U14G State Championship Predictions

[Unregistered]

Well, interesting outcomes in todays Semi Finals. Here is my prediction;

THUSC
Defense is playing fantastic. Solid at every position. Mid play is solid but spotty. Forwards are hot & cold, but have been hot is State Cup thus far.

ESUFC
Team play has been outstanding. I saw a little 'boot ball' today against Rush but it was to be expected as Rush was beginning to tire. Solid defense throughout. Forwards can score if opportunity presents itself.

If THUSC defense continues to play as well as they are, I don't think ESUFC's has the offensive firepower to penetrate it. The question is who will show up at THUSC forward? Hot or cold? If they're hot, Arsenal might not be able to hang. If the're cold, Arsenal has a legitimate shot.
If it goes to PK's it could be anyones ballgame. If it stays in regulation, THUSC 2-0.

Whichever way it goes, congratulations to both teams for making it to the Championship and representing Oregon well.

See you next weekend. :)

[Unregistered]

My daughters team LOSC got bumped out last weekend. So I do not have a dog in the fight. THUSC is a streaky team like above poster stated very hot and cold. I do think if they are Hot no one in this state can touch them. Eastside has been finding a way to win games two thumbs up on the they have been playing. So many upsets so far this state cup I'm going for one more Eastside Arsenal 1 and THUSC Sodium 0.

[Unregistered]

I have only watched 2 of THUSC Sodium games this state cup. The goalie for THUSC has got to be totally BORED. I'm sure she has had time to do updates on facebook .lol From what I watched she only touched balls like 10 times in 2 games with one corner kick from Sherwood game. Arsenal did beat sodium in regular season and did not make it this far buy playing bad soccer. Good luck to Arsenal and THUSC

[Unregistered]

I would have liked to have seen THUSC playing LO or Bend somewhere in state cup but it wasn't meant to be.

THUSC defense is where it's at - they only allowed 4 goals all of league play! Their offense has struggled as can be seen by the number of ties they had with only 4 goals against. They might be clicking right now though.

However, Arsenal has 2 of those 4 goals so it's going to come down to whether Arsenal's dangerous forward can find holes. In reality this means midfield play and how well ESUFC can control the ball in the middle and play balls up.

I don't see it happening - I think THUSC is going to cruise to victory in this one winning state cup without much of a challenge.

[Unregistered]

I would have liked to have seen THUSC playing LO or Bend somewhere in state cup but it wasn't meant to be.

THUSC defense is where it's at - they only allowed 4 goals all of league play! Their offense has struggled as can be seen by the number of ties they had with only 4 goals against. They might be clicking right now though.

However, Arsenal has 2 of those 4 goals so it's going to come down to whether Arsenal's dangerous forward can find holes. In reality this means midfield play and how well ESUFC can control the ball in the middle and play balls up.

I don't see it happening - I think THUSC is going to cruise to victory in this one winning state cup without much of a challenge.

Agreed, it would have been nice to see LOSC or Bend play THUSC. Oh well.
Actually I think Arsenal had 3 of the 4 goals. Didn't these guys split in league play? 2-1 & 1-2? I may need to go back and check.

Either way, I am not as confident as the last post that THUSC will cruise to victory. I think they will win the championship, but it won't be easy. THUSC 1-0. Going to be a grea tgame whichever way it goes!

[SodiumFan[2]]

Lets get focused

Alright, I personally am so done with the OPL vs OYSA discussion. Lets get down to the game at hand this Saturday; THUSC vs ESUFC.

Arsenal is a great team. They have risen to the top by working hard and playing very well. Sodium has played through adversity, bolstered our roster and become a contender. I want to hear from this forum who you think will represent Oregon? We can deal with league stuff after Albuquerque! I am biased and will admit it! LOL! I want to hear from you, the masses!

Talk forwards vs forwards...defense vs defense...keepers vs keepers...mid-fielders vs mid-fielders...coaches vs coaches. What do you think? Who will prevail? Will it end in regulation? OT? PK's? WHAT??

Let us know what you think oh Oregon soccer forum gurus! LOL!

See you this Saturday for some incredible soccer!!! :)

[Arsenal_U14G_Fan]

Alright, I personally am so done with the OPL vs OYSA discussion. Lets get down to the game at hand this Saturday; THUSC vs ESUFC.

Arsenal is a great team. They have risen to the top by working hard and playing very well. Sodium has played through adversity, bolstered our roster and become a contender. I want to hear from this forum who you think will represent Oregon? We can deal with league stuff after Albuquerque! I am biased and will admit it! LOL! I want to hear from you, the masses!

Talk forwards vs forwards...defense vs defense...keepers vs keepers...mid-fielders vs mid-fielders...coaches vs coaches. What do you think? Who will prevail? Will it end in regulation? OT? PK's? WHAT??

Let us know what you think oh Oregon soccer forum gurus! LOL!

See you this Saturday for some incredible soccer!!! :)

Here we go. There is zero doubt that the Sodium roster should have no problem defeating the Arsenal roster. Sodium is stacked with ODP players and Arsenal only as two who are actually playing in the state cup : a keeper, and a forward.

Sodium Analysis: Have you seen the roster???? It is the who's who of elite athletes. The coach is amazing and is known for building outrageously strong teams. What more is there to say? Sodium has only one major disadvantage: Everyone thinks this team SHOULD win hands down. That can be a lot of pressure and sometimes teams walk in thinking it is going to be easy only to find that the underdog had a stronger bite than they were expecting.

Arsenal Analysis: Arsenal has a very strong passing game. When they keep the ball on the ground they do exceptionally well. They have that forward who never gives up, is aggressive as a caged bull and who will exploit any holes that present themselves in the Sodium defense. They have a coach who is finishing up his first year with this team and who has had great success with his Barlow High School team and his other team Sunderland. They have a defender that is one of the fastest sprinters in the state and who wants this more than anything. They have a highly skilled midfield that is really coming into its own right now and wants this win. Lastly, there isn't anyone out there that thinks Arsenal SHOULD win. Being the underdog has its advantages because Arsenal can go out there and play for the hell of it and that is when they play their best.

No matter the outcome, both teams have talent, heart, and desire. I truly believe that this will be a great game even though I know many wanted Bend or LO in there because they felt like it would be better or more competition.

Underdogs rock, Go Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!

[SodiumFan[2]]

Here we go. There is zero doubt that the Sodium roster should have no problem defeating the Arsenal roster. Sodium is stacked with ODP players and Arsenal only as two who are actually playing in the state cup : a keeper, and a forward.

Sodium Analysis: Have you seen the roster???? It is the who's who of elite athletes. The coach is amazing and is known for building outrageously strong teams. What more is there to say? Sodium has only one major disadvantage: Everyone thinks this team SHOULD win hands down. That can be a lot of pressure and sometimes teams walk in thinking it is going to be easy only to find that the underdog had a stronger bite than they were expecting.

Arsenal Analysis: Arsenal has a very strong passing game. When they keep the ball on the ground they do exceptionally well. They have that forward who never gives up, is aggressive as a caged bull and who will exploit any holes that present themselves in the Sodium defense. They have a coach who is finishing up his first year with this team and who has had great success with his Barlow High School team and his other team Sunderland. They have a defender that is one of the fastest sprinters in the state and who wants this more than anything. They have a highly skilled midfield that is really coming into its own right now and wants this win. Lastly, there isn't anyone out there that thinks Arsenal SHOULD win. Being the underdog has its advantages because Arsenal can go out there and play for the hell of it and that is when they play their best.

No matter the outcome, both teams have talent, heart, and desire. I truly believe that this will be a great game even though I know many wanted Bend or LO in there because they felt like it would be better or more competition.

Underdogs rock, Go Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome analysis!
One thing I am going to add; Sodium has the utmost respect for Arsenal, how could we not? Arsenal scored 3 of the 4 goals scored against Sodium this year and beat them in their last match!
To us, there is no way we can consider Arsenal an underdog and will train just as hard (if not harder) than we trained for FC, Bend, LOSC or any other powerhouse opponent.

This weekend will be a battle of epic proportion and I just hope loads of people come out and enjoy it. To quote; "No matter the outcome, both teams have talent, heart and desire." And THATS what it's all about.

Here's to an injury free weekend and best of luck to all teams playing.

GO SODIUM!! [had to put that in you know! LOL!]

[Unregistered]

New Salt

Here we go. There is zero doubt that the Sodium roster should have no problem defeating the Arsenal roster. Sodium is stacked with ODP players and Arsenal only as two who are actually playing in the state cup : a keeper, and a forward.

Sodium Analysis: Have you seen the roster???? It is the who's who of elite athletes. The coach is amazing and is known for building outrageously strong teams. What more is there to say? Sodium has only one major disadvantage: Everyone thinks this team SHOULD win hands down. That can be a lot of pressure and sometimes teams walk in thinking it is going to be easy only to find that the underdog had a stronger bite than they were expecting.

Arsenal Analysis: Arsenal has a very strong passing game. When they keep the ball on the ground they do exceptionally well. They have that forward who never gives up, is aggressive as a caged bull and who will exploit any holes that present themselves in the Sodium defense. They have a coach who is finishing up his first year with this team and who has had great success with his Barlow High School team and his other team Sunderland. They have a defender that is one of the fastest sprinters in the state and who wants this more than anything. They have a highly skilled midfield that is really coming into its own right now and wants this win. Lastly, there isn't anyone out there that thinks Arsenal SHOULD win. Being the underdog has its advantages because Arsenal can go out there and play for the hell of it and that is when they play their best.

No matter the outcome, both teams have talent, heart, and desire. I truly believe that this will be a great game even though I know many wanted Bend or LO in there because they felt like it would be better or more competition.

Underdogs rock, Go Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!

You make some very good points,
Although I do not beleive that if "everyone thinks Sodium should win" it is necessarily a disadvantage. Being new to the Sodium team I have been very impressed with this teams players desire and work effort to get back to the State Cup finals. These girls have accomplished a lot this year and I don't care who they have played they have gone into the game knowing they could win, with their ultimate focus still on returning to State Cup.

That said I beleive Arsenal can be a tough team and they proved it by getting to the finals. I was very interested in the stat that Arsenal scored 3 of the 4 goals against Sodium in league. As a parent who only sees the other teams when we play them and not knowing the individual palyers on Arsdenal I cannot make a good comparison position v position. From reading the forum I beleive their coach and club are also top notch as is ours. I still remember the loss to Eastside and they were a very tough team and as you say they will be motivated to win but I'm not so sure they will approach it as playing for the hell of it.

I think the people who wanted to see Bend V LO or LO V FC or FC V Bend were the parents and players of those teams just as Sodium and Arsenal wanted to see there teams in the finals. I also beleive this is going to be as a good of a game as those could have been! Good Luck to both teams and Go Sodium!

[Unregistered]

Ok - Analysis of the two teams from an absolutely unbiased parent......NOT!

Forwards - I think Arsenal has a slight edge here. Their starting 2 I would put up against just about any forward tandem in the state. They are aggressive, hungry and good on the attack.

Midfield - Center midfield I think Arsenal has a slight edge, outside midfield, Sodium has a slight edge. I think from the previous games Arsenal was able to control the middle of the field very well and run their possession game, but Sodium was always ready to pounce on a mistake and their counter attack offense is as devastating as I have seen.

Defense - You would have to give Sodium the edge here just from the stats from the season. 4 goals given up versus 14. Then you look at the head to head and is 3 to 3, so maybe the edge isn't as big as looks like on paper. Arsenal lost one of their defenders at the start of the State Cup run to a broken femur, but they have rallied and done an admirable job of holding their line since she went down. And as Arsenal Fan noted, we have some great speed in back that helps us make up for breakdowns. (of course, Sodium has some insane make up speed as well!)

So I guess if you add it up, I have things rated 2 to 2. I think for the most part that is how it is going into the game.

Sodium has the experience, but they also have the pressures that go along with that. I watched Sodium play FC Portland, and thought they dominated them from beginning to end. Being that FC is known as a "possession" team, and thats how I would classify Arsenal, I definitely think they will have to bring their A game and control the pressure that Sodium brings.

Please note that I am not slamming Sodium or saying that they can't play possession soccer, I just think, from our previous games, that I would classify them as a "counter attack" team, in that they play solid, wait for your mistakes, and then pounce and make you pay. Their transition from defense to offense is as smooth and effective as I have seen from anyone.

So I think it will come down to, as it almost always does, who makes their shots? They will both get opportunities, and it will come down to who makes them. Arsenal has really improved over the last couple months on their attack, Sodium has some different players than they had the last time we played them, so who knows how we will handle them?

Yes, I am an Arsenal parent, and I can't wait for this Saturday. What a terrific opportunity for all the girls lucky enough to make it to this point. My daughter is sooo excited! (I think....she's 14, and way to cool to let Dad know how she really feels!)

It will be fun...good luck to both teams....but......

GO ARSENAL!!!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Soccer fans do any remember the superbowl from 2008 with the New England Patriots VS NY Giants. Everyone on planet earth with exception of a couple million New Yorkers of course, thought that New England would have won that game just by showing up, picking up the Trophy and making plans going to disneyland. The short message is, on paper, using stats, the undefieted season, past superbowl preformances, coaching, overall players, the best team that year was New England Patriots hands down . Life in sports can be very cruel, the Patriots forgot they still needed to play and win to get all the glory. The NY Giants did not ever hear, listen or pay attention that everybody thought they were a huge underdog. They showed up, played and proved that were the BEST TEAM on that sunday.




Before all the Arsenal parents go wild and the Sodium parent go crawl in a hole.

This was an exception and not the NORM.

It's all up to our girls at this point.


My daughter is already talking about the tan she will get at regionals!

[Unregistered]

This is what this forum is supposed to be about. It's about having fun. No slamming or negative stuff, just good fun. And what I like is the fact that you know who the posters are and so you expect a little biased tint to the post and you take with a grain of...salt? (sorry). And in the end they are just our kids and we want the best for them and their team.

The part about the daughter being way too cool to let dad know if she was excited rocked me back in my chair! Too funny and I know it too well!

Keep it up parents/fans/coaches/players or whoever, this is good stuff!

[Unregistered]

Soccer fans do any remember the superbowl from 2008 with the New England Patriots VS NY Giants. Everyone on planet earth with exception of a couple million New Yorkers of course, thought that New England would have won that game just by showing up, picking up the Trophy and making plans going to disneyland. The short message is, on paper, using stats, the undefieted season, past superbowl preformances, coaching, overall players, the best team that year was New England Patriots hands down . Life in sports can be very cruel, the Patriots forgot they still needed to play and win to get all the glory. The NY Giants did not ever hear, listen or pay attention that everybody thought they were a huge underdog. They showed up, played and proved that were the BEST TEAM on that sunday.




Before all the Arsenal parents go wild and the Sodium parent go crawl in a hole.

This was an exception and not the NORM.

It's all up to our girls at this point.


My daughter is already talking about the tan she will get at regionals!

Ha Ha Ha!! And don't forget Michigan vs Appalachian State!

I don't think the THUSC team is underestimating the Arsenal team at all. I think both teams will have their game faces on and be ready for a hard fought match.

I don't know about the 14 year old girls but I'M the one who can't wait until Saturday! Ha Ha Ha!!!

[Unregistered]

The goalie for THUSC has got to be totally BORED. I'm sure she has had time to do updates on facebook .lol


Maybe she was updating her facebook account when the Arsenal girls scored on her in regular season.lol Question is can she Text with goalie gloves on?