There are some moments in life and as a coach when you wonder if you are doing the right thing. If the message that you are trying to pass on is the best message possible for the audience and players you have. Then there are the moments that take your breath away, when you know that everything you have done and said has been acknowledged, and your audience or players have done everything you have asked of them.
This was the feeling I took away from our game against Montreat College. The 3-2 scoreline against us after double overtime was heartbreaking for my players and for myself, but the one thing I had that made it bearable was the fact that my players left everything they had on the field. Every single member of the team gave every ounce of what they had, not just for themselves, but for each other. They sacrificed themselves, played through pain and tiredness, and showed exactly what it takes to be a successful program. While overall success will be determined by the amounts of wins and losses we have at the end of the year, the real success is that a group of ladies came together and showed character in the face of everything that has been put before them. The season is long and the war is far from lost. If we continue to show the quality, ambition and passion we showed against Montreat for the rest of the season, we will be where we want to be and where we deserve to be in the end.
As season openers go, our trip to Montreat college was exceptional, barring the result. Taking nothing away from Montreat who were organized and disciplined throughout the game, our execution of the game style, along with our desire and commitment to each other was deserving of the win. This said, soccer as well as life does not always work out the way it should. Though we could not bring the win home, we hopefully have brought so much more.
The game could not have started any better for us as within the first minute of the game we opened the scoring with Briana Parrish scoring from close range after great build up. We controlled the game early on keeping possession and showing great composure on the ball. The emphasis over the past week of training has been on ball retention and been patient, and throughout the opening 15 minutes of the game we executed this beautifully. As the half wore on Montreat found their feet and slowly got themselves back into the game, and out patience with the ball began to falter slightly. The hardest part about dominating games early is not allowing complacency to set in and to continue to do the simple things well. With this said the half time whistle came with us up 1-0 and feeling confident about the way we had played overall.
The half time talk consisted of executing our games style, continuing to move the ball and been patient. Defensively we wanted to force Montreat into wide areas, and focus offensively on getting the ball into wide areas, where we were having a lot of success.
Unfortunately, we started the second half slowly and allowed Montreat to score twice within the opening 8 minutes. In all credit to Montreat they worked there goals well and both were good finishes. The frustrating part was the lack of pressure put on the ball at the top of our box.
After the second goal had gone in however we turned the game on its head. We went back to the style of play that will define our program, not just this year, but for years to come. We moved the ball fluidly out of the back and into the midfield, working it into wide areas and switching the point of attack. As Montreat sat in and tried to absorb the pressure we were creating chances, but not quite working them goal-wards. Often times many teams begin to panic that the goal isn’t coming and begin to disregard there style of play in search for the equalizer. It is a testament to the teams mentality and understanding of the game that they continued to be patient and use great build up play to continue to create chances. Throughout the second half we worked the ball well into outside areas, and did a fantastic job of switching the point of attack. As the game pushed on we eventually found our equalizer after another patient and impressive build up, with Ana Derrcio finishing from inside the 18 yard box.
With the game still in our hands we continued to push on and search for the winner. We continued to creates chances, moving the ball well and with confidence, but regrettably we could not get ourselves out of the hole we had dug ourselves in the opening 8 minutes of the second half.
Double overtime ensued and it became as much a battle with our own minds and against tiredness as it was against Montreat. In times like these it takes strong characters to persevere and search deep down for the victory, and this is what we did. We never faltered in our determination to push through and win the game. On the same note, Montreat showed character and mental toughness to persevere also, and a minute into double overtime they scored the decisive goal to seal the win for themselves.
As I told the ladies after the game, I have never been prouder as a player or a coach to be a part of a team that put so much into a game. The result did not go in our favor, but the performance and attitude was exemplary. The great thing about the short season is that we have an opportunity to get the back on track and get the result we want within the space of a few days. We must remember how we played, our attitudes and the quality we possess, but most importantly we must remember the pain of losing when we have given so much, and make sure we never feel that way again.
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