Mustangs play strong second half to defeat good EW team
We sure are getting tired of playing good teams on bad fields. What should have been a game of skill between two skilled teams turned more into a crash and burn session, as wildly bouncing balls broke up well planned plays, as dodges that work on true surfaces stopped dead, disrupting play. The officiating was good, however, and although the no-see-ums were out in full force at EW's field, the weather cooperated.
Millbrook came out strong in the opening minutes with a concerted offensive push. Steele-Norton missed a sure goal on a cross that bounced at the last second right over her stick. We had trouble with bouncing balls on both ends of the field but our defense, also challenged by unreliable balls, made the necessary adjustments to field conditions. Tory Small would have a strong game, especially in the second half, moving with great confidence to meet and intercept passes. In the first half, EW moved better to the ball, and moved the ball with more confidence, home-field advantage, as our offense struggled. But with five minutes left in the half, Burdis, working with Fallon and Steele-Norton, made two excellent fast break runs down the left wing, pulled into the circle and took on the goalie 1v1, and although we didn't score, her second run led to a penalty corner, our first and only in the first half. The score would remain 0-0 at half.
We simply played a much better second half. Even though we only earned 3 corners to EW's 10 (not a good ratio!) that showed we were keeping the ball in our offensive zone longer. We gave up five corners in a row at 25:01, but our defense prevailed, and stopped them time after time. Millbrook would score 22:02 as Chapman took a hard free hit into the circle and Steele-Norton, with her quick stick, tipped it passed the onrushing goalie. Assist to Chapman. We then went on the play five minutes of truly inspired hockey and EW called a TO, realizing a potent momentum change. After the TO, EW came back to make a great shot forcing goalie Nelson to make a splendid hand-save at 15:49, stopping a sure goal. At 9:35, Millbrook earned it's second corner of the half and executed a picture perfect corner, injection from Steele-Norton to Burdis, back to Steele-Norton who shot and scored. Assist to Burdis. Steele-Norton would then go on to have 3 fast break runs which were exciting to watch, but she was so darn fast our forwards couldn't catch up so one of her perfect crosses flew out of bounds just out of reach of wing Anthony. We unfortunately gave up a penalty corner at the end of the game with some sloppy play and that cost us, as EW scored after time expired on their last corner of the day.
But overall, a good effort, especially the second half, against a skilled EW team.
Back
Millbrook came out strong in the opening minutes with a concerted offensive push. Steele-Norton missed a sure goal on a cross that bounced at the last second right over her stick. We had trouble with bouncing balls on both ends of the field but our defense, also challenged by unreliable balls, made the necessary adjustments to field conditions. Tory Small would have a strong game, especially in the second half, moving with great confidence to meet and intercept passes. In the first half, EW moved better to the ball, and moved the ball with more confidence, home-field advantage, as our offense struggled. But with five minutes left in the half, Burdis, working with Fallon and Steele-Norton, made two excellent fast break runs down the left wing, pulled into the circle and took on the goalie 1v1, and although we didn't score, her second run led to a penalty corner, our first and only in the first half. The score would remain 0-0 at half.
We simply played a much better second half. Even though we only earned 3 corners to EW's 10 (not a good ratio!) that showed we were keeping the ball in our offensive zone longer. We gave up five corners in a row at 25:01, but our defense prevailed, and stopped them time after time. Millbrook would score 22:02 as Chapman took a hard free hit into the circle and Steele-Norton, with her quick stick, tipped it passed the onrushing goalie. Assist to Chapman. We then went on the play five minutes of truly inspired hockey and EW called a TO, realizing a potent momentum change. After the TO, EW came back to make a great shot forcing goalie Nelson to make a splendid hand-save at 15:49, stopping a sure goal. At 9:35, Millbrook earned it's second corner of the half and executed a picture perfect corner, injection from Steele-Norton to Burdis, back to Steele-Norton who shot and scored. Assist to Burdis. Steele-Norton would then go on to have 3 fast break runs which were exciting to watch, but she was so darn fast our forwards couldn't catch up so one of her perfect crosses flew out of bounds just out of reach of wing Anthony. We unfortunately gave up a penalty corner at the end of the game with some sloppy play and that cost us, as EW scored after time expired on their last corner of the day.
But overall, a good effort, especially the second half, against a skilled EW team.
