Nov 7th- Semi’s vs Wright State
We left for Loyola on Friday afternoon, knowing it was going to be a cold and wet game. We arrived and began the coldest game of the season so far. Wright state is an emotional team and they get themselves “amped up” for games and we knew we would be dealing with a lot of pressure throughout a physical match.
Within the early minutes of the game, their keeper hit a short goal kick, I won the first challenge, sending the ball towards Hagen, who got her head on it and flicked it on to Kreuser running in and getting behind their defense. A nice left footed shot by Erin to the right side netting, 1-0.
Wright state, however, was not going to let it go that easy. They got, what could be considered a questionable freekick, a freekick just outside and wide of our 18-yard box on the right side. A well-hit ball to a near post runner, a nice header finish near post, 1-1.
We went into the first half disappointed with the 1-1 score, but vowed to own the midfield and come out with a better intensity then the first half, which is exactly what we did. We were in their half for most of the remaining time and hoped a goal would come soon. We had the momentum and the fitness to go with as the other team started to get winded. Kayla played a nice ball into my feet and I ran at their outside back, who kicked it out for a corner. Sperl then hit in a great driven ball, head height, and Teegs finished near post side netting, 2-0.
With only minutes left in the game, we held Wright state to a 2-1 victory. Overall our first half wasn’t perfect and our passes were a little off but our drive to win was always present and we made it work. I generally don’t say many positives about the other teams, but credit to Wright State for coming out hard and giving us a good game.
A huge thanks to the fans that made the trip down to suffer in the cold, rain and snow!
Nov 9th- HORIZON LEAGUE FINAL!
We haven’t won the Horizon League Tournament for two years. We have lost the past two times we have played Loyola. We even let Loyola score two goals. Unfortunately for them, six is three times bigger then two.
I would like to believe there is no better feeling then winning the Horizon League final after two years of losing, then to win it with six goals and that’s exactly what we did. Although it was streaming live online, I still would like to go through the great six goals that we scored, starting with the tournament MVP Hagen’s first goal... of three.
Their back line attempted to clear a ball, hit it short and our left back, Kayla Dejardin, ran onto it, hitting a lofted diagonal ball to Hagen at about the right corner of the 18 yard box. Hagen, receiving the ball out of the air with a nice touch, took another nice touch pushing her left and past the defense. With a great left-footed shot low and right, it got by their keeper, 1-0.
Minutes later, Sarah Talbert attacked their right back, earning us a corner. I stepped out there, hit a short corner to Sperl standing on the corner of the 18 yard box. Her first touch popped it up and her second was a full volley, next thing I saw was the back of the net flying backwards from the force of the shot, 2-0.
We know what Loyola is capable of doing and we know they can come back from 2-0 deficit. Just like the semifinals, we vowed to come out intense and to score another goal to put the game away.
Why not score four more goals?
Kayla played a ball down the endline into me. I got a serve off and Hagen got on the end of it with a nice shot, but their keeper made a diving save and deflected across the box. The Canadian, Keara, ran through and finished, 3-0.
Minutes later I sent a long serve into the box, Talbert got her head onto it, forcing the keeper to punch the ball out to about the 12 yard mark. There, Hagen half-volleyed past the keeper, 4-0.
At this point they were throwing numbers forward, giving their backs only a few short options to play out of pressure. We took advantage of this, locking them in, I pressured their outside back, who played to their centerback. I continued to pressure, their centerback then turned it over—putting me in behind their back line. Their center back then recovered. Louise is overlapping me to my left at this point, I then led Lou in past the recovered centerback and she smacked a shot near post and it snuck past the keeper in the inches she left open at the near post, 5-1.
They still continued to throw numbers forward and we continued to play smart and keep the ball out of our end. Our final goal came from Teegarden. She hit a ball long. Their keeper came out and their center back came back for it, a miscommunication between the two of them, resulting in neither clearing it out and Hagen getting in on a break away as the ball bounced past both defenders. With nobody left to defend Hagen, she just kicked it in, 6-1.
That was how we won the Horizon League Tournament. Six goals, four different scorers. We would not be where we are without Sarah Hagen, but we have 10 players behind her with just as much to offer and that is why we find ourselves where we are. Credit to Cynthia, #10 on Loyola, for her two great goals, but a team needs more then a #10 goal scorer, and our #10, Hagen, has the rest of us to do and work as much and hard as she is, leading us to regular season co-champs, horizon league tournament champs, and 18th in the country.
Next step NCAA tournament, we are going to Harry’s on Oakland at 6:30 Monday night, come join!!
Nov 11, 2008
Nov 4, 2008
Horizon League Quarterfinals
Nov. 2nd – Horizon League Tournament Quarterfinals- Green Bay
What may be our last game on Englemann field ended as good as we could hope. Facing an in-state rival, we took the field and played aggressive and dynamic soccer, leading to a 5-0 win with five different scorers.
The last time we played Green Bay they packed it in with 5 in the back, 4 in midfield and 1 up top, and we struggled to score the first time around. However, they came out in the same formation and we had no trouble this time. Within 71 seconds, Sperl played a great ball behind their back line, Kreuser, utilizing her speed, got to the ball and was in on a breakaway, putting the ball away nicely past their keeper, 1-0.
They didn’t get out of their half for the next 30 minutes and our next goal came. It was a really nice build up, about 10 passes leading to it, but the last one not connecting. Instead the ball was left to bounce around the box as we attempted to not allow them the clear. I give a lot of credit to Louise, who through herself in front of a clear to win and play a 3 yard pass to me, about 5 yrds out from the goal line, and I attempted to put as much on a shot as I could, hitting in far post, it bounced past the keeper and in, 2-0.
Four minutes later, Louise was at it again, playing the ball into Hagen, who was at the top of the six, and hit a nice shot past the keeper, 3-0. We headed into to halftime pleased with the first half, but we still had 45 minutes to play.
The second half went similarly; we came out, allowing them to only get out of their half about once. We also hit in a couple more goals. Louise, after assisting two people, got herself one, Roadhouse played it into Lou, about 15 yards out, her first touch spun the defender and hit a great shot lower left corner, 4-0. Our final goal came from Laurel who hit a great shot, pinging off the left post and into the goal, keeper had no chance, 5-0.
Once again we came out organized and aggressive, and dominated. We outshot GB 27-1, and their one shot Kane caught easily. We now go into the second round of the Horizon league tournament ready to play Wright State on Friday at Loyola.
What may be our last game on Englemann field ended as good as we could hope. Facing an in-state rival, we took the field and played aggressive and dynamic soccer, leading to a 5-0 win with five different scorers.
The last time we played Green Bay they packed it in with 5 in the back, 4 in midfield and 1 up top, and we struggled to score the first time around. However, they came out in the same formation and we had no trouble this time. Within 71 seconds, Sperl played a great ball behind their back line, Kreuser, utilizing her speed, got to the ball and was in on a breakaway, putting the ball away nicely past their keeper, 1-0.
They didn’t get out of their half for the next 30 minutes and our next goal came. It was a really nice build up, about 10 passes leading to it, but the last one not connecting. Instead the ball was left to bounce around the box as we attempted to not allow them the clear. I give a lot of credit to Louise, who through herself in front of a clear to win and play a 3 yard pass to me, about 5 yrds out from the goal line, and I attempted to put as much on a shot as I could, hitting in far post, it bounced past the keeper and in, 2-0.
Four minutes later, Louise was at it again, playing the ball into Hagen, who was at the top of the six, and hit a nice shot past the keeper, 3-0. We headed into to halftime pleased with the first half, but we still had 45 minutes to play.
The second half went similarly; we came out, allowing them to only get out of their half about once. We also hit in a couple more goals. Louise, after assisting two people, got herself one, Roadhouse played it into Lou, about 15 yards out, her first touch spun the defender and hit a great shot lower left corner, 4-0. Our final goal came from Laurel who hit a great shot, pinging off the left post and into the goal, keeper had no chance, 5-0.
Once again we came out organized and aggressive, and dominated. We outshot GB 27-1, and their one shot Kane caught easily. We now go into the second round of the Horizon league tournament ready to play Wright State on Friday at Loyola.
Oct 28, 2008
Regular Season Finale
Oct. 24th- Game vs. Detroit… Parent Night
We started our last regular season games with Detroit of Friday. Last year they defended well and we walked away with a tie. However that was not the case this year….
Before I talk about the game—it was parent’s night! So another thank you to all of you parents, even if your kid isn’t a teammate of mine, none of us would be where we are without you.
Onto the game… within 16 minutes Krueser got another dangerous moment started, playing a great ball to Hagen who put Talbert in on a diagonal ball. Talbs then flicked it past their keeper far post, 1-0. Why wait any longer then another two minutes, Hagen played Roadhouse, who hit it to Talbert, who ran onto it, and hit it in, only about a yard out, 2-0.
Those were the only goals of the first half, but we had some great build-ups. Our overall awareness of the other team and our own team has improved so much to the point where we just pass around them and Kane sits back there not needing to make a single save. By the end of the game, Detroit had two shots, neither which were on goal.
Heading into the second half, it was similar to the first, we had great build-ups, from great combinations through the midfield, our outside backs were getting involved, we were beating them on the dribble, beating them with passes, and it could have been more then 3-0 if it wasn’t for their keeper who came up with some great saves, which is hard to do with our amazing fans behind the goal.
Eventually our third goal came, the Canadian, Keara, played a ball in the air to me, I chest trapped it past the defender, putting myself on the left side of the 18yd box, crossed it to Kreuser, one touched it back to Hagen, who hit it in, 3-0. She didn’t get to keep the ball if you were wondering...
Every player got into the game, and created chances, everyone played well (our two other keepers didn’t get in, but freezing in the goal was fun enough for just Kane) I could fill pages of the chances, combinations, and great play that we did as a team...
Anyways, we walked away with the 3-0 win against Detroit, our final game regular season game vs. Valpo.
As our team has started to do better, more people have looked at our website, and in turn their eyes have met this captivating and exhilarating blog that I write, which has led to occasions when people yell within the run of the game, “I wanna read about that in Megna’s memoirs!”, which leads me to this “oh so embarrassing moment of mine.”
A great ball was served into the box, where I found myself trying to run onto it, but Hagan was in my path, “Let Hagen” I yelled, thinking she would move left or right, so I was now leaping towards the ball, instead she squatted down and I flew (Well, it felt like flying) over her, until I came down, smacking the ground with as much force as I had hoped to head the ball—which I had missed by a considerable distance. I can only imagined how this looked to onlookers... painful I hope, because that’s how it felt!
Oct. 10th- Game vs Valpraiso - Senior Day
It was nice to give our seniors a win as well as clinching the regular season championship for the ninth year in a row... yes, this year it is a co-champs, but all the same.
We took the field for a game where the wind would be factor, and got the scoring started early. The first two goals came almost like it was a crossing and finishing game in practice. The first one, I got the ball out left (from Keara), went endline, served to Hagen who finished with her head, 1-0. Moments later, from the other side, Teegs got the ball out right, went endline, served to Kreuser who finished with her head, 2-0.
After our first two goals, we kept the ball within their half, they struggled to clear because of the wind, and created some chances but failed to put anymore away. They then broke through our midfield on the dribble and put a forward in behind our defense with a long ball, their forward then hit a great shot from the corner of the right 18-yard box to the upper 90 far post, 2-1.
We started the second half, controlling the play. They never had another real chance other then the goal all game, we got numbers forward and were close to getting another. It finally came in the 86th minute, the Canadian, Keara, sent the ball out to me on the left side of the 18yd box, I headed it into the penalty area where Hagen side volleyed it past their keeper, 3-1.
We closed out senior day with a win and Teegs and Kane shed a few tears... our season, however, is no where near the end! Horizon league tournament next Sunday at home.
We started our last regular season games with Detroit of Friday. Last year they defended well and we walked away with a tie. However that was not the case this year….
Before I talk about the game—it was parent’s night! So another thank you to all of you parents, even if your kid isn’t a teammate of mine, none of us would be where we are without you.
Onto the game… within 16 minutes Krueser got another dangerous moment started, playing a great ball to Hagen who put Talbert in on a diagonal ball. Talbs then flicked it past their keeper far post, 1-0. Why wait any longer then another two minutes, Hagen played Roadhouse, who hit it to Talbert, who ran onto it, and hit it in, only about a yard out, 2-0.
Those were the only goals of the first half, but we had some great build-ups. Our overall awareness of the other team and our own team has improved so much to the point where we just pass around them and Kane sits back there not needing to make a single save. By the end of the game, Detroit had two shots, neither which were on goal.
Heading into the second half, it was similar to the first, we had great build-ups, from great combinations through the midfield, our outside backs were getting involved, we were beating them on the dribble, beating them with passes, and it could have been more then 3-0 if it wasn’t for their keeper who came up with some great saves, which is hard to do with our amazing fans behind the goal.
Eventually our third goal came, the Canadian, Keara, played a ball in the air to me, I chest trapped it past the defender, putting myself on the left side of the 18yd box, crossed it to Kreuser, one touched it back to Hagen, who hit it in, 3-0. She didn’t get to keep the ball if you were wondering...
Every player got into the game, and created chances, everyone played well (our two other keepers didn’t get in, but freezing in the goal was fun enough for just Kane) I could fill pages of the chances, combinations, and great play that we did as a team...
Anyways, we walked away with the 3-0 win against Detroit, our final game regular season game vs. Valpo.
As our team has started to do better, more people have looked at our website, and in turn their eyes have met this captivating and exhilarating blog that I write, which has led to occasions when people yell within the run of the game, “I wanna read about that in Megna’s memoirs!”, which leads me to this “oh so embarrassing moment of mine.”
A great ball was served into the box, where I found myself trying to run onto it, but Hagan was in my path, “Let Hagen” I yelled, thinking she would move left or right, so I was now leaping towards the ball, instead she squatted down and I flew (Well, it felt like flying) over her, until I came down, smacking the ground with as much force as I had hoped to head the ball—which I had missed by a considerable distance. I can only imagined how this looked to onlookers... painful I hope, because that’s how it felt!
Oct. 10th- Game vs Valpraiso - Senior Day
It was nice to give our seniors a win as well as clinching the regular season championship for the ninth year in a row... yes, this year it is a co-champs, but all the same.
We took the field for a game where the wind would be factor, and got the scoring started early. The first two goals came almost like it was a crossing and finishing game in practice. The first one, I got the ball out left (from Keara), went endline, served to Hagen who finished with her head, 1-0. Moments later, from the other side, Teegs got the ball out right, went endline, served to Kreuser who finished with her head, 2-0.
After our first two goals, we kept the ball within their half, they struggled to clear because of the wind, and created some chances but failed to put anymore away. They then broke through our midfield on the dribble and put a forward in behind our defense with a long ball, their forward then hit a great shot from the corner of the right 18-yard box to the upper 90 far post, 2-1.
We started the second half, controlling the play. They never had another real chance other then the goal all game, we got numbers forward and were close to getting another. It finally came in the 86th minute, the Canadian, Keara, sent the ball out to me on the left side of the 18yd box, I headed it into the penalty area where Hagen side volleyed it past their keeper, 3-1.
We closed out senior day with a win and Teegs and Kane shed a few tears... our season, however, is no where near the end! Horizon league tournament next Sunday at home.
Oct 20, 2008
First-Place Showdown With Butler
This was a big game. A win would narrow the location for conference tournament between Loyola, us and Butler, to between just us and Loyola. If we were to lose this game, it would put us behind Butler and in the potential position to lose the regular season for the first time in eight years or something crazy like that. The win would put us in a position to tie with Loyola to be co-champs, assuming both teams were to win out on the rest of their schedules.
Anyways, we took Engelmann Field, in what felt like ages since our last home game, wearing our pink arm bands to support breast cancer and ready to take on the Butler Bulldogs. Due to the cold weather, our “pink out” was covered by our fans’ jackets and sweatshirts but the support and raffle donations to research on breast cancer still had a satisfying outcome. It is pretty sweet to think that two teams kicking a ball around a field can help raise money for something as big as breast cancer. Athletics continued to raise money on Saturday at the Women’s Volleyball game as well, and athletes from both teams, us and v-ball, volunteered at restaurants off of campus earlier in the week to raise even more money. By Saturday it was a successful pink week.
On to the game: This game was great. We played great soccer and came away with a decisive 5-0 result. The first half the Bulldogs held us to one goal, scored by Teegs. Sperl served a corner in and it popped back out to her. She re-served and Teegs finished with a great header, 1-0. Their keeper had some nice saves as Canada, Hagen, Talbert, and Kreuser all had chances and we out shot them, 10-1, leaving Kane to freeze as we kept the play away from her.
The second half we came out and pulled them apart in their backline. This led to back to back Louise Vraney goals, both assisted by Teegarden. I wish I could do justice in describing how the first one came about, but it was one of the sweetest balls I have ever seen Teegarden play with the outside of her foot… over their back line and dropping just perfectly for Lou to run onto with a perfectly timed run, pushed it past the keeper, 2-0. Lou knocked in another, assisted by Teegarden again, 3-0. Next came a goal by Laurel Ragalie, 4-0.
If those four goals weren’t exciting enough, why not throw in a school record being broken. Hagen knocked in our final goal, another assist from Teegarden, to give her 17 goals on the season and make it 5-0.
So, the coaches were yelling to the center ref as Butler was about to kick off (to switch the game ball) I kind of thought in disbelief, “Did Hagen really just kick the ball so hard that she put a hole in it?” No Kate, it was the ball used to score the 17th goal and set a school record for most goals scored in a season, and now becomes a “trophy” of that accomplishment. My question is does she get to keep the 18th, 19th, 20th and so on “goal” balls because our season is no where near being over…
Anyways, I don’t know how many soccer balls a dorm room can hold, but I do know that Kane only had to make two saves the whole game. Neither, a superman save, but simply catching the ball as if in warm-up or playing catch with their forwards.
Sunday we didn’t have a game, so hopefully you can join us back at Englemann next Friday for a game vs. Detroit.
Anyways, we took Engelmann Field, in what felt like ages since our last home game, wearing our pink arm bands to support breast cancer and ready to take on the Butler Bulldogs. Due to the cold weather, our “pink out” was covered by our fans’ jackets and sweatshirts but the support and raffle donations to research on breast cancer still had a satisfying outcome. It is pretty sweet to think that two teams kicking a ball around a field can help raise money for something as big as breast cancer. Athletics continued to raise money on Saturday at the Women’s Volleyball game as well, and athletes from both teams, us and v-ball, volunteered at restaurants off of campus earlier in the week to raise even more money. By Saturday it was a successful pink week.
On to the game: This game was great. We played great soccer and came away with a decisive 5-0 result. The first half the Bulldogs held us to one goal, scored by Teegs. Sperl served a corner in and it popped back out to her. She re-served and Teegs finished with a great header, 1-0. Their keeper had some nice saves as Canada, Hagen, Talbert, and Kreuser all had chances and we out shot them, 10-1, leaving Kane to freeze as we kept the play away from her.
The second half we came out and pulled them apart in their backline. This led to back to back Louise Vraney goals, both assisted by Teegarden. I wish I could do justice in describing how the first one came about, but it was one of the sweetest balls I have ever seen Teegarden play with the outside of her foot… over their back line and dropping just perfectly for Lou to run onto with a perfectly timed run, pushed it past the keeper, 2-0. Lou knocked in another, assisted by Teegarden again, 3-0. Next came a goal by Laurel Ragalie, 4-0.
If those four goals weren’t exciting enough, why not throw in a school record being broken. Hagen knocked in our final goal, another assist from Teegarden, to give her 17 goals on the season and make it 5-0.
So, the coaches were yelling to the center ref as Butler was about to kick off (to switch the game ball) I kind of thought in disbelief, “Did Hagen really just kick the ball so hard that she put a hole in it?” No Kate, it was the ball used to score the 17th goal and set a school record for most goals scored in a season, and now becomes a “trophy” of that accomplishment. My question is does she get to keep the 18th, 19th, 20th and so on “goal” balls because our season is no where near being over…
Anyways, I don’t know how many soccer balls a dorm room can hold, but I do know that Kane only had to make two saves the whole game. Neither, a superman save, but simply catching the ball as if in warm-up or playing catch with their forwards.
Sunday we didn’t have a game, so hopefully you can join us back at Englemann next Friday for a game vs. Detroit.
Oct 14, 2008
Cleveland and Youngstown
Oct. 10th – Racking up the goals
We had another long road trip this weekend, heading to Cleveland State and then to Youngstown State. We had a nice eight-hour bus ride on Thursday, which can take a toll on the body. When movies, homework, reading and any other activity become boring we attempt to sleep on our two seats that, put together, are about four feet long and two feet wide. Maybe this is comfortable for the shorties, Kreuser and Canada, but not so much for those around average height on the team and taller.
Anyways, we played CSU the next evening. You would think we would be slow to start after the long bus trip but 20 minutes into the game we were up 4-0. It started 13 minutes in, when Kayla Dejardin played a ball from the corner of their left 18 yard box, tipped the bottom of the cross bar and into the goal over the goalie’s head, 1-0. Next was a goal was scored by Canada (Keara Thompson), a ball came across the top of the box, Canada ran onto it finishing it lower left corner, 2-0.
Our next two goals came from Hagen. The first one, I played the ball into her, her back to the goal, isolated (only one defender on her... Kreuser made a good run outside pulling their backs apart), she spun with the ball, past the defender and a nice shot past the keeper, 3-0. Just 48 seconds later, isolated again, she turned her defender and finished again, Kreuser delivering the ball to her this time, 4-0.
Later on in the first half the fifth goal came, Louise Varney burned three people, the fourth taking her out in the box leading to a PK which Talbert finished nicely.
The second half, some freshmen scored some great goals, starting with Laurel Ragalie. Receiving the ball about 25 yards out on the right side, she beat a defender and finished with a nice goal over the keepers head far post, 6-0. Finally, Chelsea Colling wrapped it up for us. Beth Steuer played a great ball dropping just over their backline, Colling ran onto and placed the ball past the goalie, 7-0.
I just want to add I was sitting on the sidelines as the seventh goal went in, stressing about how I was going to remember how they all happened!!
So beyond the scoring it was nice to see everyone get in and get some experience. Although CSU didn’t score it doesn’t mean they didn’t have chances... Leslie Deebach played goalie for us in the second half and was awesome. She made two superman saves that I would normally be saying only Kane is capable of. The first one was a diving save from a screened position, to grab a ball that was heading upper left corner. Second one their player got in on a breakaway and Deebach came out to completely strip the girl, stopping the ball dead in her hands. Nothing but confidence knowing that’s our back up keeper!
Saturday—City Sight Seeing
Unfortunately I was stuck doing homework all day on Saturday, but many of our players got to go out and see the city, which was within walking distance of our hotel. Many went to the mall, lakefront, rock and roll hall of fame, a science museum and IMax that I heard was really sweet, and the rest stuck around the hotel.
Sunday Oct 12th- YSU
YSU has struggled in the conference the past couple seasons, but is a difficult team to beat at their home field. It is in a football stadium so the field is shorter turf, skinnier and crowned, the ball spends a larger amount of time out of bounds. In the past we always struggle to get the scoring started.
However this our scoring continued through the weekend. Hagen found herself isolated, again, at the top of the box, multiple times even, so it was only a short time until she notched our first goal, 1-0. The second goal came from a corner played in by Sperl, the ball came onto the top of the box, where Kenzie headed it into upper left corner, 2-0.
The third goal came from Kreuser playing it into Canada, who beat two players to get in on a breakaway, passed it to Hagen who flanked her on her left to beat the goalie, and Hagen put it away, 3-0. Ungreediness from the Canadian to give Hagen the goal and to tie the school record for most goals in a season, with our season still going!
We boarded back onto the bus... hands filled with goody bags from the Kane and Canadian clans (thank you guys so much again!!). Those goody bags make bus trips sooo much more enjoyable... it’s like being back in middle school, “I’ll trade you my popcorn ball for your Canadian smarties,” and then we counter, “How about your popcorn ball and two blow pops and I will make it a deal…”
A numerous number of hours later we arrived home and are starting to prepare for Butler next Friday, hopefully we will see you there!
Congrats to Sarah Hagen as Horizon League player of the week!
Oct 7, 2008
A Trip to Loyola and Wright State
Oct. 3rd— Game vs. Loyola
Like I have said before, soccer is cruel game. The better team doesn’t always win. You may think I am biased in saying we are the better team in the game… but after the game their coach came up to Mike and said, “You guys were better.”
Unfortunately we didn’t get it done. Like Green-Bay, Loyola packed it in, so all but one forward were within 35 yards of their goal, trying to hold onto their 1-0 lead. Their goal came from the ball bouncing around the box, Kane made two nice saves, but they followed in on the rebound and finished. For the next 75 minutes we pounded them. They rarely got out of their half, but we couldn’t put any of our shots away.
That’s the game of soccer though. Our finishing wasn’t there. It was lacking and their defense were resilient. Unfortunately possession doesn’t win games. I could list some close chances we had, but none of them count for anything. They played a physical and defensive game and it worked out for them, the next time we play them it might not.
All I know is we will see how respond because Wright State is our next step.
Oct 4th- Day of Rest…day of sleeping
This was a full roadtrip weekend. after Loyola we went straight to Ohio…we didn’t arrive until 4:50 a.m (eastern time). Yes, 4:50 a.m.! And, we went straight to bed and didn’t wake up till 11:45 a.m. Everyone was exhausted, but we got some breakfast and then went to training, and after that we went back to sleep, those who didn’t sleep until dinner did some homework. We had dinner at Olive Garden, back to the hotel for homework and sleep.
This was a full roadtrip weekend. after Loyola we went straight to Ohio…we didn’t arrive until 4:50 a.m (eastern time). Yes, 4:50 a.m.! And, we went straight to bed and didn’t wake up till 11:45 a.m. Everyone was exhausted, but we got some breakfast and then went to training, and after that we went back to sleep, those who didn’t sleep until dinner did some homework. We had dinner at Olive Garden, back to the hotel for homework and sleep.
I unfortunately don’t have any funny stories…mainly because we were sleeping or walking around half asleep…and the things that were funny, well were only funny because we were slap happy from lack of sleep.
Oct. 5th- The rowdy Raiders
We just lost a conference game vs Loyola and potentially lost the control of hosting conference tournament. We broke our 31-game unbeaten streak in conference. We let Loyola beat us for only the second time in history. We most likely lost our 22nd position in the national rankings, and our 2nd ranking regionally. That’s a lot of things we just let go from a 90-minute game... but we gained a lot more in my opinion.
...now bare with my inspirational sounding rambles, there is a point...
I have always heard people say, ‘a team shows maturity when they can keep winning games and can be consistent.’ For most of the season we have done that, but ‘a team shows its character in how it responds to the next game after a loss.’ We responded with 3-0 win against Wright State on their home field.
We learned from the loss at Loyola. I would have preferred to take this loss now then potentially in conference tournament. I think the new players gain the experience of how it feels to lose in conference and as a team we aren’t going to let it happen again.
I haven’t seen many teams pack all 11 of their players into a box on a corner very often. However, this was Wright State’s defense and it came around to harm them, in my opinion. Steuer played a great ball into the box, right in the middle of all 11 of their players and about 7 of ours. We so much congestion in the 6 yard box, they failed to clear the ball, being deflected of their own players and ours, until Teegarden put the ball away, 1-0.
Our next goal came from Louise Vraney. On their left side of the field about 20 yards in from half, she took on one of their center mids and blew past her. She then took on their right back (at this point she was on at the corner of the 18 on the base line) and blew past the right back. Now finally, she took on the right center back, and yes again blew past her. And, with a great ball to Kreuser who’s shot got deflected the first time but Laurel finished with a half volley, 2-0.
Our final goal came from Sarah Hagen. She had a great ball played into her feet at about the top of the 18 yard box, took a touch that put her behind their defensive line and would have been on a break away, but both center backs collapsed on her and she drew the foul—PK. Hagen took it, keeper had no chance to save it, 3-0.
Last thought: In the past I have talked about respect for the game of soccer, but I bring the topic back up, not to direct it specifically at any other team, but to point out the class that our team has and the respect for the game. We work as hard as we can, we try to play good, we are creative on offense, organized on defense, we tackle hard but not cheap or late, we don’t talk trash (that’s a big one), and finally we leave it on the field. We understand we are going to have a game like the loss against Loyola, but its not the end of the world and it won’t happen again.
Sep 30, 2008
Out With The Non-League, In With The League
Sept. 24th- Another Big Ten Team Beat Down by the Panthers
We started of quickly against Northwestern. I played the ball into Kreuser, who made a run to the outside left, pulling their central defense apart. She laid it back to me, I laid it back to Kayla about 35 yards out on the left side, with their defensive still pulled apart, Kayla served the ball into the box. Talbert, with one of the sweetest flicks I have seen, sent it to Kenzie on the opposite side of the box (right side) who placed the ball far post past their keeper. 1-0. It was a great build up that I am sure I didn’t do justice to.
Our second goal was of a different nature… the crazy nature of Sarah Hagen, that is. Our team has struggled in the past with scoring, that hole has been filled and then some. She has scored 11 goals in 11 games. Sammy Vovos flicked the ball onto Hagen, who dribbled to the left corner of the 18 yard box, then with her left foot, her non-dominant foot, hit a shot line drive, far post and side netting, keeper diving but no chance. 2-0.
We went into half 2-0. We had contained their physical presence and contained any attack they tried to present us with. The second half we looked to do the same. However, they came out throwing numbers forward, both outside backs getting into the attack, and once again we contained them well. We organized through the middle well, covered and balanced every pressuring player. It wasn’t until late in the game, that our midfield got pulled too far to the left with no balance and couldn’t recover to clear a ball bouncing around the box, 2-1.
We walk away from this game, 3-0 against Big Ten Teams. Heading into conference, I don’t know what will be able to stop us.
Editor’s Note: Milwaukee is the only school in the nation with three wins against Big Ten school’s this season.
Side Note: I have been reading some other blogs to see how they are writing them and if there is something more I could bring to the table here. After reading a few I have come to this thought.
I enjoying writing this slightly-to-moderately biased blog (hence, the need for an editor) for Panther fan entertainment. I recognize the success and/or failure we may have accomplished and hope to show those who couldn’t make the games the outcome, unfortunately you have to bear with some cheesy Wisconsin humor. We are not your picture perfect team, we have flaws and funny quirks (Teegarden’s Gumby legs), often we say things without thinking (Drea and the ‘hot lava’), and our off-the-field decision-making lacks sometimes (hair dying incident), but we are your Milwaukee Panthers and have found success against those “perfect” teams and it is those flaws, quirks, mindless talking and acting intertwined with our success that hopefully brings you entertainment for the couple of minutes you take out of your day to read this.
Sept. 26th- League Opener a.k.a. State-Winner
This would be our third-straight year of winning the state of Wisconsin: Beat Madison. Beat Marquette. Beat Green-Bay. We had our league opener Friday, at Englemann, under the lights.
Leading into this game, we were told that Green-Bay’s coach said they wanted to be a hard team to score on. Well, pulling a fifth defender into your backline will probably help you accomplish being hard to score on, then four midfields in front of their five backs, and one lone forward up top.
On top of having nine players behind the ball to defend (and then the keeper), they held their defensive pressure line about fifteen yards into their half, I don’t know if this was intentional, but our outside backs could attack into their half about 15 yards before anyone would come to pressure, though at this point then they have all nine of their players defending in a space only about 45 yards deep, throw our six or seven attackers into that space too and it gets a little congested.
A little congestion has never stopped us. We found moments of combination between the forwards and midfield that led to some good chances. One combination leading to my favorite chance of the half, Canada (Keara Thompson) hit a great left-footed shot from the top of the 18 box that hit the inside left post (left as facing the goal) and we narrowly missed getting to the rebound. (Side note: for all you Canadians, we have added a nice addition to our flag pole)
With their contentedness to just sit in and defend, hoping to get a clear over our backline so their lone forward can run like a freight train. For those at the game I am sure would agree with that description, their forward was big, physical and had a non-stop motor. This tactic lead to one chance within the total 90 minutes of the game and that was in the first half. They were able to play a ball over our back line into our defending left corner. At this point, their charging forward was in a foot race with Kane to see who could get to the ball (or what soon became a collision for the ball) first. Both Kane and their player sliding to the ball, their player got their first, sending the ball across the box to another GB player who five feet out from the goal, undefended, kicked it wide. However, in every collision or action, there is an equal or opposite reaction, and the reaction occurred as a tremendous force, in the form of cleats, upon Erin Kane’s shin. She would be out for the rest of the game, and Leslie Deebach covered the responsibility of the goalie throughout the rest of the game easily.
So we headed into half scoreless, but like I have said numerous times, we execute our halftime adaptations to the game. Three minutes into the half, yes we adapt quickly, we were up. After a miscleared ball by their five-(wo)man back line, Beth Steuer hit a shot, blocked, got her own rebound, and hit a skipping ball past all five defenders and under their diving keeper, 1-0.
The second goal came about 10 minutes later, another great build up that I will attempt to explain. Kayla played a long ball up the left line into Kreuser (receiving it around the midline), laid it back to me, I played a through ball to Talbert, who attacked towards the corner of the 18 box, played into Hagen at the top of the 18 box, who played a leading ball on the ground behind their defense, into Louise Vraney as she slashed across the box, she hit it one-time left corner, keeper no chance, 2-0. Thanks for coming.
Last thought: You know, there are a lot of things going on in the world, but every game is a nice 90 minutes away whether you’re playing, watching, or even cheering against us. Every game is exciting and fun for us as players, hopefully it brings as much enjoyment for everyone else. Maybe next year, those great goals we scored this year don’t mean as much, and the year after possibly forgotten, but right now in this moment they keep us awake at night hoping to get another in the next game. Maybe they keep some of you awake too. The idea of being recognized, respected and nationally ranked is the first thing we think about Tuesday morning when they are posted. Yeah, they are just rankings, and yeah soccer is just a game, but as players it’s what consumes our time, our days, our lives and we get to show you the work and energy we spend in those 90 minutes, those 90 minutes away from everything else.
We started of quickly against Northwestern. I played the ball into Kreuser, who made a run to the outside left, pulling their central defense apart. She laid it back to me, I laid it back to Kayla about 35 yards out on the left side, with their defensive still pulled apart, Kayla served the ball into the box. Talbert, with one of the sweetest flicks I have seen, sent it to Kenzie on the opposite side of the box (right side) who placed the ball far post past their keeper. 1-0. It was a great build up that I am sure I didn’t do justice to.
Our second goal was of a different nature… the crazy nature of Sarah Hagen, that is. Our team has struggled in the past with scoring, that hole has been filled and then some. She has scored 11 goals in 11 games. Sammy Vovos flicked the ball onto Hagen, who dribbled to the left corner of the 18 yard box, then with her left foot, her non-dominant foot, hit a shot line drive, far post and side netting, keeper diving but no chance. 2-0.
We went into half 2-0. We had contained their physical presence and contained any attack they tried to present us with. The second half we looked to do the same. However, they came out throwing numbers forward, both outside backs getting into the attack, and once again we contained them well. We organized through the middle well, covered and balanced every pressuring player. It wasn’t until late in the game, that our midfield got pulled too far to the left with no balance and couldn’t recover to clear a ball bouncing around the box, 2-1.
We walk away from this game, 3-0 against Big Ten Teams. Heading into conference, I don’t know what will be able to stop us.
Editor’s Note: Milwaukee is the only school in the nation with three wins against Big Ten school’s this season.
Side Note: I have been reading some other blogs to see how they are writing them and if there is something more I could bring to the table here. After reading a few I have come to this thought.
I enjoying writing this slightly-to-moderately biased blog (hence, the need for an editor) for Panther fan entertainment. I recognize the success and/or failure we may have accomplished and hope to show those who couldn’t make the games the outcome, unfortunately you have to bear with some cheesy Wisconsin humor. We are not your picture perfect team, we have flaws and funny quirks (Teegarden’s Gumby legs), often we say things without thinking (Drea and the ‘hot lava’), and our off-the-field decision-making lacks sometimes (hair dying incident), but we are your Milwaukee Panthers and have found success against those “perfect” teams and it is those flaws, quirks, mindless talking and acting intertwined with our success that hopefully brings you entertainment for the couple of minutes you take out of your day to read this.
Sept. 26th- League Opener a.k.a. State-Winner
This would be our third-straight year of winning the state of Wisconsin: Beat Madison. Beat Marquette. Beat Green-Bay. We had our league opener Friday, at Englemann, under the lights.
Leading into this game, we were told that Green-Bay’s coach said they wanted to be a hard team to score on. Well, pulling a fifth defender into your backline will probably help you accomplish being hard to score on, then four midfields in front of their five backs, and one lone forward up top.
On top of having nine players behind the ball to defend (and then the keeper), they held their defensive pressure line about fifteen yards into their half, I don’t know if this was intentional, but our outside backs could attack into their half about 15 yards before anyone would come to pressure, though at this point then they have all nine of their players defending in a space only about 45 yards deep, throw our six or seven attackers into that space too and it gets a little congested.
A little congestion has never stopped us. We found moments of combination between the forwards and midfield that led to some good chances. One combination leading to my favorite chance of the half, Canada (Keara Thompson) hit a great left-footed shot from the top of the 18 box that hit the inside left post (left as facing the goal) and we narrowly missed getting to the rebound. (Side note: for all you Canadians, we have added a nice addition to our flag pole)
With their contentedness to just sit in and defend, hoping to get a clear over our backline so their lone forward can run like a freight train. For those at the game I am sure would agree with that description, their forward was big, physical and had a non-stop motor. This tactic lead to one chance within the total 90 minutes of the game and that was in the first half. They were able to play a ball over our back line into our defending left corner. At this point, their charging forward was in a foot race with Kane to see who could get to the ball (or what soon became a collision for the ball) first. Both Kane and their player sliding to the ball, their player got their first, sending the ball across the box to another GB player who five feet out from the goal, undefended, kicked it wide. However, in every collision or action, there is an equal or opposite reaction, and the reaction occurred as a tremendous force, in the form of cleats, upon Erin Kane’s shin. She would be out for the rest of the game, and Leslie Deebach covered the responsibility of the goalie throughout the rest of the game easily.
So we headed into half scoreless, but like I have said numerous times, we execute our halftime adaptations to the game. Three minutes into the half, yes we adapt quickly, we were up. After a miscleared ball by their five-(wo)man back line, Beth Steuer hit a shot, blocked, got her own rebound, and hit a skipping ball past all five defenders and under their diving keeper, 1-0.
The second goal came about 10 minutes later, another great build up that I will attempt to explain. Kayla played a long ball up the left line into Kreuser (receiving it around the midline), laid it back to me, I played a through ball to Talbert, who attacked towards the corner of the 18 box, played into Hagen at the top of the 18 box, who played a leading ball on the ground behind their defense, into Louise Vraney as she slashed across the box, she hit it one-time left corner, keeper no chance, 2-0. Thanks for coming.
Last thought: You know, there are a lot of things going on in the world, but every game is a nice 90 minutes away whether you’re playing, watching, or even cheering against us. Every game is exciting and fun for us as players, hopefully it brings as much enjoyment for everyone else. Maybe next year, those great goals we scored this year don’t mean as much, and the year after possibly forgotten, but right now in this moment they keep us awake at night hoping to get another in the next game. Maybe they keep some of you awake too. The idea of being recognized, respected and nationally ranked is the first thing we think about Tuesday morning when they are posted. Yeah, they are just rankings, and yeah soccer is just a game, but as players it’s what consumes our time, our days, our lives and we get to show you the work and energy we spend in those 90 minutes, those 90 minutes away from everything else.
Sep 22, 2008
Heading to Minnesota
Thursday the 18th - Heading to Minnesota
We left Milwaukee on Thursday around 10:30 am and headed for Minnesota. After New Mexico last weekend, we were disappointed with our results, and this weekend in Minnesota will be a great opportunity to get back into the national rankings.
The bus ride went quickly--five hours straight through. Most people slept or tried to get their homework done. Before we knew it, we were at our hotel, checked in and headed back to training.
Minnesota’s field is off campus, so it doesn’t have that feel that Englemann does, but is good quality and we got a good training in. We, of course, ended with the finishing game I talked about last weekend. The keepers said we could only make five goals this time. After three rounds, the keepers will be getting smoothies and we will be playing this game again.
Friday the 19th- Boston Terriers
We got to sleep in, which nobody ever complains about. A light jog and stretch and then some time off 'til lunch. To kill the time 'til lunch we decided to dye my hair…
Now, if you know what I look like, I normally have really blond hair. However during preseason we decided to dye it black. We decided that we wanted the blond hair back and got some hair dye! Thinking this would be nice and easy... how naive we were…
After being told it would work out (I won’t name name’s) we put the dye in and waited. In the end I have bleach blond roots and dark tips, with patches of areas turned blond. Well maybe that’s not to bad right? WRONG!
Then for some reason, I entrusted Erin Kane with a pair of athletic training scissors used to cut tape. For not being experienced, she did an alright job. We really just needed a pair of clippers, but in the end she shortened the sides and cut the back of my Mohawk off (the team calls it my 'rat tail' and most were happy to see it gone).
Finally we headed to the game field, my tips brown, roots blond and chunks of the brown cut off so the blond was showing through... my teammates told me it didn’t look as bad as I thought. Well, after the game, JoJo Seversen (class of '06) came up and said, “It looks like you have bald spots from the stands wherever the blond shows through.”
Anyways, the moral of this memoir, don’t dye dark hair blond. Now to the game!
We played Boston U last year in Madison, hit the post a couple times and ended up loosing 0-1. They have been receiving votes for the top 25 and it would be to redeem from last year.
The second half started, we won air balls, and we kept possession. With five in midfield we had more options for little combinations, and we worked through them and found Hagen on a breakaway to the goal. Her legs get taken out and Sperl steps up for the p.k. I am assuming they watched film from the Ohio State game, because the goalie shifted to her right, about three steps before Sperl had hit the ball. Still it was a well hit ball and the goalie couldn’t catch it and tipped it out for a corner. Why take the easy p.k. when we can just have Hagen jump above everyone else and score a sweet corner. 1-0.
We continued to control the pace of the game and we did not allow any great chances. Kane made some easy saves but our back line contained them well (back line lead by two freshman center backs, Kenzie back from injury and Mary.)
Eventually, to seal the deal, Beth Steuer attacked the right corner, beating two girls, sent a cross into me, I came across the box and right-footed volleyed it past the keeper. Easily one of the better goals I have scored.
The game ended 2-0. Feeling good, we started thinking about Brown, who that night lost to Minnesota 2-0.
Saturday the 20th- Day of Rest
Saturdays are always nice on road trips, especially ones closer to home because many parents can make the weekend trip. We never get to go home during season, or rarely if we do, and it’s nice to get some family time. My parents and me toured the city and went to a 50’s theatre. Other family’s toured the campus, downtown, and lots went to the Mall of America. We all then met up together to have a team dinner.
We went to the old spaghetti factory. There was a dinner party next to us of a bunch of girls, looking about 13-16 at the oldest. Erin Kreuser, however, was going around saying “oh look! A Bridal party!” Ha ha... she got picked on for a while as they sang Happy Birthday to the 15 year old. Dinner is always worth a lot of laughs, even when it’s the keepers rubbing in our faces the fact that they got Oreo shakes for winning the finishing game yet again.
Sunday the 21st- Brown Bears
Brown Bears is really their name if you think I am kidding. Anyways, the game was at 10:30 am and we packed and checked out of our hotel beforehand. We took the field wearing stripes and began controlling the play early on. Though, we were slow to make a decision on the backline and gave up a corner. The ball was sent in deep far post, bobbled around and kicked in, 0-1.
We were quick to respond with our own corner, Sperl sent the ball in near post and Sarah Teegarden finished near post. Although Hagen is taller and could probably beat me up, I have to stick to last year's feelings; Teegarden is my hero. We continued to control the game.
They were really tired. They also got lucky in spots and were saved by some great saves by their keeper. Once again that’s why soccer is a cruel sport, the better team doesn’t always win, and aren’t better until they get the result.
So, we boarded the bus, happy with our effort and work rate, which was phenomenal throughout the 125 minutes, and headed back to Milwaukee, ready to take on Northwestern on Wednesday.
Actually we didn’t board the bus quite yet… team showers!... which is actually one of the funniest things you that most people don't know behind the scenes.
See, there are the people that are comfortable with it, those that are so comfortable they make fun of the uncomfortable, those who are kind of comfortable but wear their undergarments, and those who just avoid the shower and apply extra deodorant. Now I won’t call people out, but we have some of each of those category. Anyways, back on the bus with some clean players and some not so clean, we watched movies, slept, ate and did homework.
Actually, now thinking about it, Mr. and Mrs. Ragalie: I helped your daughter with some math homework on the bus and I normally charge $20 an hour. I can probably cut you a deal… but we will need to talk later. :) (Kidding!)
See everyone Wednesday I hope!
Last thought: My patchy hair must be good luck because me, Hagen, Mary and Teegarden made all tournament team.
Editor's Note: Kate was named the tournament's Offensive MVP and then the Horizon League Player of the Week this week.
Sep 15, 2008
Road Trip to New Mexico
Note: This entry will be much longer, covering a lot of outside of game activities. - KM
Travel Day: Sept. 11th
Last weekend was our first real road trip—across town to Marquette doesn’t count so much. We had to be packed and ready to leave Englemann Locker room by 6:30 a.m. Now let me tell you, we are not the most cheery team that early in the morning. So, it was quiet ride to the airport.
Our flight took off and we were assigned seats alphabetically, which places me next to our head coach Mike. Now a little background on Mike: He is a health fanatic, no meat, no sugar, no fried food, no carbonated food, nothing artificial—organic. Naturally, it affects what we can eat, so no fried food, no soda, no candy. So the flight attendant comes over the loud speaker, “Our complimentary drink service will be coming around shortly.” For the past three years on flights, Mike and I have been seat buddies, and I have been ordering tomato juice because of it. Now personally, there is nothing more refreshing then a little soda while you’re cramped in seats that one size fits all. So for the next 10 minutes I stressed about if I should get my Canada Dry Ginger Ale I had been looking forward to, our get the same old tomato juice out of fear from my seatmate.
I chose to stand my ground, all the other players were getting soda, why can’t I!
“Ginger Ale please”
“Ok,” the flight attendant responded as Mike turned his head my way, nodding up and down, “Good choice, my mom use to always give me that.”
…really Mike? I suffered through three years of tomato juice!
Anyways, we landed in New Mexico in the afternoon some time and headed to our hotel, which will remain anonymous because… well, I have been told by my editor to keep his editing to a minimum. We unpacked a little, tried to watch TV… a single channel that said, “Congratulations you have a dish 2000!” and quickly left the room to eat lunch and then head to practice.
Practice went well, some light possession and some hard-finishing. We played a crossing and finishing game, where it was field players vs. keepers. Twenty balls get served one at a time, and we (field players) have to try to finish. The rowdiness of it comes from the keepers picking what number we can make out of the 20. Let’s just say the keepers came up lucky… twice… and there will be rematches in the future. Drea, however, was ready to stay out there till dark until we won.
Game Day: Friday the 12th
We got to sleep in a little ‘til 9:30, grabbed breakfast which was easily the best part of our hotel, watched tv… some time over night we got about nine more channels. Got ready for a very light training and headed to their practice field again. We did a light jog and stretch and then played soccer tennis, one of my favorite games. Basically two equal grids attached by a center line, no serving sides or anything, one bounce per side, three touch per side, rally scoring, lines are in, very similar to tennis but with our feet and a soccer ball. All the lines are in, except for the middle line, and we play this game very often. Now Drea, age 23, decided to help us out. If we didn’t get that the middle line was considered a dead ball, she described it as, “The middle line is like lava! Your ball touches it and it disintegrated!” She was teased for a couple days after.
Anyways, practiced ended we head back to our hotel, which we found out was only going to be our hotel till 1 pm, when we get to switch to the Hampton Inn! From there it was time to head out for our game.
We were playing University of New Mexico, who have been averaging over 1000 fans per game, and had their men’s team playing after us who, like us, are ranked in the top 25. The game started fast, the only two goals of the game came in the first 10 minutes. They scored first… I am not sure what is in the water, but their center backs were huge…like a least three times the size of our Canadian, or a small child. Not only were these two big, but could smack a ball farther then most I know, and that was their game plan. I don’t think their midfield received a single pass from their backline, it was backline straight to their forward, #3, who I will give credit, was very skilled technically. So back to the first goal, a large defensive back for them smacked a ball into our defensive third, to around the corner of our right 18 yard box, from Kane’s perspective. As the ball was hit, both #3 and Kane ran towards the ball, #3 stuck her leg out, moments before Kane, hit it up and over Kane’s head, bounce once, bounce twice, and into the goal. 0-1.
We came back quick. Lou and Hagen both were threatening their back line which held high and eventually I received the ball facing forward 35 yards out. Hagen began a run from the inside of their left back across the line, I split their right back and right center back, where Hagen broke behind their line onto the ball, past the goalie and goal. 1-1.
Another player on their team that I will give credit to, was their keeper. In the rest of the first half, I hit a corner to Hagen, who with her head, smacked the ball to the corner and the keeper some how tipped it out. The Canadian, Keara, hit a line drive off the crossbar, Hagan again with her head to the corner of the goal and the keeper got another tip on it. Sperl hit a corner in and it bounced around until Teegarden received it, almost posted up on the keeper, and flicked it to her right, the keeper of course somehow grabbed it!
The second half was no different. Teegs had a shot from the top of the box, we had some good serves in, Laurel played me a great ball across the box, exactly like the Samford game, but I missed. Overall, we were pounding them and couldn’t finish and they got to tie with us.
Walking away from the game, Mike was mad, but was happy with our work rate and effort, he was mad at the third jersey (black and white stripes…) on the field, which I am not allowed to express my anger towards. Can only say as supporters of our team, you would not have been happy with them either.
Day of rest: Saturday the 13th
We woke up in our new hotel, a little bummed but it was our day to spend in the city and with the parents who could make the trip down to support us. We stuck in fairly large groups but ventured in different directions as well. I stuck with Leslie, Kayla, Drea, Mary, Laurel, and Keara, also my parents, Kayla’s, and Keara’s. We went to the world’s longest free-standing tram. I never knew there was even a tram in New Mexico, and it’s the worlds longest. A tram is like a train compartment, attached to metal wires that “fly” you up a mountain. New Mexico is already above sea level by a lot, and we took the tram up to 10,000 and some feet. It was actually really fun and I have plenty of pictures to prove it.
A couple other families went to the trams, some drove up the mountain. Others went to old town, a shopping area, others relaxed and did homework.
In the end we all met up to head to dinner as a team. Now, I don’t know how many of you know what the camping game is… but we play this at dinner. I also like to believe that it’s not a real game and Roadhouse just made it up… So basically, one person is in charge, and says, “I am going camping and I am going to bring, elephants and bubblegum.” And everyone else around the table has to figure out what rules these two words follow and then ask if they can come, “Can I bring Snails and lollipops?!”… “NO!” “…earmuffs and apples?” “Yes” “elbows and cherries.” “Yes” Here the themes are first word starts with an “E” and second word has a double letter. Now the figuring out part is fun, but what is the most fun about this game is the people’s reactions. Roadhouse will just sit there silently for a while and then just knows it. And Deebach will be the last one and mad she can’t get it, but wants to play again, and McGrath hates playing the game. In the end it is entertaining and the food is there before we know it.
Game Day 2: Sunday the 14th
The second game was a lot different then the first. 10 a.m. was kick off. No national anthem, no ball girls, no fans (outside of our amazing pack of about 16 parents). It was also very windy which caused us to over hit the ball and have a lot of unforced turnovers. That was a big part of the first half, we over hit balls and beat ourselves in the first half, allowing them to go up 0-1. There were moments we connected passes well at times, but couldn’t connect on that final ball.
We went into the second half talking about what we needed to fix. We came out and we did everything we talked about, we threatened their back line, kept the ball and had a great build up to a great goal.
Overall the weekend didn’t go as we planned, we will probably drop from the top 25, still remain in the top five in the region, but will need to prove ourselves next weekend.
We boarded our plan back to Milwaukee, a little sad but excited for Minnesota next weekend. Also we all learned that everyone forgets things (meaning the players shouldn’t have to run fitness when we loose a ball). Mike left his computer at security, David left his shoes in the rental car, and Brittany left her phone on the plane. Chris didn’t lose anything… yet.
Sep 8, 2008
Week 3 (Sept. 9, 2008)
Glory Glory
There is one team that I do not like…
We moved to 4-0 for the season.
It was a back and forth game, each team having their chances and in the end we came out on top. Sarah Hagen came up with yet another goal, off a corner from Nicole Sperl, to give us the 1-0 win. She just before was put in on a breakaway from a great through ball by the Canadian, Keara Thompson. And that earned us the corner.
I don’t have much more to say besides it was back and forth and intense. When I say back and forth I mean possession wise, not that they had many close chances. Every time they were near our goal it was an easy save for Kane or we were able to force them into an off-target shot. Kane was forced once to make a superman save.
Our fans were amazing, and were just as loud as their home field “birdcage”. If it wasn’t for them it could have been a different game, so thank you to all that were there!
We beat
Western Michigan isn’t necessarily a big name team like
Luckily however, I started the scoring off about 18 minutes in. Now I would like to say I was on the left flank, looked up and saw their keeper out of position so I hit a nicely flighted ball and chipped her with the ball hitting side netting on the far post… BUT, the truth however, when I looked up I really saw
We played out the rest of the first half, leaning more towards the ugly side of play and headed into the locker room with some things to fix.
We came out in the second half improved, we got a corner, Beth Steuer played short to Nicole Sperl and she crushed the ball on goal, then got her own rebound and crushed the ball a second time, 2-0.
They lost a player a little while later to two quick yellow cards, so we had a player up and we began to knock on the door some more, we got another corner. I played it in and
Finally, our scoring ended with Beth Steuer smacking a sweet shot from the top of the eighteen, over the keepers head and into the goal. It was one of my favorite goals on the year—easily.
Wisnewski Battle
Our final game of the weekend,
We started off quick, thinking it was going to be a high-scoring game. Kayla DeJardin served the ball in, I flicked it onto Hagen, who took a touch and then into the back of the goal 1-0 four minutes in. We had other chances, never finishing them. Mentally we were worn out and it showed on the field. The turnovers were high, and we called on our bench a lot, many new faces got playing time in this game and against
Every team will have the games were mentally they just don’t seem to be there, but the important thing is we walked away with the result. We just need to turn around have a good week of practice and bring the true style of our play to
Sep 2, 2008
Week 2 (Sept. 2, 2008)
Wednesday -Milwaukee Cup Day 1 vs Ohio State
Every year we participate in the Milwaukee Cup. It is a round play tournament we co-host with Marquette. Two teams come to town and play both us and Marquette, with the team with the best record being named the champion.
The first game for us was Ohio State. We had just come off a good win against UW and beating another Big Ten team would be nice. As of now we were ranked 31st and a win here would certainly help us move up.
We came out strong in the first 10 minutes, maintaining possession in their half. However, they proved to be dangerous and did threaten our back line as time went on. The game ended 4-3 in one of the more exciting games that has taken place on Englemann field.
Keara Thompson not only played the game-winning through ball to Sarah Hagen to get a penalty kick drawn, but she also scored a goal and was involved in the build up to another goal scored by Laurel Ragalie. Nicole Sperl was the only non-freshman to score--performing under pressure and finishing a PK in the last minutes of the game to give us the win.
To put the goals in order (in the past we would only score one goal and would be a lot easier for me to keep track!): Ragalie started it off with a goal in the first half, then Keara's goal off a free kick from Sperl, Hagen had our third goal, then finally when it looked like we would head to overtime, there was the PK finished by Sperl.
I don't mean to exclude Ohio State's effort and three goals, but we have been scoring so much it is easy for me to forget about them. They proved to be dangerous and got behind our back line, capitalizing twice with shots beating, who in my opinion is, the best keeper in the Midwest--Erin Kane. The rounded off their attempt to catch up with our freshmen scorers with a free kick just outside the penalty box and to the right (keeper perspective). We had a wall of five, it was direct kick, and hit right over our heads and dropped an inch or so from the near post. A nicely hit shot--3-3.
I got to say if I was Ohio State I would have been very excited at this point, patting each other on the back, proud that they didn't give up. Ha! Twenty seconds later their goal keeper was on the line as the ref blew her whistle for Sperl to take a PK... 4-3. Glory Milwaukee.
Friday- Milwaukee Cup Day 2 - Samford
Many people don't know much about Samford, except that they have been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years, which is a big deal. Also winning the Milwaukee Cup another year in a row is a big deal to us as well. So taking Samford lightly was not the case.
We came out and before the clock could say 1:00, Hagen scored at 59 seconds, great hustle and pressure by Erin Kreuser and another finish by Freshman Hagen. The two weren't done yet... After a close call, Samford was rewarded a P.K. soon after Hagen's first goal to tie 1-1. Like I said however, Erin and Hagen weren't done and Kreuser attacked the end line and layered the ball back for Hagen to add another goal 2-1 at halftime.
Samford, either tired or feeling defeated, came out on their heals at first and we dominated much of the second half. Kreuser, my player of the match, again got behind their defense to the end line sent a cross in, came right to me without a defender near by--3-1.
Editor's Note: For some reason Kate doesn't go into nearly as much detail on her own goals as everyone else's. When Kreuser sent the ball to Kate, she stopped the ball and hit a rocket upper 90 to beat a 6-foot-3 goalkeeper. It was a nice goal.
We pounded them more as the second half went on, unfortunately not adding to our lead, but instead motivating them perhaps. They proved to have a little more in the tank, building on a poor back pass on our part, forcing a turnover. Their player then beat a center back on the dribble and knocked the ball into the back of our net--3-2.
At this point, Sammy Vovos a freshman from my hometown got her first regular season minutes. Almost as fast as Erin Kresuer, she pressured the keeper and apparently scared the poor girl because the ball rolled under her foot from a back pass and into our goal.
Thank you for letting the ball go in because that gave us the Milwaukee Cup! Marquette also won both games, so it went to goal difference and we won out with that extra goal from Samford.
Two years in a row, Milwaukee Cup winners. Next game and biggest rival, Marquette, Wednesday at their place!
Aug 25, 2008
Week 1 (Aug. 25, 2008)
Welcome back for the 2008 season! For those who are new, I post once a week giving my inside accounts of how things are going here on our team, how the games went and any other information a supporter may want to know while we are on the road or if they are unable to make a game. As a warning, my opinions and thoughts may tend to be bias and at times potentially harsh to opposing teams as well as my humor exceptionally dry and finally I have a lot of pride for Milwaukee and show it!
There is going to be an exciting season in store for everyone this year and a lot has been going on the past couple weeks. This entry will be a longer then most in the future, so to quickly catch you up...
Preseason's two-a-days went well, more people then ever have passed the Panther Fitness Test, which has allowed us to get straight to technical business and are hard work was shown early. We beat Toledo 3-0 in exhibition and presented an all around organized and balance team. We followed that up with our final exhibition against the Alumni which we also won.
From there we continued preparing for our season opener against a huge instate rival, UW-Madison.
The past two years we have beaten UW 1-0, and this year would be no different, except for the 3-0 score we ended with. The almost record-breaking crowd of 718 was witness to this to strong all-round performance. Although we did not score in the first half, our goal chances greatly out numbered their one chance. Hagen had a breakaway as well as shot from inside the 18 box, Kreuser and Talbert also hit dangerous shots, we didn't put any away in the first half, but if I were their backline I wouldn't want to leave the locker room after halftime.
We continued to attack in the second half, with (goalkeeper Erin) Kane rarely seeing the ball. It finally came after about a 12-pass possession, I played the ball into Kreuser, who put me in behind the defense, completing a give-and-go between us. Hagen, meanwhile, was covering ground and getting into the box behind their defense. I served an early ball in, and Hagen finished with her head.
1-0 Milwaukee
The next two goals came from corners, Sperl from the left corner to Hagen who volleyed it in for her second goal -- 2-0 and the icing on the cake. I hit a corner from the right, near post and junior Louise Vraney finished.
Overall our defense was solid, Madison got one good shot off, but Kane came up with the save. On 1vs1 we were solid, and as a whole we were solid, them never really getting in behind. Our midfield connected passes and played dangerous balls to our forwards, and our forwards obviously dangerous, scoring three goals.
We decisively beat Madison and left no second guessing. The only time they were close to our goal was on corners, which they had a lot of, but we easily defended them well.
Being from Madison I am a Badger fan, and it is Madison... but this is Milwaukee and three years in a row we have won and continue to grow as a team. This was the first step for winning the state, with Marquette and Green Bay left. Until then, Ohio State on Wednesday. Hope to see you there.
There is going to be an exciting season in store for everyone this year and a lot has been going on the past couple weeks. This entry will be a longer then most in the future, so to quickly catch you up...
Preseason's two-a-days went well, more people then ever have passed the Panther Fitness Test, which has allowed us to get straight to technical business and are hard work was shown early. We beat Toledo 3-0 in exhibition and presented an all around organized and balance team. We followed that up with our final exhibition against the Alumni which we also won.
From there we continued preparing for our season opener against a huge instate rival, UW-Madison.
The past two years we have beaten UW 1-0, and this year would be no different, except for the 3-0 score we ended with. The almost record-breaking crowd of 718 was witness to this to strong all-round performance. Although we did not score in the first half, our goal chances greatly out numbered their one chance. Hagen had a breakaway as well as shot from inside the 18 box, Kreuser and Talbert also hit dangerous shots, we didn't put any away in the first half, but if I were their backline I wouldn't want to leave the locker room after halftime.
We continued to attack in the second half, with (goalkeeper Erin) Kane rarely seeing the ball. It finally came after about a 12-pass possession, I played the ball into Kreuser, who put me in behind the defense, completing a give-and-go between us. Hagen, meanwhile, was covering ground and getting into the box behind their defense. I served an early ball in, and Hagen finished with her head.
1-0 Milwaukee
The next two goals came from corners, Sperl from the left corner to Hagen who volleyed it in for her second goal -- 2-0 and the icing on the cake. I hit a corner from the right, near post and junior Louise Vraney finished.
Overall our defense was solid, Madison got one good shot off, but Kane came up with the save. On 1vs1 we were solid, and as a whole we were solid, them never really getting in behind. Our midfield connected passes and played dangerous balls to our forwards, and our forwards obviously dangerous, scoring three goals.
We decisively beat Madison and left no second guessing. The only time they were close to our goal was on corners, which they had a lot of, but we easily defended them well.
Being from Madison I am a Badger fan, and it is Madison... but this is Milwaukee and three years in a row we have won and continue to grow as a team. This was the first step for winning the state, with Marquette and Green Bay left. Until then, Ohio State on Wednesday. Hope to see you there.
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