Pre-Match Press Conference Quotes • 3-31-23
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Forward Elyse Bennett
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On if she has any takeaways from last week’s game against the Washington Spirit after watching film in addition to capitalizing on chances:
“I think that’s obviously the thing that stands out. I think, when you create the chances that we did in the manner that we did, I think it’s always going to be the thing that sits with you the most. I think the field was difficult for us to play truly the way we like to play and then back to with Washington (Spirit) being pretty direct, I think that’s something we have to expect off teams, that they’re going to try and do that to us. But nothing that we hadn’t seen, really, came out in film after the game. I just think the chances that we created, I think that’s a positive. I think you’re always more worried when you’re not creating them so definitely been a focus for this week.”
On if there are any updates regarding player availability:
“No real changes, honestly. Everyone came on this trip. The whole team traveled because it was a two-game trip and people are progressing well. I think it’s probably just maybe too soon for the majority of them that we have maybe two, that we have sort of last-minute decisions to make. Yeah, so no major update on that.”
On her observations towards NJ/NY Gotham FC and what makes them dangerous:
“Yeah, a lot of change. I think, obviously the coaching change as well. They look a lot like Houston did towards the back end of last season, just with different personalities on the field. I think their threats are that they can counterattack you quicker than most teams in this league. I think with (Gotham FC midfielder) Allie Long back as well, I think they have someone who can dictate the game and the temper of the game from midfield. Yeah, I think they’re the biggest things, obviously got a really good result in LA, it’s not an easy place to go to. So, we’re hoping that the field can be a little bit better than last week, so we can play a little bit of our game, but I actually think it suits them too to be able to play. So, hopefully, it’s a little bit nicer on the eyes because watching that Washington game back was painful.”
On how the team will avoid getting pressed:
“Honestly, we had it last week with (Spirit forward) Trinity (Rodman), too. I think that it’s a fine line in how we play. We actually want pressure. We want people to come press us and then we have to be willing to play through it. We have to be brave to be able to do that. (Gotham FC forward) Lynn (Williams) is an excellent presser, for sure. (Gotham FC forward) Midge (Purce) did well at that, too. So, we’re prepared for that, but we actually prefer that. We prefer teams to come and press us because it opens up space for people higher up the field and yeah, I think Lynn hurt her arm in that game and it looked like she was sort of playing with her arm, sort of, she didn’t want to move it too much. So, hoping that she’s okay with that, but obviously did really well to get a goal and I think that that’s where they’re probably the most dangerous in how Lynn scored, is in that transitional moment to be able to get you when you’re out of shape. So, I think it’s sort of this fine balance – we want to play the way that we like to play, which is obviously very possession orientated and we like to play through the thirds and get our quality players on the ball to fire up the field. But to get to be able to do that, we need pressure from the opponent and we need to be willing to play through it, which we did a good job of last week. It was a little bit different than what we would normally do. We have to sort of miss lines out a couple of times just because of the state of the field, but hoping tomorrow we can play through a little bit cleaner and the way that we want to.”
On midfielder Rose Lavelle saying she was grumpy after the game and how much she looks to Lavelle to help the team play the way they want to play:
“Yeah, I think obviously the result was frustrating for us. The result was the most frustrating for us, I think, last week, but a lot of things were frustrating. I keep talking about the field. It’s really difficult to go and play on something like that. If we want our league to be the best, we’ve got to demand that those things are better, not because it suits our team, but it just puts the product that we want to sell to everybody as one that people want to watch and I don’t care who you are, no one wanted to watch that. So, I think that lent into her grumpiness a little bit. But is (midfielder) Rose (Lavelle) someone who could solve pressure? Yes. Is she somebody that we need to get on the ball in areas that are going to hurt the opponent? Obviously, the more we can do that the better. I thought she did actually a decent job of it at times in the game, last week, when she got in those spots. The cross she made for (forward) Elyse (Bennett) for the header is an example where you know she can turn a game on its head in an instant, so I don’t mind grumpy Rose because she always then wants to go out and prove people wrong, so I’ll take a grumpy Rose if it means we get a result tomorrow.”
On defender Emily Sonnett’s performance and if she will be in the defensive midfield role more often moving forward:
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see. We’re not in a position to where I’ve got to make that choice right now. But I thought, (defender Emily) Sonnett did well. I think the great thing about Sonnett is she came off really frustrated in her own performance on the things that she sort of prides herself on, even though she was involved in the game a lot and I think that just shows the character that she is. It’s one of the main reasons why we wanted to bring her to the club because she’s a proven winner and we need that in this team. So, I think – Will we keep Sonnett as a midfielder? We’ll see. I think she obviously has proven that she can do a job in this league in that position. Could Sonnett and (midfielder) Quinn both play in midfield at the same time? Yes, quite easily. I think it gives us some unpredictability, but we also know Sonnett can play anywhere along the backline as well. So, just really happy that we have somebody that can play at the level she can play at, in multiple positions and knows how to win in this league and I think it’s a long season, it’s a tiring season and we’re going to need all the flexibility that we have to be able to make sure that we can put on a show whenever we need to, to get the results that we need. Obviously, the biggest chance we’ve got is tomorrow to put the result right from last week.”
Forward Elyse Bennett
On how the team is feeling before the game against Gotham FC:
“I feel like we have a lot to look forward to and a lot to grow on from last game. I feel like we felt like we had control of the game for a lot of the moments throughout the game and we just didn’t finish, which I know was an issue that they spoke about a lot last year and I feel like we are just kind of putting our heads down and realizing that, as a team, we need to come together and put away the few chances that we do get a game. Yeah, I feel like that’s just the ultimate focus going into this Gotham game is, trying to create the same amount of chances that we created against (Washington) Spirit but putting them in the back of the net.”
On the challenges that Gotham FC could cause:
“I think we know that Gotham has a lot of great players and they did really well in free agency and just bringing a lot of key people from the league into their team this year. So, we know that they have a lot of speed up top and obviously good balance in their midfield, not to mention the fact that they have a pretty solid defense and goalkeeper. So, I feel like every team in the league is great and we know that going into any game – no game is going to come easy. So, I feel like Gotham poses different threats than Spirit maybe did, but I think that we will be ready for them and I think this time around we will finish out the game how we should.”
On getting to know other players from the team:
“I feel like our team chemistry had already kind of been established in preseason and I feel like that trip to Long Beach was definitely helpful in that realm, so I feel like before we even got on the road for season, we already had a pretty good idea and feeling of how good our team could be and I think that being on the road – yes it is helpful but at the same time it’s like, we would much rather be at home. So, I think there is pros and cons, but I would say that the growth of us as a team and the chemistry and the friendships and stuff was already kind of established prior to season even starting.”
On playing on the left side against Gotham FC defender Kelley O’Hara:
“I don’t think there has been any specific sorts of conversation in terms of my specific matchup against (defender) Kelley O’Hara. I think that (head coach) Laura (Harvey) is just going to put me in the best position for me to succeed and to create the hardest time for our opponents. So, I feel like there hasn’t been specific conversations on that in particular but more so just what I can continue doing as a player to continue posing threats on our opposition and just helping our team be as successful as possible.”
On getting to play at Lumen Field soon:
“I think that I’m super excited. It will be my first time playing in Lumen as the home team. I obviously had played in Lumen last year with Kansas City (Current) in the semifinal and then in league play as well. I think that Reign has a great community and a great support system and a great set of fans, so I’m very excited to play in front of them and I know that we’ll feel their presence as soon as we step foot in Lumen.”
On the mentality of the team after watching film from the first game:
“I think that, as a striker, it’s super important not to overthink and it’s kind of like that mentality of – I missed this one but there is going to be plenty of opportunities to come and like you said, we are one game into the season. So, I think just pumping the brakes a little bit and realizing that we’re all meant to be here and we were all brought on this team for a reason and we’re all capable of finishing. So, it’s more so, when the moment comes, can we lock in and say focused and that just comes with training. So, we kind of had a conversation about just staying focused and locked in at training and holding each other to a higher standard of when we do miss or when we feel like we should have put goals away in training, I feel like that converts over to games. So, rather than being a little bit more relaxed in training and then having that translate over to a game, we’re holding the standard a little bit higher now in training so that it’s like, when it does come to a game, you’re not overthinking and it just comes because we’ve been training that way – and not to say we haven’t been training that way because I feel like the standard has been high since I’ve gotten here. But I think that just putting more emphasis on that after this first week was kind of the communication that we had.”
Download Quotes Here: Pre-Match Press Conference • 3-31-23