UDPride Discussion Forums    
     

Go Back   UDPride Discussion Forums > LATEST ARTICLES > UDPride Articles

UDPride Articles Published content from your UDPride staff

» Log in
User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!
» Advertisement
Comment
 
Article Tools Display Modes
#6 Texas A&M Tops Dayton 3-1
#6 Texas A&M Tops Dayton 3-1
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
09-13-2015
Smile #6 Texas A&M Tops Dayton 3-1

Dayton cut a two-goal deficit to a 2-1 match late in the second half, but #6 Texas A&M ended Flyer hopes of a comeback with a decisive goal in the last 10 minutes to top UD 3-1. The Flyers fall to 1-6-0, while the Aggies improve to 7-1-0.

In the return game of a home/home series that started last year, the Aggies -- routinely one of the nation's top programs -- wasted no time getting busy as the opening minutes of the match got underway. Like most top squads, 50/50 challenges and movement off the ball were signature highlights as the run-of-play decisively favored A&M. By using the width of the field and speedy tempo, Dayton was stretched thin across the Baujan Field pitch, opening up large gaps for A&M attacking players to make purposeful forward runs. Conversely, UD had trouble collecting and maintaining possession throughout most parts of the field; some of that from a slower work rate and at other times from teammates standing around and making themselves unavailable for a pass.

UD dodged a couple early bullets defensively when the Aggies had excellent chances inside the box, but the pressure was consistent and the first half felt like a waiting game to see when Texas A&M would eventually find the back of the net.

Unfortunately, avoidable mistakes plagued Dayton all afternoon and a giveaway in the midfield led to an Aggie counter-attack that produced the first goal of the match in the 16th minute. Flyer GK Kaelyn Johns had few options inside the box to defend it.

Down 1-0 with a half hour left in the first half, UD needed to step up their tempo to push back against the Aggie momentum. But it never happened as the Flyer attacking players lacked pressure on the ball in the offensive half of the field, allowing A&M defenders to dribble uncontested to midfield to feed their mids and forwards for easy post-ups and triangle passing. The Aggies also used nice overlapping runs along the touch lines and Dayton forwards failed to track back to defend their marks. That forced the Flyer back line to defend against a consistent numbers disadvantage. Despite the math, the Flyer defense actually held their own.

Distribution out of the back however never full materialized and linking up with Flyer mids proved difficult throughout the remainder of the first half. When UD mids did get the ball at their feet, the results were often hit-and-miss. Nicole Waters, Libby Leedom, and Meghan Blank had their hands full with physically-gifted Aggies that were assertive to the ball.

Texas A&M scored again in the 31st minute on another Dayton gaff in the center of the field, this time misjudging a bouncing loose ball and allowing the Aggies to once again counter-attack uncontested into the box. Johns scrambled from her goal to do her best, but had no honest chance to defend the unmarked player well beyond the last Flyer defender. An easy dribble around Johns for an open-net putaway pushed the A&M lead to 2-0.

Things weren't looking good and the score could have been worse all things considered. But the Aggies were a bit sloppy at times as well, taking suspect shots and looking like their engine was on cruise control. As a result, shots on goal were few and far between.

Lone bright spots in the first 45 minutes included forward Sidney Leroy once again hustling for balls and being a physical presence, while defender Nadia Pestell did a commendable job of taking away the Aggie attack along the left flank. Ashley Campbell was inept on offense however and was substituted mid-way through the half. Waters ran hot and cold, Leedom struggled, and Erin O'Malley had an uncharacteristically difficult time with the ball. Alexis Kiehl was also unable to shuffle past many Aggie defenders.

Down 2-0 at intermission, the Flyers needed another angle to combat the obvious Texas A&M skills advantage. The easiest path to success included a better work ethic. It took about 25 minutes to find it, but UD eventually started competing rather than just masquerading as lawn ornaments. When they pick up the pace, they can hang with a lot of teams and they did just that for a stretch of the second half.

Once again, Leroy was front and center at making the best of difficult circumstances. Battling for loose balls, shielding defenders, and distributing to teammates, UD had better luck whenever she touched the ball. The Flyers tried freshmen Beth Kamphaus and Dani Ruffalo up top as well, but that was asking a lot from first-year players against an opponent as disciplined as A&M.

Dayton capitalized in the 73rd minute on a free kick from Waters outside the box that resulted in a scrum about 6 yards out. Alexis Kiehl eventually volleyed the ball into the net to trim the deficit to 2-1 and suddenly we had a match on our hands.

The Flyers competed more feverishly over the next 12 minutes and even threatened on a couple occasions to tie the match and give indigestion to the bevy of Aggie fans in attendance. Corner kicks didn't generate much of a serious challenge however and the Aggies eventually pulled the plug on things in the 84th minute with a poke inside the box after UD failed on several occasions to clear a seemingly routine ball out of danger. The final minutes of the match played out with no further scoring.

Texas A&M is a quality team and highly-skilled players that understand spacing, movement off the ball, and a commitment to loose-ball challenges. Coupled with physically-gifted players that also have size, the Aggies dominated UD in the air for much of the game and never made things easy for Mike Tucker's squad. That said, the Aggies appeared less dangerous than Virginia Tech -- a foe UD faced in last year's NCAA Tournament -- in spite of their lofty national ranking.

The 3-1 final score is probably a respectable result all things considered. Texas A&M out-shot UD 23-8 but just 8-3 on frame. Corner kicks favored A&M 5-4. The Aggies were 2-3 goals better, but the goals they ultimately scored on were largely a result of elementary Flyer gaffs that should have never happened -- poor passing, mis-judged ball challenges, and the inability to clear a ball out of danger. These are correctable mistakes.

Leroy and Pestell were the bright spots on Sunday afternoon. Both competed well and never backed down. Leroy even demanded the ball late in the second half -- a sign of someone possibly turning a corner. Johns was once again very solid between the pipes. None of the goals were a result of poor goalkeeping and her free kicks continue to get better and better -- midfield or beyond. She's still learning to fully command the goal box on high balls like a seasoned vet, but as she gains more confidence and experience there is high potential there.

Still, there are no moral victories and the Flyers are now 1-6-0 with a two-game road trip to California looming next weekend. UD needs to manufacture something positive heading into the A10 schedule and now is no better time to do so.
__________________

Hot shooting hides a multitude of sins.
Make everyone else's "one day" your "day one".
Article Tools
Comment

Article Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.1

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement System V2.6 By   Branden

Article powered by GARS 2.1.8m ©2005-2006

     
 
Copyright 1996-2012 UDPride.com. All Rights Reserved.