graybard

CHAMP & CANNON- Whether or not preseason games matter depends on the outcome! Go Irish!

Champ, if you wait until about 8:30 pm, you may have an even better chance!

The Lady Eagles have a lot to be proud of, and their improvement from their inaugural year was evident last evening. They showed a lot of hustle, and they refused to give up anything to the Lady Irish. Players, parents and other spectators from both sides proved to be good sports and showed a lot of class while enjoying a very entertaining and lively game. Too bad the same can not be said for the Lady Eagles coach. It is fortunate for her that the TimesFreePress only printed her tacky quote and not some of the other things she said to and about the Lady Irish players.

Agree that SM should be stronger this year vs ND. With a 3-0 record, home advantage and motivation to avenge last year's meeting, SM should come out strong. Still, ND has at least ten players - starters and subs - who can and do score regularly. With a strong center midfield and a swift defensive line, ND will press SM hard in their backfield. I'll go with 5-0 ND.

CAK controlled the field most of the game. GPS defending the Hoffman sisters and others most of the time. GPS had some runs, but could not mount much of an offense. CAK well coached, fast and deep. Barrueta and Kessler are some of the best coaches in the area, and the GPS players have toughness and grit, but the bench does not look as large as in years past. Good to see Bess Wallis back on the field for GPS after knee injury.

Perhaps you can help the ND team define and understand the difference between good sportsmanship and bad sportsmanship, Canesoverhere. 2 goals were scored within the first 10 minutes of the first half - should good sports just dribble the ball around for the rest of the half to pass the time? Two more goals were scored by headers off corner kicks - would you advise that good sports let those go by? Where should ND stop scoring - at 4-0, 5-0? At the end of the half, the score was 8-0 (although the score board never showed more than 7-0). Is that bad sportsmanship? What score would have been good sportsmanship? Perhaps 7-0, or 6-0? Is 3 more goals in the 2nd half poor sportsmanship? In most of the 2nd half, the starters sat and the rest of the ND bench played the duration. What would you advise them to do? At times, I counted 10 passes before a shot in the second half (obviously directed by the ND coaches) What then would be good sportsmanship in the 2nd half? Twenty passes before a shot? Would only 2 more goals then be good sportsmanship? or 1? or none? Would it be good sportsmanship for the ND defense let a goal in the net to make their opponents feel better? The SM team played hard and showed some guts and grit. They have good athletes, talented soccer players and a good coach. In time, they will be a very competitive team. But with all due respect, the ND score could have been much more that it was.

Congratulations to the deserving players, teams, coaches and fans that help make girls soccer truly outstanding in this part of the world. Good luck to all and can't wait until next season!

With due respect to the Ooltewah team, whose players gave great effort and intensity, it was my observation that ND controlled the field for a majority of the game. Agree with Chasanooga that a few breaks the other way for Ooltewah could have resulted in a closer outcome. Best of luck to both teams going forward.

Without knowing Taylor Van Wagner, I cannot comment about her other than to wish her continued success, health and the best of luck in her soccer career. I hope to see her play sometime. I do know Hannah Jenkins and have watched her play for many years, most recently for the Impact Club in Knoxville which is one of the best teams in Tennessee. Hannah not only plays for an exceptional club team but is exceptional herself as she plays up a year.

While CCS is not as deep as last year, they have many assets; and while Notre Dame has not found a consistent playing level, they have ample depth and talent. I don't think state is out of reach of either of them.

Are you saying that between CCS, Notre Dame, FRA and CAK that CAK is the only one able to win state? If so, CAK must be much stronger this year that I thought.

Does anyone have the stats? I'd bet that Hannah Jenkins scored 2 or more for McMinn Central and Mallory Grunenfelder and/or Bailey Shope at least one for Sweetwater.

Baylor's #1 rank in local polls was affirmed by their performance last night, and Notre Dame earned not only their close #2 spot but a new respect from this soccer fan. The Chattanooga area has many dedicated and talented soccer players and coaches representing many quality school and club teams; however, the Baylor and Notre Dame teams are two of the finest I have witnessed in many years of spectating. With both teams having youth and depth, I already look forward to next year's match! Best of luck to Baylor and Notre Dame for the remainder of the season.

The Notre Dame defense that, according to Kickit, "flounders around and panics every time the ball comes their way" has a current average of .75 goals allowed per game during the regular season. Five of the six goals allowed by Notre Dame have been in tournament play where most coaches are adjusting and tweaking their game. While Maggie Lynskey solidified the back line last year, Shannon Kelly, Caitlin Kelley, Casey Finnell and Madi Weller are solid defenders who are not prone to floundering and panicking. Notre Dame faces a highly skilled, well coached and respected Baylor team, and Baylor faces the same.

While I will not attempt to predict the outcome, I am confident in saying that this will be a great match! Here's hoping that both teams play up to their capabilites and end without injury.

CCS and Ooltewah were tied until the last few minutes when CCS was able to score. Final CCS 2 and Ooltewah 1. Cleveland scored first but Notre Dame outshot probably 20:1...final Notre Dame 4 Cleveland 2.

Thanks, Hamlet7478 Have been hearing about Grace Milner's great season for Webb and I see that it continued against GPS. Anybody know how Josie Rix performed for GPS at the Webb game? She has tremendous ability and a rocket shot. Understand she may be coming off an injury.

Anyone have the stats for both Webb and GPS?

Another very talented freshman I've seen in club circles is Hannah Jenkins from McMinn Central HS. Not to be confused with another talented Hannah Jenkins, sophomore from Soddy Daisy HS.

That is a surprise. There generally is an ample supply of females interested in middle and high school soccer - I think more so than on the male side. Soddy, Ooltewah, Notre Dame and Baylor, for instance, have strong JV programs. There should be no lack of supply for JV soccer at GPS, which has had a quality soccer program for years. I assume their enrollment is stable but I don't know for sure.

Heard that Cydney Parkes has moved from GPS to Baylor.