| 06 November 2010
A few weeks ago, I wondered what would keep the Beavers from fulfilling their potential.
Meet Christen Press: In any otherwise even match, Press created two goals out of nowhere to give No. 1 Stanford a 1-0 win over 13th-ranked OSU.
Defense
The big question was whether or not OSU's physical defense would be enough to stop Stanford's high-scoring offense. And it was, except for about thirty seconds over the course of the match.
Barely into the third minute of the game, Stanford's Rachel Quon sent a cross into the box from the right side. Press, high in the box and still on the right side, took the cross on the volley inches above the turf, redirecting it with her right foot into the far left corner of the net, past a diving Colleen Boyd. Coming out of nowhere and so early, it was a shocking moment for the Beavers, who hadn't been scored on in the previous six games.
It wasn't until around 15 minutes into the match that OSU regained some composure and begin pushing into the Stanford half with sustained possession. The game held steady for almost an hour, with momentum shifting back and forth, until the 71st minute, when Press received the ball on the inside left and used her speed to get a step of separation between her and three OSU defenders. Press' left-footed shot was a reverse of her first goal - from a wide angle right inside the far post. Her second goal deflated the Beavers and sealed the win.
Despite Press' two goals, the Beavers proved they could defend against the nation's top-scoring offense.
Grade: B+
Offense
The only other time OSU has been shut out this season was way back in September against UC Irvine. Seven of their fifteen wins, however, have been 1-0, so it's clear that scoring hasn't been their strong suit. With only five shots on target on the evening, it's hard to see how the Beavers could have reached three goals.
Despite OSU's usual trick of having strikers Chelsea Buckland and Jenna Richardson simply outrun everyone not working, the Beavers were able to maintain significant possession in Stanford's half. Courtney Wetzel, Buckland and Richardson all threatened at various points, and that's what you would expect from the two strikers and lone senior on the squad.
For all the Beavers' flexibility and mental toughness, what they didn't do with the ball was make the obvious pass. Several times a player would choose to dribble in towards the center of the field instead of push the ball wide to a streaking midfielder or outside back.
Grade: B-
Looking Ahead
OSU plays at 7-5-5 California on Sunday. It should be a win for a well-conditioned OSU squad, but it's hard to tell how much the loss to Stanford took out of them, especially since they only used two subs who got a combined total of 76 minutes of playing time. After Cal, it's on to the NCAA tournament, where the experience they gained playing against Stanford will be invaluable.
Overall Grade: B
Individual Notes
Emily Uchacz has seen a lot of playing time recently, and her ability to control the midfield is surely why.
Ashley Seal's work rate against Stanford was incredible.
If Chelsea Buckland can improve her finishing, she'll start turning even more heads.
Photo: OSU Athletic Department
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