The Tides looked solid versus Vancouver Rise — but are still in search of their first win
Leading up to their match on Monday, Halifax Tides head coach Lewis Page was focused on improving his side's structure.
Specifically, against the Calgary Wild in their season opener, the Tides struggled on set pieces. They let their lines slip. And they became disjointed in build up and gave the Wild space to exploit. So, in speaking with HFX Football Post ahead of Monday's match versus Vancouver Rise, Page stressed his desire to shore things up defensively and to hit the B.C.-based club in transition.
"I think one thing, from a defending standpoint, is making sure we're a little more compact, a little closer together, a little tighter," said Page. "And in attacking transition, there'll be opportunities so we have to make sure we take care of the ball when we win it back and be aggressive in our second pass."
It's fair to say the Tides looked much more composed versus the Rise, riding out the storm at Swangard Stadium like a sailboat in a gale. And aside from Jasmyne Spencer's goal, a wonder-strike in the 53rd minute, they gave Vancouver very little in the way of dangerous chances.
The same praise, sadly, cannot be given to Halifax's transition play, which was the difference between a result — be it a tie or a win — and another lesson for Page's group to study.
The Tides ultimately lost 1-0. But there continues to be positives to build from as the group learns to play together.
There were two changes to Halifax's starting XI versus Vancouver as Gianna Creighton, who made her professional debut versus the Wild, and Karima Lemire replaced Megumi Nakamura and Kiley Norkus.
The Tides seemed content to soak up Vancouver's pressure in the opening half, sitting in a low block with Lemire slotting in as a left-back and Creighton positioned as part of a midfield trio with captain Gunny Jónsdóttir and Marika Guay. Vancouver dominated the ball, boasting 66.3 per cent possession, but were unable to pierce the Tides' shape.
As Page foreshadowed, Halifax's most dangerous moments came in transition. Sydney Kennedy showcased her speed on the left wing as she received the ball in the 39th minute and knocked it past Vancouver's Mariah Lee. Cutting inside on another Rise defender, Kennedy then whipped the ball back post — slicing through Vancouver's line — to a streaking Saorla Miller, who narrowly missed connecting on the opportunity.
The sequence between Kennedy and Miller proved to be the Tides' most promising chance of the match as they recorded only a single shot on goal, a corner kick that landed snuggly in Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan's embrace.
Again, Page prophesized the future.
"They don't give a lot away at the back," he said of the Rise. "They're quick up front, so they'll cause you problems in counter-attack and anytime they can get pace behind your attacking line."
The Tides ended the match with six shots in total; the Rise had nine.
But there's solace to be taken from Halifax's ability to move the ball when in possession. Although they ended the match with only 42 per cent possession, the Tides were far more confident on the ball than their opening match. Their build up was also much cleaner and they completed 255 passes compared to the 131 they mustered versus the Wild. Converting on their chances created by their ball movement is the next step in Halifax's progression.
The Tides paid dearly for their mistakes on set pieces in their home opener so it felt like salt in the wound when, after a solid first half, Vancouver's Spencer scored off a half-volley following a corner clearance from goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Page opted to bring on fresh legs in the 60th minute to change the match, substituting Kennedy and Christabel Oduro for Daphnée Blouin and the attacking minded Nakamura.
However, the Tides proved unable to convert with more bodies committed forward, their last chance — a lay off for Blouin in the box — sent sailing over the net.
Josh Healey
It may only be Page's second official match in charge of the Tides but there's little doubt he'll take the lessons learned from both the Wild and Rise and implement them before his group heads to Montréal this weekend.
As he explained when asked about defending set pieces, it's all a matter of making adjustments following a thorough analysis.
“The first thing is to go back and have a look at what happened on those set plays and finding out whether it's an organizational thing in the way we’re set up or is it people maybe not understanding their roles,” he said.
“We did that kind of analysis and had that discussion as a group. We make adjustments from there, just like we’d do with anything else.”
And if the Tides can make a few more adjustments, as they did with their defending, it won't be long until they're celebrating their first win in club history. It is, at this time, a matter of when they can put it all together.
Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Tides FC
