WSOC Players Examine Keys to Swarming Defensive Play
Nov 26 | Women's Soccer
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The obvious starting point for anyone trying to explain how and why Rutgers' defense is the best in all of women's soccer is the individual talent.
Casey Murphy was the Big Ten's Goalkeeper of the Year. Center back Erica Skroski was the Big Ten's Defender of the Year. Fellow center back Brianne Reed was a First Team All-Big Ten selection and 2014 National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American.
But plenty of other teams across the women's college soccer landscape have talented defensive players and don't possess the dazzling statistics the No. 9-ranked Scarlet Knights will take into Friday's Elite Eight match against No. 1-ranked Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
No. 1 nationally in shutout percentage, total shutouts and goals-against average (a microscopic 0.33). Second in the country in save percentage.
So what makes this defense a cut above?
"I think it goes beyond talent," said Reed. "(Associate head coach) Meg Ryan has coached us so well. There's not a scenario we're not prepared for. We've played so much and we've played with each other the past three or four years. We have subs, of course, but that's the great thing about this team - the subs know exactly what to do without losing the flow of the game. We're all on the same page with each other."
Experience plays a factor, too. Skroski and Reed are both seniors and have started for at least three years. Maggie Morash, another defensive starter, is a senior as well, and Erin Smith is a junior. In the midfield, Samantha Valliant and Haley Katkowski are also senior starters, with Katkowski having started all 88 games in her career.
"A lot of it is being together for three and four years. There's a chemistry that develops that really helps," said Katkowski. "There are never issues with communication. We know each other and the way we're thinking out there. It makes a difference."
During a 19-3-2 season that has resulted in a school-record for victories, Rutgers has also set a program mark for shutouts with 18. In 24 games the Scarlet Knights have yielded just eight goals - and never more than two to any opponent.
Not much has changed in the postseason, with Rutgers producing clean sheets in all three NCAA Tournament games so far.
"It's because of how organized we are," said Skroski. "If one player goes up there's another one who instinctively knows to go down to cover. I feel like we could play with our eyes closed defensively because all of us know what everyone else is doing at every moment of the game. It's the communication and organization and it starts with the back line and moves its way up the field.
"Because of that it becomes a trust thing. We're not afraid to go into tackles. If we do, we know there's someone behind us to protect us. Trust is huge and we're big on the organization aspect in the back line."
All of that eventually finds its way forward, creating a team that is active defensively from back to front.
"We're so confident in defending with Casey and our back four, with Hayley and what the players in the hole (midfield) do," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "And then our forwards are involved as well. We talk about defending as 11."
Now that defense faces perhaps its toughest test yet in the Cavaliers, last year's national runner-up. Offense has powered Virginia to a 19-1-2 record, with the ACC school ranking second nationally in goals per game at 3.32 and fifth in shots on goal per match (9.23).
A trip to the College Cup may well come down to a battle of strengths.
"I have so much confidence in Brianne and Erica and really everyone in front of me and that makes a big difference, no matter who we're playing," said Muphy, a sophomore. "The chemistry within the back line is like no other and we hold each other accountable. It makes me a better player and us a better team. It's something special that's hard to explain."
