kazam37

AD......I got off the laptop and didn't really get back to it until today. Very good Alcoa side....I found no surprises at the game, your team is very organized and very deliberate with the ball. We had no answer for the speed you possess on the parameter....unfortunately the two fastest guys on our squad were in an arm sling and on crutches. I am glad our kids pushed to this point, they just had little left and a good team (which you guys are) will often confirm that assessment. I think you all will do well in M'boro and would be no surprise if you equal your girl's team accomplishment. Anyways, I just wanted to wish you luck and keep this site updated so I will know how you do. Best of luck....! Kazanity

Well, looks like we are headed to Tornado Alley. I won't lie.....the Oneida team Alcoa is facing is a very beat up group and injuries continue to pile up. With 19 players on the team, the depth is getting razor thin. To date, the Indians have suffered broken foot, broken collarbone, broken foot, blown knee, heat exhaustion (since returned), intestinal injury, and player left the team. Those are not exaggerations or excuses....we will definitely show up and play Saturday. The boys that are still fit to play have shown a ton of heart. CG can tell you we just keep at it and we won't quit. I look forward to standing with the boys....they should be admired for their resolve. Win or lose won't crack the intensity of this team's play. Have all the respect in the world for Alcoa....they have always been a respected program. Kazano

Replying to BigG and Boog......yes, I have returned verbally but I have never really left. I figured it was just best that I listen and learn....as things unfold out there. Love the Rip Van Kaz.....man, your wit is getting close to par with mine. Perhaps some day we'll open up a comedy club and give the masses more....! G, always checking in on your posts.....information tends to stick to you like Velcro. Heck, I'm just honored you two noticed. Kazalito

AlcoaDad......how you feel it is going to go tonight? I have heard G-P is rounding into form and your kids are starting to jell too. Were you at the Oneida-CG game last night? Any perspective on the two clubs you might meet on Saturday? Kaz

Cumberland Gap (undefeated) got every bit of Oneida yesterday. End of regulation score was 2-2. No one scored in either the two OT's or the sudden death OT's. Penalty kicks of the first five ended up 3-3 with each team missing two. Sudden death PK, Oneida shooter got stoned by Gap Keeper and Oneida Keeper guessed correctly on shot but could not get down fast enough to prevent ball from sliding under him. Great....Great soccer match. I will say this about Oneida.....they seemed to be operating with a bare minimum of depth. They have all sorts of injuries that would have kept a lesser team from even competing with such a strong CG squad. They are a solid hard working group and they can not afford another injury. They lost another tremendous player yesterday to a knee injury. (hate that for the kid because he has work relentlessly to get back) Impressed that the team kept at it after sitting basically 2/3's of their starting front line due to injury. Cumberland Gap is the real McCoy......effective scoring front line, controlling mid-fielders, and top notch goalie....they will be a tough assignment for anyone. They may well see the Indians again in a few days. Kazzy

It will take a solid effort to knock off Oakdale.....they keep coming. Oneida played well enough in the game to have won it, but lost too much momentum there in the end. Someone told me we wouldn't get within 10 of the Eagles. I took the points.....thank you very much.....! Christmas Money, always helps to get a bonus. I was impressed with both teams....one is growing and one has quality experience that will serve them well this year. Kaz

Over the last several years Oakdale has had numerous teams that were hard to defend. Oneida will be wise to defend the three and keep their rim protectors close to protect against the dribble drive. I do think the Indians are a bit stronger inside. Of course if you are trading 3's for 2's, then the threes are the higher multiple. (however you have to hit a high percentage of them) Interesting game to see if Oneida is making progress over the last several teams. Kazzy

Just an observation.....but the Oneida-Oakdale game this Friday is a little bigger now that both are at the top or near it, right? Oneida has improved their ability to take some close games over the last several weeks. They seem hungry to find a quality win and that opportunity is coming up next. I think they will challenge Oakdale.

AD.....congratulations to your girl's team. I felt Alcoa would be the strongest team coming into the tournament and by winning you confirmed my suspicions. Some other things that I felt never seemed to materialize. The A division did not feel "watered down".....to me it felt like competitively things were somewhat more balanced. Sure, you are always going to have a favorite going into the State, but my feeling was, on a given day, any of the teams could have challenged for it. Taking nothing away from what Alcoa DID accomplish. I believe the whole thing is in a better position than it was when we were all haggling over the private/public issues that have gone on for years. The reason it was an issue is clearly operating under different parameters and gaining some advantages over others. I wouldn't argue with me while shining all those gold trophies.....you know who you are. No whining now....good season everyone. Kaz

Happy Valley has won or been in every game they have played so far. Oneida has just went through the murders row of the last part of their schedule. They are both moving into the part of their schedule that is do or die. Lambert is an excellent coach and the group he brings with him isn't the most talented team he has had, but they will put up a fight. All his teams do. I have no illusions about who is favored in this game. Oneida will have to play well to win, but it is not inconceivable that they can. No outcome will surprise me.....Oneida could go up there and pull an upset or Happy Valley could win going away or it could come down to the wire for either team. I will say this, if Oneida gets too far back, they are not built to close a very large gap, so the key for them is to keep things close going into the fourth. One other thing is vital to both teams....I would expect with two hard hitting teams for turnovers to occur, whoever manages that best will certainly have a leg up in the game. Oneida very well may be the inferior team....but I can assure you (and Pujo will confirm this) they will hit with a robust energy. Kazzy

LadyKee.....we played pretty well on that 5-1 game and I'm sure your side had a better game in them. Do I think our teams were that far apart, honestly no.....I think it was our day. There is no question on a given day GB could beat us....and that is the heart of the matter....EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE. Before we were all just watching far superior teams beat us repeatedly because they were given that opportunity by the system. I'm sure your current FB team could easily "show us the door". lol Kaz

Honestly.....they were able to kill the dynasty somewhat. CAK/KC should be considered dynasty's... even if they were a little sneaky doing it. Kaz

I think the bottom line is competing on the most equal terms. If I can bring any child into my school STRICTLY for the purpose of playing a particular sport (in this case women's soccer), then schools that do not have the resources or ability to do that makes for an uneven playing field. I am certainly aware that there is no science that makes schools enrollment #'s equal, but I think the most reasonable solution there is to attempt to make the school size at least resemble equality. (and yes, I know there is nothing equal about two different numbers) I have never seen such tight games all the way into the substate which my team made for the first time ever and if it wasn't for one 5-1 game the point differential in those four games was 6/5.....all four matches were decided by a point. IMO.....moving the private schools was definitely needed....they play under a different set of rules and the results this post season are verifying that fact. We have never won a district championship nor region title with CAK/Catholic in 4-A, yet our district still lays claim to being the strongest ever based on the number of State Titles those two have won....I've lost count really. Yes, I am being sarcastic. This season we finished second in regular season (to Rockwood) and won district championship and region.....and came within a whisper of beating Chucky Doak , who is still playing today. (won in first round 3-0) If I'm guessing....and I am....I would say they are in virgin territory for their program too. All things aside, this season looks much better in my eyes. You are seeing much more competitive games and interest is way up. I have been looking on the wrong side of plenty of playoff beatdowns by CAK/Catholic, and they have done it to several teams that actually have solid players in their line-up. Unfortunately, those were also some of CAK/KC's best teams too. I have nothing against either of those schools.....they're winning title after title wasn't just about coaching or systems or privileges, but more about how they used the system in place to gain an advantage. You can argue that point all you want, but it is ultimately true. I was once asked by a private school coach if I wanted to take my team to train with them at a national training center and he knew fully well there was absolutely no way we could make that a reality. Kaz

This happened up in Oneida as well. I will speak of the competitive spirit of the games and how down to the wire a lot of our games. (fortunate to have won several of them) We moved one game to the football stadium and virtually packed one side of it. When does that happen in women's soccer? All of our playoff games (district and region) had fans three or four deep and temporary bleachers the length of the field. I guess as a bonus, they were all treated to great competitive soccer as our results were (2-1...1-0....5-1....2-1 in game decided by PK's and finally 2-3 in a sub state game that had THREE LEAD CHANGES) The first game was decided on a goal with 28 seconds left. District championship game we scored fairly quickly then both teams just missed on a lot of looks. The region final coming down to PK's... well it was riveting to say the least. We finally broke to a solid Chucky Doak team but the fans up here got a treat they won't soon forget. Kaz

Would it be too intrusive if you would give any general information on what Chucky-Doak does well? Oneida and Polk Co. are both solid soccer teams, and that Region Title game was epic. It is almost sad that they reached a decision by PK's. Polk is solid through most of their line-up.....very impressed with their players. Their fans are a little hopped up....but I guess everyone gets that way this time of the year. Anyways, any thoughts on what to look for.....? Kazam

I would say the Indians won't let them. The haze of the Homecoming festivities probably had a little to do with the unfocused effort last week. I'm not lowballing Harriman at all, because they showed up with every intent of ruining Oneida's evening. CG won't get the same team if I know Coach Lambo....I'm sure the whole bunch was running around this week with their tail tucked between their legs. I expect the Tribe will have things ratched up a notch or two....! Indians - 30 CG - 7

My Boy.....! Kaz

With this weather the Oneida Swamp Dogs will find themselves right at home. One thing that has been proven over the years is that the boys play well in the slop. Hydro plane will be set on go Friday. The Wartburg Mud Puppies will keep this one interesting for a quarter or two, but if it gets ugly you can be rest assured Lambo will turn it off because he is a class act. Prediction Updates if the weather changes because it may affect the kicking game some, but right now I'll go: Indians - 32 Bulldogs - 6 Kazaloco

Not so Bold Prediction: Oneida - 38 Wartburg -7 Kazzy

Launch to what is hopefully 3-0. You have to tip your hat towards any opponent. Oneida has looked about as they are expected. Showed some real teeth in the second half against G-P. Roberts is another solid RB in a long line of them. Hood gives them a bit of Thunder and Lightning quality. Wartburg just has not had much luck with the pads for quite some time...and I'm not hating on them, it's just the truth. I would expect the Tribe to win this one going away, but need I remind them of a few years back when the Bulldogs stunned them by making it a game at their place with Cole West leading the attack. Sweated bullets all through that one. We will do well to have the caps screwed on tight Friday. Kazo

What I meant was it would be great if TL's defense could pitch another shut-out. I honestly don't think it will happen either, but one can hope. G-P is not ever without some talent in place. we'll just have to find out how much they got Friday. Unless I'm way off base, Oneida has a ton of good RB

Be a wonderful thing to see TL pitch another goose egg on G-P......! Just sayin'....! Kaz

One game in the books and it is still a little hard to get a bead on the Tribe. We did look very good for a half....then the kids got a little less invested in the proceedings. I think the QB has a lot of potential and our backfield is crowded enough to spread the carries around a little. Roberts and Hood knew where the holes were and got all that was available. The backfield is much deeper this year. Lambert's D pitched a shutout. Claiborne didn't show a lot of energy after their first drive (2 or three first downs). You can tell the back end is still learning, but they made some plays that show their athletic ability. The beef up front had a solid outing but was probably the unit that seemed the most dinged up. G-P will be a good test, and unless Cloudland is loaded, the Tribe should win this one at the Reservation. Looks like a good match up on paper. Kazo

I'll settle for an interesting couple of quarters, but then look for the home field boys to get a little separation. Heck, up here about all you usually need is 3 TD's and the TL Defense stands up. Of course, I haven't seen this years edition so it is a bit premature to say how this bunch is overall.

For once it will take several weeks for me to get a read on my team. Sounds like we got a ground and pound bunch? I will have to wait for the eye test on Friday. Kazo