ACFC Forward Alyssa Thompson
Thoughts on the last few weeks and the adjustments against defenses:
“In practice we've been having different game plans for different teams. As a forward, I always try to score, which is nothing new for me and I don’t usually change that. As a team, we've just been doing really well and keeping up that momentum.”
On adjusting to the pro life and handling the balance of work and school:
“Sometimes it's hard to manage and sometimes I feel like I got it down. It's been day-by-day. Right now, Angel City is really helpful with my school obligations, while getting me acclimated to the environment, which has been really nice.”
“Yes, it's definitely hard, but it's nothing too bad. The club makes sure that I get to leave practice for school and handle my interviews in the mornings before practice, so I get to go to school and be with my friends. Also, the team helps me on what things to know, while teaching me recovery modalities.”
On being able to stay in the moment with all the new responsibilities and expectations:
“It’s been hard but usually when I stay in the moment, good things happen. I’m taking it day by day, working hard in training, then going to school and working on my school work, then going home and being able to be with my friends and family.”
On the most stressful part of juggling so much:
“When I'm home, it's easy to just go to soccer and then back home and have that balance. When I'm away, it's a little harder because I'm just playing soccer and doing school work. That's when it sometimes feels the most isolating, mainly because I'm not with my family.
“That’s kind of normal, but I haven't been away from them for that long in a while. Also being away from my sister [Gisele], because we would do a lot of things together regarding soccer. I’ve always felt like I had family with me everywhere I went, and that has changed this year.”
ACFC Head Coach Freya Coombe
On Alyssa Thompson and how she has adjusted in training and throughout games:
“She's been playing really well. She has definitely been able to make an impact early in games. We're seeing some variation of her game in terms of the spaces that she's attacking and where she looks threatening.”
“She continues to get faced up, and cause problems for defenses, as well as take her opportunities, as we're seeing with her goals. We're seeing her develop in a defensive capacity, improving on both sides of the ball. Her defending is increasing and getting better as the weeks go on.”
On Madison Hammond’s impact recently:
“She's done an incredible job this year. We've given her feedback at the start of the season and she's risen to that challenge. Madison has kept it really simple in that six role. Her best performances have been her most simple ones, but ones where she's really taking care of the basics in a very good way.”
“She has really provided a heart in that midfield. She's competitive, she's driven, and is making sure that we remain competitive throughout. She's also shown a bit of versatility at times. We've asked her to drop into the back line to see out games and she's done that and her versatility shows. Overall, she's definitely risen to the challenge in that six role and continues to do things that we've asked of her.”
On what the club is looking to develop and improve on against Washington Spirit:
“We've been pleased with the progress that we've made. Playing against Portland, OL Reign, and then this last game against Kansas City, we've shown that we've grown in our performances. I still think as a group, we won't be happy with those moments where we switch off, and want to be able to be more defensively resolute.”
“We are still searching for that clean sheet in the league, and will be something that we are looking to focus on.”
On plans for defending Washington Spirit’s Forward Trinity Rodman:
“She's having a good season this year. She's come in hungry and knows that there's a World Cup spot she's playing for as well. She's so good on the ball, being able to face up and go one-on-one.”
“It's about limiting her ability to get faced up and being able to dribble at our back line. Also, we do not want to give her a ton of time and space on the ball.”
