Red Deer City soccer club going in positive direction
Red Deer City FC coach Chris Keem said they are heading in a positive direction despite losing their Alberta Major Women’s Soccer League match on Saturday.
Red Deer fell to Calgary Alliance 6-1 at Great Chief Park but the score wasn’t a true indicator of how the team played. The home squad could have got down on themselves after Calgary got a couple lucky goals in the first half that resulted in a 5-0 lead. But they held strong in the second half and kept the visitors at bay through good defense and solid teamwork.
“We kept possession a little bit more in the second half and the 5-0 score in the first half was a little flattering for them,” said Keem. “It should have been only a lead of two or three but we started to build as the game went on and tightened up a lot in the second half.”
The second half goal was their first of the season for Red Deer, who have been shut out in their previous four games. Paula Dadensky was able to find some room up front and sent a shot past the Calgary goalkeeper just past the midway mark of the half.
“Once we got the goal, we started playing a lot better and I feel we probably could have got a couple more,” said Keem.
He added that Calgary is very good team having numerous players that are playing with major university soccer programs in the U.S. and in the Canadian national program. To have a good second half against that team will help their confidence going forward.
“We are going forward in baby steps and hopefully people are seeing that we’re trying to play soccer rather than just kick it everywhere,” said Keem.
Another big positive for Red Deer was the solid play in net of Lauren Good who made three big saves in the second half. Good was able to deflect a couple sure goals out of harms way including one being an athletic dive to knock away a shot headed for the top right corner. Keem said she is one of the top goalies in Central Alberta and one of the better goalies in the league.
Red Deer will be back on the pitch today as they have their second home game of the season against Lethbridge at 2 p.m. at Great Chief Park. Keem feels this could be a game they have a chance of winning especially if they stick to the game they played in the second half Saturday.
“I feel we play much better here,” said Keem who added they have three more games in a row at home after this weekend. “I credit the ladies for working hard especially after losing the first four games 31-0. They are working their butts off and that is all you can ask.”
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