Mullen vs. Vista Peak (Women's soccer)

 Mullen vs. Vista Peak (JV@4, V@6)

Away: All players wearing white all the way down.

APSS - Aurora Public Schools Stadium
15714 E 11th Ave, Aurora CO

Match report preface: 

Vista Peak has had a strange start to the season. It has been a tale of two teams: they got beaten bad by South, had a very tight game with Eaglecrest, and then turned around and smashed Aurora Central. When they have the opportunity to get organized, they have been hard to score on, and on the counter, they have shown that they can get in goal. This is a game in which we will have the speed and fitness advantage, but we will have to capitalize on opportunities, stay organized, and stay on the front foot. 

Vista Peak Strengths:

Vista peak has 2. 5 primary strengths-

1: Their attackers press the ball hard, and they create high pressure situations for the defense and midfielders. The press is aggressive, and somewhat erratic, so it has the ability to create turnovers high up the field. Against Eaglecrest, they demonstrated an ability to keep the press throughout the whole game, and their 1v1 was really quite good.

1.5: When Vista Peak creates turnovers on the press, they are quick to move the ball forward on the counter. They will push it from the wings, or out of the back, and they have no problem playing the big ball off the turn over. Their attackers have some size and speed, and they have proven that they can capitalize on the counter.

2. If given time, they recover well and they have the ability to organize themselves in the back. In certain moments against Eagle, and South, their entire team was goal side of the ball. When they can get deep, and get organized, they are difficult to break down. They rely on good 1v1 defending, and a nice step (pressure) and cover system.

As you can see, Eagle (in black) is pushing the ball forward after moving it around in the backfield. Peak (white) has 6 players behind the ball and is relatively organized. Eagle is then cuts the ball back and another 3 Peak players join the defense. Eagle is forced to develop once again out of the back.

Vista Peak Weaknesses: 

1. VP struggles for speed and technical ability on the flanks. Their outside backs rarely get involved in the attack, and their flat positioning exposes them to wall passes and overlaps down the flank. The flat structure should also allow us to isolate players and take them on with momentum. Speed kills against a flat back.

2. When they are deep in their own territory, Peak has the ability to get well organized; however a flat back four is inevitably weak against creative horizontal movement. We need to bring the ball forward with intent and technical prowess. Balls to feet are going to be elemental. And once we develop a good ground game, we should be able to exploit the gaps in between defenders with through balls. Attackers need to get inside their defenders and find these gaps. 

You can see the number of organizational problems above. The back line is relatively flat, and one pass will serve to beat all of them. Additionally, the weakside outside back is the deepest player, and consequently, she is keeping the strong side attacker onsides even though she is goal side of her defender. A pass to feet here and a nice through ball like we practiced yesterday would send that attacker 1v1 with the keeper.

To best understand this movement - finding our wingers on the flank and allowing them to drive the line or come inside to shoot - Watch the Trinity Rodman highlights below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EESf9oehH2k

3. The goalie - she has shown to be weak from distance and on shots coming in from flank attackers to the near and far post.

4. Lastly, and although this may have been corrected already, the goalie has super weird corner kick positioning. She plays like 4 yards off her line. Marcoux and Jolly should be in spades if her positioning remains the same. We need to capitalize. 

Mullen Keys to Success:

1. Find the gaps and play a nice technical game to feet. We are on the front foot. We need to drive forward with purpose, but we should not be sending everything over the top. Move the ball through the midfield - switch quickly, and find our wing attackers in 1v1 situations. We have to progress quickly.

2. Track our marking assignments and press. Wingers, press the outside backs hard, and outside backs, press their wingers.

3. Outside backs, get involved in the attack.

4.  Conservative play in the back, strong clearances, close down shots.

No shots on goal = shutout

Good luck!