City 1 Lethbridge 0
It was an easy decision for Samantha Vockeroth to return to Red Deer’s Alberta Major Women’s Soccer League team this season after two years away.
“It was coaching, that’s the only reason why I played,” she said. “I’m not putting the other coaches down, but Dave (McCarthy) came in with a plan and made sure we knew what he wanted which makes all the difference. We don’t have a situation where we kick the ball in the corner and everyone just goes. We kick it in the corner and we all know where we have to be. Even the dedication and commitment he demands from us. Everyone does it because of those expectations.”
That commitment has already been evident as Red Deer City ran their record to 1-1-2 with a 1-0 win over Lethbridge 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Great Chief Park. Last year they failed to register a point.
“The fact we tied our first two games and now the win is huge,” said Vockeroth. “Just knowing we can compete and not go out and get killed was huge. We know we have skilled players and a skilled team and we can compete in this league.”
Saturday’s victory came less than 18 hours after a 5-1 loss to undefeated Edmonton Victoria.
“We learned from that game,” added Vockeroth, who was an all-star defender with the Red Deer College Queens.
“We learned what lows are from that game and we see what the highs are after a win today. This is what we want to feel like all the time. But that low made us realize we have to fight every day to step it up.”
Melissa McLellan was credited with the Red Deer goal midway through the second half when it went in off a Lethbridge player.
Lethbridge held a edge in play for much of the second half, but City was solid defensively, although goaltender Lauren Good had to make a spectacular diving hand save with seconds remaining to preserve the win.
“The ball went off my head and I was worried it was in,” said Vockeroth. “But Lauren made a great save.”
McCarthy agreed.
“I don’t know how it stayed out,” he said. “But the fact that it did was important for us.”
Overall McCarthy was pleased with what he saw.
“We put together a game plan and the girls followed it to a tee,” he said. “In fact we were a bit unlucky in the first half not to have scored. I thought we deserved more. But Lethbridge played well in the second half and were more into the game.”
The Red Deer crew may have had heavy legs after playing the night before.
“It was a tough pitch to play on as well as it was heavy because of the rain and it took time to get our legs going. As well the way we play we tried to press the ball wherever it was and it’s tough to play that way for long periods of time, especially after playing an emotional game the night before. We wore down physically so we tried to use fresh bodies as much as we could in the second half.
“Overall the players did a good job of putting the ball in the right areas and they got their just reward.”
City plays the next three games on the road, beginning July 7 in Edmonton against Victoria. They don’t return home until July 15 against the Calgary Alliance.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com