2008 Woodie Awards
Women's Soccer: Minutewomen look to find offensive stride
Minutewomen look to turnaround slow offensive start
Adam Miller, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Sports
Just as Massachusetts women's soccer coach Jim Rudy predicted, the injuries to forward Sydney Stoll and midfielder Meghan Gould - along with losing Britt Canfield to graduation - would limit the offense's effectiveness compared to last year.
He adjusted by stressing defense this year, which has kept UMass (0-1-1) in both of its games against Binghamton and Maine. However, the missing offense that the Minutewomen had last season has caused two potential wins to escape the Maroon and White.
They had a 1-0 lead against Binghamton until the final minutes of the game when Bearcat forward Emily Dixon scored a goal in the 83rd minute, forcing extra time. UMass lost that game, 2-1.
In the following game against Maine, goalkeeper Lauren Luckey recorded seven saves. Though she earned her first career shutout, the Minutewomen could not capitalize on six shots.
It doesn't look any better as freshman Amanda Carvalho is out with a knee injury. But the offense's biggest problem is showing more aggressiveness on the end-line.
"We're pulling back out, and that is bringing out our players onto the weaker foot," Rudy said. "Then when they try to cross the ball in, there are four defenders. If you go, you almost always get something positive. When we do, then we get corners and that puts the other team under pressure so they have to defend with 10 players."
Some of the offensive problems for the Minutewomen have to do with a completely revamped lineup. Midfielders Amy Ballew and Therese Smith are both showing a glimpse of what they can do in the center, but are still adjusting to the increased playing time.
Ballew played a full game for the first time against Maine, when in previous seasons - she hadn't played over 45 minutes. Smith was previously a playmaker exclusively on offense, but is now being asked to play both sides.
"Smith is a terrifically skilled and talented player," Rudy said. "Wherever she's played she's been a playmaker, which means attack and don't worry about defense. But we don't have that luxury so we're trying to make her into a complete player and she's done a good job at that."
He adjusted by stressing defense this year, which has kept UMass (0-1-1) in both of its games against Binghamton and Maine. However, the missing offense that the Minutewomen had last season has caused two potential wins to escape the Maroon and White.
They had a 1-0 lead against Binghamton until the final minutes of the game when Bearcat forward Emily Dixon scored a goal in the 83rd minute, forcing extra time. UMass lost that game, 2-1.
In the following game against Maine, goalkeeper Lauren Luckey recorded seven saves. Though she earned her first career shutout, the Minutewomen could not capitalize on six shots.
It doesn't look any better as freshman Amanda Carvalho is out with a knee injury. But the offense's biggest problem is showing more aggressiveness on the end-line.
"We're pulling back out, and that is bringing out our players onto the weaker foot," Rudy said. "Then when they try to cross the ball in, there are four defenders. If you go, you almost always get something positive. When we do, then we get corners and that puts the other team under pressure so they have to defend with 10 players."
Some of the offensive problems for the Minutewomen have to do with a completely revamped lineup. Midfielders Amy Ballew and Therese Smith are both showing a glimpse of what they can do in the center, but are still adjusting to the increased playing time.
Ballew played a full game for the first time against Maine, when in previous seasons - she hadn't played over 45 minutes. Smith was previously a playmaker exclusively on offense, but is now being asked to play both sides.
"Smith is a terrifically skilled and talented player," Rudy said. "Wherever she's played she's been a playmaker, which means attack and don't worry about defense. But we don't have that luxury so we're trying to make her into a complete player and she's done a good job at that."
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