Mullen vs Cherry Creek Spring 2023

Match Report:  Mullen vs Cherry Creek

Varsity @8 - Arrive by 7

Stutler Bowl:

9300 E Union Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

JV @4:30 - Arrive by 3:30

Village Greens  Fields:

9501 E Union Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Notes: Varsity, you have a late game, so you need to make sure you are eating throughout the day and staying hydrated. Eat a good (somewhat early dinner) and a mix between water and Gatorade. Watch some soccer today and come prepared to kick butt.

Creek Strengths:

Speed: First and foremost, Creek relies heavily on their speed in transition. They always have fast athletes who can cover ground quickly.

*In order to neutralize this strength, we need to prevent this from being a wide open, up and down, game. We need to execute and organized counter press, and we need to get underneath the ball. Additionally, we need to use our dead time well. When the ball is out for a goal kick, throw in, whatever, we need to make sure to use that time to get underneath and recover.

Shots from outside: Against Chatfield, this was their greatest strength. And against us last year, they hit quite a banger as well. Creek's midfielders do well to drop into the half space between the attack and the defense, and they look to score from range. We shouldn't be surprised to see a handful of shots from beyond 25 out. 

*In order to neutralize this strength, we have to close down player in the middle of the park. WE CAN DIVE IN!!! We just need to contain. We also need to step to block shots, and we need to direct the game to the outside. When you step to contain a player, do not invite her inside, but position your body to force/press her out to the line.

Lazy Forwards: I realize this is a bit of a misnomer... The Creek forwards are not lazy, they just do not get back underneath the ball. However, the way in which this ends up being a strength for them is that they become very dangerous in transition. They are constantly in a poaching position and ready to spring when Creek manages to overtake an attack or when they are capitalizing on mistakes in the backfield. This type of positioning banks on turnovers and fast transitions. However, it doesn't account for a well planned attack...

*In an interesting way, most important way to combat poaching forwards is with courage. We have to be brave in the way we play. Our outside backs need to be involved in the attack, and we need to play them. Our CBs need to take opportunities to carry the ball forward, and they have to make good decision with their distribution or shots. Our 6 needs to cover for our outside backs when they elevate, and we need to be clinical in our recovery to the middle. Chasing lazy forwards never pays off!  

Lastly, according to my Chatfield scout, the keeper is good, but we can beat her by exploiting the space in the corners and bringing the ball across the face of the goal. And with well executed shots from outside...

Creek Weaknesses:

As is usually the case with Creek, there aren't many. However, as discussed above, their 11 rarely tracks back, which will allow our OB to get involved in the attack. It will also give us the opportunity to run give and go passes in the corner. We should have numbers up going forward.

Additionally, this year they seem slightly less dynamic. Their main goals have come from shots outside or mistakes by defenses in the backfield. Those are two easy areas to combat. If we get underneath, take care of the ball, and close down shots, we can hopefully leave this Creek team without a lot of options.

Lastly, against Regis, they allowed the game to get pretty sloppy, and Regis was on the counter left and right. Again, if we get underneath the ball and strike them in transition, we can find ways to exploit their defense and disorganization.

Mullen Keys to Success:

Most simply, tonight we need to execute a well organized press and get underneath the ball.

1. We need to make sure that all players are pressed to their designated marks - this means outside backs need to press up and regain the ball high up the field. (We can't be in a situation where half the players are doing their job, while the other half stays dropped off - we will get killed in transition)

2. When we lose the ball, we need to fight to regain it immediately. This will effectively prevent the counter attack.

3. When we win the ball off the press, we need to take care of it. We watched a handful of moments in our film where we created turnovers with the press, but then just gave the ball right back to the opposition. Tonight against Creek, we want to take advantage of those moments where we've won the ball back, and we want to be smart with it.

4. Our CBs and 6s need to remain connected. Remember, if the 9 drifts into that half space in between, we want to have a CB that is within one step of her to close her down. We don't want a chasm between the defense and the defensive midfielders that allows Creek to take space and gain momentum. We want to stay connected.

(When we condense the game like this though, our keeper has to be super sharp to come off her line and collect anything big and through)

5. Finally, tonight is going to be defined by our willingness to recover underneath the ball. We can make things very difficult on this creek team if we are strong in our recovery tonight. We can't give anything away for free!!

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. 

Lollipop: Three players at the near post, 2 players at the back post (our 9 plays the kitty and hunts at the top) The three players roll off to the far post, the middle, and the near post, while the two players in the back run across the face of the goal. The server hits an inswinging corner.

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.