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
WSOC: VCU Steals 1-0 Victory Over Flyers
WSOC: VCU Steals 1-0 Victory Over Flyers
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
10-09-2016
Exclamation WSOC: VCU Steals 1-0 Victory Over Flyers

Dominated for much of the game, VCU capitalized on a soft Flyer defensive miscue and then protected a 1-0 lead with solid defense and lots of luck to up-end Dayton on Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. In a game where UD did everything they needed to do to get a result -- except get a result -- the Flyers recognized their senior class in pre-match festivities before falling to 3-7-2 (1-2-1). VCU improves to 6-6-1 (2-2-0).

UD started the match well, demonstrating a solid work rate and attention to detail. A commitment to winning loose balls in the central third, combined with an effort to exploit weak-side service to overlapping players, gave the Flyers a significant offensive push over the first 20 minutes. The solid play resulted in a number of excellent scoring chances inside the VCU goal box, including a pair by Alexis Kiehl mid-way through the first half. An excellent though-ball cut her loose on one sequence and with only the Ram goalkeeper to beat, her shot was saved as the goalkeeper came out to challenge.

The Rams had trouble with Dayton's width on the attacking flanks -- both left and right side. Micayla Livingston did solid work on the right touch line, while Kiehl and others worked the middle and left side. They also worked well together and in combination with Libby Leedom and Erin O'Malley in the midfield, piecing together several give-and-go's that found players with room to attack toward the VCU goal box. This is the kind of combination play that's been lacking and it was good to see players on the same page.

The Rams were timely, solid, and somewhat fortunate in their defending however. That trifecta proved difficult for the Flyers to overcome in the first half, despite feeling like they should have a one- or two-goal halftime lead. But the first half ended scoreless with Dayton owning a 10-4 advantage in shots -- requiring seven VCU saves along the way. Meanwhile, Flyer GK Kaelyn Johns registered just one save.

As long as the Flyers kept their right foot on the gas pedal, VCU's luck would eventually run out -- it had to. Unfortunately, UD didn't do that in the opening minutes of the second half, electing to put the car in neutral and turn very passive-aggressive. Marking was extremely loose on the second half restart and it didn't take long for VCU to make the Flyers pay for that decision. A botched clearance in the Flyer goal box allowed a loose ball to squib to a VCU player for the easy tap-in from short-range to give the Rams a 1-0 lead just 1:26 into the second half. It was a demoralizing goal because UD had poured so much sweat equity into the first 45 minutes -- only to see it vanish because of an inability to sustain everything on the re-start.

The next 25 minutes proved difficult for UD as they struggled find their rhythm. The lack of pace and soft challenges around the ball afforded the Rams an opportunity to milk a ton of minutes away in the second half. And while they did that, they also managed to generate a few scoring opportunities of their own. For several long stretches, Dayton had trouble digging the ball out of their end zone. Much of that struggle resulted from a lack of ball-winning in the central third. The Rams were quicker and stronger to bouncing balls, choosing to run through the chaos rather than back away and wait for a softer bounce. Head Coach Mike Tucker pleaded for more physicality, but it took longer than he wanted to re-establish it.

The last 20 minutes of the match were reminiscent of the first half as UD regained their work rate and found holes in the VCU back line to exploit. Once again, Kiehl was in the middle of most of those challenges. She had a great opportunity on a scrum directly in front of the box, sacrificing her body on one attempt to punch a goal in, but VCU's goalkeeper either came up with a huge save or one of her defenders cleared a ball off the goal line.

Minutes later, UD struck from long distance and hit the crossbar. The ball bounced directly on the goal line -- according to the referee and line judge -- and ultimately just out of the goal. The Rams cleared the bounce away and protected the 1-0 lead. Whether the ball bounced over the goal line or not, it was another close call turned away by the Rams and another snake-bitten moment for Dayton.

A flurry of free kicks and corner kicks gave UD final chances to tie the match in the waning moments, but VCU did just enough to pull off the road win.

For the match, UD out-shot VCU 19-5 -- including 11-2 on frame. Corner kicks were 6-5 in favor of VCU.

Dayton played well enough to win, had the better scoring chances, and the scoring chances they did create were probably goals on any other afternoon. Defensively, UD allowed just one goal which is a step in the right direction -- however the goal they did surrender was perhaps the softest challenge by either team in the entire match. Still, they gave the Flyer offense an opportunity to win the game with a pair of goals. It's hard to fault the offense because the shots and chances inside the box should have been enough to get the job done. On a team with an extremely low margin for error however, the 25 minute power-nap to start the second half -- in tandem with extremely unfortunate bounces on offense -- ended up being the difference. This team does not have the luxury of taking any moment or minute of the game lightly.

The Flyers resume play on Thursday against LaSalle at Baujan Field.
__________________

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 07:31 PM.


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.