Match Report: Mullen vs. Northfield (Girls Soccer)

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Northfield

Northfield High School (5500 Central Park Blvd, Denver, CO 80238)

JV@4:30

V@6:30

Varsity Team Meeting at 3:00

Varsity Arrival @5:30

Preface:

As we have known for the last couple of years, Northfield has an incredibly strong program. They are technical, well structured defensively, and they move the ball around well. For tonight, our organization will be elemental to our success, and we have to stay sharp in our movement and decision making. 

On Saturday, Northfield played Evergreen. The final score of the game was 2-1 and from the look of it, Evergreen played in a low block, hunkered down system. This got them through the first half equal (no goals had been scored). 

The block was effective for a couple reasons in the first half:

1. Well positioned Evergreen players overtook a number of line breaking pass attempts.

2. Evergreen was disciplined, they did not dive in against the dribble, and they directed the ball to the outside.

3. A couple of times they found their 9 and were able to regain some territory (though this could have been done a lot better).

The game finally opened up in the second half when Northfield scored on a corner. The OB made a delayed run from the backfield, she was played the ball and she released a shot from distance. It was deflected, mishandled, and went in the back of the net. 

Once the goal scored, it rendered Evergreens block a little irrelevant.

The second goal was similar, only it was scored from the run of play, and a girl took a shot from way out that roofed the keeper. 

Evergreen pulled one back, but they were never really in the game.

The block became ineffective for a couple of reasons:

1. It was too low. As Evergreen retreated toward their own goal it opened up the long shot, which played at the weaknesses of their keeper.

2. They weren't sharp on set pieces (remember, NF scored on us on a corner last year as well) 

3. The conceded possession too quickly after taking over the ball and this left them defending a lot! 

This matters to us for a couple of reasons: When we play in our mid block tonight, we have to be sharp and organized in our press. We have to pay close attention on set pieces. And we have to close down shots from everywhere on the field. The goal is to not give them a chance to breath.

Northfield Strengths:

While Northfield has a number of good players, their dynamic is different from CA because they are good collectively. They play well as a team. 

Therefore, there are a number of things we have to neutralize.

1. Their midfielders are good on the dribble and able to penetrate and break lines - we need to absorb the dribble and win 1v1 in the middle of the park. Pressure cover will be elemental with the 3 in the middle.

2. They are looking for the through ball into deep space - this is something the Evergreen actually handled really well by staying connected defensively. We can't slip out of shape, and we have to be clinical in our middle recovery system.

3. Their outside backs get elevated and involved in the game - Our wingers need to recover underneath, and they need to press the OBs to the side line to take away space.

4. They can shoot from outside - this means that our midfield needs to close down shots and our 9 needs to get underneath their six or CBs when they are in threatening situations, and she needs to back press.

This team has the ability to dismantle a squad; however, they can be contained if we do THREE     things really well.

BE PATIENT, DONT DIVE IN.    

CLOSE DOWN PLAYERS AND SHOTS FROM THE OUTSIDE

BE ATTENTIVE ON SET PLAYS (CORNERS ETC)

Northfield Weaknesses: 

This team doesn't have a lot of apparent weaknesses.

All I will say is that they struggled against Evergreen's defensive structure, and while Evergreen was underneath, they were by no means flawless. If we are well organized defensively, Northfield will struggle to find creative ways to break us down.

Additionally, they seem to be struggling for some depth in goal right now. We don't know who will play in goal for them tonight, but the goalie on Saturday seemed a little shaky, and the back line didn't seem to trust her.

Set pieces and pressure will be essential to our success.

Mullen Keys to success:

Obviously, the biggest thing tonight will be our organization and success. We have to be sharp in our movement and the way we hunt together.

Offensively, I think that there will be two additional keys to success.

One, we have to finish our set piece opportunities. We did well to create a fair amount of set pieces against CA, but in watching the film, until the last free kick, we really struggled to be dangerous at all. Our corners need to land in more threatening areas, swinging in at goal, and we just need to get hungrier to score. Set piece goals are more about passion and tenacity than anything else. 

Two, we have to do a better job of finding our 9 tonight. We worked on it yesterday, but we missed the opportunity to get out a lot against CA and it just left us doing an incredible amount of defending. We need to get our heads up and find feet in transition, and we need to be dynamic in the attack, both coming back to the ball sometimes, but also making runs in behind at other times.

See the highlights below: 

As you can see on the goal that we score, we hunt really well together. Our ten come out from underneath to press the CB and our 9 gets wide to pressure the outside back. This forces the low percentage big ball up the middle that gets mishandled by CA. Our 6 is then able to calmly drop the ball to our CB who plays a great ball to the corner to ignite the counter. Our other 9's movement into the middle is terrific and we get the goal. Our team work and organization make this goal a reality.

However, if you go on to the next two highlights, as our one nine is pressing the ball, our other 9 and 10s are not recovering underneath, but end up wide of the play. This leaves the OB unmarked and without a press, which results in our OB stepping toward her. When this happens, our strong 6 gets pulled out of position and instead of stepping, slides to the right. In turn, our strong side CB steps, leaving their best player open and going through. We don't recover to her and she scores as we are running her down. 

The second goal has a similar dynamic in that we don't use the time allotted to us to recover to the middle and it leave a girl open at the top of the box. If we don't build the Christmas Tree against northfield, and funnel the game wide, they are going to have a hay day in front of goal. 

Remember: sometimes you have to spring to a position (sprinting isn't only for when you are chasing the ball) the most important thing we do is continuously get ourselves back into shape.

You have to ask yourself the question, where am I if we lose the ball?

If we can do this tonight and learn from our mistakes at CA, we can contain this team.

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!

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.