Today, we played Colorado Colllege in our 2nd conference game of the season. We ended up on the short side of the scoreboard. We lost 0:1. The game started at 11:00 AM and we started playing pretty well. Due to the altitude, we made many changes in the line-up throughout the game. We were trying to keep our starters rested. Everyone contributed today and everyone saw some minutes that made the trip. We certainly had the better of the possession during the 1st half, but the score would stay 0:0 at the half. We tried to adjust our game a little, due to the altitude and it was working quite well. However, our first touch was not very good and some of our passes were not being played to feet. Rather, the passes were going to space or our opponents. We managed to remain tied until the 70th minute of the game, when a cross was played across the 6 yard box to an open striker on the back post, who tapped it in for the only goal of the game. The game would end that way.
The teaching point of this game and how the goal was scored would have been an excellent opportunity, had it not been for the fact that we cover this every day during our training and all our seasons. The rule is simple, we do not react, but Think! We are taught to never leave our men as a marking back or as a midfielder in the defensive third of the field. The situation that allowed this goal to be scored, is something we are taught daily. Our opponent got around the corner near the end line and had 3 options. 1st he could shoot, but he had no angle or chance of scoring. His 2nd option would have been to play the ball back towards his own 18 yard box to an on rushing midfielder or his 3rd option and the one he chose, was to play the ball to the back side to the open striker who was left alone, because our marking back left his man to react to the open man. He did not think, but rather reacted. Had he thought, he would have seen our keeper had narrowed the midfielders chance of scoring so he should have not gone away from his man. Our sweeper could and probably should have gone to the midfielder, but regardless, if he did or did not, the most dangerous man was the man that was left alone on the back side who ultimately got the game winner. We must learn to always read the situation in the flow of the game and to Think, rather than React!
In summing up our effort, I must say once again, we did not deserve to lose the game, as we played well enough for that to have not happened. Our next game is this coming week-end against DePauw University on Friday evening at 8 pm and on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm against Centre College. Both games are at home, so please come out and support our team, as we try to get back to our winning tradition...
Coach G from the Denver Airport waiting on our 12:55 am flight home
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