Iguess

I think it is definitely a step up from last year, no question. I imagine it's nice for field players - not so nice for keepers. What goalkeeper in their right mind would prefer faster play, harder shots, and a less forgiving fall? But this is very nice turf, I hear. I think it brought out the true talent in some teams. Thumbs up all the way.

No doubt they played with heart, that goes without saying when you're in the state tournament. And no, I'm not saying I have any better method of determining winners than PKs... I just wish I could have seen Oak Ridge get to the final by... a higher margine, I guess? But definitely a great team, no contest there.

JP2 is a great team that, in my opinion, didn't really get as much recognition throughout the season as they deserved. Hats off to defeating Baylor!

I see your point, and don't get me wrong: OR did a great job of holding back two good teams from defeating them in regulation play... But do PKs really measure a team's intensity, heart, etc? Not really.

That's the most irrelevant comment ever, by the way.

To be honest, I feel that Oak Ridge didn't even deserve to be in the state final... look at their first two games: they got to the championship game ultimately by winning PKs.

Houston center d Lia Fannin She is a solid defender and played up in the midfeild against Oak Ridge, did a great job and even scored. What an athelete. Anyone know if she's playing in college?

Definitely. No fun for goalkeepers.

Siegel is going to be a really great team soon... Watch for them in next year's state tournament. I'm sure they'll make an appearance. They're a young team with a lot of potential.

I second the Tullahoma comment... I haven't paid much attention to their defense, but they do have a decent keeper for sure.

No kidding? I was totally convinced Houston would reclaim their title this year. Had they made it to the finals, no doubt they would have dominated Collierville. Houston is a very unique team. Every girl on that team lives and breathes Houston Soccer. You can see it on the field. Collierville just doesn't have that.

Right on.

That should be interesting... some of those teams practicing at the same time, on the same field.

Cleats are fine on this stuff. Players will feel like they are playing on just short, nice grass. I forgot that it was turf after the first 5 minutes.

Most accurate post I've seen on this board.

I don't care what anyone says -- polls and rankings and the most jacked up thing ever. But congratulations to them all the same. Nice to see some TN teams up there.

I've played on the same kind of turf. And let me tell you, it rules. You can hardly tell it's fake. It's just like real grass, only really nice, short grass. Will it affect teams? Maybe. The play is faster, that's for sure. But if your team can't handle fast play, they have no business winning a state title in the first place.