at UVM 21Sep2013

It was ok that Keene dropped out so that we could focus on UVM and not be tired by playing two games. It was mostly sunny but surprisingly windy! 

We had more than enough time to warm up, and both teams seemed primed and ready to go. We had our incredible new players of the class of 2017, and UVM had almost all of their roster of 30!

We dominated the possession with a high percentage of completed passes -- we looked like Barcelona or ManU many times! Our new flat-back four organization worked incredibly well, thanks to Tessa and Lindsay, Caroline V and Julia.

We beat UVM to most 50/50 balls -- we heard their coach say "they're beating you to every ball!" We peppered their keeper with 12 shots to their 5, and 7 of our shots required saves. New players Melanie, Sarah and veterans Julia, Molly, Mila, Caroline G and Natalie all had successful shots on their goal!

We deserved the win with our possession and shots on goal, but credit to UVM for working hard and giving us great competition! Our new players were remarkable for melding so well with our style of play, for helping to provide strong defense and for creating scoring opportunities. We left hoping to play UVM again soon!

GK: Hannah
CD: Tessa+Lindsay, Caroline V, Julia
OD: Annie+Liz, Mari+Amanda W
CM: Molly+Julia, Shelby+Kristin
OM: Katherine+Mila, Sarah+Sophie
F: Natalie+Allison, Caroline G+Melanie

Shots 12:5  Saves 1:7

5 Julia shot wide
   Molly shot blocked
8 Molly shot saved
11 Mila shot saved
12 Julia shot over
    Julia shot wide
16 Dartmouth corner
20 UVM shot wide
21 Lindsay shot saved
24 UVM corner
36 Caroline G shot saved
45 Melanie shot saved
46 UVM shot saved
47 UVM shot wide
52 UVM shot wide
54 Dartmouth corner
63 Molly free kick blocked
72 UVM corner
83 Sarah shot saved for a corner
84 Molly shot saved
85 UVM shot wide
87 UVM corner
88 Sarah shot wide

Fairfield and UConn 14Sep2013

With school not yet in session, we were fortunate to have 14 players available to play two games at UConn! Leaving at 8am for noon and 2pm games, we arrived before 11am with plenty of time for a good warm-up. 

We were delighted that so many family members came! Liz's folks and sister Emily, Catherine's folks with their adorable puppy and high-resolution camera that Ron uses to capture the team's action, Julia's folks, Molly's mom and Hannah's dad who brought drinks and tasty cupcakes!

Fairfield at noon - ~60F/15C partly sunny

Fairfield agreed to play 35-minute halves after having just lost to UConn 0:3. We hadn't played them before so didn't know what to expect. We spoke about being quick and making good passes.

It was a goal-fest for our team -- surprising since we had only had one practice session the day before! Our passing improved throughout the game. Molly's half-volley in the 9th minute demonstrated her technical brilliance! Natalie and Allison set up Molly's 2nd goal with sleek diagonal passes that made it impossible for Fairfield to defend.

Mila's superb cross to Julia set up our 3rd goal, and she also set up her sister's goal in the 25th minute -- a glorious diving header just like Letchkov's goal for Bulgaria against Germany in the 1994 World Cup!

Julia nearly scored in the 39th minute with a brilliant header off a cross from Natalie, but the Fairfield GK did well to catch it. Soon after that, Molly hit a cross from Allison so hard that the Fairfield GK couldn't keep a hold of it, and Natalie followed up to score on the rebound.

Hannah saved a penalty kick in the 57th minute -- an incredibly feat since PK's favor the kicker 80% of the time! Julia's extreme work-rate paid off again with her goal in the 63rd minute, and Mila's shot in the 69th minute glanced off the upright on its way in.

GK: Hannah

CD: Tessa+Lindsay

OD: Liz+Amanda W, Kate

CM: Molly+Julia

OM: Mila+Catherine, Sophie

F: Natalie+Allison, Caroline

Shots 28:4  Saves 1:3

1 Lindsay shot over

4 Molly shot wide

5 D corner

7 Julia shot wide

9 Molly half-volley in the net! 1:0

11 D corner

13 Natalie to Allison to Molly whose shot found the net after bouncing off the left post  2:0

17 Molly shot over

20 Natalie deflected wide for a corner

20 Mila shot saved

23 Fairfield shot wide

24 Mila to Julia 3:0

25 Mila to Sophie diving header! 4:0

27 D corner

32 Caroline shot wide

33 Amanda shot wide

35 Sophie shot wide

38 Fairfield shot wide

39 Natalie cross to Julia, header saved

43 Allison cross to Molly shot saved

     Natalie got rebound! 5:0

44 Mila shot wide

50 Natalie shot over

     Natalie to Sophie header over

51 Molly shot over

52 Catherine shot wide

53 Fairfield shot wide

55 Lindsay to Allison header over

56 D corner

57 D handball in the box! PK SAVED by Hannah!!

     Fairfield corner

60 Molly free kick over

61 Natalie shot over

63 Julia! 6:0

64 Caroline shot deflected for a corner

67 Caroline shot wide

69 Mila shot off the post on its way into the net! 7:0

UConn at 2pm

We expected UConn to be eager for a win since they were our hosts. We requested 35-minute halves, but UConn wanted 45-minute halves. We compromised with 40-minute halves. 

We demonstrated great passing technique, but they were very quick to pressure us and to get the ball back. Their play was much more physical and they made a lot of kick-and-run long-ball passes. 

For the first half of the game, we looked the better team, and we were rewarded when Molly set up Julia's goal in the 32nd minute. UConn was visibly upset about not scoring, and their frustration led to a yellow card for one of their feistiest players in the 40th minute. Soon after that Molly's brilliant left-footed shot gave us an insurance goal.

If UConn had played us first we probably would have had a better second half, but we were exhausted from playing back-to-back games. They peppered our goal, and Hannah kept us in the game, making the most saves I think I've ever seen for our team!

Given UConn's earlier season start (having played their first game the previous weekend), with only 3 subs we were lucky to get the tie! 

GK: Hannah

CD: Tessa+Lindsay

OD: Liz+Amanda W, Kate

CM: Molly+Julia

OM: Mila+Catherine, Sophie

F: Natalie+Allison, Caroline

Shots 9:27 Saves 17:4

6 UConn shot saved

10 Molly shot saved

11 UConn free kick saved

12 UConn corner

16 UConn shot over

     UConn shot saved

20 Molly shot over

25 UConn shot saved

27 Caroline shot saved

28 Julia shot wide

30 UConn shot wide

32 Molly to Julia --> 1:0

35 UConn shot saved

36 UConn shot saved

     UConn corner

37 UConn shot wide

40 UConn YELLOW CARD for dangerous tackle!!

41 Molly left-footer!  2:0

42 Molly shot saved

44 UConn shot saved

48 Mila shot saved

50 UConn shot saved

52 UConn chipped the ball over our defense 2:1

55 Tessa tackled the ball to prevent a break-away

     UConn corner

56 Amanda deflected a UConn shot, UConn corner

    Lindsay cleared a UConn shot off the goal line

57 UConn free kick saved

59 UConn shot over

60 UConn shot saved

     UConn shot tied up the game 2:2

64 UConn shot saved for a corner

66 UConn shot saved

67 UConn shot over

68 UConn shot wide

69 Molly shot wide

75 UConn shot saved

78 UConn shot saved

     UConn shot wide

80 UConn free kick saved

82 UConn shot wide