cookevillesoccer

We (Cookeville) had a cancellation on Thursday, and we'd like to get a game in, if possible. Can guarantee a crew of three referees with an experienced center. Can travel to you at any point next year. Contact sam.matson@gmail.com if you have an opening and would be willing to make the trip up here.

While we're always interested in scheduling quality opponents, we're already scheduled to travel to Farragut on April 22nd, and we also already have a full slate for the spring. Sorry we can't help!

A/AA and AAA games will be at the originally scheduled times.

Rankings do serve a purpose, though! They get people talking about high school soccer, and they can generate interest for big games. Also, in a smaller area, if your team can say that it's ranked, you're more likely to get coverage from the press. It's a small tangible measure of success. Take it with a grain of salt? Sure. But I wouldn't write them off completely.

Not a double-bicycle, but maybe the best free kick I've ever seen (Nick Zalewski, Cookeville vs. Station Camp): https://twitter.com/eberle_justin/status/591063615102418944

Who's going where? From Cookeville: Abby Collins - Tennessee Tech McKenzie McCloud - Tennessee Tech Hannah Dunn - Chattanooga Kirsten Alcorn - Maryville College Allie Decker - Cumberland University Very proud of and happy for these girls!

Thanks MVM. We beat Warren County. Got a rematch with Cleveland on Tuesday. Between boys and girls, we have seen them too many times in this region semi game!

This just happened:

Although I agree with kazam that money plays way too important a role in U.S. soccer, I don't think it's fair to say that private schools are "handed" titles. The boys and girls who attend those schools do condition and practice, after all, and most of them, especially if they're at a school who fancies itself competitive, have coaches who demand hard work. Certainly, the PUBS have a huge advantage over rural schools, especially at the A/AA level, whether it be facilities within the program or top-level club soccer in the area. But those advantages do not translate directly into championships; rather, it's the work that the players and coaches put in.

It will be streamed through WSMR's website: http://www.thunder1320.com/wmsr-live.htm Kickoff at 7:30 PM. Listen in!

6-AAA 1st - Cookeville 2nd - Coffee County 3rd - White County 4th - Warren County 5th - Cumberland County

Adam Oliver (Cookeville) - Cumberland University

No. Cards can only be shown at the next stoppage after the offense (if an advantage is allowed to play out). If that happened, that red should not stand. That's the procedure for USSF, at least.

Congrats to LA's Jesse Carr for signing with Freed-Hardeman!

Eurosport's AAA rankings are actually voted on by coaches across the state. Not sure about the other divisions, but for the AAA, these rankings are more than just one person arbitrarily choosing who's ranked where.

Rural vs. urban time! I'll argue that, in a rural area, that a player has a better chance of being recruited from high school than from a travel team. Anecdotal evidence might not always be the most convincing, but I'll offer it anyways. The local club here fields two D2-level travel teams for the high school age group--generally u16 and u18. We don't have the numbers, the resources, or the coaching (Tech's Brizard is the only coach in town with a USSF C or higher) to compete at the D1 level. Someday, I hope, but that someday isn't anytime soon. Anyways, D2 doesn't get all that much attention from college coaches, who, as you stated, can make a better use of their time attending showcases. Try being a D2 club and having your teams get invited to showcases. Doesn't happen often. UCUSC sent a team to a showcase for the first time ever in January this year. There's just not a lot of opportunity for exposure in this area (and other rural areas), and the nearest D1 clubs are 75+ miles away. Players living in or close to metropolitan areas are at a huge advantage here, but that's a topic that's been beaten into the ground. These aren't complaints, just reality. I thought about it some and realized that I've had more players get attention from high school than from travel ball. We're not talking about D1 colleges here, of course, but D3 and NAIA schools, which are perfectly good options for continuing education and a soccer career.

That college coaches don't recruit from high schools is a myth. Certainly, the focus will be on select/showcase tournaments, but coaches will sometimes look around high schools for players to fill out their teams. Many local college coaches keep tabs on what's going on in HS soccer. Several years back, I had a player who had a great senior season, scoring upwards of 30 goals. Her dominant play at the HS level attracted the attention of a D1 college, and the school eventually awarded her a scholarship to play. I've had several other players (boys and girls) get recruited by smaller colleges, as well. Just sayin'. If a high school varsity player wants to play in college, there's a spot for them somewhere.

Here's the Region 3-AAA All-Region team (listed in terms of votes received) First Team 1. Felipe Munoz (Ooltewah) - Region Player of the Year/District 5 MVP 2. Jacob Zalewski (Cookeville) - District 6 MVP 3. Sean McLain (Ooltewah) 4. Miles Christian (Bradley) 5. Callum Wishart (Ooltewah) 6. Sterling Hines (Cleveland) 7. Arnold Monterroso (Ooltewah) 8. Matt Nisbet (Cookeville) 9. Ricky Ramirez (Coffee County) 10. Ammon Hitchcock (Cookeville) 11. Seth Goza (Cleveland) 12. Keith Fagan (Cumberland County) 13. Trey Tucker (Ooltewah) 14. Hayden Croxall (Ooltewah) 15. Martin Zaragoza (Bradley) Second Team 16. Evan Reiley (Cookeville) 17. Will Dukes (Coffee County) 18. Hunter Rozzell (Ooltewah) 19. Shawn Foster (Cumberland County) 20. Jeffrey Walker (Cookeville) 21. Josh Clark (Ooltewah) 22. Jake Vincent (Walker Valley) 23. Alex Rodriguez (Cleveland) 24. Rob Cooke (Cleveland) 25. Bryan Casey (Ooltewah) Some very good players not on this list: CD Hindenberger (White County), Nelson Cardona (McMinn County) and Zeke Varajon (McMinn County).

I don't typically get on here and argue about things, but I will defend my players. Against Columbia, we committed some cheap, cynical fouls out of frustration, especially later on in the match. Not so against Ooltewah. My players don't intentionally go out and try to hurt people. Yeah, sometimes they'll go in for a 50/50 challenge somewhat recklessly, but it's because they're working as hard as they can to win the ball. Generally, the referee judges that correctly and shows a yellow card. We're not a dirty team. There's a difference between physical and dirty play. Our game against Columbia was exceedingly physical both ways, but I didn't see much wrong with what either side did. Two teams fighting hard to win, which is what most games are going to be at this stage of the postseason. Common sense is that there's too much at stake at this point for teams to take the field with an agenda to play dirty. Best of luck to those still in it, and well played, Columbia.

Oakland came out of District 7-AAA, which is traditionally one of the most competitive districts in the state. Their spot is well-earned.

Jacob Zalewski (Cookeville) - Sewanee

Nick Prall (Cookeville) - Cumberland

Cookeville 3 - 0 McMinn County Ooltewah 7 - 1 Coffee County

Region 3-AAA District 5: McMinn County 3 - 1 Cleveland Ooltewah over ??? McMinn hosts Ooltewah District 6: Cookeville 1 - 0 Cumberland County (OT) Coffee County 2 - 1 Warren County Cookeville hosts Coffee County Thursday at 7:00.

Kelsey Roberson (Cookeville) Holding center mid, scored 7 goals. Committed to UT-Martin.