Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
I've said this so many times - why do the best players in the world consistently shoot the ball over the (huge) net, during the game and in penalties? Take something off of it if you have to, but hit the net!
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It is crazy how important it is for the first shooter on your team to score in the PKs. Once the first American missed yesterday I knew that it was over. If the first player misses the pressure doubles on all the players that follow you and you can see the confidence of the whole team just disappear.
You could see on the American players faces that their confidence was shattered, while the Japanese ladies were just stone faced as they walked up to take the penalties.
Also I am not sure why goalies still guess so much on PKs, nothing bothers me more then seeing a goalie dive to the side when the shot is whiffed right down the middle.
I can't remember who it was but on the 2006 WC recap DVD there was a goalie who said make the shooter hit the perfect shot into the corner to beat you and use your reactions to save the ones close to you that the shooter flubs up.
He figured that he had the reaction time to save anything within 3-4 feet on either side of him and that he was more successful to make sure he saves the ones that the player screwed up, then to guess and try and save the ones placed in the corners by guessing.
It looked to me yesterday that Hope Solo tries to do this as well as she stays on her feet and tries to react to the shot as opposed to guessing.