Pali Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Sunday, May 15, 2011
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Pali Blues opened the 2011 W-League season at Titan Stadium, home of the LA Blues, with a 1-0 win over LA Strikers FC. Tiffany McCarty provided the lone goal in the 87th minute.
The Blues, who came into the game with only 3 subs, had trouble finding the net, hitting the post numerous times.
Head coach Jacob Tudela shared his thoughts on the match. “It was a game where we came out, we created opportunities, we couldn’t get a goal. (We) ended up having to fight hard because of our numbers in the second half, showed character, showed heart, and got the result on the end.”
The Blues outshot the Strikers, 18-8 and it was until the final minutes that they were able to get the ball in the back of the net.
“It is frustrating, but games go like that in soccer,” said Tudela, younger brother of LA Blues captain Josh Tudela. Some days you’re on, we easily could have put in five or six of them, and some days it just doesn’t fall for you.”
Jamia Fields and Tiffany McCarty took most of the shots for the team, but were often denied by the post or Strikers goalkeeper Erin Frushon.
It was until the 87th minute that McCarty put the Blues on the board. A long ball from Shawna Gordon in the middle of the field found Anisa Guajardo on the right side. She dribbled the ball inside the penalty area and played it McCarty who took a first shot that Frushon got a hand on. McCarty’s second effort paid off as she poked a slow-roller into the goal.”
“It started off pretty good, but we just were unlucky with a lot of our shots. We hit the post like 7 times, and that was only in the first half,” she said laughing. “It was frustrating but we kept going and we got the result, and that’s the most important thing.
The Blues showed signs that they aren’t playing at their best. They had a hard time connecting passes and finding each other at times, but Tudela knows they will work hard to play better soccer and build that team chemistry they need.
“We have a lot of stuff (to work on). The possession is going to get better. For (having had) two practices, they created a lot of opportunities and usually that striker is going to put in three or four of those, so we’ll get better.”
McCarty had similar feelings on the team’s level of play.
“It think (the chemistry) will come. I know I just got in yesterday, and a lot of us are just coming on from college and stuff like that. As the season goes, I think we’ll get more comfortable with each other and our touches will be more sharp.”