Season Update - Q&A With Coach Crittenden
9/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team is four matches into the season, owning a 2-2 record. Having played some tough competition in the first two weeks, most recently playing Nevada and No. 25 Arkansas on a neutral site at the University of Texas, head coach Wally Crittenden answered a few questions about how the season has gone thus far.
Q&A – Head coach Wally Crittenden
On first four matches of the season:
“These are the type of matches when you can measure your fitness, tactics, and game management, as well as the competitive character within your team. I am very pleased with our character and with the schemes we have designed for this season. We have proven through four games, against very good teams, that we are capable of executing these tactics against anyone, home or away. The final step for this group is the appreciation for the little details that determine games. Our execution can improve, and it will with time, and we continue to grow and understand that every possession we have now has the ability to impact the game…but so does every possession our opponent has as well. I am really excited about the direction we are headed at the moment.”
On last weekend verse Nevada and No. 25 Arkansas:
“There were a lot of really good things about our trip to Austin and facing Nevada and Arkansas. First and foremost, it will continue to build our experience on the road against two quality opponents. Nevada also presented an opportunity to test the maturity of our group in how we dealt with a weather delay. I thought we came out fast in that game and scored two good goals prior to the delay. Nevada came out and shifted their shape and their mentality into high pressure and that tested our resolve in keeping the ball and ultimately, we were able to score a third goal to put the game away. It wasn’t as clean as I would like, but considering the demands of our opponent and regarding the weather delay, it was a positive result for sure.
“Going into Sunday versus Arkansas, we knew we had to be sharp and disciplined in our technique and tactics. Arkansas presented a great counter threat and a very dangerous throw-in. We felt great about our game plan regarding the throw-in and we were able to stifle that for the most part. Their counter was a bit more of a challenge and I think we made adjustments to match that and ultimately settle the game in our favor. It is just unfortunate though that those adjustments took effect after two early, and uncharacteristic, goals were scored. Our defensive unit does a fantastic job and the two goals that were scored haven’t been presented in the last year and half and somehow were presented within 10 minutes of each other. Following that, we were able to respond and score a couple really good goals and the match was very entertaining going into the last 10 minutes when they finished a free kick to seal the score line at 4-2."
On upcoming match at LSU (Sept. 8):
“LSU is a great team and they have some very dynamic players. It is a team that I think we match up really well against. I think the way that we play and the schemes that we have will demand their best and there is no doubt that their choices and tactics will demand our best. In preparation, we don’t do anything differently. We will install a couple wrinkles to capitalize on scenarios that I think will present a little differently from the previous matches we have had so far. This is a game that we are all excited about and I can’t wait to see our team take the field after the adjustments we have made from last Sunday’s match."
On what teams needs to do before beginning Southland Conference play on September 21st:
With the way we are playing and the chemistry and resolve our team has shown in navigating a very demanding non-conference schedule, the main thing we will focus on heading into conference play will be limiting our distractions and appreciating every game that we have the chance to showcase our style and understand that regardless of opponent, we need to execute at the level we have prepared. If we do that, we will be a very tough team to play against and the results will be there for this team to achieve."
-SFA-
