Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Players Share Thoughts on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
6/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HAMDEN, Conn. – Former and current members of the Quinnipiac women's soccer program took a minute to discuss the 2015 Women's Soccer World Cup, and share thoughts about their respective countries across the tournament. With a wide array of international and national ties to professional soccer, Quinnipiac is well represented in this year's 24-team playoff. Here are some thoughts on the opening group stage of the 2015 Women's Soccer World Cup.
Jessica Jankowski – USA
Senior | Forward | 2016
"I think that the US showed a few nerves and has been getting caught in some risky situations because of it. I think that Megan Rapinoe has been a game-changer for the team and has been the best player so far in terms for creating chances and being consistent. I was also impressed with Julie Johnston in the game against Sweden when there were a few times she was able to get back quickly and defend dangerous chances. However, the defense does seem to play the ball up aimlessly sometimes when they get themselves caught. There seems to be a little disconnect in the attack as the passes are not being anticipated and the teams' first touch does not seem as good as it usually is. I definitely think we'll make it out of this round but I think the team needs to calm down as a whole, work on keeping the ball with their first touches and having better passes, and put away the chances they do get.
On a more positive note, I thought that Christen Press' goal was really great especially in terms of relating it back to our team because it was a ball laid back, instead of crossed in the air, that set her up to shoot. It was what we worked on a lot last season and shows that if you take time to place the ball back instead of crossing in the air - good things can happen."
Jo Proctor – England
Junior | Defense | 2017
"I think we had a tough first game against France, who are a favorite of the tournament, so we put out a very defensive team and rarely looked like we would score. We lost by only one which was a good goal, so goal difference wise this is considered a good loss if there is ever one.
For the second game against Mexico we had a more attacking team out and played some better football especially in the second half when Karen Carney came on.
We have a few players in the squad who are really experienced but just aren't performing and are holding back the team. The younger players such as Fran Kirby and Alex Greenwood, when played, proved to make more of a difference with Kirby scoring and Greenwood assisting. Experience is key in big tournaments but I think the manager, as the manager previous did, is sticking to the same players in hopes of the team finding a way to be successful with a proven not altogether successful squad.
The manager has picked quite a few players who are out of form, such as Karen Bardsley who has played only a handful of games in goal in the WSL compared to Carly Telford who has been recognized by many of her peers as being the strongest goalie of the league this season."
Nadya Gill – Canada
Freshman | Forward | 2019
"Compared to the last World Cup, Canada has obviously improved and is doing extremely well. Looking at facts only, according to rankings, they have faced teams lower than them, tied and managed to beat China by only a goal, which was a penalty shot. Although this is the case, they have had many phenomenal attempts on net, but failed to put them in, which is what I would assume they are now working on at the practices in-between games. Canada's defensive shape has been strong and has been working since they haven't conceived a goal. They just need to work on their attacking aspect, not only stopping goals, but scoring goals too."
Beck Kiting – Australia
Graduate | Defense | 2014
Australia being drawn in what was dubbed as the 'group of death' has spurred the Matildas on to play some of the best football they have ever played in a major international tournament. Much of the squad were returning players from the team that was runner-up at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup, losing 1-0 to Japan in an exciting final, so they have had a lot of experience playing together. Having played and trained with the majority of the Matildas squad, I know for a fact that the girls have been training at a very high intensity the last couple of months in order to prepare themselves for the World Cup. With some testing results in a recent tour to Europe, the girls knew they really needed to step up their intensity in international matches in order to be competitive against the likes of USA, Nigeria and Sweden.
Going into the first match against USA, I was extremely nervous for the girls because they were starting the match under strength with number one goalkeeper Lydia Williams suffering a hamstring strain earlier that week in training, and Co-captain Clare Polkinghorne also being out of action. The girls came out firing though and USA was lucky not to be down a couple of goals in the first half with Hope Solo making some crucial saves to deny Emily van Egmond and Sam Kerr in particular. The Matildas were unlucky when Megan Rapinoe's long shot deflected into the goal to give USA the lead and alleviate some pressure. Overall I think that the score did not reflect the game whatsoever and the USA team was quite fortunate in the end to take the three points.
I think USA's dominance in Women's Football may be coming to end this World Cup as they again were not convincing against Sweden with their match resulting in a draw. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the Matildas against Nigeria due to team travel commitments but from all accounts I understand that it was another brilliant performance, this time with the girls sealing the match with a brace by Kyah Simon. I think Alen Stajcic (Matildas head coach) made some important tactical changes to the line-up, with starts to Lydia Williams, Alanna Kennedy and Kyah Simon who were all very influential players in the match. I have been speaking to some of the girls over there right now and the team is feeling really good and has settled well into their base camp in Edmonton."
Annette van der Weijden – Netherlands
Goalkeeper | 2005
"I think Holland played well the last game. The first two games (except for the first half against New Zealand) they were 'loose sand'. Against Canada, the different lines did cooperate and they were able to play according to the 'Dutch School' and create chances. They always play 4-3-3 with two defending midfielders and one attacking (Daniëlle van den Donk). The striker Viviane Miedema (Bayern Munchen) couldn't finish the first game due to migraine and the games against China and Canada she wasn't reached. I think Gabriëlla Maria "Manon" Melis played well all three games; she plays on the right forward. I have played with her at U-17 and U-19; she's so fast. She plays in Sweden and was top-scorer of that league several times. Lieke Martens (left forward) is a strong talent and did well on all the three games. Van den Donk (10) played well the first game but the last game against Canada she failed. In my opinion, the midfielder Sherida Spitse also played very well in the game against the host country."
