Sermanni tries to balance rest, keep players sharp
Orlando Pride coach Tom Sermanni initially toyed with the idea of resting many of his key players during the regular-season finale at North Carolina with his team’s playoff ticket already punched.
He isn’t necessarily sure that’s the best strategy and one he’ll ultimately use, however, because he doesn’t want to break up Orlando’s momentum.
The Pride are riding a seven-game unbeaten streak and his core players are lobbying to take the pitch as usual to stay sharp ahead of the playoffs.
“We’re trying to keep the rhythm and the momentum in the team we’ve had going the last seven or eight games,” Sermanni said.
Defender Kristen Edmonds has just recovered from a calf injury and said she feels full strength.
Defender Steph Catley’s knee inflammation that forced her to leave Saturday’s Portland draw early is back training at a regular level.
Sermanni said Thursday he hasn’t decided whether he’ll rest Catley or limit her minutes.
Defender Toni Pressley leads a long list of players who could benefit from Sermanni shaking up his lineup.
Sermanni said he’ll be pleased if he can go deeper into his rotation to give a few players minutes, whether as subs or starters
“We need to get players playing time. It's really hard,” Sermanni said of those who have fallen out of his regular playing rotation. “I said it at the start of the season, there are 20 players and this season's going to work out differently for all those 20 players. Some are going to exceed their expectations, some are going to get frustrated, some are bit players.
“... We've got a group of players of late in particular have not had much game time simply because of the circumstances that we're in. And they've been magnificent. Turn up to training every day, full motivated, doing whatever we ask them to do, been really committed to the team. And hopefully we're able to reward that by game time.”
Pride defender Ali Krieger is hoping to extend her streak of playing every minute this season to stay in sharp form for the playoffs, but she said she would also be pleased to see others on the roster finally get a chance to play.
“They’ve worked so hard this season,” she said. “They have to work just as hard as we do in order to keep everyone on the same level of fitness and strength . ...
“They deserve the opportunity and they’ve earned it. They've worked so hard this year and every day in training, coming in on their days off and staying after extra and doing the work. You really can tell how much growth those players have had.”
Krieger said even if those subs don’t get to take the field against North Carolina, she said they never show their disappointment and keep fighting to help the Pride get better during training sessions.
“When they get their opportunity, they're prepared to step in and get the job done,” she said.
Edmonds said those who fans don’t see as much on game day played a key role in helping the Pride clinch their playoff bid.
“You’re only as strong as your weakest player, so all 20 of us is just as important as No. 1,” she said. “Training is where we get better. It doesn't just happen on the field. We're out here working every day. So everyone is just as important as the last.”