EL RENO, Oklahoma -- The NOC Mavericks opened the season Friday on a windy day in El Reno taking on the Redlands Cougars winning 4-1.
The Mavericks controlled most of the first half with the majority of the possession in Redlands half of the field, but couldn't find the net. Northern took twelve shots in the first half forcing six saves from the Cougars goalkeeper. The Mavs finally broke through with just one minute left in the first half when Milica Bulatovic and Janet Moreno teamed up for goal. Moreno received a pass in the center of the field just outside the box, and found Bulatovic in a crowd of Redlands defenders. Bulatovic slipped a pass through to Moreno, who smashed the ball into the net.
Northern started slow in the second half, and Redlands capitalized. Fifteen minutes into the second half a Mav midfielder turned the ball over and a Redlands forward ripped a shot from outside the box into the top corner of the goal to tie the game. From that point on Northern dominated the game. The Mavs had several breakaway chances that resulted in 1v1's with the Redlands goalkeeper, but couldn't score until Marissa Neil found Bulatovic behind the defense. Bulatovic dribbled around the goalkeeper and passed the ball into the empty net giving the Mavs the lead. Moments later Bulatovic and Moreno would combine for another Moreno goal. Bulatovic would finish the scoring off herself two minutes later to give the Mavericks a 4-1 win.
"It was a tough game," said coach Michael DuRoy. "Their field is so small that it threw all of our tactics out the window. It took us quite a while to adjust, but to the girls credit they found a way. Honestly, it was a pretty ugly game. The small field and strong crosswind made it almost impossible to play our style. However we know that it's spring in Oklahoma so there is a good chance that a lot of our games are going to be windy. We have to find a way to play better than we did today. I'm confident we will. We have been practicing all year, but it's different when you finally get out there and the games mean something."
"I really thought our outside backs, Nancy Herr and Jordan Webster, played well," DuRoy added. "Nancy (Herr) played the full 90 and never tired. Jordan (Webster) is a goalkeeper that we are using on the field due to lack of depth, and she played great. Milica (Bulatovic) did what we knew she could do with two goals and two assists. Janet (Moreno) had two nice goals and lifted our game when she came in. Sofie Joergensen and Marissa Neil were awesome in the midfield. It certainly wasn't our best, but it was a nice way to start the season. I also have to complement our fans. We had so many fans there that it was like a home game."
