Mullen vs. CA

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Colorado Academy

Location: MSC (3601 S Lowell Blvd.)

Time: 4:30pm (Team meeting: 2:45 - Team Picture: 3:40 - Warm up: 3:50)

Preface: CA has a long history of playing good soccer and fighting for final four spots as well as state championships. They draw talented players, and they are confident in their identity. With that said, they do not have as much depth this year, and they are also returning from Spring Break. We need to capitalize on this fact, press them hard, transition quickly, and demand a fast paced athletic game from them.

CA strengths:

CA's primary strengths reside in their individual talent. They have a couple of girls who are relatively dynamic and who can really play. The players of interest are as follows:

Number 4: She plays the 10, and she is crafty. She will move into the half spaces between the midfield and the defense. She is fast, and fit, and she will pull the trigger from anywhere. We have to treat her a little like an Ella Moody and just harass her through the middle of the park. We also need to make sure she can't get the ball in open space in the gaps and move forward with it. Defensive midfielders need to be constantly aware of her movement.

Number 8: She plays the nine, and she is really quite talented. She poached at least two goals in their game vs. Lakewood, and she is masterful in front of goal. She also plays basketball, and she moves like it. She really likes to drop into the space in front of the defense, box out, and hold the ball up. She can then distribute to 4 in the gap and exploit space to shoot or attack. Additionally, she is active in front of goal and does well to pick up the trash from mistakes and poor clearances.

The biggest thing is that one CB will need to step with her into the gap, or pass her off to a 6. That is the main space they want to exploit, and we need to be attentive to that. Furthermore, we need to cover her in the box and make sure to be clinical with clearances and saves.

Lastly, CA has a very talented CDM that is impressive on the dribble going forward. We need to be clinical in our open field tackles, and our 10 has to be aware that when she comes out of the six, our attacking midfielders need to pick her up and help in the pressure.

In addition to their talented cast, CA is also a technical, possession based team. They can move the ball well, and they often make the smart pass, and the right pass. However, with that said, when Columbine shifted their formation, CA struggled to break them down. If we defend well, recover underneath, CA will pass the ball right to us.

Lastly, as both a strength and a weakness, CA is relatively conservative out of the back. This does make them harder to break down, but it also allows us to build momentum in the back and press the s*** out of their defenders. They will not be prepared for our speed and pressure, we need to take advantage of this and press the hard right from the start.

Also!!! From the Lakewood game, this CA team seems very opportunistic. They capitalized on mistakes in front of goal. Therefore, no mistakes=no goals.

CA Weaknesses:

CA is a strong team, but I do think there are some areas we can exploit.

1. They rely very heavily on their talent (Like Windsor) and if we can contain their strong players, they will struggle to find opportunities.

2. It seems that CA struggles to be dynamic. Once Columbine took away that gap on top of the D, it totally altered the game, and CA ran out of ideas. If we are strong in our recovery, and we get underneath the ball, CA is really going to struggle to break us down. 

3. CA is coming off of a long break with only one session under their belt. I think that we have to bring the game to them quickly before they can really get a flow and feel for the game. This also means that we need to capitalize on our opportunities early, and finish our chances. 

Our involvement of the outside backs in the attack is pivotal here. This will keep their wings pinned back, and demand a lot of fitness if they are going to try to get forward.

4. Lastly, their goal keeper is talented, but she splashes the ball. We need to crash every shot from outside. 

Mullen Keys to Success:

1. Take the space

2. Play to the weakside

3. Finish our set pieces

4. No mistakes in the back.

The number one thing we need to do tonight is be organized in our press and in our block. Everyone gets under the ball. If we condense the area, execute our marks, and close down shots, they are really going to struggle down here. DO NOT DIVE IN, CONTAIN THE GAME.

When we stay organized and recover, and then transition quickly into attack, we will give this CA team a world of problems.

Secondly, we can't make mistakes in the back. Let's play conservative soccer, when in doubt, boot it out. CA is not going to find a way to score on us unless we open the door.

Lastly, we need to use our set pieces well. Free kicks and corners will be essential.

Set Pieces:

Defending corners: 

Remember that when we are defending corners, we are in a man/zone hybrid. The zone marks are at the posts, and floating near the back of the six. Every other player should be marking an opponent. If there is no second taker, that player needs to drop back and pick up a mark, as does our nine if we are outnumbered. Purple = zone, Navy = man mark

Corners -

REMEMBER: When you are down in the attacking corner and trapped, play the ball off your opponent. We should be looking for moments to get throws and corners in the attacking third.

REMEMBER: We don't want to rush our corner kicks or set pieces. They are an invaluable part of our system and a great way to score goals. Huddle up before the corner to figure out who is going where and then execute your run!

Marcoux: This is an in swinging corner hit to the middle of the goal inside the second six (the space between the six yard box and the pk spot) runs should be made to the near and far post and the middle. Remember to send the ball back across the face of the goal at the far post.

2: This is an overlapping corner. The first player plays the ball short and then overlaps the second player who then lays it off. The initial player should then hit a curving ball to the far post (on goal) We need to crash the far post.

2 - option: If the defender over commits, the second player should beat them on the dribble down the line.

Bumble Bee: Create a hive around the goalie. The taker should hit an inswing ball in on goal. One player should break to the near post, and another should roll off to the back post. 

Blue: Two players bounce off the posts, the server plays the ball deep to the back post, and that player heads the ball back across the goal.

7: Line up like we are taking 2. Outside backs stay deep. Play the ball to the outside back, she plays it back to the second player, and that player swings it into the back post. When the initial ball plays, the weakside OB is sprinting to the back post to finish the shot. 

GATITO (Little kitties): On this corner, the server should send in a violent and volitile inswinging ball. We will then pump fake runs into the box, allow the ball to be served, and then crash the area where the ball is headed. On this corner, you are hunting down poor clearances or misplayed balls that land in the box. 

Free Kicks -

Name + Number

ex. Kendall 1 (would be Kendall hitting a right footed shot to the near post)

1 = Right

2 = Left

No mistakes in the back. No goals against. Work hard for each other.

Good luck.