bellevue vs north creek - 9.16.26

bellevue 5 - 1 north creek

7th min 1-0 Keira (Saleen)

9th min 2-0 Saleen (Ava)

13th min 3-0 Mack (Saleen)

32nd min 3-1 NC goal

39th min 4-1 Saleen (Marlee)

51st min 5-1 Saleen PK

We spoke before kickoff about our mentality before playing the North Creek Jaguars. During scouting and video review the day before, it was clear that the winless Jags are in a rebuilding year and we would likely have a depth advantage. They feature a very good goalkeeper who last year faced over 34 shots (that's a huge amount) and repelled all but four; but their depth doesn't compare to our roster's embarrassment of riches. So what's the best way to approach a game with a competitive mismatch? Respectfully. And in my opinion, showing respect to your opponents, even if there is an obvious talent disparity, means giving our best effort from the opening kick-off. Play with passion, competitiveness, and good soccer IQ. Full send. Good habits. And then, with full effort given, if the game gets beyond competitive doubt, we implement tactics that are intended to be respectful of our opponents to keep the scoreline modest and injury risk as low as possible (positional rotation, focus on clean possession so neither team is forced into too many 50/50 collisions, not running up the score needlessly, etc.). I don't ever want to coach a team that actively tries to hang a double-digit margin on mismatched opponent. But at the same time, we don't want to "play down" to the level of weaker opponent or build any false confidence or bad habits. It's a tricky balance.  

We started a strong line-up, and gave North Creek our best effort just like we would if we were playing Issaquah or Mt. Si.  And predictably, within ten minutes, it was 3-0. From the opening whistle, we smothered North Creek when they had possession, forcing turn-overs and taking advantage with quick attacking transitions. Our first goal is a perfect example. North Creek's keeper passed a simple outlet ball to their right fulback, but Serena anticipated the pass, closed the distance very quickly and forced a turn-over as Aanya stepped into space, won the ball, and played a very simple pass to Saleen (who slowed her run to stay onsides.). Saleen dribbled directly at the near post drawing the keeper out of position and then played a gorgeous square ball to an onrushing Keira from our right wing who gleefully tapped the ball in from two yards. 1-0 Bellevue. Emblematic of the types of goals I love: "front foot" anticipatory defense, quick transitions with simple passing, fast skillful dribbling and making the unselfish and smart decision of a simple pass to set up an easy goal. Beautiful. Two minutes later and we did it again. This time, Ava won the ball at midfield and dribbled into space with pace before the North Creek defense could organize, Saleen slowed her run at striker to stay onsides (key point here), and Ava fed her the ball and Saleen finished with style. 2-0 Bellevue. And finally, Saleen received the ball on a throw-in, spun her defender (a few times), and then fed Mack down the right channel (who had bent her run slightly to stay onsides), two touches and the ball was in the back of the net. 3-0 Bellevue. Just over ten minutes of action. Full send.  

With the game already secured, we rotated personnel, sometimes putting players in unusual positions, or pairing players together for good tactical team-building reasons, etc. And then, in the 32nd minute and completely against the run of play, we made a simple communication error in our defense. And with their first, and only, shot of the half, North Creek scored from an innoculous looking lob as our center-back and goalkeeper were unsure which player was going to take responsibility for a loose ball. 3-1 Bellevue. It happens. And better to happen now, than in a game later in the season when the stakes are higher. We added a fourth goal just before halftime, as Marlee anticipated an entry pass at midfield, stepped into space, and played a simple two-touch pass to Saleen's feet upfield. Simple turn, set-up touch to create a half-yard of space at the edge of the box, and a low-hard shot to the near post left the Jaguar keeper no chance. 4-1 halftime score.  

The second half was simlar to the first: complete Bellevue control of tempo and possession, with two noteable highlights: Saleen was fouled inside the North Creek box. Penalty. And penalty dispatched with confidence. 5-1 Bellevue and the icing on a "hat-trick two assist" cake for our senior captain. More please. This kind of gluttony I can support. Then with ten minutes left we got a little sloppy. We made a poor pass from out of our defensive backline, that we actually won back immediately, but then tried to dribble out of traffic rather than maintain simple possession...Jaguar midfielder poked the ball free and hit an early hard shot from 20 yards that seemed destined for the upper upper left corner of the net. Until Katelyn happened. Full stretch dive to her right, glove extended to maximum reach to parry the ball wide of the goal. Extraordinary save. Again, we are very grateful to have two excellent goalkeepers, and I sincerely hope they continue to try and outdo each other for breathtaking saves for the rest of the season (perhaps Katelyn was responding to Elena's similar save on Monday late in the Holy Names game? I hope so...let's keep this goalkeeper dance-off going ). 

Side note: we were offsides over a dozen times against North Creek. Staying onsides is a skill that can be learned. It requires calculated movement, timing, adjustment of pace, and awareness of space. A few close offsides calls against Holy Names that I needed to stop the video frame by frame to determine if the call was correct is one thing...being offsides a dozen times, repeatedly, obviously, needs to be worked on and corrected. We'll do so.     

And now we move onto perhaps the most competitive week of our Kingco regular season. On Tuesday, we host undefeated Issaquah (last season's #1 ranked 4A team and State semi-finalist) before traveling to Mt. Si on Thursday (also currently undefeated and last season's 4A State Champion). I know that we have lots of club teammates on both opponents' rosters, so it will be a fun challenge to play against our soccer friends.

We are giving both Varsity and JV Friday off for some extra rest. On Friday night, it's our football team's home opener. When we hosted Eastside Catholic, I know that several of the football boys came to support our team. And it created a very fun stadium atmosphere. I hope we can return the favor on Friday night. Enjoy.

Peter