Sunday, September 6, 2009

Player Ratings: Saint Mary's Huskies (W) 0 - 4 Dalhousie Tigers (W)---Preseason

Here are our informal player ratings for SMU-DAL. Remember, this is a work of opinion. Please add your own interpretations in the comments section below.

Heather Armstrong-B+: Didn't miss any shots (mainly because she didn't face any shots) but commanded the box very well and was always yelling, which is good for a keeper.

Rebecca Holm-B: No glaring errors, but not a commanding game.

Hanna Bebb-B+: Faced SMU's only shot, which wasn't a bad one. Not very vocal, but claimed the ball well.

Jeanette Huck-A-: Scored a solid, if slightly easy, goal, though her positioning was excellent. Never afraid to get forward, linked well with her wingers. Had some trouble containing Rostaert at times, but never let her free.

Amanda Henry-A: Very solid tonight. Also very good int he box and very strong. Just a dominant performance.

Colleen MacDonald-A: Stephanie Collins who? This centre back combination worked wonders tonight. Never breached, never even wobbly. Positionally excellent, confident on the ball, very poised.

Kyla Gunderson-B-: Never really showed much, but didn't make any glaring errors. Just about gave Rostaert a breakaway, but recovered well.

#7-B-A quiet performance, though she gets forward well. Nothing spectacular, but solidifying her spor very nicely.

Katie Richard-C-Played left back tonight and seemed frustrated at times. Got to play the right side of midfield late and looked more comfortable, but never got into the game there. Certainly capable of better games and I would expect much more on Saturday.

Emma Landry-A-If she looked good on Friday, she looked great today. Terrorized the SMU defense on the right and the left. Faded at times, but scored a whopper of a goal and was always lively when on the ball.

#8-B-: After a great game on Friday, she seemed invisible today. Ball-watched a lot and didn't really carve out any chances.

-Teresa Morrison-B+ Played as a holding midfielder and shut SMU down, taking lots of pressure off of the centre backs. Will be essential against Cape Breton who are very fast and dangerous upfront.

-Sarah Lye-B-: Looked okay in transition and wanted the ball, but never seemed to do much with it. Failed to impress in a game where a lot of players impressed for Dal. A number fo bad tocuhes and gave possession away a lot, but never egregiously.

-#4-B: Didn't do a great deal today, but hit some good passes and caused problems for SMU, which is all one can ask.

-Katelyn Grechuck-B-: Ran around a lot and certainly worried the defense at times, but lacked killer instinct or the potency to find and/or take a chance.

-Joanna Boldgett-B-Another solid performance. Moved positions a bit too much, and she might have done better finding a space to operate and continually attacking SMU. Instead tended to fade based on where she was. Excellent on the wing, invisible at central striker.

-Emily Cox-B+: Invisible at times today bu worked very hard when she was on the pitch and got Huck her goal. Constantly beat SMU defenders on the right flank and was unlucky not to create another goal or two.

-Kate MacDonald-B+: Almost slightly higher this game, but her goal was almost 100% fluke and when she did get chances she often failed to beat a defender or tried to do too much. She can score from distance and would do well to just smash one goalwards every once in a while. Improved today, but there's still room for a bit more.

Jack Hutchison (Coach)-A: For once, I think I understood his tactics. And they were very solid. Dal were a pleasure to watch today, which I put back on the coach. Quick passing, movement off the ball, and a nose for goal. He'll have to make sure things stay very much in perspective--this was preseason. A solid outing today, though.

Referee-B+: Called a decent game, though at times I thought a card might have been warranted to control the game as the score got a bit high. The assistants made a few wonky offside calls, but nothing major. It took a lot of guts to award the goal for Kate MacDonald as it hovered ont he line, but it looked to be a good call.

Saint Mary's-D: Preseason or not preseason, that was awful. I'm sure Mark Sweetapple, as he said he would, will take positives from this game, but he should also remind his players that this is AUS. SMU failed to generate any offence against a listless Dal team on Friday and barely held them out. Today, at home, they generated even less offence and got smoked for four goals. The defending and marking in the box was weak and they could have conceded more. The only reason this isn't an F is because it was preseason. That was perhaps the worst outing from an AUS side I've seen.

Tigers' Santilli likely to return for Saturday game against Cape Breton

Dalhousie Tigers midfielder Reika Santilli will likely return for Saturday's home opener against two-time reigning champions the Cape Breton Capers, confirmed Tigers head coach Jack Hutchison on Sunday.

Santilli took an elbow to the head in the 45th minute of Friday's preseason match against Saint Mary's. She left the game after being checked for concussion symptoms and, according to Hutchison, suffered a mild concussion.

She is expected to return to training Tuesday and would likely be available for selection on Saturday.

Saint Mary's Huskies (W) 0 - 4 Dalhousie Tigers (W) ---Preseason---

4pm, September 6th, 2009: Husky Stadium

The Tigers women's soccer team answered any questions raised by a disappointing 0-0 draw last Friday by thumping the Huskies in the return leg of the home and home series tonight (Sunday).

"We played well, better than the last game," said Tigers 'keeper Heather MacDonald, echoing what her coach had asked of them.

[I'm] "really pleased that every half of the two games got better each half," said Tigers head coach Jack Hutchison, who had been quite upset by his team's lacklustre start on Friday.

New acquisition Teresa Morrison--the former captain of the X-Women soccer team who transferred to Dalhousie for its dentistry program--opened the scoring after considerable pressure from the visiting Tigers.

After a corner was cleared Morrison was on hand to finish into the bottom corner past Saint Mary's goalkeeper Justine Caldwell.

The goal failed to spur either team on to greater things and the first half petered away.

Dalhousie controlled the second half, though, and scored three goals in ten minutes to seal a win.

In the 51st minute, Emily Cox beat substitute goalkeeper Ashleigh Bellefontaine to a loose ball and found Jeanette Huck who sidefooted into an empty goal.

Two minutes later, Ottawa native and rookie Emma Landry floated a shot over Bellefontaine for her first goal.

Dalhousie completed the barrage when last year's team-leading scorer (with nine goals) Kate MacDonald chipped a long-range shot over Bellefontaine. Although it looked as though the 'keeper had saved it, the referee awarded a goal after Bellefontaine fumbled the ball and it crossed the line.

"It's never good when you lose 4-0," said Huskies head coach Mark Sweetapple. "Over the two games that we played, there were still quite a few positives to take from it.... Dal has been one of the top two teams the past two years, so I look at it as a good thing that we've played them twice."

Sweetapple will have to build on those positives quickly. Reigning two-time champions Cape Breton come to Halifax on the weekend and the Huskies will be tested by striker Erika Lannon and goalkeeper Jessica MacDermid.


Match Stats (Strictly Unofficial)

Goals: SMU-0; DAL-4
Shots (On Target): SMU-1; DAL-7
Attempts: SMU-1; DAL-9
Fouls: SMU-9; DAL-5
Cautions: SMU-0; DAL-0
Ejections: SMU-0; DAL-0
Corners: SMU-2; DAL-4
Offsides: SMU-1; DAL-2
Injuries: SMU-0; DAL-0

As It Happened: Saint Mary's Huskies (W) v. Dalhousie Tigers (W) ---Preseason--- 4pm September 6th, Husky Stadium

Welcome along again to what has already happened for me, but is currently happening for you and will hopefully work out grammatically. All the past, present, and future tense gets a bit confusing depending on your point of view.

Husky Stadium may be falling apart (the construction tape and hastily scrawled "Off Limits" sign actually enhance its image) but the pigeons are still here, uncaring as ever while they drop their payloads on unsuspecting fans and minute-by-minute writers. I'm currently hiding under the press box.

Dal coach Jack Hutchison was pretty livid after his team came out very limp against SMU on Friday. He's made a few changes based on what I can gather fromt he warm-up: Katelyn Grechuk (or, at least, someone wearing the number 22) is starting. Emma Landry--apparently of Ottawa--gets a deserved second look as well. The mysterious #8 is also starting. Reika Santilli, who probably has a concussion, is not starting.

Teams:

In no particular order: SMU: Holland, Scott, Peters, Jen Caldwell, Turner-Chaisson, Nizio, Justine Caldwell. No Rostaert tonight, at leats to start.

Dal: Landry, Colleen MacDonald, Kate MacDonald, Huck, #8, Henry, #4, Cox, Richard, Armstrong.

1min: Kick-off. Nothing else.

3min: Special thanks to SMU for using a clock tonight. The Tigers are so grateful that they almost let SMU score. Rostaert (whoops, she is starting) with half a chance. No shot, though.

4min: Kate MacDonald breaks in and sizes up a shot, but then decides to break past Jem Caldwell, who wins the ball.

7min: Dal will need to keep the ball on the deck to break down SMU. So far, it doesn't look too bad.

8min: Kate MacDonald turns down my tactical advice and controls a long ball from #4. She's a hair offside, though.

10min: Dal will make an early change, withdrawing #4 for Teresa Morrison, a former St. FX captain before she transferred to Dal for dentistry.

11min: Landry sends a nice through pass to Kate MacDonald wide left. She drops it back to Richard, who misfires her cross straight out of play.

14min: GOAL! (Morrison 14') Corner to Dal after some solid work from Landry. As Cox comes off for Joanna Boldgett the ball breaks to Morrison who streaks in down the right and finishes cooly into the far corner. 1-0 to Dal.

18min: Boldgett works a chance downt he right but Kate MacDonald can't shape to finish.

19min: SMU get a chance as Rostaert cuts into the area on the byline. Huck slides in and puts it behind perfectly.

20min: The corner is claimed by Armstrong. The goal is bad news for SMU--they didn't come close to scoring on Friday and Dal look a changed team. Now Dal attack off a free kick but Landry strays offside.

23min: Cutting pass from Morrison finds MacDonald, but Ashley Donald clears confidently for SMU.

25min: Landry chases a ball into the box and keeper Justine Caldwell clears it off of Landry. It took a dangerous bounce for a moment but SMU bail their stranded keeper out.

26min: Dal are bringing off Richard, who had been playing left back for #7.

31min: Game's settled a bit. Whether SMU have adapted or Dal plateaued I'm not sure. Dal are still pressuring but not getting much on goal. Landry off for Kyla Gunderson, possible. Boldgett shifts wide to make space.

39min: It's becoming much more of a midfield battle. It's getting warmer and I'm getting sleepier. Dal sub: #8 off for #4, as two mystery players change places.

41min: The ha;f is petering out now. The goal seemed to kill of momentum rather than spark it.

42min: SMU change keepers (which they did twice on Friday). Caldwell comes off for Bellefontaine, I think.

44min: Henry, under pressure, concedes a throw rather cheaply, I'm afraid. SMU get it in the box but still can't work a shot.

45+1min: Half-time called, and this one whimpered out. Maybe some fatigue involved, with many of these players having played Friday as well.

Dal haven't actually beaten SMU in about six goes, not since the 2007 playoffs, but SMU hardly look a theat over the 135 combined minutes so far that I've seen them. Two shots on Friday and none so far today won't have the Dal keepers worrying. And SMU will need to be far better for Cape Breton, who come here on the weekend to play both Dal and SMU. Dal look crisp and while CBU will test them, the Capers have lost two key veterans from last year. SMY may well be out of their league against CBU. They're too slow to react and not technically gifted enough. Dal will be in tough against the champions of 2007 and 2008, but it's doable for them. Not so much for Saint Mary's.

As I though, Rebecca Holm has entered the goal for Dal--she had been warming up all through half-time. Richard is back in at left back. Landry and Cox also draw back in. #4 and Boldgett make way. SMU bring out #6 and Maddie Clarke, but I didn't catch who they brought on.

48min: Dal start the first attack, but Cox can't catch it down the right.

51min: GOAL! (Huck 51') Cox dummies in downt he right and crosses into the box. It bounces away, but Bellefontaine chases out of the goal in pursuit. Cox beats her to it and drives a low cross straight to Jeanette Huck, who sidefoots into the gaping goal. 2-0 Dal. SMU's back four were missing in action there. Too much ball watching, and Bellefontaine, well, "bad read" is about all you can say.

53min: GOAL! (Landry 53') And Landry scores from just inside the top left corner of the box, lobbing one over Bellefontaine, who looked only semi-interested in saving it. Bellefontaine is now out, having been replaced by Alicia Wilson. Emily Cox, meanwhile, is subbed off for Dal's #4.

56min: Game over for SMU, as Dal have figured their defense out. SMU have a player down with cramp now--it's #18 who everyone keeps calling "Cassia." Wish I had a roster. Anyway, it looks like cramp. Hutchison makes another change as Henry and Richard are withdrawn for Katelyn Grechuk and #7.

58min: SMU aren't even trying anymore. Dal are showing very clearly that I was right at half-time about being able to take on Cape Breton. They look superb.

60min: Huck breaks down the right and drvies a ball in. It's deflected inches wide by Kate MacDonald. Wilson wouldn't have had a chance had it been on target.

61min: GOAL! (MacDonald 61') Apparently, it went out off a defender because Dal win a corner. The initial corner is cleared out wide but Kate MacDonald turns and rainbows a looping effort towards goal. Wilson looks to have caught it and everybody turns back but the referee points for a goal and Dal go 4-0 up. I think he's right, too--Wilson fumbled it slightly and her hand slipped over the line. Dal now exchange Kate MacDonald for Joanna Boldgett. SMY have also made a change, but I missed it.

63min: This game has reached a poitn where sportswriters can start employing clichés such as "ugly," "dominant," "controlling," and the more utiliatarian "very, very good." Or, in SMU's case, "very, very bad." Gunderson off for Landry.

65min: Boldgett cuts inside and smashes her cross of of Stephanie Holland's arm while it was in the box. Perhaps out fo mercy the referee decides not to award a penalty.

69min: There's a new keeper in for Holm. It might be Hanna Bebb, but without a roster, I can't confirm it. This season's rosters should be out late this week.

71min: Colleen MacDonald comes off, along with Lye and #4. Landry comes on, as do henry and Cox.

75min: Cox makes a beautiful move downt he left to win a corner, which Dal waste.

76min: SMY awake Bebb from a deep slumber as she's forced to collect a drifting header that was really nowhere near goal.

77min: SMU get a free kick 30 yards out. Donald drifts SMU's first shot towards goal, which Bebb snags and holds.

78min: Richard and Boldgett link up well until the assistant calls Richard offside when she wasn't. Cox off for Kate MacDonald.

81min: Dal free kick 30 yards out, now, after Morrison is hacked down. Huck hits the wall.

82min: Corner to Dal as Turner-Chiasson come off for SMU's #8. The corner is cleared too easily for my liking. Rostaert nearly beats Grechuk on the counter, but she loses the ball.

83min: Landry is replaced by Gunderson for Dal.

86min: This half is puttering out, too, which is probably better for SMU.

87min: #4 does well in the box to win a corner for Dal.

90min: The ref graciously refrains from adding extra time and blows right on 90 minutes. SMU might want to rethink their aims this season after that one. Ouch. Final score is 4-0 to Dalhousie.

That's all for me tonight. Dal showed their class today. They'll need to play more like this and less liek they did on Friday in order to beat a very tough Cape Breton side on Saturday. See you there.