Bellevue vs Newport 9-9-21

Bellevue 3-0 Newport
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As we complete our third week of the season, and our third non-conference game, it was only appropriate that we scored three goals in a comprehensive victory over our neighbors 3 miles south of us at Newport HS...while only allowing three shots against. For this episode, three was the magic number. 
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It wasn't our most polished performance, but it was effective. After a slow start in which we enjoyed plenty of possession, but rarely created goal-scoring chances, we finally found our attacking stride in the 23rd minute with a wonderful team goal. Halle intercepted a wayward Newport pass, found Lillian's feet upfield, who one-touched a pass to Emily wide left, who also one-touched a pass into space to Halle who had continued her run forward during the entire exchange. Halle smashed a left-footed shot past the Knights keeper from 12 yards. Lillian and Emily's two one-touch passes and Halle's movement were beautiful and exactly how we want to create chances. 1-0 Bellevue. We didn't get our 2nd until the 60th minute when Gaby sent an inch-perfect 40yrd pass (on the ground) to Alex on the left-wing. Alex beat her defender on the dribble and calmly crossed (on the ground) to Nova who timed her run precisely to beat the keeper to the ball and slot into an open net from 2yds out. Again, a lovely team goal and a great example of how a probing pass from our backline (on the ground) can be the most efficient way to unlock a defense. Both Gaby's and Alex's passes in the build-up were sublime. However, the "flying hug" goal celebration might have been my favorite part of the goal, as both players collapsed in a joyous pile after bouncing off of each other in mid-air after scoring. 
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And in injury time at the end of regulation, Emily collected her 2nd assist of the night as her excellent corner kick found Kate who nutmegged the keeper with a point-blank header and gave us a well-deserved 3-0 win. 
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It has been a strong start to the season in which we've averaged over 22 shots per game, while allowing less than 4 against. If we keep up those rates, I like our chances all season long. Well done to our team defense. Defenders and goalkeepers usually get praise for shutouts (and rightly so, they have been excellent), but our defense is based on all 11 of our players taking their defensive responsibilities seriously all game long. One of the reasons we are allowing so few shots is that our midfielders, wingers and strikers are pressing and chasing the ball so effectively upfield that our defenders are able to simply clean up stay balls at the backline. Our more forward players need to consistently press the ball in ravenous packs, not just because that is what is required in our team, but because it creates so many transition opportunities to score goals when we win the ball deep in opposition territory. Yes, we are a team based on technical skill in possession, but our primary identity must always be raw desire to win the ball back quickly and play balanced defense. (this is true for almost all great teams...Messi's 2010s Barcelona was praised for extremely technical possession-based soccer, but what made them great was the relentless pressure they applied when they DIDN'T have the ball...the same is true for Pep's current Man City teams, Klopp's Liverpool, Stanford's 2x NCAA champion women's team, etc. Modern soccer requires an "always on" defensive hunger for the ball...not just players who choose to move when the ball is at their feet).    
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Next week we play our final non-conference game of the pre-season against Mt. Si at home before beginning our Kingco league schedule on the road at Juanita HS next Thursday. ​