Varsity - Bellevue vs Skyline 9-24-24

Bellevue 0-3 Skyline
1st min Skyline goal
9th min Skyline goal
16th min Skyline goal

Our first road game of the regular season matched us with the back-to-back defending 4A state champions Skyline. During pre-game our team energy was positive, our warm-up was sharp, and we were eager to challenge the Spartans on their home turf. But...     

...it didn't start well. 

Skyline scored on their first three shots, all in the first 16 minutes, to stake themselves a comfortable 3-0 lead that they maintained until the final whistle. 3-0 final score. Skyline's opening goal, in the first minute, was route one soccer, as a long arching clearance was flicked onwards by their midfielder to the Spartan's quick #13 who took a single touch with a burst of speed before smashing the ball into the upper near post corner. It was an outstanding finish. And sometimes you need to tip your hat to good individual soccer (I just wish it hadn't happened in the opening minute...). 

But during the next two goals, my hat remained on my head, untipped. I intend no disrespect to the Skyline goal-scorers, they finished well, but both goals were set up by some uncharacteristically sloppy play by our team as we either gave the ball away too cheaply, were too slow to recover defensively, or missed a chance to clear the danger before it became critical. Individual and collective mistakes will happen in a free-flowing, physical, and quick game against quality opponents like Skyline. That's ok. But what we do after mistakes is the most important: we must take responsibility for any errors, learn something from the experience, don't dwell on them for long, and aspire to be better the next time we are in a similar situation. Heads shouldn't drop, instead, jaws should clench and eyes lock-in with renewed determination and competitiveness eager for the next opportunity to prove ourselves. Smooth seas don't make a good captain.  

Although we got better as the game progressed, we struggled with the Skyline counter-press in our defensive third, had difficulty managing the Spartans' direct style of play, and were never able to find a consistent rhythm on offense. Our best chance came early in the second half when Kendall launched a beautiful shot that hit the crossbar with force, bouncing back toward the PK spot where Mia was put off-balance by a trailing Skyline defender and narrowly steered the rebound past the right post. The stats weren't as overwhelming as the game felt and the scoreboard reflected: 8/4 shots/corners for Bellevue, 11/6 for Skyline. But Skyline were ruthless in converting their early chances, and cruised after earning themselves an early advantage. 

So we regroup and go again on Thursday on the road at Issaquah. 7:30 kick-off.  

As always, thank you to the supporters who joined us on the plateau last night.