Oracle Online

In soccer, that’s what counts. Goal scoring chances come few and far between for any team, and it’s important to capitalize on them when possible. A missed chance in soccer is no less heartbreaking than a failure to convert from inside the red zone is to a football team.

But for Hamline, a team that coach Coutts admits has no single “go-to guy,” scoring isn’t always easy, and must be done by committee. That means the whole team needs to work to make those goal scoring chances happen.

“We’re trying to play a pretty free-wheeling game,” Coutts said, meaning he is willing to commit major numbers of forwards to get a shot on goal, even if that does risk forcing his midfielders to scramble back.

“It takes a high level of fitness to play as hard as we want to off the ball, but that’s what it’s going to take to win,” Coutts said.

It also means that if the team isn’t careful, their shutout streak may come to a crashing halt with one shot.
Unless, that is, the team is willing to step it up another notch on defense. The back line is going to need to put major pressure on their opponent’s offense, and they’ll need to react quickly if the team’s midfielders get caught off guard by an unexpected missed pass or bad touch. If the back line is unable to stop a quick run, it will put more pressure on the goalkeepers.

“[Our keepers] will be called on to step up when we get to those tougher teams,” Coutts said.

So far the defense has held up, and they have seen some good saves from their goalkeepers, but their conference schedule has only just begun. In order to keep up the rash of scoring they have been on, it will be important for both the keepers and the defense to have good vision from the field in order to get the ball to midfielders who can push the offense forward.

Again, Hamline’s “free-wheeling” offense will be helpful here, but will be almost equally dangerous. In order to increase vision and awareness on the field, the coaching staff has limited the number of touches a player can take before they make a move. The team will attempt to play from their positions more than they will try to play in them. That means that they’ll be rotating from position to position on the field in an attempt keep their opponents off balance, and to open up new scoring chances.

“[The team] needs to be aware of where their own teammates are, but they also need to be aware of the defenders,” Coutts said.

This kind of vision can only come with time and preparation, no matter how much of a tear the team may be on now. Vision on the field is what gets scoring chances, and it can never be too good. As the team continues, and continues to face MIAC powerhouses, it will undoubtedly need to tighten up in every third of the field. The defense and goalkeeper will have to be more wary of attack, the midfielders will have to get back quickly, yet still be ready to start the offense, and the forwards will have to be more precise in their passing, and of course, their shooting.