MNJYSA game #4 (re-scheduled from 10/7)
The Mustangs were in 4th place prior to the game, but since they had only conceded 3 goals in their first 4 games, and the Wildcats have averaged only 2 1/4 goals scored per game, so we knew that it might be a close affair. In the pre-game the Wildcats were reminded of what was emphasized at training during the week.. agressively going to and going through the ball, crisp passing and communication.
As we tend to do, we started the game a little stiff, and through some errant passes we allowed the Mustangs to advance the ball a couple of times. In the 4th minute, however, the ball was sent up the left wing, where Siobhan knocked it into Lin in the middle, who in turn fed a square ball to Jules, who touched the ball once and fired a left foot shot, from the 18 yd line, high to the far post, beating the keeper to put the Wildcats up 1-0.
All the Wildcats were applying what they had demonstrated so well at practice, and were really fighting hard for every ball. The referee on the day, however (in the opinion of the referee assistant coach), overly-penalized the Wildcats for their efforts. It was pointed out to the Wildcats as the half that every referee is different and call games differently, but that every call that was made was because a Wildcat was challenging hard for the ball, and that is what we as for. Also, Bre had to leave the game due to illness, so we dedicated the rest of the game to her.
The second half continued in much the same way the first half was played.. the Wildcats had the majority of the posession, but our advances were absorbed by a sound Mustang defense that played very calmly under pressure, and occasionally managed to send the ball to their forwards up the middle. On one such clearance in the 27th minute, the Wildcats defense sent the ball up the left wing, and it was dropped to Bri about 5 yards outside the left-most edge of the penalty box. Bri put the ball on her right foot and launched a strong cross to the far post, just outside the 6 yard box, where it was met by the Mustang's left full-back who volleyed the ball. Unfortunately for her, she caught the ball on the side of her foot and instead of clearing high, the ball shot past her keeper into her own net to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
The game concluded at 2-0 and the win put the Wildcats in sole posession of first place in the flight.