High school girls soccer

[Unregistered]

Who is this 'nice guy' you speak of?

[Unregistered]

Lexington v Winchester in first round - Boston Globe #2 v #4!

Thanks to schools with gaudy records in weak conferences, the seeding in D1 and D2 North is really -- interesting, let's say.

It's not the fault of the schools and the ADs of the weak conferences, it is the MIAA's fault for doing seeding in such an archaic way.

There is a perfectly reasonable model of the NCAA that could be followed, but no ... the MIAA has to do it their own way.

[HS Harry]

It's not the fault of the schools and the ADs of the weak conferences, it is the MIAA's fault for doing seeding in such an archaic way.

There is a perfectly reasonable model of the NCAA that could be followed, but no ... the MIAA has to do it their own way.

In D1 and D2 North, over the last three years, the #1 seed has won it 5 of 6 times. I'm not going to argue that the current seeding method doesn't create better and lesser draws, but the reality is that there really hasn't been a lot to complain about. This year is a little different in that there is greater parity and no clear dominate team in either division. However, the problem isn't so much with the MIAA seeding, but a genuinely clueless job by the Boring Broadsheet with their Top 20!

Winchester isn't even a top 5 team in the North D1, never mind the entire E Mass. That doesn't mean that they can't win it this year. I place them in a group of about 8-9 teams with a legitimate chance for the title, although both they and Lexington have the toughest path with no down games through the bracket.

Personally I have no pitty for Winchester. They have made the ridiculous decision to opt up to D1 and they pay for it each year. "Hubris est ruina"

[HS Harry]

By the way, the Maimonides, Pope John, Watertown, Mystic Valley and Marion group in the D3 bracket may rival the all-time worst. If St. Mary's doesn't make the final it will be a monumental shock. Unfortunately the top two teams (Ipswich and Weston) face off in the first round. This is where the MIAA needs to step in and utilize the more subjective seeding mechanism they use for girls lacrosse. It wouldn't be a total waste to do it for all divisions... but they should start with D3!

[Unregistered]

who are the good players on Peabody besides HD or is she there only player?

[Unregistered]

you are incorrect, the seeding meeting is this AM at the MIAA office in Franklin. AD from St. Mary's is the North director for boys & girls soccer and he will be at the office today.

Incorrect? Looks like I was dead on thank you.

[Unregistered]

who are the good players on Peabody besides HD or is she there only player?

Peabody has several very solid players. They may not be at the level of the player you mentioned, but they have a solid backline and they have speed on the flanks. Midfield is improving and can get the job done.

[HS Harry]

who are the good players on Peabody besides HD or is she there only player?

Peabody has a very strong Junior class, including HD. They have formed much of the back-bone of a team that turned the program from one that won lots of regular season games, but rarely much in the tournament to one that three years ago got to their first D1 North Final and in the last two years they have been considered a serious contender. This year, they have a brutal draw as the number one seed. and their cup-cake NEC and NL schedule won't help them against a line up of strong tourney opponents.

Peabody is certainly one of the teams that could emerge as a title holder, but there may be more causes for concern with the Tanners beyond the schedule issues and hrad draw. What Peabody does have going for them is the explosiveness of Dowd, who is probably the very best HS forward in the state. She is one of very few (like Brock and the Mewises) who can often be contained but typically not eliminated from the score-sheet - that will be the primary concern of their opponents.

[Unregistered]

How strong is the cape Ann league this year?

[Unregistered]

You've got to wonder who paid the MIAA off to have all the finals at Lynn - the point one of the furthest possible from the southern and westernmost parts of D1 North, where there is no highway access and where there is not enough parking for people watching one game, much less people coming early for the next. Surely this affects the ticket sales no?

[HS Harry]

You've got to wonder who paid the MIAA off to have all the finals at Lynn - the point one of the furthest possible from the southern and westernmost parts of D1 North, where there is no highway access and where there is not enough parking for people watching one game, much less people coming early for the next. Surely this affects the ticket sales no?

Two things predominently drive the decision on Manning Field. First is that the price is right. MIAA will not pay anything for a field and they want complete control of the site for their games. Second is that the Tournament Director for the North Soccer is the AD at St. Mary's in Lynn. Say no more!

Location aside, the Manning Field is about as nice a facility as you will have. Great facilities, actual heated locker rooms for the participants and the parking isn't as bad as you describe. I agree that the location isn't ideal but actually better, and generally more convenient, than the years that A/B hosted. Personally, I prefer Woburn and would rather see the semis and finals there.

[Unregistered]

Two things predominently drive the decision on Manning Field. First is that the price is right. MIAA will not pay anything for a field and they want complete control of the site for their games. Second is that the Tournament Director for the North Soccer is the AD at St. Mary's in Lynn. Say no more!

Location aside, the Manning Field is about as nice a facility as you will have. Great facilities, actual heated locker rooms for the participants and the parking isn't as bad as you describe. I agree that the location isn't ideal but actually better, and generally more convenient, than the years that A/B hosted. Personally, I prefer Woburn and would rather see the semis and finals there.

Would have to agree with you about Woburn being the better option. Much more accessible to everyone.

So how does it work for tournament fees for fields? Who pays?

[Unregistered]

Two things predominently drive the decision on Manning Field. First is that the price is right. MIAA will not pay anything for a field and they want complete control of the site for their games. Second is that the Tournament Director for the North Soccer is the AD at St. Mary's in Lynn. Say no more!

Location aside, the Manning Field is about as nice a facility as you will have. Great facilities, actual heated locker rooms for the participants and the parking isn't as bad as you describe. I agree that the location isn't ideal but actually better, and generally more convenient, than the years that A/B hosted. Personally, I prefer Woburn and would rather see the semis and finals there.

Woburn would be better. The parking in Lynn is awful if you don't know where to go for off site parking. Living a few miles down the road you do.

[HS Harry]

How strong is the cape Ann league this year?

It is typically "the" league for D3, and Ipswich, Georgetown and Lynnfield are top contenders. Traditionally Masco has done OK in the tourney, and North Andover is decent, but the CAL has not been a producer of teams that see great success in D2. Newburyport is the #1 seed and beat both Masco and North Andover to get there, but with only NL contests against Tewksbury (who was OK this year) it is very tough to get a read on how they will match-up against teams that play tougher D2 schedules like Belmont, Danvers and Fenwick. In the past they (and othe CAL teams) have struggled. I think Amesbury poses some problems for Danvers. They will be physical and have the capability to shut down the Falcons scoring threat. But I don't see them as a legitimate contender to win it all.

[Unregistered]

It is typically "the" league for D3, and Ipswich, Georgetown and Lynnfield are top contenders. Traditionally Masco has done OK in the tourney, and North Andover is decent, but the CAL has not been a producer of teams that see great success in D2. Newburyport is the #1 seed and beat both Masco and North Andover to get there, but with only NL contests against Tewksbury (who was OK this year) it is very tough to get a read on how they will match-up against teams that play tougher D2 schedules like Belmont, Danvers and Fenwick.

Fenwick (9-3-6) vs Belmont (9-4-3) - notice that Belmont played only 16 games this season, when just about everyone else played 18 games. Is there a minimum no. of games needed to qualify for the tournament?