Tonkawa, OK
Northern won yesterday for 3-2 in what has become a great rivalry between Rose State which some started calling "El Casico" or "Derby" in recent years. After the Lady Mavs gave Rose State's their only loss in a conferfence game on September 7th coach Castillo knew that Rose was going to come out strong and try to break a home undefeated season streak that started back in 2015. If we also include the recent injury that captain and leader in defense Kariss Dunson suffered against Eastern last week it meant that coach Castillo would have to adjust the Lady Mavs defense that worked against Rose int heir last match.
He decided to start for the third game in a row freshman Daisy Brown to cover Dunson's abscence again. This was significant since Brown didn't play any minutes against Rose on September 7th. However Brown was solid in the back, cutting Rose's players from advancing and winning balls in the air. Brown and Aubrey Welker basically shut down any opportunity that Rose's forwards tried to create. But once again a set piece (corner kick) and very poor man marking in the box allowed Rose State to get ahead in the scorebaord at the 24:43 mark.
This didn't affect Northern posession and control of the game. They continued to attack and found the back of the net 2 minutes before halftime on a rebound shot from Megan Mayfield that Gifty Ayew Asare found to tie the game.
In the second half it was the same story as always, the Lady Mavs always proposing the game attacking and creating chances to score. Unfortunately when Northern was closer to score the second goal one of Rose's forwards found a lucky rebound that allowed her to have a fast break and score their 2nd goal of the match. Once again coach Castillo put more offensive players on the pitch to create an overwhealming and constant attack with players that were pounding with constant shots on Rose's goalkeeper. Northern midfield trasnformed into forwards as well, Megan Mayfied, Gifty Ayew Asare, Kayla Mireles, Megan Deshazo, Rachel Brantley, Morgyn Knell all of them had one mission and it was to create the chances to score. Rebekah Brantley moved in the center midfield position and controlled it allowing her to start the attack this way as well as Morgan Medina and Marybel Garcia making constant runs in the flanks. When finally in a perfect counter attack created by a fast combination of passes Kayla Mireles assisted a perfect ball into space for Megan Deshazo that controlled and had an amazing and placed shot for the tie at 70:58. The Lady Mavs felt that this was their chance and kept controling and attacking when finally Asare took a ball on the right side and made an incredible shot that beat Rose's keeper to scored the 3rd and final goal (2nd for Asare in the game).
Coach Castillo impressions of the game: "Rose always plays their hardest and best against us and we knew that. The girls fought hard in every inch of the field. Always with our style of play that is an attacking and attractive soccer. Sometimes this style has it's risks since we press high, the teams try to play long balls to beat our defenders backs but that's a risk I'm willing to take in order for my team to always play that attacking style". Castillo said.
Numbers:
This was Coach Castillo 4th win in 5 games against Rose State. In those 5 games Northern has scored 12 goals and only received 6.
Northern outshot Rose 16-9 (14-7 shots on goal) in this game.
NEXT: Northern will travel to Tishomingo to play against Murray State October 5th at 2PM
Starting XI: Monica Davis, Aubrey Welker, Daisy Brown, Marybel Garcia, Morgan Medina, Denise Diaz, Rachel Brantley, Rebekah Brantley, Morgyn Knell, Gifty Ayew Asare and Kayla Mireles.