Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. LOU) • Tuesday, September 5, 2023
OL Reign Pre-Match Press Conference • Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Defender Shae Holmes
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On if she has any updates on forward Bethany Balcer and how the rest of the team is doing:
“I don’t have real updates for (forward Bethany) Balcer, we’re looking to get her a scan and see what it potentially is. How’s everyone? Tired. It’s matchday plus two, so that is normally a day of recovery, but we are planning for a semifinal. So yeah, we’re good to go and looking forward to tomorrow.”
On if she is planning on rotating players for this game:
“Oh yeah, we’ve got to rotate the team, there’s no question. There will be a few players that started on Sunday that are physically capable to be able to go out and do it again. We’re prepared for making changes throughout the game, obviously with such a short turnaround.”
On what makes Racing Louisville FC a difficult opponent:
“I think they’re a good team. I think they play football. I think they are very good on set pieces. I think they come out the blocks really quickly and they’ve done that in all the games we’ve played against them previously. But I think what we’ve shown is that we hang in games – we tend to stay in it and then we can always, hopefully, bring something to the table late in games. So, I think that’s something that has been historically sort of how it’s worked between the two teams and the irony is the only competition I’ve ever beaten Louisville in is a cup [The Women’s Cup]. So, let’s hope that happens again tomorrow.”
On what the team has been working on to be more threatening in the final third:
“We haven’t worked on anything because we haven’t had time, but we’ve spoken a lot about things we need to get better at. Just, I think, being a threat in behind them early, not letting them get set – they’re a good team when they get set so trying to expose the spaces behind them quickly, I think, is a big opportunity for us. When we do that against any team, really, we’re a threat – that happened with the sending off the other day, we had a couple of other chances from doing that, so that’s something that isn’t Louisville specific, but I think they’re a good team when they get in and around the goal, their structure is good defensively, so we’ve got to try and make sure that we don’t let them get set basically.”
Defender Shae Holmes
On how the team is feeling ahead of this game:
“I think the team is feeling really good. Obviously, especially coming off of the win against Orlando (Pride), that was a must make or break kind of game in our minds and I think we’re already on a high from that. It’s just been, throughout the whole locker room and team vibe, I know Challenge Cup has been a strong suit for us lately. So, I know everyone’s been prepared, we’re prepared to use the depth of the team, everyone’s all in. I just think everyone’s excited. We haven’t let a goal in, we obviously won all of them. So yeah, we’re on a good streak. So, I think everyone is feeling really confident, everyone feels prepared, everyone knows their role, so we’re super excited, I think, from every perspective going in to tomorrow.”
On what head coach Laura Harvey has said to help her develop:
“I tell everyone this, I think this is the best team I could’ve ended up on for my development as a rookie. Challenge Cup has been my moment, kind of thing. I think it’s been great. I’ve gotten to play with everyone on the team at some point, I think, so it’s been awesome. I’ve got time with players like (defender Lauren Barnes) Lu and (forward Megan Rapinoe) Pinoe on the field and (midfielder) Jess (Fishlock) – I feel like those are really cool moments, but then I’ve also gotten moments where it’s like I’ve built a relationship with (defender) Phoebe (McClernon), (defender) Sam (Hiatt), (defender Alyssa Malonson) Lyss, in the backline – (goalkeeper) Laurel (Ivory), (goalkeeper) Claudia (Dickey), (defender) Ryanne (Brown). It’s been fun to get to play with different people, different styles and I think Challenge Cup has been great at that because we’ve gotten to use our whole team and a wide variety of everybody. (Head coach) Laura (Harvey) and I sat down at the beginning of the season – my number one goal was kind of just to stay healthy and that’s been a good Cup in the sense of also to just get the feel of what it’s like to play at this level and be with all these pro players and practicing day in and day out, the daily routine of just being in a pro life – Challenge Cup and just being on this team, I think I couldn’t have ended up in a better place for that. Every game, every Challenge Cup game, every moment I’m suited, I just feel super prepared with the players that are around me, with Laura’s confidence in me and I feel like it’s infectious. So, we know what to expect and I know what to expect, I know my role and it’s been great, I’ve loved it. So, rookie season has definitely been one for the books so far. I hope it continues.”
On how the team has kept all clean sheets after rotating the lineup:
“I think just using the depth of our team, it’s just been, in trainings, you train with everybody, you train with different people, you do 11s and you train with one group, but then in practice the next day, you’ll train with another set of groups. So, I think just speaking on that, I’ve gotten to feel prepared in trainings with what we’ve done to feel like when I’m in a game with anybody next to me at any position because I’ve also had to move around – I’ve played left center back, but I’ve also played left back in the Challenge Cup games. In Portland, in the last couple minutes of the game, I moved to right center back and then I’ve also gotten put in that right outside back for a small glimpse of time. So, I just think no matter what we’ve done or who I’ve played next to, I’ve felt prepared and I’ve felt like everyone’s known their role and how the person you play next to, we know how they play and what their style is and you kind of know what to expect game in and game out. Speaking on having no goals scored, it’s been super fun. Obviously, I have full trust in Laurel and Claudia, who have been playing most of the Challenge Cup and then just all the way down, it’s a top to bottom defensive set of work. We know if we want to high press, if we want to force whichever direction, we just know, we just have our roles, we have our preparedness and I think it speaks volumes and it shows on the field with anybody.”
Download here: Pre-Match Press Conference (vs. LOU) • Tuesday, September 5, 2023