High school girls soccer

[HS Harry]

I haven't seen either Canton or Auburn but from a look at their respective schedules, you would have to give the edge to Canton. The Auburn vs. Shrewsbury game would have given a little comparative insight, but that game wasn't played. For both this will be their 6th game in less than two weeks but the game site in Worcester helps Auburn. Canton has been dominant in the tourney, outscoring opponents 20-0 in five games and LB has been real good.

Peabody has the advantage of being more than twice the size of East Longmeadow. There are girls enrollments of 1020 for the Tanners and 458 for EL - sort of ridiculous really. EL would be a small to mid-sized D2 school if they were located in the North. I've always wondered why the MIAA goes through the exercize of making divisions based on enrollment, if those divisions result in such enormous inequity? So the truth is that Peabody should crush the Spartans. ELs two losses came at the hands of Belchertown and Pittsfield (both teams beaten by Auburn!!) but they have beaten solid Minechaug and Nashoba teams en-route to the final. One advantage is an easier route to Worcester (not just travel distance but 3 rather than 4 regional games). You can never count out an upset in these games. There is so much emotion and pressure in a state final and Peabody has been prone to some defensive miscues. I guaranty you this: if they could Auburn would change their nickname to the Davids for this one and hope they can fill in with a pretty long line of west schools that have previously slain Goliath.

[Unregistered]

I haven't seen either Canton or Auburn but from a look at their respective schedules, you would have to give the edge to Canton. The Auburn vs. Shrewsbury game would have given a little comparative insight, but that game wasn't played. For both this will be their 6th game in less than two weeks but the game site in Worcester helps Auburn. Canton has been dominant in the tourney, outscoring opponents 20-0 in five games and LB has been real good.

Peabody has the advantage of being more than twice the size of East Longmeadow. There are girls enrollments of 1020 for the Tanners and 458 for EL - sort of ridiculous really. EL would be a small to mid-sized D2 school if they were located in the North. I've always wondered why the MIAA goes through the exercize of making divisions based on enrollment, if those divisions result in such enormous inequity? So the truth is that Peabody should crush the Spartans. ELs two losses came at the hands of Belchertown and Pittsfield (both teams beaten by Auburn!!) but they have beaten solid Minechaug and Nashoba teams en-route to the final. One advantage is an easier route to Worcester (not just travel distance but 3 rather than 4 regional games). You can never count out an upset in these games. There is so much emotion and pressure in a state final and Peabody has been prone to some defensive miscues. I guaranty you this: if they could Auburn would change their nickname to the Davids for this one and hope they can fill in with a pretty long line of west schools that have previously slain Goliath.

A little more insight. Auburn did not play well at all in the District Final against Nipmuc and by the sounds of it not that well in the semi's. However when they have been on, they are on. This is their last gasp at a state title for the next year or two.......then again they are always strong.

[Unregistered]

I wouldn't bet aagainst a Gonnam led team in a big game. He will have his charges ready and has probably more HS big-game experience (and success) than any other coach in the North except Scanlon from Winchester.

Score easily could have been 5-0.

[HS Harry]

I have been consitent in my claims that the overall quality in the North has been down this year, but it was particularly down in D2. By all accounts, Stoneham was a hard luck loser against Newburyport as they outplayed the Clippers but just couldn't find the back of the net. That happens in soccer, especially in the later rounds of the tournament, and ultimately there are no astericks next to the results that state ** Should have won but ended up as runner-ups. But it doesn't surprise me that Canton dominated Newburyport in the E Mass final. Unfortunately I don't think the quality is going to get any better in D2 North and Newburyport has an excellent chance to repeat.

[HS Harry]

Don't take that to mean that unfortunately Newburyport has an excellent chance to repeat. I have nothing against the Clippers. I just hope the skill level of the top teams improve and that parity is a result of better overall quality and not because the traditionally powerful programs (like Danvers, Belmont and Fenwick) have gone backward.

[Unregistered]

Think Bacon.

Everything's better with Bacon!

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=HS Harry;660549By all accounts, Stoneham was a hard luck loser against Newburyport as they outplayed the Clippers but just couldn't find the back of the net. ...Unfortunately I don't think the quality is going to get any better in D2 North and Newburyport has an excellent chance to repeat.[/QUOTE]

wait, Stoneham outplayed Newburyport and was a hard luck loser, but you think Newburyport has an excellent chance to repeat next year? I don't understand the logic.

And Newburyport didn't exactly steamroll through the tournament.
The scores were 2-1, 2-1, 1-0 PK

[Unregistered]

sorry, the Newburyport scores were 2-1, 2-1, 1-0, 1-0 PK

[Unregistered]

A little more insight. Auburn did not play well at all in the District Final against Nipmuc and by the sounds of it not that well in the semi's. However when they have been on, they are on. This is their last gasp at a state title for the next year or two.......then again they are always strong.

Belchertown dominated Auburn but just couldn't get it through the entire team on defense. The ball was played on the Rockets side of the field nearly the entire game and the corner kicks were 9-2 in favor of Belchertown. The refs were very questionable, especially when the Belchertown player was taken down in the box and should have been awarded a penalty kick. The one opportunity Auburn had in the second half was a corner kick awarded from a 30 yard shot that was far wide from the goal that the ref said the Belchertown goalie tipped despite being at least 5 yards from her. The ref who waved off the PK and also awarded the corner kick also just happened to be the only ref from Central MA. The Auburn goalie played great and should be tough in the next game. Auburn had a few good players and had the size advantage but Belchertown was the much more talented team. If Canton scores early then Auburn is finished, but if Auburn scores first expect them to play very physical and defensive. I expect Canton to win fairly easily but if the refs are bias again it could be much closer and even a victory for Auburn.

[HS Harry]

wait, Stoneham outplayed Newburyport and was a hard luck loser, but you think Newburyport has an excellent chance to repeat next year? I don't understand the logic.

And Newburyport didn't exactly steamroll through the tournament.
The scores were 2-1, 2-1, 1-0 PK

I think Newburyport is losing less to graduation than Stoneham this year. Maybe Arlington? Wilmington? Amesbury? could challenge but I just expect more of the same for next year, and absent the emergence of another program or the return to dominance of Danvers, Belmont or Fenwick, expect Newburyport to be right in the middle of things.

[Unregistered]

So its all the refs fault Belchertown didn't score.Talent doesn't always win you games.

[Unregistered]

Any quotes from Newburyport coach? What was his take on the game? Was it as one sided as suggested?

[Unregistered]

Any quotes from Newburyport coach? What was his take on the game? Was it as one sided as suggested?

he predicted that his team would be E Mass North Champions for the next four year. Best part is the fact that he talks about the N-Port 8th grade team and that he already projects 3-4 of those girls to start for him next year. The paper also touts the strength of the Sophomore class, 6 or 7 of whom play for his SF Vikings team.

They had a couple of chances to score but basically the man marked/ doubled LB all game and routinely kept 8 or 9 behind the ball. Canton had another 5-6 outstanding chances, including some break-aways by LB. So yes it could have been worse. The headline in the Newburyport daily was "Clippers ousted by Better Team, Canton"

[Unregistered]

I think Newburyport is losing less to graduation than Stoneham this year. Maybe Arlington? Wilmington? Amesbury? could challenge but I just expect more of the same for next year, and absent the emergence of another program or the return to dominance of Danvers, Belmont or Fenwick, expect Newburyport to be right in the middle of things.

Newburyport has a very strong group of underclassmen coming in over the next few years. No superstarts but a dozen or so technically and tactically solid players that have been together in their youth soccer programs for 4 years.

[Unregistered]

he predicted that his team would be E Mass North Champions for the next four year. Best part is the fact that he talks about the N-Port 8th grade team and that he already projects 3-4 of those girls to start for him next year. The paper also touts the strength of the Sophomore class, 6 or 7 of whom play for his SF Vikings team.

They had a couple of chances to score but basically the man marked/ doubled LB all game and routinely kept 8 or 9 behind the ball. Canton had another 5-6 outstanding chances, including some break-aways by LB. So yes it could have been worse. The headline in the Newburyport daily was "Clippers ousted by Better Team, Canton"

I have watched these players he is talking about play for the last 4 years up at SUSC indoor and his evaluation is spot on.