Disappointing result. Encouraging performance.

I saw a team that looked and played like the Pilots this afternoon. Welcome back!

Garrett had them in what looked to us like a 4-2-3-1 line up with Luty in goal then  Viera, DeGrood, Jeter and Boon at the back, Kurle and Young in front of the defense, Kendrick and Wetherington and Kennedy as attacking midfield with Evans up front.

This is a good plan for the team in my opinion. Kurle looked good back in her spot. She provided solid defense a lots of link up play. Evans had a fine game up front by herself. She worked very hard and did a super job of getting the ball, holding on to it and linking play. She usually had two or three defenders at her.

We saw more fluid play, more one and two touch passing, more movement.

It's too bad that conference play starts this coming weekend because I think they could use a couple more games in this set up. I hope that Kurle is back in holding midfield for the season.

It was a typically lively and moderately physical game as we expect with Washington. And the referree was awful. Called a bogus PK for Washington in the first half. Kept calling cheap fouls but not consistently. And when Wetherington was fouled on the edge of the area and fell out he blew the call and gave only a free kick. By the end of the game it was ludicrous and spoiled the game.

Two good goals bt Wetherington and Kendrick. And a nasty looking injury to Kennedy. She was on crutches with a heavily strapped knee after the game. Hope it's not serious and she recovers fast because she's important for this team right now.

Thank you for the formation. I couldn't tell who was supposed to be forward.

I think the biggest change we saw was from the coach.
Coach got a yellow card, you know there is something wrong when GS gets heated.
I even heard Coach shouting directions to players.

This team is filled with talent. While I think everyone deserves to play, I would like to Sipple get more minutes than she did yesterday.

Go Pilots.

Harry Redknapp wrote:It's too bad that conference play starts this coming weekend because I think they could use a couple more games in this set up.

I don't know.....after a 3-5-2 start, I think the team could use a fresh start, and it was obvious to me that these preseason games were starting to take a bit of a physical toll on some of the players.

It won't get any easier on the pitch, but the psychological lift of a clean slate can't be underestimated.

I looked at Kennedy's injury in the highlights. It's the most disturbing thing from yesterday. She went down with no contact, eirily similar to Megan's first injury and in almost the exact spot Kendall had hers.

Here is praying it isn't as bad as those were, but at least they had full recoveries.

Kennedy is one of my favorite freshman.
Earned her starting spot.
When she came back after the half she was carrying her crutches, so I am hopeful she will be back soon.
There is no doubt that our D would benefit from the return on McClusky.
Boone looks like she is playing as well or better now than before missing a few games.

When I read the box score last night I was surprised to see Luty only had 3 saves. It felt like 13.
Watching the highlights I count 7. Unless punching it out is not a save.

I do NOT like to be a whiner, so please accept my apology for merely stating something I viewed on Sunday. UW's number 20 - Kimby Keever (I wouldn't use my real name either), began the game in the first 4 minutes, by getting up at the same time as Parkes did when a ball went out of bounds and they both fell. She pushed, with her hands, Parkes in the chest...strike one. At another point she pulled the arm of one of our players that was headed for the net and, as she pulled, the ball went to the right of the net and keeper...strike two. Finally, in the last 20 minutes, she put a full raised knee into the back of Noelle (I think) and they both went down...foul on Portland...strike three. I have only seen one other referee perform like this...and she was fired the next week.