By Kevin Kyle
A different approach yielded a different outcome Friday evening at Dominican University, as the Sioux Falls City Football Club notched its first victory of the new campaign in United Soccer League W – besting the hosting Chicago City Dutch Lions in a Central Conference Heartland Division clash in River Forest, IL.
Having opted to play a three-back defensive system in its 3-0 season-opening loss to River Light Wednesday night in Aurora, IL, City went back to a ‘basic’ four-back unit against the Dutch Lions.
“We talked about going back to basics in our pre-game meeting.” said veteran midfielder Taylor Thomas, who served as City’s captain on the evening. “We went back to the 4-3-3; the girls know it, a basic formation… universal. That’s not to say we won’t go back to a three-back system at some point, but we have a lot of new faces. Some players don’t even know all the names yet, so it was about going back to basics and what we all know.”
And basic movement, passing and communication, from the opening whistle, had the visitors on top in the opening minute of play.
Running onto a pinpoint through pass from striking partner Nadja Meite, Katharina Oelschlaeger pushed in behind the CCDL defense and into the box on the left side. Getting to within 12 yards of the CCDL goal, Oelschlaeger played it perfectly – waiting for Chicago goalkeeper Anna Jenkins to commit before slipping the ball between her legs for City’s first goal of the season.
“I don’t think they were expecting me to be faster than them and get the touch in behind them,” said Oelschlaeger. “I usually score those goals… sneaky with going between their legs. I’ve been in that situation before and it’s predictable what the keeper is going to do. Scoring early has two sides to it; It takes pressure off you and calms the nerves, but you also have 90 minutes ahead of you. Anything can happen.”
Chicago City had similar notions, as it promptly squared the game at 1-1 a mere 10 minutes after Oelschlaeger’s tally. The Lions’ goal, from striker Katrina Barthelt, was similarly fashioned to that of the visitors. Breaking away with the ball from its defensive third, following what City players and fans alike believed to be a foul, CCDL pushed the ball to the left with speed. Barthelt collected a well-placed pass behind the City defense and beat Fischer Campbell (six saves) with a low hard shot across the goal – momentarily putting the winless Chicago club back in contention.
The hosts continued to forage near the visitor’s defensive third over the ensuing 10 minutes, but City’s well-fortified defensive unit held fast in front of Campbell.
“We wanted to pin them wide, and tried to remain central,” said Thomas “We allowed them to play that wide ball and then… we’d go. I think we were effective in our press, winning the ball and counterattacking. Offensively, we did what City does best, collect the ball and counterattack with speed. We found space over the top a few times and other times it was just play simple and build.”
Mia Mullenmeister’s 10-yard effort from the right side was parried away from the net by a well-positioned Jenkins on 25 minutes, while Oelschlaeger and Meite also put the CCDL keeper to work with blasts that were pushed wide left and over the crossbar, respectively.
The final 15 minutes of the first half was end-to-end action. CDDL center back Roos Van Roekel wreaked havoc in the City box, rising to knock the ball on net with her head off corner kicks and set pieces. One such effort appeared to en route to the side netting to the left of Fischer, but a well-positioned Tyreese Zacher was there to clear the ball from City’s goal line. CCDL central midfield threat Alexis Lehnert also had a couple goes at beating Fischer. However, good collective defense, spearheaded by Mo Malone and Izzy Snowden, helped City quell each advance – keeping the score 1-1 at the interval.
Zacher went on to figure highly in the second half fray, both defensively and offensively.
In defense, Zacher left little room for CCDL strikers to maneuver down her left side, while the North Dakota State University junior galloped forward to join the offense at every opportunity.
“It was great to get the start today; I’d been diagnosed with a stress fracture, which limited my minutes, but since I played only 15 minutes in the last game I felt I could give more today in our second match,” said Zacher. “With a four-back system, we can play forward more instead of being conservative. When I saw my name on the starting lineup, I knew I wanted to be that person who could be a playmaker on the left side. I took those opportunities when I could.” 
Pressing forward behind Oelschlaeger, Zacher had opportunity to be that playmaker. A quick throw-in to Oelschlaeger deep in the attacking third saw the striker give the wing-back a quick return pass, which offered Zacher time to deliver and low hard cross across the CCDL box. The deft effort found second-half substitute McKenna Lehman at the top of the box. Having already had two strikes toward Jenkins sail wide within five minutes of each other, Lehman’s third was the charm – a low, hard right-footed drive that bested Jenkins to her left.
“It feels great being able to go out there and help the team… didn’t do it alone,” said Lehman of what proved to be the game-winning tally. “I had those first two shots go wide and I knew I had to put the next one away. It was a good ball from Tyreese and I felt the defender come up on my left. I turned my body to the right and hit it. Most of the game the defenders were right on us, so we had to be calm on the ball and pass it around them – not force it.”
Lehman’s 73rd-minute tally not only brought the smattering of City fans to their feet but also provided the club a respite following a short barrage of Campbell by the hosts.
On 50 minutes, Barthelet broke free to unleash a skipping shot to the left of Fischer. The City keeper was equal to the task, but the parried effort landed on the foot of Lion striker Mikayla Rivera six yards from the goal. An agile Fischer was quick to regain her position, pulling off a superb double save to keep the score at 1-1.
Energized by Fischer’s bounce and bravery, City forced the issue at the other end. Thomas had a good look from 22 yards out and substitute striker Hanna Schimmer had a pair of heavy shots test Jenkins prior to Lehman’s winner.
“Overall, I thought we did a good job of going back to who we are today, learning from it but also stepping into it and having fun – playing with each other and playing the game we all love,” noted Thomas. “I think everyone felt more secure playing four in the back and we know we have amazing wing-backs. We’re amazing when they get into the attack, overlapping and crossing the ball. I felt we were more empowered to do that, knowing we had extra numbers in defense.”
A defense that welcomed the more aggressive style of play in the USL W.
“It’s exhilarating; we all wanted our ‘get back’ from Wednesday’s game and the goal was to play together… was a team effort and a team win,” said Zacher “They (Lions) really got after it today. I like to be aggressive, like that style of play. Because of that, we knew we had to play as a unit, even when we were doubling… cleared the ball when we could and tried to find feet with our passes. The speed of the game is faster, too, so playing well in a faster, more physical league will give us confidence – a good step as we move forward.”
While Oelschlaeger, from her vantage point up front, didn’t necessarily agree with Zacher on the physicality of the contest, she felt the offense also made strides in City’s second Heartland Division match.
“I think it’s getting better… on the right track,” said the City striker. “We had moments where we had gaps between all three lines, but we created a lot of good chances and worked welltogether. We had more energy and positive vibes.
“We also know every single game is going to be hard, is going to matter. Today was great, but we start the next game at 0-0. We’ve won one in the USL W, but now we have to beat another team, and then do it over and over and over again. That’s the exciting part. Who doesn’t want to be challenged. That’s why we’re here; we want to be challenged, want to compete and that’s where the fun is.”
Sioux Falls City (1-1-0, 3 points) will look to keep the party going at 7 p.m. Thursday when the club visits Rochester FC (1-0-1, 3 points) in another conference clash in Rochester.
Shots
SFCFC 6 9 –15
CCDL 4 5 –9
Sioux Falls City 1 1 – 2
Chicago City 1 0 – 1