Travis

This was not a talent difference. Simply watch the game. It was completely a tactic and strategy difference. It doesn’t matter who we play in the tournament, they will all be good. We have had lucky draws before against the likes of Tech and SMU and Hedlund still never delivered. Again, philosophy results have always struck its ugly head because this style will never win tourney games when you are up against a strong possession team that uses the midefilwd as it is intended. I said this about 10 years ago and I continue to be correct. I was really hoping to be wrong this year because our team is far more athletic than years past. A good midfield is like solid offensive and defensive lines... if they do well, the teams likely do well. Our philosophy doesn’t use them as we should. Just a bunch of Hail Mary’s. But what do I know? I have only played competitively most of my life while also coaching (and officiating) for about 8 years.

Sad? Sad that we are a solid mid major program that in all the years of Hedlund making us a great program, not only have we never won a tourney game, but a Hedlund team hasn’t even ever scored a single goal in a tourney game. Sounds like you don’t really understand soccer to understand what we are complaining about. We are bitching about the style in which we play. Which has been my point for years. I know soccer well enough to understand why we are what we are. It is like I am a prophet! Again, we are a top 25 team with what should be top 25 talent. I am sure there is no way the girls are happy just because they made it to OT with aTm. They expected better. And our program is better than just to be grateful we played them into extra innings. Also, we were incredibly lucky to make it to OT.

He has coached this way with intention. I was great friends with the soccer players during my undergrad from 2000-2004 and we would discuss tactics. They even agreed with me that possession and my style of play would be far superior than the long ball that Hedlund plays. But you gotta play the way the coach wants. I am honestly not sure Hedlund is capable of coaching a different style. But it is what it is.

If we are going to play this long ball.. our forward has to be better than what I saw tonight. We got nothing from our forwards. 😞

Every year I say the exact same thing... You can find my responses from years and years ago. Hedlunds style will NEVER win us a tournament game because our style will always lose to possession teams. Always. We were flat out dominated by them. I sound like a freaking broken record.

Agreed. their style of play tends to become nothing more than kickball. I believe we have the talent to actually play good soccer. It is just never has been Hedlund's style. Ever. And he teaches the girls to play as such. And you are right, we are playing hard. We truly want it.

Halftime Dominated by aTm. Aggies have created about 2 or 3 scoring opporunities during the actual field of play where we haven't had an opportunity at all. We only had one off of a set piece. We need to push our outside mids out wide and actually use them to work the sidelines up the flag. Their midfield is controlling this game and they use their outsides very well. We continue to try to punch it to our forward with no help. This is literally the easiest style to defend against. I know this is just how we play, so lets hope the ball bounces our way (literally) and we sneak through. 22 was a liability for us, in my opinion. I don't know if it was her, or the failure of the coach to give her a legitimate role but we were playing with what seemed like a man down for awhile there. Also, our forward simply needs to push their back line and not get caught chasing an advancing aggie defender. Sadly, I don't see that happening with this aTm defense.

These aggie fans are really soccer dumb.

I know i am super critical... but half the time I want to ask them, what on Earth were you thinking there?!

Nice corner play. Almost got one in. First real threat.

I am also not sure of our forward and what her role is... because half the time she isn't even trying to go for some of the long balls... which is designed to push it high for her. Also, if they are going to push her high and send te ball, she needs to freaking stay high. Just my opinion.

So far, we have had no real offensive threat. We have had a few openings where we did so poorly we shut down any possible threat. We messed it up, not them. :o\ I don't know who our number 22 is... but I am trying to figure out what her position is and what exactly she was trying to do. She was stuck in no-mans land pretty much the entire time she was out there. aTm is dominating this game with possession. They will get something through the way they are playing. All in all, this is a fast game so far. We are playing hard... I can tell we want it. Just terrible tactics and ball placement. Also, the ref is calling the game really well... despite the idiot aTm fans..

Gunslinger Grey is actually not a bad name. But, if it were up to me, I would have called it Happy-Go-Jackie

I expected anyone who we would play to be good.

You mean how like aTm barely squeaked by Arkansas? These guys are beatable.

I was ready for the cannon to explode... not the box. HAHAHA

Dodge like numbers.

Missed the game. Glad we got the win. I am pretty sure it was a typical hedlund style game, however. I hope we actually get a tournament win this time. We are play low-percentage ball to do it (which is why we never won one before)... but I am saying we still have a chance! When will we find out who we play?

In most games it would have been over. I am not sure I have ever seen something like this before.

So true.

Wow. Good saves by the keep to redeem herself.

What a weak shot by the keep.

Yeah. It is just a bunch of kickball. 😞 it is low percentage play that is akin to going for the long ball every time. Drives me nuts. Simple possession would have destroyed a team like la tech.

I’d love to see a real possession based play just once from a UNT team.

They don’t look all that good.