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| MVU's Mallory L'Esperance (left) shields Enosburg's Liza Bordo in Thursday's 1-1 draw (all game photos available soon at www.fcsportsonline.com) |
I shed a small tear as I threw on jeans and a sweater before heading to Swanton this afternoon. It's always a little depressing when that first game of fall comes along that I can't watch in shorts and a t-shirt. But at least the rain stopped before kickoff, and I had an excellent game to watch. Going to use a different format for tonight's blog, might try this one out more often when I have a lot of writing to do before an early morning. Some quick thoughts on Enosburg/MVU:
*I was terrified for Missisquoi this season after a rough year last year and the loss of some key players to graduation/moving. Its 1-2-1 start (all 1-goal games) is very encouraging. This team is already doing better than expected.
*As I've written before, I was equally concerned for Enosburg this year. They, too, are proving too strong to go down without a fight and should have a fine season despite a rough schedule.
*T-Bird goalie Laura Flint is one hell of a leader on a very young MVU team. Her voice is heard all over the field constantly. She is positive and seems to know what she's talking about. I've always felt a good goalie has to do more than just block shots, it's the only player on the field who can see everyone at all times. Flint will be a big reason for any success MVU has this year, and that goes beyond number of saves.
*Enosburg mixed things up a little today, putting Kaitlin Knoff, Liza Bordo and Arianna Modugno (all seniors) on defense for the first time. All three were outstanding and each helped break up a scoring chance at one time or another. Freshman Natalie Jackson has done well on defense all season and should remain back there. The entire Hornet defense needs to work on turning its clearances into better placed passes, but for now they're on track to being the key to Enosburg's fate.
*MVU potentially has a very exciting offense. Best of all, its top attackers are all underclassmen and could be deadly over the next 2-3 years. Mallory L'Esperance, Kelli Patterson, Hannah Boudreau and Amanda Conger are all skilled and speedy. They aren't totally in sync yet but are only a few games away from causing a lot of headaches for Lake Division defenders.
*I felt Enosburg lost the physicality battle slightly. McKenzie Gleason went out with an apparently serious injury just five minutes into the game. Gleason is an imposing figure when she's healthy and on the field, nobody pushes her around. The Hornets will need to find a way to play more physically without playing dirty if Gleason misses an extended period of time.
**The Hornets aren't a dirty team at all and are usually good sports on the field. I have, however, noticed a theme with this team over the last few years of focusing way too much on the officials. I don't remember covering one if its games in the last two years where a player or coach didn't say the refs "hate us" or are "out to get us". I'm not trying to say Vermont's refs are the best in the world, but I also know them well enough to know they are not "out to get" anyone. Like anyone, they want to do their jobs the best they can. Putting blame on the refs occasionally is a good way to take it off your players, but to do so constantly gives the players an excuse and eventually does push officials into holding a grudge.
*Thursday's game might have been the most entertaining one I've been to this year. Each team had its share of chances and stops. Patterson's goal was a perfectly placed shot and Mariah Irons' for Enosburg was a true goal scorer's goal: a toe poke on a loose ball in the box (the kind of goal that isn't necessarily pretty but occurred because the player knew it was the only way that ball was going in to the back of the net). Both teams were fit enough to play a strong overtime, and that too had its share of scoring chances. I'm certainly looking forward to the rematch at Enosburg on October 21.
--Full game article with photos in 9-16 edition of The St. Albans Messenger--
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