This was a really solid start to the '18 season. The environment certainly wasn't hostile, but it could have been easy to lose focus. Hawaii had the edge for the first 10-12 minutes and really should've been up 1-0 after putting a 1v1 off the post. The Ags settled down and started possessing for multiple passes about 20 minutes in.
The back three stayed calm and really got things going by calmy playing the ball between themselves while Hawaii would generally retreat after the Ags played two or three passes. That perpetual retreat by Hawaii led to a packed midfield, meaning that Kendall Ritchie and Callyn Walton, especially, needed to make good passes up the wing or over the top, because the interior midfield was clogged. They did, and ultimately, with some additional movement by the interior midfield players, that started opening up passing lanes back into the middle. In addition to the back three, Tera Ziemer and the Bates sisters were really active in moving both themselves and the ball all night.
Additionally, we saw some super effort, especially in the first several minutes of the game, by Ally Watt and Emily Bates, to track back and run down free Hawaii attackers to stifle early chances. Later, we saw that same gut-busting effort by Cienna and Macie Kolb. That kind of effort, especially by the "stars" like Ally and Emily, shows their true character. They will do the workand that's precisely why they have success. If everyone plays that waythen it'll be lights out for our opponents.
Overall, there is terrific talent across and up and down the field on this Aggie team. G, Phil, and Lori have brought in seriously skilled and soccer-smart players. If they play every game with intensity and make sacrifices for each other, this team will be quite good.