Bellevue vs Hazen 9-23-21

BHS 4-1 Hazen
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13th min Halle (Emily)
18th min Bekah (Kendall)
41st min Hazen FK
43rd min Alex (Kendall)
55th min Emily (Vivian)
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Last night versus Hazen coach John and I took over the pre-game music for our respective games. The girls weren't thrilled when we told them the day before, as they feared an anti-hype playlist of smooth jazz, polka hits and elevator music. But what they got was a heavy mix of Guns N Roses, B-52s and The Who from John (5-0 victory), and a blend of Tchami, Aretha, The Mowgli's, Florida George Line and Panic at the Disco from me (4-1 victory). I'm sure there is a healthy philosophical debate about musical cause and effect, but at the very least, both head coaches could finally identify an artist from each of the playlists. Even if for only a single game.      
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Last season, the Hazen Highlanders were a 4A school in the South Puget Sound League, but since then enrollment shrunk enough to qualify as a 3A school, and Hazen took the opportunity to join their longtime rivals Liberty in Kingco. So there are a lot of firsts for our new friends from Renton this season as they made their way to Bellevue Stadium. And playing in a league in which 4 of the 6 member programs have won recent state championships make for a difficult welcome. 
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Although the game wasn't our most stylish, it was effective. After the opening pleasantries in which both teams tested each other's defenses, we settled down and began to control possession at midfield. And good possession led to our first goal, as Kendall found Emily on the left wing who sent a cross back to the opposite side of the penalty box where Halle was able to get just enough on her shot to re-direct the ball past the diving Hazen goalkeeper. 1-0 at 13 minutes. We didn't have to wait long for our second, as Bekah intercepted at midfield, played a simple wall pass with Kendall, and charged through the Highlander backline before slipping the ball beneath the goalie. 2-0 Bellevue and that's how we entered halftime.  
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Conceding goals can sometimes be like a line of dominoes, where one minor mistake gets compounded by subsequent errors until we find ourselves picking the ball out of the net. And that's what happened in the first minute of the second half. With very little pressure, we gave the ball away at midfield (it happens), then we committed an unnecessary foul (it happens), then we watched a high looping free-kick find the net from 35yards (sigh). None of the mistakes were very big and happen all the time, but strung together they led to a goal on Hazen's first (and only) shot of the game. Frustrating. But on this team, we have each other's backs. And I couldn't have been happier about how we responded. Within 2 minutes of the Hazen free-kick, we had restored our two-goal margin, as Bekah's cross from the right-wing found Kendall who volleyed towards glory, the goalkeeper spilled the save and Alex was there to poke home the rebound. 3-1 Bellevue. The final goal was the most beautiful of the night, as Vivian found Emily on the left wing with a simple entry pass, a quick step-over created a yard of space and Emily lashed a ferocious shot into the upper right corner of the net from 25 yards. 4-1 Bellevue. Final score.  
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The game stats were comprehensive, 24/6 vs. 1/0 shots/corners in our favor. And even more pleasing was that we have even more players contributing goals and assists. After 7 games, we have 11 players who have recorded either a goal or an assist. Our goals can come from anyone, from anywhere. Which makes us a very difficult team to defend. 
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Next week we have two more home games with Tuesday's clash against Interlake, and then a rematch of the 2019 3A State Championship final as we welcome Lake Washington to our stadium on Thursday. With a good week, we can position ourselves well for the back half of our season. I know we'll be ready. And the pre-game playlists will be back in control of our captains.
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