to explain why Shepard gets so much credit for how good this team is.

I admit i don't understand her role. But I have keyed on her many times and she often watches instead of engages. She rarely advances the play forward, choosing instead to pass it back to the back line and putting more pressure on them. We bring the ball up either side almost exclusively.

The last game we had a penalty kick with about 9 minutes to go. Vaka took the kick and forward it into the center to Shepard. Shepard immediately passed it back to Vaka with 3 MSU players pouncing on Vaka once she got the ball back. Fortunately she was able to kick it out to the side and away from the pressure but that could have turned ugly very quickly.

That play was the perfect example of what Shepard does many times. She rarely even looks to see what options she has. She will just pass it right back to you when the back line sends it forward to her.

Too often she does not hustle either. She will have a 50/50 ball in her area and often be found watching others going after it.

Maybe there is purpose in what she does? It would be nice if someone explained it to me.