ISL boys soccer

[Unregistered]

They didn't have all shut-outs, but they had LOTS of them. And all their ISL games were at least 2-goal wins- that is domination. From what I saw, they were significantly better than all the other ISL teams. But that team is now largely gone, so despite having a very good coach, one would not expect them to dominate again (or even win the league). Still don't believe JV kids moving up are going to mean much, so question is what upperclassmen and stud 10th graders they picked up.

It's time for Milton and their fans to move on from last years accomplishments. I'm not a Milton fan but saw that team mature over the four years that my son's team played them. As an ISL parent it was great to see them win it all and it's unlikely that an ISL team will go undefeated any time soon. And even more unlikely that a class A ISL team will win NEPSAC anytime in the near future.

[Unregistered]

Agreed. Last year was last year. What is important now is what lies ahead. Should be a very different year in the league. I would say virtually every team could finish in the top half.

[Unregistered]

2 goal wins are not "domination" !?! are you insane?

Milton parents (some of them) can be a little over the top. Anyone with soccer experience would know that 2 goals lead does not translate to domination. With Belmont Hill, it was tied 0-0 until well into the 2nd half. It was a well-fought game. Ditto with the Milton vs Lawrence game where LA was leading 1-0 until almost the end of the first half. LA was still able to score two more goals in the second half with Milton winning by two. Calling this domination is ludicrous.

[Unregistered]

Milton parents (some of them) can be a little over the top. Anyone with soccer experience would know that 2 goals lead does not translate to domination. With Belmont Hill, it was tied 0-0 until well into the 2nd half. It was a well-fought game. Ditto with the Milton vs Lawrence game where LA was leading 1-0 until almost the end of the first half. LA was still able to score two more goals in the second half with Milton winning by two. Calling this domination is ludicrous.

Very true. Milton definitely did not blowout the better teams they faced. If they were dominant anywhere, it was defensively. They were pretty darn good there and will now have to replace that entire unit. How well they do that will determine what kind of season they have.

Lawrence will be very similar and will need a number of returning players to step up. They lose some huge players at GK, CB, and F and how well they replace them will determine how their season goes.

Brooks is the team that people need to look out for. They have quality players all over the field and should be ready to assert themselves as a power. They are one of the traditional league powers and it is only a matter of time before they get back in the title hunt.

[Unregistered]

Very true. Milton definitely did not blowout the better teams they faced. If they were dominant anywhere, it was defensively. They were pretty darn good there and will now have to replace that entire unit. How well they do that will determine what kind of season they have.

Lawrence will be very similar and will need a number of returning players to step up. They lose some huge players at GK, CB, and F and how well they replace them will determine how their season goes.

Brooks is the team that people need to look out for. They have quality players all over the field and should be ready to assert themselves as a power. They are one of the traditional league powers and it is only a matter of time before they get back in the title hunt.

Usual suspects this year but Brooks and RL should surprise.

[Unregistered]

I was at almost every game too - GK kicks and punts went to the midfield ( which is not playing from the back). As a milton parent I'm getting a little tired of this holier than thou attitude from some Milton parents. We were much better than many teams but against the likes of BH, Lawrence, nobles , Berkshire , andover , nmh and BBN the games could have gone either way on any given day. So please get real and stop this crazyness.

None of these games other than berkshire could have possibly gone any other way.

[Unregistered]

2 goal wins are not "domination" !?! are you insane?

Saying "we only lost by 2 goals" doesn't mean last years MA team wasn't significantly better than your's, because they were.

[Unregistered]

Saying "we only lost by 2 goals" doesn't mean last years MA team wasn't significantly better than your's, because they were.

Perhaps everyone can move on from last years results.Every team lost players and will gain players. Start speculating after a few weeks of play.

[Unregistered]

None of these games other than berkshire could have possibly gone any other way.

you obviously know nothing about soccer.

[Unregistered]

None of these games other than berkshire could have possibly gone any other way.

Andover?

[Unregistered]

None of these games other than berkshire could have possibly gone any other way.

Milton parent here. This is just coming from one individual. I watched most of these games and do think some of them could have gone differently if the other team took on a different tactic. MA did so well because they had a better defense than other teams . Teams with defense being their only real strength are exploitable. There were holes that Berkshire , Lawrence and Belmont could have exploited. Lawrence for example could have done it by holding on to their 1-0 lead near the end of the half by parking the bus and relying on only one forward ( instead of three) for quick counters. Berkshire defense was a known weakness but the coach for whatever reason still played only three players in the back counting on his strong midfield and fast, skilled forwards to keep the ball on the MA side ( strong offense is a good defense tactic). All MA goals were scored on quick counters. So if BK played more conservatively the outcome might have been different. Andover , Belmont hill - same thing.

[Unregistered]

Perhaps everyone can move on from last years results.Every team lost players and will gain players. Start speculating after a few weeks of play.

well there's nothing to talk about but a couple of Milton parents keep talking about how incredibly fantastic their team was last year- and they clearly were not.

[Unregistered]

well there's nothing to talk about but a couple of Milton parents keep talking about how incredibly fantastic their team was last year- and they clearly were not.

Correction: nothing to talk about but Milton parents AND people like you who are arguing with them. For Christ's sake, Milton won the ISL and New England's last year, end of story. No one wants to listen to you argue about them. Go to last year's thread if you are dying to talk about them this much.

[Unregistered]

well there's nothing to talk about but a couple of Milton parents keep talking about how incredibly fantastic their team was last year- and they clearly were not.

Skip the characterization then and just go with the facts- MA was undefeated, won NEPSAC Class A and the ISL, and won all their ISL games by at least 2 goals. They had the offensive and defensive players of the ISL, and the Mass Gatorade player of the year (who are all off to play D1 soccer).

So they're clearly not incredibly fantastic in your book. Was it then a function of the relative weakness of the competition as compared with prior seasons?

[Unregistered]

Skip the characterization then and just go with the facts- MA was undefeated, won NEPSAC Class A and the ISL, and won all their ISL games by at least 2 goals. They had the offensive and defensive players of the ISL, and the Mass Gatorade player of the year (who are all off to play D1 soccer).

So they're clearly not incredibly fantastic in your book. Was it then a function of the relative weakness of the competition as compared with prior seasons?

Clearly this is getting old for many so this is my last post on this subject. Prior year Berkshire (with Jack H, Donawa etc) and Lawrence team (Amadu, AH etc) would have pummeled this MA team. and I still wouldn't describe those teams with the superlatives that Milton parents use to describe this team. And again, some of those two goal games could have turned out differently as others have suggested.