Several on the team had to step up big last night for us to have any chance, much less win....these are the ones that really stood out to me:
Blum - can't say enough good things here....she was incredible, did everything....scored twice, had an assist, defended her *** off, just left defenders time and time again like they had concrete in their shoes.....I really do think we need to consider moving her to attacking center mid, she was just that good. I've thought she's been a nice pickup for us so far this year, now she's looking like she may have been a GREAT pickup.
Stratton - also just an unbelievable contribution from this young woman. Was solid as a rock in the back, actually got forward a few times and looked as competent as any CB could look with the ball at her feet, is a huge weapon on corners, scored another goal (the game winner). I don't think there is any debate now that she has locked down the starting CB position.
Kennedy - this was the best she's played as a Tar Heel. She looked so confident with the ball at her feet, and made some of the dook defenders just look lost on multiple occasions. I've always been able to tell that she was a high-level player in terms of technical ability on the ball, but tonight she showed an element of confidence and aggressiveness that I hadn't previously seen from her. I'm wondering if that first goal of her career she got in our last game has finally unlocked her confidence and potential. She also was amazing defending and winning balls in midfield. Such a great development for this team to have her taking a step forward.
Roosien - really has not played meaningful minutes this season, played almost the entire game and more than held her own....was great in the first half, hit a little bit of a wall early in the second half after we lost the lead, but finished strong. We had to have someone from the bench come in and give us big minutes, she more than did that. Also a player with a high degree of technical ability on the ball. Definitely gives Damon more depth he can trust now if needed. Great game from her.
O'Neill - I've been worried her lack of size would be an issue, but she had a great game in the back against a high level team with a dangerous group of forwards. More than held her own and is very good at knowing when to drop in and cover for the other backs when needed. At this point, I get more uneasy with Gaetino's positioning and decision making in the back than I do with O'Neill even as a true freshman. That's mostly a compliment on O'Neill...mostly.
Devey - did a great job winning balls that were hit forward, holding up play and laying the ball off to midfielders so that we could maintain so much possession in that game. Made some good runs and created headaches for dook's back line regularly. Also defended well in the press and didn't allow dook's back line to get comfortable even when they had the ball. Need this level of effort from her consistently...it's the best she's looked as our 9 against a good team by far. Sometimes a 9 doesn't have to score goals to have a huge impact on a game (by getting others involved or making runs to open up space for others to run into), she did that last night.
Bradley - last but not least....another valuable contribution from a player who has been mostly a reserve this year. That goal was just unbelievable as has already been discussed, probably the play of the year for us so far. She came in and held her own and was more than up to the task...didn't play timid, didn't back down in a high pressure game against a big time opponent. So happy for her coming off of that devasting injury last year (when she had been starting for us before it happened). Hopefully this also just takes her confidence to another level which allows her to keep giving meaningful contributions going forward.
Damon (and the full coaching staff) - Easy to criticize his tactical and substitution decisions as fans, but last night was a masterclass. Wasn't even about tactics or lineup decisions (although all of those worked too)....he's clearly built a culture within that team where the girls believe in each other and play for one another as a united group. Just seeing their energy (both from the players in the game and those on the bench) from the very start was great. You don't get that level of commitment and unity unless things are going right within a locker room.
I don't envy Damon's next challenge....trying to decide who gets playing time now that we are getting 3 key players back when some of these other girls have more than earned more time. As mentioned by another poster, Antonucci also looked quite good on the sidelines last night, her knee brace was gone, she was running and jumping around celebrating with her teammates after goals and at the end of the game. Very good sign there. Not sure what Denigan's injury was or how long she may be out, but wow, suddenly this team looks incredibly deep and loaded with players who can come in and play at a high level.
Lastly, I wish I could name every one of them...Pennie had a great game too for example, but really all of them were fantastic and did what it took to win. A+
Blum - can't say enough good things here....she was incredible, did everything....scored twice, had an assist, defended her *** off, just left defenders time and time again like they had concrete in their shoes.....I really do think we need to consider moving her to attacking center mid, she was just that good. I've thought she's been a nice pickup for us so far this year, now she's looking like she may have been a GREAT pickup.
Stratton - also just an unbelievable contribution from this young woman. Was solid as a rock in the back, actually got forward a few times and looked as competent as any CB could look with the ball at her feet, is a huge weapon on corners, scored another goal (the game winner). I don't think there is any debate now that she has locked down the starting CB position.
Kennedy - this was the best she's played as a Tar Heel. She looked so confident with the ball at her feet, and made some of the dook defenders just look lost on multiple occasions. I've always been able to tell that she was a high-level player in terms of technical ability on the ball, but tonight she showed an element of confidence and aggressiveness that I hadn't previously seen from her. I'm wondering if that first goal of her career she got in our last game has finally unlocked her confidence and potential. She also was amazing defending and winning balls in midfield. Such a great development for this team to have her taking a step forward.
Roosien - really has not played meaningful minutes this season, played almost the entire game and more than held her own....was great in the first half, hit a little bit of a wall early in the second half after we lost the lead, but finished strong. We had to have someone from the bench come in and give us big minutes, she more than did that. Also a player with a high degree of technical ability on the ball. Definitely gives Damon more depth he can trust now if needed. Great game from her.
O'Neill - I've been worried her lack of size would be an issue, but she had a great game in the back against a high level team with a dangerous group of forwards. More than held her own and is very good at knowing when to drop in and cover for the other backs when needed. At this point, I get more uneasy with Gaetino's positioning and decision making in the back than I do with O'Neill even as a true freshman. That's mostly a compliment on O'Neill...mostly.
Devey - did a great job winning balls that were hit forward, holding up play and laying the ball off to midfielders so that we could maintain so much possession in that game. Made some good runs and created headaches for dook's back line regularly. Also defended well in the press and didn't allow dook's back line to get comfortable even when they had the ball. Need this level of effort from her consistently...it's the best she's looked as our 9 against a good team by far. Sometimes a 9 doesn't have to score goals to have a huge impact on a game (by getting others involved or making runs to open up space for others to run into), she did that last night.
Bradley - last but not least....another valuable contribution from a player who has been mostly a reserve this year. That goal was just unbelievable as has already been discussed, probably the play of the year for us so far. She came in and held her own and was more than up to the task...didn't play timid, didn't back down in a high pressure game against a big time opponent. So happy for her coming off of that devasting injury last year (when she had been starting for us before it happened). Hopefully this also just takes her confidence to another level which allows her to keep giving meaningful contributions going forward.
Damon (and the full coaching staff) - Easy to criticize his tactical and substitution decisions as fans, but last night was a masterclass. Wasn't even about tactics or lineup decisions (although all of those worked too)....he's clearly built a culture within that team where the girls believe in each other and play for one another as a united group. Just seeing their energy (both from the players in the game and those on the bench) from the very start was great. You don't get that level of commitment and unity unless things are going right within a locker room.
I don't envy Damon's next challenge....trying to decide who gets playing time now that we are getting 3 key players back when some of these other girls have more than earned more time. As mentioned by another poster, Antonucci also looked quite good on the sidelines last night, her knee brace was gone, she was running and jumping around celebrating with her teammates after goals and at the end of the game. Very good sign there. Not sure what Denigan's injury was or how long she may be out, but wow, suddenly this team looks incredibly deep and loaded with players who can come in and play at a high level.
Lastly, I wish I could name every one of them...Pennie had a great game too for example, but really all of them were fantastic and did what it took to win. A+
