Game 5 vs. Cougar United @ Veterans Pk, Parsippany (L 0-2) Oct. 14, 2007

The unfortunate thing about Cougar United game, is that people will see the score and think that we got outplayed.   The fact is that we had the better of the play for most of the game, and the much better chances overall. But, it was still a game that could have gone either way because again, the Ravens were stymied in their efforts to put the ball in the back of the net.
 
The first half was rather sluggish and not very inspiring as well. Both teams played with an eerie silence on the field, and not surprisingly, the half ended 0-0. 
 
In the 45th minute, the United was awarded a corner kick. As we’ve seen lately, corners in their defensive zone have not been too kind to the Ravens. Would the trend continue ? The Ravens did a good job clearing the zone on the reset, but unfortunately, the ball rolled out about 40 yards to an oncoming Cougar defender. With a lot of time on her hands, the defender leaned back and put a high floater on the goal. It looked dangerous as soon as she kicked it! Keeper Cynthia Abinader retreated to the goal line, but the ball was guided by the soccer gods, and managed to tuck in just under the crossbar, and just over Abinader’s outstretched hands. 1-0 United, with 35 minutes to play.
 
However, the Ravens couldn’t do anything, even with a lot time on their side. The effort was there; there were some excellent chances; but no finish. And 2 minutes into stoppage time, with the Ravens pushing forward, United was able to convert on a scramble in front of the net, after you guessed it, another corner kick. 2—0 final Cougar United, and the Ravens need to regroup, find their offense, and try to eliminate defensive corners as much as possible.  

Game 4 vs. Cranford Blue Angels @ Cranford (T 0-0) (Sept. 30,  2007)

The Ravens made the trip down to Cranford on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for soccer, looking for their third consecutive shutout and victory.  Cranford was an unknown team to the girls, having not met any side from that town in over two seasons.  Cranford was winless in two games, but lost by only one goal to a strong Somerset team.  So, the challenge was a formidable one, and as always, the girls had to be ready to play the full 80. 

The Cranford field was maximum size, and very hard and bouncy.  The girls needed to make sure that they did everything possible to win 50/50 balls, and to utilize space effectively.  Additionally, on a large field, transitioning is key, because wide gaps start to emerge, especially when some fatigue sets in as the game goes on.  

The first half was a “ho-hum” 40 minutes.  Not a lot going on … just back and forth play, as both teams at times appeared to want to play a kick and run game.  The Cranford defense stood firm in their flat 3, while the Ravens also didn’t give the Blue Angels a good sniff at the net.  However, the Ravens had the better chances, but not the over all nod in play.  Poor marksmanship by the Ravens kept the game a 0-0 affair at half.  

The second half was much like the first.  But for about a two minute period, the Ravens defense fell asleep and was unorganized, and during this time Cranford got their best two chances of the day.  One shot went wide of the net, while the other was a point blank shot, and a rock steady save by keep Cynthia Abinader.  The Ravens got a bit lucky not be victimized during that sequence as they were caught taking a couple of plays off.  With 20 minutes to go, the girls realized (or at least the coaching staff did), that they needed to pick up the pace and get an edge to their game.  It seemed to work … but not to the point where we could provide a good finish. 

The Ravens shooting was way off mark, as we failed to call the Cranford keeper into action on many occasions. The shots were either wide of the net, or just never taken. The Ravens had an excellent chance on a direct restart from about 25 yards out during the half, but the strong footed attempt was about three feet over the crossbar.  The opportunities that were squandered looked like they might not hurt them when during the last thirty seconds of the game, the girls created one of their best opportunities of the game.  A felled defender in the box left the ball right at the foot of Raven, but the shot (or non-shot) never materialized and the game was called down right at that point. 

So we walked away with a point, but not a good point.  It certainly beats getting no points, but to a girl, the team knows that this was not one of their stronger performances.  The last 20 minutes was very well played on the Ravens part, but  the Cranford side looked like it was a team that was not going to beat itself today with any glaring mental mistakes.  Let’s just hope that all of the goals are being stored up for next week’s Pride Tournament!  The old adage still applies; "You still need to put the ball in the net to win!"

 

Game 3 vs. Millburn Herricanes @ Reynolds (W 2-0) (Sept. 23, 2007) 
 

The Millburn Herricanes made the trip up to Parsippany today to face the reinvigorated and inspired Ravens.  Fresh from their Saturday shutout of Berkeley Heights , the Ravens were looking for consistency to their game, and the same level of effort or greater for the full 80 minutes.  Millburn came into this tilt 1-0, having scored that victory (2-1) in week one vs. Cranford .  So, another game and another challenge, and the Ravens appeared ready to set the tempo. 

It didn’t take long.  As they did yesterday, the Ravens were dominating the first few minutes, and they were rewarded for their fine play. At almost the precisely same point in the first half as yesterday, the Ravens found the back of the net first.  In the 4th minute, the ball was hanging around deep in the Herricanes defensive third, with a number of players from both teams failing to get a clean touch on the ball.  When the ball came free, it found the talented right foot of center middie Katie Astrella.  Astrella, from about the top of the box, took one short touch to the right, and then sent a soft floater to the net that eluded the outstretched hands of the Herricanes keeper.  However, and again just like yesterday, the challenge was now to keep the same level of intensity and aggressiveness as play continued. 

The Ravens had a number of fine touches during the half, connected the dots well, and made some great and smart runs.  Additionally, the defense was outstanding, and only allowed Milllburn one dangerous opportunity on goal.  On that chance, a Millburn middie sent a well hit shot on goal from the right side that keeper Cynthia Abinader stretched high for, and got her fingers on it.  Fortunately, she got enough to send the ball against the cross bar and then it rolled out of harms way.  At half, the Ravens were up 1-0 and playing extremely well. 

The second half was again dominated by the Ravens, as they seemed to be focusing very strongly on playing the entire 80 with no letdowns.  Their play was rewarded again in the 66th minute.  After a direct restart from the left of the net, and after she gained possession after a Millburn middie took her on, stopper Jordan Valori sent another high arching kick towards the goal from about 25 yards out.  The Millburn goalie needed about 3 more inches in height to get this one, as the ball just snuck in under the cross bar.  2-0 Ravens, but they still needed to focus, because one mistake and it becomes a one goal game again. 

The Ravens did a good job at closing the game down, as the defense didn’t let up one dangerous chance the entire second half, and playing to the game situation – no need to hurry when you are two goals up deep into the second half!  Another shutout, and the second one in two days, while also putting a four-spot up on the board.  We can now say with some degree of confidence that “Ravens Soccer” has re-emerged after a long summer.  Just remember what you had for breakfast the last two days girls … and don’t even think of changing!  Next week, it’s off to Cranford .

Game 2 vs. Berkeley Heights Blue Hill United @ Reynolds (W 2-0) (Sept 22, 2007)

The Ravens took the field today against a familiar foe the last two seasons.  In four (4) previous games, the Ravens and Berkeley Heights Blue Hill United have one win and one loss each, and have played to two draws.  So, in what looked an even up game, was going to be a test for the Ravens, as they needed to play the full 80 minutes and come away with a strong result.  United did just that last weekend, posting a 3-1 victory in their first game of the season. 

Well, whatever the girls had for breakfast surely worked.  The Ravens were cautioned to be aggressive and alert, especially in the focus moments of the game, which we consider the start of the game; just before half and the start of the second half; as well as the last few minutes in a tight game. 

In only the fourth minute, the Ravens connected the dots up the right flank, and got a strong finish.  Center mid Katie Astrella, smartly placed a direct hit on the foot of striker Krystina Hay, who neatly placed the ball in the bottom corner of the net.  The Ravens were commanding play up to that point, and earned this well structured goal.  But just like some teams hang their heads after a goal against, as the Ravens have done in the past, they needed not to be complacent with an early goal.  They needed to keep the pressure on and play aggressive and smart soccer against this strong opponent – there was still 76 minutes to play! 

The balance of the first half was well played, especially by the Ravens.  Definitely with the edge in the run of the play, the Ravens were getting a complete effort from all 13 girls.  Everything seemed to be in sync – all of the girls were talking and helping each out; the defense was marking well and making strong clears; defenders made good decisions and the offense was finding space and checking off defenders to create opportunities.  And, goalie Cynthia Abinader was well positioned on the few opportunities that the Ravens gave up to United. 

Remember those “focus moments of the game!”  At the 45 second mark of the second half, the Ravens got another good finish.  Kristen Randolph beat a couple of defenders and made a good push up the right flank.  Eventually, she was able to get off a good low cross just inside the 18, where Astrella was able to one-time it into the bottom left of the United net.  A picture perfect goal, and just like we practiced! 

Again, the Ravens had the better of the play in the final 40 minutes, while only giving up one or two scoring opportunities to Berkeley .  But keeper Abinader was there every time, and the shutout was certainly the result of a team wide commitment to play the full 80, and to play with an “attitude!”  We’ll need to keep the same mindset as we head to Sunday with a short turnaround.  And hopefully the girls will have the same breakfast of champions.  Whatever it was … it worked!

Game 1 vs. Somerset Hills Firecrackers @ Basking Ridge (L 0-3)  (Sept. 16, 2007)

The first game of the Fall 07 season, and the Ravens found themselves on the road vs. a strong Somerset Hills opponent.  Knowing their opponent was 6-3-1 in Flight 2 in the spring, the Ravens expected a difficult match up, and that is what they got.  The Ravens came out fired up and played a solid first half, successfully stopping any Somerset Hills advances, and also having a few excellent chances themselves that they couldn’t finish. 

At halftime, the score was 0-0, and the Ravens were in a close one.  However, the 2nd half belonged to Somerset Hills.  They appeared to have more energy and the Ravens were caught off guard at some key moments.  In the 60th minute, a corner kick sailed in front of the Ravens’ goal untouched … that is until a Somerset Hills player punched it in.  Would the Ravens cone right back after an opponent’s goal, as they did in the spring?  Unfortunately, not today!  A few minutes later, the Ravens were deep in the SH’s half when the ball quickly was sent up field.  Our defenders were caught out of position, resulting in a breakaway that a Somerset striker placed into the left portion of the net.  The last goal game with about 5 minutes to play from the middle of the field, and from about 25 yards out.

Overall, a very well played first half that we can take away some nice positives.  The second half was not up to our abilities, and the girls know for next time, and for every game thereafter, that they need to be completely focused for the full 80 minutes or else each match in the flight will be a big challenge.  We’ll learn from this one and be back next week!  However, we’ve learned this lesson before, and now we just need to have it “stick!”