This weekend we lost 8-0 and 2-0 to a couple of teams that are in the top 5 in the region. On paper this looks bad and the 8-0 loss is bad but we bounced back in the second half and the next game.
Our starting keeper is out for the rest of the season so I went to my backup for game one. She was not ready to play and not to many field players were ready to play as we were down early 3-0. It's hard to say whether the team stopped playing because our goalkeeping was so bad or our goalkeeping was so bad because they had many early shots but either way, we got smoked early. We were not prepared to play and this is the first time this season where we had this happen. We finished the half down 7-0. It was embarrasing.
Half time I switched a field player into net who played some goal in HS and aside from an early shot that went in (she knows she should have had it, we all knew but had a good laugh) she played very well. As a team we improved 100 percent over the first half and managed to get some shots off while decreasing their scoring opportunities. In the end we still lost 8-0 but it was nice to see that such a bad first half did not carry over to the second half. My only concern is we are a second half team in every game and we could have played with this team much better if we were not so flat...
Our second game of the weekend went better. I benched my backup/starter in favor of the coverted field player and the decision turned out to be the correct one. We got scored on by a goal the keeper should have had but she misjudged, mostly due to not really playing in net for awhile. Their second goal was an off sides breakaway that was not called back. We were down 2-0 at half time again and again we played much stronger the second half. We created some scoring chances all game long but nothing sustained to say this was an even game. Our lack of scoring and injuries is starting to take its toll on the team. I lost a starting marking back for the rest of the season with a season ending injury. I don't think this will effect us defensively as we are solid on defense but this certainly hurts us attacking...
Overall the team has improved from day one and they continue to work hard each game and execute the game plan to their best abilities. We have many injuries and a lot of players are playing through some pain but no one has used their injuries as excuses. I admire how hard they work despite not winning and I admire how much they have improved overall from preseason. This is almost a season of what could have been but the team is eager to play tomorrow and try to score some goals. These girls really are something...
