BK and Union tied at zero at the half. My son started and played the first half and he had one highlight reel save, flying to the far post on a header off a corner kick.
Local HS Soccer
- Thread starter TU_BLA
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Union wins 1-0 getting a goal with about 10 minutes left on a log ball to the 9 who did a great job of holding the ball up and slipping a nice ball to the top of the 6 to the 10 who made a great run and then slipped the ball past the BK keeper. It was probably the most excited I've seen the Union players all season. Union really controlled the game in the 2nd half. I think BK had two shots the entire 2nd half but neither was on goal.
Not sure how many of you know who Matt Trotter is. He holds a Pro referee credential and he does a lot of AR assignments in USL. He was the center for the boys game and did a nice job and kept good control and made sure emotions didn't get too out of control or heated. It was one of the better officiated games I've seen this year. He was the AR in the girls game and there was some controversy. BK scored a late goal in that one to tie the game. Off a corner ball bounces around the box and gets headed towards the goal. Ball gets cleared off the line by a defender, referee awards the goal. Trotter stays on the goal line and waves his flag and pretty sure he told the ref the ball didn't completely cross the line. Ref didn't care and let the goal stand. BK ended up winning in OT. Watched the replay back on YouTube and I'm pretty sure there is no way the ball completely crossed the line and even more sure that the referee was in no position to make that determination on his own.
Anyway much needed win for the boys who were able to celebrate senior night properly. And a little breathing room for playoffs. Still a chance to win district with a win in the next two vs Sand Springs (who lost 7-0 to Southmoore tonight) and Jenks (who beat Bixby 4-0).
Southmoore may have entered the discussion for state title contenders. Apparently they've been playing without a kid who has been to USYNT U16 ID camp. His first game back was Tuesday bs Union. The kid can play. They've got decent players in other aces but this kid makes them go. Probably comparable to McKennie in terms of style of play. Bixby and Jenks both got off easy as this kid didn't play against them.
Big shock of the night: Capitol Hill beat Edmond North. This would be like Liechtenstein beating Italy in Euro group play.
Not sure how many of you know who Matt Trotter is. He holds a Pro referee credential and he does a lot of AR assignments in USL. He was the center for the boys game and did a nice job and kept good control and made sure emotions didn't get too out of control or heated. It was one of the better officiated games I've seen this year. He was the AR in the girls game and there was some controversy. BK scored a late goal in that one to tie the game. Off a corner ball bounces around the box and gets headed towards the goal. Ball gets cleared off the line by a defender, referee awards the goal. Trotter stays on the goal line and waves his flag and pretty sure he told the ref the ball didn't completely cross the line. Ref didn't care and let the goal stand. BK ended up winning in OT. Watched the replay back on YouTube and I'm pretty sure there is no way the ball completely crossed the line and even more sure that the referee was in no position to make that determination on his own.
Anyway much needed win for the boys who were able to celebrate senior night properly. And a little breathing room for playoffs. Still a chance to win district with a win in the next two vs Sand Springs (who lost 7-0 to Southmoore tonight) and Jenks (who beat Bixby 4-0).
Southmoore may have entered the discussion for state title contenders. Apparently they've been playing without a kid who has been to USYNT U16 ID camp. His first game back was Tuesday bs Union. The kid can play. They've got decent players in other aces but this kid makes them go. Probably comparable to McKennie in terms of style of play. Bixby and Jenks both got off easy as this kid didn't play against them.
Big shock of the night: Capitol Hill beat Edmond North. This would be like Liechtenstein beating Italy in Euro group play.
Union @ Sand Springs tonight. Hope the boys show up and play well, if they do they shouldn't have a problem. Sand Springs is currently 0-5 in district and -12 in the margin points (I believe they are capped at +/- 5 per game). They lost 7-0 to Southmoore on Friday. Somehow they managed to take Bixby to PKs.
Jenks plays Southmoore tonight in Jenks. A Jenks win would likely knock Southmoore out of the playoffs which would probably be a huge relief to many teams in the state. As I said Southmoore was playing without one of the best players in the state (#7) until last Tuesday and they changed to a pretty dominant ball-controlling, very creative offensive team with him. They've won their last 2 games by a combined 9-0 and we're competitive in their games without him. A Jenks loss wouldn't hurt them much as I am anticipating a Union win today would mean Friday's matchup vs Jenks would be for the district title whether or not Jenks wins or loses today. If Union beats Jenks Friday they'd hold the 1st tie breaker (head to head) over them.
Bixby plays NW Classen tonight. I expect a Bixby win and gives them a little more breathing room for making the playoffs. Bartlesville plays Bishop Kelley. Those 5 teams are in the running for 4 playoff spots in this district and currently Southmoore is on the outside and a loss eliminates them if Bixby and Bartlesville win their games. A loss by either keeps Southmoore in it until the last day of the season, Friday.
Friday will be interesting. You have Bixby vs Bartlesville which would likely secure playoffs for the winner. A Southmoore win tonight and that game on Friday becomes a little nervewracking for both of them. Classen could enter the convo for playoffs with an upset over Bixby tonight. BK and Sand Springs have effectively been eliminated (Sand Springs for sure; BK might fight their way in if the soccer apocalypse happens and Bixby/Bartlesville lose twice and Southmoore loses 1 more and BK wins both theirs).
Jenks plays Southmoore tonight in Jenks. A Jenks win would likely knock Southmoore out of the playoffs which would probably be a huge relief to many teams in the state. As I said Southmoore was playing without one of the best players in the state (#7) until last Tuesday and they changed to a pretty dominant ball-controlling, very creative offensive team with him. They've won their last 2 games by a combined 9-0 and we're competitive in their games without him. A Jenks loss wouldn't hurt them much as I am anticipating a Union win today would mean Friday's matchup vs Jenks would be for the district title whether or not Jenks wins or loses today. If Union beats Jenks Friday they'd hold the 1st tie breaker (head to head) over them.
Bixby plays NW Classen tonight. I expect a Bixby win and gives them a little more breathing room for making the playoffs. Bartlesville plays Bishop Kelley. Those 5 teams are in the running for 4 playoff spots in this district and currently Southmoore is on the outside and a loss eliminates them if Bixby and Bartlesville win their games. A loss by either keeps Southmoore in it until the last day of the season, Friday.
Friday will be interesting. You have Bixby vs Bartlesville which would likely secure playoffs for the winner. A Southmoore win tonight and that game on Friday becomes a little nervewracking for both of them. Classen could enter the convo for playoffs with an upset over Bixby tonight. BK and Sand Springs have effectively been eliminated (Sand Springs for sure; BK might fight their way in if the soccer apocalypse happens and Bixby/Bartlesville lose twice and Southmoore loses 1 more and BK wins both theirs).
So Union lost to Sand Springs 1-0 tonight. I missed the first 20 minutes and Sand Springs apparently scored in the first 10. Union had chances but couldn't find the back of the net. But they did put a ball over the goal line between the pipes that wasn't counted. YouTube video clearly shows the ball hitting a defender who was a yard behind the goal line. Officiating mistake #1. (Yes this is going to be a rant about the clown show officiating tonight). The 2nd officiating mistake was allowing the AR in the far side of the field from us near a Union game. He was the same ref for the BL/Union girls game and AR for the boys that night. He is objectively incapable of keeping up with the speed of play at the 6A level. He flagged 4-5 offside calls that replay will show clearly were not anywhere close to being offside while at the same time lagging 4-5 yds behind the flow of play and where the backline was set up. The bigger mistake was the center acknowledge this guy's calls. Another mistake was a Union player getting around the defender wide and getting to the goal line to center a ball In the box, called for going out...the AR flagged this from about the top of the box. Worst mistake, and again clearly on video, was him convincing the ref to waive off a tying Union goal with 20 seconds left. Ref counted the goal, AR was about to and then decided to say someone bumped the keeper. Video clearly shows the only player to bump the GK was a Sand Springs defender. Not sure what recourse Union has but that AR doesn't ever need to be involved with a Union game. Also tonight, Jenks beat Southmoore so Southmoore is pretty much eliminated. Also NW Classen beat Bixby tonight which should secure Union's spot in the playoffs but they can only finish 2nd in the district at best.
And Union played without 4 starters last night. 1 was still on his red card suspension, should be back Friday for Jenks. Another player was on yellow card accumulation (stupid one too, for shoving another player after the player took down one of Union's forwards). 3rd was out due to a concussion and they're hoping he is back for Friday. Kid is a dynamic CB. Last kid is pretty much a do all player and maybe has the best vision of any of the attacking players. Can also play CB if needed. Really good in the air. My son said he was injured but not sure what that was. I didn't ask his parents last night but then again, none of the parents were in a talking mood because they were so incensed at the AR.
Union would have been playing Jenks tomorrow for the district title had they won on Tuesday night. 2 legit goals wiped off the board because an AR has a vendetta against the district. And there's video to show there was nothing to wipe them off.
So my son said the team was greeted by a Union athletic administrator and letter from the OSSAA indicating they'll be dropped from playoffs for any discipline tonight. Apparently a parent went nuts on the officials after Tuesday's game and that was the only thing that mattered...nothing about the gross incompetence of one of the officials.
And all the parents just received a letter from Emily Barkley about tonight's game vs Jenks and what would happen if parents lose it again. So I can say the dad of the player who scored the tying goal with 20 seconds left that got wiped out hopped the fence and ran onto the field after the final whistle. Sand Springs security got to him first. Funny thing is no one confronted the center ref...it was all the AR who we all suspected had some ax to grind with Union from the previous week. I've included the video and if you watch at about 1:38:30 through the goal and then rewind, please tell me where you see a Union player committing a foul that allows the goal to be scored
BTW, the center ref is staring at the play in question
It appears that if the parents can keep their noses clean tonight...in the biggest rivalry game for Union, maybe they can be in the playoffs in 2 weeks. Of course the boys can't get in any fights. I know they were concerned that a single yellow card in the course of play would bench them from the playoffs...because as we've seen, it only takes a single ref with an ax to grind or who is anti-Hispanic, to take them out.
I 100% agree. I yelled at the center and asked him if he wanted me to throw my gear on and slap my badge on so that he'd have at least one AR on that side of the field. But that's about the extent from me. I was hot that night especially after the stupidity of the final call but I am not chasing referees down in the parking lot. Matter of fact I'm the ref that would be sending parents to the lot. This individual was caught on the video if you watch the last few minutes and hopefully the coaches ask him to stay outside the gates tonight. At Union you can still watch a soccer game from outside the gates. But there were a good number of parents that did go over there to scream. And Union has a set of student soccer groupies who might be categorized as soccer houligans in other countries. Pretty sure they have no idea about the OSSAA letter.
Jenks beat Union tonight 1-0. My son gave up the goal in the 2nd half and based on his reaction he probably should have gotten to the ball. Good news is Union didn't pick up any cards tonight so they'll get to start the playoffs. This game was pretty damn boring because Union just didn't play with any aggression at all because of the situation.
My son actually had been playing pretty well up until the goal. Came of a free kick just outside the left side of the box, and a little flick on that had eyes and found the corner. Jenks wasn't great either. Union had some chances but I don't think they had a shot on target. Hopefully when playoffs start Union will get 3 starters back as well.
Jenks girls also beat Union 1-0 in OT. Union had a ton of good looks but just couldn't find the shot past the Jenks keeper. Union actually neutralized Landry Fleeker pretty well.
On to playoffs.
My son actually had been playing pretty well up until the goal. Came of a free kick just outside the left side of the box, and a little flick on that had eyes and found the corner. Jenks wasn't great either. Union had some chances but I don't think they had a shot on target. Hopefully when playoffs start Union will get 3 starters back as well.
Jenks girls also beat Union 1-0 in OT. Union had a ton of good looks but just couldn't find the shot past the Jenks keeper. Union actually neutralized Landry Fleeker pretty well.
On to playoffs.
6A Playoff brackets are out:
Union hosts Owasso at 7pm on Monday (Union girls go to Owasso at the same time)Winner of Union/Owasso boys would play winner of Westmoore and Bishop McGuiness on Thursday of next week. Winner of that game would likely get Broken Arrow in the semifinals. Jenks is on the opposite side of the bracket and that side seems to be loaded. Mustang, Deer Creek, Edmond North and Norman North are all on that side.
My picks for the semis are Jenks/Mustang and BA/Westmoore (I'd like to think Union could make the semis but this season and the disruption of BS and kids not being eligible and injured leave me with doubts....there are 2 players who were injured for the last couple games and if they're not healthy for Monday, beating Owasso is going to be a tough task without them. )
Union hosts Owasso at 7pm on Monday (Union girls go to Owasso at the same time)Winner of Union/Owasso boys would play winner of Westmoore and Bishop McGuiness on Thursday of next week. Winner of that game would likely get Broken Arrow in the semifinals. Jenks is on the opposite side of the bracket and that side seems to be loaded. Mustang, Deer Creek, Edmond North and Norman North are all on that side.
My picks for the semis are Jenks/Mustang and BA/Westmoore (I'd like to think Union could make the semis but this season and the disruption of BS and kids not being eligible and injured leave me with doubts....there are 2 players who were injured for the last couple games and if they're not healthy for Monday, beating Owasso is going to be a tough task without them. )
The foul, if there was one, was on the player that stepped into the path of the keeper and obstructed him from controlling the ball on the service, which another player then headed into zone 14. That contact gave the pass an advantage and the shooter the chance at the goal. It’s really hard to tell on the video. The match report would explain it I’m sure. If they were cautioned or a foul was called earlier in the game for similar, it might be the right call, even from an AR. You can be six feet from a play in the mixer and miss “the obvious.”
I couldn’t tell much from the video other than the goalie immediately came running out claiming he was fouled. No idea if the goalie’s complaint prompted the foul call or if the foul was called prior. The answer to that question would be interesting.
It wasn't called prior. Matter of fact, the referee signaled good goal and blew the whistle to stop the clock.
Huffy, I understand what you're saying but the Union player was on the front post prior to GK and he actually made a legal play on the ball heading it back to the middle of the box. He didn't move in the path of the GK and he is entitled to his previously established space, meaning any contact created was by the keeper. I know GKs get the benefit of the doubt more often than not but there's literally nothing on the video that shows a Union player impeding the keeper and that the only contact actually came from a Sand Springs defender when the keeper was trying to move back into the center of the goal. If you could see the AR on that side of the field, which you can't because of the angle and where the camera was, he actually also started moving from the corner to the top of the 18 which is pretty universal for the AR signaling he saw a good goal. If he had wanted to flag a foul or an offside, he would have raised and waived his flag and stayed in the corner asking for the ref to come speak with him.
The fact the GK didn't even approach the referee with claims of being fouled and immediately went to the AR tells me something wasn't quite right w/ that guy being on that game. BTW, I now have a name of the AR, I have worked with him in the past. Apparently that situation has been the talk of the local referee scene the last couple of weeks and all the refs I spoke to this past weekend at the Blitz tourney, several of whom have been refereeing at much higher levels than I have and many of whom have been HS refs for quite a while, agreed the game was officiated one-sided and that several of the 2nd half offside calls and the waving off the late Union goal didn't make sense. A couple of them even said they stopped working games with this guy (not accepting assignments with him) a while ago because he seemed to take sides in games.
Watch it again. He feigns the post, the camera pans away, then when we see them again, he’s in the middle of the box, 14b, slightly behind the keeper and a poor angle. He leans in with physical contact on the keeper and that allows the other player a chance to head it to the goal scorer. It could reasonably be called back if they had VAR. I wouldn’t. But reasonable refs can disagree.
Agree the appeal to the AR is fishy, but he also could be assuming the field captain would go to the referee.
Agree the appeal to the AR is fishy, but he also could be assuming the field captain would go to the referee.
The keeper looks like he is over there complaining he was held rather than obstructed. Did they come with a direct free kick rather than an indirect one? Weird mechanics by the centre. He did not look confident in what was going on. You should question any person that wears a hat in a night game.
And that could be it. It could have been a shirt grab that delayed his play to the ball. Impossible to see on TV if done right and next to impossible for the refs to see if you are experienced.
The ref deferred to the AR all night. He was in perfect position to make a call/non-call and even signaled good goal.
As a referee the following things piss me off more than anything because they are things you can actually control regardless if you are the center or an AR or you get a particularly physical game or not. 1). Show up in a proper uniform. Last week there was a game where an AR didn't have a credential (they technically should not be allowed on the field without one). He was also wearing white shoes and didn't have a watch. At least the ref in the Sand Springs match was wearing a black hat and had a credential and proper uniform. 2) Use proper mechanics, and 3) Don't be lazy
So, as I stated in another thread, I refereed the WSA Cup on Saturday. My first game, I worked with an AR who was on the Union/Jenks games. He centered the varsity girls game and was on the line for the varsity boys game. I've worked with him before at other WSA tournaments and I've seen him do local club games. He's a very solid, experienced referee. As with the week before, the talk was about the Sand Springs/Union game...all of the referees heard what had happened. Since he was on the Union/Jenks game he knew what had happened and knew what was at stake for Union. He and I were talking between games and he said he went and watched the video of what happened...he said "I didn't see anything and the referee was in good position and even signaled goal. I don't know why he changed from that. "
I think it would be worth OSSAA's time digging into what beef the AR in that game had with Union
I think it would be worth OSSAA's time digging into what beef the AR in that game had with Union
It is lack of talent. It is lack of coaching. Even with the good teams, it amazes me how direct they play constantly.
You’re not wrong. On the girls side other than the very top of 6A there are a mixture of second the third tier girls playing for a coach who has limited or no experience in high level club soccer. There simply isn’t enough depth in the girls game is the state to field a lot of high quality teams. Doesn’t necessarily take away from the girls who play for those lower class teams as many are playing a similar level as they play in club. I have a good friend whose daughter plays for 5A Glenpool. The level of soccer is absolutely brutal to watch but the girls and parents enjoy it. Which is the important part imo.
I wish my daughter’s team would play the kick and chase style occasionally. When you’re outclassed in the midfield it’s very difficult to play through the same. Makes for a very long game for the back five.
Union girls in a nutshell. Lost 2-1 in OT to Owasso. Owasso is a solid side with a very good GK. really move the ball well and move off the ball well. Union played without one of the top scorers in the state in Hailey Green (concussion protocol). Union's gameplan in this one was to either get the ball to Gracie Holmes and let her use her speed OR have Alaina Trevino (playing at ORU next year) try to beat the entirety of the Owasso defense off the dribble. They connected with Gracie a couple of times but she is not the finisher that Hailey Green is. She is an excellent distributor and crosser of the ball though. Alaina Trevino can beat most players 1 v 1 but last night she was trying to win going 1 v 3 in many cases. Owasso knew Green wasn't playing and they knew Union lacked another scoring threat and committed to stopping Trevino with multiple defenders. And Union only committed 4 to the attack, everyone else stayed back. Honestly, you watch Union's girls play and wonder how the parents haven't revolted demanding a new coach,. And you may have that this year. Green's dad had to go down to the field during the Jenks game and demand the coach pull her because he knew something was wrong...coach didn't pull her until afterwards.
Union boys lost to Owasso last night in one of the worst games I've seen this group play. Everyone except for the 1 CB who has a concussion played for Union. Just a dreadful overall effort, lots of selfish hero ball (as my son calls it). Union has a bunch of MFs who can dribble through a minefield but can't connect a simple pass. Rogers may understand the game and tactics but he did a poor job in developing a style of play and communicating it to this group. It's sort of the Mourinho approach to coaching...this is my style and we're going to play it regardless if we have the players to play that style. And because of the way he micromanages every decision on the field for the boys, they never learned how to play and see the field or make decisions this year. Just a waste of a really technically talented team. Plus, and this is according to one of the former assistant coaches who left the program this year but still remains close to the program because his little brother is on the team, there was no accountability within the program and under the previous coach, the boys held one another accountably for grades, behavior, and how they "repped the U". So my son's HS soccer career is over. He apologized to me saying my son deserved better this season. He was my son's 1st academy coach when my son was 9 and he is the one that introduced my son to Union soccer at an early age. I am grateful to him as he initially rotated 3 GKs on the U9 team and then asked my son to do it full time because he saw something in him.
Referees were fine. Center actually let the boys play. ARs did a good job and were on top of things. I've worked with the center and AR2 before, matter of fact AR2 and myself were talking at the Blitz tournament helping a younger referee who had gotten some abuse on a U9 game and how to handle it.
Worst part is Bishop McGuiness took down Westmoore (in PKs I believe) and Union would have hosted this Thursday had they been able to pull something out.
Referees were fine. Center actually let the boys play. ARs did a good job and were on top of things. I've worked with the center and AR2 before, matter of fact AR2 and myself were talking at the Blitz tournament helping a younger referee who had gotten some abuse on a U9 game and how to handle it.
Worst part is Bishop McGuiness took down Westmoore (in PKs I believe) and Union would have hosted this Thursday had they been able to pull something out.
Hard to win at the top of 6A when your two feature players are an RL player and a mid level NL girl….even in Oklahoma high school soccer.
There's enough overall talent at Union that they should be better, on both the boys and girls side of things. I am 100% certain they came up short because the coaching is lacking. On the girls coaching side, Rozell isn't much of a developer of talent nor is she much of a tactical wiz either. I think Matt Howe does most. But, I've heard from parents that Rozell and Howe do not pay any attention to JV players and what they're doing nor are they doing anything to help develop them as players. They also don't have a GK coach and as athletic as Viola Seals is and she's just a FR, she's not getting any skill or technical development at the GK position from who they currently have on staff. And I've noticed some stuff watching their games that a GK coach (or even myself) could give her a couple tips on positioning and the approach to high shots that would help her immensely.
Plus at that level, you should be able to play out of the back. Anytime one of Union's GKs gets the ball in their hands, it's a punt to the middle of the field, so 75% of the time it's a turnover...and that's not on the GK, it's on the coaches. Yesterday is a prime example...almost every time the Owasso GK came out and scooped a ball up, she rolled it or threw it to a defender on the wing and they would play out. And they were successful with it. (Owasso's GK is one of the best I've seen in the girls ranks this year. Phenomenal at reading plays and her decision making would have graded at about 95%...her one mistake was trying to waste time in the last minute, taking a poor touch while doing so, losing the ball to a Union presser, and then taking said Union player down in the box conceding a PK. She also earned a yellow for it and the backup GK had to come in to face the PK. Last minute of the game and really the only tough chance the Owasso GKs faced all night).
It would not surprise me if Hailey Green doesn't play HS soccer next year and focuses only on club soccer. My guess is she is big enough, fast enough, and skilled enough as a scorer to earn a scholarship somewhere, maybe even TU. Why risk injury playing soccer for a coach who won't sub you off when you tell her you need off? She definitely asked to come off during the Jenks game and Rozell ignored her. She only came off in the last couple of minutes after staying down for injury...and this was even after her dad told the coach she needed to sub her out. Union played exactly 2 subs that night...1 for the injury, and then 1 for a yellow card a player got just before the end of the game and that sub was only in the game for about 45 seconds. That means everyone else played a full 80 minutes plus whatever they played in OT (2-3 minutes before Jenks scored). Last night, I don't recall any subs during the time I was watching except for 1 yellow card that was given. There were usually 26 girls on the roster for most of the regular season games, playoffs are limited to 23. But she never used subs. Meaningless game against Mustang (non-district) why are you not playing your subs some minutes to get them experience against quality opponents? It really showed up how gone their legs were in the late stages of the Jenks game and again last night. Owasso's OT goal came on what amounted to be a 2 on 0 with only Union's keeper left back. The defenders simply could not get back and help. Happened all year. You could see how tired the players were and it takes a toll to log that many minutes on turf without ever getting a break.
It was rather anti-climactic. One thing the previous three years is the team never lacked energy IMO. Did they always click and play great? No, but you could always tell the effort was there. There were times this year I didn't see a consistent effort out of some players yet they still played a lot. There was one player I thought regressed a great deal from his So to Jr year this year. Really a good technical player but he looked lost this year
Do you place regression on a high school coach? His club coach trains him all year. He plays many more games a the club level. Club trainings should be at a much higher level than high school if he plays high level club ball. They certainly are on the girls side. Boys could be a bit different I assume. However, the time my kid trains and play at club compared to what she would have at high school is night and day. Now if the high school coach isn’t coaching good tactical soccer then I can 100% see where the product he puts on the field is on him. Good players can only take you so far if the coach lacks in the tactical and motivation areas.
Looks like 6A is between Jenks and the two Edmond schools. Can’t count out Norman or Owasso but Jenks is loaded with ECNL talent. The Tulsa area 2007 class is quite good and most of those girls are still playing high school ball.
So I'm pretty sure they train more with HS throughout the year than they do with club. Not sure how the girls work but at Union it may be opposite. But essentially, because of the way the HS work soccer in as a "class", they train from August through the end of the season, every day. They get the 1 hr for the class and they're allowed 1 hr outside of class before preseason starts Dec. 1...and at that, they still throw a ball out and let them scrimmage after the 1 hr so they're still training/playing a lot. I would say my son improved a ton because of the additional training through HS soccer.
And Union (boys) are running out a lot of ECNL/ECNL-RL kids, as many as any of the other 6A schools in the area (maybe more). And if they're not at TSC on the ECNL team, the majority are playing on the highest level teams at their clubs and could probably be in the mix for ECNL at TSC if their parents wanted to pay for that opportunity there.
I honestly believe the underperformance was the coaching, and more specifically, the lack of a developed culture and accountability, both on and off the field. The assistant coaches were fine, very technically sound in helping players develop technically, and the holdover from last season was sort of the glue but he only stuck around to help with the transition and continuity. He was only going to stay for the Fall but then decided to see the entire year through, which I am grateful for. It doesn't surprise me when compiling senior moments for senior night that 7 out of the 11 boys who had been there for 4 years mentioned a moment with this coach their freshman year as the memory that was their favorite with Union soccer. He's a good guy. I have no doubt that Rogers is both a good technical and tactical coach but he didn't read the room with this group and trying to figure out what they needed that he could help them with. Plus, there was a noticeable lack of emphasis on grades and staying academically eligible which was always the emphasis of Mike Wilson. It was so much an emphasis (as well as representing Union soccer positively wherever the student athlete was), that he would cut kids in December if they were failing a class and a few of those players were projected starters and significant contributors to the varsity team. Personal behavior was such an emphasis that Wilson basically scared my son out of getting social media accounts...and Wilson would suspend star players for even being in situations that might cause question as to what they were doing there. He suspended 2 players for a playoff game for being at a party and having their picture taken where alcohol was clearly present. But this accountability made the group closer. They went to pep assemblies as a team, they did community service as a team, they volunteered to tutor teammates who were struggling in certain subjects (my son helped several in math). This accountability and family/team culture was noticeably missing this year. You can't play as a team if you don't treat every member of the team as an important part of the team.
It is what it is. My son is done with HS soccer now and he's OK with that. Thing is, a lot of the seniors seemed relieved that the season was over on Monday. Tells you a lot about what they were feeling.
Yeah, TSC seems to grab those players. I think WSA tried to lure them away when all the coaches left but since they haven't been able to get top ECNL status, a lot of those girls went back to TSC. Those that didn't stayed with a certain coach...and that's fine. I am now of the opinion that being with a certain coach that challenges your player and is helping them develop might be more important.
For the most part girls play for the letters (NL) and not the club. If TSC lost NL to WSA you would see 90% of those NL girls move to WSA. Go to an ECNL showcase and then go to an ECRL showcase and you will understand why.
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