Coach McNeil Today

[richthedentist]

Just terrible coaching job today this is the NCAA tournament you cannot coach to not lose because you will lose we were EXTREMELY lucky to win this game!!
Once we scored he pulled back the offensive reigns and from there on out for the rest of the game I bet TCU out possessed us 75-25% that’s why our girls were gassed
One of the most bewildering moves was we played the last 12 minutes of the first half without Amiyah Frankie Riley and Sarah on the field that’s our 4 best offensive players WTF
#21 for TCU just abused Emily Misal all game especially on the goal where she went across the field absolutely untouched and O’Neill did nothing to try and change the defense on her
As I stated in other threads the reason we couldn’t possess the ball is we played only 1 forward like we did most of last year and when we got the ball there was no one with Amiyah and we just lost the ball and then chased again

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

Who is Coach McNeil?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Wasn’t his best coaching effort but I’m trying to figure out why we looked more tired than they did in overtime today after they played a double overtime game Friday.

 

[DC8690]

1. O’Neill not McNeil
2. Emma played well against their best player, the goal came from the middle of the field how is that her fault?
3. Again the coaches were yelling for the girls to push up and they weren’t.
4. That team was very very good and we won, be happy

 

[fg7321]

Just terrible coaching job today this is the NCAA tournament you cannot coach to not lose because you will lose we were EXTREMELY lucky to win this game!!
Once we scored he pulled back the offensive reigns and from there on out for the rest of the game I bet TCU out possessed us 75-25% that’s why our girls were gassed
One of the most bewildering moves was we played the last 12 minutes of the first half without Amiyah Frankie Riley and Sarah on the field that’s our 4 best offensive players WTF
#21 for TCU just abused Emily Misal all game especially on the goal where she went across the field absolutely untouched and O’Neill did nothing to try and change the defense on her
As I stated in other threads the reason we couldn’t possess the ball is we played only 1 forward like we did most of last year and when we got the ball there was no one with Amiyah and we just lost the ball and then chased again

That is a tried and true formula in soccer. The Italian national team won the World Cup playing like that . At times its uninspiring but in a sport like soccer where its so difficult to score playing a stout defense is a sound strategy. # 21 was left by herself a good part of the game along the touch line. After her goal she was marked a lot better by the left back.

She actually dribbled inside right up the middle untouched by the defense on her score... She was also a bit of a dirty player as well and about 4 foot 11 " tall.

 

[rudad02]

Wasn’t his best coaching effort but I’m trying to figure out why we looked more tired than they did in overtime today after they played a double overtime game Friday.

Must be somebody's FAULT.

 

[rudad02]

1. O’Neill not McNeil
2. Emma played well against their best player, the goal came from the middle of the field how is that her fault?
3. Again the coaches were yelling for the girls to push up and they weren’t.
4. That team was very very good and we won, be happy

Absolutely & O'Neil was absolutely not playing not to lose. TCU Was a very good side & we beat them. We can play both O & D & Meg is playing the best goal I have ever seen her play. Great, great game & win. Congrats Ladies! GO RU!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Must be somebody's FAULT.

Did you think we played well today? Particularly after we scored? Please don’t say “yes.”

 

[runrutgersrun]

Or, it's to everybody's credit that an athletic program of any sort at Rutgers ever makes it to the Elite 8 in anything, I think. "With all due respect, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour." LOL...I love Apollo 13! I get the same kind of goosebumps reading these stories about this team as I do when I watch that movie. I am so excited for this team and coach...and my school...that I could explode. These ladies are breathing very rarified air here at Rutgers. They have no mentors or experience to lean on...there is RU no road map or blue print for this team to follow...this is SO-O-O great.

 

[rudad02]

Did you think we played well today? Particularly after we scored? Please don’t say “yes.”

Absolutely. TCU is a very, very good & high scoring side & we beat them. You couldn't play poorly & win that game. I didn't hear whose fault it was that we looked tired.

 

[66 college avenue]

Wasn’t his best coaching effort but I’m trying to figure out why we looked more tired than they did in overtime today after they played a double overtime game Friday.

Rutgers looked more tired because the team was chasing most of the day. After the first 20 minutes, TCU had a big advantage in possession. That said, in tight games like this , 1-0 most of the way, conventional wisdom is to play defensively and look to counterattack when possible. It could have ended 1-0. Great job by the team to gut one out. I am also another one who hates to end games on PKs.

 

[RUTrack94]

Or, it's to everybody's credit that an athletic program of any sort at Rutgers ever makes it to the Elite 8 in anything, I think. "With all due respect, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour." LOL...I love Apollo 13! I get the same kind of goosebumps reading these stories about this team as I do when I watch that movie. I am so excited for this team and coach...and my school...that I could explode. These ladies are breathing very rarified air here at Rutgers. They have no mentors or experience to lean on...there is RU no road map or blue print for this team to follow...this is SO-O-O great.

We’ve had 3 … Lacrosse, FH and WSoccer … it’s about time we see another Final Four

 

[RUTrack94]

Rutgers looked more tired because the team was chasing most of the day. After the first 20 minutes, TCU had a big advantage in possession. That said, in tight games like this , 1-0 most of the way, conventional wisdom is to play defensively and look to counterattack when possible. It could have ended 1-0. Great job by the team to gut one out. I am also another one who hates to end games on PKs.

Hate to see the energy of TCU if they didn’t go to 2OT vs PU and if RU didn’t sit starters at the end of STL!

 

[richthedentist]

Rutgers looked more tired because the team was chasing most of the day. After the first 20 minutes, TCU had a big advantage in possession. That said, in tight games like this , 1-0 most of the way, conventional wisdom is to play defensively and look to counterattack when possible. It could have ended 1-0. Great job by the team to gut one out. I am also another one who hates to end games on PKs.

100% correct we were chasing them all afternoon after we scored because we pulled Frankie Riley and Sarah back and we couldn’t possess the ball in the offensive zone because the girls were all back plus the other big thing with all the girls back it allowed TCU to pressure the ball more easily because we were too crowded and couldn’t reverse the field or even get girls open like we were at the start of the game
As for O’Neill yelling push up that’s after we would get the ball but the girls were too tired many of the times
I know we won and I am ecstatic because I really think we got lucky

Rutgers looked more tired because the team was chasing most of the day. After the first 20 minutes, TCU had a big advantage in possession. That said, in tight games like this , 1-0 most of the way, conventional wisdom is to play defensively and look to counterattack when possible. It could have ended 1-0. Great job by the team to gut one out. I am also another one who hates to end games on PKs.

 

[richthedentist]

We’ve had 3 … Lacrosse, FH and WSoccer … it’s about time we see another Final Four

The soccer team made the college cup in 2015 so not rarified air for them especially the coaches

 

[hinson32]

Good lord, we have miserable fans. We just beat a very good team to reach the Elite 8 and people criticize our coach.

 

[Luvscarletknights]

Good lord, we have miserable fans. We just beat a very good team to reach the Elite 8 and people criticize our coach.

Rich the dentist was apparently to his first game of the season today but he knows all.

He typically waits for the first chance he can to rag on McNeill (O'Neill) and players.

We are in the Elite 8 and people still complain.

 

[SirScarlet]

Just terrible coaching job today this is the NCAA tournament you cannot coach to not lose because you will lose we were EXTREMELY lucky to win this game!!
Once we scored he pulled back the offensive reigns and from there on out for the rest of the game I bet TCU out possessed us 75-25% that’s why our girls were gassed
One of the most bewildering moves was we played the last 12 minutes of the first half without Amiyah Frankie Riley and Sarah on the field that’s our 4 best offensive players WTF
#21 for TCU just abused Emily Misal all game especially on the goal where she went across the field absolutely untouched and O’Neill did nothing to try and change the defense on her
As I stated in other threads the reason we couldn’t possess the ball is we played only 1 forward like we did most of last year and when we got the ball there was no one with Amiyah and we just lost the ball and then chased again

55 had a fantastic game. Youre nuts

Emily had her best game yet...she is gonna be good.

I bet something is going around our team as we look gassed after the first 20 mins of chasing.

5 was struggling badly in the 1st half. Kudos to Mark McNeill (sarcasm) for getting her off in the 2nd...talking to her...then putting her back in. She found her next gear to save a goal.

BUT...our midfield was not good today. Again, waaaaay too many unforced errors. Need to clean that up.

Frankie has to be battling something...she looked visibly upset all game.

This was a gutsy and gritty win...well done ladies!!

Here's to hoping the 5 days allows us to recover.

PS - more Lowry please...she raises the teams performance with her energy alone!!

 

[fg7321]

55 had a fantastic game. Youre nuts

Emily had her best game yet...she is gonna be good.

I bet something is going around our team as we look gassed after the first 20 mins of chasing.

5 was struggling badly in the 1st half. Kudos to Mark McNeill (sarcasm) for getting her off in the 2nd...talking to her...then putting her back in. She found her next gear to save a goal.

BUT...our midfield was not good today. Again, waaaaay too many unforced errors. Need to clean that up.

Frankie has to be battling something...she looked visibly upset all game.

This was a gutsy and gritty win...well done ladies!!

Here's to hoping the 5 days allows us to recover.

PS - more Lowry please...she raises the teams performance with her energy alone!!

Frankie seems like she was not in any play today. thought Reliy sp? Tiernan was our best offensive player this game. Gabby very solid in the back, TCU is a very good team and had some great chances we outlasted thier onslaught . That is what soccer is all about sometimes.

 

[rudad02]

55 had a fantastic game. Youre nuts

Emily had her best game yet...she is gonna be good.

I bet something is going around our team as we look gassed after the first 20 mins of chasing.

5 was struggling badly in the 1st half. Kudos to Mark McNeill (sarcasm) for getting her off in the 2nd...talking to her...then putting her back in. She found her next gear to save a goal.

BUT...our midfield was not good today. Again, waaaaay too many unforced errors. Need to clean that up.

Frankie has to be battling something...she looked visibly upset all game.

This was a gutsy and gritty win...well done ladies!!

Here's to hoping the 5 days allows us to recover.

PS - more Lowry please...she raises the teams performance with her energy alone!!

Good points Scarlet.

 

[rudad02]

Frankie seems like she was not in any play today. thought Reliy sp? Tiernan was our best offensive player this game. Gabby very solid in the back, TCU is a very good team and had some great chances we outlasted thier onslaught . That is what soccer is all about sometimes.

Yes indeed.

 

[RUBOWLMAN78]

Congratulations to the ladies and coaches for advancing against a very good side! OMG do we have a few supporters who will never be happy. Enjoy the moment. Win and move on. If you can’t enjoy this I feel sorry for you

 

[Knights 1212]

I am happy for the ladies and very proud of them. I hope they can continue their fine play and continue to represent Rutgers as well as they have.

 

[richthedentist]

55 had a fantastic game. Youre nuts

Emily had her best game yet...she is gonna be good.

I bet something is going around our team as we look gassed after the first 20 mins of chasing.

5 was struggling badly in the 1st half. Kudos to Mark McNeill (sarcasm) for getting her off in the 2nd...talking to her...then putting her back in. She found her next gear to save a goal.

BUT...our midfield was not good today. Again, waaaaay too many unforced errors. Need to clean that up.

Frankie has to be battling something...she looked visibly upset all game.

This was a gutsy and gritty win...well done ladies!!

Here's to hoping the 5 days allows us to recover.

PS - more Lowry please...she raises the teams performance with her energy alone!!

We can agree to disagree as #21 was there whole attack all day and beat Emma numerous times she was flat out good and that was a tough assignment; I just think he should have changed the defensive strategy on her as of course she just essentially went untouched on the goal which was terrible overall team defense
Agreed Emily played fantastic
There is a flu bug going around campus as Volleyball had more than half their team out and had to cancel their match on Friday and it was an issue with the football team; so that might have also been the issue as far as them including Frankie looking so gassed
Agree with the midfield to many errors as that also led to TCU possessing the ball and us chasing but if he doesn't play more girls forward and give the midfield more options and allow us to spread out the field we will have the same issues next game
#5 Becci Fluchel did have some issues but finished strong especially on her PK
Lets rest up as it was a gritty win and like you say the 5 days rest should be very important for the team and definitely more Lowry up front! please

 

[RUHouston]

We’ve had 3 … Lacrosse, FH and WSoccer … it’s about time we see another Final Four

Well...we also made it to the National Championship game in Ladies Hoops in 2007, the elite eight a bunch of times dating back to the Wicks and Sticks/Grentz era through CVS doing it and Final 4 in 2000 and 2007....and if we expand to other sports, the Men's Soccer team lost on PK's in 1990 for the National Title...so it's not like we've never had success...and this a broad statement more in response to @runrutgersrun

 

[runrutgersrun]

Well...we also made it to the National Championship game in Ladies Hoops in 2007, the elite eight a bunch of times dating back to the Wicks and Sticks/Grentz era through CVS doing it and Final 4 in 2000 and 2007....and if we expand to other sports, the Men's Soccer team lost on PK's in 1990 for the National Title...so it's not like we've never had success...and this a broad statement more in response to @runrutgersrun

Point taken. Yes, I can be susceptible to an over-celebration...I'm OK, back on my meds now lol. But all these examples still make this pretty rare air in the history of an entire athletic department. I have 2 brothers who cannot understand me rooting for Rutgers, come hell or high water - I'd wager that all of us here have friends and family that tell us "you guys don't even belong in the B1G, you're gonna get killed". Ya' gotta love the kids (and most coaches) who have come here and played/coached for the good guys with little more than blind faith over the decades (not years), given the general lack of institutional support athletics has received until fairly recently. Guys like Schiano that come back twice?? Well, I love him because he's willing to TRY twice, though I question his sanity. Hope everyone loves this team, no matter what happens the rest of the way! Go RU!! Go Knights of all sports!

 

[fg7321]

Point taken. Yes, I can be susceptible to an over-celebration...I'm OK, back on my meds now lol. But all these examples still make this pretty rare air in the history of an entire athletic department. I have 2 brothers who cannot understand me rooting for Rutgers, come hell or high water - I'd wager that all of us here have friends and family that tell us "you guys don't even belong in the B1G, you're gonna get killed". Ya' gotta love the kids (and most coaches) who have come here and played/coached for the good guys with little more than blind faith over the decades (not years), given the general lack of institutional support athletics has received until fairly recently. Guys like Schiano that come back twice?? Well, I love him because he's willing to TRY twice, though I question his sanity. Hope everyone loves this team, no matter what happens the rest of the way! Go RU!! Go Knights of all sports!

With the exception of Football Rutgers is very competitive in BIG 10 play. Hope that we make a bowl and BBall is competitive again to create a culture of winning in sports that are more mainstream .

 

[AreYouNUTS]

55 had a fantastic game. Youre nuts

Emily had her best game yet...she is gonna be good.

I bet something is going around our team as we look gassed after the first 20 mins of chasing.

5 was struggling badly in the 1st half. Kudos to Mark McNeill (sarcasm) for getting her off in the 2nd...talking to her...then putting her back in. She found her next gear to save a goal.

BUT...our midfield was not good today. Again, waaaaay too many unforced errors. Need to clean that up.

Frankie has to be battling something...she looked visibly upset all game.

This was a gutsy and gritty win...well done ladies!!

Here's to hoping the 5 days allows us to recover.

PS - more Lowry please...she raises the teams performance with her energy alone!!

Agree on all points. Good to see someone else see the same thing others here saw and be critical of things. It is OKAY to be critical and point out faults/problems during a WIN everybody!!! Doesn't mean you're "miserable," or even "upset," got it??!!

 

[SirScarlet]

We can agree to disagree as #21 was there whole attack all day and beat Emma numerous times she was flat out good and that was a tough assignment; I just think he should have changed the defensive strategy on her as of course she just essentially went untouched on the goal which was terrible overall team defense
Agreed Emily played fantastic
There is a flu bug going around campus as Volleyball had more than half their team out and had to cancel their match on Friday and it was an issue with the football team; so that might have also been the issue as far as them including Frankie looking so gassed
Agree with the midfield to many errors as that also led to TCU possessing the ball and us chasing but if he doesn't play more girls forward and give the midfield more options and allow us to spread out the field we will have the same issues next game
#5 Becci Fluchel did have some issues but finished strong especially on her PK
Lets rest up as it was a gritty win and like you say the 5 days rest should be very important for the team and definitely more Lowry up front! please

Yes...we will most certainly disagree.

For the most part 21 was contained all day. For the goal, when she was turned inside and went right up the middle where were our center mids? Answer that question and you will see it had nothing to do with 55. When you turn your player into an area where the secondary defender is supposed to be and they are not there, that is not your fault.

55 had a whale of a game yesterday.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Yes...we will most certainly disagree.

For the most part 21 was contained all day. For the goal, when she was turned inside and went right up the middle where were our center mids? Answer that question and you will see it had nothing to do with 55. When you turn your player into an area where the secondary defender is supposed to be and they are not there, that is not your fault.

55 had a whale of a game yesterday

Great question.

 

[richthedentist]

Great question.

Agree that was horrible defensive play on the goal they just literally watched her dribble right into the middle with nary a challenge by anyone but I think that was also a measure of how exhausted we were

 

[SirScarlet]

Great question.

Nuts - I agree with dentist...combo of chasing RELENTLESSLY for the first 20 mins and flu. Only explanation that all 3 CMs were gassed and practically walking

We were lucky not to concede at the end of the first half multiple times

Lets hope we heal up quick

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Nuts - I agree with dentist...combo of chasing RELENTLESSLY for the first 20 mins and flu. Only explanation that all 3 CMs were gassed and practically walking

We were lucky not to concede at the end of the first half multiple times

Lets hope we heal up quick

Well we KNEW the VB team has the flu, and just found out the FB team had it (TOS), so it's VERY possible and would explain a whole 'lot from yesterday.

 

[rudad02]

For anyone who thinks that we didn't play a terrific game--TCU had a girl who scored 18 goals this year & one who had 9 & and another who had 8 & we kept them all off the scoresheet. The other girl who came in with 8 scored for them. They were a high powered offensive team. Congrats Ladies! GO RU!

 

[DC8690]

For anyone who thinks that we didn't play a terrific game--TCU had a girl who scored 18 goals this year & one who had 9 & and another who had 8 & we kept them all off the scoresheet. The other girl who came in with 8 scored for them. They were a high powered offensive team. Congrats Ladies! GO RU!

Totally agree, I actually see that prior to yesterday, they had two girls with 8 and one with 9, in addition to their leading scorer. That is a lot of fire power and it was clear that our plan was to contain #11. #21 had a very good game but the defense did their job. Again that team IMO should have been seeded higher than a 4.

 

[Skull83]

Here are a few random thoughts on yesterday's game, but I want to start by saying the coaches and players deserve nothing but praise for a historically terrific season that is still going strong:

• That was one of the wildest penalty shoot outs I've ever seen! 8 straight very solid makes, followed by 5 straight saves before RU made the final shot. 14 total shots and not a single one of them was fired over the crossbar or missed to the side. Major props are due to RU for surviving that pressure cooker.
• TCU was very good. Although they were "only" the 4th seed in the region, I saw a poll recently that had them ranked No. 8 in the country while we were No. 5. That's a big win.
• We do have difficulty maintaining possession at times against strong teams. There were some parallels between this game and the B1G final against Michigan. At times, we seem to avoid making the simple pass and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to close on the passer and/or potential receiver. Other times, it seems that the players in support of the girl in possession are not creating passing angles/opportunities by moving into space or making runs behind defenders. They just move along with the defender in a way that doesn't make them available to receive a pass. These are really fundamentals more than formation issues, and obviously the team has won many games against good opposition so I doubt it's true all the time. For example, this did not seem to be an issue in the parts of the St. Louis game I was able to watch, as were able to both maintain possession and carve open their defense with some excellent through balls.
• The team did seem tired yesterday, apart from not moving into space - players were not always tracking back when we lost possession, a sure sign of fatigue. The possibility of illness is interesting, but the Michigan game where some of the same issues were happening was a couple weeks ago.
• I noticed some of the players calling for their teammates to move up and pressure higher during the second half. I was watching the stream, but it's interesting that someone at the game said the coaches were also calling for the players to press higher. A few of the players up top seemed to be getting frustrated that it wasn't happening, although there was some effort to do it. If that was supposed to be the strategy, I'm not sure why it wasn't happening consistently. Maybe it was a health/fitness issue. Of course, chasing the game for long stretches can tire you out even if you're healthy.

Overall, a great win against a strong team in the Sweet Sixteen!! It's on to the Elite Eight against another strong team. Go RU!!

 

[SirScarlet]

Here are a few random thoughts on yesterday's game, but I want to start by saying the coaches and players deserve nothing but praise for a historically terrific season that is still going strong:

• That was one of the wildest penalty shoot outs I've ever seen! 8 straight very solid makes, followed by 5 straight saves before RU made the final shot. 14 total shots and not a single one of them was fired over the crossbar or missed to the side. Major props are due to RU for surviving that pressure cooker.
• TCU was very good. Although they were "only" the 4th seed in the region, I saw a poll recently that had them ranked No. 8 in the country while we were No. 5. That's a big win.
• We do have difficulty maintaining possession at times against strong teams. There were some parallels between this game and the B1G final against Michigan. At times, we seem to avoid making the simple pass and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to close on the passer and/or potential receiver. Other times, it seems that the players in support of the girl in possession are not creating passing angles/opportunities by moving into space or making runs behind defenders. They just move along with the defender in a way that doesn't make them available to receive a pass. These are really fundamentals more than formation issues, and obviously the team has won many games against good opposition so I doubt it's true all the time. For example, this did not seem to be an issue in the parts of the St. Louis game I was able to watch, as were able to both maintain possession and carve open their defense with some excellent through balls.
• The team did seem tired yesterday, apart from not moving into space - players were not always tracking back when we lost possession, a sure sign of fatigue. The possibility of illness is interesting, but the Michigan game where some of the same issues were happening was a couple weeks ago.
• I noticed some of the players calling for their teammates to move up and pressure higher during the second half. I was watching the stream, but it's interesting that someone at the game said the coaches were also calling for the players to press higher. A few of the players up top seemed to be getting frustrated that it wasn't happening, although there was some effort to do it. If that was supposed to be the strategy, I'm not sure why it wasn't happening consistently. Maybe it was a health/fitness issue. Of course, chasing the game for long stretches can tire you out even if you're healthy.

Overall, a great win against a strong team in the Sweet Sixteen!! It's on to the Elite Eight against another strong team. Go RU!!

Skull - you and I are completely on the same page. great write up.

 

[Jules99b]

To go off what Skull said, I think I noticed the disconnect on pressuring most when TCU had to track all the way back to the goalkeeper because of Amirah and Frankie's pressure (about 3:30 left in the second half). Frankie had to physically motion and yell for everyone to come up with them as, from what you could tell in the video, everyone else was more or less standing in place. Really odd that the midfield had to be told to pressure. And that all three of them were so far up on the run up to TCU's lone goal. Usually one of Brocious or Fluchel will sit back with the defense while the other one comes up. The midfield in general seemed to be a bit of a mess the whole game, regardless of who was put in there.

 

[fg7321]

Here are a few random thoughts on yesterday's game, but I want to start by saying the coaches and players deserve nothing but praise for a historically terrific season that is still going strong:

• That was one of the wildest penalty shoot outs I've ever seen! 8 straight very solid makes, followed by 5 straight saves before RU made the final shot. 14 total shots and not a single one of them was fired over the crossbar or missed to the side. Major props are due to RU for surviving that pressure cooker.
• TCU was very good. Although they were "only" the 4th seed in the region, I saw a poll recently that had them ranked No. 8 in the country while we were No. 5. That's a big win.
• We do have difficulty maintaining possession at times against strong teams. There were some parallels between this game and the B1G final against Michigan. At times, we seem to avoid making the simple pass and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to close on the passer and/or potential receiver. Other times, it seems that the players in support of the girl in possession are not creating passing angles/opportunities by moving into space or making runs behind defenders. They just move along with the defender in a way that doesn't make them available to receive a pass. These are really fundamentals more than formation issues, and obviously the team has won many games against good opposition so I doubt it's true all the time. For example, this did not seem to be an issue in the parts of the St. Louis game I was able to watch, as were able to both maintain possession and carve open their defense with some excellent through balls.
• The team did seem tired yesterday, apart from not moving into space - players were not always tracking back when we lost possession, a sure sign of fatigue. The possibility of illness is interesting, but the Michigan game where some of the same issues were happening was a couple weeks ago.
• I noticed some of the players calling for their teammates to move up and pressure higher during the second half. I was watching the stream, but it's interesting that someone at the game said the coaches were also calling for the players to press higher. A few of the players up top seemed to be getting frustrated that it wasn't happening, although there was some effort to do it. If that was supposed to be the strategy, I'm not sure why it wasn't happening consistently. Maybe it was a health/fitness issue. Of course, chasing the game for long stretches can tire you out even if you're healthy.

Overall, a great win against a strong team in the Sweet Sixteen!! It's on to the Elite Eight against another strong team. Go RU!!

What you do when you don't have the ball is almost more important then what you do when you have the ball. Very much like basketball.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Here are a few random thoughts on yesterday's game, but I want to start by saying the coaches and players deserve nothing but praise for a historically terrific season that is still going strong:

• That was one of the wildest penalty shoot outs I've ever seen! 8 straight very solid makes, followed by 5 straight saves before RU made the final shot. 14 total shots and not a single one of them was fired over the crossbar or missed to the side. Major props are due to RU for surviving that pressure cooker.
• TCU was very good. Although they were "only" the 4th seed in the region, I saw a poll recently that had them ranked No. 8 in the country while we were No. 5. That's a big win.
• We do have difficulty maintaining possession at times against strong teams. There were some parallels between this game and the B1G final against Michigan. At times, we seem to avoid making the simple pass and hold the ball too long, allowing the defense to close on the passer and/or potential receiver. Other times, it seems that the players in support of the girl in possession are not creating passing angles/opportunities by moving into space or making runs behind defenders. They just move along with the defender in a way that doesn't make them available to receive a pass. These are really fundamentals more than formation issues, and obviously the team has won many games against good opposition so I doubt it's true all the time. For example, this did not seem to be an issue in the parts of the St. Louis game I was able to watch, as were able to both maintain possession and carve open their defense with some excellent through balls.
• The team did seem tired yesterday, apart from not moving into space - players were not always tracking back when we lost possession, a sure sign of fatigue. The possibility of illness is interesting, but the Michigan game where some of the same issues were happening was a couple weeks ago.
• I noticed some of the players calling for their teammates to move up and pressure higher during the second half. I was watching the stream, but it's interesting that someone at the game said the coaches were also calling for the players to press higher. A few of the players up top seemed to be getting frustrated that it wasn't happening, although there was some effort to do it. If that was supposed to be the strategy, I'm not sure why it wasn't happening consistently. Maybe it was a health/fitness issue. Of course, chasing the game for long stretches can tire you out even if you're healthy.

Overall, a great win against a strong team in the Sweet Sixteen!! It's on to the Elite Eight against another strong team. Go RU!!

This. As I stated earlier spacing was NOT very good yesterday. The lack of good angles once we crossed midfield was very noticeable.