Seattle Reign FC at Washington Spirit Pre-Match Press Conference • Thursday, May 23, 2024
Head Coach Laura Harvey and Defender Shae Holmes
Head Coach Laura Harvey
On her thoughts ahead of the match:
“I think, obviously, there’s some positives in that we know we can beat them. I think they are actually very similar in the way that they try and play than they were when we played them in the first game of the season. I think they’ve just refined it a little bit more. I think, for us, it’s about finding the good things from last week’s game, which I think there were some really positive things out of it – try and make conceding goals something that we make as hard as possible on the opponent so we can keep our score to as close to 0 as possible. I think that’s been a key piece for us this week leading into the game.”
On not having Bethany Balcer and if Jordyn Huitema will be available:
“Yeah, Jordyn’s with us, which is great. She’s obviously been on a long road to recovery and we’re really happy that she’s back available for us this week. We know. obviously, Balcer is a miss for us, but having Jordyn back, Veronica obviously available, Emeri available, we’ve got options that we can solve there.”
On if she had a conversation with Balcer regarding the second yellow card:
“Not really. I think what we spoke about as a group is, and I’ve been definitely guilty of this, is when things aren’t going your way, which there’s been numerous things this year which haven’t gone our way in regards to decisions that have impacted our games, you have choices how you react to that and I think we have to internalize that a little bit more. I don’t think it’s beneficial for us to constantly cry wolf, I don’t think it helps. So, I think we had a conversation as a collective about that and it wasn’t just about what happened with Balcer, but obviously, we want to try and make sure that we can give ourselves the best possible chance to win games and I think to do that, we’ve got to try and keep our frustration around decisions or refereeing decisions or whatever it might be internal, which, as you guys know, I find that really challenging, so that we can make sure that we just put things right on the field because no one cares if you keep moaning about it. So, we’ve got to try and do better at that. So, we had a conversation about that.”
On Huitema getting called up for Canada and Jess Fishlock, Angharad James-Turner and Lily Woodham getting called up for Wales:
“I’m really happy for her [Huitema]. I think, obviously timing wise, it was perfect for her that – and it will be great for us – that we don’t have to manage her minutes multiple games, that will get managed in Canada, which then means after this game, she’ll sort of, fingers crossed, be free to go and come back to us hopefully 90 minutes fit, which can set us up obviously coming back for the Kansas game in a positive light. So, I think that’s a really positive thing for Jordyn. I think for the Welsh players, it’s an expected thing that they’re obviously going to get called up. I think they’ve got some important games with Wales and then they’ll meet us in Kansas City.”
On what the team needs to do to get on the scoreboard earlier in games:
“I think that’s been a big conversation for us this week. I feel like when we feel the adversity of either losing or conceding, whatever it might be, we tend to respond really well and our conversation this week has been, how can we be the one that’s making the other team feel that way? We haven’t had that enough. I think Bay is the only game that we’ve been leading that we’ve lost. So, I don’t think we’ve made teams feel that way enough, so that’s been an area of conversation for us on what can we do? Can we do things in the warmup? Can we prepare differently? I think you know this about me – I’ll do anything, so whatever that it takes to be able to start games and find that balance of can we get on the front foot earlier and can we not give the opponent anything early in games? I think there’s that fine balance that we have to find.”
On the Washington Spirit conceding goals early in games and if she is preparing differently knowing that the Spirit exploits defenses by moving side to side:
“I mean, yeah, I hope so. I hope it plays to our benefit. It’s definitely something that we want to try and do. I don’t think it matters who the opponent is, if I’m honest. In answer to your question about Trinity and Croix, I think Croix is being exceptional this season – not a surprise to be to be honest. I think she’s an exceptional talent that has a really bright future. I think we have to try and make the spaces difficult for her to function in, which I think we did a good job of when we played them at home. Obviously, Trinity didn’t play in that game, but I think with Trinity, you’ve got to try and get her in areas that she doesn’t want to be. She works really hard on both sides of the ball, so she can get around the field a lot, but we’ve just got to try and limit the options that they have and I think they are a good partnership together with the other players around them. But I think we just have to, as ever, prevention is better than cure. I thought we did a good job of that last week against the threats that Orlando had and then we gave them opportunities inside our box that meant that we conceded goals, so I think we just have to be mindful of one, the game plan, but then two, when they’re in and around positions that they can be a threat to us, we’ve got to be – make sure that we make it as hard as possible for them.”
On how Claudia Dickey is doing through her injury:
“Yeah, she’s progressing. She’s been doing a lot of individual sessions that have included some goalkeeper sessions, but she’s not quite back in with the team yet. We’re hoping that that may change in the FIFA break.”
Defender Shae Holmes
On how the team is feeling ahead of tomorrow:
“I think tomorrow we’re all really prepared. Obviously, in general, it always takes a lot after a loss to bounce back, but I think we, I don’t know, the whole team, I just know believes in this process we’re going on and this journey we’re having, so I think we’re really excited for tomorrow because it’s just another chance to basically continue to implement what we are getting at with our principles and the way that we want to defend and attack. I just think the past couple of games, even though they haven’t been the results we’ve wanted, we’ve at least learned a lot from them, so I think everyone’s really excited to hopefully continue to get to that turning point that we’re just waiting and yeah, everyone’s been putting in the work for that. So I think overall, just super excited. I know I am and I know I can feel it from the team. So yeah, I think we’re just pumped to get back out there again and hopefully get the [win].”
On how the team is able to stay positive through the tough losses:
“I think in general, we’ve done a lot – you always go over game film after games, whether it’s a win or a loss. But I know especially after just the stretch we’ve had, it’s been, everyone’s involved in film, everyone’s asking questions, everyone’s getting it down of what they need to do, what’s maybe something that we can do better – it’s full team participation in a sense. I just think that’s it’s not like that’s not any different than what we’re used to, but I just think it’s diving even deeper into what we really need to get figured out. I just think overall, again, like I said, everyone has been hands on – from non-starters, non-suitors to starters, to people who come off the bench – I just think everyone’s fully committed to that and understanding their role and their responsibility from the top down. So yeah, I just think diving deeper into film has been huge for us and then implementing, we’ve really utilized a lot of our training times to really get in, dig deep at each other, ask more of each other, expect more of each other and I think just continue to hit the ground running with what we know we can do and the team we are deep down to our core.”
On if she has ever been in a situation similar to this one:
“I think it’s hard because I think anytime – I mean on any team I’ve been on, you always have a weird stretch of stuff – but personally, I mean, yeah, I had experiences like this in college where things weren’t going right and it was like, what do you really lean on? I think a lot of us and the team is like we do, we’re leaning on a lot of the adversity in general, just like going through the losses and I think we’re understanding that that’s the feeling we need to continue to have is when we start games all the way until we finish them. So, I’ve had a little bit of a stretch here and there throughout college times with the same little feeling, but I know personally, my motto has always been positive vibes only, nothing ever good comes of anything when people start to get down or attitudes start to get bad. So, I know that everyone’s honestly trying to just be like, this is still where we’re at foundation-wise, we can only go up from here and continue to build. It’s never a negative aura from where our heads are at. So yeah, even with my experience, I know it’s always a positive stretch.”
On the approach the team needs to take to get a win against the Spirit for a second time this season:
“I think the approach is obviously knowing what we did well in the first game we played them but knowing that there is going to be some slight differences again. Obviously, they’re on a good stretch, they’re doing well at the top of the table, Trinity Rodman will be playing again. I think that, in general, allows us to be able to see the game in a little bit slightly different manner of how we want to approach it, but at the same time, soccer is soccer and we did beat them the first time in the opening games, so I know, in general, as long as we understand that we have that in us and the way we’ve been preparing for it – principles and the way we go about playing soccer as a team just doesn’t change – the hard work, the quality, all that just doesn’t change, it’s just the little details to just be prepared for this next time around and hopefully, the same outcome consists.”