Women Soccer Tie Grambling!

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

What should have been an easy win was turned into a nightmare tie....barely. Team is desperately looking for scoring, completely out of sync offensively. Could not buy a goal. To Grambling's credit, they deserved a win for their effort. Had it not been for a late goal by Juett to tie the score, it would have been. Poor shot selection, no shot selection, no accurate passing, and for the most part could argue we got out hustled, certainly on the offensive end and midfield. Hope it gets worked out this week in practice, cause today's effort next weekend and we will be 0-2 in conference before we get out of the gate..... this out of sync stuff has been going on for a while, even in the wins this week, we struggled with finishing chances in those games too. Time to get this fixed.

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

What should have been an easy win was turned into a nightmare tie....barely. Team is desperately looking for scoring, completely out of sync offensively. Could not buy a goal. To Grambling's credit, they deserved a win for their effort. Had it not been for a late goal by Juett to tie the score, it would have been. Poor shot selection, no shot selection, no accurate passing, and for the most part could argue we got out hustled, certainly on the offensive end and midfield. Hope it gets worked out this week in practice, cause today's effort next weekend and we will be 0-2 in conference before we get out of the gate..... this out of sync stuff has been going on for a while, even in the wins this week, we struggled with finishing chances in those games too. Time to get this fixed.
←

Looking at the official stats, in last two games we have taken 71 shots on goal, and only three goals scored. Good news is that we got 71 chances, bad news is that is 4% success ratio. Both games rank in the top 10 for UNT shots taken in a game. They were back to back games in the top 10. This does not even address the wasted chances that are not recorded as shots, which have also been numerous- lost possessions, bad passes, etc. What I think it says is that we are a dynamic offensive force, but we are not being patient enough with the offense. Maybe we are pressing to shoot prematurely when other options are available in the offensive structure. Defense was superb again keeping the game in control.

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

What should have been an easy win was turned into a nightmare tie....barely. Team is desperately looking for scoring, completely out of sync offensively. Could not buy a goal. To Grambling's credit, they deserved a win for their effort. Had it not been for a late goal by Juett to tie the score, it would have been. Poor shot selection, no shot selection, no accurate passing, and for the most part could argue we got out hustled, certainly on the offensive end and midfield. Hope it gets worked out this week in practice, cause today's effort next weekend and we will be 0-2 in conference before we get out of the gate..... this out of sync stuff has been going on for a while, even in the wins this week, we struggled with finishing chances in those games too. Time to get this fixed.
←

GRAMBLING, La. (9/17/06) –The North Texas women's soccer team, playing in its fifth game in nine days, tied Grambling State 1-1 from the Grambling Soccer Complex.

Side note: I think Grambling Soccer Complex is terribly generous...it is a field, with no seating, looked like a typical club soccer field (for those of you familiar with Moss park in Dallas?). Local spectators sat on cars driven to field level, or unused player benches, or in the softball dugout, or on the ground. Only PA system was a sweet mega-watt car stereo system in a truck pulled down to field level, blaring hot rap tunes for pregame. No scoreboard or clock. Concessions served on a mobile golf cart.....Good news is there was no way to collect gate fee even if desired, so was free admission. Parking lot was a 1/4 mile hike. Made the old Peterbuilt soccer game field look like a soccer mecca. Can't wait to make that trip again......

untgirl04 · September 18, 2006

GRAMBLING, La. (9/17/06) –The North Texas women's soccer team, playing in its fifth game in nine days, tied Grambling State 1-1 from the Grambling Soccer Complex.
Side note: I think Grambling Soccer Complex is terribly generous...it is a field, with no seating, looked like a typical club soccer field (for those of you familiar with Moss park in Dallas?). Local spectators sat on cars driven to field level, or unused player benches, or in the softball dugout, or on the ground. Only PA system was a sweet mega-watt car stereo system in a truck pulled down to field level, blaring hot rap tunes for pregame. No scoreboard or clock. Concessions served on a mobile golf cart.....Good news is there was no way to collect gate fee even if desired, so was free admission. Parking lot was a 1/4 mile hike. Made the old Peterbuilt soccer game field look like a soccer mecca. Can't wait to make that trip again......
←

Wow. Really makes you appreciate how nice our new facilities are.

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

Wow. Really makes you appreciate how nice our new facilities are.
←

They have built a brand new basketball/Vball field house, and Fball stadium looks relatively new, but it was my first visit. The soccer field was crammed between a wooded field, a backwoods neighborhood, and the softball complex. My perspective was the field looked short in overall length too. Soccer and Softball fields were in stark contrast to the new field house, so maybe there are plans to develop. The Softball fence was old school plank wood, got to be brutal on any challenges into the wall, and planks were popping out all over. Funny thing.... there were old I-20 directional signs on some of the parking areas and dead end paved roads on the athletic complex, like they expanded over old roads and never removed the old signage. One sign pointed a left turn to I-20- straight into a parking area, and an elementary school is among college campus buildings........Weird.

adman · September 18, 2006

GRAMBLING, La. (9/17/06) –The North Texas women's soccer team, playing in its fifth game in nine days, tied Grambling State 1-1 from the Grambling Soccer Complex.
Side note: I think Grambling Soccer Complex is terribly generous...it is a field, with no seating, looked like a typical club soccer field (for those of you familiar with Moss park in Dallas?). Local spectators sat on cars driven to field level, or unused player benches,
←

Heck, even Moss has bleachers at every field.

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

Heck, even Moss has bleachers at every field.
←

True. Good point, I stand corrected...... not similar to Moss, worse. Don't think it would flood though when it sprinkles like Moss does.

GrandGreen · September 18, 2006

Seems like NT has a big chemistry problem on this team. With 10 starters returning and an excellent recruiting year, NT should not have a problem with a bad Grambling team no matter where played or how tired. Better get their act together unlike football were everyone always thinks the teams in the Belt are getting better in women's soccer I think they actually are. Denver looks like they are back to form and MTSU with a team of foreigners looks much improved.

nortx9 · September 18, 2006

Seems like NT has a big chemistry problem on this team. With 10 starters returning and an excellent recruiting year, NT should not have a problem with a bad Grambling team no matter where played or how tired. Better get their act together unlike football were everyone always thinks the teams in the Belt are getting better in women's soccer I think they actually are. Denver looks like they are back to form and MTSU with a team of foreigners looks much improved.
←

It is a bit troubling. I'm not sure it is a big problem just yet, but to your point, there is no good reason that this should have happened and maybe will be a wakeup call. This team has had a lot of nagging injuries for part of the reason and some are not yet back on top form. Hutyra missed early preseason, Campbell and Hurst missed some time early season with bad thigh, Weller blew out knee again this year and is finished for year, Cleveland hurt thigh vs. Nebr and played for first time yesterday and still had pain. Hutyra and Waters took leg/foot injuries yesterday, unknown status but Waters did not return to game, and Hutyra came off several times to get taped. Adams bruised her back too, and really did not return. Juett played with a bad calf at Nebr and USC games. Several games have been a series of these type things that carry over to following games, and chemistry has suffered too.....but, we are still putting up big shot numbers and are struggling to score, sometimes just plain sloppy. You are right about the competition talent getting better. Yesterday FL Atl nearly beat FL State who is ranked #1, M. Tenn state lost in OT to Vandy and only other loss is to Tennessee, both are ranked in Region or Natl. Denver lost to Colorado 1-0 this weekend (Denver is also struggling to score so far, but a couple of big wins too). See how they are all playing these ranked teams down to the wire? Their defense will be good, and we will need to finish those chances we get. W. Kentucky is no slouch at all, couple of good recruting years paying off. La Monroe keeper has posted back to back 15 save games, so punching the ball into goal next Friday will not be easy. USA has started slow, but may be as good as they were late last year by conference time or could play spoiler. There should be 4-5 solid competitors in conference this year instead of usual three, but if we cough up another Grambling or two along the way, we will probably be done as far a conference champs goes. Get a bad seed in the tourney and turn in the gear until next year! Gonna take a near perfect run vs. the middle to lower conference teams to be in a position to get the Cup! I do think this will work out, we are still explosive, but we must reflect that on the scoreboard. This weekend is real important to play well. We have a chance to get three conference games under the belt before taking on Fl Atl next weekend at home, so we might get some help early in competitor's conference games if we can take care of business early.

nortx9 · September 19, 2006

It is a bit troubling. I'm not sure it is a big problem just yet, but to your point, there is no good reason that this should have happened and maybe will be a wakeup call. This team has had a lot of nagging injuries for part of the reason and some are not yet back on top form. Hutyra missed early preseason, Campbell and Hurst missed some time early season with bad thigh, Weller blew out knee again this year and is finished for year, Cleveland hurt thigh vs. Nebr and played for first time yesterday and still had pain. Hutyra and Waters took leg/foot injuries yesterday, unknown status but Waters did not return to game, and Hutyra came off several times to get taped. Adams bruised her back too, and really did not return. Juett played with a bad calf at Nebr and USC games. Several games have been a series of these type things that carry over to following games, and chemistry has suffered too.....but, we are still putting up big shot numbers and are struggling to score, sometimes just plain sloppy. You are right about the competition talent getting better. Yesterday FL Atl nearly beat FL State who is ranked #1, M. Tenn state lost in OT to Vandy and only other loss is to Tennessee, both are ranked in Region or Natl. Denver lost to Colorado 1-0 this weekend (Denver is also struggling to score so far, but a couple of big wins too). See how they are all playing these ranked teams down to the wire? Their defense will be good, and we will need to finish those chances we get. W. Kentucky is no slouch at all, couple of good recruting years paying off. La Monroe keeper has posted back to back 15 save games, so punching the ball into goal next Friday will not be easy. USA has started slow, but may be as good as they were late last year by conference time or could play spoiler. There should be 4-5 solid competitors in conference this year instead of usual three, but if we cough up another Grambling or two along the way, we will probably be done as far a conference champs goes. Get a bad seed in the tourney and turn in the gear until next year! Gonna take a near perfect run vs. the middle to lower conference teams to be in a position to get the Cup! I do think this will work out, we are still explosive, but we must reflect that on the scoreboard. This weekend is real important to play well. We have a chance to get three conference games under the belt before taking on Fl Atl next weekend at home, so we might get some help early in competitor's conference games if we can take care of business early.
←

Regarding this weekend's opening... Taking a closer look at LA Monroe and Lafayette stats ...through 9/15, these two teams are a nightmare in the waiting. Monroe is leading the conf in shots per game offensively, 2nd in total points and total goals, 1st in corners taken, in top 4 for least goals allowed and goals against avg, and 2nd in saves (probably first after this weekend's two games with 14 saves each). Gonna get pressure at both ends of the field..... Lafayette is going to be brutal, they lead the conference in fouls and yellow cards, and 2nd in shutouts, but 10th in goals allowed (hmmm....guess that means if they are in the game, they are tough on the scoreboard, and if they are getting blown out they hack away?). Granted these teams have not seen much top competition, but a team extended and expended against what looks like a very active Monroe team on Friday, that has to take on a very physical Lafayette team on Sunday better hope that this last stretch of 5 games in 9 days will pay off physically better than it did against Grambling..... These two will be harder than they look is my bet!

GrandGreen · September 19, 2006

Regarding this weekend's opening... Taking a closer look at LA Monroe and Lafayette stats ...through 9/15, these two teams are a nightmare in the waiting. Monroe is leading the conf in shots per game offensively, 2nd in total points and total goals, 1st in corners taken, in top 4 for least goals allowed and goals against avg, and 2nd in saves (probably first after this weekend's two games with 14 saves each). Gonna get pressure at both ends of the field..... Lafayette is going to be brutal, they lead the conference in fouls and yellow cards, and 2nd in shutouts, but 10th in goals allowed (hmmm....guess that means if they are in the game, they are tough on the scoreboard, and if they are getting blown out they hack away?). Granted these teams have not seen much top competition, but a team extended and expended against what looks like a very active Monroe team on Friday, that has to take on a very physical Lafayette team on Sunday better hope that this last stretch of 5 games in 9 days will pay off physically better than it did against Grambling..... These two will be harder than they look is my bet!
←

Thanks for your input. It is great to have someone respond that cares about these non-revenue sports and is obviously much closer to the program than the average fan.

nortx9 · September 19, 2006

Thanks for your input. It is great to have someone respond that cares about these non-revenue sports and is obviously much closer to the program than the average fan.
←

Glad to enlighten, sometimes I get a little too into it as you can tell from the short stories I publish. Just passionate about the college sport and follow it closely from the club level to the collegiate level. Wishing the men's program could be resurrected. I happen to think that the men would have the same level of regional recruiting success as the women do, but would have to play an at-large schedule or something to get enough schools in our classification to make a season. No shortage of good coaches in this area to lead a program either. Wishful thinking??