Coach's Report - Game 4

It has been a long, but very rewarding day. Starting in a division with 100 teams from all over the world, LISC are now in the final 32! It's now about 1:00 am locally, and I sincerely hope the girls have been more successful at overcoming their excitement to find some much-needed rest than I have.
We returned to our school immediately after this morning's great effort against Colchester. We had to feel good about how we were 'growing' into this competition, how our performances were improving with each game. The girls ate quickly, and I actually managed to eventually get them all off to sleep for about 2-hr nap. We travelled to a new location for our next game: Kviberg, a long sloping complex of over 20 fields.
Our competition was well-credentialed: NASA had not only dominated their preliminary group, but had won their age division in a Denmark tournament the week before this event. The weather had turned blustery, and we had the advantage of the wind in the first half. Things, however, did not start well. NASA were completely in charge for the first 6 minutes. We didn't make two consecutive touches on the ball during that whole time, and looked increasingly disinterested in putting up any individual or collective resistance. But gradually we began to ask NASA some questions of our own. Amanda shot wide and high off of another great cross from Jen overlapping on the left flank. Our speed now advertised, NASA began looking a little less assured. Three minutes later, we had a free kick in a good position, but two good strikes at the ball driven into the area were both knocked down by sprawling defenders.
Our defense, which has been outstanding, had conceded no clear chances despite NASA's superiority in possession, but now two corner kicks conceded were shot narrowly wide, then high. We continued to fight back, Beth shooting wide on a well-taken 1st-time strike off a poor NASA clearance in minute 20. Just one minute later, one of many great services by Sadie Somers just failed to connect with our forward at the far post. We now had assumed control, and on minute 28, Jen Guy was to make that control count, striking a first time laser into the upper 90 off a pass from Beth Walther that found her in stride just outside the left corner of the penalty area.
The second half was a polished demonstration of how to hold a lead. Our midfielders were now able to help defend our flanks without the need to push forward in search of goals, and the back three of Lexi Sokol, Anna Lenart, and Emily sealed the center of the field in the confident manner we have come to expect of them. Kaylie Henson was doing the yeoman's work of holding the ball for us whenever we were able to play the ball out, and her efforts were rewarded by a corner and a free kick taken by Sadie Somers that she was very unlucky not to have finished by someone. As NASA pushed forward, two misses by Mac Olson in minute 26 and Beth Walther in minute 27 just failed to seal the victory. We were forced to watch the last three minutes on our watches for what seemed like days before celebrating the final whistle. To have come this far in the tournament has been incredible, to do so without conceding a goal is simply outstanding. We play Group 14 winners IFK Lidingö FK of Sweden tomorrow at 12:50 pm. Parents, fans, club members and club coaches should be very proud of the courageous and attractive soccer display these girls are showing on the world's biggest youth soccer stage. Thanks for all your support.


LISC 1 NASA 0

Shots: LISC 7 NASA 9
Shots on target: LISC 3 NASA 4
Goals: Guy
Assists: Walther