100-Percent Cotton
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - "100-Percent Cotton" is the weekly blog of senior defender Jessica Cotton. The blog gives fans a look at the inner workings of the SFA soccer program and is updated weekly on Tuesdays.
Coming off our win against Sam Houston, we felt confident about having a full week to prepare for a home stand of tough games.
We were given Saturday and Sunday off for rest and Monday we would start our week. Monday would be our toughest practice of the week. We started off with the Brazilian Skill Balls that were brought out the previous week. It has improved our touch, passing, and shots, so we continue to use them.
After using the skill ball, we split up into attackers and defenders. As defenders, we worked on accuracy of our clearances and winning fifty-fifty balls, while I hear the attackers worked on their runs, and finishing opportunities. We then came back together for a transition game, which did not start out all that great, but after stopping and figuring it out, we went back into it with a new outlook and played well for the remaining twenty minutes.
The last thing we did at practice was run our fitness for the week. It did not take very much time, but the high intensity took a lot out of everyone.
Tuesday and Wednesday were mainly focused toward our team shape. We also began these practices with the skill balls. We worked on transition games that would replicate Friday's game against UTSA. As an entire team, we worked on offensive patterns and defending the different patterns that teams can run.
Thursday our practice was focused on individual defending and defending corner kicks, as these have been our main sources of concern. Thursday night ended with a team spaghetti dinner held at Lackey, Fricks, and Rachel's apartment. It was a good way to be together as a team and get some great food!
Friday rolled around, and we first got together for pre-game meal at Union Cafe. We had our choice of chicken and vegetables. After, we had free time to do what we needed, then had to be in the locker room and ready to go at 5:45. We watched our pre game montage made my [coach] Trae [Manny], headed out for warm-up, then it was time to begin the game.
To start the game, honestly, we were playing very poorly. We were not keeping the ball or winning tackles, which is vital to our success. We finally got into a groove after Alders scored mid-way through. Going into half time we were ahead, 1-0.
We came out in the second half much like we did the first, flat and extremely slow. They capitalized on our slow start and tied the game at one. Little did we think that goal would start a downward spiral. They ended up scoring two more goals, putting the game at 3-1, and we could not find the back of the net. To say the least, we were extremely angry, but knew we had to come back out Sunday in a must-win game.
Saturday was light and quick. We spend the first twenty minutes with our own skill ball and Ipod. We were given the chance to just focus on ourselves with the ball at our feet. We then played small-sided games for the remainder. We had the rest of Saturday to relax and prepare for Sunday's game against Texas State.
Sunday got off to an early start. We had pre-game meal at the Fredonia Hotel around 9 that morning, and had to be dressed and ready to go by 11:45. The game was slated for a 1 p.m. start, and we got under way with a very even game in the early going.
It went back and forth the entire first half and ended in a scoreless tie. Going into halftime, we knew our biggest concern of the day would be to come out lively and strong during the second half. However, it did not work the way we wanted it to. Texas State scored about fifteen minutes into the half. Just like Friday, our unlucky opportunites were the deciding factor, and the game ended in a 1-0 disappointment.
Now, we have our backs against the wall when it comes to conference standings, and we must start clawing our way out of the hole we dug for ourselves. We begin our week of practice on Tuesday and we are looking to refocus as individuals as well as an entire team. This weekend we travel to Central Arkansas and Northwestern State to try and regain our confidence going into the last few weeks of conference and the conference tournament.
-- SFA --
