Junior Varsity - Bellevue vs Hazen 10-17-2023

Bellevue 3-1 Hazen

4th min Morgan  (Mack)
26th min Anna (Kasia)
38th min OG (Kasia)
75th min Hazen goal

If you were to ask me immediately after Tuesday night’s win against Hazen how I felt about the game, you wouldn’t have liked my answer. I thought we played down to the level of our opponent, again, and didn’t look like the team I know were are capable. We easily handled Hazen the first time around 6-0 so we knew we had a slight talent advantage. But it was a sloppy affair and we struggled all night linking up our passes and truly looking dangerous in all areas of the field. Yes, it was a terrible evening weather-wise and the field was slow yet slick. (Is that possible?). Balls bounced off our feet and it was a rare occasion when one touch passes were involved.

The two things you can truly control in soccer are effort and attitude. Our attitude was ok but our energy and effort were lacking. After Friday night’s shot-fest, we collectively decided we needed to work on our finishing with focus and commitment to keeping our heads down and putting the ball on frame. Monday’s practice was all about shooting: one-time shots, crosses, beating defenders. I thought, hoped, prayed our scoring woes were hopefully behind us.

As I’ve been accustomed to say: Not so much.

So while I was a little disappointed in our overall play, I have to repurpose my anger and admit the girls improved in one crucial area. Shots on goal.

Friday night we saw 55 shots with 28 keeper saves and 5 goals. Last night we had 19 shots, 12 keeper saves and 3 goals. I’m a communications major so I don’t do math but somewhere in there is improvement. Our ratio of shots to those shots on goal were better. So that will be my take-away from this game. But if we are going to get past our next three rivalry game (LW, MI and Liberty), we will definitely have to be better.

Last night Mack got us started in just the fourth minute with a banger of a shot right at the goalkeeper (not our last) that she was only able to bat down. Morgan was the beneficiary and blasted the rebound home. I thought that would open the flood gates but that was just the beginning of our struggles. Shot after shot was directly into the hands of the Hazen keeper, wide or over the crossbar. Ugh. We were creating chances (good) but couldn’t quite finish (bad). Anna tacked on one midway through the half after a prolonged battle in front of the goal which saw 4 or 5 failed shots and clearances. With frustration mounting and the first half nearing it’s conclusion, Kasia sent in a hard cross from the flank which bounced around between both teams and somehow ended up in the net. Faith Cody our scorekeeper, after consulting with several players, ruled it an own goal but we gave the assist to Kasia.

So halftime saw us up 3-0. We knew, thought, the goals would come if we just got closer to playing Bellevue soccer. Again, the slick field made things difficult in the second half and we had plenty of chances (11 corner kicks). But nothing would drop. Unfortunately we gave up a sloppy goal toward the end of the game to lose the shutout. Sophia got her hand on a low, skipping shot but a Hazen forward sped past a few stagnant defenders and put home the rebound. 3-1 Bellevue.

I know I should be happy with the 3 points, but I feel these are the types of games we should be able to put our stamp on, work on our overall possession game and feel good about the result. So yes, I’m proud of the girls for getting the win, I just think our best game is still out there. It’s my job to seek perfection but that is tough. It’s high school soccer after all.  Let’s hope perfection happens Saturday night at home against LW. They have some payback coming. Hope to see you out there. Bring a friend, the rowdier, the better.