Match Report: Mullen vs Smoky Hill (Girls Soccer 2024)

 Mullen vs Smoky

MSC (Mullen Soccer Complex: 3601 S Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80236)

Varsity @4, JV @5:30

Boots on: 3:15

Warm up: 3:20

Match Preface:

Smoky has been an interesting opponent for us over that last couple of seasons. Two springs ago we trounced them at home like 9-0 and then last year we went up early, they tied on a PK and we won off a last minute header from a corner kick. 

The two games were defined primarily by Smoky's tactics. Two years ago they left the game wide open, and we punished them for it. Last year, they sat in a low block and waited to counter, and we really struggled to win with the ball. 

I imagine that we will see the latter of those two tactics this year, and we will have to find a way through the block. And like last year, they do have some players who are dangerous on the counter, so we have to be prepared for that.

Smoky Strengths:

I think that Smoky's biggest strength is their attacking line. They start four girls (7,11,9, and 10) who are pretty dynamic and have the capacity to be quite dangerous. The girl who plays the 10 is technical and wants to shoot from outside. We know the girl who plays the nine from last year (I believe she wears the number 2) but she is good on the ball and fast. In addition, they have a couple of wingers with a fair amount of speed, especially on the left side of the attack.

I watched these girls really take it to Littleton earlier this season. They scored of crosses, shots, counters, and corners. They can strike you in a couple of different ways.

We are going to need to press hard into the wingers and not give them the chance to turn or attack. We also need to use our midfield to contain the amount that their 10 can do in the middle of the park. I do not want her to have enough space to even breath, let alone turn the ball. Lastly, our OBs really need to get forward, and we need to get them the ball!!! The wingers are not going to want to recover, and they don't have the fitness to get up and down, so they will have to stay low and contain our attack. The OBs as well as keeping the ball in possession will be elemental to our success today.

Additionally, they have a CB/6 who is big and aggressive. She is not bad on the ball, and she comes to the game. She is a little reminiscent of the big CM from PRA. She swept up a lot of the problems in the Littleton game. 

However, I think her weakness is her speed and fitness, so we need to just move the ball around her to exploit the gaps.

Smoky Weaknesses:

Overall, I do think this is a strong Smoky team with some talented players. With that said:

1. They lack depth. They don't have a big cast of dangerous players, so if we can move the ball around and force them low, we will drain their fitness levels and stifle their attack.

2. Their organization is okay. If we use our OBs and move the ball quickly (controlling the tempo of the game) they will struggle to contain us. 

3. Their goalie is questionable. She is not bad, but she spills a lot, so we are going to want to shoot, and track the ball. She also makes some weird decisions off her line, so if we can get on the end of through balls, we can definitely draw her out. Smoky did a lot of survival defending against us last year and others this year. We want to make them feel desperate.

Final point: Littleton had plenty of opportunities to be dangerous, but they squandered tons of chances in the final third. Smoky was much more clinical going the other way, and they finished their chances. We have to be patient in the final third today, but we have to capitalize on our opportunities - that will make or break the game for us.

Mullen Keys to success: 

As discussed, I want our main focus to remain on keeping the ball. Let's play in possession today and always.

With that said, I think we can also find success in a couple of others ways.

1. OBs need to be heavily involved in the attack. Put their wingers up field, take shots, cross the ball, be dangerous.

2. We need to capitalize on set pieces. Like we discussed yesterday, go to the ball, interfere with the play, be dangerous.

3. From film today: no plays off. We play every moment of the game. I do not want us to look back at film with any regrets tonight.

Lastly, please remember the keys to breaking down the block.

a. Shoot from outside the block - crash shots

b. Cross into the block from the flanks

c. Penetrate the block on the dribble and with passes. 

Do these things, and we will find some success today. Oh! and Rember the corners and set plays are the blocks worst nightmare. Find them. 

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!

REMEMBER: We need our corners to be more dangerous. Take risks, be brave, and really hook the ball in!

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.