MNJYSA game #3
This was Hillside's 3rd game of the season, but to the Wildcats it seemed like a repeat of last spring where we went to play Hillside on March 29th in our first game of the flight 2 season. Hillside came in standing in first place after beating last season's flight 1 winners Somerset Hills and fellow promotion team Franklin. The Wildcats have prepared well in pre-season, but have only been outside for one scrimmage and two practice sessions prior to this game, and the sloppy conditions of the pitch suggested that the game could be decided on who made the least mistakes in the mud.
We started by heading up the slight incline of the field, which meant the Hillside keeper was standing in a puddle of mud and water in her goalmouth. The game started slowly; the Wildcats were getting used to the pitch, and playing a little pensively, and Hillside was playing their direct game with strong service from their central defenders to their front line to try to transition play as quickly as possible. On the 8 minute mark, we won a corner from the right side, which Reb served right across the face of goal. There was a stramble by the goalie and sweeper to clear and the ball scooted to Amy who calmly slotted the ball home for the go ahead goal. Almost on the restart Rachel won the ball on the right side of our defensive line, and turned nicely to evade the onrushing middie, and fed the ball up to Mattie and the half, who advanced slightly and then led Jules up the wing. Jules touched towards the near post and unleashed a blast from about 12 yards that rocketed over the keeper's left shoulder into the roof of the net 2-0 WIldcats after 10 minutes. A lapse in concentration 5 minutes later saw the Wildcats unable to clear a ball from the box, which rolled to the Hillside center forward who blasted home a shot from close range 2-1.
The next 25 minutes was back and forth.. but with the WIldcats using better possession to work the ball up, and Hillside winning the ball and returning it to our defensive third to work up again. The Wildcats generated more offense during this period, but neither side really looked to be threatening the goal. At 38 minutes though, Hannah worked the ball to Chelsea (who was playing on the front line for a spell), who slotted the ball into Syd, who calmly shot low corner to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead and the psychological edge of scoring right near half time.
The Wildcats were reminded at halftime that the first goal scored in the second half was crucial, as it could be 4-1 or 3-2. Within 2 minutes of the whistle Paige had won the ball and dribbled from the far left side of the penalty area towards the near post and slotted home a perfect pass into the net low in the corner to put the Wildcats up 4-1. That blow took any wind that was left, out of the Hillside sails and the WIldcats were really hitting their stride. 11 minutes later Syd threw over Amy's head leading her into the box towards goal. Amy took a peek, saw the keeper advancing and lobbed the ball over her head into the far side netting to put us up 5-1. Then, 2 minutes after that Syd led Paige in the box and Paige calmly put in the Wildcats' 6th. Half an hour more of Wildcat pressure didn't result in any more scoring, but with 5 minutes left in the game, the ball was passed all around the midfield, front, back to middle and across again, until Syd advanced and shot from the 18 scoring the Wildcats' 7th of the day.
On the day, the Wildcats played very solid defense with Rachel, Andy, Chelsea, Bri, Bre and Lin all shutting down the direct play of the Storm. Lin and Bre weren't challenged too heavily between the posts, although Bre was forced into making one very good quick reflex save, and her goal kicks were powerful all day. The middies and forwrads worked well, created chances and at long last took a lot of chances at goal, and were rewarded. The scoreline also afforded us to try some players in new positions to see what our options are in future, tighter games. Overall, a darned good game for the Wildcats and a great start to the season....
GO WILDCATS !!!!