Youth soccer club

[lawpoke87]

Who did Owasso play?

Bixby got a 3-0 win over Bishop Kelley last evening. I don't know how good of a measuring stick that is to tell how good Bixby is. BK doesn't have the same talent that they had 3-4 years ago where they could hang and play with 6A schools. They've got a solid GK and a nice CB (if they're playing him at CB....last year they would run him out at the 9).

Girls.

Owasso beat Jenks 1-0. Second time Owasso has beaten Jenks in the last two weeks. Owasso is for real

 

[TU_BLA]

BTW, Owasso is easily in the most stacked district in 6A. It's them, BA, Bartlesville, Bixby, & Mustang in terms of heavyweight teams. Add in that Sand Springs can run out some really good players and you only have games vs Westmoore and Muskogee that might be considered easier.

Union, Jenks and Enid are in a district, maybe Stillwater might be decent in that district too.
The Edmond Schools are split between the two primarily western half teams. Ed Memorial and Ed North are in the same district but that's basically it.

Santa Fe and Norman North are in the same district and I expect Norman North to win that one without too much trouble.

 

[lawpoke87]

FC Tulsa and Blitz just official announced their collaboration and formation of a their new youth academy. No mention of acquiring ECNL. Maybe Barry bailed or ECNL refused to provide guarantees after this year ?

 

[Honkv]

FC Tulsa and Blitz just official announced their collaboration and formation of a their new youth academy. No mention of acquiring ECNL. Maybe Barry bailed or ECNL refused to provide guarantees after this year ?

I don't understand what this partnership actually does, tbh.

Is it just a branding thing?

 

[lawpoke87]

I don't understand what this partnership actually does, tbh.

Is it just a branding thing?

I assumed it was a way to bring ECNL over from TSC. Without that I’m not sure. FC Tulsa wanted a youth academy. This “collaboration” gives them one. Suppose that’s the reason

 

[TU_BLA]

Girls.

Owasso beat Jenks 1-0. Second time Owasso has beaten Jenks in the last two weeks. Owasso is for real

Ah. That's a good win. I don't expect Union to do anything in girls soccer this year at all.

Owasso has had a traditionally strong program on the girls side. I know about 5-6 years ago they battled Union in some epic matchups and sent 3-4 players to D1 schools including a really good GK.

I think I was getting things confused as I ref'd the Bixby JV games on Monday with a guy whose son plays for Owasso and we were discussing their prospects between games the other day. Funny thing is the 3rd guy on our crew was scheduled to center for the Owasso boys vs Jenks game last night.

 

[Honkv]

I assumed it was a way to bring ECNL over from TSC. Without that I’m not sure. FC Tulsa wanted a youth academy. This “collaboration” gives them one. Suppose that’s the reason

OK.

I didn't understand whether it's just Blitz teams training at the FC Tulsa facilities or whether Blitz would become FC Tulsa and compete under their club name or what.

 

[lawpoke87]

Ah. That's a good win. I don't expect Union to do anything in girls soccer this year at all.

Owasso has had a traditionally strong program on the girls side. I know about 5-6 years ago they battled Union in some epic matchups and sent 3-4 players to D1 schools including a really good GK.

I think I was getting things confused as I ref'd the Bixby JV games on Monday with a guy whose son plays for Owasso and we were discussing their prospects between games the other day. Funny thing is the 3rd guy on our crew was scheduled to center for the Owasso boys vs Jenks game last night.

Girls JV games are pretty rough to watch. To be honest anything outside the top 7-8 teams on the girls side is pretty bad soccer

 

[lawpoke87]

OK.

I didn't understand whether it's just Blitz teams training at the FC Tulsa facilities or whether Blitz would become FC Tulsa and compete under their club name or what.

The press release is fairly vague

 

[TU_BLA]

This “collaboration” gives them one.

Without having to start from scratch. It also gives Blitz an in and a practice complex assuming FC Tulsa continues to make improvements to the outdoor fields at Titan. It also gives FC Tulsa a way to promote a path to pro soccer for kids in Tulsa. While Greenwood is still going to get the very best boys, that still leaves out a lot of good players in Tulsa and this will give them a place to develop.

Maybe all this movement will consolidate and solidify youth soccer in Tulsa. We all agree there are probably too many competitive clubs in Tulsa right now and it has spread the talent out to where you don't have any teams that can truly compete at the highest levels. Maybe all this stuff helps bring the best players back together.

 

[TU_BLA]

Girls JV games are pretty rough to watch. To be honest anything outside the top 7-8 teams on the girls side is pretty bad soccer

Honestly the Bixby girls I saw on Monday weren't bad but they were playing a pretty bad team in Mingo Valley Christian. But yeah, I've been doing games that are hard to watch and even harder to referee because one team is playing at a decent level and the other team is just bad.

 

[lawpoke87]

Without having to start from scratch. It also gives Blitz an in and a practice complex assuming FC Tulsa continues to make improvements to the outdoor fields at Titan. It also gives FC Tulsa a way to promote a path to pro soccer for kids in Tulsa. While Greenwood is still going to get the very best boys, that still leaves out a lot of good players in Tulsa and this will give them a place to develop.

Maybe all this movement will consolidate and solidify youth soccer in Tulsa. We all agree there are probably too many competitive clubs in Tulsa right now and it has spread the talent out to where you don't have any teams that can truly compete at the highest levels. Maybe all this stuff helps bring the best players back together.

FC Tulsa is going to need a playing platform if they are to be successful in promoting a path to pro soccer imo.

 

[Soccer7583]

FC Tulsa is going to need a playing platform if they are to be successful in promoting a path to pro soccer imo.

I’m assuming they will take over whatever platform Blitz played on in the past. From what I’ve heard, Blitz will be no more and will now be called FC Tulsa Academy.

 

[lawpoke87]

I’m assuming they will take over whatever platform Blitz played on in the past. From what I’ve heard, Blitz will be no more and will now be called FC Tulsa Academy.

FC Tulsa Academy is going to have a hard time selling ECRL (fourth tier platform) as a pathway to the pros. Especially with MLS Next and ECNL in town

 

[Soccer7583]

FC Tulsa Academy is going to have a hard time selling ECRL (fourth tier platform) as a pathway to the pros. Especially with MLS Next and ECNL in town

I agree wholeheartedly, but if they get the boys ECNL then maybe there is a pathway to merging with WSA and or WSA losing girls ECNL in them next couple of years.

 

[lawpoke87]

Union beat Owasso and Jenks last week in the Jenks tournament (2-0 over Owasso, 1-0 over Jenks). They played full 40 minute halves so actual games.

Union plays BA this coming Friday at Union so that will be a decent indicator of where everyone is. I am fully confident that Union has a starting 10 that can play with anyone in the state. The GK situation is dicey. The kid that looks like he's been getting most of the minutes is a big, strong kid but as my son put it last year "Hands of stone and no instinct".

Jenks is about what I thought they would be. Low block and hope to get the game to OT and PKs. I don't expect the PK record to be anywhere near what they have been the last couple of years. Luke is a decent shot stopper and has exceptional length in goal. He needs to improve his feet and catching/holding the ball on crosses and high shots. He's like a lot of GKs in this era who want to punch and parry everything away even when a grab is called for.

BA is wonky because they've won some nice tournament/festival games early on but I think they lost a game last week that made me scratch my head...Bartlesville maybe (who Union beat 2-0 as well). BA did beat Union in the Jenks tournament 3-1. It was the 2nd game of the day for Union (long day, 1st game at 9am, 2nd game at 6pm). Mind you, I am only reporting scores so I don't know how the games played out. I don't know who BAs GK is this season. I know they had a SO last year who played mostly JV but is really solid player and kid. My son would frequently train with him at Blitz last season.

On the west side, I thought Edmond Memorial would have a handle on things but they got slapped around last night by Norman North. NN is always good and it looks like Edmond North is solid as well. If there was a surprise on the west side, it might be Southmoore. The coach will need to keep his kids from getting thrown out of games though. They're pretty chippy. Very technically skilled and their defense was very organized and athletic in the games I saw them in last season.

Talked to a local high school boys coach this am who believes Owasso is the team to beat this year. He made a pretty convincing argument . Should get some clarity in the next few weeks

 

[TU_BLA]

I’m assuming they will take over whatever platform Blitz played on in the past. From what I’ve heard, Blitz will be no more and will now be called FC Tulsa Academy.

This is true and they've already switched over all their social media accounts to reflect this.

 

[Soccer7583]

Talked to a local high school boys coach this am who believes Owasso is the team to beat this year. He made a pretty convincing argument . Should get some clarity in the next few weeks

Who all plays at Owasso? I know next year we should have some really good players to add to the mix.

 

[lawpoke87]

Who all plays at Owasso? I know next year we should have some really good players to add to the mix.

I believe ten of their eleven starters play NL at TSC. Now where those boys will be playing club next season is anyone’s guess

 

[Soccer7583]

I believe ten of their eleven starters play NL at TSC. Now where those boys will be playing club next season is anyone’s guess

Oh you were talking the boys side….

 

[lawpoke87]

Oh you were talking the boys side….

Yes…sorry We’ve been jumping around a lot

On the girls side, I see Jenks, Owasso, BA and Bixby all in the mix in this side of the state