Central Methodist vs Lindenwood University

     I watched a better CMU team play last night at Fayette.  The girls were connecting with passes and it seemed they were playing with more energy and movement.  In the first half both teams were equal in intensity and the half ended scoreless 0-0.  
     Many of the qualities that I use to describe the game are certainly subjective, like energy, intensity, quality and desire, but I am convinced that in most of the games I have watched this season that is the only difference between the win or the loss.   I am making the comparison to teams that I have observed with those attributes and often it is to this CMU team in selected moments. CMU has the talent and ability but (IMHO) it either is not being recognized, utilized, encouraged, or motivated by the coaching staff.
  One factor which is not subjective is "first touch" and the Lindenwood team certainly had the better "first touch" of the two teams.  They were making properly weighted passes into spaces that gave them a tactical advantage and when they did pass directly to a teammate it was a ball that was easily handled.  CMU was connecting passes but it always took extra movement and extraordinary effort to maintain possession and play like that expends more energy.  The energy that Lindenwood was conserving with possession was spent in the battle for 50-50 balls.  They were first to to ball and the last to give up and in my unofficial scorebook won 60 to 70 percent of the loose balls in the midfield.  I did not see a sense of "urgency" with CMU either to defend once the ball was past them or to attack with numbers.  It is almost like they play with the attitude "let George do it" and never join in team defense to double down players or group attack by making off the ball runs.
     In the second half the CMU came out fairly strong but 20 minutes into the half Lindenwood really hit a different gear and picked up the intensity of the game.  CMU followed for a while but couldn't maintain that level and when Lindenwood scored in the 61st minute Lindenwood really picked up the effort to protect the lead.  CMU had several chances on counterattacks but the best chance to equalize occurred with about 6 minutes left when Shawn Beard had a hard shot tipped by an excellent save from the Lindenwood goalie and the score ended 0-1.  Debra and I will be unable to attend either of the last two games but I will keep you posted on outcomes.
Here is the Recap and the Box Score of the game.
     We will be going to Des Moines to watch Iowa Central and Madeline play in the post season tournament this weekend.  Their team attitude is really upbeat and they are playing their best soccer right now when they should.  Madeline said that they practiced in their Halloween costumes last night.  Here is how the coach notified them on Facebook.

Iowa Central Community College Women's Soccer Halloween Practice today at 4pm. Dress up or you'll do 15 Millers and 40% Liverpools!!!!!! LIV, ERP, Double O L, Liverpool FC!!!! BBBwwwaaaaaa HHHaaaaaa Haaaaaaa

 Here is a picture from the practice!