Mullen vs Cherry Creek 2024 (Girls soccer)

 Mullen vs Cherry Creek

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

Varsity @4, JV@5:30

Varsity:

Early Release at 2:40

Boots on by 3:15

Warm up at 3:20

Preface: I do not think this game needs much introduction - CC feels like they have a blood debt to settle.

Expect them to come after us today! Be brave, stay organized, play our game. 

Cherry Creek Strengths:

CC has a number of talented players -

(3) Usually plays out on the right wing but definitely holds a more central position. She is their run on player who they are looking for with their through balls. She is big and fast, and crafty on the ball. She is going to be looking to make that inverted run on to balls through the gaps or over the top, so we need to absorb her with organized positioning. The CB swings and her OB recovers inside. That will allow us to shuffle her wide.

(10) This girl plays on the left wing. She is fast and looking to carry the ball down the line. She wants to bring it across the middle, and she has good distribution. OBs need to be touch tight and pressed to her on the strong side in order to push her back up field. We don't want to give her the space to run.

(7) Wicked left foot - that she will constantly try to get on - great shot and great distribution. She has to be closed down everywhere. Don't dive in, contain, and back press her with our 9 or 10 when the opportunity arises. 

(11) This is the girl that has been playing the deep six. We can't afford her a ton of space, our 9 needs to get underneath to drive her back or wide. We can't sit on the back line and just let her wreak havoc.

(24?) This is their super speedy and aggressive OB. She wants to get elevated, so we need to track her to the goal line if necessary, and press her quick in the backfield with our winger so she doesn't have the chance to get out.

Creek has been relatively dangerous all around this year. As we talked about in film yesterday, they are constantly looking for those through balls into the space behind the back line. They are very direct. And they are talented when it comes to hitting the gaps. With that said, all their midfielders will fire from outside, and their wingbacks, when involved in the attack are strong. The key is going to be absorbing them with our organized mid block. We have to shuffle the ball to the OBs and ignite the press immediately. They are still going to struggle under our pressure. If we can hold our shape in the middle of the park and our three midfielders can press and recover, we are going to be able to slow them down and cause a lot of problems. 

Creek Weaknesses:

Like NF, Creek kind of lives and dies by the through ball. If they can get on the end of it, they'll have a hay day, but if we can cut it out, they are going to struggle for ideas. Direct play to goal can be counteracted with organization and good positioning. Like we talked about in film, we can't chase the game, we have to hold our shape. This means that we don't do other people's jobs, we tell them to do their job. The other night, with the exception of the mistake at the top of the box, Arapahoe did well to cut out the through ball and win balls over the top. They were conservative in the backfield and played out quickly. All of this made it difficult for CC to find their flow.

In addition, Creek's backline has appeared shaky at moments. Both Chatfield and AHS were able to create dangerous opportunities with balls over the top that isolated members of CC's back line. This is where they struggled. They kicked balls out for corners and throw ins, and their opponents created a number of problems 1v1. If we can look to exploit the same places with balls over the top and to the corners, we can put ourselves territorially in more dangerous positions. Furthermore, our OBs need to get involved in the attack. Per usual, Creek's wingers are not going to want to track back.

Lastly, we know that Creek has struggled with goalies. They seem to be a little back and forth this year, but the one that played on Tuesday struggles high and with set pieces. These are areas where we have to look to be very dangerous. That means good execution of corners and freekicks. We want to challenge her in the box.

Mullen Keys to success:

1. We want to stay organized, contain Creek, and not dive in. Letting them through into the gaps is where they are most dangerous.

2. We need to hold our shape and not get caught chasing. Let them move the ball into our block, then ignite the press. Remember, we have to hunt together.

3. Execute our set pieces.

4. Crash the goal!!!

5. We have to make the right decisions: foul when we should, not when we shouldn't. Press into their wingers and OBs. Get goal side for position. We just have to put a whole game together.

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.