Soccer Preview and Game Thread: Arkansas

In case you learn my in-game and post-game feedback, you already know what to anticipate right here. The tactical breakdown goes to be intensive. I’ll begin with the same old protection of what occurred earlier than going into the why. Vanderbilt hosted the Georgia Bulldogs on West Finish in an essential SEC East battle. Division factors matter for who wins the division title and ensures a prime 2 seed within the SEC Match.

The possession benefit is a stark shock after watching the sport stay. Nonetheless, the territory of the possession explains it a bit. Vanderbilt would spend 11.5 minutes inside 30 yards of the Georgia purpose. The Bulldogs would spend only a contact greater than 14 minutes inside taking pictures or crossing vary of the Commodores’ purpose. Additional, Georgia spent 66% of their time on the ball (26 minutes) within the Vanderbilt defensive half. The parts of the pitch the place the groups have been in a position to have the ball explains the massive shot benefit (12 to five) the guests held. The 8 to 2 pictures on purpose distinction made a Commodore victory extremely unlikely.

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Kate Devine was again from damage and confirmed why she is the #1. She made seven saves together with this one for the spotlight reel.

The Commodore purpose got here early. It may need come even earlier if Raegan Kelley had not been a few foot offside 1:17 into the match. The followers in attendance didn’t have to attend lengthy to have a good time once more although as Alex Kerr would strike residence after a slick feed from Abi Brighton simply 2:27 later. Then the assault would stall with Kerr’s purpose being the one official shot try taken within the first half. The guests would equalize within the 16^th minute.

The second half was a lot the identical till a late flurry noticed the Dores almost take the lead themselves a couple of instances, although Devine needed to keep at her finest as seen above. She would face 6 pictures in every interval with 4 on course within the first and three within the second. So why did Vanderbilt have a lot possession however achieve this little with it when they’re sometimes a crew that not solely retains the ball however places the opposing crew beneath immense strain?

For anybody pretty new to studying my soccer musings, I’m an enormous fan of Vanderbilt Head Coach Darren Ambrose. Nice coaches can nonetheless have their flaws. The Georgia match was an instance of Ambrose’s largest flaw coming to the floor. He’s a really pragmatic coach and, in my estimation not by his personal admission, trusts his crew extra to win or draw a cagey affair than get right into a back-and-forth battle. He’s the fighter who needs to duck and evade whereas throwing jabs as an alternative of popping out swinging. That perspective has served Vanderbilt extraordinarily effectively as Ambrose has constructed this system from a doormat to a perennial SEC contender.

A few of Thursday’s ways will also be chalked as much as accidents. Rachel Deresky was not obtainable, and Caroline Betts was a really restricted participant. With out these two, Vanderbilt lacks gamers who’re good one-on-one attackers. As a substitute of going with ways which may have let the artistic qualities of Amber Nguyen, Raegan Kelley, and Abi Brighton shine in midfield, Ambrose determined to principally dissolve the central midfield areas with a 4-4-2 utilizing a diamond midfield.

The again 4 was the identical personnel as at all times, however the fullbacks Alex Wagner and Abena Aidoo have been largely held again from becoming a member of the assault, which is a begin departure from their regular function within the 4-3-3 used most frequently this season. Hannah McLaughlin was the defensive midfielder enjoying simply in entrance of the CBs. Brighton was pushed large left with Nguyen on the best. Kelley was in her regular attacking midfield function however enjoying nearly like one other ahead. Peyton Cutshall and Alex Kerr have been the unique two strikers.

The early success got here from Kelley and Cutshall flashing out to the best for by balls then reducing inside or crossing to the close to put up. The effectiveness light quickly after the purpose that counted although. Maddie Baker would come on for Brighton who was largely ineffective outdoors of the help that got here quickly after a free kick, so she was not within the large left place assigned her. The irony is just not misplaced on me as a result of it exhibits extra precisely what ought to have occurred.

I perceive departing from the 4-3-3 with the accidents, however the higher reply was most likely a 4-2-3-1. It might have stored the defensive and midfield alignment basically the identical besides it pulls the wingers into roles extra even with Kelley vertically whereas giving the fullbacks the identical room to get ahead down the skin. Doing so provides McLaughlin and Brighton of their holding midfield positions choices to play the ball to toes as an alternative of over the Georgia again line into house. Vanderbilt, particularly with out Betts and Deresky, lacks the tempo for these balls to be persistently profitable, although Maddie Baker confirmed her tempo a couple of instances. Cutshall is completely fitted to the lone central striker function. Kerr is listed as midfielder/ahead and has the flexibility to play as one of many large attacking midfielders beside Kelley. Nguyen is just not an exceptionally quick participant, however she may be very intelligent with the ball at her toes. She additionally persistently combines effectively with Kelley, so these three enjoying behind Cutshall may have prompted some efficient chaos.

Because it was, the Dores resorted to launching lengthy balls both in the direction of the heads of Kerr and Cutshall or enjoying by the Georgia again line. Raegan Kelley hardly ever bought an opportunity to be her handiest self by receiving the ball to her toes within the central areas of the sector. Which, there’s my largest gripe with the ways. It put too many Commodores in positions that didn’t match their finest abilities.

Brighton was an entire non-factor on the left of midfield and performed lower than 2/3 of the match. Kelley’s creativity and skill to drive in the direction of purpose was neutered by the deployment of gamers round her. Wagner and Aidoo have been stored from including their tempo on the flanks to the assault. Cutshall and Kerr have been despatched chasing large too usually as an alternative of attending to play extra central and put their ending abilities to make use of. Nguyen was the least effected of the non-goalkeeper or middle again gamers, however she is at her finest in fast give-and-go passing whereas taking up defenders in tight areas. None of that was persistently helpful with the midfield so unfold open.

Hopefully, Deresky and Betts can be found as a result of historical past says Coach Ambrose will follow the ways we noticed towards Georgia, particularly for a highway match with #9 Arkansas. The Razorbacks are 9-2-1 (4-1-0). They drew 3-3 at #13 BYU and have misplaced 1-0 at St. Louis (stunning outcome, actually) and 2-0 at Mississippi State. They’ve a 1-0 win at #8 South Carolina beneath their belt.

Essentially the most harmful Hogs are Anna Podojil (5 objectives and 4 assists), Jessica De Filippo (5G 3A), and Ava Tankersley (3G 9A). Arkansas has outscored opponents 24 to eight on the season. The protection is held down by Barbara Grace in purpose who has began all 12 matches and made 39 saves on 46 SOG confronted. Her protection is just permitting opponents to shoot 9 instances per match, too.

Immediately’s match kicks off any second from Fayetteville, Arkansas. It’s being streamed on SECN+/ESPN+. Vanderbilt could make a giant assertion dealing with a High 10 crew on the highway. We will see if classes have been discovered Thursday.