Generals off-target, off-track, but hoping to change that
brian questel
September 19, 2012
353
092412 WHSgirlssoccer
Promo: Finding the back of the net can solve Woosters problems
Generals off-target, off-track, but hoping to change that
By Brian Questel
It may be a cliché, but it now a fact for Wooster girls soccer coach Les Wudarzewski.
I think that our motto will be one game at a time until were at the end of the season, said Wudarzewski.
Wudarzewski has come to that conclusion the hard way, as a 3-game losing streak has shredded a once-promising season. Those three loses – by 1-0, 2-1 and 2-0 counts – have the Generals playing for the postseason and the love of the game, said Wudarzewski whose team has fallen to 3-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference. The reason for the skid is simple, as the Generals have suddenly had great difficulty finding the back of the net.
We have to find ourselves and find a way to finish the opportunities we have during the games, said Wudarzewski. It seems to me we get those opportunities every single game, but the point is we dont finish or miss by inches. No one wants to talk about missed opportunities, and I dont, but we need to learn to finish those opportunities when they come around.
Without a doubt, with the exception of Brunswick (1-0 loss), we outplayed Firestone (4-2 loss) and against Clear Fork (2-1 loss) we had opportunities. If we score two goals in the first half (at Clear Fork), its a different game. Sometimes you need a little luck. One shot hits this way and a second a different way, its a score. You always need luck.
Woosters difficulties are centered squarely on its inability to score.
I think we are in a good place, said Wudarzewski. I think if we were not creating offensive opportunities or basically being outplayed, then I would be disappointed. But because we are in every game, it comes down to one or two mistakes. Thats soccer. Better players and better teams go though it and they eventually find a way to finish. Young teams will struggle finding a way.
We have a mixture between young players and older ones. Some players are still learning to play up at another level. I am sure (freshman) Emily (Edgell) did not expect that much pressure her first year and our young players are still get acclimated to the speed and pressure of (the varsity) game. As season goes, we will get better.
We are where we are supposed to be. I thought we would get over the hump and finish opponents, but maybe we need more time.
That has been the frustrating part for Wooster.
Our record does not reflect how we are playing, Wudarzewski said. Even against a very good Brunswick team we held our own. They were better skill-wise, but we held our own. That shows we do have talent. Against Clear Fork we showed we could play with the better teams. The one thing that has surprised me is the freshmen. All the freshmen came in and stepped it up. Its difficult for them. I think they did not expect that much pressure or physical play, but they are playing well.
The other thing is (daughter and starting keeper) Mariah (Wudarzewski) has surprised us in a lot of ways. When we were looking at the goalie position, we were hesitant. We thought Mariah and (senior) Ellie Rickett, but it seems Mariah is taking over and going through the bumps and bruises.
She has three shutouts and is averaging less than two goals a game, the coach said, buoyed by a strong defense.
Obviously (senior) Sarah Mason is a good player and we knew what to expect from her, he said. (Sophomore) Lauren Taylor came back and is playing well, and I think our biggest surprise is Natalie Cicolani. She plays 80 minutes against one of the other teams best players and has been awesome. It will be neat to see her there for the next three years. Cassie Wint has stepped in and has been a very solid player, and we have Tanzen (Angert), Sam Courson and Gabby (Cicolani) playing quite a bit.
Offensively, I think thats where we hit the bump in the road. There is a learning curve and Emily is adjusting and I think (sophomore) Sydney (Sleek) is still learning what she can do. Ellie Rickett (outside middie) is finally having an injury-free year and playing her heart out and senior Anna Battig is our best offensive player with her outside and skills. As coaches, we have to find a way for other players to find Anna. If she makes10 touches on the ball during a game instead of 50, thats a big difference. She has seven goals and I think definitely she is having the best year of her career.
