Match Report: Mullen Girls vs Mountain Range

 Match Details:

Mullen vs. Mountain Range - Five Star Stadium (9351 Washington St, Thornton, CO 80229)

JV early release at 2:30

Arrival time: 4pm 

Game time: 5pm

Varsity Team Meeting at 3:05 in 303

Arrival time: 6pm

Game time: 7pm (boots on by 6:15)

Preface:

We don't currently have a ton of details about MR. Their coach is a master of the dark arts, so we don't entirely know what they will be up to. They currently have a small roster without their starting GK or returning leading scorer on it. I am certain there is more to the story than MaxPreps is telling us right now.

This is what you can expect. A very defensive team that is happy to waste time and will want to use the elements to their advantage. They are going to seek any way to equalize the playing field. We have to keep our cool, stay patient with the ball and in the attack, hunt down opportunities and strike when the timing is right. 

This will be a game that challenges your psychological strength as much as your physical strength.

MR Strengths:

Ultimately, MR is a year older and stronger than they were last year. They did not graduate a ton of impact players, and we have to expect them to be better than they were. 

1. They are willing to defend. This is a team that plays in one of the hardest leagues in Colorado. They are used to being under the ball, and they will happily suffer for entire games at a time. We can expect them to clog lanes, block shots, and recover underneath. They will not try to attack as much as they will try to prevent ours. They know that if they can keep the game close and find a set piece opportunity or a counter attack, they can really disrupt the flow of the game. We need to be sharp all the way through, and we need to keep our press organized to not allow them to play big out of the back. They are going to try and suck the intensity out of the game, we have to continue to ignite it in our attack (especially with the outside backs).

2. They will definitely have a couple of dangerous attackers. They have been regrowing as a program the last couple of years, and they will definitely have a girl or two capable of putting the ball in the back of the net. Their leading goal scorer last year scored 8 goals, and if she is there tonight, she is going to be faster and stronger than she was. They will try to place her up top to disrupt our back line and create opportunities.

3. MR has two really strong female goal keepers. Right now their number two is listed on the roster; however, they fought for position all of last year. She terrific 1v1, very brave, and hard to beat. We probably have an advantage on her from range, but our best chance is to create positive and high percentage goal scoring opportunities: balls coming across the face of the goal, shots moving into the inside lanes, etc.

Do not underestimate this team!

MR Weaknesses:

MRs biggest weakness is and always has been their depth. Through the first 8, they usually have a fair amount of talent, but then they experience a drop off after that. 

We need to look to exploit mismatches on the field. The best way to do this is by moving the ball quickly and looking to swing to the weak side often. This will leave our wingers and our OBs isolated in 1v1s and that is really advantageous to us.

The quicker we move the ball and the faster we support one another in attacking positions, the more dangerous we are going to be.

They are going to struggle to stay organized if we keep the ball.

Mullen Keys to Success:

Ladies, I think the big things here are going to be how we implement the stuff from film yesterday.

1. Our attack needs to stay close, hunt together, and anticipate one another's movement.

2. Our defense needs to move up with the game.

3. Our outside backs need to get involved in the attack!!!!!!!

4. We need to communicate with one another positively and encourage one another to do the right things on the field.

Lastly, I think that set pieces will definitely play a factor in this game. We need to go hard and be clinical on our set pieces.

Intensity tonight will be key -

Watch these highlights:

Canada vs. United States: Extended Highlights | CONCACAF W Gold Cup I CBS Sports Attacking Third (youtube.com)

Key take aways: Stay with the play - you never know will happen.

HUNT TOGETHER!

Set Pieces:

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.

Rio: This is 2, but quickly and deceptively. One person goes to the corner while the other goes to get the ball. Make a show of sending the ball to the kicker like you aren't involved in the play. Then step onto the field and execute the corner.

Good luck!

MRD