Northland Pines Soccer Blasts Crandon

By
David Keech
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Northland Pines Soccer Blasts Crandon

Northland Pines wins 9-0.

I was a bit concerned up to this point as two of my senior starters we not going to be playing.  My top defender and top scorer we taken out of the mix and to be honest we have not been playing well.  After Monday I decided we had to make changes and push all these girls out of their comfort zone.  We worked on patterns and touches in hopes to help our girls be more successful.
The game started out with our kick which we penetrated their defensive end early passing the ball around attacking the flanks continuously creating plenty of scoring opportunities but it seemed like we did not have the desire to finish.  We were controlling the midfield and attacking wide time and time again putting the ball in the goal mouth only to let the goalie scoop it up.  I think the timing of our towards run are too early and we are not patient enough multiple times our forwards found the ball behind them in the box and results in them having to turn and the keeper and defenders are then squared up.  We need to improve on this!

First goal can in the 27 minute when Junior Grace Plank made a move around at defender attacking the 18 sliding the ball to attacking freshman forward Kaydence Brost for her first varsity goal! Two minutes later sophomore midfielder Ryyn Darr stepped on a kick and took a touch ripping a shit in the top right corner.  9 minutes later junior Anna Westfall played a driven cross to crashing Darr for her Second goal of the night.

We entered half up 3-0 and I talked about the runs, defense needing to hinge and cover each other and the midfielder working together as a triangle.  I told them they left a ton of goals on the field and towards the end of the season those missed opportunities could send us home early. I challenged th to try things and open the game up.  Second half much of the same us possessing and attacking but we have up a couple undisciplined and Crandon caught are back four not playing as a unit, allowing the ball in our defensive end.  12 minutes into the half the door would open when Ryyn Darr slide the ball over to Senior Mallory Schmidt who used her hockey skills deking the keeper for a tap in goal. The door would then stay propped open when Grace Plank played a through ball left to right to a streaking Ava Gaetano who took a touch and played simple pounding the ball in the left corner of the net.  This allowed our team to empty the bench and log younger girls much needed varsity playing time.

At this point we intercepted their kick off passing the ball down field Grace Plank stepped into a cleared ball attacking space and drilling the ball into the net.  Just one minute later  Plank hooked up with Brost for the freshman’s second goal of the night and a playmaker (3 assists for) Plank. Two minutes later Plank finished her 5 point night with and nice pass from Sophomore Sydney Sarkaukas, and Plano applied some nice footwork and placed the ball into the top corner of the goal. We were able to try things, move girls into new positions, allow touches for those that do not log minutes or get touches in varsity game. In the 71 st minute Darr finished her hat trick when Sarkaukas passed a ball to Darr in the box passing into the corner of the net for a four point night.

I was concerned about the midfield and challenge these girls all week and they answered my challenge logging 9 points together.  The central midfield needs to be the playmakers and build our offense.  This was a better game for those ladies.  Hats of to the Crandon girls who worked hard and the keeper made some very nice saves!
Shots Pines 54 Crandon 0
Shots on Goal Pines 34 Crandon 0
Corners Pines 7 Crandon 0
Saves starter Sophomore Sammy Nampel 0 in 0 shots
Izzy Chuckel second have 0 saves 0 shots
Crandon saves 25 saves

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David Keech
Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]

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