Portland, Oregon – Saturday night was another data point that proves what Denver Summit fans have been thinking for awhile. Summit can place some nice football. But there are clear flaws and they have been dependent on a few players. They traveled to Portland Thorns. A raucous Providence Park elevated the home side. They themselves leaned on their present star player.
Summit were without Lindsey Heaps for the fourth game in a row with a knee injury. Abby Smith was also out with a knee injury. It would be the first game in Summit history without her in goal. Backup Katherine Asman started. Natalie Means and Ally Brazier were on the right flank. Emma Regan was in midfield. Ayo Oke and Devan Lynch were on the bench.
For the Thorns, Colorado native Sophia Wilson started up top.
Summit played their game in the first half but were trailing at the break. They had plenty of the ball and moved it well. Asman had some nervous moments when the ball was played to her feet. Five minutes in, she almost caused a playing out of the back howler.
Denver got the ball into good areas, but were missing the final product. There was a lack of ruthlessness and close calls in box at times. It was a familiar road performance in that regard. Maybe worse than usual with Yaz Ryan and Sonis sustaining knocks in the match. The left sided triangle of Tash Flint combining with Ryan and Sonis did good work. Melissa Kössler was active up front, committing fouls.
Summit played a high line and that played into Thorns’ strength. Wilson had a warning shot in the 25th minute that missed the far post. She made up for it in the 44th. Sonis was up field and the center backs were shifted to one side. That left the field open for Jessi Fleming. She delivered a through ball. Wilson beat Kaleigh Kurtz in a foot race, took a touch, then scored.
It was 1-0 at half.
Despite the positives, Summit regressed in the second half. Wilson had a goal rightfully called offside in the opening minutes. It was a breakaway on another wide open gap.
Still, Summit have had a great “Next Moment Mentality.” That’s allowed them to compartmentalize performances and have a big moment. That moment could have come in the 68th. Ryan had a shot cleared off the line in transition. The rebound fell to substitute Yuna McCormack. She shot wide off balance.
Minutes later, Wilson hit the post on another breakaway. On a different day, she gets a hat trick. Olivia Thomas had a chance in the final minutes but couldn’t finish. The match ended 1-0.
Summit’s “Optimistic Frustration” without Heaps and Smith:
Cushing has had Summit play some good football at times. They want to have the ball. They’re willing to risk space in behind. They want to create a volume of chances. That’s great. Provided you finish.
At times, especially on the road and against better teams, it’s been tough. They give up fewer chances but it’s easy for the opponent to score. They have most of the ball, spend plenty of time in the attacking third, but can’t finish. They lose. They go home feeling the should have gotten a result.
The team has been top heavy at times. The hope was Heaps would come in midsummer to raise the level of the foundation. They’ve been without her for four games. Abby Smith has bailed out a high risk defense several times. Their absences hurt tonight. They’re dependent on Sonis and Ryan to create the offense. When those things haven’t happened, it’s tough.
Cushing thinks they’re closing than it appears. The expansion struggle is real. But it’s not all bad.
“There’s a real optimistic frustration. There’s something to take away. When you come away from this game, you know that you’re not that far away. It’s like a curiosity of what is that we need for it all to click,” Cushing told Burgundy Wave.
“I can’t be critical of our strident and our application. We’ve walked away disappointed that we haven’t won the game, at least got a result. You can see the attacking intent. I understand the clock is ticking for playoffs. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in 8 months. That tells me we’re building something here. There’s a feel of discontent.”
Decent debut from Asman. This loss wasn’t her fault.
That being said, this loss wasn’t on the keeper. Asman faced six shots on goal, made five saves. She faced 1.75 expected goals, 0.87 expected goals on target. Only let in one. Her center backs left her hung out to dry on the breakaways Wilson had. Cushing said he was confident in both backup goalkeepers. They didn’t feel a need to protect Asman starting at the club that drafted her.
She made the routine saves you’d expect. Had good fundamentals in the air. There were some nervous moments with the ball at her feet in the first half. If she’s going to back up Abby Smith the rest of the season, fine.
“Tonight I was on the reaching end of the dodgy goalkeeper chant. That one was fun to laugh at… It’s hard shoes to fill (subbing in for Smith)… My hardest days were the practices leading up to this… Our staff made it competitive. Those prepped me for tonight,” Asman said postgame.
Cushing said that Smith and Heaps should be back soon.
Sophia Wilson is inevitable.
Sophia Wilson now has two goals in two games against Summit. She could have had more in this match. Given Sonis’ comments after the reverse fixture last month, conceding again is a disappointment. Would be great for Denver to sign her so she can’t score on them anymore.
“They don’t really move. They sit, wait for the turnover, and give it to a world class number nine,” said Cushing.
“If we get a playoff game and we’re lucky enough to get above the line and we earn that, I’m certain Portland won’t want to play us here in the first round of the playoffs after (this) game.”
“The goal unfortunately, got past me in the area of my bubble that I could have made a save. The other opportunities that she had it was all about can I make her make a shot,” Asman said of facing her former teammate Wilson.
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Katherine Ammon 