Coach's Report - Game 1

Our spirits have been lifted by all the messages of support we have been receiving. There has been an understandable reaction of wide-eyed incredulity toward much of what the girls have so far see. So many soccer players, so many nations, so many languages; the first 24 hours have been nothing short of a whirlwind of varied challenges to all the senses.
It should, therefore, come as no surprise that the team was a bit unsettled before their first game. It was with equal parts nervousness and anticipation that we made our first tram trip to the Hjallbovallen, site of all our group games, and home to the Gunnilse IF soccer club. After an uphill walk through to a forrested mountain plateau, the girls were amazed by the large, ornate gold clubhouse, with two redwood changing houses just outside the clubhouse proper. We were to have played on the main stadium field of the club, a beautifully manicured pitch that could be compared to a carpet, but only if one wanted to risk being too complimentary to most of the floor coverings that go by that name. Unfortunately, there was much rain prior to arrival, and the conditions were still such that the club did not wish to risk destroying all their spring's work by having us play on it, and thus moved us to their gravel lined practice pitch. If you've never seen such a field, it is surfaced by finely ground gravel over a bed of soft dirt. It is easy to maintain in climates with harsh winters such as northern Europe, and the effect on play is essentially to make the ball bounce a bit higher and play a bit faster.
We arrived at the field early enough to give the girls a chance to acquaint themselves with these new conditions. While they were disappointed to miss out on the chance to play on a world class stadium field, they were soon surprised by how well they liked the gravel. Their concern had turned to eagerness almost as soon as it had first arisen.
The game began in fine fashion. We demonstrated an element of control from the very start, and gradually came into the game and into our tempo even more. Within the first 15 minutes, we had created 3 clear-cut chances, which, whether because of jitters or jet lag, we unfortunately spurned through poor finishing. But soon our work on the training pitch paid dividends, with our corner piece scheme providing another chance which went narrowly wide. A few minutes later, through another corner, Kaylie Henson provided the perfect service which Shanna Hutchison was only to happy to receive with her head, and guide beautifully downward toward the near post past the helpless Swedish keeper. The nerves now settled, we began to look more assured. After gaining possession in the midfield, a series of short combinations gave Jen Guy the time to find Kaylie Henson making a run from the midfield beyond the opposition back four. Kaylie took the pass in stride near the right edge of the penalty area, and slotted an unstoppably accurate shot inside the far post.
The 2-0 halftime lead was never in doubt in the second half. Beth Walther delivered another well-timed through ball midway through the half, which Amanda Greco took calmly. After waiting for the goalkeeper to commit , she cut the ball around her, and easily found the now empty net for goal three. We played out the remainder of the game with no serious threats to our goal, which was capably defended by Jordan Becker throughout.
The win puts us at the top of Group 5 in the Girls u17 division, followed closely by Colchester United of England, who were 2-0 winners over Tyreso of Sweden. This makes our game tomorrow against Tyreso critical, as we need to finish first or second in our group to advance to the winner's bracket. Thanks again for all your messages:

LISC 3 - Kungalvs FF 0

Shots: LISC 18 Kungalvs 1
Shots on Target: LISC 6 Kungalvs 1
Goals: Hutchison, Henson, Greco
Assists: Henson, Guy, Walther