High school girls soccer

[Unregistered]

The last of the top 5 is out! AB2-1Lex. AB 2-0 at half time, Lex scored one late in second half. Handfull of yellow cards, very physical.

Very physical - one of the yellows could have been a red with starter who received the foul hit so hard away from the ball that she was out for remainder of game. Otherwise both sides played well and refs generally did a good job calling it

[Unregistered]

Poor officiating at the L/S-Chelmsford game?i

For those of us who didn't catch the match, could you please elaborate? I read about the gifted goal in the Peabody-Chelmsford game, but I didn't hear anything about this match.

[Unregistered]

I must respectfully disagree. To prove my point keep watching the years to come !!! I would say that win was luck and if you continue to disrespect the New coach, Be prepared to hear more on the old one

Wow, that sounds like a threat. Fact is the New coach is inexperienced. Fact is she didn't deliver.

[Unregistered]

As someone who doesn't have a dog in the fight, I like to go to Tournament games that feature good hard play, decent officiating, at a site that features a full sized field and at a time that is both reasonably convenient for spectators - and doesn't mandate early dismissal for players. Is that really too much to ask of the MIAA? As for being to critical? I don't think I have ever posted something specifically negative about an individual player. In my assesment of teams and their chances for success in the tourney, I guess it is negative to say that I don't think a team will win and why.

This year I have repeatedly said that there is greater parity than ever before. I have also said that this is in part because the best teams are not as good as in previous years. That is my opinion and you are welcome to your own. No one was picking Chelmsford to beat Lincoln Sudbury and very few would have picked North Andover over Andover. In retrospect the Chelmsford tie with Peabody (albeit aided by poor offiviating) was an indication that they had the ability to deny a quality opponent the win and get it to PKs. I congratulate them and generally think that those types of Cinderella stories are great for the tournament. Will they win the Title? I doubt it but they are one game closer.

Finally, spare me the taxpayer garbage. If a system is unwilling to expend the money to build quality athletic facilities that is certainly their purogative, but that doesn't mean that there should be no standards for tournament sites. That is just common sense. Stoneham and Dracut are unacceptable venues for the tournament. They are small, poorly maintained and unlighted. Again that is my opinion, which is not shared by the MIAA, and probably never will be. Funny though, they do have such standards for the football playoffs (all rounds) and routinely "remove the home field advantage" to guaranty their gate reciepts!!

Yes we are all entitled to our opinions and my opinion is that the MIAA should not take home playoff games away from schools because you like to go to tournament games at better venues. However, I have no problem scheduling later rounds at neutral sites.

I am also of the opinion that comments like “spare me the tax payer garbage” show that you have no tolerance for opinions that diverge from your own and that you have no appreciation for the difficulties thaty many school district face each year trying to get their core educational needs met (never mind upgrading athletic facilities).

I express no opinion on whether Stoneham or Dracut have good fields or whether the tax payers of those towns should vote to upgrade those fields if they want to host a playoff soccer game as my views are not based upon any specific situation, but fundamental principles of equity.

[Unregistered]

I express no opinion on whether Stoneham or Dracut have good fields or whether the tax payers of those towns should vote to upgrade those fields if they want to host a playoff soccer game as my views are not based upon any specific situation, but fundamental principles of equity.

The thing that ticked me off a little with the Dracut game today was that they played right next to the football field that had lights.

2PM is a little ridiculous for parents (and siblings) that want to watch what was potentially their player's last high school match.

There was a pretty amazing mistake by the referee in the final overtime period denying Gloucester a breakaway situation with an offside call when there was a clear defender standing next to the goalkeeper.

His mouth dropped when he realized his mistake and he restarted with a drop ball. It was a honest mistake, but it could have been a game changer.

[HS Harry]

Yes we are all entitled to our opinions and my opinion is that the MIAA should not take home playoff games away from schools because you like to go to tournament games at better venues. However, I have no problem scheduling later rounds at neutral sites.

I am also of the opinion that comments like “spare me the tax payer garbage” show that you have no tolerance for opinions that diverge from your own and that you have no appreciation for the difficulties thaty many school district face each year trying to get their core educational needs met (never mind upgrading athletic facilities).

I express no opinion on whether Stoneham or Dracut have good fields or whether the tax payers of those towns should vote to upgrade those fields if they want to host a playoff soccer game as my views are not based upon any specific situation, but fundamental principles of equity.

Your opinion is what justifies the MIAA's use of two officials in the first two rounds but not the later rounds. It also isn't a matter of my convenience, it is just about establishing some basic standards. Should a team be allowed to play its games on a field that is 100 by 60? What about the old fashioned astro-turf that is still in a couple of spots? Fact is that the only reason that the MIAA is lenient about the first two rounds of the soccer tourney is because it doesn't get (or want) the gate. Sports like hockey play nuetral sites from the get go, why? Not because the logistics are easier, but because its what maximizes the receipts for the MIAA.

So their is no such thing as a guaranteed home field advantage in a MIAA Tourney. And as I pointed out before, how do you justify it when the reality is that their seeding is so dramatically flawed, especially in light of the monster disparity between the comparative strength of the state's conferences.

As for my tolerance of your opinions, you are right, I don't have much. As for my knowledge of the struggles of districts to adequately fund their efforts, there isn't a suburban district in the Eastern half of this state that is under-funded... not one. And they are all more than capable of meeting the core educational needs of their students, but that was a pretty funny argument... thanks.

[Unregistered]

Wellesley no. 6 in south got knocked out by notre dame no. 22?

[Unregistered]

I know this thread is all the back and forth about winners & losers, scores, who's in and who's out. I just wanted to add a little something....

I hope all these girls had the experience my daughter did. High school soccer is over for her and she is a better person and player having been involved. She left her last game bawling, not because she lost, but because she was never going to play with the teammates and her coach who she had grown to love throw the years. I can't help but think that all the wins and losses are meaningless now. She had such a great experience and made some long lasting relationships. I am so happy for her.

All good things come to an end and I am thankful and so grateful for all the amazing people that impacted her over the last 4 years.

[Unregistered]

I know this thread is all the back and forth about winners & losers, scores, who's in and who's out. I just wanted to add a little something....

I hope all these girls had the experience my daughter did. High school soccer is over for her and she is a better person and player having been involved. She left her last game bawling, not because she lost, but because she was never going to play with the teammates and her coach who she had grown to love throw the years. I can't help but think that all the wins and losses are meaningless now. She had such a great experience and made some long lasting relationships. I am so happy for her.

All good things come to an end and I am thankful and so grateful for all the amazing people that impacted her over the last 4 years.

Great post. Well said. I feel the same about my daughter. Its the overall experience and four year journey that is most important.

[Unregistered]

Your opinion is what justifies the MIAA's use of two officials in the first two rounds but not the later rounds. It also isn't a matter of my convenience, it is just about establishing some basic standards. Should a team be allowed to play its games on a field that is 100 by 60? What about the old fashioned astro-turf that is still in a couple of spots? Fact is that the only reason that the MIAA is lenient about the first two rounds of the soccer tourney is because it doesn't get (or want) the gate. Sports like hockey play nuetral sites from the get go, why? Not because the logistics are easier, but because its what maximizes the receipts for the MIAA.

So their is no such thing as a guaranteed home field advantage in a MIAA Tourney. And as I pointed out before, how do you justify it when the reality is that their seeding is so dramatically flawed, especially in light of the monster disparity between the comparative strength of the state's conferences.

As for my tolerance of your opinions, you are right, I don't have much. As for my knowledge of the struggles of districts to adequately fund their efforts, there isn't a suburban district in the Eastern half of this state that is under-funded... not one. And they are all more than capable of meeting the core educational needs of their students, but that was a pretty funny argument... thanks.

All MIAA tournament games in basketball are officiated bt a 3 person crew. it has been that way for 5-6 years. During the season, most games are officiated by 2 persons.

[Unregistered]

Wow, that sounds like a threat. Fact is the New coach is inexperienced. Fact is she didn't deliver.

From what I hear Chelmsford has not made the Tourney in 7-8 years, this coach came in, took the same team as last year, added a handful of freshman and look at the results so far. I hear she is a firm but fair coach and wish her and that program nothing but the best...

[Unregistered]

North Pre-season HSH polls in D1 and D2:

Division 1:

1. Central Catholic
2. Masco
3. Peabody
4. Concord-Carlilse
5. Acton- Boxboro

Division 2:

1. Bishop Fenwick
2. Belmont
3. Danvers
4. Newburyport
5. Wayland

The crystal ball needs some cleaning.

[Unregistered]

here is my Top 5 in D1 North:

1. Andover, I have them by a hair over L/S only because of there better "quality" wins over Winchetster and Central Catholic. In past years I would have never considered a MVC team for a top spot,but last year's D1 title by CC has changed that. I'm not sure that they are the best team in the North (or most likely to win a North Title) but for right now they remain my numero uno.

2. Lincoln-Sudbury. I have yet to see them play, but have seen enough of the DCL to know the league is down a little this year. By all accounts this is a great team and certainly will be a favorite come tourney time. I appreciate and understand the arguments as to why they should be #1 (and I can't disagree) but they will need to keep winning (and get a loss by Andover) to get my top spot.

3. Peabody. Despite some pf the foolishness posted previously, Peabody has the best offensive player in the state. I rechecked about the Peabody/ A.B. game and was told that her game winner was exactly why she (and Peabody) is soo dangerous. Peabody's problem is a poor schedule but their core is very experienced and they have enough talent around the field to succeed in the tournament.

4. Central Catholic, They are the defending champ, only lost one game and have plenty of talent... end of story.

5. Newton North, can't get a good idea how bad (or just balanced) the Bay State is this year. NN's loss to Natick shows they have holes but in a pretty wide open D1 North they will be a solid contender. Games against teams like Weymouth Dedham (and Needham) are typically excellent preps for the tourney, even if not the fire-storm of competition that the BS has been in year's past.

Others? keep an eye on Lexington as my 5A pick. Winchester has been OK. Beverly has dropped now that they faced better talent.

D2 is a mess. Hard to rule out the traditional powers like Danvers and Belmont, although both will likely enter the tourney with at least 4 losses. Tewksbury has been good, but in their first game against a good opponent they were beaten, so I'm not ready to annoint them as a favorite. Stoneham has been really good, but they too have some blemishes in the Midd. Same goes for Wilmington. Personally, I think the Cape Ann is way down so teams like Newburyport and Amesbury are question marks. Fenwick has struggled offensively and will enter the tourney as a lower seed, so although I think they are dangerous, they will have to damage from the lower half of a bracket.

Biggest disapointments so far? In D1 A/B is obvious, they are a solid team but it has been a big drop for the Colonials. Masco and Westwood have also disapointed some. In D2 I'd say that Hamilton Wenham and Gloucester expected much more.

Hmmmm.

[Unregistered]

The crystal ball needs some cleaning.

Looks like the crystal ball was working just fine. 3/5 right in the Division 1 predictions is pretty good.

[Unregistered]

From what I hear Chelmsford has not made the Tourney in 7-8 years, this coach came in, took the same team as last year, added a handful of freshman and look at the results so far. I hear she is a firm but fair coach and wish her and that program nothing but the best...

I am glad you wish her the best at Chelmsford, let's ask some questions first....why is she no longer at cc?