A few years ago, I remember listening to David Nixon or another former player talk about how a lack of speed causes problems. The point was that a slower defensive player had to reach to make arm tackles instead of wrapping up and delivering a hit that was a sure tackle. I think we have 3-5 players on this team who lack that speed and are not technically gifted enough to compensate.

I think Rustand falls into that category and while she has great skills when transitioning to the attack, the lack of speed gets her out of position and she can't challenge...or makes a poor tackle because she's beat and gives up a PK. I really wonder if the problem isn't her speed as much as she's not well suited to that position anymore. What a player can do in high school just isn't the same at this level because raw physical talent is much higher.