Mullen vs. Mountain Range (Season opener)

Soccer Report: Mullen vs Mountain Range

Location: Varsity @North Stadium 4:00pm, JV @Mountain Range Turf (North side) 6:00pm

North Stadium: 12500 Delaware Dr, Westminster, CO 80234

Mountain Range High School: 12500 Huron St, Westminster, CO 80234

(The Stadium is on the East side of the school)

Notes: We are away so we are wearing white all the way down. Please make sure to eat before the game. Both teams will be playing on turf.

Preface:

These girls at Mountain Range (like us) have been playing high school soccer for a long time. They suffered a lot as sophomores, after the pandemic, in a hard northern league. But they have been playing varsity for a long time, against very tough teams, so the speed of the game and tenacity won't be a surprise to them. They will try to work together and stay organized. Their coach is very defensive in nature and we should expect to see them underneath and to have a lot of time on the ball. This should not stop us from still playing quickly.

Mountain Range Strengths:

1. Chemistry and hard work: As noted, the MR girls have been playing together for quite some time. They will understand the system, and they will work hard to keep us out of the back of the net. They are not afraid to defend, and what they might lack in technical skill they will make up for with grit. They are a hard working bunch that doesn't give up.

2. Counter attack: Today they will look to frustrate us offensively and spring on our defense. We should expect them to be patient and to fight to keep the score low. They will be looking for a quick counter or a goal on a set piece that with will be enough for them. We can't slow to the pace of the block, and we need to stay sharp defensively. No unnecessary give aways and no silly fouls in dangerous places on the field.

3. This isn't their first Rodeo: These girls play in one of the hardest leagues in Colorado - Broomfield, Fossil, Fairview... so they will not be surprised by our quality. And they won't back down even if we get up in the game. Expect them to be fierce, and come out with a mentality that we need to bring our best soccer the whole time. Tonight's result will have the ability to establish us amongst the elite as the campaign continues.

Mountain Range Weaknesses: 

Depth, speed, fitness, and goal keeping. These are the areas where this program has often struggled. Good MR soccer players get poached by the surrounding schools (Legacy/Broomfield) and it hurts their depth and quality. They will have a more novice goal keeper, so we need to take the game to her. Additionally, their quality will drop off after the first eleven, so we need to move the ball quickly and press them hard. If we can make this both a technical and athletic battle, MR will be at a disadvantage.

Lastly, they haven't had the same preseason opportunities that we have taken advantage of (indoor, etc.) They are still going to be getting their feet wet, so we need good soccer from the first whistle.

Side Note: Reffing up North is sketchy, and sometimes you can get a ref that is unpredictable with a huge ego. Keep your mouth shut around the ref.

IZZY AND THE ON FIELD GOALIE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH THE REF. EVERYONE ELSE CAN JUST NOD, SMILE, THANK THEM FOR THE WHISTLE AND GET BACK IN POSITION.

 Mullen Keys to Success:

More than anything, tonight I would like us to focus on trusting the momentum of the game and playing patient, simple soccer, that moves the ball quickly into dangerous places.

See below:

When we look at these two clips in contrast to one another, we can see the benefit of simply trusting the momentum of the game and moving the ball to the weak side.

In the one clip, Pricilla takes over the ball on the right flank, makes a short pass to Katie L, who allows the ball to come across her body and then moves it on to Kate in space (Importantly, Kate has dropped into the half space between the D and Mid, which then allows her to attack the defense. This is important) Kate is able to take the space and draw the defender before sending the ball on to Olivia who draws the corner. Priscilla scores on that corner (circle of life...)

However, in the other clip, we manage to take over the ball in the middle of the park, move it out of pressure with some one touch passing, but then we cut back against the grain of the game and back into traffic, looking off the simple pass. 

We need to trust the simple pass and simply move the game along. Too often we are moving back into traffic instead of using the easy outlet. Stop doing that.

Set Pieces:

Corners -

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. 

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!