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ABell4's avatar

Feel really bad for Reyes. I think it was a poor decision by the coach to start her in a tough game with one of the best front lines in the league after seeing like 10 minutes of pro time in a friendly and at the end of a game we're winning two weeks ago. And, being tasked with marking one of the best wingers in the league. Sanchez was constantly open behind Reyes. Kuikka does it as well, but she's much faster than Reyes. Also, I saw a Reyes fan on twitter say that she is a left-footed player and that she should have been playing her position at LB. And I agree. We saw what happens with a very good fullback in Kuikka when she got her sides swapped, and it was terrible. And she's very experienced, very good fullback. I just don't understand why he wouldn't have started Kling at RB (or even Nally, good grief) so Reyes could play where she's comfortable. Make a rookie start her first pro game out of position...pay the price. I did think it was a positive coaching sign though, that he made the switch at half to bring Kuikka in.

I was sitting in the area closest to Reyes and she struggled all night. Bixby and Hubly kept yelling at (or, directing) her because she would be out of position or not watching Sanchez. She looked like she had no idea where she was supposed to be. Crystal also looked like she was having miscommunications with her as well. She looked uncomfortable the whole night, and you could tell she was not comfortable or confident with her right foot. Having Vasconcelos on that side made it even worse. Had she had Weaver on her side, she would've had way more help defensively. Vasconcelos would dribble up the right side a bit, but then run out of ideas and wouldn't know what to do with the ball, so she would turn around and drop it back to Reyes often. Houston was targeting that weak side, and they were rewarded for it. Anyways, it was a pretty rough outing for her and she still looks very much like a rookie....whereas D'Aquila looked pro-ready from the jump. I wish she was on the field with Soph and Weaver (and the rest of the starting team)...but that's another story. Would like to see a more cautious roll-out of Reyes next, and at her actual position. These sorts of roll-outs can really deflate a rookie's confidence, and now he will have that to overcome with her as well.

I thought Sam did decently distributing and being in the right spaces, but she often also just went backwards. Moultrie started well and had some beaaaaautiful passes but she kinda disappeared in the second half when Hina and Rocky came in. It was a good time to pull Crystal though....she did a lot of work and was looking fatigued by then. Rocky....woof. She was a mess and looked tired from the start. Hina barely touched the ball. When D'Aquila came in and Hina went back into midfield, the midfield became non-existent. Everyone missed SO. MANY. SITTERS. We coulda shoulda been up by like 4.

Overall, one of the more nervy unpleasant games I've been to in a while lol.

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Stefan's avatar

I dunno what prompted it, but it was great to see Bixby suddenly become unglued from her line , starting at about the 40 minute mark. There were definitely a few less shots coming off of Ordóñez’ dangerous head the rest of the way as a result.

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