BSC 0, DePauw 0, in Double Overtime. It was the best performance of the year for our team, especially since we were playing against the 20th Ranked Team in the Nation.
We had not been playing well over the course of the season, especially since the Washington University game over Labor Day week-end. Our previous two games last week-end, saw us tie one and lose the other. In both games we did not deserve to tie, nor lose the one we lost. We had played fairly well and certainly well enough against those two teams to come out with a win and a tie. But, it was not to be. We had a very good week of preparation for this game against DePauw and I felt we had a very good chance of getting a positive result. We told our team, it was our home field and that we had to "make" the game. That is, we had to dictate to our opponent how we were going to play and not let them dictate to us how we we would have to play. We did that and more. From the opening whistle, we controlled the pace and play of the game. We put them under pressure and did not allow them to get into a flow. Finally, we found a great "rhythm" to our game and because of that "rhythm" we got into an early flow and balance and finally played "our" game for 110 minutes. We played terrific possession soccer, with many combinations throughout the game. We just could not find the back of the net. Scoring, something that has never been a problem for any of our teams, suddenly has become a large elephant on our back. We are getting good looks at the goal, but for some reason, we just can't seem to finish it off. We seem to shoot with very little purpose when we should be passing and we are passing when we should be shooting. This is happening in the final fourth of the field. Again, just like last week-end, we do not think nor analyse the situation before it occurs, thus resulting in poor choices in that final fourth. Our midfield play, which had been missing for the bulk of our games thus far, finally appeared and was in great synch with one another. They completely controlled the entire game with their relentless play. Their first touch was quite good and accurate for a change and the results showed quite clearly throughout the game. Our philosophy of play, is when you win the midfield, you control the game. We controlled the entire game and never stopped fighting in our effort.
We played with great "Passion" because our commitment and sense of purpose was present for the entire 120 minutes. I can't say enough about our effort and dedication to getting our game back on track. It was a game to behold and one to be extremely proud of being a part of. Every player made the commitment to be successful throughout the game, thus making the team the true "superstar". I said earlier, that last week-end we did not get a fair result, based on our play, in either game. In this game, we definitely deserved a better result than a tie. But, win, lose or tie, this game was what playing soccer is all about. Our opponent always looked to win balls off our mistakes and counter attack. They did that, but we never allowed them to get into a dangerous scoring opportunity. They played with all 11 players in our attacking half of the field, but we still beat them with our combinations and movement off the ball. It just was not meant to be that a victory could have been secured on the scoreboard, But, measuring victories, this was a complete game, full of many victories over the course of the evening and while the scoreboard showed a 0:0 tie after 110 minutes of play, we clearly were the victors, by our total domination of possession!
Sunday, we play Centre College at 2:00 PM at BSC. Please come out and support us. It does make a difference!
In closing, I am so very proud of how our team responded with a sense of purpose and commitment. I truly believe we are back and will continue with our style of possession soccer, played with great passion!
Coach G from BSC
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