Louisville, Ky. – Good things come to those who wait. Good things come to those who focus on what they can control and who put themselves in the service of others. On Friday evening, Ally Brazier and Denver Summit made good things happen. In their final match before the World Cup break, Summit traveled to Racing Louisville.
Head coach Nick Cushing had some decisions to make pregame. Tash Flint was out of the squad so Yuzuki Yamamoto made her first start for the club in midfield. Olivia Thomas also made her first start of the season at left wing. Captain Janine Sonis, who had been at Louisville the last two seasons, started at fullback.
Summit were the better side from the start of the match. Several attacking players had good looks at goal in the first half. It was 0-0 at halftime but the visitors should have scored before then.
Yamamoto had a bicycle attempt from a tough angle that was blocked 25 minutes in. Delanie Sheehan and Thomas had headers from sharp angles that they could not get on goal. Summit were proactive in transition. Both teams were sloppy at times with the ball, leading to counter attacks.
In the second half, it was just a matter of time before Denver put one of their shots away. Finally, in the 64th minute, a counter attack saw substitute Ally Brazier knock a ball down at midfield. She left it on a platter for Yuna McCormack who found Yamamoto. A great weighted ball from the Japanese MVP and Brazier slid to finish it off inside the six. The Colorado Springs native was slow to get up, putting her body on the line for the team.
Racing woke up in the final five minutes and Summit were tested. Emma Sears dribbled to put two Denver defenders on the ground before shooting. Goalkeeper Abby Smith made a great save. If that ball went bottom corner, it’s Goal of the Week.
There were two stoppages in play for Eva Gaetino dealing with a shoulder injury. Summit used that as a timeout to regroup. They saw out the final minutes with another big save (or two) from Smith to win 0-1.
Ally Brazier has her moment:
Going into tonight, Brazier had 1 start, 7 appearances, and 148 minutes. No goal contributions. While from the outside, it’s seemed like she’s been struggling, on the bench, she’s been an etherial teammate.
“Ally Brazier, 10/10 season in the sense of attitude, behavior, commitment, and investment in the team… There’s competition for players… Came off the bench and helped us in multiple games,” Cushing said, praising the player.
Brazier has focused on what she can control. Some days that’s been being a supportive teammate. The team had played great for 60 minutes. She subbed on to keep that going and if she got a chance, she needed to finish it. Not for herself. For team.
“I knew when Yuzuki was in there, I better be in the freaking box. I just had to make sure I was in the area. Put my body on the line. We were executing the game plan well and solving their game plan well. That’s what led to the goal,” Brazier said, grinning ear-to-ear.
“With Liv (Olivia Thomas) making her debut (start), I really felt that Abby would play a really important part. Not only the goal. The work rate, the holdup play was top. Really pleased,” added Cushing.
She’s made the most of an opportunity having waited to do so. Let’s see if she can build on it.
“Every second with this team is worth it. Whatever role I need to be is what I’ll do,” she said.
Not just Brazier, others played well. The defense especially.
Flint’s torso injury forced Cushing to be creative. It forced other players to step up.
“Almost playing a 4-2-2-2 would give us chances. We started the game really well… It was almost trying to call Louisville’s bluff a little bit. Be as direct as they’re going to be direct,” said Cushing.
It was a night of supporting cast players to get opportunities. Melissa Kössler was surrounded, so Thomas, Yamamoto, and others got looks. On another night, Summit win 3-1. The xG was 2.68 to 0.80 if you’re wondering.
“To get her first start and get an assist is really positive. The intensity of the NWSL was an experience for Yuzuki. She was cramping. An exciting addition to the squad,” Cushing said of Yamamoto.
Every member of the backline earned the shutout. It’s their fourth clean sheet in 11 games and the first since that three-game shutout streak that ended April 4.
“I’m really with our result tonight and the style of play has been growing and developing,” Smith told Burgundy Wave.
“It’s really hard to put a full game together… As soon as she cut it back, I knew I needed to be as big as I can. Part of it was closing the space and being patient. Our backline worked really hard to keep the shutout. Our whole team put in a hard performance,” she said of that save on Sears.
“If either one of her two amazing saves she had isn’t Save of the Week, that’s insane,” laughed Brazier.
Smith continues to impress. Other than Flint, she might be first name on the team sheet.
Taking stock at the World Cup break:
“Really pleased with performances. The first 25 minutes in Bay… the performance in Boston, outside of that, we’ve competed in every game, played the way we want to play. We’ve got a variety in the ways we can create chances. Multiple players have contributed in different games. Principally, we’ve been the same team. Fifteen points at this stage is ok. There is a little bit of discontent in our group, players and staff,” Cushing told Burgundy Wave.
“We’re in a really good place. We’re making really good opportunities for ourselves. We’re just not finishing. Once we get down those little details, this team will be unstoppable,” said Ally.
“I don’t think our schedule gets any easier in the second half,” said Smith.
Nineteen games to go. Twelve of those are at home. Lindsey Heaps is on the way with her European season over. They’re in the 8th seed, albeit games still to be played this weekend.
They’re not a bad expansion team. They’re mid-table. Can they become great? We’ll find out.
The team will take a break. Cushing said they’re close to moving into the CommonSpirit Performance Center. They expect to have two games before they return to play Friday, July 3 vs KC Current at DICK’s. Kickoff is 7:30 pm.
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Katherine Ammon 