On the road again...

Trinity Soccer took to the road again, continuing to pound the Texas pavement...this time heading into Tyler and Richardson for what are always difficult results to earn.  Tyler on a Friday night early in the Fall proves to be a big match, and this one would fit the mold.

The match started with an emotional and energetic Tyler squad doing their best to impose themselves early and a Trinity side doing all they could to keep a hold on the game.  It's always so important not to allow an early goal, and even more so when you're on the road.  We conceded some shots, but non were overly dangerous, and most were from well outside the box.

after the first quarter of an hour, things would settle and we began to build and create.  We identified a few areas that we wanted to exploit, and played with a few personnel changes that we thought might enable that.  Sophomore, Stephanie Segovia, would come off the bench and need just a little more than three minutes to take hold of a deflected cross from Kelsey Falcone, wrong-foot her defender, and take the net off the frame with her finish to the far post past the virtually motionless goalkeeper.

That would be all that we would need on the night to secure three points.  Tyler were relentless in trying to get in behind our back line, but goalkeeper Katie Garrett did a great job all night of managing that space and cleaning up most of the direct services, though a couple proved to be less than comfortable with pacey attackers charging at her.

A much improved UT-Tyler side from just a year ago will make some waves this year, but we felt good about our result, knowing there were a number of positives to take away from the performance.

Trinity -v- UT-Tyler;  W 1-0

Following a good sleep and great breakfast, we loaded up to deliver Frank Pena to Love Field on our way to Maggie Olvera's home where her parents, Michael and Nancy, provided a team lunch and a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy the lovely afternoon in Dallas.  Then it was off to the hotel for some studying prior to dinner.  A team pool recovery would cap off the day as we ramped up our preparation to get another result against regionally-ranked UT-Dallas.

Going into the match, we emphasized being better than Friday night...working hard AND smart.  We succeeded in possessing the ball and building, but continued to be slightly out of rhythm with our final ball.  The tenth minute would display a fantastic bit of build-up between Shelby Hopkins and Kelsey Falcone down the left-hand side near midfield that shifted out to Katy Lipscomb on the right side by way of a great ball from Emily Jorgens.  Katy took her first touch toward the near post beating her opponent and drove a ball hard and low across to the goalkeeper's opposite hand forcing a rebound that was tidied up with a tap-in by Emily who worked hard to stay connected after her service.  Up 1-0 in ten minutes is a nice way to start any match, but 2-0 is better!!

We found that answer!!  Just before the half, super-sub Shelby Guenthardt, whose form has been progressing nicely since having to miss a chunk of time due to injury, snuck across the face of her defender to get on the end of Kim Polasek's 40-yard diagonal service from the left touchline just at the edge of the attacking third, to one-time the ball through the hands of the UTD goalkeeper.  After not having given up much, we took two opportunities well and felt good about where we were, but knew we had to complete the match with a solid second half.

The second half would see more of the same with the addition of a little more desperation from our opposition in transition, looking to get dangerous balls behind us, which our back line managed quite well.  Getting help from all available players on the day, including all three goalkeepers, was important for us.  We know December 1 is a long away, and we want badly to be in the mix at that point, which means EVREY SINGLE PERSON the represents our family has to pull their weight and stay engaged.

It wasn't until the 87th minute that we would add the third goal of the day, as the UTD goalkeeper made some great saves to keep the game within reach.  Shelby Hopkins found the back of the net from 25 yards on a free kick, tallying her first of the season.

Ending the four-game stretch away from home at 3-0-1 having conceded only 1 goal and having to make only five saves in almost 400 minutes speaks to our ability to control the flow of the game during that time.  We realize we are going to be broken down from time to time, but also realize the importance of our decision making on AND off the ball in an attempt to keep the ball with purpose when we have it and win it back effectively and efficiently when we don't.

Trinity -v- UT-Dallas; W 3-0

Friday night, September 14, will be our 2012 Home Opener as we take on Our Lady of the Lake University (NAIA) at 7 pm.