This weekend we were on the road again to open conference play at Youngstown on Friday and Cleveland State on Sunday. We arrived in Cleveland Thursday evening after another long bus ride and went for dinner at the House of Blues. Friday morning we ate breakfast and then had a team meeting. We played a trivia game to see how well we knew each other with questions about us players and, of course, Mike threw in some tactical soccer questions. Led by Laurel and her flawless tactical knowledge, Team Panthers came from behind to beat Team Milwaukee by a score of 15-14.5.
After lunch and some studying/relaxing we left Cleveland for the two hour bus ride to Youngstown for the game against Youngstown State. The game was a little bit slower than what we’ve become used to against other opponents. Despite sometimes lacking the crispness and possession we’re capable of, we were able to take control of the game. Our first goal came in the 38th minute when Apple was taken down in the box and converted the penalty kick. We outshot Youngstown by a considerable amount and Apple scored again in the 59th minute. Roadie served a great ball into the box and Apple headed it over the keeper and just under the crossbar. The score would remain 2-0, starting off league play with a win.
Saturday we headed over to the Cleveland state campus for a training session in the morning. Afterwards we had the day to catch up on homework and studying we were missing while on the trip and to rest. That evening we went to Hoolihan’s for dinner and then got some sleep for our game against Cleveland State the next day.
We came out against Cleveland State and really took control of the game. We did a good job of keeping possession in the midfield. When we did lose it we put them under quick hard pressure and forced a lot of turnovers. We scored first in the 13th minute when Kelly played a ball through to Apple who finished it off. Then, just before half, Stern scored to make it 2-0. Cleveland cleared a cross into their box but it came free to Stern who hit a nice shot to beat the Cleveland State keeper. Near the end of the second half we let up on our pressure a little bit and allowed Cleveland State to push forward a little more. We still kept them out though and managed to get another goal. Apple hit a shot off the far post and Meghan followed it in and finished. The game ended 3-0, taking us to 2-0 in conference play. Gabby made her collegiate debut against Cleveland State and made the only save of the game.
Sep 27, 2010
Sep 21, 2010
Kansas and Missouri and long bus rides...
This weekend we headed to Kansas and Missouri for our first big road trip since school started. Things have definitely gotten busier since the beginning of classes. It’s been getting harder and harder to find quality time for napping. Our days are filled with early morning training, classes during the day, and homework afterwards. Traveling always adds a little bit more stress too. Not only do we have homework over the weekend, we have to catch up on the lectures and discussions we miss on the Thursday and Friday that we’re gone. Luckily the 10-hour bus ride to Kansas gave us plenty of time to catch up on some schoolwork and some napping. Of course, there was also a pretty intense game of Catch Phrase going on up at the front of the bus and some pretty lame scary stories being told at the back.
This was a big weekend for us as it was our last chance to prove ourselves against two big out-of-conference teams before our conference schedule begins. When we finally arrived in Kansas on Thursday night we were happy to be off the bus and into our beds in the hotel. Friday morning we went to walk the game field and then relaxed and got ourselves ready for the game against Kansas that night.
We didn’t come out as strong as we would have liked in the first half. We managed to generate a few chances but Kansas created some dangerous chances of their own. The second half was an entirely different story. Though Kansas still generated some dangerous opportunities, we managed to keep them out and controlled a majority of the play. We created a ton of chances but just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net so regular time ended in a 0-0 deadlock. Overtime didn’t last long with Apple scoring six minutes in. I played a through ball to her behind the Kansas defence and she absolutely blasted a shot into the top of the goal. 1-0 Milwaukee!
On Saturday we were back on the bus, travelling to Missouri. We had a training session and then headed to the hotel to relax, play cards, and get some extra studying in. Saturday it started raining and continued up until, and during, the beginning of the game. This made for some interesting field conditions. It was a bit more of a swamp than a soccer field! The field definitely affected the beginning of the game. The ball frequently stopped dead in puddles and it made connecting passes a bit of an issue. As the game went on, though, the field started to dry up and we started to get used to the circumstances.
Missouri scored first but three minutes later Kenzie tied it back up when she finished a bouncing ball off of a corner kick. When we came back out for the second half the field had dried up significantly from the beginning of the game and the quality of play improved. We took the lead in the 49th minute when Kenzie played a great ball over Missouri’s back line and Apple beat the Missouri goalie. Then we increased our lead in the 62nd minute. Sperl played another of her great free kicks to the back post and I slotted it in. It was a very physical game but, though Missouri did score a second goal, we held strong defensively at the end of the game to come away with our second win of the weekend.
Next week we’re back on the road for our first games in conference play. Youngstown on Friday and then Cleveland State on Sunday! Also, thanks to all the parents and alumni that have hosted us for meals and put together treat bags for our bus rides, so far this season. It’s something we definitely all look forward to. Thank you!
This was a big weekend for us as it was our last chance to prove ourselves against two big out-of-conference teams before our conference schedule begins. When we finally arrived in Kansas on Thursday night we were happy to be off the bus and into our beds in the hotel. Friday morning we went to walk the game field and then relaxed and got ourselves ready for the game against Kansas that night.
We didn’t come out as strong as we would have liked in the first half. We managed to generate a few chances but Kansas created some dangerous chances of their own. The second half was an entirely different story. Though Kansas still generated some dangerous opportunities, we managed to keep them out and controlled a majority of the play. We created a ton of chances but just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net so regular time ended in a 0-0 deadlock. Overtime didn’t last long with Apple scoring six minutes in. I played a through ball to her behind the Kansas defence and she absolutely blasted a shot into the top of the goal. 1-0 Milwaukee!
On Saturday we were back on the bus, travelling to Missouri. We had a training session and then headed to the hotel to relax, play cards, and get some extra studying in. Saturday it started raining and continued up until, and during, the beginning of the game. This made for some interesting field conditions. It was a bit more of a swamp than a soccer field! The field definitely affected the beginning of the game. The ball frequently stopped dead in puddles and it made connecting passes a bit of an issue. As the game went on, though, the field started to dry up and we started to get used to the circumstances.
Missouri scored first but three minutes later Kenzie tied it back up when she finished a bouncing ball off of a corner kick. When we came back out for the second half the field had dried up significantly from the beginning of the game and the quality of play improved. We took the lead in the 49th minute when Kenzie played a great ball over Missouri’s back line and Apple beat the Missouri goalie. Then we increased our lead in the 62nd minute. Sperl played another of her great free kicks to the back post and I slotted it in. It was a very physical game but, though Missouri did score a second goal, we held strong defensively at the end of the game to come away with our second win of the weekend.
Next week we’re back on the road for our first games in conference play. Youngstown on Friday and then Cleveland State on Sunday! Also, thanks to all the parents and alumni that have hosted us for meals and put together treat bags for our bus rides, so far this season. It’s something we definitely all look forward to. Thank you!
Sep 14, 2010
Rivalry Week
This week was a big week for us as we played two in-state rivals. First up was Marquette on Wednesday. We knew they would come out with a lot of energy and we would need to match it. The game against Marquette is always a physical, hard-fought game and this was definitely the case this year.
Marquette scored first off of a corner kick in the 21st minute. We answered in the second half when Sperl sent another great free kick into the box. Apple headed back across the box and I slipped it past the Marquette goalie. Our defense played really solid throughout the game and held off the Marquette offense. Regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw so we were headed to overtime. During the first overtime we were literally inches (or centimetres for us Canadians) from scoring to win the game. Kenzie sent a perfect ball over Marquette’s back line for Apple to run on to. Apple headed the ball over the goalie’s head. Unfortunately, the goalie was able to recover and tip the ball onto the crossbar, barely keeping it from crossing the line. The game ended in a tie, but not before the referee suffered an unfortunate hamstring injury causing him to miss most of the second overtime period, and a number of Marquette fouls.
Our second game of the week was against the University of Wisconsin in Madison on Wednesday. A few minutes into the game Apple injured her ankle and needed treatment. There is a substitution rule that if a player exits the game in the first half, they can’t re-enter until the second half. Because of this, we didn’t make a substitution for Apple but played a man down so that she would be able to finish the first half after she got her ankle dealt with. While we were playing a man down, Wisconsin was able to score off a corner kick in the 17th minute. For the rest of the game, we controlled a majority of the possession and dictated the play. However, our attacking was lacking something. We didn’t seem to have that team drive or individual initiative to score goals. The game ended in a disappointing 1-0 loss.
Next weekend we travel to Kansas and Missouri. We’ll try to come away with two wins before our conference play begins.
Marquette scored first off of a corner kick in the 21st minute. We answered in the second half when Sperl sent another great free kick into the box. Apple headed back across the box and I slipped it past the Marquette goalie. Our defense played really solid throughout the game and held off the Marquette offense. Regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw so we were headed to overtime. During the first overtime we were literally inches (or centimetres for us Canadians) from scoring to win the game. Kenzie sent a perfect ball over Marquette’s back line for Apple to run on to. Apple headed the ball over the goalie’s head. Unfortunately, the goalie was able to recover and tip the ball onto the crossbar, barely keeping it from crossing the line. The game ended in a tie, but not before the referee suffered an unfortunate hamstring injury causing him to miss most of the second overtime period, and a number of Marquette fouls.
Our second game of the week was against the University of Wisconsin in Madison on Wednesday. A few minutes into the game Apple injured her ankle and needed treatment. There is a substitution rule that if a player exits the game in the first half, they can’t re-enter until the second half. Because of this, we didn’t make a substitution for Apple but played a man down so that she would be able to finish the first half after she got her ankle dealt with. While we were playing a man down, Wisconsin was able to score off a corner kick in the 17th minute. For the rest of the game, we controlled a majority of the possession and dictated the play. However, our attacking was lacking something. We didn’t seem to have that team drive or individual initiative to score goals. The game ended in a disappointing 1-0 loss.
Next weekend we travel to Kansas and Missouri. We’ll try to come away with two wins before our conference play begins.
Sep 8, 2010
Michigan State and the start of school...
After school starting and a long week of training we were definitely ready for our game against Michigan State on Sunday. We were also more than ready to turn things back around after a tie and a loss last weekend. This attitude was clear from the beginning of the game as we came out strong and really took control of the game. In the eighth minute Helen played a great ball over the Michigan State defense to Apple, who beat a defender and then slid to slip the ball past the goalie. We continued controlling the game for the rest of the first half and scored two more goals. Kenzie headed one in off a corner kick from Helen and I slid one in after Apple flicked on a long ball from Sperl. Coming out of halftime we knew that Michigan State was going to come out really hard to try to break down the 3-0 lead we had taken. When we came out we looked too comfortable with our lead and played flat. Michigan State scored in the 47th minute and again in the 54th minute. The second goal finally woke us up a bit and we stepped it back up. We prevented any more goals against and created a few more chances of our own. We made the game a lot more exciting than it needed to be by letting Michigan State back into it but in the end we were able to hold them off and come away with a win. Next up are two instate rivals: Marquette on Wednesday and Madison on Sunday!
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