Bellevue vs Redmond 9-14-17

Bellevue 2-1 Redmond
Improvement isn't linear. I'm confident that by the end of our season, we will be a significantly better team than we were in the beginning; however, there will be peaks and valleys on the journey upward. Which brings us to our Kingco home opener against a good Redmond team. Our first half was very solid. For the first 20 minutes, we dominated the game; of course, scoring an early goal on a sublime cross from Kiley and industrious finish from Carlie G after an initial Carly T volley in the 2nd minute helps set a good tone. And after taking our a 1-0 lead, we continued to probe for more, stringing together great combinations and creating 8 chances in the first twenty minutes versus Redmond's zero chances. The game was in total control and we were playing some of the best soccer of our young season.      
 
The only concern I had was that we were giving away corner-kicks rather cheaply, clearing the ball across the end-line when we might have had an opportunity to knock it across the sideline instead (conceding a throw-in vs a corner). And these are the small pebbles that gather downhill speed and become an avalanche. So mid-way through the first half, it all began when we conceded a cheap corner. Then from the cheap corner, we failed to mark properly...or clear properly. And on Redmond's first shot of the half, an unmarked header inside our six-yard box, we were tied and Redmond went from defeated and dormant to energized and dangerous. From peak to valley with one innocuous conceded corner-kick.    
 
The rest of the game was tight. Redmond is full of eager and strong athletes who are well organized, and they began creating chances. But our defense did a great job covering for each other, and when shots did get through, Annika was great all night at shot-blocking and coming off her line confidently to limit Redmond's chances. Up front, Jo, Kiley, CarlieG, Court and Izzy looked to get behind a quick and organized Redmond defensive line. In the end, the game was decided on effort and speed, as Jo refused to be beaten to a ball knocked through the back-line, got a shoulder in front of her defender and was taken down from behind in the box. Penalty. Well earned. CarlyT confidently demanded the ball, and calmly slotted a perfect shot in the lower left corner with just over 10 minutes left in the game to give us the 2-1 winning margin.  
 
Of course, the final ten minutes were adventurous as Redmond increased their pace and threw players forward in search of a last-gasp equalizer. The most dangerous was another free header in our box that beat Annika and looked to be goal-bound, but Claire was in right place at the right time and cleared the ball. Oftentimes the difference between winning and losing is having the discipline to do the mundane tasks that you've been assigned. And in doing the mundane, you become a hero. We were very thankful that Claire was on that line.
 
Next week the tests become even more difficult as we play currently undefeated Mercer Island and Lake Washington. Both teams have ambitions of knocking Bellevue off our perch atop the league.