kjackson

Notre Dame 1 Friendship Christian 0

Friendship Christian is back in Regionals for first time in several years after only 3 wins last year they are 9-5-2 this year. But tough matchup against Notre Dame.

CoachMike, I totally agree with you. You can not help it if the other team makes mistakes that allow goals and the score gets pushed up. We are barely meeting bills on my coaching salary, so I agree with the pay issue as well. None of us are getting rich in the states coaching soccer, so we have to love it, right? .

Okay, I have read through this entire thread, and have to give a quick comment. As someone who has played and coached soccer for the good part of 30 years now (wow, I'm getting old), this is exactly why the general American sports public will never embrace soccer. It IS different from every other sport in the sense that is it not just about how many times I can put the ball in the back of the net. A great team can dominate a team and only win 2 or 3 to 0. America does not get that, as proven by the long posts I have read. Of course, you play to win in sports, but does that mean that I should have one of my players slide tackle with both feet the other team's best player and break his ankle? Without him/her on the field I have a better chance to "win." I don't know many coaches (fortunately) that would do that. So, while winning is what you are always trying to do, there are ways in soccer to do that with respect and sportsmanship. Let us also remember we are talking about youth soccer here. I don't know of a single soccer player in the US that is high school age that is good enough to be playing professionally around the world right now. If you are playing professionally, there are no excuses, I agree. You should be able to stop a team from scoring 10 goals in a game because that is your profession and what you are getting paid to do. But this is youth soccer, where you are teaching not only the game, but how to play it with respect to the game and your opponent. I have been up 6-0 at halftime twice this season, and both times we did not score a single time in the second half. I put restrictions on as several of you have talked about, which does not mean you stop trying to score, but there is more to soccer than scoring goals - unlike football, basketball, or any other US accepted major sport, where that is all the game is about. There is a huge difference between not trying/quitting and working on good soccer with restrictions on your players. Okay, maybe not so quick of a comment - sorry!

Friendship Christian 6 Jackson County 0 Final - Livingston Academy vs Friendship Christian - Thursday 6:00 PM Good pre-season predictions by the way!

District 8A/AA Friendship Christian 6 Smith County 0 Livingston Academy 2 DeKalb County 1

We did cancel our JV games, but there has been a turnover in coaching staff since the first of the season, and they have added games to the schedule for some reason. We really did not have enough girls to form a JV team. I think they are trying to run them ragged over there - very unfortunate season for Harpeth Hall.

Mjuhb, I also think it is fun looking at the rankings you come up with. I hate that Harpeth Hall is not going to be the team that they should be this year. But you have them about where they should be right now. Since the coaches are gone, and they have a whole new coaching staff it is going to be tough on them. They still have a lot of young talent over there, and should be winning some games, even with the tough schedule we have. But it is possible they will not win a game this year.

Harpeth Hall Schedule Scrimmages: 8-6-07 at Lipscomb 7:00 PM 8-9-07 vs Hillsboro 6:00 PM 8-16-07 vs Hume-Fogg 6:00 PM Regular Season: 8-28-07 vs Ensworth 6:00 PM 8-31-07 at Baylor 5:00 PM - Baylor Tournament 9-1-07 at GPS 9:00 AM - Baylor Tournament 9-1-07 at Soddy-Daisy 2:00 PM - Baylor Tournament 9-4-07 at Father Ryan 6:00 PM 9-6-07 vs BGA 7:00 PM 9-12-07 vs Brentwood Academy 7:00 PM 9-20-07 at Pope John Paul II 5:30 PM 9-26-07 vs Hendersonville 7:00 PM 9-27-07 at Brentwood 7:00 PM 9-29-07 at Ravenwood 7:00 PM 9-30-07 vs Franklin 2:00 PM 10-4-07 vs St. Cecilia 4:30 PM I'll keep you updated if we make any changes.

Has anyone heard if they have finalized the new regions for DII next season? I heard the proposed was to have Baylor and GPS join our middle region which just would not make any sense to me at all. I understand wanting to see different teams in the playoffs (although I have only been in TN soccer for 2 years now), but does putting all but one or two of the top 10 teams in the state into one region make sense at all? Not to mention, having to travel that far for a region game is going to be difficult on all middle region teams next season. Any thoughts?

Wow! This is what makes message boards like CoachT so great! Anyone should be able to post any questions or issues they would like, regardless of being a parent, administrator, coach, or whatever. I enjoy talking with all of you about your opinions on everything, even if I don't agree every time. That is what makes it meaningful conversation, right? I see both sides of the argument, and as stated before by others, I think this one is put to rest now. I will say that St. Agnus should enjoy their victory this season (as it was well deserved) because with a lot of young talent returning, we are going to make a serious run next season.

Div II Middle Harpeth Hall 3 Father Ryan 1 BGA #1 seed BA #2 seed Harpeth Hall #3 seed

Thanks for the mention of Kathleen Diehl. I know this is your list of people you have seen, but if you get a chance to check out a Harpeth Hall game, you will see several good players that might make your list. The only one I will mention is Lauren Riegle. She was all state for us last year and will probably be all state this year as well. She is a senior forward.

This is fun! I am glad to have found other people that are as passionate and knowledgable about girls soccer as myself. It always makes for exciting conversation. Having said that, I believe that BA is the best team right now in our region (Division II Middle). You guys have certainly earned the title and I believe you will beat a very good BGA team tonight. You guys seem to be able to get it done in close games and your record proves that. This is a much closer region this year than it was last year, and the fact that the defending state champs are not even in the final four this season proves that we definitely have the toughest region in the state. I am proud to be a part of that and I think any three of the top 4 will represent us well next week in Chattanooga. I just hope we are there with you after tonight.

Emily Perkins is a great forward. I did not realize she was just a sophomore. A couple of other names: Grace Stumb - Harpeth Hall, 9th, MF - started every game for HH this year Rachel Wachs - Harpeth Hall, 10th, D Emily Carpenter - Harpeth Hall, 10th, D - has started every game for HH the last two years

I actually am farely new to the forums I have to admit, so I have just read a couple of threads. I was mainly talking about this thread and people's guesses as to who would be in the state brackets, since I did not see Harpeth Hall on anyone's lists. So, I appreciate if you have been talking about HH in other threads. I'll just keep reading through them and will probably catch them. Again, I don't think we are in for sure, but I hope we have a chance against Ryan.

I see that Harpeth Hall is not getting any credit this year in D II, which I find interesting since every team we have played has said that we have one of the best overall teams in the state. Of course, I am a little biased since I am helping coach them. But, don't put Ryan in your brackets just yet. They are without their top scorer at 100% and BGA beat them 4-1 last night. We also took the number 3 team in the state to penalty kicks last night, who beat Ryan 1-0. I'm not saying we will be there, but just wanted to start a buzz and see why Harpeth Hall was being left out already.

Does anyone know what the state tourney brackets for Division II look like, as far as what place from each region plays who. I know we don't know exact teams yet, or do they wait to see the teams before making out the brackets?

Div II Middle Update Oct. 24 #1 Brentwood Academy vs #5 Harpeth Hall (Semifinal) #2 Father Ryan vs # 3 BGA (Semifinal)

As a high school coach, I can say that there is really no need for this rule to exist. Club soccer is seperated by age group if I recall. I came from Texas and now coach here in Nashville, so club coaches please correct me if I am wrong. On our team we have some very talented players but we are not going to put 10 freshmen or sophomores on a team when we have talent in other classes. I can see how you would have more seniors or juniors on the team, but if any of you coaches are picking players based on just their grade level, that could be your first problem with competing right there. Just some friendly advice, pick the best players regardless of how old they are. That is why I don't see this rule as necessary, and will be voting against it at the state meeting.