Badgers Ball Control Calms Hurricane
September 15, 2022 by Rich Kelly

In football, ball control avoids costly mistakes an opponent can use to score in a hurry. In basketball, it’s much the same, especially when using the clock in a close contest. In soccer, skill sets and how the ball is handled determine ball control — getting control of the ball with the feet and legs as quickly as possible.

Game photos click here.

Ball control has different meanings in different sports.

In football, ball control avoids costly mistakes an opponent can use to score in a hurry. In basketball, it’s much the same, especially when using the clock in a close contest. In soccer, skill sets and how the ball is handled determine ball control — getting control of the ball with the feet and legs as quickly as possible.

Sept. 8, in the nightcap of a “home” doubleheader for the Berkshire Badgers, the Badgers hosted the Brooklyn Hurricane at NDCL’s Lion Stadium and took as total a dominating victory as you might see. Final score: 4-0.

The Badgers controlled everything the entire game, limiting the Hurricane to not a single shot on goal the whole way.

“We try to get back to good ball control in every area whenever we can,” said Berkshire Head Coach Ian Patterson. “Being smart and careful with the ball keeps teams from scoring.”

It also helps majorly in setting up some offense. As the teams battled back and forth for much of the first half, Berkshire finally was in position to attack, and with 29:57 gone in the game, junior forward Evania McCandless sent a corner kick high in front of the net, then senior Brooke Ruchalski deposited the orb neatly into the back of the net to break a scoreless tie.

Junior Alyssa Lawson was tripped up while making a pass the next time down the field, and sent the ensuing free kick into the upper reaches of the net for the second goal at 31:44.

McCandless made it 3-0 at 38:19 with a bullet coming away from a loose ball, and the game’s scoring was capped with 29:55 gone in the second half as Ruchalski drilled a penalty kick passed the keeper.

Co-captains Ruchalski and Abbi Connors felt comfortable with how the game went — like the boys team, which drilled Conneaut in the first game of the day — despite the anxiety they may be feeling approaching an eventual first contest at Great Lakes Cheese Stadium.

“We’re upset a bit about not yet getting to play in the new stadium,” Ruchalski said. “At the same time, it just makes us want to work harder. I think we are in the best physical shape we’ve ever been in since I’ve been playing anyway, and that should help us.”

Connors agreed about the incentives involved.

“I think when we get to play on our own field, we will have some big advantages against anybody,” she said. “It’s something we really look forward to having finally happen.”

Coach Patterson also felt satisfied with his team’s performance.

“These girls have really worked hard,” he said. “Playing fundamentally sound ball is huge, and ball control in every way really comes into play. These girls are very good at it; they have great foot control most of the time, and that’s the best way to control both the pace and results of tough games.

“There are some really good teams around here, and ball control is a big reason why.”

It won’t be long before somebody comes to meet Berkshire on its new home turf, and if they let the Badgers control the ball as they did in this game, it will be a long bus ride home.