Alas, we made our way back to home soil for what turned out to be our Home Opener of the 2010 campaign. As is the case every year, many discussions lead us into the season with regards to what our collective expectations are. Things had been coming to a head and many people, including myself had begun to grow weary of rhetoric. It was time to bring the "purple cow" NOW. The girls started off and looked very strong. Attacking players were proving to be dangerous in the final 1/3, midfielders found their rhythm and did a great job of connecting, and we looked organized and stingy in our back 1/3. UCSC took a difficult road on their way to San Antonio, and we were determined to make it even less pleasant. We imposed ourselves on the game...something we had really yet to due up to that point through the previous four matches. We created a large number of dangerous attacks but found ourselves to lack that final ball/finish. Lindsey slid Kelly through at the edge of the attacking third about a half-hour into the match and Kelly was able to outrun everyone to the ball and tuck it into the far side-netting from just inside the area.
It was a well deserved and well needed tally for Kelly and the team. The 1-0 lead would carry us into halftime, and while we were pleased with the standard of play, we knew we needed to separate ourselves from the opposition. For the second straight match, Jordan took it to heart and got on the score sheet early in the second half with a truly world-class free kick from about 25 yards out on the left side of the "D" that rattled into the top corner on the far post after Katy was fouled on a forward run.
That foul stopped Katy from completing what might well have turned into a goal of her own, but would not stop her completely as she found some space cutting across the back line of UCSC and smacking a ball right up under the bar to beat the keeper for the third time on the day.
The pressure continued to mount on UCSC and we continued to control most of the play. Tara would win a corner on McGinlay Corner and fellow first-year Meredith would serve in a great ball to Danika who got up high and crushed a header into the near post for her second goal in three games from the center back position.
The first-year class continued to provide value to the early stages of the season with two new classmates linking up for the fifth and final goal of the day in the 79th minute. Hannah found Valerie for her first goal of her collegiate career.
Katie and a back line committee remained strong conceding only a couple of decent chances but preserving the second clean sheet of the season...something we have grown accustomed to enjoying in the recent past but has evaded us more often than we are comfortable with. The match and result were critical for a great number of reasons, but namely for enabling us to see what standard we are capable of and to motivate us to uphold this standard moving forward. We fly out tomorrow morning for our first conference trip of the season to Little Rock and Memphis with the expectation of playing our best soccer to date. Both opponents made us work for every little thing 12 months ago and we expect to earn anything we are fortunate enough to take away from the weekend's games. Training has been focused. We have lots we intend to prove.
Special thanks to Michael and Lorie for arranging a fantastic meal and time for fellowship following the match. Also, thanks as always to Alain for the fantastic photos!
LK
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