Real Salt Lake Women against the University of Utah 03/26/2015 was the first exhibition game for Real Salt Lake Women for the 2015 campaign. They faced off against the “Utes” of the University of Utah, who play in the Pac12 conference. The “Utes” finished their 2014 season 884 in a very tough conference. This was a good challenge to test some new systems and defensive styles of play for the RSL Women. I had the opportunity to get an insight of the team objectives for this game for the RSL Women. Pregame talk was focused on defensive shape and where the line of confrontation would start. The line of confrontation is a set point on the field where teams decide to start pressing defensively. For example, many teams will use the halfway line or the center circle as points of reference of where the line of confrontation begins. The goal of this line is to defend in groups and create numbers advantages in order to win the ball back. RSL Women have adopted this new approach this season. You could see some moments where they are still trying to figure it out and moments where it is starting to have life. I heard a lot of the players asking questions and discussing what was best for different scenarios. This is great because the first game in the WPSL this season is set for 05/22 against the Austin Aces. This gives 2 months for these ladies to figure out and correct the things that can be perfected. A lot of credit and praise needs to be given to Utah for their organization and the chances that they created. They hit the post 3 times in the opening 10 minutes of the game and # 30 Mariah Elmer was flying down the wings for the Utes creating all sorts of havoc. Top Drawer Soccer had her ranked as the number 68 top recruit in the country, and the number 17 top forward recruit in the country. This gave a great opportunity and challenge to test the new defensive shape of the RSL Women. Elmer had at least 5 chances to score starting as early as the 7th minute. Collette Smith came the closest to score for RSL in the 9th and 16th minute. The first chance coming from a breakaway that her last touch just got out of reach, and the second chance being a shot from just outside the 18 yard box that she pushed wide. Kira Sharp also had a chance to score in the closing stages of the game, but 3 Utes diverged on her inside the box before she could get a shot off. The deciding goal came from a slotted through ball on to number 14’s foot, Taylor Slattery from Gilroy, California. The goal game in about the 35th minute of 40 minute halves. This gave the Utes the lead, that they never surrendered. Slattery timed her run perfectly to split the two center backs and was able to tuck the ball just under goalkeeper Jamie Wilkinson on her shot to score. Coach Jeff Ginn and assistants Will Radar and Mark Davis are new to the Real Salt Lake Women program this year. They are bringing in different philosophies, and styles of play and it will take some time for the players to adapt. The defensive organization and team chemistry has it’s foundation being set. They will draw a lot from their team mantra “Dedication to One Another” that they developed in the 2012 season. Remember that is where the core of this team went all of the way to the National Title Game. Give this team some time to adjust to the new defensive responsibilities, where they can punish teams for losing the ball, and couple that with the talent that they already have scoring goals and going forward and it will be fun to see the results. We saw this highlighted perfectly when the team pressure allowed Kira Sharp to win the ball just 40 yards from goal and create a goal scoring opportunity, with just minutes remaining. When RSL women can do that more consistently throughout the game they are going to tuck the baby to bed, meaning putting the ball in the back of the net. Have you seen a Real Salt Lake Women’s game yet? Why in the world not? Come check them out @ShawnBlymiller

• published: 27 Mar 2015
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