Re: Pilots Defeat OSU 1-0 (with last minute goal)

by purple haze on Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:11 pm

The team that looked tired to me was OSU -- which didn't possess the ball except for a few seconds at a time. OSU is no slouch with its national ranking, and yet the Pilots choked OSU off with stifling defense and a patient, persistent attack. The first half was a thing of beauty, as others have noted. Although the 2nd half wasn't as dominant for the Pilots, it was still a start-to-finish clinic on not giving the visitors a chance.

by Harry Redknapp on Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:43 pm

I did think that some of the Pilots looked a little off the pace by the end of the Sunday game. Some of them had palyed all of both games. No surprise if they are not ready for that much yet.

For example, Jess and Elli cover a lot of ground and not a surprise if they are running on fumes by end of game 2 at this stage of the season.

by PurpleGeezer on Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:45 pm

They are also in the middle of their lifting training, which can slow them down a bit. it won't ease up until conference. The goal is the tournament, remember?

by fwill on Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:08 am

Conditioning has always been an issue for the Pilots in the post-season. I'm hoping that by playing tough teams early in the year they will be ready for the demands of overtime during the tourney.

by **A_Fan** on Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:42 am

Hmmm. I've always thought of the Pilots as one of the fittest teams playing today, especially at tournament time. They are pretty will known for their conditioning program. Last season was unusual because several starters were feeling the effects of colds and the flu at tournament time.

by UPSoccerFanatic on Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:27 pm

Uncle John wrote:BigBro,

I did notice the team got a little pooped at the end of the game.

I wonder if it was because of the tremendous effort they expended in the first half.

It seemed the whole team was working triple time trying to figure out a way to crack the defensive puzzle OS had devised.

From where I sat, it looked like OS had at least 18 players jammed in their half of the field !

(Not to mention their amazing goalie making save after save.)

It must have been frustrating for our girls.

I agree that there was a period of lapse about 30 minutes into the second half. It looks like the Pilots just didn't have the oomph to keep marking tightly in the mid-field and were content to give OSU some room, for the first time all day. Right about the time Sophie appeared to move up to forward, it stopped and the Pilots were re-energized. I'm betting it was more mental fatigue, as you've suggested, than conditioning.

I also confess that it caused me some concern, because it was part of what I'd seen the last few years. I am very confident that this was addressed after the game in clear terms. I know how hard it is to maintain full concentration throughout an athletic event, but in soccer it's a must. I bet the players are very clear on that this week.

GO PILOTS

by fan from afar on Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:00 am

Makes sense - and, mental fatigue probably becomes more pronounced in a frustrating game when you are doing everything except score. I wonder if that maybe speaks to a benefit of getting a player out of the game for even 5-10 minutes. I would imagine she would go back in pretty energized.

by Harry Redknapp on Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:53 am

The UP way is that you get match fit by playing, and you learn the ability to concentrate and play through the doldrums. Sunday Garrett left some players out there, made the switch of Sophie up front and Hallie in midfield, and let it play out.