http://seminoles.com/megan-connolly-scores-twice-in-win-over-south-alabama/ Nice, but not dominating win. We'll take it. Be glad when Anna Patten gets back. I'll be interested to see what the lineup looks like when/if she's inserted.
A little late to the party...I was at the game and thought it was a bad call when the ref made it (I was at the other end of the field). Watching the replay confirmed it.
I agree that it was a bad call, but I also agree with Soccerhunter that at real speed from a different angle, it's easy to make the wrong call.
I watched the game online, at times, maybe most times we looked like a disjointed hot mess. Bergau scares me in the back. On the other hand Carle looks really good, at least attacking and Patten looked good. The defense lost Crowley and Berkely(injured), hopefully we grow, learn and improve as the season progresses.
Why so down? Six different players scored ... and four of them were yours! Samford 2-4 Florida State. A win on the road, and ... many teachable moments
What did you all see? Wasn't able to watch it. Disjointed in back? I seem to remember multiple stat lines from last year where lesser competition would seemingly convert shots at an unusually high rate.
Disjointed, meaning too many errant passes, players just not synched. The last goal by Samford was a thing of beauty, lofted from the right of the keeper sailing over her head at a sharp angle and coming down and landing in the back corner of the net, Hope Solo would not of saved it. The fact is with this large freshman class and overall youth and their lack of playing time together, in Pattens case just a few days, lack of cohesiveness should not be surprising.
Thoughts? 1st half. Too many players taking 25 yard shots when they could have dribbled closer or passed. Lack of toughness. I miss Jamia Fields out wide being physical on defense and taking the ball away or forcing a bad pass due to pressure. I miss Dagny being physical defensively; as well as, offensively. I miss Kristin Grubka being an enforcer and Michaela and the German Girl (brain fart) controlling the defensive midfield. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to like to. It's early and this team can still make big noise. I like the potential of A. Richardson. She's not afraid to go 1 v 1 and attack. I really liked Anna on the attack. Gabby and Gloriana show great potential! Our backline needs to get it together. They are NOT making me forget Crowley, Grubka, etc. Once again, great potential!
A few more thoughts: I agree about the long distance shots. Carle did an excellent job attacking, the most aggressive on the team. Connolly got dispossessed easily and had careless giveaways.
Connolly has not shown the toughness I would like to see. If someone dispossessed Dagny, she would hunt them down and deliver a physical message. Dagny was an alpha who didn't back down. To this point in time, Megan has been a highly skilled player who lacks the toughness of an alpha. BTW, I am also impressed with Emily Madril. Decent size, good pace and an aggressive mentality. Time will tell, but I think she has some Dawg in her, Alpha that is. I was as impressed with Anna and Gabby! Gloriana shows flashes!
crazyhorse, I believe you and I used to converse on Warchant. If I'm correct you used a different username. (Think Hugh Heffner) Regardless, it's good to have your insight and opinions. That ethereal concept of "chemistry" is impossible to quantify, but immeasurably important. Noticed uf beat Stanford last night. If I'm not mistaken we handled them easily in a spring scrimmage. This isn't the spring anymore. Hope Mark and some Chemistry magic for this team! As much raw talent on this team as I've ever seen. Too bad we lost Malia for the year. Where is KMac?
I havent posted on Warchant in a few years, though my username there wasnt anything Hugh Hefner related, lol. I am not sure whats going on with KM, she is with the team, just not dressed out.
Disregard rude posters! Mark has got to see he MUST replace Bergau in CB. She is a huge liability that Alabama exploited multiple times. She just doesn't have the speed for how far up she plays. Additionally, any pass she made over 15 yards was to Bama. The second person that needed a swift kick in the pants was Megan Connolly. She got dispossessed and pushed around like an indentured servant. A few players that played with heart to the end. Kuika, Carle, Madril, Villalobos and Castellanos. Without a change in CB, this team will severely underachieve. Mark is a smart coach, why hasn't he addressed this glaring liability?
Congratulations to Alabama and coach Hart. If we are going to lose, at least it is to a former FSU assistant coach, very happy for Hart. Like Cat Whitehill said during the broadcast, Alabama simply looked like they wanted it more. They where very well organized defensively and no one from FSU seemed to want to take charge up front. It was quite obvious that the game plan to was to exploit Bergau, she got beat early and often. Connolly, again, cannot seem to keep the ball. I really like Madril and Carle, aggressive players. Alabamas goal went through the hands of Miller, but its not like that was their only shot on goal, this wasn't a fluke, Alabama was the better team today and played with heart and desire, something FSU is missing. Again well done Alabama.
People, stop. Posts like above prove you don't know soccer. FSU is one of the best teams in ACC and the country. They lost a soccer game. On the road. It happens. And Alabama was not the better team today because they won the game. And questioning MK is ridiculous. Stop!
Some of you guys need to have some thicker skin. It's great that the top teams are losing. This is really good for the balance within college soccer.
I couldn't see the game this weekend (and welcome your impressions if you did), but that stat line is quite dispiriting. If my memory serves, some of our disappointing results last year were combined with pretty strong stat lines implying some bad luck. Not the case here at all. We were evenly matched and outclassed by a middle of the road SEC team. Really hope they can put it together this year. Too much talent to waste
I watched the second half of this game and what struck me was a lack of urgency. They moved the ball around the pitch well but just didn't seem to press I'm their offensive third. Alabama really put their foot down in the last 15 minutes when they realized they could win this game and deserved the result