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Team Practice, ECU Soccer Field, 3:30 p.m. As Cordero's unofficial practice continues, the rest of the team makes its way to the field. They split into squads for a practice scrimmage, with half the girls wearing yellow vests to mark themselves as the opposing team. Cordero and Ally Glover, the team's other goalkeeper, begin by working with assistant coach Allison Lipsher. Cordero and Glover spend up to half their practice time with Lipsher, performing drills that simulate game situations requiring them to dive, sprint out for crosses, and make reaction saves. At today's practice they begin by tossing the ball back and forth to practice various kinds of catches. Cordero and Glover also practice controlling and gripping the ball. "Too much of a snatch," Lipsher admonishes Cordero as she prepares to roll the ball again. "Here we go." Most of the skills Cordero displays on the field result from hours of practice when no one was looking. There's no time to think when the ball's zipping at her during a game. If she doesn't react instantly, she's more likely to give up a goal. "The game is where they can't be thinking about technique anymore," Donnenwirth says. "If you start thinking about technique when you're a goalkeeper, you're probably going to give up a lot of goals. That stuff has to be muscle-memory, it has to become automatic and more reflex-type saves. But you want your relax saves to have good technique. Otherwise, you're going to give up goals; you're probably going to get injured." Following practice, the team remains in their locker room in the Olympic Sports Building watching film footage of their next opponent, Old Dominion University. |  | |
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7 p.m. | |||
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Game Day, ECU Soccer Field, 7 p.m.
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