Weekly comments and updates about the previous weeks games and tournaments.
East Brunswick Tournament
The 96-97 Gazelles were crowned champions in the U13 Girls Select Bracket of last weekends East Brunswick Labor Day Tournament. The girls bounced back from a first game defeat to win out with only one goal scored upon them the entire weekend. "I am extremely proud of the girls for 4 great performances throughout the weekend. I’m looking forward to a great year and continued improvement from the team," said Coach Dan Howard.
Gazelles vs. BOM Revolution
"The girls competed well at times but were unable to sustain a high enough level of play. We had a very poor 20 minute spell in the second half and conceded a couple of easy goals. We’re going to have to move the ball quicker and compete at a higher level on a more consistent basis," said coach Danny Howard.
Gazelles vs. Clifton Stallions
The girls played very well this weekend. We were a much the better soccer team. We needed to be more clinical in front of goal.
Gazelles vs. American Thunderbolts
We came up against very strong opposition who played at a much higher tempo than us. We competed well at times. It just shows us how hard we need to work and what we need to do to reach where we want to be.
Gazelles vs. Morris United Phoenix
After an average first half the girls really pushed hard and played extremely well in the second half. We totally dominated the game creating numerous chances but just couldnt find the back of the net to make the breakthrough. It was an excellent second half performance, we just need to maintain that level and start finishing our chances.
Gazelles vs. WWPSA Pride
We played well in the first half, moving the ball quickly and creating a number of chances. Lindsay Martin scored the only goal of the game with a great strike from distance. We should have won the game a lot more comforably but squandered a number of good chances. In the second half we let the WWPSA back into the game, as we gave the ball away to easily. But in poor weather conditions we managed to hold onto our lead and take the points.
Gazelles vs. Thistle Magic
We played extremely well against Thistle on Friday, while missing key players we still put in an excellent performance against a strong side. We defended
very well all over the field and caused numerous problems with our quick breaks and movement.
Gazelles vs. CNJSB Wildcats
We started the game well and quickly took charge, dominating possession and attacking the goal quickly putting their goal under lots of pressure. In the second half we stopped playing, our ball use was poor and we didn’t retain possession, letting our opposition back into the game. We struggled to switch the play and change the point of attack, leaving us playing in congested areas and losing the ball. A poor refereeing decision gifted our opposition a goal, but the game should have been over long before this, as missed chances cost us.
Gazelles vs. DSC United Dragons
An excellent display in the first 15 minutes saw us go two goals up early in the game, with great strikes from Lindsay Martin and Lauren Pacewitz. We then allowed our opposition to take control of the game and continued to perform poorly until the end of the game. We were very much hanging on at the end of the game as wel lost all energy from our team, this combined with some poor defensive positioning nearly cost us. However, we did manage to hold out with some good saves and last ditch challenges, to record another win. A long and hard weekend, with many players missing through illness and struggling with fitness. We managed to grind out some good results, with the disappointing aspect being that with more clinical finishing we could have won all three games.
Gazelles vs. FC Premier Fury
Gazelles played very well throughout the entire game and attacked our opposition from the start. Creating many goalscoring opportunities we could have added to our score to make the game more comfortable. We defended well and maintained our passing game even under pressure. A very mature performance that highlights the progress we have made throughout the season.
Parsippany Tournament
The girls started very slowly in a number of games, and allowed DSC United Dragons to take a 2-0 lead before we even started playing. We then picked up our game and competed well.
In our second game we played LSTS London, it is always a very tight game with few chances. We did dominate the play and really should have won this game. Once again we are squandering too many chances.
A similar story in our final game, we are playing really well and looking solid in defense, but our decisions in the attacking third of the field have let us down. However, we did manage to make the breakthrough and score in this game, we really should have added to the score to make things much more comfortable for us.
Baltimore March Mania Tournament
The Gazelles reached the final this weekend without ever producing their best soccer. If we had im confident we would have come away as comfortable winners of the competition.
Gazelles - 1 vs. Montgomery Magic -1
We looked rather nervous upon taking the field after last weekends heavy defeats and were quite poor in the early stages. After assessing the opposition our girls suddenly realized that we were much the stronger team and began to take control of the game. We created numerous chances and finally hit the net through Lauren Pacewicz after great work by Tiffany on the wing. After dominating the majority of the game but not finishing it off, we then gave control over to our opposition, we started to look edgy all over the field and eventually gave up a goal. However, our reaction to conceding the goal was good and we were disappointed to not win the game.
Gazelles -1 vs. Long Valley United Rage - 1
We had an extremely poor start to the game and during the first 15 mins gave our opposition too much time and space allowing them to control all aspects of the game. We looked a little intimidated by their aggressive style and size, allowing them to win all combative situations. However, even during this period of poor play we never gave up any rel chances. We found ourselves a goal down after clearing a ball just outside our penalty area, and watching as their player hit a long range shot over our GK. There was no way our GK could have saved it, but with pressure to the ball before the shot it would never have happened. After going 1-0 down we then increased our intensity and began to fight for the ball. We took control of the game and our hard work payed off with an excellent goal from Amanda Kopacz, very similar to the goal we had conceded earlier a fantastic shot from the outside of the box. If anyone deserved to score it was Amanda after a colossal defensive performance. The remainder of the game was very even, with few chances and both teams looking to win in an exciting encounter. We probably should have won the game in the dying moments after creating a great breakaway chance, but unfortunately we couldn’t find the goal.
Gazelles - 2 vs. Kirkwood SC Blue Ice - 1
Another extremely exciting game, we made it hard for ourselves by not finishing our chances when we were dominating the play and also with some uncharacteristically poor defending which lead to us going 1-0 behind against the run of play. 1-0 behind at half time we were always confident to overturn things, stepping up our play we took control of possession and started to play some excellent soccer, moving the ball at speed. Alexis Castanheira tied the game finishing from close range after a great corner kick. The girls with confidence rising could sense the next goal coming and we finally took the lead with a smart finish from Lauren after an excellent assist and wing play from her sister Ashleigh. A good team performance and smart play saw us close off the game and progress to the final. The only downside was an injury to Michaela Straley.
Final
Gazelles - 0 vs. Long Valley United Rage - 1
We knew what to expect from the final having played this team already, it was going to be a physical battle, a close game with few chances. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get into our stride and move the ball. We could not retain possession up the field and gave the ball away far too easily. Without the ball we worked really hard and showed great passion and appetite for the game, but we just could not produce our quality when we needed to. In a very close game we were always a threat even though we didn’t play particularly well with the ball. We didn’t create the chances to win the game on the day, which is a slight disappointment.
All in all a good weekend, will be a great confidence boost to our girls - reaching a final and knowing you can play a great deal better is always a positive thing.
