We had planned to play UVM on Oct 19, expecting that our League games would need to have been played two weeks before Nov2 Regionals - that way, we would have had one game per weekend. But the League changed the timeframe so that all of our games had to be played *three* weeks before Regionals. We had no choice but to squeeze two away games into the last weekend.
So we expected to have trouble with attendance with back-to-back away games so far into the term when academic work is heavy. We were actually fortunate to have enough players - with one sub - to play and not forfeit, which can lead to being ejected from the League.
Leaving Hanover at 9:30 in 40F/5C weather, by noon it was maybe 50F/10C and cloudy but not windy. The grass field was narrow and bumpy - not very well covered - almost the opposite of Sachem. They insisted on 40-minute halves in hopes of gaining a better goals-scored record than UMass A, with whom they expected to have the same 6W-0L-1T record with a win over us today.
Nicole got us off to a great start with a shot that went wide. UVM sent in a lofting shot from maybe 20m that just dipped under our crossbar in the 8th minute. Kate made a save right after that before Kalyn had a shot go wide and Kya’s pressure on them made their shot go wide in the 16th minute.
Mia earned a corner in the 19th minute before Caitlin earned and took a corner four minutes later and Kalyn had a shot blocked. UVM’s shot was blocked for a corner and had two shots go wide before they sent in a shot lower right that Kate dove the right direction for but couldn’t reach.
Nicole had a shot go wide in the 33rd minute before Kate made another save and UVM had another shot go wide. Kate made another save just before the break.
Our discussion included a reference to basketball, our solid defense, their kick-and-run tactics, how we could move the ball more quickly, that aerial battles were rough, we could shoot more from a farther distance, double up more in the midfield and make the shorter/easier passes to keep possession.
Caitlin almost scored in the first minute of the second half before Kate made two more saves resulting in their corner kick. Kalyn earned a free kick in our third taken by Carly.
Mia’s powerful shot in the 47th minute rattled off the crossbar before UVM’s free kick from midfield. Kate made another save and UVM took another corner before they scored their third goal in the 52nd minute.
Nicole had a shot go wide before Kate made two more saves and they had a shot go over our crossbar. Carly earned and took a corner in the 68th before Colleen C had a shot saved and took a free kick from midfield earned by Carly.
Kate made another save for a corner in the 72nd minute before their free kick in our third. They sent a shot high before Nicole’s excellent shot hit the crossbar and another of her’s went wide.
Kalyn had a shot blocked and Maddie had a shot saved in the 79th minute, and just when we might have thought that time would be up UVM snuck a final shot into the lower right corner of our net to give them the same goal-advantage that UMass A has - their team erupted in joy about their chances for making Regionals.
We had good chances and made many good passes, so we look forward to playing them again in two weeks in Hanover!
OM: Kalyn Dawes+Nicole Bogdanos
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