Assumption 28sep2019

Assumption just joined our division this fall, but we learned a little about them last weekend when Sophia introduced us to her friend from high school, Char, who founded the team in Worcester, MA. 

We greeted them with blue skies and warm near 80F/25C temperatures at Sachem around noon for our 1pm game. We were missing Katie Reisman and Cate Rozelle due to Rush, but Jordan Isaacs was back after suffering an ankle injury.

Sophia's folks came to watch and to be her support team for a marathon (!!!) tomorrow in Keene, and some classmates of players on our team came to see the game, too!

We were immediately in Assumption's third, with Aislinn's corner kick in the 4th minute and Nam's shot hitting their crossbar before Kelly's corner kick found Meredith for our first goal in the 5th minute.

Jenna had her shot go over their crossbar and Katie F had a shot go wide before Zanna's shot was saved. After Meredith earned another corner, Ells's shot went over their crossbar and Jordan's shot was saved. 

Katie F put the ball into the mid-level left side of their goal for our second goal in the 19th minute, Sarah had a shot go over, and Nam had a shot saved. Immediately after that, Sarah earned a penalty kick that she converted handily in the 23rd minute.

Jenny put in a sweet shot from the right side of the field into the upper 90 left side of their goal for our fourth goal in the 25th minute just before Bri stepped up to catch a lofted ball.

Katie F put in another goal from the left side of the field to the mid-level right side of their goal (a far-post goal) in the 27th minute before Sophia's shot was saved and her cross to Jordan was sent wide.

Jordan had another shot saved just before slotting the ball into the lower-right side of their net for our 6th goal in the 36th minute. She had another shot ring off the upright before Ella had a shot saved for a corner.

Jordan sent in a perfect cross for Ella to head into their goal for our 7th just before the break.

We discussed being more diagonal and quicker for the second half. Assumption got a corner kick just before Sarah's shot was saved in the 44th minute. Then her shot hit the crossbar before Jenny's shot went over.

Bend-it-like-Aislinn scored with her left-footed corner kick in the 56th minute even though the keeper got her fingertips on the ball. Then Claire slotted a low shot into the left side of their net for our 9th goal.

After Aislinn's shot was saved in the 62nd minute, Sophia had a shot go over. Aislinn's perfect cross from the left side of the field found Sophia at the right (far) post, whose shot banged into the mid-level left side of their net for our 10th goal.

Assumption did well not to seem bothered by the high score, and we were happy to have so many goals in case it helps us break a tie for getting to Regionals.

G: Bri Lowe, Caris White
CD: Katie Bernardez+Molly Knox, Kalā Harman+Mudia Ikoba

OD: Kelly Rutherford+Aislinn Mitcham, Lana Kanno

CM: Dani Black+Jenny Kane, Ella Steinhilber+Claire Meli

OM: Meredith Srour+Jenna Salvay, Katie Fearon+Sophia Greszczuk
F: Sarah Abramowitz+Namya Malik, Jordan Isaacs+Zanna Stutz

Shots 28:0   Saves 0:7

4 Aislinn's corner
4 Namya's shot hit the crossbar
5 Kelly corner kick to Meredith -> 1:0
8 Jenna's shot over
13 Katie F's shot wide
14 Zanna's shot saved
15 Meredith earned a corner kick
16 Ella's shot over
18 Jordan's shot saved
19 Katie F's shot mid-level left -> 2:0
21 Sarah's shot over
22 Nam's shot saved
23 Sarah earned and took a PK -> 3:0
25 Jenny's shot upper 90 left side -> 4:0
26 Bri stepped up to catch a ball from 40 yd
27 Katie F's free kick from the left side of the field to the right mid-level side of the goal -> 5:0
28 Sophia's shot saved
33 Sophia's cross to Jordan, whose shot was wide
35 Jordan's shot saved
36 Jordan's shot to lower right side of the goal -> 6:0
38 Jordan's shot hit the upright
39 Ella's shot saved for a corner
40 Jordan long cross to Ella's header -> 7:0
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42 Assumption corner kick
44 Sarah's shot saved
47 Sarah's shot hit the crossbar
50 Assumption free kick
51 Jenny's shot over
56 Aislinn scored on her left-footed corner kick -> 8:0
58 Claire snuck in a goal to the lower left corner -> 9:0
62 Aislinn's shot saved
63 Sophia's shot over
65 Aislinn's cross to Sophia on the right side whose shot went into the mid-level left side of their goal -> 10:0

at UMass B 22sep2019

We arrived in Amherst around 11am to find sunny 80sF/~30C temperature and a very dry and firm field of mostly weeds - probably still better than turf! We noticed after the game that relatives of Lana's and Claire's were there!

We spoke before the game about our rocky history with UMass teams -- both 'A' and 'B' teams are really good but very aggressive. So we suggested keeping the ball moving quickly to encourage our possession and to avoid injury.

Kelly immediately got a free kick, and Meredith had a shot saved, before UMass had their free kick go over our crossbar. Kelly had another free kick in the 6th minute. It was hot and dry, so we were fortunate to have 6 subs every 10 minutes.

In the 13th minute, UMass had a shot ring off our crossbar and another just afterwards go over - whew! Zanna had a couple shots go wide before UMass got incredibly lucky in the 21st minute when we cleared their shot but they put the rebound into our net to put them up one goal.

Dani had a really solid shot blocked, Sarah had one go over their crossbar, and Caris came out smartly to smother a UMass advance in the 26th.

Kala set up Jenna on the left wing in the 29th minute -- her composure and patience paid off wonderfully with our first goal to even the score.

Katie F's cross to Ella got us a corner kick in the 30th minute, followed by Katie R's shot wide. Zanna had a shot go wide before Mudia beat several defenders and struck the ball strongly -- the UMass keeper got her hand on it but it was too powerful for her, and it rolled into their net for our second goal.

During the break we discussed using the width of the field, being quicker, attacking together and looking for opportunities to drop the ball back to the 18.

Katie F did her magic again with her incredibly dribbling skills to beat several defenders before having her shot go just wide. After a UMass corner kick, they got another huge piece of luck when their lofted ball bounced awkwardly and unexpectedly high over Caris' head for their second goal in the 60th minute.

But Dani sent in a ball for Sarah to volley to put us ahead again in the 63rd. After that, we continued attacking as did UMass, with Zanna and Aislinn putting shots wide and UMass doing the same.

It was a very intense and sometimes pushy event, but our shot total versus theirs demonstrated how strong we were today -- it was extremely impressive to play so well already (only our second day playing games with our amazing new 2023's), especially in what felt like 90F on the pitch!

G: Caris White
CD: Katie Bernardez+Molly Knox, Kalā Harman
OD: Kelly Rutherford+Katie Reisman, Aislinn Mitcham
CM: Ella Steinhilber+Claire Meli, Lana Kanno, Sarah Abramowitz
OM: Meredith Srour+Jenna Salvay, Katie Fearon, Sarah A
F: Sarah A+Dani Black, Mudia Ikoba+Zanna Stutz

Shots 15:7  Saves 2:3

1 Kelly free kick
2 Meredith shot saved
5 UMass free kick from 30 yd over
6 Kelly free kick
12 UMass corner
13 UMass shot hit the crossbar, a 2nd shot over
16 Zanna shot wide
19 Aislinn shot wide
20 Zanna shot wide
21 we cleared a UMass shot but they put in the rebound -> 0:1
24 Dani shot blocked
25 Sarah shot over
26 Caris out to smother a UMass attack
29 Kalā to Jenna -> 1:1
30 Katie F cross to Ella whose shot was blocked for a corner
30 Katie R shot wide
33 Zanna shot wide
35 Mudia power shot touched by UMass GKer but rolled in -> 2:1
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43 Katie F shot wide
56 UMass corner
60 UMass ball bounched unexpectedly high over Caris' head -> 2:2
63 Dani to Sarah for a volley ->3:2
64 UMass free kick
67 Zanna shot wide
70 UMass corner
73 UMass shot wide
77 Aislinn's shot wide
79 UMass free kick

at Holy Cross 21sep2019

Our second game of the day was on a really well-groomed grass field down the hill from the turf field. The temperature seemed much more accommodating due the grass absorbing some of the sun's energy.

Kelly wasted no time getting forward in the first minute, beating her mark and getting off a shot that went wide. Nam had a shot go over before Kelly made a great block of a Holy Cross cross for their corner kick in the 3rd minute.

Nam had a shot saved in the 8th minute, Holy Cross had a free kick, and Nam had another shot saved before converting three minutes later with a mid-height right side of their net. Only a minute later, Zanna did the same, followed by Sarah whose goal was in the same location in the next minute!

After Kalā's free kick, Mudia had a shot saved, and our PK a minute later hit the upright. Sophia earned a free kick skillfully taken by Kalā, who had a shot saved right after that. 

Katie F made a sweet step-over move to create some space to get a shot off that just barely went wide in the last minute of the half. During the break we spoke about making more diagonal dribbles or passes and building more out of the back.

Bri saved a Holy Cross before Katie F's two shots were saved before her third shot in four minutes hit the right side of their net for our fourth goal.

Lana got a shot saved in the 38th minute before Zanna had one shot go wide and another go solidly into their net. Sarah had a shot go wide before Claire and Katie F had shots go over. After Aislinn's free kick, Sophia and Mudia had shots saved. 

In the 18th minute, Holy Cross converted after a free kick. Bri saved the shot they got off just after that. Katie and Zanna had shots go wide before Lana converted with a carefully placed roller-shot into their net in the 54th minute.

Zanna and Molly had shots go wide in the last few minutes. It was a great day for our team to play so well after so little time together!

G: Bri
CD: Katie B+Molly, Kalā
OD: Kelly+Katie R, Aislinn
CM: Sophia, Ella, Claire, Lana
OM: Sarah+Katie F, Lana+Zanna
F: Nam+Mudia, Zanna, Caris

Shots 28:3  Saves 2:9

1 Kelly shot wide

2 Nam shot over

3 Kelly blocked a cross for a Holy Cross corner (wide)

8 Nam shot saved

9 Holy Cross free kick

10 Nam shot saved

13 Nam shot mid-height right side -> 1:0

14 Zanna shot mid-height right side -> 2:0

18 Sarah shot mid-height right side -> 3:0

20 Dartmouth shot wide

23 Kalā free kick

24 Mudia shot saved

24 Holy Cross free kick

25 Dartmouth PK hit the upright

27 Sophia earned a free kick taken by Kalā

27 Kalā shot saved

29 Katie F sweet step-over, shot barely wide

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31 Holy Cross shot saved by Bri

32 Katie F shot saved

34 Katie F shot saved for a corner

36 Katie F shot into the right side -> 4:0

38 Lana shot saved

40 Zanna shot wide

41 Zanna shot converted -> 5:0

42 Sarah shot wide

43 Claire shot over

44 Katie F shot over

45 Aislinn free kick

45 Sophia shot saved

47 Mudia shot saved

48 Holy Cross free kick from the right snuck into our net -> 5:1

51 Holy Cross shot saved by Bri

53 Katie F shot wide

54 Zanna shot wide for a corner

54 Lana finesse roller shot -> 6:1

55 Zanna shot wide

56 Holy Cross corner

59 Molly shot wide

WPI at Holy Cross 21sep2019

Leaving a little after 8am on a beautiful, sunny day, with all ELEVEN of our new members of the Class of 2023, we arrived in Worcester just before 1pm for our 2pm game with WPI, followed by a 3:30 game with hosts Holy Cross.

We found their turf field very warm with the intense sun -- felt like 30+C/90F! But Sophia's folks came bringing great treats, and Bri kindly brought extra drinks. Surprise guests included Meredith Gurnee '17, Lindsey Hodel '19 and Izzy Parizeau '19! 

It was smart that the hosts specified 30-minute halves - it felt like summer!

The field was very fast, and the ball seemed to speed up when it hit the turf. We spoke about moving the ball quickly to avoid pressure and injury! WPI wasted no time getting a shot off, but Nam countered with her first shot wide in the 8th minute.

Ella got off a great shot in the 20th minute, and soon after that Molly set up Namya for her composed shot to the lower right corner of the WPI net. At the break we spoke about better weight on passes and making more simple give-and-go passes to preserve possession and conserve energy.

WPI got off a powerful shot in the 37th minute that Caris had no trouble containing before Lana got off a shot wide and Kalā cleared a WPI attempt for their corner in the 41st minute. In the last few minutes, Katie F took a corner kick and Zanna had her shot blocked.

We were delighted not only by how well we played in this our first game together but also by coming away without any injuries, since it was the WPI game in Hanover last fall when Carly and Cate both suffered ACL tears!

G: Bri+Caris
CD: Katie B+Molly, Kalā
OD: Kelly+Katie R, Aislinn
CM: Sophia, Ella, Claire, Lana
OM: Sarah+Katie F, Lana+Zanna
F: Nam+Mudia, Zanna

Shots 5:2  Saves 1:1

3 WPI shot wide
8 Nam shot wide
20 Ella shot over
23 WPI free kick
25 Molly to Nam lower right -> 1:0
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37 WPI shot saved by Caris
40 Lana shot wide
41 Kalā clearance for a WPI corner
58 Katie F corner kick
59 WPI free kick
60 Zanna shot blocked