San Diego State today

Given that SDS lost to UW on Friday it seems like another opportunity to give playing time to full squad and to explore how some players do in less familiar positions. I hope we see Michelle O at holding mid again. Not only is it interesting to see how she does there, but it opens up a second slot at central defender for all of the players competing for that position in WCC play. My assumption is Olivier is certain to be one of them as long as Keelin is around, but that Kassi McCluskie and Korie Nicholson are main contenders with Kristen Kelly also in contention.

I love watching Elli play, but thought that the idea of starting with the three amigas (U20 stars) on the bench was a very good idea. Kendra's injury meant that Elli played much more of the game than I think that Garrett had intended. Michelle E and Keelin did not play until the second half.

It's a bit early, I think, to get comfortable with players in any position. I think Garrett is having fun seeing all the places he can put players. The last three games we've seen most of the possibilities, but there are a few left. Kreminski is apparently nursing an injury, but she might be better. We haven't seen McCluskie at Holding mid (or forward, for that matter).

I can see several other possibilities he hasn't tried yet. Maybe he should take fan suggestions for a couple games.

There's a low-tier pro club in England - Ebbsfleet - that is owned by the fans and they vote on key player decisions like transfers etc.

Geezer - don't know if they get to suggest who plays!

Haha honestly I think these games are truly a blessing for the whole squad, it lets them see who reacts well where and with whom surrounding them (even if it isn't their "natural" position). Not only will it be helpful to fill in the gaps once the tourney starts, but it lets Garrett know a little bit more about his personnel for years to come.

I think the versatility we are seeing from these players just goes to show how good the whole coaching staff does at recruiting and seeing the little things that might set players apart. (Even if the big recruiting rankings don't see them that way)

I think the other good thing about moving players around is that it keeps all the players excited and on edge to see what the staff will try next.

Oh definitely... Even if you might be apprehensive as a player being put in an unfamiliar position, seeing your coach's vote of confidence is definitely great for the psyche. Something that makes you want to train harder and get better... Not a bad things at all. Plus if you can prove yourself to be adept at different positions, it gives you more opportunities for PT

AMEN to that, Roch. (your 11:04 post)

The recruiting has become truly phenomenal. Might I add to "versatility" and "seeing the little things": Many of our recruits are taller and faster than before. We are seeing very athletic players; players that were genuine, big time track stars and basketball players, etc. in high school.

Recruiting is only part of the big pictice, I know. But a very BIG part, you better believe!

Well you have heard the expression you can't make a silk purse out of cow patties or something like that. But now we have Garrett recruiting silk purses and making a giant silk tapestry out of them.

Game time and there's no video working. I'm not a huge fan of the audio now that I've had the video experience. "Playing it forward" and "playing it wide" are phrases that have very different meanings at any given time, apparently.

Yeah, Me too Ninja. When I finally got the video working it was like...well it was like pixelation city. Trails and stutter I almost yanked the video card out of my box. Almost. Good to win though hearing about the goals is not as nice as watching them as they happen.

Well, like I was saying my video was really bad but I can tell you that Keelin spent most of the second half up top. Ellie was on her usual left side mid but she was constantly going forward all day long. She had the ball alot. Korie came out with an injury. I hope its not bad. Similar to what has been said before the defensive back line looks pretty much set. Charney will definately be a starter by the end of the year as she seems to be asserting herself more in shot attempts and connecting the midfield to the forwards.

My picture was bad (did I say that already) so it was hard to get a feel for Megan's intensity level.
I really came away with the feeling that SDSU was playing like a team who knew they were going to lose and wanted to make sure it wasn't an embarassment. They had zero offense until late in the second half when they knew we weren't going to blast them out of the water.

It is hard for me to gauge performance when a team plays that way.

Kelsey had almost nothing to do except take out the trash once in a while.
I don't think they even got off a shot in the whole first half. It was a strange game. Not a good prep for playing better teams who have nothing to fear. Flat out SDSU played scared.

Ellie actually started as the Left side defender with Michelle Enyeart in front of her. She was a defender when she scored, though it was from about 8 yards out. Sweeney played the other side. It may have looked like Ellie was the mid but that's because she was pushing up a LOT. She had a really nice track-back on a forward that was classic. she just made up about 10 yards in the space of 30, ran past the opponent and calmly turned the ball upfield. She did play some mid in the second half on both sides in front of both Sweeney and Nelson. the entire team pushed into the offensive end for large parts of the game. Their forwards weren't fast enough to counter on us, except for that one time, so the outcome wasn't ever in doubt. They did try to get what in Hockey is called "chippy" and the slide into Korie's legs that got her hurt was one of those instances. I hope it's not serious. It did look like a knee.


I figured Ellie would get some sort of tournament award this weekend, but I couldn't figure out if it would be the offensive or defensive award. There was actually kind of a logjam in the defensive award category. Several players could have won it. the trio of Kassie Korrie and Michelle looked really solid.


Kendra, Halley and Jessica didn't play at all, and now Korie got banged a bit. At least next week we only have one game, though it promises to be a good one.

One other comment on the game.

You guys were smirking, I could tell, when I brought up the canopy idea.

It doesn't sound so bad now, does it?

Anyone have any more news on Kendra, Halley and Jessica? I noticed they and Rachel walked on and off the field together dressed alike in game shorts and black shirts but Kendra with an orthopedic boot on her left leg up to the knee. I tried to find her dad to ask about it but didn't see him.

These last four games produced a much more accurate shot selection than the first three. Maybe that had something to do with the quality of the opposition but over 50% on goal for four games is pretty darn good any day.

The ladies lacked a bit of the intensity today though Rachel, Michelle E. and Elli put a lot of effort into everything they did. The heat may have had a hand in that. At times, it seemed like everyone looked for Michelle to get a score, but the defenses have not lost sight of her for very long. Her run today that ended with the assist to Foxhoven was classic Enyart, though.

My one concern in the games where Megan Sweeney has played has been her propensity to make passes longer than 10 yards to the other team rather than to a Pilot. I counted at least six today and she was very lightly pressured, if at all, each time. Is is my imagination or does she seem a bit slower than two years ago? It might just be that the terrific speed of the rest of the team makes her seem slower. After seeing Emma now, I'm not sure that the best combo on the wings once Elli leaves isn't Jessica and Emma. Tough as nails, very fast and accurate with the pass.

I can't wait for Friday to see just how the ladies look against better competition. By the way, it seems that the Nike has brought in better teams in the past. Just think of the level of play at Stanford all weekend. Wouldn't a line-up like that be amazing at Merlo?