National Playoffs spots come down to the wire

<p>USE THE PROMO CODE almasin30 for a discount on your first subscription</p>   <p>It was a beautiful day in Davis, California, for an ECNL G10 finale for Mustang SC, as Force needed a win and other things to fall into place in order to earn a spot in the National Playoffs. This was my second match of the day, as Force took on Mustang SC at Provident Field @ MSC. It was a rather cool 62 degrees with the wind picking up around game time.</p>   <p><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/program/de-anza-force-3/">[program_tooltip program_id='283641' first='De' last='Anza Force']</a> came in at 4th place with a record of 12-8-2, and Mustang SC was in 3rd place at 13-5-5. This game was a must-win for Force, for they would need the win in this match and have [program_tooltip program_id='283257' first='Bay' last='Area Surf'] win their match and the numbers to be in their favor. With that, it seemed improbable, but stranger things have happened. A loss would definitely close the door for any hopes of qualifying for the National Playoffs this season.</p>   <p>Both teams played a previous match in September, and Force got a 2-0 win. When talking with parents from the Mustang side, it didn't seem like they needed the win to secure a spot in the playoffs. It definitely came at the right time, as they were missing a few key players due to national call-ups for the U15 training camp.</p>   <p>The first half was a relatively even match as both sides made quality runs at goal, but the goalkeepers on both sides were able to fend off any serious threats. The half ended 0-0. Once the whistle blew to start the second half, you could feel the intensity as both sides applied high pressure and stepped up their attack. In the 33rd minute, Force got their first goal on a hustle play by Neirah Hafis. The ball was initially punched out by the GK. Neirah Hafis hustled to make a long pass back to the penalty area. [player_tooltip player_id='276651' first='Audrey' last='Wang'] headed the ball down towards Addy O'Brien, who one-touched it past the GK. That was a great sequence of minimum touches to finish ratio.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1928294175407014310 </div></figure>   <p>Force's second goal came off of a penalty kick. [player_tooltip player_id='276651' first='Audrey' last='Wang']'s PK shot went low right post, just outside of the reach of the goalkeeper. It was a solid shot with good pace and accuracy to the side netting. Wang also played a critical part in moving the ball into scoring range, and she and tandem midfielder Neirah Hafis made it difficult for Mustang SC to take their offense through the midfield.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1928295543257645511 </div></figure>   <p><br>Hafis had a great match. This is probably my third match evaluating her, and she did not disappoint. She played superbly on both ends of the pitch—making precise long ball passes and shutting down attacks were the standard. Her ability to scan the field and anticipate her opponent's moves sets her apart. I also like the pace at which she plays. She can shift gears when needed, and her hustle play to start goal number one showed her quickness and technical ability to cut the ball back into play and deliver a precise cross to the penalty area.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1928300185110654990 </div></figure>   <p><br>Another standout for Force was the goalkeeper, [player_tooltip player_id='288257' first='Quinne' last='Kepner'] (2028), as she was fearless in challenging players in the box. Her ability to go up high to pull down or punch out crosses helped secure a Force Shutout. I counted at least 5 key saves in which she came off of her line to beat the player to a spot or to cut off their angle of attack.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1928304011309953193 </div></figure>   <p>On the Mustang side, the standouts were [player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'] and Alana Rouscher. They commanded the backline and had somewhat of a good day as they repelled numerous attacks before the two goals were scored in the final 12-15 minutes of the match.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='268387' first='Ana' last='Pintard'] (2028) took charge of the defensive line—her ability to make precise long passes put her offense into scoring range, and her calm and composed presence made it difficult for Force to add more scores. She isn't afraid to play a physical style of soccer, but her technical skills are some of the best for a defender. If needed, she can play up to give her team additional firepower, but in this match it didn't seem as if it was a priority. In other words, I believe they were already locked in for a playoff spot.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BayAreaSocScout/status/1928311110165225910 </div></figure>   <p>The game ended without any injuries, and it's always great when both teams can compete and not lose any players, especially when teams are positioning for playoff spots. I hope both teams make it to San Diego, and I hope to cover their matches there or in the fall.</p>   <p><br><br></p>    <p class="text-gray-700">She took charge of the defensive line. Her ability to make precise long passes put her offense into scoring range, and her calm and composed presence made it difficult for Force to add more scores. She isn't afraid to play a physical style of soccer, but her technical skills are some of the best for a defender. If needed, she can play up to give her team additional firepower, but in this match it didn't seem as if it was a priority. In other words, I believe they were already locked in for a playoff spot.<br></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Her PK shot went low right post, just outside of the reach of the goalkeeper. It was a solid shot with good pace and accuracy to the side netting. Wang also played a critical part in moving the ball into scoring range, and she and tandem midfielder Neirah Hafis made it difficult for Mustang SC to take their offense through the midfield.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">She had a great match. This is probably my third match evaluating her, and she did not disappoint. She played superbly on both ends of the pitch, while making precise long ball passes and shutting down attacks were the standard. Her ability to scan the field and anticipate her opponent's moves sets her apart. I also like the pace at which she plays. She can shift gears when needed, and her hustle play to start goal number one showed her quickness and technical ability to cut the ball back into play and deliver a precise cross to the penalty area.<br></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Played up high at times like a striker. She has a good feel for scoring as this the third match covering her team and she scored in every match. On this goal, the ball was initially punched out by the GK. Hafis hustled to make a long pass back to the penalty area. Wang headed the ball down towards her and she one-touched it past the GK. Textbook finish with minimum touches during buildup.<br></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">She was fearless in challenging players in the box. Her ability to go up high to pull down or punch out crosses helped secure a Force Shutout. I counted at least 5 key saves in which she came off of her line to beat the player to a spot or to cut off their angle of attack. <br></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Helped by commanding the backline and had somewhat of a good day as she and Pintard repelled numerous attacks before the two goals were scored in the final 12-15 minutes of the match. She can also play in the midfield as she has the technical skills for making combo passes and making runs up the channels.<br></p>

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