Down early, the Tides fall short of comeback versus Calgary Wild but showcase what they're capable of
Two iterations of the Halifax Tides were on display at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday night.
The first iteration, which has reared its head several times this season, including in the club's 4-1 home opener loss to the Calgary Wild in April, began the first half. They were hesitant to press. They were effectively pinned in their 4-4-2 shape by the Wild's attack. And they looked, despite this being their sixth match, anxious as the score quickly piled up.
Wild full-back Ally Green was the first to beat Tides goalkeeper Erin McLeod, receiving the ball in space. She dribbled uncontested to the top of the Tides' box before bending the ball into the top corner in the 23rd minute.
Later, Jenaya Robertson added a second tally off a nifty cutback and Taegan Stewart capped off an excellent Wild half — or a very poor Tides one, depending on your point of view — with another goal to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
This felt, in many ways, like the iteration of the Tides that started the season.
Speaking to HFX Football Post, Tides head coach Lewis Page said part of the poor start lays at the feet of the coaching staff.
"Some of it goes on us as a coaching staff in terms of the tactics and the team shape we put out there. We made some adjustments to that in the second half, for sure. We looked a little hesitant and anxious so we weren't jumping to press like we should and you can't give a team like Calgary that much time on the ball to turn and face you," he said.
The Tides had shuffled their squad somewhat on Wednesday, giving Halifax-native Annika Leslie her first start at left-back while working Marika Guay into a wider role. Saorla Miller, who has been used as a sparkplug for Page so far this season, joined Megumi Nakamura as part of a front two.
However, Page and his staff made several changes at halftime, including subbing off Leslie and Guay for Kiley Norkus and Daphnée Blouin. Nakamura also dropped deeper to play more as an attacking midfielder in possession.
"Second half, we knew we needed to press higher up, obviously, being down and we needed more coverage in midfield. I think there was too much ground for the two central midfielders to cover in the first half so we went to three in the midfield in the second and I think that extra player helped bottle up the middle of the park," explained Page of his changes.
The tactical adjustments ushered in the second iteration of the Tides, the one that played the Montréal Roses, who have so far been the class of the league, to a hard-fought draw. Simply put, the Tides took control of the second half.
Blouin helped start the comeback as she collected a pass from right-back Éva Frémaux in the Wild's box. Taking a touch, she shook the Wild defender and layed it off to Miller, who one-timed the ball top corner, beating Calgary 'keeper Stephanie Bukovec in the 73rd minute.
A few minutes later, off a corner, Frémaux had an opportunity of her own to score but accidentally skied the ball.
Undeterred, the Tides continued to apply pressure and we're rewarded as a Wild goal kick quickly turned into a counterattack. Nakamura and Miller played one touch in the middle of the park, pulling defenders out of the way, and exploited the space, with the Japanese attacker working her way to the top of Calgary's box. Nakamura calmly buried the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for her first of the season.
The Tides continued to work, an equalizer very much in their grasp, but were unable to beat Bukovec a third time. Ultimately, Halifax lost 3-2 despite a plethora of chances in the second half. The Tides outshot the Wild 13 to 9.
"I was super proud of that second half effort. The players could have easily packed up and gone home at halftime but they came out with some intensity and commitment and really went after it," said Page.
“We put them under the gun and I really thought we had a number of opportunities to equalize, and maybe even win in the second half.”
Although not the result the Tides wanted, they managed to score multiple goals in a match for the first time this season. Their attack could have easily yielded more as substitutes like Blouin, Norkus and Anne-Valérie Seto helped raise the intensity.
Miller, who leads the club with two goals, also seems to be rounding into form, something Page credits to her move centrally.
"The reason we liked (Miller) out wide is because she'd run at players and get in behind them but now that she's doing that from a more central role, instead of delivering balls for someone else to finish, she's able to get on the end of them. It was a great finish last night," he said.
The Tides don't have long before they suit up again, this time playing at home on Tuesday night. And they'll be hoping its the iteration of the squad that played the second half versus the Wild that start the match at the Wanderers Grounds.
Perhaps, versus Ottawa, they'll earn their first win in club history.
Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Tides FC
