Northland Pines Girls Soccer Downs Spooner, Falls to Washburn

Pines  7 vs. Spooner 0

As hard as we work to give notice early to the Pines Girls Soccer schedules conflicts are inevitable, but these conflicts affect the dynamics of a team. That is the adversity that the Pines Girls faced Saturday as my senior leading scorer Zoe Anderson was on a family vacation and my top senior defender Sarah Nagel had a school function out of town.  It is my responsibility as a coach to fully prepare them for these changes and myself and my staff to prepare them for these obstacles.  Unfortunately, the game on Thursday would have been a great game to try things but unfortunately, the game did not really give us the defensive pressure we needed to try players in those positions.  We thought we coached and prepared them for this senior heavy talented regional Washburn team.  We started out with the ball and our midfield looked strong connected passed and putting our team on the attack.  The lack of communication and organization set the tone early for what would be a long game for the Pines girls.  Deep in Washburn zone, Washburn’s senior midfielder booted a ball behind our back line and what should have been an easy clear by an attacking keep froze the sophomore goalie on her goal line allowing a Washburn attacker to catapult out behind our defenders and had an easy 1 on 0 breakaway 3 minutes in the game we are down 1-0,  I could see the continuity and enthusiasm was suckerd out of the team They worked hard and for a fairly clean team playing against a very physical team, suffered 9 fouls in the first half, while Washburn had 2.  In the 17 minutes and the 20th minute some lack of focus allowed for goals that should have been cleared in the back of the net.  Late in the half the same girl raced behind our D freezing our keeper once again facing another 1 on 0.  Pines down 0-4 at half.  I knew if we could lock up the midfield we could play with this team despite our two senior captain missing.  Second half was much better and we controlled possession most of the half but could not break the seal and get quality scoring opportunities in the 18.  Again mental breakdowns allowed the forward behind the d and the attacker chipped our keeper and then a nice slotted through ball was the 6th and final goal for Washburn.  We did a great job the rest of the half and had a couple opportunities but took to many touches and the game ended 0-6.  I am confident if we see them in the playoffs and we have out leaders back we can play with them and can win!

Shots Pines 14 and 3 on goal.  Washburn 21 and 11 shots on goal

Izzy Chuckel had 3 saves on 11 shots and Washburn had 3 saves.  Corner kicks PInes 3 and Washburn 4

Foules Pines 10 Washburn 2

Second game was yet another regional opponent as the Pines girls went to work early when in the 5 minute mark Rynn Darr dribbled the ball wide attacked the goal and slotted the ball to Mallory Schmidt. 6 minutes later Anna Westfall took a shot the keep made the same but Ava Gaetano crashed the need and tapped the ball in.  Just 5 minutes later a cross from Olivia Eliason found Anna Westfall who headed the ball in the back of the net.  This allowed us to play younger girls and get some JV girls in the game.  We were also able to try things we have been wanting to work on.  Late in the half Freshman Addie Paez slotted a bll to Olivia Eliason who passed the ball in the net.  Score 4-0 halftime.  Second half we emptied the bench leaving only 1-2 starters in at a time for leadership.  At the 61st minute Grace Plank took a free kick from about 25 yards out and Jayna Johnson took the rebound and scored her first varsity goal.  Ten minutes later a shot from outside the box and the keeper coughed up a rebound and Addie Paez knocked it in the back of the net.  That same minute Olivia Eliason hooked up with senior Emma Weber who left footed the keeper short side to finish the scoring and the final 7-0

Pines Shots  42 with 29 shots on goal while Washburn recorded 0 shots

Corner Kicks Pines 17 Spooner 0

Fouls Pines 2 Spooner 0