The coaches in past seeded all 8 but the MSHSL did not like the someone would get #8. Also, outstate coaches did not like that they had to play top teams because of low seeds. In AA boys no outstate team has every played in the final. Random draw no teams, seed all 8 no teams, seed 4 teams and no teams.
A random draw for all teams is IMO the worse solution (AV v WDB in the first round?). I think the top 4 is currently the best option. When was the last time one of the 5-8 ranked teams made it to the finals?
Maybe the NCAA should do away with their March Madness seedings and just pull the pairings out of a hat......
they need to be seeded 1-8 to get the best teams to the dome and the best teams to the final, last year AV played SLP who was clearly the 4th or 5th best team coming in and lost out on the 4 seed, but then drew AV in the first round. obviously people are going to say you have to beat everyone to win the tournament, but the teams have earned the right to have the path of least resistance to the final
the teams who are complaining of not being able to get to the dome because they have to play the better teams right away is the same argument you want to play the lightest schedule possible and let the other teams attempt to take down the big dogs
I don't think it's legal, but who cares. Seriously?
First, it's Northfield. Second, it's High School. Third, the rule is stoopid. Fourth, any player should try to play for the best coach they can get, why do we need rules to obstruct that?
Why does everyone rip on Jefferson? They are probably better than the teams that the posters are representing. People are just jealous that they took out EP two years in a row to earn two births in the state tournament. They are not a "banana". But I'm not really sure what that means exactly, and it's not even funny. Half the posters on this blog are immature little brats who play for some team that just got beat like Edina or LN.
THE JAGS ARE DOMINANT! I got the chance to go see them play EP last night with Fernando Torres. He flew in from Spain to meet my dad who was his best friend back in high school until my dad moved here for college. Torres was really impressed with the way they moved the ball and the skill level of those kids. "Wow" he said when the JAGS scored 2 goals in the first half...He will be in town for the next one too!! Its so cool showing up with a professional!
Wow 4:17 you're too funny. I believe the poster was asking what it means to call a team a banana. I like how you think you're so humorous with your little smart ass comment. Get off the blog you're team's probably done. Better luck next year.
Jefferson finished 7th in the Lake....they lucked out by the fact that EP is down like the rest of the State except for Valley. What a brutal year of hs soccer.
Ok,in the Class AA State Tournament it is Wayzata, Elk River, Blaine, Champlin Park, Apple Valley, Woodbury, Bloomington jefferson and Northfield.
Of those eight only Apple Valley, Woodbury, Elk River and Bloomington Jefferson were ranked by the coaches in the top 10. Which you would then think means that they will be the seeded teams. Leaving Blaine, Champlin Park, Northfield and Wayzata for the draw.
8:25 once again very funny. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW 709 I just know what a banana is!!!!!! Probably because you take bananas up the back all day. Go play some more JV. And if you say you don't play JV then that means you are either a lonely child who goes on a soccer blog or are a pathetic parent arguing with kids and telling them what a banana is.And in that case get a job
Class AA Section Champions Section 1AA - Northfield - #1 Missota Conference Section 2AA - Bloomington Jefferson - #7 Lake Conference Section 3AA - Apple Valley - #1 Lake Conference Section 4AA - Woodbury - #1 Suburban East Conference Section 5AA - Champlin Park - #6 Northwest Suburban Conference Section 6AA - Wayzata - #3 Classic Lake Conference Section 7AA - Blaine - #5 Northwest Suburban Conference Section 8AA - Elk River - #3 Northwest Suburban Conference
Conference Representatives Northwest Suburban - 3 teams (Elk River, Champlin Park, Blaine) Lake - 2 teams (Apple Valley, Jefferson) Classic Lake - 1 team (Wayzata) Suburban East - 1 team (Woodbury) Missota - 1 team (Northfield)
Toughest Conference Northwest Suburban Conference
State Seeding Prediction 1. Apple Valley 2. Woodbury 3. Elk River 4. Jefferson
Class AA State - Bottom 4 Teams Ranking 1. Champlin Park 2. Blaine 3. Northfield 4. Wayzata
What do top 4 teams fear the most? This is based on the playing style, coaching, and players peformance.
Champlin Park. The Rebels playing flat-four defense which could net many offsides. The make the field smaller and playing more physical. Watch more speedy flanks and midfielders. Professional coach. BTW, EP needs Gavin to bring them to State.
Blaine. The Bengals has strong defense and stymie midfield. The attacking game plan is well organized.
10:35 Armstrong is not that good that is what happened, Wayzata is an above average team with a consistent style of play nothing spectacular but fundamentally sound, Armstrong had potential to be a great team but there players play with very little defensive discipline and were inconsistent all year.
Was at MG/CP game last night. If anyone thinks we should'nt get turf on the fields, last night at CP would be a prime argument. What a disaster.
CP was well coached and played to their strengths. They are a decent team with a few good offensive players. Baker did a good job of passing the ball and running to space. They will do well against anyone but AV.
MG looked terrible. Their defense fell apart--players were unmarked in the goal box. Outside midfielders did not track back on their opposing mids. They have some decent players, but they all love to hold the ball to long. Poor coaching on this matter. Pick up the pace--or get off the field. (This was the prime difference between the teams--CP played with decent pace to attackers feet.)
The goalies for both sides were suspect. This might be CP's biggest issue.
Interesting to see this match up next year--I see both teams in the section final again. CP is losing their star, but they have a few younger players that will run right at you. MG had three seniors on the field; if the younger ones learn to pass instead of carry, they should be tough.
Either way, nobody/everybody want's to play AV. I like Woodbury, simply because they have a big game player with Miller, and they have played some tough games. That said, no doubt Miller would be pounded by an AV marking player. I've played and coached against Scanlon--that's his style.
Hey X-man, Pull your head out,...the Lake is the best conference and is every year. All teams are bunched into a couple sections that is the reason only two teams made it (Jefferson finished 7th and still made it). If Blaine was in the Lake they might not win a game.
I too saw the CP/MG game. The field conditions were horrible. MG had a very small defense and CP took advantage of it. I would also agree that part of the defensive problem was their mids not marking back.
I thought IB was ok. He seemed very small and not very quick with the ball. As said earilier he runs into space very well.
The interesting games there are Woodbury/CP. And the unknown Elks/Northfield. Not that excited for the Jags/Wayzata game, as both teams are boring and should lose in the second round.
Thursday 10/29 - Hopkins HS #4 Elk River vs. Northfield - 5:30 PM #1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Thursday 10/29 - Park Cottage Grove #3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata - 5:30 PM #2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Like I've pointed out earlier what the top four seeded teams fear the most is to meet either Champlin Park or Blaine. Luck of the draw got #1 AV meeting Blaine and #2 to play Champlin Park. It couldn't be any better challenges for the top two teams.
#3 Jefferson shouldn't have any problems with Wayzata and it's the same for #4 Elk River when they play Northfield. I would say Wayzata and Northfield are the weakest of the bunch. It would be a gigantic upset if they go through next round.
Predictions Apple Valley 3-1 Blaine Champlin Park 2-1 Woodbury
AV will destroy Blaine, those two teams played for many years previous and BA said no to playing them anymore because they were sick of losing by 6 or 7 goals to them every year
XMan the northwest sub only gets 3 teams in every year because they are spread out amongst 3 terrible sections, they really are not that good from top to bottom like you believe, I think they go 0-3 in the first round as northfield will surprise an average at best ER team
AV walks to the final in two games decided by at least 4 goals and then has a slightly tougher one in the final but cruises to a 3 goal victory over whoever they play
Thursday 10/29 - Hopkins HS #4 Elk River vs. Northfield - 5:30 PM #1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Friday 10/30 - Park Cottage Grove #3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata - 5:30 PM #2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Like I've pointed out earlier what the top four seeded teams fear the most is to meet either Champlin Park or Blaine. Luck of the draw got #1 AV meeting Blaine and #2 to play Champlin Park. It couldn't be any better challenges for the top two teams.
#3 Jefferson shouldn't have any problems with Wayzata and it's the same for #4 Elk River when they play Northfield. I would say Wayzata and Northfield are the weakest of the bunch. It would be a gigantic upset if they go through next round.
Predictions Apple Valley 3-1 Blaine Champlin Park 2-1 Woodbury
correct X-man Edina's 3-peat will never be matched...little known fact about that though, I was having lunch with a former Edina assistant a few months back and didn't realize that they beat Eagan in the semi's two of the three years, both games went to a shootout and both times Edina was the underdog. Eagan was undefeated both years and rated #1, Edina #2. You have to be good and lucky to win it. Except for maybe this year though. I wish we had two great teams this year to battle it out. AV all the way. Prediction AV 5, Blaine 0.
Coaches name Bijan Jibari as Mr. Soccer, Kassey Kallman as Miss Soccer winners By Tim Leighton tleighton@pioneerpress.com Updated: 10/26/2009 12:18:09 AM CDT
Apple Valley and Woodbury got a double dose of good news Sunday.
Not only were the top-ranked boys and girls soccer teams, respectively, awarded the top seeds for the Class AA tournament this week, two of their standouts were awarded one of the season's top prizes.
Apple Valley defender Bijan Jibari and Woodbury defender Kassey Kallman were selected the Mr. and Miss Soccer Award winners by the state coaches association. The award is given to the top senior players. Totino-Grace midfielder Paul Yonga and Benilde-St. Margaret's goalkeeper Maddie Jobe were the winners in Class A.
Staunch defense is one reason Apple Valley and Woodbury are favored to win big-school state titles this week.
Jabari, who has nine goals and seven assists, has been a cornerstone of an Apple Valley defense that has given up a team-record five goals all season.
"He is a rock for us defensively,'' Apple Valley coach Chuck Scanlon said. "He is one of the hardest workers we've ever had."
With Kallman in the defensive third, Woodbury has given up just 12 goals over the past two seasons, a span of 43 games.
"She's very good at being one step ahead of the opposing players,'' Woodbury co-coach Bill Ebertz said.
Kallman has eight goals and six assists.
In 16 games this season, Jobe faced 122 shots and made 113 saves. He recorded nine shutouts. Yonga, a three-time all-state selection, has 15 goals and 16 assists for the Eagles, who are top seeded in the Class A field.
8:14, you shouldn't speak if you know not of what you speak. Check out the cover of this month's edition of ESPN RISE Magazine for Minnesota. THAT is Paul Yonga. Not only a phenominal talent, but just a great kid. And I'm saying that as a guy that doesn't like Totino Grace.
I perdict that the clock will soon strike 12 for Wayzata. Not that the Jag's are all that good just not so bad as the Trojan's. I also think you can sneak by SW and Armstrong but I am betting Jefferson is to well coached for Wayzata to hide all there weak spots.
Jefferson doesn't adjust for weak spots. They just line em up and play their game. Smart for high school.
Jabari played on State Cup champs Valley United. Yonga played on MTA whom didn't advance out of group stage. Both good players. Yonga is better. Put em on the same team next summer.
Note to MO, JY, etc: I hope you guys can pull your heads out and combine forces at U18 so MN can make a run beyond State Cup.
I hope it was a joke about P Yonga. If it wasn't, "where the hell" have you been?! I thought he should have won it last year as a junior! No, my son doesn't play for Totino-he played club soccer with him for years. Paul is a humble, unselfish player who is all about team. Even at the younger ages, he had an incredible composure and was a smart player, with an uncanny ability to make clutch passes or goals--a joy to watch! Good luck to him, he has worked hard and deserves all the good things that are coming his way!
Both played in the back for their U17 premier teams. Jabari played for Valley, coached by a dad, made up mostly of players from Valley and the Lake Conference. Valley went undefeated in State Cup. Yonga played for MTA, coached by a highly paid college level coach for the highly financed MTA, made up of players from all over the metro area. MTA didn't get out of group play.
Yonga is the better player, but if you're too good to be true, your team doesn't lose in State Cup.
Keep in mind that Yonga was only with MTA one year. He was a midfielder for years before that. Even though he is a great player, he'd be the first one to say that one player doesn't make a team great. It takes years for a team to build chemistry- and a coach can't teach that.
Misses Soccer should have said: Comparing the 2 Mr. Soccers:
Jabari played for Valley, coached by a dad- (who is also a high school coach and paid), made up mostly of players from Valley and the Lake Conference-(or in other words, all over the metro).
Yonga played for MTA, coached by a highly paid (if you mean minimum wage per hour with the boys) college level coach for the highly financed MTA (if you mean no finances), made up of players from all over the metro area (just like Valley United).
We all know the good teams at State Cup are mixtures not club grown. Get over it, Valley is no better than any other club, but that team was. Good for them!
Valley United's U18 Premier squad has something like 8 players that attend and play for Apple Valley, and 2 more who attend and play for Eastview but live in Apple Valley (due to the city of AV being split up between AVHS and EVHS students).
10 players from one city is pretty impressive - no other program can claim the same homegrown talent.
So basically what Mister Soccer said above was spot on. I've appreciated Mister Soccer's input this fall. He seems positive, supportive, knowledgeable, smart, and only demeaning of the system, not the kids.
haven't given it a rest since summer club soccer for this insufferable group of parents? speaking on behalf of 99% of the other folks out there we are all glad they will be graduating soon (can't wait to hear the three month build up some day for the one U19 State Cup game.....).
In 2006 when EP won coveted U-16 State Cup, they had 11 or 12players from the city of eden prairie, but still could not win the high school state tournament as seniors, possibly because several went to private schools.
Great thing is that 9 or 10 players from that team are playing D3 soccer.
Again, no one is disputing the AV team is good. I just made the point, and no one has yet disputed factually, that Valley U is no different than any other good u17, u18, or u19 team that wins at State Cup or further.
You have to consolidate, period. AV HS is the lucky recipient. Again, not disputing AV HS is a terrific TEAM.
All the coaches are paid at this level-most very poorly paid. Based on the time put in to coach this kind of team, no one makes what could be considered "highly paid"-only ignorant parents think it is too much to pay someone less than minimum wage to teach the game, life lessons, and keep their kids safe. These same parents pay more for a coffee while relax as their kid is being trained by someone else.
Ignorant bloggers also try to assert that MTA is "financed"-get real, ask around, use analytical skills- no club is less financed at this point, the parents are doing the same thing they do at Valley, SCV, EP, MU,etc., paying for their kids to play and travel.
Mister Soccer, your comments are mostly true. Some paid coaches do receive salaries that are much higher than found in other sports. However, many coaches are not paid. I've coached for 12 years and have never been paid (but gladly did it). And many coaches that do get paid might average less than five dollars an hour when you add up the hours preparing lessons plans, actually conducting practices, coaching games, etc.
The one point I have an issue with is your comment about a single "too good to be true" player on a select team carrying a team through the group stage at the state cup. A single player cannot carry an entire team. Especially if that player plays back. I would argue three supreme players can't do it against well-coached opponents. And many teams, for whatever reason (club politics, favoritism, etc.), have players that aren't qualified or are disruptive to the team flow/unity. Just one of those players can kill an otherwise really great team if the coach is handcuffed into playing him/her.
12:27 I agree completely, there actually have been very strong teams that didn't advance because the coach played someone they shouldn't or looked the other way when a blantant case of favortism is obivious, this has caused many teams to not reach their potential
But in the case of MTA, when your team is select and elite with strong players top to bottom, your team should advance when having a superstar leading the way.
I just state the facts. Here are 2 more:
When I do coach, it's for far less than $5 per hour and I'm not complaining.
If Christiano Ronaldo had ten 9-year-old girls as teammates, his team would still win the U17 State Cup because he's too good to be true.
Sorry but Christian Ronaldo is to old for U17. But I get your point, I don't believe that MTA really has that superstar stud that makes a difference, Only once did they have a player that was a game changer and the team was U13 that lost to the Magic in Regionals, that team was changed around to much over the next few years and that individual moved out of state.
3:42 take it easy on saying AV shares two high schools. Eastview pulls a great deal from Eagan and Rosemount. The only reason it's built in AV is that's where they had the most land.
most varsity coaches get paid around $4,000-$7,000 TOPS...figure out the hours on the field, travel, dealing with parents and end less issues...it's not a lot of money in any respect.
Anybody seen the Jefferson banana lately? 7th in the Lake....plus Northfield, Blaine, Champlin, and Wayzata. They have to do something about these terrible sections.
mister soccer - i believe what you are stating are "opinions", not facts. whether any team is "select & elite from top to bottom" is a subjective evaluation.
about the only true "fact" (to our knowledge) is that you didn't make much money coaching. the rest is strictly conjecture (IMO).
Good money? Wow...do you read this blog? this is just a taste of what coaches have to deal with in regards to parents. It's not punching in and out on a time clock.
fact (fkt) n. 1. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences:
it might be a literal fact what a website might say, but that does not necessarily make it true - would you agree with that? although your comments could just be a more sophisticated dig at MTA than most on this thread who take more of a sledgehammer approach.
based on that train of thought, then every TV ad or infomercial claim would also be 100% true and factual since they are making that claim.
Feel free to rebut so you can get the last word in......
I was a varsity coach. If you do it for the money, you are stupid. The money is so you can take your wife and kids out for dinner since they haven't seen you for 2+ months. And yes, you get to pay union dues on your salary! Awesome money. Wonder why people aren't fighting for those jobs. Get real.
When did this become a blog focusing on coaches and money and other such boring topics? Interesting to a minority few; boring to the folks that care about kids and the soccer that they play and we enjoy. Let's refocus on that which is important - kids playing soccer!
8:18 - Well said (and it's about time that somebody said it!)
Has anyone noticed that AV was rated #19 in the national ESPN Fab 50 poll and #7 in the National Coaches Poll? Or that their last 10 games, including their 3 Section Tournament games, have all been shutouts. Who offers them the most resistance on their way to the State Championship? Who can beat these guys?
Back to MTA not making it out of their group... For those of you who do not know, they were in a group with the Blackhawks and Shattuck, I would have loved to see the "boot-balling" Jabari and cast escape from that group. Yeah MTA should have at least came in second, but saying that Yonga can't be "too good to be true" because his TEAM didn't make it past the group stage isn't proving anything.
Can we agree that Yonga and Jabari are talented players that BOTH deserved the recognition that they received. Whish one is better than the other is the pervue of "fantasy soccer", and is just one person's pontificating vs. another's - for most of us this fall into the category of "who cares?!?"
9:44 how can you say that they would have not gotten out of the group, they WON state beating SCV in the final 3-0, who beat BHK the winners of this so called great group
Valley is going to feel the pressure for the first time. A lot of easy games, lets see if they get pushed and how they deal with the pressure of a tie or one goal game.
They had three tight games but not nearly the pressure of a tight game in the playoffs.
If someone can keep it close it might be interesting.
I still think they are the best team, but its soccer and could get really interesting.
I hope someone can keep up with them so we have fun competitive games. Might not happen but one can hope.
Valley's last two section games were far tougher than either one of their first two state games will be, no reason they should not just keep beating people by 4 or 5 goals
I would expect Blaine to use a physical game. Burnsville did this, and seemed to give AV more trouble than any other team I personally saw. They also get several cards, and had a coach ejected.
While the number of teams a conference places in the State Tourney can be skewed by Section placement, a better comparison of conf strength is records in non-conf games. Using the MYSA method of percentage of possible points, check out the following (unofficial) AA list:
Lake (2 teams in State) - 64.3% NW Suburban (3) - 59.9% Suburban East (1) - 55.6% Classic Lake (1) - 55.6% Missota (1) - 42.0% (Section results have been treated as non-conf games).
The Lake Conference had two unbeaten teams out of conference: AV and Jeff, and two with just 1 loss: Eagan (to AV in Sections) and Lakeville So. EPs only losses out of conference play were to Fargo South and Jeff in the Section final. If favorite AV goes all the way, the Lake will have produced 4 of the last 8 champions.
Any debate where the best MN high school soccer is played?
I think they both are good players but I pick PY because he attends Private catholic school and has religion daily. I wonder if AV teaches religion. Not - so who gets credit for ahtletism or talent? I beleive God should be given credit. Where is God on this blog? today is wed, make sure kids go to religion classes, cancel all practices and games - MSHSL!
1:01 I want to believe that you're kidding, but I have this throwing-up-in-the-back-of-my-throat feeling that you aren't. If there's a good justification for all the time and resources we devote to sports, it's that we give the credit to hard work.
1:01, please tell me you are joking? What an awful thing to include here. If religion is important to any player or person than that is great that they have that in their life, but it doesn't make them better than anyone else. I know religious players who can't play a bit...it just has nothing to do with anything so let's not include that here.
Lake Conf. vs NorthWest Conf--the two deepest in the state. Would be fun to do a Big 10-SEC style match-up early in the year, with the top vs top, etc...
I've watched lots of the games in both conferences. They all look pretty similar. Lake has the best team this year. I'd still say that NW has stronger average team. Either way, they are the two stongest conf. by a long shot. Impossible to say one is better than the other, as so few of their teams regularly play each-other late in the season when the teams are really functioning.
AV this year, Osseo last year, Anoka the year before, Will WB upset this year? With all the excitement on AV this year, Woodbury has come in pretty hot too...
613- your honestly going to buy into that non-sense I don't think a kid who has everything to gain the next two weeks would go get a minor on a weekday when he has a state game later that week. Get off the blog whoever said it. We don't need attacks on kids like that.
615: the only problem is Osseo and Anoka the last two years were not clear cut favorites by any means. Anoka was the #1 seed I think and I bet most people didn't think they would pull it off over AV or Wayzata that year. I wouldn't count Woodbury out either but bad example at the end.
6:19 Anoka was a favorite for some--the Lake folks totally discounted them. I watched them play a few times early and they were my pick. Same thing with Osseo. I saw them a few times last year; they were easy to pick as a favorite. I watched most of the NorthWest again this year. Nothing compared to the last two years--decent, but a lot of parity and no real standouts.
Wow 6:19 you really know your soccer. I bet you have Valley this year too. Tell us now who you have next year if you are so good at picking them. AV was the best team last year too.
Hello 1:01 This is the DEVIL I am just here to say that I should get the credit for all the good players in the state not your God. Religion and church are a waste of time and for weak minded poeple who need a cruch in life.GOOOOO DEMONS!!!!!!
Anoka in 07-08 was complete team that came from summer soccer. They did not LOSE any games that year and only tied with two teams. Hopkins and Champlin Park. The only ones not expecting them to win the State Tournament were those who were only focused on their underclasses sons and were not looking outside their own age group.
Osseo - Was probably the most athletic team that been around in a while. They were very fast and had multiple attackers. Many outside the NW Suburban thought double marking one player was to key to shutting them down, but as the State Tournament proved that player was only one of the head to their scoring monster.
Northwestern Conference has been very strong the past two years. The sizes of some of the schools in this conference is one of the reasons it is a difficult conference, I beleive 4 of the 5 largest schools in the state are in this conference.
From what I've observed AV is a quality summer team that is playing in the High School League. I think they will be VERY difficult to beat.
Look for woodbury to make a run to the finals and give AV a real test, anything can happen with EM on the field for Woodbury, he is no doubt the most dangerous player in the state, but AV is a way more balanced team
AV will smoke Northfield. It's like a premier team playing a C2 team. It's like Man U playing Hull City. Still impressive for Northfield to make the top 4.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
I'm not sure anyone will be able to stay with AV, but I believe the dark horse here is Jefferson. I think Jefferson will beat Woodbury, and coaching will make the difference. I think that AV and Jefferson will be an interesting game and coaching might make a difference if Storlein can come up with a strategy to handle AV.
You know the great thing about High School? It doesn't matter how you played at the begining of the year, just how you play at the end of the year. It doesn't matter where you finished in conference, just how you finish in sectionals. You don't have to advance thru a pool or even win all your games in a pool. You can lose every game until sectionals and still win state. You just have to win the game your in.
If you pay much attention to this blog you will see, that many teams that were suppose to win and were way better than the other team, lose and lose frequently.
Jefferson never does well in the Conf but have been to State (5) tied for most in the last 10 years in AA boys. Have been to the Dome (4) times in last 10 years most in the AA boys. If they get to the final it will be (3) times in last 10 years most in the state. They have won one conf championship. DS does not care about the conf. He is about getting his players ready for the playoffs.
I would love to see Jefferson and Valley in the final but Jefferson will have its hands full getting there. Valley is a done deal. MIght be double digits on Northfield.
As I've said before, who cares about the regular season? Everyone makes the playoffs. Getting to State and in the Dome is what matters and what players will remember.
Just like in summer. Who cares about league? State Cup is what matters and what players will remember.
Rankings and player awards might get you to second; championships will get you to home.
Very true....but some of these teams in the dance are terrible because these sections are so for off. Jefferson's section sucked this year too, probably the worst Eden Prairie team since 1995. I played for EP in the late 90's and the coaches agreed with me. 1 Great team this year AV. A couple good teams in Woodbury and Eagan and then everybody else is down. AV is very fortunate that they are the only quality squad this year. Typically the state has 3-4 great teams, only 1 this year. Congrats to AV on winning another state title regardless.
Xman I wasted $7 seeing Blaine got their ass kicked by AV. I hope it's better game tonight CP-WB. You have Champlin to win so I expect a good game for my $7.
Anon 3:18 Aaah, but remember this is the best group of players in one year EVER to come out of MN. They have by far the deepest and most talented group of players EVER!
Eric Miller is a fun player to watch. He will go to a very good D1 school following his senior year next year. He is well worth the price of admission.
Ok, a little chest beating here, but my next upset prediction is:
Wayzata over Woodbury.
Not that Wayzata are that good, but they found a little magic. I do think Northfield is in the best position-possible to beat AV, but AV are just too strong.
I watched the Northfield / Elk River game (as well as the Apple Valley / Blaine game). Elk River kept the ball in the Northfield end 60-70% of the time. Elk River had several good opportunities to score and SHOULD have won that game. If Northfield plays against Apple Valley the way they played against Elk River it will be an absolute blowout. (Not that Apple Valley would ever TRY to run up the score!)
And no, I am NOT an Elk River parent and couldn't have cared less who won the game - I'm just telling you what I saw as an objective observer.
Could agree with you more 1:40, AV is a great team like the great AV, Edina, Wayzata, EP, Eagan, Stillwater, Jefferson, Maple Grove, Burnsville teams of the past. I played on the 93 Bville state championship team. The thing is everyone is so bad and that is why they are walking through this tournament. What a joke this year has been. Too bad. I wish we had at least one more great team out there to give them a game. EMBARASSING REALLY.
Jefferson was missing its 2nd leading scorer. The tall forward MR did not play and was in street clothes.
Funny how you guys rip DS. You don't know what the team was dealing with this week. Excuse absolutely. But facts are facts and it impacted the team for sure.
They did get out played.
As for DS staying home. You must have an axe to grind with him.
Since 2000 Jefferson, Stiilwater, and Wayzata have been to the State Tourney the most times out of an AA team with 5 app. They have been to the Dome 4 times which is tied for first. A 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finish is top 3 for the decade.
Jefferson had never won a state tourney game in the history of the school until DS showed up. They overachieve almost every year, this year included. Maybe that is why he has won the COY 4 times which is most out of any coach in soccer on the boys side. As a peer we have a lot of respect for him. The youth program does not provide much, the numbers are one of the smallest in the Lake yet they keep going to the State Tourney.
DS did stay at home in 06 and again in 07. Two sub 500 seasons. The west Bloomington people are happy to have him back. I hope he stays put. The Lake Conf and Section 2AA not happy to have him back.
1,678 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1201 – 1400 of 1678 Newer› Newest»Why do they random draw 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th place for the state tournament? Who selects spots #1-#4?
The state tournament coaches select the order on a conference call (similar to how they do it for section seeding).
The coaches in past seeded all 8 but the MSHSL did not like the someone would get #8. Also, outstate coaches did not like that they had to play top teams because of low seeds. In AA boys no outstate team has every played in the final. Random draw no teams, seed all 8 no teams, seed 4 teams and no teams.
I wonder why no outstate teams every win
Then random draw them all?
More argument for a 3 tier system - Go Moorhead and Northfield!
Keep us all updated on the scores of tonight's games if you can!
Jefferson = Banana
A random draw for all teams is IMO the worse solution (AV v WDB in the first round?). I think the top 4 is currently the best option. When was the last time one of the 5-8 ranked teams made it to the finals?
Maybe the NCAA should do away with their March Madness seedings and just pull the pairings out of a hat......
me thinks the only folks who want random seeding are the weaker teams hoping to draw another weaker team in the 1st round so they can get to the dome.
they need to be seeded 1-8 to get the best teams to the dome and the best teams to the final, last year AV played SLP who was clearly the 4th or 5th best team coming in and lost out on the 4 seed, but then drew AV in the first round. obviously people are going to say you have to beat everyone to win the tournament, but the teams have earned the right to have the path of least resistance to the final
the teams who are complaining of not being able to get to the dome because they have to play the better teams right away is the same argument you want to play the lightest schedule possible and let the other teams attempt to take down the big dogs
ouch - someone's still smarting from last year.
Wasn't Northfield head coach a coach for U15C1 Northfield boys team this summer? Is that legal???
I don't think it's legal, but who cares. Seriously?
First, it's Northfield. Second, it's High School. Third, the rule is stoopid. Fourth, any player should try to play for the best coach they can get, why do we need rules to obstruct that?
1:37 it's legal as long as he doesn't train them between end of HS season and June 1.
agree with Mr Soccer's sentiments,
I think there is a waiver they can sign have signed by the AD. Maybe he only coached them up until the summer cut-off date
Mr Soccer you like people do away with rules? There are plenty rules to break.
When is Mr.Soccer announced? Is it a surprise to the winner at the banquet or do they know ahead of time?
Why does everyone rip on Jefferson? They are probably better than the teams that the posters are representing. People are just jealous that they took out EP two years in a row to earn two births in the state tournament. They are not a "banana". But I'm not really sure what that means exactly, and it's not even funny. Half the posters on this blog are immature little brats who play for some team that just got beat like Edina or LN.
THE JAGS ARE DOMINANT! I got the chance to go see them play EP last night with Fernando Torres. He flew in from Spain to meet my dad who was his best friend back in high school until my dad moved here for college. Torres was really impressed with the way they moved the ball and the skill level of those kids. "Wow" he said when the JAGS scored 2 goals in the first half...He will be in town for the next one too!! Its so cool showing up with a professional!
A banana is a long, yellow (when ripe) fruit. It is often enjoyed as snack. You can find them at your local grocery.
Wow does he let you even sit with him....you are so cool
The Jags aren't dominant. If they WERE dominant, they would be undefeated with scores proving that they deserve to be undefeated.
The Jags ARE good though, and probably deserve to be in State, because I think that they deserved to beat EP and the other teams in their Section.
Wow 4:17 you're too funny. I believe the poster was asking what it means to call a team a banana. I like how you think you're so humorous with your little smart ass comment. Get off the blog you're team's probably done. Better luck next year.
your** I know you posters love to correct people on bad grammar cause you're so high and mighty.
Jefferson finished 7th in the Lake....they lucked out by the fact that EP is down like the rest of the State except for Valley. What a brutal year of hs soccer.
Wow 7:09..I have no team you rube I just know what a banana is.
Any update on Armstrong v Wayzata?
Wayzata 2, Robbinsdale Armstrong 1
Elk River 1, Moorhead 0
Champlin Park 5, Maple Grove 2
Anybody know the Maple Grove / Champlin Park score???
Champlin Park scored 5 goals
Maple Grove scored 2 goals
The field was a mess.
Ok,in the Class AA State Tournament it is
Wayzata, Elk River, Blaine, Champlin Park, Apple Valley, Woodbury, Bloomington jefferson and Northfield.
Of those eight only Apple Valley, Woodbury, Elk River and Bloomington Jefferson were ranked by the coaches in the top 10. Which you would then think means that they will be the seeded teams. Leaving Blaine, Champlin Park, Northfield and Wayzata for the draw.
8:25 once again very funny. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW 709 I just know what a banana is!!!!!! Probably because you take bananas up the back all day. Go play some more JV. And if you say you don't play JV then that means you are either a lonely child who goes on a soccer blog or are a pathetic parent arguing with kids and telling them what a banana is.And in that case get a job
you gotta love the after midnight posts sometimes.....
What a terrible year of hs soccer soccer....never seen it this bad
What makes you guys think it's a terrible year of high school soccer?
CP field is overused by football and soccer and rain.
Whatever happened to Armstrong?
Game summary please.
12:52 a self portrait I beleive....
AA Section Finals Update
Section 5AA Final - Champlin Park 5-2 Maple Grove
Section 6AA Final - Wayzata 2-1 Armstrong
Section 8AA Final - Elk River 1-0 Moorhead
The Falcons couldn't muster another beating on the Trojans heh?
Anyone went to this game? What happened?
Since it appears AV is the favorite for State this year... any thoughts on teams for next year??? Does my boredom with this season show too much...
Class AA Section Champions
Section 1AA - Northfield - #1 Missota Conference
Section 2AA - Bloomington Jefferson - #7 Lake Conference
Section 3AA - Apple Valley - #1 Lake Conference
Section 4AA - Woodbury - #1 Suburban East Conference
Section 5AA - Champlin Park - #6 Northwest Suburban Conference
Section 6AA - Wayzata - #3 Classic Lake Conference
Section 7AA - Blaine - #5 Northwest Suburban Conference
Section 8AA - Elk River - #3 Northwest Suburban Conference
Conference Representatives
Northwest Suburban - 3 teams (Elk River, Champlin Park, Blaine)
Lake - 2 teams (Apple Valley, Jefferson)
Classic Lake - 1 team (Wayzata)
Suburban East - 1 team (Woodbury)
Missota - 1 team (Northfield)
Toughest Conference
Northwest Suburban Conference
State Seeding Prediction
1. Apple Valley
2. Woodbury
3. Elk River
4. Jefferson
Class AA State - Bottom 4 Teams Ranking
1. Champlin Park
2. Blaine
3. Northfield
4. Wayzata
What do top 4 teams fear the most?
This is based on the playing style, coaching, and players peformance.
Champlin Park.
The Rebels playing flat-four defense which could net many offsides.
The make the field smaller and playing more physical.
Watch more speedy flanks and midfielders.
Professional coach.
BTW, EP needs Gavin to bring them to State.
Blaine.
The Bengals has strong defense and stymie midfield.
The attacking game plan is well organized.
Champlin Park can actually take out Woodbury, Elk River, and Jefferson on first game.
They will have problems with AV IMO.
10:35 Armstrong is not that good that is what happened, Wayzata is an above average team with a consistent style of play nothing spectacular but fundamentally sound, Armstrong had potential to be a great team but there players play with very little defensive discipline and were inconsistent all year.
x man, what consitutes "professional" coach
Xman is there a team that you don't thik will have problems with AV?
Was at MG/CP game last night. If anyone thinks we should'nt get turf on the fields, last night at CP would be a prime argument. What a disaster.
CP was well coached and played to their strengths. They are a decent team with a few good offensive players. Baker did a good job of passing the ball and running to space. They will do well against anyone but AV.
MG looked terrible. Their defense fell apart--players were unmarked in the goal box. Outside midfielders did not track back on their opposing mids. They have some decent players, but they all love to hold the ball to long. Poor coaching on this matter. Pick up the pace--or get off the field. (This was the prime difference between the teams--CP played with decent pace to attackers feet.)
The goalies for both sides were suspect. This might be CP's biggest issue.
Interesting to see this match up next year--I see both teams in the section final again. CP is losing their star, but they have a few younger players that will run right at you. MG had three seniors on the field; if the younger ones learn to pass instead of carry, they should be tough.
Either way, nobody/everybody want's to play AV. I like Woodbury, simply because they have a big game player with Miller, and they have played some tough games. That said, no doubt Miller would be pounded by an AV marking player. I've played and coached against Scanlon--that's his style.
Woodbury doesn't have a chance in hell against Valley. Valley has much more talent. Scanlon can't screw them up.
Woodbury doesn't have a chance in hell against Valley. Valley has much more talent. Scanlon can't screw them up.
Hey X-man, Pull your head out,...the Lake is the best conference and is every year. All teams are bunched into a couple sections that is the reason only two teams made it (Jefferson finished 7th and still made it). If Blaine was in the Lake they might not win a game.
Why don't we just let the kids go out and play the game - it's supposed to be FUN, remember?!?
Seeding prediction-
AV
Woodbury
Jefferson
Elk River
I guess Jags could go under ER but I think their run in sections is impressive so I put them 3.
I too saw the CP/MG game. The field conditions were horrible. MG had a very small defense and CP took advantage of it. I would also agree that part of the defensive problem was their mids not marking back.
I thought IB was ok. He seemed very small and not very quick with the ball. As said earilier he runs into space very well.
jags play wayazta
#1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine
#2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park
#3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata
#4 Elk River vs. Northfield
Let the predictions begin!!!!!
1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine
#2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park
#3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata
#4 Elk River vs. Northfield
6 0
2 0
1 0
3 1
The interesting games there are Woodbury/CP. And the unknown Elks/Northfield. Not that excited for the Jags/Wayzata game, as both teams are boring and should lose in the second round.
Class AA - State Tournament Bracket
Thursday 10/29 - Hopkins HS
#4 Elk River vs. Northfield - 5:30 PM
#1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Thursday 10/29 - Park Cottage Grove
#3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata - 5:30 PM
#2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Like I've pointed out earlier what the top four seeded teams fear the most is to meet either Champlin Park or Blaine. Luck of the draw got #1 AV meeting Blaine and #2 to play Champlin Park. It couldn't be any better challenges for the top two teams.
#3 Jefferson shouldn't have any problems with Wayzata and it's the same for #4 Elk River when they play Northfield. I would say Wayzata and Northfield are the weakest of the bunch. It would be a gigantic upset if they go through next round.
Predictions
Apple Valley 3-1 Blaine
Champlin Park 2-1 Woodbury
Sure Things
Jefferson
Elk River
Are the Cottage Grove games on Thursday or Friday? I have heard both..
AV will destroy Blaine, those two teams played for many years previous and BA said no to playing them anymore because they were sick of losing by 6 or 7 goals to them every year
XMan the northwest sub only gets 3 teams in every year because they are spread out amongst 3 terrible sections, they really are not that good from top to bottom like you believe, I think they go 0-3 in the first round as northfield will surprise an average at best ER team
AV walks to the final in two games decided by at least 4 goals and then has a slightly tougher one in the final but cruises to a 3 goal victory over whoever they play
Last 10 years State AA Champions
1999 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2000 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2001 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2002 - Eden Prarie (Lake)
2003 - Armstrong (Classic Lake)
2004 - Jefferson (Lake)
2005 - Wayzata (Classic Lake)
2006 - Apple Valley (Lake)
2007 - Anoka (Northwest Suburban)
2008 - Osseo (Northwest Suburban)
Classic Lake - 5 Champions
Lake - 3 Champions
Northwest Suburban - 2 Champions
So Classic Lake produced the most Champions past 10 years.
Edina's feat in winning three years in a row will never be seen again IMO.
Class AA - State Tournament Bracket
Thursday 10/29 - Hopkins HS
#4 Elk River vs. Northfield - 5:30 PM
#1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Friday 10/30 - Park Cottage Grove
#3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata - 5:30 PM
#2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Like I've pointed out earlier what the top four seeded teams fear the most is to meet either Champlin Park or Blaine. Luck of the draw got #1 AV meeting Blaine and #2 to play Champlin Park. It couldn't be any better challenges for the top two teams.
#3 Jefferson shouldn't have any problems with Wayzata and it's the same for #4 Elk River when they play Northfield. I would say Wayzata and Northfield are the weakest of the bunch. It would be a gigantic upset if they go through next round.
Predictions
Apple Valley 3-1 Blaine
Champlin Park 2-1 Woodbury
Sure Things
Jefferson
Elk River
Any word on Class A Mr.Soccer?
Paul Yonga?
Correct. Paul Yonga was awarded Mr. Soccer today.
correct X-man Edina's 3-peat will never be matched...little known fact about that though, I was having lunch with a former Edina assistant a few months back and didn't realize that they beat Eagan in the semi's two of the three years, both games went to a shootout and both times Edina was the underdog. Eagan was undefeated both years and rated #1, Edina #2. You have to be good and lucky to win it. Except for maybe this year though. I wish we had two great teams this year to battle it out. AV all the way. Prediction AV 5, Blaine 0.
Congrats to Paul Yonga - well deserved award - probasbly best in state.
debateable
Coaches name Bijan Jibari as Mr. Soccer, Kassey Kallman as Miss Soccer winners
By Tim Leighton
tleighton@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 10/26/2009 12:18:09 AM CDT
Apple Valley and Woodbury got a double dose of good news Sunday.
Not only were the top-ranked boys and girls soccer teams, respectively, awarded the top seeds for the Class AA tournament this week, two of their standouts were awarded one of the season's top prizes.
Apple Valley defender Bijan Jibari and Woodbury defender Kassey Kallman were selected the Mr. and Miss Soccer Award winners by the state coaches association. The award is given to the top senior players. Totino-Grace midfielder Paul Yonga and Benilde-St. Margaret's goalkeeper Maddie Jobe were the winners in Class A.
Staunch defense is one reason Apple Valley and Woodbury are favored to win big-school state titles this week.
Jabari, who has nine goals and seven assists, has been a cornerstone of an Apple Valley defense that has given up a team-record five goals all season.
"He is a rock for us defensively,'' Apple Valley coach Chuck Scanlon said. "He is one of the hardest workers we've ever had."
With Kallman in the defensive third, Woodbury has given up just 12 goals over the past two seasons, a span of 43 games.
"She's very good at being one step ahead of the opposing players,'' Woodbury co-coach Bill Ebertz said.
Kallman has eight goals and six assists.
In 16 games this season, Jobe faced 122 shots and made 113 saves. He recorded nine shutouts. Yonga, a three-time all-state selection, has 15 goals and 16 assists for the Eagles, who are top seeded in the Class A field.
Good choices.
They should just have one Mr. Soccer. Who in the hell is Paul Yunga? AV deserved the Mr. Soccer.
8:14, you shouldn't speak if you know not of what you speak. Check out the cover of this month's edition of ESPN RISE Magazine for Minnesota. THAT is Paul Yonga. Not only a phenominal talent, but just a great kid. And I'm saying that as a guy that doesn't like Totino Grace.
I believe he is also an excellent Student. I don't suspect he will have ANY problems with his ACT scores and GPA.
On the same hand I beleive Anon 8:14 was being sarcastic. What team does Jabari play on in the summer?
Dude--8:14 was having fun at your expense.
I predict 2 upsets:
Wayzata over Jefferson
Northfield over Elk River
I perdict that the clock will soon strike 12 for Wayzata. Not that the Jag's are all that good just not so bad as the Trojan's. I also think you can sneak by SW and Armstrong but I am betting Jefferson is to well coached for Wayzata to hide all there weak spots.
Jefferson doesn't adjust for weak spots. They just line em up and play their game. Smart for high school.
Jabari played on State Cup champs Valley United. Yonga played on MTA whom didn't advance out of group stage. Both good players. Yonga is better. Put em on the same team next summer.
Note to MO, JY, etc: I hope you guys can pull your heads out and combine forces at U18 so MN can make a run beyond State Cup.
I hope it was a joke about P Yonga. If it wasn't, "where the hell" have you been?! I thought he should have won it last year as a junior! No, my son doesn't play for Totino-he played club soccer with him for years. Paul is a humble, unselfish player who is all about team. Even at the younger ages, he had an incredible composure and was a smart player, with an uncanny ability to make clutch passes or goals--a joy to watch! Good luck to him, he has worked hard and deserves all the good things that are coming his way!
Mister Soccer, you shouldn't even be comparing Yonga and Jabari, Yonga is too good to be true.
Comparing the 2 Mr. Soccers:
Both played in the back for their U17 premier teams. Jabari played for Valley, coached by a dad, made up mostly of players from Valley and the Lake Conference. Valley went undefeated in State Cup. Yonga played for MTA, coached by a highly paid college level coach for the highly financed MTA, made up of players from all over the metro area. MTA didn't get out of group play.
Yonga is the better player, but if you're too good to be true, your team doesn't lose in State Cup.
They can both be good players at the next level.
Keep in mind that Yonga was only with MTA one year.
He was a midfielder for years before that. Even though he is a great player, he'd be the first one to say that one player doesn't make a team great. It takes years for a team to build chemistry- and a coach can't teach that.
Misses Soccer should have said: Comparing the 2 Mr. Soccers:
Jabari played for Valley, coached by a dad- (who is also a high school coach and paid), made up mostly of players from Valley and the Lake Conference-(or in other words, all over the metro).
Yonga played for MTA, coached by a highly paid (if you mean minimum wage per hour with the boys) college level coach for the highly financed MTA (if you mean no finances), made up of players from all over the metro area (just like Valley United).
We all know the good teams at State Cup are mixtures not club grown. Get over it, Valley is no better than any other club, but that team was. Good for them!
3:33
Valley United's U18 Premier squad has something like 8 players that attend and play for Apple Valley, and 2 more who attend and play for Eastview but live in Apple Valley (due to the city of AV being split up between AVHS and EVHS students).
10 players from one city is pretty impressive - no other program can claim the same homegrown talent.
So basically what Mister Soccer said above was spot on. I've appreciated Mister Soccer's input this fall. He seems positive, supportive, knowledgeable, smart, and only demeaning of the system, not the kids.
haven't given it a rest since summer club soccer for this insufferable group of parents? speaking on behalf of 99% of the other folks out there we are all glad they will be graduating soon (can't wait to hear the three month build up some day for the one U19 State Cup game.....).
3:33
In 2006 when EP won coveted U-16 State Cup, they had 11 or 12players from the city of eden prairie, but still could not win the high school state tournament as seniors, possibly because several went to private schools.
Great thing is that 9 or 10 players from that team are playing D3 soccer.
3:33 here
Again, no one is disputing the AV team is good. I just made the point, and no one has yet disputed factually, that Valley U is no different than any other good u17, u18, or u19 team that wins at State Cup or further.
You have to consolidate, period. AV HS is the lucky recipient. Again, not disputing AV HS is a terrific TEAM.
All the coaches are paid at this level-most very poorly paid. Based on the time put in to coach this kind of team, no one makes what could be considered "highly paid"-only ignorant parents think it is too much to pay someone less than minimum wage to teach the game, life lessons, and keep their kids safe. These same parents pay more for a coffee while relax as their kid is being trained by someone else.
Ignorant bloggers also try to assert that MTA is "financed"-get real, ask around, use analytical skills- no club is less financed at this point, the parents are doing the same thing they do at Valley, SCV, EP, MU,etc., paying for their kids to play and travel.
Youth soccer coaches in MN get paid more than youth coaches in the other major sports.
MTA coaches (when they actually get their check) are paid a lot more than coaches at most other clubs.
MTA has a lot of families subsidizing the talented and financially less fortunate. More than most other clubs. Highly financed.
Collecting talent should be the goal of any team seeking championships at any level.
If a player is "too good to be true," on a select team like MTA, with highly touted coaches, they should be getting beyond the State Cup group stage.
Youth soccer coaches sometimes work harder than what they're paid for.
AV is a very good HS team.
Many hockey coaches in MN, who have produced numerous multi-millionaire NHL players, coach for free.
If you would rather drink coffee than coach soccer, go to Caribou and get a different job.
Mister Soccer, your comments are mostly true. Some paid coaches do receive salaries that are much higher than found in other sports. However, many coaches are not paid. I've coached for 12 years and have never been paid (but gladly did it). And many coaches that do get paid might average less than five dollars an hour when you add up the hours preparing lessons plans, actually conducting practices, coaching games, etc.
The one point I have an issue with is your comment about a single "too good to be true" player on a select team carrying a team through the group stage at the state cup. A single player cannot carry an entire team. Especially if that player plays back. I would argue three supreme players can't do it against well-coached opponents. And many teams, for whatever reason (club politics, favoritism, etc.), have players that aren't qualified or are disruptive to the team flow/unity. Just one of those players can kill an otherwise really great team if the coach is handcuffed into playing him/her.
12:27 I agree completely, there actually have been very strong teams that didn't advance because the coach played someone they shouldn't or looked the other way when a blantant case of favortism is obivious, this has caused many teams to not reach their potential
But in the case of MTA, when your team is select and elite with strong players top to bottom, your team should advance when having a superstar leading the way.
I just state the facts. Here are 2 more:
When I do coach, it's for far less than $5 per hour and I'm not complaining.
If Christiano Ronaldo had ten 9-year-old girls as teammates, his team would still win the U17 State Cup because he's too good to be true.
Sorry but Christian Ronaldo is to old for U17.
But I get your point, I don't believe that MTA really has that superstar stud that makes a difference,
Only once did they have a player that was a game changer and the team was U13 that lost to the Magic in Regionals, that team was changed around to much over the next few years and that individual moved out of state.
3:42 take it easy on saying AV shares two high schools. Eastview pulls a great deal from Eagan and Rosemount. The only reason it's built in AV is that's where they had the most land.
most varsity coaches get paid around $4,000-$7,000 TOPS...figure out the hours on the field, travel, dealing with parents and end less issues...it's not a lot of money in any respect.
good money for 2 1/2 months work
oh i forgot to add, about 15 hours per week
Anybody seen the Jefferson banana lately? 7th in the Lake....plus Northfield, Blaine, Champlin, and Wayzata. They have to do something about these terrible sections.
15 hours per week....you obviously have never coached at that level. Pull your head out
mister soccer - i believe what you are stating are "opinions", not facts. whether any team is "select & elite from top to bottom" is a subjective evaluation.
about the only true "fact" (to our knowledge) is that you didn't make much money coaching. the rest is strictly conjecture (IMO).
15 hours just dealing with parents that spend their time here criticizing everything.
Good money? Wow...do you read this blog? this is just a taste of what coaches have to deal with in regards to parents. It's not punching in and out on a time clock.
Take a look at MTA's website. I state facts.
As I said a couple weeks ago, it's almost as though MYSA is organizing the sections. I'll do it for free and make it perfect. Fact.
At least this is a true fact:
"Many hockey coaches in MN, who have produced numerous multi-millionaire NHL players, coach for free."
How many top level pro soccer players have our paid coaches in MN produced?
I'm not saying our coaches aren't good. Some are good. But to complain about low pay...? Take a look around.
fact (fkt)
n.
1. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences:
it might be a literal fact what a website might say, but that does not necessarily make it true - would you agree with that? although your comments could just be a more sophisticated dig at MTA than most on this thread who take more of a sledgehammer approach.
based on that train of thought, then every TV ad or infomercial claim would also be 100% true and factual since they are making that claim.
Feel free to rebut so you can get the last word in......
I was a varsity coach. If you do it for the money, you are stupid. The money is so you can take your wife and kids out for dinner since they haven't seen you for 2+ months. And yes, you get to pay union dues on your salary! Awesome money. Wonder why people aren't fighting for those jobs. Get real.
When did this become a blog focusing on coaches and money and other such boring topics? Interesting to a minority few; boring to the folks that care about kids and the soccer that they play and we enjoy. Let's refocus on that which is important - kids playing soccer!
8:18 - Well said (and it's about time that somebody said it!)
Has anyone noticed that AV was rated #19 in the national ESPN Fab 50 poll and #7 in the National Coaches Poll? Or that their last 10 games, including their 3 Section Tournament games, have all been shutouts. Who offers them the most resistance on their way to the State Championship? Who can beat these guys?
Apple Valley's rankings are absolutely remarkable!
All of the boys and coaches should be extremely proud of themselves. What an amazing accomplishment!
Champlin Park after they dust off Woodbury.
Yes it's very amazing. wow.
Most State Tournament App. Boys
Apple Valley 16
SPA 14
Stillwater 14
Mounds View 12
Jefferson 11
Wayzata 11
Anoka 10
BSM 10 (most in Class A)
Most Championships
Apple Valley 7
SPA 4
Burnsville 4
BSM 4 (Class A)
Edina 3
Coaches with most State Tourney App.
*Scanlon AV 16
*Johnson Stillwater 14
Schuh Mounds View 9
*Hayes Anoka 8
*Arrowsmith Blaine 8
*Kane Roch. Lourdes 8
Wager Wayzata 7
*Jensen Edina 6
Seidel Bville 6
Ario Washburn 6
Switzer Jefferson 6
*Platt BSM 6
*Virgin Eagan 6
*Pepper St Cloud Cath 6
*Abboud Mayo 5
*Quintavalle WDBY 5
*Storlien Jefferson 5
Sellnow Hopkins 5
*Thomas EP 5
Vance TG 5
*Zucolloto Nfield 5
* Denotes Active
5 of the AA coaches are on this list. Scanlon, Arrowsmith, Quintavalle, Storlien, Zucolloto
If Champlin Park beats Woodbury, then AV should pay attention - CP will have made a statement and AV should be listening - closely!
AV will get one scare. The other two games will be blowouts. Not sure who will step it up but...
If AV is looking past Blaine, then they may be looking at games in which they will not be competing!
Blaine is going to give AV a real contest, and if AV is looking too far ahead, they may be sent home before they even get to the Dome.
If AV believes Blain is simply going to cower, roll over, and play dead, then they are in for an eye opening experience. May the best team win!
Best decade 00-09 AA Boys
Edina Champs 00, Champs 01. 3 app. in State
Wayzata Champs 05, Runner Up 01, Runner Up 07. 5 app. in State
Jefferson Champs 04, Runner Up 00, Third 08, Fourth 01. 5 app. in State
Apple Valley Champs 06. 4 app. in State
Eden Prairie Champ 02. 3 app in State
Armstrong Champs 03, Runner up 02. 2 app. in State
Anoka Champs 07. 2 app. in State
Osseo Champs 08. 1 app in State
Stillwater 5 app in State.
Edina won two titles this decade hard to argue with that.
Wayzata and Jefferson won one each and have 5 app which is the most tied with Stillwater.
If AV wins I think two titles and 4 app would be the best decade.
Back to MTA not making it out of their group... For those of you who do not know, they were in a group with the Blackhawks and Shattuck, I would have loved to see the "boot-balling" Jabari and cast escape from that group. Yeah MTA should have at least came in second, but saying that Yonga can't be "too good to be true" because his TEAM didn't make it past the group stage isn't proving anything.
Can we agree that Yonga and Jabari are talented players that BOTH deserved the recognition that they received. Whish one is better than the other is the pervue of "fantasy soccer", and is just one person's pontificating vs. another's - for most of us this fall into the category of "who cares?!?"
9:44 how can you say that they would have not gotten out of the group, they WON state beating SCV in the final 3-0, who beat BHK the winners of this so called great group
10:59 .... and how did Valley do in MN league play??
4:32 - Sophisticated dig indeed.
8:18 - Because you people don't contribute anything fun on this blog. All you do is make predictions and shun rankings. How exciting!
10:00 - The PY or BJ debate is probably the best thing on here. I'll take PY easily. Both are good players. PY is a player. BJ is an athlete.
10:59 - Right on.
AV will walk through State. They already beat their toughest opponent.
Facts.
11:13 - If the players don't care about league play, who does?
A great feat for those guys to win State Cup and HS State. The fat lady has sung.
looks like the true colors of Mister Soccer have come out.
probably just a re-packaged former critic......
Valley is going to feel the pressure for the first time. A lot of easy games, lets see if they get pushed and how they deal with the pressure of a tie or one goal game.
They had three tight games but not nearly the pressure of a tight game in the playoffs.
If someone can keep it close it might be interesting.
I still think they are the best team, but its soccer and could get really interesting.
I hope someone can keep up with them so we have fun competitive games. Might not happen but one can hope.
Valley's last two section games were far tougher than either one of their first two state games will be, no reason they should not just keep beating people by 4 or 5 goals
Blaine is very physical. It will be interesting if they try to beat on AV. Might be the only chance they have to keep it close.
I would expect Blaine to use a physical game. Burnsville did this, and seemed to give AV more trouble than any other team I personally saw. They also get several cards, and had a coach ejected.
While the number of teams a conference places in the State Tourney can be skewed by Section placement, a better comparison of conf strength is records in non-conf games. Using the MYSA method of percentage of possible points, check out the following (unofficial) AA list:
Lake (2 teams in State) - 64.3%
NW Suburban (3) - 59.9%
Suburban East (1) - 55.6%
Classic Lake (1) - 55.6%
Missota (1) - 42.0%
(Section results have been treated as non-conf games).
The Lake Conference had two unbeaten teams out of conference: AV and Jeff, and two with just 1 loss: Eagan (to AV in Sections) and Lakeville So. EPs only losses out of conference play were to Fargo South and Jeff in the Section final. If favorite AV goes all the way, the Lake will have produced 4 of the last 8 champions.
Any debate where the best MN high school soccer is played?
I think they both are good players but I pick PY because he attends Private catholic school and has religion daily. I wonder if AV teaches religion. Not - so who gets credit for ahtletism or talent? I beleive God should be given credit. Where is God on this blog? today is wed, make sure kids go to religion classes, cancel all practices and games - MSHSL!
1:01 I want to believe that you're kidding, but I have this throwing-up-in-the-back-of-my-throat feeling that you aren't. If there's a good justification for all the time and resources we devote to sports, it's that we give the credit to hard work.
Rumor has it that AV mr. soccer got a minor at a party in Eagan and won't be able to play. GO BENGALS!
Again, AV will win it all by 3-5 goals each game. BV and Eagan had them 1-0 for about 50 minutes and that will be the closest anyone comes.
Watch out for Woodbury...will take it all.
1:01, please tell me you are joking? What an awful thing to include here. If religion is important to any player or person than that is great that they have that in their life, but it doesn't make them better than anyone else. I know religious players who can't play a bit...it just has nothing to do with anything so let's not include that here.
Hey 1:01, didn't God create everything including soccer?
In my opinion, God loves soccer!
Does that mean he loses his Mr. Soccer status - wow!
Lake Conf. vs NorthWest Conf--the two deepest in the state. Would be fun to do a Big 10-SEC style match-up early in the year, with the top vs top, etc...
I've watched lots of the games in both conferences. They all look pretty similar. Lake has the best team this year. I'd still say that NW has stronger average team. Either way, they are the two stongest conf. by a long shot. Impossible to say one is better than the other, as so few of their teams regularly play each-other late in the season when the teams are really functioning.
AV this year, Osseo last year, Anoka the year before, Will WB upset this year? With all the excitement on AV this year, Woodbury has come in pretty hot too...
613- your honestly going to buy into that non-sense I don't think a kid who has everything to gain the next two weeks would go get a minor on a weekday when he has a state game later that week. Get off the blog whoever said it. We don't need attacks on kids like that.
615: the only problem is Osseo and Anoka the last two years were not clear cut favorites by any means. Anoka was the #1 seed I think and I bet most people didn't think they would pull it off over AV or Wayzata that year. I wouldn't count Woodbury out either but bad example at the end.
the comment that the av mr soccer got a minor is complete bs! Get off this blog if ur gonna be making stuff up
6:19 Anoka was a favorite for some--the Lake folks totally discounted them. I watched them play a few times early and they were my pick. Same thing with Osseo. I saw them a few times last year; they were easy to pick as a favorite. I watched most of the NorthWest again this year. Nothing compared to the last two years--decent, but a lot of parity and no real standouts.
Wow 6:19 you really know your soccer. I bet you have Valley this year too. Tell us now who you have next year if you are so good at picking them. AV was the best team last year too.
Tonight must see State-AA game:
Thursday 10/29 - Hopkins HS
#4 Elk River vs. Northfield - 5:30 PM
#1 Apple Valley vs. Blaine - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
Last 10 years State AA Champions
1999 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2000 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2001 - Edina (Classic Lake)
2002 - Eden Prarie (Lake)
2003 - Armstrong (Classic Lake)
2004 - Jefferson (Lake)
2005 - Wayzata (Classic Lake)
2006 - Apple Valley (Lake)
2007 - Anoka (Northwest Suburban)
2008 - Osseo (Northwest Suburban)
Classic Lake - 5 Champions
Lake - 3 Champions
Northwest Suburban - 2 Champions
So Classic Lake produced the most Champions past 10 years.
Hello 1:01
This is the DEVIL I am just here to say that I should get the credit for all the good players in the state not your God. Religion and church are a waste of time and for weak minded poeple who need a cruch in life.GOOOOO DEMONS!!!!!!
IMHO Anoka & Osseo were two very different teams.
Anoka in 07-08 was complete team that came from summer soccer. They did not LOSE any games that year and only tied with two teams. Hopkins and Champlin Park. The only ones not expecting them to win the State Tournament were those who were only focused on their underclasses sons and were not looking outside their own age group.
Osseo - Was probably the most athletic team that been around in a while. They were very fast and had multiple attackers. Many outside the NW Suburban thought double marking one player was to key to shutting them down, but as the State Tournament proved that player was only one of the head to their scoring monster.
Northwestern Conference has been very strong the past two years. The sizes of some of the schools in this conference is one of the reasons it is a difficult conference, I beleive 4 of the 5 largest schools in the state are in this conference.
From what I've observed AV is a quality summer team that is playing in the High School League. I think they will be VERY difficult to beat.
Northfield 1
Elk River 0
Final OT
I really enjoyed the championship game when Anoka won.
Surprised the hell out of me, and they deserved the title that year for their smart determined play.
It was a fun game to watch
That was the year of the throw-in.
Had some good players and an athletic group to boot.
AV Blaine game anyone?
AV 7-0 late
Look for woodbury to make a run to the finals and give AV a real test, anything can happen with EM on the field for Woodbury, he is no doubt the most dangerous player in the state, but AV is a way more balanced team
av 8 blaine 0...i'm not an av fan, but wow!
AV will probably beat Northfield by a similar margin
XMan what happened to your must see game tonight, 8-0 wow and ER going down to Northfield, rough night for the NW Suburban
AV will smoke Northfield. It's like a premier team playing a C2 team. It's like Man U playing Hull City. Still impressive for Northfield to make the top 4.
Saw the Northfield vs Elk River game. Thought ER out played Northfield, but came up short in the end. It was a very entertaining game to watch.
Good Luck Northfield.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
Like I said before AV will walk through this tournament by winning every game by at least 5-6 goals. Toughtest opponent was in the section finals--Eagan. Woodbury will get smoked too in the finals. What a terrible tournament. Other than Valley, everybody else sucks. If Woodbury was in the Lake they would finish in the middle of the pack.
Elks were better for sure. AV will destroy Northfield. Northfield will be lucky if its only 5-0.
Jefferson 2-0 over Wayzata
Woodbury 2-0 over CP
Woodbury wont even reach the finals
I'm not sure anyone will be able to stay with AV, but I believe the dark horse here is Jefferson.
I think Jefferson will beat Woodbury, and coaching will make the difference. I think that AV and Jefferson will be an interesting game and coaching might make a difference if Storlein can come up with a strategy to handle AV.
Lets see what happens tonight with Jefferson vs Wayzata and Woodbury vs CP before we put anyone vs anyone in the Final.
I think both seeded teams will win but... you never know
Storlein got his ace whooped the first time they played
Again, Jefferson finished 7th in the Lake boys. Not going to do it.
You know the great thing about High School? It doesn't matter how you played at the begining of the year, just how you play at the end of the year. It doesn't matter where you finished in conference, just how you finish in sectionals. You don't have to advance thru a pool or even win all your games in a pool. You can lose every game until sectionals and still win state. You just have to win the game your in.
If you pay much attention to this blog you will see, that many teams that were suppose to win and were way better than the other team, lose and lose frequently.
Or get put into lopsided sections.....very nice and motivational 1:03 but not buying it. Blow it out your ace.
Jefferson never does well in the Conf but have been to State (5) tied for most in the last 10 years in AA boys. Have been to the Dome (4) times in last 10 years most in the AA boys. If they get to the final it will be (3) times in last 10 years most in the state. They have won one conf championship. DS does not care about the conf. He is about getting his players ready for the playoffs.
I would love to see Jefferson and Valley in the final but Jefferson will have its hands full getting there. Valley is a done deal. MIght be double digits on Northfield.
Friday 10/30 - Park Cottage Grove
#3 Jefferson vs. Wayzata - 5:30 PM
#2 Woodbury vs. Champlin Park - 7:30 PM <--- MUST SEE
AV played the best game I've seen them play this year. Dominated the midfield and attacking like a bunch of hungry hyenas. Very well done.
AV all the way IMO.
Elk River sucking badly in the rain. Northfield #5 struck that ball beautifully in OT. One chance one shot one score. Done!
Anon 1:06
Life unfair. SO WHAT!
Must be tough to know that we are all in on the conspiracy to keep you and your down.
Have a nice day.
If Wayzata wins tonight, I'll lose all respects for DS.
I agree with 1:54.
As I've said before, who cares about the regular season? Everyone makes the playoffs. Getting to State and in the Dome is what matters and what players will remember.
Just like in summer. Who cares about league? State Cup is what matters and what players will remember.
Rankings and player awards might get you to second; championships will get you to home.
Very true....but some of these teams in the dance are terrible because these sections are so for off. Jefferson's section sucked this year too, probably the worst Eden Prairie team since 1995. I played for EP in the late 90's and the coaches agreed with me. 1 Great team this year AV. A couple good teams in Woodbury and Eagan and then everybody else is down. AV is very fortunate that they are the only quality squad this year. Typically the state has 3-4 great teams, only 1 this year. Congrats to AV on winning another state title regardless.
Nobody cares about summer soccer...that is just the developmental league for the high school season. Last I checked summer scores aren't in the paper.
Traveling teams don't have CHEERLEADERS!
Xman I wasted $7 seeing Blaine got their ass kicked by AV. I hope it's better game tonight CP-WB. You have Champlin to win so I expect a good game for my $7.
Anon 3:18 Aaah, but remember this is the best group of players in one year EVER to come out of MN. They have by far the deepest and most talented group of players EVER!
anything from game 1 tonight?
wayazta 0 Jefferson 6
Wayzata 1 Jefferson 0 in OT
Tough night for soccer for the kids.
Woodbury 2 -1
Eric Miller is a fun player to watch. He will go to a very good D1 school following his senior year next year. He is well worth the price of admission.
And no, I'm not from Woodbury.
Cold and misery tonight.
Jefferson layed a gigantic egg tonight. Terrible play. Wayzata actually dominated the game. Can you believe it.
Jefferson 0-1 Wayzata in OT
I want to pop DS on the head and tell him "What the hell did you tell the boys how to play?".
I still got respect for this coach but very disappointed tonight. Should have taken Wayzata out earlier on.
My weakest teams advanced (Wayzata and Northfield) leaving Elk River and Jefferson crying in the wakes.
Next games are NO-BRAINERS:
Apple Valley and Woodbury.
What a fricking cold and windy night. Froze my ass out there.
The wind was definitely an equalizer for the lesser skilled teams but that's soccer.
Valley won't beat Woodbury ... Miller and his cast are going to go up early on them and valley will panic...
Gee, and I was thinking that Wayzata was going to do that to Woodbury!
Anonymous said...
I predict 2 upsets:
Wayzata over Jefferson
Northfield over Elk River
26/10/09 10:26 AM
Ok, a little chest beating here, but my next upset prediction is:
Wayzata over Woodbury.
Not that Wayzata are that good, but they found a little magic. I do think Northfield is in the best position-possible to beat AV, but AV are just too strong.
Woodbury will loose to Wayzata in pens.
I watched the Northfield / Elk River game (as well as the Apple Valley / Blaine game). Elk River kept the ball in the Northfield end 60-70% of the time. Elk River had several good opportunities to score and SHOULD have won that game. If Northfield plays against Apple Valley the way they played against Elk River it will be an absolute blowout. (Not that Apple Valley would ever TRY to run up the score!)
And no, I am NOT an Elk River parent and couldn't have cared less who won the game - I'm just telling you what I saw as an objective observer.
DS proved again this year that he has the inate ability to outdumb himself. The Jags would be better off if he just stayed home and let the kids play.
Westsider
This is officially the worst season in the history of MN high school boys soccer and by far the worse State Tournament in history.
Could agree with you more 1:40, AV is a great team like the great AV, Edina, Wayzata, EP, Eagan, Stillwater, Jefferson, Maple Grove, Burnsville teams of the past. I played on the 93 Bville state championship team. The thing is everyone is so bad and that is why they are walking through this tournament. What a joke this year has been. Too bad. I wish we had at least one more great team out there to give them a game. EMBARASSING REALLY.
Well said.
Yep..terrible year
Jefferson appeared to be missing their tall forward. Injury? Suspension? Maybe that hurt them
Jefferson was missing its 2nd leading scorer. The tall forward MR did not play and was in street clothes.
Funny how you guys rip DS. You don't know what the team was dealing with this week. Excuse absolutely. But facts are facts and it impacted the team for sure.
They did get out played.
As for DS staying home. You must have an axe to grind with him.
Since 2000 Jefferson, Stiilwater, and Wayzata have been to the State Tourney the most times out of an AA team with 5 app. They have been to the Dome 4 times which is tied for first. A 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finish is top 3 for the decade.
Jefferson had never won a state tourney game in the history of the school until DS showed up. They overachieve almost every year, this year included. Maybe that is why he has won the COY 4 times which is most out of any coach in soccer on the boys side. As a peer we have a lot of respect for him. The youth program does not provide much, the numbers are one of the smallest in the Lake yet they keep going to the State Tourney.
DS did stay at home in 06 and again in 07. Two sub 500 seasons. The west Bloomington people are happy to have him back. I hope he stays put. The Lake Conf and Section 2AA not happy to have him back.
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