hamlet7478

This year I have seen Collierville, Franklin, Siegel, Bearden, Farragut, Oak Ridge, Baylor, CAK, Hendersonville, GPS, and SAA. That's a pretty good sample of the best teams in the State. In my opinion, SAA wins at least 7-8 out of 10 games against any of these teams. Not to take anything away from the other fine teams on the list, but SAA is really a step above in terms of mature talent.

I'd agree with that prediction.

IMO, that would be amazing if it happens.

I have seen CAK twice. I have not seen ND. The new coach at CAK has pulled them together, IMO, and improved them as the year went along. Add to that overall good team speed, excellent striking ability upfront with Novicoff and Hoffman, and they're a tough team to beat. They have depth, too, so CAK can rest Novicoff and when she comes back in they can overwhelm you. Have not seen ND but I've heard they are very deep and talented accross the board. Should be a great battle. I would say to ND to work very hard to keep the ball in your end. Keep the ball away from CAK strikers if you can.

I tried to be unbiased. I have seen both teams. I do not have a child or relative at either school.

I definitely like Sweetwater over Catholic. Their big two (Gruenenfelder and Morris) are better than Catholic's big two (Sutch and (sorry, I forget). Supporting casts are about equal, maybe Catholic's is a little better. Gruenenfelder will surprise a lot of people. She's really fast and skilled. Morris is an animal when she's on. On the other side, FRA will beat up ND but ND wins, then loses to CAK. CAK defeats Sweetwater in the final. Too much Novicoff, too much team speed, too much depth, and too much good coaching.

My prediction. Quarterfinals: #2 Middle Brentwood Academy vs #2 East GPS Brentwood Academy #1 West St. Agnes vs #3 Middle Harpeth Hall St. Agnes #1 Middle BGA vs #3 West Hutchsion BGA #1 East Baylor vs #2 West ECS Baylor Semifinals: #2 Middle Brentwood Academy vs #1 West St. Agnes St. Agnes #1 Middle BGA vs #1 East Baylor BGA Finals: #1 West St. Agnes vs #1 Middle BGA St. Agnes Same final, but a slightly different quarter and semi bracket. Many good teams with many good games assured.

No problem. You seem like a nice guy. I look forward to adding some value with future comments. By the way, I don't live in Sweetwater. I just like the team. Maybe it's the great name of their town. Maybe it's the fact that they're underdogs.

You know, seeing as I have not been on the board as long as many others, my comment probably seems pretty tired to a veteran poster. It's ground that I'm sure has been well plowed before. I promise to get off this soap box. Best of luck to all the teams and all the young ladies still competing in the State tournaments!

I appreciate your comment Futbolfan. In trying to understand your comment and reviewing what I wrote, I should have said, "...competed with teams they should compete with in the State tournament.." To restate (I hope) more clearly: CAK etc should compete with Baylor, etc in the State tournament. In other words, they (CAK, etc) should compete in the Div II tourney, not the A/AA tourney. You may still disagree with my opinion, but I wanted to try and express myself clearly. Like many people, I could use an editor.

Sweetwater would be the favorite to be State champs this year if CAK, FRA, Notre Dame competed with teams they should compete with, i.e. Baylor, GPS, BGA, BA, St. Agnes etc.

FRA, ND, and CAK. All private schools. This will undoubtably be the 5th straight year for a private school to win A/AA. Small public schools are shut out of the possibility of an A/AA State championship due to the concentration of good soccer players in the private schools, relative to size. Good players concentrate in the private schools because of the socioeconomics of competitive soccer. Large public schools in urban areas can compete with these privates based on shear numbers, but not the smaller schools. Not any more. And of course the large publics do not play the privates in the State tourney due to absolute size requirements for classification. Smaller publics can have 1 or 2 really outstanding players (e.g. Sweetwater with Morgan Gruenfelder and Melissa Morris who, along with Laura Novacoff might be the best A/AA players in the State) but not as deep a supporting cast. Food for thought. Is this fair or right? Is this good for TN soccer?

She's taller than Wambach (6'2" vs 5'11"). I agree with you. Don't know how Coach K. let this one go. She's got a great attitude to go with the physical presence.

Akula: We will keep Shericka in our prayers. All the best to her, her family, and her Alcoa teammates.

What is this, the WWF?

Please see the thread titled, "Refereeing, Coaching and Injuries in Women's Soccer" I believe it's part of a mindset that needs to move to safety first. For example, in this instance, if the player who fouled the goal keeper had been told formally that when in doubt, don't act, and, if you don't pull back, severe consequences may ensue, she may have passed on diving into the keeper. I don't want to place undue blame on this one player, more on the coaches, referees, and, yes, parents who need to instill a safety mentality among players. I would contend, further, that instilling a safety mentality would not slow down the game, but speed it up (much like the NHL last year), as the young ladies are allowed to showcase their speed and skill without fear of careless or retaliation fouls. As we say in industry, all accidents are avoidable. Maybe not 100% in soccer, but we need to do a lot better.

Following up on a comment made by jmlefty08 in the "Rankings Week 5" thread. There are way too many injuries, particularly serious lower leg injuries, in youth women's soccer. I know about the physiological issues with women and ACL's, etc, etc, but coaches and referees in our State must do things to mitigate the problem. Referees can help by instructing players before and during games not to make dangerous plays from behind or the side and to absolutely not play the man but the ball. Referees must follow through with harsh penalties if players do not follow these instructions. I believe this must be a priority for youth women's soccer specifically, much more so than other technical issues such as interpretation of off side rules. Coaches can help by physically conditioning their players to help correct to the greatest extent possible the well known physiological issues, by insisting on clean play, by insisting that retaliation is forbidden, and by instructing players on the proper and improper ways to make contact with their opponents. Coaches, school athletic directors, and referees have governing bodies who need to get this issue on their agendas. I have, and I expect many of the readers of this forum have, many examples of parents who have directed their kids to not play soccer because of the perceived "Wild West" nature of the sport, and the resulting danger to their children. I would welcome replies and comments.

CAK 3-1--the Teutonic front line of Hoffman and Novacoff eventually overwhelms the Irish defense.

Don't forget about Bearden and Farragut.

Brittany Hoffman from CAK (Nike Impact '92) Freshman -- excellent athletic ability; great ball control and competitiveness