Aug 19, 2013
RUSTON - The Louisiana Tech soccer team performed an intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday night at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex in preparation for their upcoming season opener at LSU on Aug. 23.
Two teams were created, red versus white, for two thirty-minute periods with a brief halftime in between.
The red team consisted of Caitlin Updyke, Marjolein Timmermans, Nicole Jaquemet, Taylor Dennis, Alexandra Fiorvento, Annabel Prior, Brittany Beddow, Laura LeFevour, Erica Stewart and Rosie Lethbridge.
The white team was made up of Kylee Seto, Hannah Watts, Chelsea Billups, Taylor Douglas, Jessica Harmon, Charity Simmons, Emily Griffin, Hannah Dauzat, Madison Doll, Fern Colepio and Kathryn Sloan.
Red won the match 3-0 on a goal each from LeFevour, Lethbridge and Stewart, but much more important than the outcome was the evaluation of the players in a match-like setting.
"I thought it was pretty good," said head coach Kevin Sherry on the scrimmage. "They put into action a lot of stuff we've been working on. Our main focus is do they understand their role, not so much how good they are, but do they understand their role on this team. Overall it was pretty good."
The new-look Lady Techsters, comprised of 18 freshmen, were in their 11th day of fall practice. Camp started out with a concentration on increasing the fitness levels and keeping most drills as linear as possible.
This past week, the players began going through half-field drills with increased contact. On Sunday night, the full-field was opened up for the first time so the coaching staff could breakdown roster depth and schemes.
"[We looked at] playing out the back, getting in team shape so that we created space and angles for each other to receive the ball," said Sherry. "[We looked at] speed of transition, how quickly we can get the ball once we win it and our defensive organization in the back to make sure that we never let ourselves get into one-on-ones."
Sherry came away impressed with the large group of newcomers, but it was naturally the returners who were in sync most of the night, showing great fitness and control of the ball throughout.
The one area though that will be worked on prior to the first match of the season will be on the small lack of focus in front of the net as both teams came up empty on a few golden opportunities to score.
"We've got to tidy things up," said Sherry. "My one criticism of them today was they could have been tidier. The focus of the little passing they can control. That needs to be tidied up. The better that is the easier the game comes."
For complete coverage of LA Tech Soccer, please follow @LATechSOC on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at www.LATechSports.com.
