cross out for a corner, header wide
58 Lindsey saved another Yale shot!
59 Yale shot over
60 Yale shot wide
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