Rochester Pride - RSC Lightning '96

In a hard fought and well contested match Wednesday night, Thunder scored 2 goals in the last 15 minutes of the match to draw within one goal of 1st-place GPSA Mustangs. Pressure was building and the attack was furious. The goalkeeper made what can only be decribed as a sensational extention save on a gorgeous shot by Sandi to prevent the tying goal in the last minute or two. And one gets the sense that only the clock prevented the inevitable equalizer. Well, so be it. The loss is in the books. BUT THE FIGHTING THUNDER ARE BACK! And THAT is what is exciting and noteworthy to me. We got down early and scrambled a bit in the 1st half and yielded 2 unnecessary goals. But halftime adjustments and refocus on finding target players, marking to prevent turns and driving hard to the net paid off. The first goal came from exactly that effort. The ball was keenly played from the center of the field behind the defense for target player Sara out on the right wing to run onto. From there it was a breakaway situation and Sara pulled the ol’ knuckleball change-up shot out of there bag of tricks finishing into the far post side netting. A lovely piece of full-team effort & work. Straight off the chalkboard and onto the field. Very nicely done. Then 3-4 minutes later, in an inspired bit of individual effort, Tenealle picked her spot and made a ¾ field attacking run, beating opponents like they were orange cones, and finished with a decisive strike to the far post. It was a beautiful thing to watch. As I mentioned, one gets the feeling that the equalizer or even the game winner were mere moments away. But today, it didn’t quite happen. But is not as important to me as what I saw on the field tonight. I saw very very good things tonight. Last weekend I was bothered and disappointed by the loss because of the poor overall play of the entire team which led to it. I have no such reservations today. Tonight, even though we lost, I am extremely happy & pleased with the showing you made tonight. Especially the fight you showed all the way up to the end. That is something that was missing last weekend. But tonight you showed that it is not something that is gone. Congratulations Sara Driscoll & Tenealle Tenwolde on your first goals of the season. Congratulation all of you for a very good showing and a magnificent finishing effort.

After a promising start and a very strong first half, Thunder surrendered a goal with 5 seconds left in the half and never seemed to recover. The entire second half was spend ball chasing and showed very little of the control & communication that is normally demonstrated by this team. Opponents were being left unmarked in our defensive third of the field and we were not doing a good job at all of switching the field and moving the ball. We will work on those things this week. On the bright side, Olivia Kramer scored her first goal of the season on a lovely job of framing the goal. Great job Olivia. This was early in the match (19th min) and look as if it could have been the start of a rout. That did not happen but we must learn to take advantage of such opportunities, team. The bit that surprises & puzzles me the most here it that all season long it has been a strong character trait of this team that we never stop, never quit, and never give up. Yet, today for the first time this season, even with the lead, that trait didn’t shine through. It’s not the loss that bothers me. It’s the manner of play which led to the loss. For now, I’ll choose to chalk it up to a bump in the road and expect that it won’t happen again. Next match is another night match at the World Cup Field at Bordon. Let’s work hard this week and show up with the determination of the REAL Thunder ’90.

After a very sluggish 1st half, Pride pulled it together to fashion quite a lovely goal 2 minutes into the second half to equalize the score. Unforunatly, despite a better second half and, in paricular, excellent pressure in the last 8-10 minutes, we were unable to put it away. Clearly, a good deal of work needs to be done on use of support, switching the point of attack, and general execution in good passes and good receiving. That we can be so exposed and yet draw a tied result is a bonus that we should be happy to take. Pride, let us not dismiss the warning and waste this opportunity to learn these lessons at so cheap a price. Let's work hard a diligently this week to fix what needs fixing and prepare to improve with our next performance. Goalkeeper: Melissa Anderson Goals: Sandi D'Alimonte (Chelsea McGee)

A cool crisp picture perfect evening on a most somber day. This was the setting for tonight’s match vs. Magic. To mark the occasion of the one year passing of the September 11th attacks on America, both teams joined in prayer and then the field fell silent for a minute – maybe two, as two buglers on hand for the occasion made their way to the center of the pitch and sounded a stirring rendering of Taps. With that the game proceeded. A more detailed account shall follow once I have had time to review the game tape entirely. But for now, just my initial impressions and reactions. The biggest and most important factor of the contest came early after yielding a goal about 10 minutes in. This was, to me the point where we would either lose the game or dig down and refuse to let this setback break us. Pride, you never cease to impress and amaze me with your work ethic and determination. Step for step and every inch of the way you kept yourselves in this match. Every player on the side had significant contributions, and it became clear once again – this team will never quit, never yield, never stop working till the day is done. And so… 5 minutes left: The attacking pressure picked up to an even higher level. Players were penetrating deep in the attacking zone, nice balls were being served, shots were being taken, and the feel of the game changed. And that change was for the good. They seemed to panic and rattle; you got stronger, more self-assured. I could see it from our bench. I could hear it in the chatter. I could see the opponent becoming more & more unsettled as they kept trying to work the clock, substituting at every opportunity – twice leaving a 12th player on the field, further wasting the clock. 2 minutes left: The opponent asks for yet another substitution. Referee says no. That’s it for the rest of the game. You step it up yet another notch. Pressure is building and you are looking stronger than you have at any point in the match. Sandi cracks a 40 yard shot over the crossbar. Goalkick. 30 seconds left: Jessica takes a throw-in from about half field. This is our final opportunity for goal. The ball pings about a few moments and then is finally played to Sandi’s feet. Sandi turns makes about 15 yards and is taken down hard – advantage, no call, Lisa wins the ball… 10 seconds left: Sandi bounces up unaffected by the foul and makes a blindside run on the midfielder attemting to double team Lisa. Lisa plays to Sandi’s feet and she moves toward the center of field across the face of the net. 7 seconds left: One player to beat. A touch to space and acceleration creates the half step needed… 5 seconds left: Top of the “D” – 22 yard from goal. Planting foot turned back to far post. A full-on instep strike. Momentum carries the shooter off her feet and she lands back on her striking foot - a perfectly executed instep drive. Keeper's leaning left. Ball is bending right… GOAL. WHISTLE. GAME. 1-1 tie. Every time, Thunder, I think I could not possibly be any more proud of you – you find a way to make me more proud of you. This was an exemplary effort, team. Excellent well done.

After a strong showing in last weeks Peachfest tournament, Thunder played a dominant match in thier leauge opener. Sustained pressure in the attacking third and shots at goal were the order for the day. Despite carrying play most of the evening, Aurora nearly stole the match late in the second half with an opportune breakeaway. But the ball-carrier was tracked down hard and finally caught at about 12 yards out and just to the left of goal by Olivia Kramer who then made a top-notch game-saving tackle to win and clear the ball. It was Genessee's best opportunity of the day, and it was thwarted by an examplary show of effort and grit. It remained a scoreless tie until the were only about 4 minutes left in the match When Chelsea McGee tallied the game-winner with the day's 29th shot. The work ethic and no-quit attitude of this team can be credited for this victory. Well done team. This vicory was well earned. Game details to follow. Goalkeeper: Melissa Anderson Goals: Chelsea McGee (assists TBD)