Jeff man behind Major Indoor Soccer League plan

I've always had a certain affinity for indoor soccer.

For one, muddy fields, steaming cow dung and the challenge of switching into your kit in sweeping Irish winds and driving rain (we didn't have the luxury of dressing rooms) never really appealed, despite my great love for the game.

Living in a high rise tower block during my youth also cemented my affair with the indoors. Most of the time, our elevator was clapped out due to its inability to carry too many Shetland ponies up and down on a regular basis, so it seemed easier as a 10-year-old to watch the world go by from the comfort of the balcony rather than negotiate hundreds of urine sodden stairs.

Instead, I'd kick pairs of socks - rolled into the shape of balls - at my little sister who was the designated goalkeeper, standing between goalposts usually made out of talking dolls or fluffy teddy bears. If the socks were all in the wash, teddy bears made good kicking material also.

So it's no surprise that the indoors is where I had most success. It benefits the smaller, fit and more skillful players, with the added bonus of making fools of the tall or cumbersome defenders who usually got to boot you up and down outdoor fields.

As a result, I look forward to seeing professional indoor soccer returning to Louisville thanks in the main to Jeffersonville architect Wayne Estopinal, who is leading a push to construct a team to play in the Major Indoor Soccer League next fall.

Estopinal will be known to many involved in the game locally, as he is majority owner of Mockingbird SC. Under his wing there, so to speak, is his talented son, Andrew, who was part of St Xavier's Kentucky state winning soccer team this year and will return as a senior for 2008. A possible future MISL star, perhaps?

The Louisville team, not yet named, will be the 10th in the MISL if its application is successful. Opponents will include the likes of defending champion Philadelphia KiXX, Chicago Storm, California Cougars and Orlando Sharks. Teams typically play in front of crowds numbering 5-6,000, while new pro outfit New Jersey Ironmen recently played Detroit Ignition with over 13,000 in attendance.

The games will be held for couple of years at Freedom Hall, from October to April, before transferring possibly to the new downtown arena, which is expected to be completed in 2010.

Local sponsors and investors are being sought, as it will need the guts of almost $4 million to fund the team's first three years.

And that's exactly how long the area's last professional indoor team - Louisville Thunder - lasted. Founded in 1984, it won the American Indoor Soccer Association's championship in its final year in 1987.

It featured such players as Keith Tozer, who played nearly 100 games with the Thunder over two and half seasons and was also the team’s head coach; Janusz Michallik, who earned 44 caps for the U.S. national team; and Zoran Savic, a two-time all-star and one of the league’s leading scorers.

When the Thunder finally won the title in its third try, Savic and teammates Chris Hellencamp and Jim Gabarra led the way, each scoring five goals in the playoffs.

Whether the new club can attract similar illustrious players remains to be seen, and whether it will last longer is also a question for debate. Only time will tell, but the general consensus is that there is more of an appetite for the game in the area now than there was 20 years ago, with thousands more playing the game in the greater Louisville and southern Indiana areas.

Of course, that’s not to say that all local aficionados of the outdoor sport will automatically enjoy the indoor game and bolt off to Freedom Hall quicker than you can say Flash Gordon - they probably won’t.

Let’s not forget that some differences in the indoor game may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is six a side, with four 15-minute quarters and a different scoring system, which involves the awarding of two or three points per goal.

But the higher scoring games are expected to appeal to a more general audience and so it may attract new fans to the game, while TV exposure of the MISL via Fox Soccer Channel on Friday nights won’t harm it either.

And who knows, if successful, it could be the stepping stone to one day having a Major League Soccer team in the area. In a warm stadium without muddy fields and cow dung, one hopes!

Beckham’s french fry could be yours

Wonder what kind of bid Pepsi will put in for Becks' Coca Cola bottle

Are you having a hard time trying to figure out what to buy your soccer-mad loved one for Christmas?

How about some leftover food from the plate of LA Galaxy’s David Beckham?

During his recent visit to New Zealand, Becks dropped in to Nandos restaurant in Wellington for a quick bite to eat and he had barely walked out the door before people started to swoop his leftover food.

"I've never seen anything like it," waitress Jody said, wondering why they felt the need to help themselves.

It became clear the next day when the nosh appeared for sale on Trade Me, New Zealand's answer to eBay.

Among the items up for auction were a half-chewed corn on the cob, a near-empty Coca-Cola bottle (will go down well with his Pepsi sponsors, no doubt) and a single chip (french fry), which Becks carelessly dropped on the floor.

One interested party wants to know how much cola is left. "There's about 2/8 left in it, mostly backwash I would imagine," responds the seller.

"How do I know this is for real and that you haven't made it up?" asks someone else. "You can get a DNA test or something," says the proud David Beckham Coca-Cola owner.

The French fry is doing well. Last night, the top bid stood at $66, but someone has other ideas for it.

“I reckon you should pull this chip from the auction and give it to Posh. She could do with the extra 200g,” he says.

And if you think I’m making this up, check out www.trademe.co.nz.

Bradley's amazing journey ends

The amazing journey of Bradley University and Floyds Knobs native Brad Snook ended against No. 5 Ohio State on a wet and cold day at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus Sunday.

After a fairly even and scoreless first half, the wheels began to come off the Peoria Braves’ wagon one by one after a penalty was awarded against them in the 58th minute. Buckeyes senior Xavier Balc made no mistake converting the spot kick and 12 minutes later a visibly tiring Bradley found itself 4-0 the worse following goals by Geoff Marsh, Balc and Andrew Magill.

The 600 plus traveling support may have known the game was up - even considering the
The Braves’ miraculous comeback last week against Maryland when 2-0 down with 157 seconds left on the clock - but it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm.

Eight busloads left Peoria for the 400 mile trip but only seven made it as one had its journey aborted by dodgy windshield wipers.

Those on the wiper-injured bus reloaded onto the fully functioning coaches to join a few hundred other fans who made their own way just minutes before kick-off.

With the game lost, they sang and chanted as if they had just won the World Cup. “Everywhere we Go” and “Mighty Might Braves” were among the repertoire. This may have been the end of an amazing journey on the field, but it is not the end of the story.

Redshirt freshman Danny Dahlquist died just before the season started on August 12 in a house fire that resulted from a prank that went wrong. Three teammates and another friend were charged and are scheduled to stand trial in January.

Despite adversity and encouraged by Danny's parents and six brothers and sisters, the Braves showed indomitable spirit to go on and win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, share in its third consecutive MVC championship, and - despite never winning an NCAA game before this season - make it to the Elite Eight following wins over DePaul, Indiana University and Maryland.

“It's been a heck of a ride this season,” said Snook, who will return as senior next year. “From the worst thing that could possibly happen right before preseason, to now, the whole story has been pretty incredible.”

Meanwhile, Big Ten champion Ohio State, a program which will next year feature another of the area’s products in New Albany’s Nathan Driggers, take on unseeded Massachusetts - who beat Illinois-Chicago - in the College Cup semifinal at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina Friday evening (7 p.m.).

The other semifinal will see No. 11 Virginia Tech take on No. 2 Wake Forest (5 p.m.), after they recorded wins against Connecticut and Notre Dame respectively.

The final is down for decision on Sunday, with the kick-off at 3 p.m. You can follow all the action this weekend on ESPN.

Early Christmas for youth soccer

Youth soccer here has received an early Christmas present with the news that four of the area's teams have been chosen to participate in next spring's Indiana Soccer League (ISL).

Southern Indiana United's U14, U15 and U17 boys, and NetSurfers U14 girls have been given the green light to play in the league, considered the state's best, and a precursor to the Midwest Regional League.

Amongst their opponents will be such power houses as Carmel United, Indy Burn, Center Grove and Evansville.

Mike Vejar, coach of SIU's U14 Mavericks and the Indiana Youth Soccer's district commissioner for the area, said being selected for the ISL is no mean achievement.
"It's a great deal for our local clubs to get four teams in the league," said Vejar. "It is far more balanced and tougher than the Kentucky Select Soccer League, where most of our clubs have been playing."

It is not a league you just apply to get into. The Evaluation Committee, which comprises 11 members from across the state - including Vejar himself - has to vote teams in based on their credentials.

"To join the ISL you must provide a team resume, which is scrutinized greatly to ensure only the top teams in the state gain entry," said Vejar.

In the fall there are only U13 and U14 divisions with each having a 1st Division and Premier Division, which the Mavericks played in this year. In the spring, once the high school players return to their clubs, the league expands greatly, from U13 up to U18 for both boys and girls.

Each division allows a minimum of five teams and a maximum of nine, depending on the quality of the teams applying.

College Cup one step away...

The Division I NCAA Men's Soccer quarter-finals are down for decision this Saturday and Sunday with four high stakes matchups.

As well as the aforementioned Ohio State and Bradley clash (see below),Notre Dame will take on Wake Forest (Saturday, 7pm) in what could prove to be one of the ties of the round, while Connecticut host Virginia Tech (Saturday, 1pm) and Massachusetts entertain Ill-Chicago (Sunday, noon)

The winners will play in the College Cup in Cary, North Carolina next week, December 14 & 16.

For full information on the tournament, log onto www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens

From tragedy to triumph

Outside the entrance of Indiana University's Armstrong Stadium, numerous names are etched into bricks leading up to the gates.

One of said bricks features the name of Floyds Knobs’ Brad Snook. It's accompanied by the names of his dad Bob - a well known referee in the area - mother and teacher Peggy; and sister Meredith, also a referee and soccer coach.

With the exception of Brad, all attended IU. Buying a brick was a token of the family's appreciation for time spent there, you could say.

After viewing the brick late last Wednesday night, junior Brad thought it pretty ironic that his Bradley University from central Illinois had just caused the wall of No. 4 Hoosiers to come tumbling down after booting them out of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Soccer Tournament following a thrilling penalty shoot-out.

Three days later, in the Sweet 16, the Braves took on 2005 winners Maryland in their own backyard and found themselves 2-0 down at the interval.

Reflecting over the likes of coffee and hot chocolate on a cool, crisp evening, the fans agreed the run had exceeded expectations. Reaching round three was a triumph in itself.

Firstly, because the school's program had never gone this far before - in fact, it had never won an NCAA game before 2007. And secondly, because of the adversity the squad has endured this season, which has already made this one of the most poignant sports stories of 2007.

The death of 19-year-old sophomore to be, Sheridan "Danny" Dahlquist, following a house fire on August 12 is a tragedy that has already been chronicled in these pages.
Four friends - three of them Bradley team mates - have been charged with aggravated arson in what amounted to a prank with Roman candles which went wrong. Their trial is scheduled for January.

"Spirited" is a word that has oft been used to describe Bradley's soccer team this season but it doesn't tell the whole tale. The way it has responded to tragedy in a sport that has witnessed recent match fixing scandals and is awash with overpaid prima donnas the world over is already one to warm the cockles of the heart and renew our faith in the beautiful game.

Coach Jim DeRose described it best when saying the players have not stopped mourning, but have found a refuge in soccer which brings them together.

They don't go out and tritely "do it for Danny." They play together in his memory and use the strength Danny's family has shown as inspiration, adding it to their own. Dad Craig is a senior associate athletic director at Bradley and is a familiar face at games, always offering encouragement to the squad. There wasn't a dry eye in the house in when he received Danny's medal after their first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament success, a 1-0 victory over Creighton.

That win, added to a share of its third consecutive MVC championship, ensured an automatic NCAA berth and saw the appropriately named Braves end with a regular season record of 14-5-3.

Following a comprehensive 2-0 victory over De Paul in round one of the NCAA tournament, it was handed the unenviable task of taking on seven times winners and No. 4 ranked Indiana in round two last Wednesday. One goal down after just 97 seconds, it fought back with a second half Stephen Brust effort to tie the game and force it into overtime.

After two scoreless halves of overtime, the game went to a penalty shootout, with Bradley converting all five of its attempts. Standing at 5-4, Indiana freshman Michael Roach's effort smashed off the crossbar. Bradley were off to Maryland.

And so back to Ludwig Field. Despite an improved second-half effort by Bradley, it remained 2-0 to the Terrapins with the scoreboard showing just three minutes left on the clock. Then, Drew DeGurian blasted home a rebound at the edge of the box to offer the Braves a glimmer of hope.

With the momentum shifting in Bradley's direction, and with 37 seconds left of regulation, Chris Cutshaw of Carmel headed home to complete an improbable comeback to tie the game at 2-2, sending fans delirious.

If you believe in fate, in the romance that is sometimes thrown up by cup competition, this was only going one way. And so it proved. With 75 seconds remaining in the second overtime and the game heading towards penalty kicks, Cutshaw netted a golden goal, which he believes glanced off his shoulder. Maryland screamed for handball but their pleas were in vain. Bradley was on its way to the Elite Eight.

Following a late night return flight back to Peoria, a police escort took the team back to campus. Arriving at the Field House at 12.40am, the band and cheerleaders - who all stayed on after a basketball game - were joined by students and community members to welcome them home.

Brad Snook described the trip back as just the latest journey in what has been a "heck of a ride" - one they don't want to end.

"From the worst thing that could possibly happen right before preseason, to now, the whole story has been pretty incredible," said the Floyd Central graduate.. "More than any other team I've been a part of, this team plays for the guys next to them, and we never stop battling and fighting."

The defender, who has witnessed playing time in defense this season but still awaits NCAA action, said he has never been a part of a soccer game quite like the one now dubbed in some quarters as the “Miracle in Maryland.”

"We said at half time that once we got a goal - whether it be in the 46th minute or the 88th minute - that we had a chance," he said. "So once that first one went it, you could feel Maryland getting nervous. The crowd quieted down, and the players' attitudes changed. When that second one went it with only 37 seconds on the clock it was complete pandemonium."

And so this amazing story continues, with next stop Sunday at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus (1 p.m.). Standing in the way of a place in the 2007 College Cup in North Carolina will be No.5 seeds Ohio State. The Buckeyes made it to the quarter-finals in exciting fashion too, coming from 3-1 down against last year's winners Santa Barbara to tie the game at 3-3 before snatching the winner in overtime.

"We know now that we can beat anyone in the country," said Snook. "We're just soaking it all in and enjoying every minute of it because we know how lucky we are to be able to experience it."

Describing it as a "phenomenal year" for Bradley - one that's gone "from tragedy to great triumph” - Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski compared Cutshaw's winner to the "Hand of God" incident during the Argentina-England 1986 World Cup quarter-final. That was when Diego Maradona fisted the ball into the net and proceeded to tell the world that supernatural forces were at work. Argentina went on to win the tournament.

DeRose, I am sure, wouldn't for one second entertain the idea of "magical" or "alternative" forces at play: It's hard toil, perseverance, heart, team work and talent that gets you this far.

But there were many in Maryland and Peoria late Saturday night that just wondered if there was an added ingredient.

Knowing the rules - and the game

The great Bill Shankly, Liverpool manager of the '60s and '70s, once said that the trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.
In today's world of politics, officialdom and red-tape, the comment is one that seems to ring more true off the field than on it.

Take the rule makers in sports organizations, for example. Be it committees or boards full of directors, they make the rules and ensure that these rules are kept or amended when the time calls for it. Indeed, they usually do a very good job of it. In fact, you could say they know the rules very well. But how well do they know "the game?"

One of the most popular discussions the soccer people of southern Indiana had with me when I arrived here last year involved the "six player rule." This is where a club team cannot comprise six players from the same high school team. So, for example, Southern Indiana United's U16s cannot not field seven players from, say, New Albany High School.

It was introduced by the IHSAA, I am told, to prevent a club from monopolizing talent from a particular high school. This could happen in larger, more populated areas like Indianapolis, where top teams could hog the top talent.

So it was introduced with good intentions, you could say. The problem is, however, that it is having an adverse affect on Southern Indiana United, just a hop over the river from a state whose teams do not have to contend with such a rule.
Southern Indiana United U17 coach DJ Barksdale said the rule has had a knock-on effect on his team for three years now.

"Since my guys are juniors, this six player rule has affected me." he said. "The past two years, it was New Albany and Providence filling six spots each. I've had to make several difficult decisions regarding how to choose the fifth or sixth roster spots for these schools. Many times, the result is a weaker team from top to bottom than if the rule were not in place.

"Perhaps the intent is there, but the rule is ineffective. Kentucky does not have this rule and I've not seen any consequences from their clubs that make me think Indiana's rule is justified or rational."
And looking to the future, U14 coach Mike Vejar said it will affect him in the Spring of 2010.

"At the moment, I have six - possibly seven - hitting Floyd Central in the Fall of 2008 and seven hitting Jeff High in the Fall of 2008-2009," he said.
However, there seems to be no desire to change the rule - not even to make some areas affected adversely by it an exception.

IHSAA assistant commissioner Theresia Wynns said the six-player rule is in place to prevent teams from playing year round.

"There is the same kind of limitation for every team sport," she said. "There is no movement to make a change so every school and its student-athletes are required to abide by this rule or suffer the consequences. Every principal whose school is a member of IHSAA has the right to submit a proposal for change."

Now, just a second. Does that not sound like the IHSAA has given itself permission to decide what people do in the world of soccer, or indeed the world of sport?

To me, it smacks of superiorism, where the IHSAA is of the opinion that it is "Mr Big Cheese," so to speak. It might be in the worlds of football, basketball and baseball, and the likes - there are scribes featured in these pages with vastly more knowledge in those great American sports to pass comment on that - but if you want to see a better standard of youth soccer, I suggest you go to a club game. Or visit the regional and national club championships in the spring.

In fact, in most parts of the world, more importance is put on youth club - not high school - soccer. As a result, it is hard for me to fathom why clubs actually allow high school authorities tell them what they can and cannot do - especially when many high school coaches are also involved in club set-ups.

But that’s another story for another day. Today, the six player rule is affecting the game here and needs to be amended. And all it may take is for someone who knows the rules to also know the game.

World Cup journey begins

The preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was made to great fanfare on Sunday and it was quite kind to the USA.

Bob Bradley’s charges will await the winner of the Bermuda/Dominica game, and the winner of that will enter one of three four-team groups. Assuming that is the US, likely opponents could be Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala.

The top two teams from each of the three groups will play off against each other in a six team group and the top three will go to the World Cup, with the fourth placed team playing off against a South American team for a spot in South Africa.
The United States has appeared in eight World Cup finals since the tournament began in 1930. Its best performance was reaching the quarter-finals in the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea.
For further information on the CONCACAF region draw - and the rest of the groups from other parts of the world, check out: www.fifa.com.

Fantasy futbol for real

I am now the proud owner of a professional soccer club.

Well, almost. It should be all wrapped up, complete with pretty bow, just in time to put under the Christmas tree.

Having the ability to pick English outfit Ebbsfleet United's team each week from the comfort of my New Albany abode is a pretty exciting prospect. And I'll also have a say in other key decisions, like signing players and whether to add a McDonald's concession stand to our stadium. That kind of stuff.

My new team (www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk) plays in the Blue Square Premier, which is just outside the league set up. You've got the Premiership, the Championship, League One and League Two - and then us. However, we are very much in with a shout of getting into League Two next season, lying 10th right now and within six points of a play-off position. Who knows, we could even play in the Champions’ League one day.

Did I mention that there's over 53,000 of us? We are spread out all over the world. While most are from Britain and Ireland, there's 1,400 of us in the States, and a gang of others from as far afield as Australia, Japan, China, Vietnam, Tonga, Qatar, Malawi and Panama.

We are members of MyFootballClub, a groundbreaking internet-based project with the stated aim of buying a soccer club and transforming its fortunes. Launched in April of this year by former journalist Will Brooks, our philosophy is that members who pay $71.35 get to vote on every key decision - from picking the side, to signing players, to ground improvements.

The media hailed it this week as the 21st century model of club control. I like to call it fantasy futbol for real.

To start off with, we voted on which club we’d like to buy. Most leading choices - Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Cambridge United, Accrington Stanley, Manchester United and Arsenal - were discounted. They were either not for sale, too expensive, had too much debt, or just didn't have the potential.

When word got out, clubs actually began approaching us. Nine were considered, from League One down, all wanting to be taken over. Last week, we chose Ebbsfleet United, formerly known as Gravesend & Northfleet.

Our lawyers and accountants are currently in the process of carrying out what’s known as due diligence, a process not too dissimilar to what goes on after you’ve agreed a price on a property. Buying a club is a tad more complicated, however, so there are a lot of things to check. We need to make sure there are no hidden debts and no big roads planned through the center of the field.

Once sorted, the Kent-based club will become the focus of the most extraordinary - and controversial - ownership experiment in the game's history.

We already have a kitty of around $1.5 million. It is thought that somewhere around $500,000 will be used initially to secure the controlling interest (through debt clearance) and pay legal fees, with more due later.

Liam Daish, currently the manager but soon to become our “head coach,” will implement our decisions, derived from weekly polls on the website. He will have around $500,000 to spend in the January transfer window on fees or wage commitments, which is huge for a division where transfer fees are rare and a player's pay is typically $600 to $700 a week.

I like Liam. Being old school, he's probably not what you would consider ideal material for such an innovative and forward thinking project, but he said he likes our idea. And not only was he born in Hampshire, like me, but he played for the Republic of Ireland, like I would have if I had made it that far.

And the great Barry Fry, who managed Daish throughout his spell at Birmingham City as a player, once said that if a squadron of F-111s attacked the team's penalty area, Liamo would attempt to head them away. That's my type of coach.

I can keep an eye on his and the team's progress via an online streaming service of games on our website, so I don't have to worry about hopping on the plane to make the long trans-Atlantic journey to Stonebridge Road every Saturday.

And if we do well, I'll be happy in the knowledge that I helped changed Ebbsfleet United’s fortunes around, but it won't make me rich. Any money made gets ploughed back into the team.

If this works, it has the potential to change the face of soccer ownership all over the world, with fans deciding how to run clubs. It may even spread to other sports. Imagine having a say in the lineup for the Louisville Bats, or even whether Peyton Manning should be dropped as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.

The idea is spreading. You can still become a member of MyFootballClub (www.myfootballclub.co.uk) but if you want to own a club a little bit closer to home, there is also an American version of the MyFC ownership plan, called MySoccerClubUSA (www.mysoccerclubusa.com), in which fans who join the website will start a soccer team from scratch to play in either the United Soccer Leagues or the National Premier Soccer League. The cost of membership is $50.

So what are you waiting for? Take over the world. Oh, and wish us luck. Our next game's at home against Stafford Rangers on Saturday. We’re expecting a big crowd.

Up the Fleet!

Louisville makes first NCAA tourney

The draw for the NCAA Division I men's tournament was made last night and University of Louisville, which makes the 48-team field for the first time in its history, will host Duke (11-7-1) on Friday at 7. The winner of that match will take on Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28.

Bradley University of Peoria (14-5-3),featuring Floyd Central graduate Brad Snook, will open against in-state rival DePaul (12-7-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Braves guaranteed themselves an NCAA berth after winning their first Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Sunday when beating No. 7-ranked Creighton 1-0. The goal was scored by Stephen Brust with just 86 seconds left on the clock.

The winner of Bradley and DePaul will advance to face Indiana University in the second round on Nov. 28.

For the full bracket, check out www.ncaasports.com/soccer/mens

Not so "Sweet 16" for Transy - but best finish ever

The NCAA Division III dream of Transylvania and New Albany's Matt Karaffa ended on Saturday after a 1-0 defeat to Washington University of St. Louis in the last 16.

John Hengel scored the game-winning goal for the Bears at 54:21 when he took a pass from senior Marshall Plow and fired a shot to the far corner for the lone goal of the game.

Transylvania, which ends its season with a 15-3-3 overall record, had beaten Ohio Wesleyan and John Carroll University — both by penalty kicks — in the tournament’s first and second rounds last week. It was the Lexington school’s best performance in the tournament to date.


Washington themselves lost to No. 1-ranked Trinity University, Texas, on Sunday, which now progress to the final four at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Florida this weekend. The other finalists are Middlebury (Vermont), Loras (Iowa) and Messiah (Pennsylvania).

Thunder in storming form

Spare a thought for Southern Indiana United's U9 Thunder team, which stormed through the Veterans' Invitational Tournament in Evansville over the weekend, only to be edged out by a strange goal differential rule.


The boys won all four of their games in a nine-team group, scoring a whopping 36 goals and conceding only three, which is a goal difference of 33.

Evansville Elite's White team also won its four games, scoring 21 goals and conceding two, which is a difference of 19.

So a convincing tournament victory for SIU, to add to its KSSL West Division and Bluegrass Cup triumphs?

Well, not exactly.

A tournament rule states that each team can only gain a maximum goal differential of plus-four for each game. So despite SIU's 7-1 win against Evansville Elite Blue; a 19-1 thrashing of South West Indiana Soccer Academy (SWISA); a 2-1 victory over Oldham County’s Thoroughbreds Blue and an 8-0 thumping of the Thoroughbreds Green team, they still came home empty handed.

Because of the rule, SIU was adjudged to have a goal differential of 13, with Evansville ending up at 15.

SIU’s other participants, the U11 terriers, lost their first game 4-2 to Jasper Firestrikers, tied with Evansville Elite, and lost to eventual winners Southern Illinois Force in their third game.

Meanwhile, the U16 Classic competition went to Mockingbird, which features Providence's Zev Crawley, Floyd Central's Max Orwick and Jeffersonville's Spencer Whiteman.

Saturday saw the boys win their opener 1-0 against SWISA Magic, with an Orwick strike, before tying with Cincinnati's Star Magic 0-0. That was enough to see them through to Sunday’s semifinal against Thoroughbreds, which they won 2-0 with help of a goal and an assist from Crawley.

The final saw them pitted against Sycamore Arsenal of Ohio, with Crawley heading the winner in a 2-1 victory.

Sweet 16 for Transy and Matt

New Albany graduate Matt Karaffa and Transylvania University are celebrating after reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament at the weekend thanks to, not one, but two penalty shootout victories.

Karaffa, who has returned to the fray for the Pioneers after being sidelined with a broken collarbone at start of the season, scored in the first shootout Friday over Ohio Weslyan (6-5) after a 1-1 tie.

Transy (15-2-3) then progressed to this weekend’s last 16 after another penalty shootout victory, this time against John Carroll University (4-3) after a scoreless encounter.

The Lexington based school will now play Washington University of St Louis (15-4-2) this Friday for a place in the quarter-final. A win there would see them pitted against Trinity Texas or Wisconsin Oshkosh for a spot in the last four.

The finals weekend takes place at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, near Orlando, Florida on November 23 and 24.

Senior Karaffa said that despite reaching the Sweet 16 - the best performance in the school’s history - the players are not planning on finishing the season that way.

Already, they’ve secured a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament for the sixth time in seven years after beating Manchester 2-1 recently and now they have a taste for more success.

“In our eyes, there is much more we can accomplish,” he said. “We are happy with the two wins we've picked up in such a dramatic fashion, but now we must get focused for the game ahead of us. Washington University is going to be a tough opponent but we're looking forward to the challenge.

“The whole season, our team has seen the talent and potential we have when we are at our best, and to see us making it this far into the tournament for the first time in Transy's men's soccer history is something I will never forget. I’m so excited to be a part of this experience.”

The former Bulldog was very nearly not part of the experience. Initially, it was thought the broken collarbone injury he suffered on August 25 would keep him out for the rest of the season. However, with the assistance of his doctor, he had an expedited recovery, returning earlier than expected on October 3 to play in 12 games to date.

“Personally, I feel fortunate just to be able to come back from this injury to play my senior year,” he said. “My doctor told me I would probably have to change my style of play a bit and play a little more conservative but it's very hard for me not to go into every tackle or back down from 50/50 challenges.

“I have trained myself to fall down in ways that protect my collarbone as much as possible to prevent re-injuring it. but injuries are a part of soccer. Sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you're not so lucky.”

Photo, above: New Albany’s Matt Karaffa celebrates after Transylvania University secured the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship when beating Manchester 2-1 recently.

Net-Surfers' Purple reign supreme!

Net-Surfers' U12 Purple girls reigned supreme at the weekend when striking gold at Veterans' Invitational tournament in Evansville.

The Purple team went unbeaten - winning three and tying its fourth game - to capture the Classic section with 10 points.

The FCE Lady Lions were the first to be tamed on Saturday by coach Dave Carrier’s girls, when going down 3-1. Next up was a crunch tie with JB Marine Foerster, which they won 3-2 in a tight encounter.

On Sunday, Net-Surfers continued its purple patch with a 2-0 victory over Lady Strikers, before clinching the title against nearest rivals Owensboro United with a 1-1 tie.

Meanwhile, Net-Surfers' U11's totted up four points in the Classic 2 section. It started well with a 3-1 win over Lady Ambush and tied 3-3 with SWISA Tigers, but found Lady Invasion (2-0) and Lady Blitz (3-0) too strong.

The U13s lost its games to JB Marine/Foerster (4-1), FCE Cobras (2-0) and Metro Strikers (3-1), while the U12 White Waves found SWISA, Thoroughbreds, Evansville Elite and Lady Ambush tough opposition.

This weekend is the turn of the boys, with Southern Indiana United's U9 Thunder and U11 Terriers hoping to reproduce its fine recent form.

U9 Thunder has already tasted success this year when winning the Bluegrass Invitational tournament in Lexington in August. It plays against Evansville Elite and SWISA Academy on Saturday before a double dose of Thoroughbreds (B and Green) on Sunday.

The U11 Terriers, 5-1-1 in tournament play this season, will be hoping to add to its win column with games against Jasper Firestrikers and Evansville Elite.

Driggers and Starck make District team

New Albany's Nathan Driggers and Providence's Brad Starck have been named on the area’s 2007-8 All-District team chosen by the Indiana Soccer Coaches' Association.

This is the second year that forward Driggers has been named on the District 5 team, while it's the first selection for center-half Starck. Both are seniors.

Named on the second team were Ben Hughes (Providence) and Dylan Abrahamson (Jeffersonville), while Kaylea Lipps of Jeffersonville was named on the girls' second team for the second year.

All-District Showcase games will be held between the six selected teams this Saturday and Sunday (November 17 and 18) at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Coaches of record nominated players by submitting profiles in advance of the their district meetings in October and every member coach in attendance has the opportunity to present and promote any players from their roster who are listed on the district ballot.

Each District selects 18 first team and 12 second team players. From this list, the top 18 junior and senior players are offered roster positions for the teams that compete against each other this weekend.

Tigers V Tigers - now that'd be a maul worth catching!

Congratulations to junior Andrew Estopinal from Jeffersonville, who was part of the rampant St Xavier team which won the Kentucky's High School State championship Saturday.

The Tigers (25-0-2), mauled Clark County 5-1, rushing into a 3-0 lead after just 13 minutes of action at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown.

Kyle Schickel, Evan Karst and Kyle Richard put Kentucky's finest into an unassailable lead, while Kevin Bick and Ryan Smith capped the scoring in the 66th and 69th minutes.

St Xavier, ranked No. 1 in the state all season, won its eighth title overall and fourth in eight years. It finished with a 21-match winning streak and became the third state champion in 10 seasons to go undefeated, joining Trinity (1998) and Ballard (1999).

Coach Andy Schulten has gone on record as saying this St. X team - which finished with a state-record 145 goals - could go down as the state's best ever.
Right now, The Tigers are 21 and rising in the NSCAA/adidas national rankings (www.nscaa.com/hsr.php).

Meanwhile, Indiana’s state champions Evansville Memorial - also nicknamed the Tigers - ended the season unbeaten with a record of 23-0-2 and is ranked No. 1 in the US.

Evansville won its 11th Indiana state title since 1979 - and first IHSAA tournament - by beating Chesterton with an Andrew Fuchs strike.

Just a thought, but with only 123 miles and two hours' drive separating two of the best high school teams in the United States, wouldn't it be a great spectacle to see a match-up between the pair?

Curtain comes down at Evansville

The curtain comes down on another soccer season for a number of the area's teams at the sixth annual Veterans' Invitational Tournament in Evansville over the next two weekends.

Six sides from Net-Surfers and Southern Indiana United will travel to the Evansville Elite hosted competition, which will see over 250 teams (U9-U19) from 10 states. The tournament has also attracted Louisville's top teams - some of which feature local players - including Javanon, Mockingbird, the Thouroghbreds and United.

First up this weekend are the girls and Net-Surfers will be represented by four teams at the U11, U12 and U13 levels.

The U11s are in the Classic 2 section and have a busy schedule, with two games on Saturday against Lady Ambush and Lady Invasion, following by another brace against the SWISA Tigers and Lady Blitz on Sunday.

Net-Surfers has two U12 teams taking part - Purple and White Waves - in the Classic and Classic 2 sections. Purple faces off against JB Marine/Foerster, FCE Lady Lion, Lady Strikers and Owensboro, while the White Waves will be hoping to wash away SWISA Flames, Louisville's Thoroughbreds, Evansville Elite and Lady Ambush.

The club's fourth team participating this weekend is the U13s and it will have two games on Saturday against JB Marine/Foerster and FCE Cobras, with a third game against Metro Strikers on Sunday.

The boys' tournament will be held on November 17/18 and SIU's U11 Terriers will be one of four teams from the club hoping to add a bit of bite to proceedings.

Coached by Paul Duckworth and David Stinson, the boys went undefeated at the recent 'Nightmare at the Rock' tournament in Indianapolis with three shutouts, missing out on a place in the final by a goal difference of one and tying 0-0 with eventual winners Center Grove.

The team is 5-1-1 in tournament play so far this season and has outscored its opponents 17-2 in tournament play. It will be hoping to add to its win column with games against Jasper Firestrikers and Evansville Elite.

The second team traveling from SIU are the U9 Thunder, which has already tasted success this year when winning the Bluegrass Invitational tournament in Lexington in August.

It plays against Evansville Elite and SWISA Academy on November 17, before a double dose of Thoroughbreds (B and Green) the following day.

Karate Kid Brazil-style

After Brazil was officially awarded the 2014 World Cup last Tuesday, sparking joyous celebrations from Rio to Sao Paulo, you would imagine its club teams would be on their best behavior - especially after doubts were raised about its suitability as hosts. Not a bit of it.

The following day, a series of confrontations marred the game between Atletico Paranaense and Gremio in the Brazilian championship, with Atletico winning 2-0. After one of the Gremio's players, midfielder Tcheco, was sent off, he left the field and clashed with Atletico director Mario Cesar Petraglia. A shoving match followed.

Then, a Gremio player aimed a karate kick at Atletico midfielder Claiton while he was being interviewed for TV. A fight broke out and order was eventually restored (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee30znrpwds).

But that wasn't the end of it. On Thursday, hostilities resumed when Petraglia was attacked at the airport by a member of the Gremio delegation while waiting to fly back to Sao Paulo.

"I was reading my newspaper when they went for me, with physical and moral offences," claimed Petraglia on the club's website.
Roll on 2014!

Evansville Elated!
Congratulations to southern Indiana outfit Evansville Memorial, winners of its first IHSAA Boys' Soccer State Tournament - and 11th overall state title since 1979 - when beating Chesterton 1-0 Saturday.

Andrew Fuch's second half goal secured the title for the Tigers, who are this week ranked No. 1 in the United States and end the season unbeaten with a record of 23-0-2.

The Irish had cause for celebration too - the Cathedral Irish girls, that is, which also won its first State title. The No. 9 ranked team (16-3-4) from Indianapolis beat Penn 4-2.

Two of the area's referees were also involved in State finals day at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis, again showing that our men in the middle are held in high regard. Kevin Harpring was alternate referee for the Evansville Memorial/Goshen semi-final, while Bob Snook was alternate referee for the final.

Want to be a ref - or learn the rules?
Speaking of referees, you can take your first steps to becoming one - or simply learn the rules of the game - by availing of a new class which will take place in February.

The class will be held at Mt.Tabor School in New Albany the weekend of February 15.
"Adults are also welcome to take the class - it is a great way to learn the rules of soccer," said Clark County Soccer Association referee assignor Teresa Knear Bell.
To register for the class, you can go to www.indref.com. For further information, you can contact Teresa at tknearbell1@yahoo.com

SIU & Net-Surfers work together
The two area's soccer clubs, Southern Indiana United and Net-Surfers, have pledged to work together for the good of soccer in Southern Indiana.

They have agreed that SIU will run the area’s coed recreational program for boys and girls (U5-U16), and the area’s boys’ academy and competitive programs (U9-U18). Net-Surfers, meanwhile, will run the area’s girls’ academy and competitive programs (U9-U18).

The two clubs have also agreed to promote each other through its websites, tournaments and clinics, and a committee to discuss goals and further collaboration is being established.

Both clubs have applied for grants to help them complete their soccer complexes in anticipation of hosting tournaments.

Meanwhile, the Net-Surfers continue to hold tryouts for U15-U18 girls this Saturday, November 3 at Providence High School (10 a.m. to 12 noon).

An effective Sting!
It wasn’t such a horror show for Southern Indiana United’s Sting U10s at the Nightmare at the Rock tournament in Indianapolis recently.

The boys, under the tutelage of Greg Longest, Tim Rice and Steve Reed, placed second after winning three of their four games at the Center Grove hosted competition.

They lost the first game 2-0 to the SFSC Blue Blaze but bounced back in fine style to win three on the trot. Portage Red Devils were the first to feel the “Sting,” going down 2-1 thanks to goals from Luke Barry and Ben Rhodes. They then beat the Starsoccer Titans 1-0, courtesy of a Nic Reed strike, and finished the tournament with a 1-0 victory against Center Grove Shockers, thanks to Harrison Rice effort.

Meanwhile, SIU U11 boys, coached by Paul Duckworth and David Stinson, went undefeated in the tournament with three shutouts.

The boys first beat the Whiteland Future 3-0 on goals by Jacob Hedrick, Alex McLaughlin and Michael Onstott.

It then tied the eventual tournament champions Center Grove United Blast 0-0, before beating the Granite City Elks 1-0 on Jacob Hedrick's second goal of
the tournament.

It missed going to the championship game by one goal in goal
differential to the Center Grove.

The team is 5-1-1 in tournament play so far this season and has
outscored its opponents 17-2 in tournament play.

SIU will finish the season at the Veterans' Invitational Tournament in
Evansville on November 17-18.


Tungate’s gate is great!
Clark County Soccer Association wants to thank Mr Tungate’s welding class at Jeffersonville High School for a security gate it built for them this fall.
As a privately financed organization, CCSA said it benefitted greatly from this
generous gesture by Mr. Tungate's class.

While the previous gate provided security for the property, it was not as aesthetically pleasing, they said. This one, however, is quite impressive and is a fine piece of workmanship.


The new gate thanks to Mr Tungate’s class at Jeffersonville High School

Locals keep Mockingbird in flight
Three of the area’s high school players just missed out on success at the Bash at the Boro in Tennessee Sunday.

Zev Crawley (Providence), Max Orwick (Floyd Central) and Spencer Whiteman (Jeffersonville) switched their attention to club football and were part of Mockingbird’s U16 outfit which put in a fine performance at an equally fine facility at Murfreesboro.

The boys beat Murfreesboro Strikers 3-2 in their first game on Saturday, having been 2-0 down. Another win was secured on the day, when beating TNFC 3-1.

On the Sunday, Mockingbird reached the final after demolishing Nashville Metros 6-1, with Zev Crawley netting a whopping five (four and a deflected goal).

However, their wings were clipped when another Kentucky team, Jackson Purchase, beat them 2-0 in the deciding game.

Coaches beware!
Another crazy story from the world of soccer comes the way of ‘Kick It’ in the shape of a Long Island mother who was arrested after slamming a metal folding chair across the face of her daughter's coach.

The mother of the 12-year-old player allegedly attacked the coach after a dispute sparked by her claim that the 67-year-old coach stopped e-mailing her directions to the team's games.

The coach suffered cuts on his lip and cheek after he was hit in the face three times. The club president said the coach was a volunteer who “stepped up to coach the team when no one else would," according to Newsday.
The mother claimed the coach had made disparaging remarks about her being a single mother.

Sportstime/NABC Team of the Season

Selecting the boys' and girls' teams confirmed to me what I already knew - this was a good year for the area's girls and a bit of a learning curve for the boys.

Maybe it's because more of the fairer sex seem to be flocking to the game right now in Southern Indiana. There is, after all, not as many sports to choose from as there is for boys, paving the way for greater participation.

As well as Southern Indiana United, they've also got the added choice of a growing all girls' club in the shape of Net-Surfers. And then there’s Louisville. And with more choice comes more competition and better coaching.

Or maybe it's just a coincidence. Whatever the reason, it is encouraging that eight of the 11 players picked for our girls' team will be returning next year. And the number is representative of what's going on in all the area's high schools.

Most boys' coaches were rebuilding having lost a number of seniors last year and hopefully the standard will improve as the current players mature. However, why there was no one there ready to step into their shoes possibly needs addressing.

Can teams get better and compete in regionals, semi-state and even beyond? We now have the introduction of academies which, it is hoped, can move the game onto another level if done properly with the right coaches. We have the Deanery Leagues, a good way of introducing children to a game they may never have played.

We need, however, to push for schools - all schools - to play the game at elementary and middle-school level. We need people who have the will to make this happen.

People often point to Indianapolis and surrounding areas being dominant. We can't compete with their numbers, their clubs, their facilities. This isn’t a soccer area.

I point to southern Indiana's Evansville Memorial (a Catholic school with an enrollment of 864), winners of its first ever boys' state tournament Saturday (1-0) and ranked number one in the United States. And I point to finalist Chesterton, a northern Indiana public comprehensive, in its first ever state championship match.

Now tell me it can’t be done.


BOYS (3-4-3)
Seth Quinn, Jeffersonville
"The Red Devils' goalkeeper put in some fine performances, instrumental in a sectional semi-final victory over Providence, which included a penalty save in overtime He also conceded just twice against Kentucky's finest, St Xavier, in a regular season game when peppered with 22 shots, a performance coach Ryan Bixler described as "an unbelievable effort."
Brad Starck, Providence
A strong presence in Pioneer's central defense this season. The senior was an integral part of last year's regional winning team and performed well in his final game against Jeffersonville.

Daniel Carillo, Jeffersonville
The Red Devils senior played in a number of positions and impressed this onlooker when used in defense.
Alex Jaber, Charlestown
Jaber, a senior, was described this season by his coach, Richard Stephens, as a top notch defender and the Mockingbird player impressed in several games against mostly superior opposition.

Ben Hughes, Providence
The junior central midfielder was important to the Pioneers' cause this campaign and scored in the crunch sectional tie against Jeffersonville. It’s unfortunate that the year ended for him with two penalty misses - one in overtime - as his displays didn’t serve it. However, he will at least get the chance to bounce back and lead Providence as a senior.

Austin Waterfield-Copeland, Jeffersonville
The senior, also a wrestler, added some muscle to the Jeffersonville midfield and helped them reach the regional semi-final, where they went down by the dreaded penalty shootout to Madison.

Jordan Adams, Floyd Central
Floyd Central fielded a young team this season, with just three seniors in the squad. In fact, five of its starters in sectionals were sophomores and three were freshman. And among the young crew coming through is 10th grader Jordan Adams, who bagged a hat-trick against Salem, while showing promise in others, including the hard fought win against New Albany to retain the sectional crown.

Scott Meneou, Jeffersonville
Scored an important equalizer for Jeffersonville against Providence in an energy-sapping semi-final but the Red Devils' missed his attacking abilities in the regional semi-final penalty shoot out loss to Madison through injury. As a junior, he gets a chance to return next year with a sectional under his belt.


Lucas Rigsby, Jeffersonville
Only a freshman but has proven himself capable of competing with the big boys this fall and now has a sectional title to go with the Indiana State Challenge Cup victory with SIU Rampage U14s earlier this year. He will be a big asset in the years to come.

Keenan Sparks, Providence
The sophomore forward actually plays a more defensive role for his club Javanon, but with the Pioneers was strong and busy in offense.

Nathan Driggers, New Albany
Bound for Division 1 program Ohio State next year, the area’s outstanding player took a little time to reveal his true ability but once he got going he was hard to keep down. Scored three long range efforts in one day - two against North Harrison in the sectional semi-final and the other against Floyd Central in the final - before keeping his best for last, slicing through the Highlanders’ defense and hammering home a delicious equalizer.


GIRLS (4-4-2)


Kayla Prusinski, Floyd Central
Kayla played an important part in helping the Highlanders secure its sectional crown and made a number of saves in the first half of the regional decider against Columbus North to keep Floyd Central in with a shout of causing an upset.

Lindsay Hack, New Albany
Of great assistance to New Albany's rearguard this fall, Lindsay is a sophomore among a number of pretty useful 9th and 10th graders coming through the ranks for the Bulldogs.

Jill Grable, Providence
A solid defender in a pretty stout defense, while also not adverse to scoring either.

Megan Eve, Providence
The sophomore has been a rock at right back for Providence team in a regular season which saw them lose only twice before State tournament play.



Brigid Morrissey, Floyd Central (above, left)
The Highlander left-back was part of a team that kept clean sheets against New Albany, Providence and Jeffersonville in regular season, while continuing her form into post-season also. One of the first onto the teamsheet.

Sara Moore, Providence (above, right)
This tall and imposing midfielder will play an integral part in the Pioneers' bid for sectional honors this week. As well as commandeering the center of the field, she has also pitched in with a number of goals.

Nikki Korte, Floyd Central
The Highlander central midfield junior was selected after her performance against New Albany in sectionals but it was her next effort against Providence in the final which stands out as her best of the season. Will be back next year in an attempt to lead Floyd further than this year's regional final appearance against Columbus North.

Kaitlin Robinett, New Albany
Despite her tendency to get a little frustrated sometimes, there's something about Kaitlin Robinett's fiesty play that can appeal. Part of a State title winning team in the shape of Mockingbird's U15s this summer, she carried her good form and skill into the high school season.

Kayton Cole, New Albany
There may have been a certain naivety in the game of this freshman, but her raw talent and prospect for improvement is obvious. Her throw-ins are fired like missiles into the danger areas - a valuable weapon in her armory.

Laura Jenkins, Providence
One of the driving forces behind this year's Providence team, both with assists and goals, the attacking junior has used her physical power to good advantage.

April Vanderplow, Floyd Central
Picking just one of Floyd Central's attackers for this team was probably the hardest choice I had to make. Becky Kennedy is faster than a scared cheetah and Kelsey Traughber has been a regular starter up front for the Highlanders, but I finally came down in favor of junior April Vanderplow. She first impressed when coming off the bench to score twice in a win against Bedford North Lawrence, but clinched her place with two important goals against Providence which secured the sectional title.

Jeff High plans on keeping sectionals despite fire

Jeffersonville High School is confident of hosting next year’s boys’ and girls’ soccer sectionals, despite last week’s fire which destroyed the two-storey press box.
Athletic director Tony Branch said he would expect the insurance fire compensation and the GCCS Corporation to build a new and more practical press box by the time the soccer season returns next year.

“In this case we would again request to host boys’ and girls’ soccer sectionals,” said Branch. “We have one of the best venues to host as we can supply all of the amenities, including lights for evening and night play.”

Coincidentally, the fire occurred on October 15, two days after Jeff had hosted the girls’ sectional final and the same week ‘Kick It’ had been working on a story around the issue of rotating soccer sectionals between the area’s schools.

With the Highlanders winning the boys' championship at Floyd Central, and the Red Devils coming out victorious at, well, Jeffersonville, the question as to why both these schools have hosted the tournament the past couple of years was brought up.

Before the new format came into play, Floyd Central hosted a larger sectional comprising all the teams in the area. That larger format still remains in place for the girls, a tournament Jeffersonville also hosts.

While both schools have done a fine job to date, would it be a fairer system if the likes of New Albany and Providence were to host the competition in a rotational system similar in other high school sports?

Theresia Wynns, Indiana High School Athletic Association assistant commissioner, said hosting doesn’t rotate in soccer at all sites because not all schools desire to host it. However, if schools want to meet to ask for a rotation they may do so.

"Schools that are interested in hosting sectionals simply write me a letter indicating so with information about its facilities," said Wynns. "(They) express a desire to host if they can meet the specifications needed, i.e., size of field (120 x 75 yards), bleachers, concessions, restrooms, parking, etc."

Ms Wynns added that venues rotate in other high school sports because the schools in the sectional alignment meet and make those decisions.

“The alignment for soccer is totally different from that of volleyball, basketball softball and baseball,” she said. “The sectional is the only site that rotates - regional and semi-states do not. The other sites for these sports are decided by the IHSAA and very few rotate. Soccer has fewer schools and is still one class."

The IHSAA receives the gate receipts from hosting venues after expenses and stipends are paid, said Wynns.

Okay, so now we know the score, are other schools even interested in hosting them? New Albany athletic director Donnie Unruh said it may seek to host the girls' sectionals in the future, now that its field has improved, while Providence girls’ coach Dave Smith, who believes it should be determined on a rotating basis, said the Pioneers hope to apply to host tournaments once it meets the criteria laid down by the IHSAA.

They have taken some steps already, added Smith, like introducing, floodlights, World Cup standard goals, nets and a new concession stand, while a new Bermuda grass field is also in the pipeline.

“We also have plans to upgrade the spectator area and build a new press box where we can video games,” said Smith.

Sorry - no headscarves please!

There is nothing more annoying sometimes than hearing tales of “the law” being adhered to a little too rigidly without common sense. News comes the way of ‘Kick It’ this week of an incident which typifies that such twaddle is alive and well in our game.

Iman Khalil, a 15-year old Muslim girl, was forced to sit out a game in Tampa, Florida recently because the center referee said her head scarf was not part of her red-and-white soccer uniform and therefore violated game rules. Wearing headgear is generally prohibited as the head, as we know, can be used in the game.

Iman, who had never had an issue with the scarf in the two years she has played competitively, was somewhat stunned when the referee told her she couldn’t take to the field with a piece of clothing which is part of her faith.

Her Hernando Heat U16 teammates, parents, and members of the opposing Zephyrhills Bulldogs all urged the referee to let her play to no avail. Iman’s mother told the Tampa Tribune she was brought to tears, while parents called the incident a “heartbreaking” one.

The man in the middle stood by his decision even after the United Soccer Association's referee assignor checked with the league at half-time and was told Iman could play the second half.

You’ll be glad to hear that a different referee allowed her to play wearing her head scarf the following day against South Hillsborough Soccer League Celtics. In fact, league officials turned up - obviously aware of the growing media interest - with policies that showed she should have been able to play Saturday, including a 2002 memorandum that covers the topic of players "bound by religious law to wear such head coverings."

A player "must request the variance well enough ahead of game time,” the law states, but Iman and her team had not requested such a variance because the scarf had never been a problem before.

The final countdown

The boys' and girls' IHSAA Soccer State Tournament finals will be held in Indianapolis this Saturday, with just four teams remaining in both competitions.

Number one ranked Evansville Memorial (21-0-2) flies the flag for southern Indiana for the third consecutive year and will play unranked Goshen (17-2-3) at Kuntz Stadium (10 a.m.)

Memorial was eliminated in the semi finals on its previous two trips to state and, as favorites, will be hoping to go all the way this time.

It beat this area's regional winners, Columbus North 3-0 on Saturday before disposing of Bloomington North 4-1 in the semi-state final.

The second semi-final will see No. 16 Chesterton (17-4-1) against No. 7 Indianapolis North Central (17-3-3), also at 10 a.m. The final will take place at 6 p.m.

In the girls' tournament, Center Grove (20-3) beat Floyd Central's regional conquerors, Columbus North 1-0 in the semi-state final to advance to the last four.

There, the Trojans will take on Indianapolis Cathedral (14-3-4), while Penn (20-2) and FW Bishop Dwenger (18-2-2) - reigning champions for the past two years - will battle it out in the second semi-final. Both games are at 12 noon with the final at 8 p.m.

Net-Surfer tryouts

Tryouts for girls' soccer club Net-Surfers will be held for U15 to U18 girls at Providence High School on Saturday October 27 and November 3 (10 a.m. to 12 noon).
Teams, which will be selected based on age and ability, will play in the Kentucky Select Soccer League (KSSL). Players can improve their play by competing weekly in practice and league games, as well as participating in two tournaments, where they have the chance to be seen and recruited by college coaches.
Anyone interested should bring a soccer ball and water bottle, wear soccer cleats, and dress to play according to the weather.
For further information, contact director of coaching Dave Smith at 812-283-6084 or 502-445-0354.

Floyd not bothered by underdog role

Recrowned sectional champion Floyd Central believes it has a chance of upsetting No. 17 state ranked Columbus North on its home turf in tomorrow night's girls’ soccer regional final (7 p.m.).

The Highlanders (9-7-4), which secured it seventh title with a 2-1 win over Providence Saturday night, may be going into the game with the Bulldogs (17-1-1) as the underdogs, but Lewie Stevens' girls are not bothered about rankings or records.

" I don't think the ranking will faze our girls," said Stevens. "We played a quality schedule early and our kids know that the rankings are fairly subjective. We tied Jennings and felt like we gave away the loss to Columbus East so we know we can play with North. That probably is motivational for our kids.”

In fact, Floyd Central's sole regional title was won against Columbus North by a 1-0 scoreline in 2000, when Stevens and assistant Lynn Kaiser were at the helm. And the pair feel its squad is hitting its peak at the right time to repeat that feat.

"They have been getting better every game since about the fifth game of the season and it really showed Saturday," said Stevens. “We feel that we are playing our best soccer right now and that we have to earn the respect of our opponents.

“I didn't sense a lot of nervousness from them prior to the sectional championship. They are all veterans of club ball tournaments and have been here before last year as well."

Columbus North's Emily Wheeler and Chelsea Roberts may have bagged 17 and 14 goals respectively, while defender Abby Pence and midfielder Sarah Orisich are on a "Top Watch" list for 2008, but Floyd Central is not without its talent either.

Nikki Korte rose her game to another level against Providence on Saturday; Brigid Morrissey would probably make most schools' teams in the State at left back; and the Highlanders are blessed with three forwards in April Vanderplow, Becky Kennedy and Kelsey Traughber that are capable game winners.

"We know that there is really no magic bullet that gets you over the hurdle,” said Stevens. “I really think that we have to play hard and intensely but more than that, we have to play smart. Against a quality opponent, all the little details we have worked on all year come into play.

"Most of it has to do with movement away from the ball and staying under control. Don't devolve into a kickball game. Keep your composure and play the game the way we are capable of doing. If we do that we know that we will be in a position to advance.”

Stevens said North, who beat rivals Columbus East on penalty kicks Saturday after a 2-2 draw, will get chances, but they don’t want to panic.

“Against a team like North that is going to happen,” he said. “How we respond will probably be the measure of the game.”

Regional title goes North

It was a good day for Columbus North (15-4-2) Saturday as the school also won the boys' regional title at Floyd Central, beating Madison 3-0.

Alex Abedian - who scored a hat-trick against the Highlanders in the semi-final on Wednesday - shot the Bulldogs ahead in the opening minutes and added a second with 15 minutes remaining.

The game was put to bed five minutes from time courtesy of Louie Souza. It was North's ninth consecutive game without conceding a goal.

The Bulldogs will play No 1 ranked Evansville Memorial (18-0-3) in the semi-state championship at Evansville Central this Saturday.

Time for a new crystal ball...

After a thrilling weekend of boys' sectional soccer, I've ditched my wonky old crystal ball and replaced it with a state-of-the-art, shiny new one complete with high definition and the ability to reveal the scores of penalty shootouts before they take place.

Congratulations to Floyd Central and Jeffersonville, winners over New Albany and Christian Academy respectively. Both move on to the regionals tomorrow evening, with the Highlanders hosting Columbus North and the Red Devils taking on Madison.
Saturday was the day goalkeeping heroics came to the fore, with Daniel Neeld and Seth Quinn proving themselves masters of negotiating the 12 yard spot kick against New Albany and Providence. In Quinn's case, he also had to do it in overtime when saving from Ben Hughes.

This week, the girls take center stage with the sectionals kicking off at Jeffersonville tonight, culminating in the championship decider on Saturday.

Girls' Jeffersonville Sectional
Match 1 – Jeffersonville vs. New Albany (Tuesday, 6 p.m.)
It's not been easy for Jeffersonville and coach Michael Dennis this fall, with the loss of 10 seniors and a lot of new players being introduced to the fold. The regular season meeting between the teams saw the Bulldogs come out 5-0 winners and while I believe this will be a closer game, it's hard to see Jeffersonville closing the gap enough to come out on top in this one. Verdict: New Albany.

Match 2 – Floyd Central vs. North Harrison (Tuesday, 8 p.m.)
Floyd Central boss Lewie Stevens doesn't believe the possibility of having to play three games in sectional over the space of five days will be asking too much of his girls, so they're not all that upset with the draw. "We feel we are up to the task and at this time of the year it is not so bad getting tested every other day or so in order to stay sharp," he said. Recently, the Highlanders tied with Jennings County, whose only two losses this year have been to top 20 teams, so Stephens feels it can play quality soccer and are "putting it together at the right time." Verdict: Floyd Central.

Match 3 – New Albany vs. Floyd Central (Thursday, 6 p.m.)
Should New Albany prevail, it could see the very interesting prospect of Jessica Moore facing off against sister Sara (Providence) in the championship decider. However, a repeat of the 3-0 win for the Highlanders in regular season against the Bulldogs would spoil that particular scenario. New Albany do have potential game winners though, in the shape of Kaitlin Robinett and Kayton Cole, so the Floyd Central rearguard will have to be at the top of its game. At the other end, forwards Kelsey Traughber, April Vanderplow and Becky Kennedy have keeper Madie Bruker - who pulled off one of the saves of the season against Providence - to beat. Verdict: Floyd Central.

Match 4 – Corydon Central vs. Providence (Thursday, 8 p.m.)
Providence has received what some might describe as the 'easier' side of the draw. A victory against Corydon will see them into Saturday's final but it should not be forgotten that the Pioneers just edged out the same opposition in sectionals last year by 1-0. "We greatly respect Corydon's program and remember what a battle it was against them last year," said Providence coach Dave Smith. "The overall level of play in our area has been elevated so much in the past five to seven years that every team has skilled players and athleticism. Verdict: Providence.

Championship – Floyd Central vs. Providence (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
This, a repeat of last year's final which Floyd Central won on penalties, would be one matchup worth catching. The Pioneers and the Higlanders are ranked 8th and 9th respectively in the district, both tied 0-0 in regular season, and both are looking strong coming into sectionals. It could be another tight affair, as a strength of both sides is defense. Floyd possess one of the more talented players around in sophomore Brigid Morrissey, while Jackie Cusick, Maggie Taylor, Laura Heverly, Nikki Roberts and keeper Kayla Prusinski have been mean to opposition forwards this season. Equally keeping a tight ship has been the Providence rearguard, which includes the likes of Jill Grable, Megan Eve, Shaina Luther, Jaclyn Mann and keeper Alyssa Hendershot. Nikki Korte and Sara Moore will battle in the middle, while game winners Laura Jenkins and Cristian May-Boquiren (Providence), and the aforementioned Traughber, Vanderplow and Kennedy (Floyd Central) will be hoping to hit the net. Verdict: Providence.

Boys' regional semi-finals (at Floyd Central)
Floyd Central v Columbus North (Wednesday, 6 p.m.)
Floyd Central (4-9-4) has done remarkably well to get this far, when you consider they won just one regular season game with a squad comprising three seniors. Having beaten one Bulldog, it now comes up against another in the shape of Columbus North (13-4-2), a side ranked No. 13 in the State. North made it here by comprehensively beating sectional hosts Seymour - a regional finalist last year - by a 5-0 scoreline before edging out rival Columbus East 1-0 in the championship game with two minutes remaining. However, coach Scott Hollis said that although they know it will be a very tough game, they have a “huge momentum” going into it. “ If you look at our record, you wouldn't have thought we would win sectional but we felt over and over that this team, when it strings it together, is a pretty solid team.”

Jeffersonville v Madison (Wednesday, 8 p.m.)
Having seen Jeffersonville (8-9-1) play Madison (13-1-3) already this season - when it dominated much of the first half but lost the initiative in the second - I believe Ryan Bixler’s charges are capable of winning this. New Albany also showed last week that the Cubs' defense is suspect, having put four past them in a regular season game. Three of those goals were the result of Madison's defense not closing down attackers quick enough to stop the strike, and if it gives the likes of Scott Meneou, Brian Quinn and Nick Neely that sort of space, they could pay the price. Having said that, Madison has only lost once this season (1-0 to Jennings County) and the winning habit is one it has gotten used to, and it is possible Saturday's war of attrition against Providence and the later final may be felt in Jeff's legs.

Regional Championship (at Floyd Central): Floyd Central/Columbus North v Jeffersonville v Madison (Saturday, 12 noon)

And the winners are...

(Published in The Evening News & The Tribune, October 2, 2007)

When I was playing for the likes of Ballymun Skylarks and Tolka Rovers in the schoolboy leagues of Dublin, my pre-match meals - eaten hurriedly on the way to meet up with team mates - usually consisted of a packet of pickled onion flavored Monster Munch and fizzy jellies.

I never really put much thought into how food consumption would affect my performance. I had more important issues on my mind; like how I was going to dribble round seven or eight players before chipping the ball delicately over a flailing keeper and what kind of pitch celebration that deserved.

Nowadays, of course, sports science is at a whole new level and players will probably be paying a bit more attention to what they eat as they ready themselves for some important games ahead this week. On its way to a regional title last year, for example, Providence prepared by having a spaghetti meal cooked by coach Adam Giovenco. I would imagine after hearing this news, most schools in the area will be sending spies scurrying around to coach Gio's abode this week in search of said recipe.

No matter how you prepare for the big games over the coming days, our best wishes go out to all. And for a bit of fun, we're going to take our dusty but mystical crystal ball down from the attic, wipe away the cobwebs and take a peek at how the games might pan out. Yes, I know, I'm setting myself up for a horrid fall because it won't turn out this way at all, of course, but I feel it's a good way to shed some light on who may be this year's Monster Munches as teams prepare for sectional and regional play.

Floyd Central sectional

Match 1: Floyd Central v Salem (Thursday, 7 p.m.)
This is Salem's first taste of sectional fare and what a baptism of fire it is. The boys from Washington County have been enjoying the school's inaugural soccer season and hopefully the Lions' program will roar on as the years pass by. Verdict: Floyd Central.

Match 2: North Harrison v New Albany (Saturday, 10 a.m.)
It would take an effort of monumental proportions for North Harrison to upset the applecart here. These met at the same stage last year, when New Albany ran out 6-0 winners. The biggest concern for the Bulldogs this time will be to balance the two factors of winning the game with reasonable comfort, while not over exerting key players ahead of the evening final. Verdict: New Albany.

Match 3: Floyd Central v Corydon (Saturday, 12 noon)
Last year, The Highlanders faced the same opponents at the same stage and made the final with a hard fought 2-0 victory. On the evidence of this year's results, it should be honors to Floyd Central but they need to avoid being complacent. Verdict: Floyd Central.

Championship: Floyd Central v New Albany (Saturday 7 p.m.)
Both teams couldn't be separated in regular season after a 2-2 tie and this rematch promises to be just as tight. The Bulldogs will be looking to Nathan Driggers and Stephan Kossis, who both scored against Floyd in their earlier meeting, to pull them through this. While FC's defense will need to keep a very close eye on Driggers especially, it will be hoping the likes of Cameron Fitzgerald - one of only three seniors on the FC roster - Jordan Adams and Chase Holland step up to the plate to cause some damage at the opposite end. And it is in this position where New Albany have been dealt a blow as regular goalkeeper Zachariah Litzelswope is still recovering from a hand injury and is not likely to be fit for this, opening the way for Danny Hartman and Nathan Blair to gain some big game playing time. It's a recent batch of results, including New Albany's 2-0 victory over Jeffersonville and Floyd's 4-2 defeat at the hands of the same opposition, that point to the logical conclusion that this could be the Bulldogs' night. But, then again, when did logic ever come into it? Verdict: New Albany.

Jeffersonville sectional

Match 1: Charlestown v Providence (Thursday, 6 p.m.)
Charlestown gets a chance to cause a major upset when it takes on reigning sectional and regional champion Providence in Round 1. Pirates coach Rick Stephens said it’s a game they are very much looking forward to. “I think the gap is closing but still exists," he said. Verdict: Providence.

Match 2 – Rock Creek Academy v Christian Academy of Indiana (Saturday, 10 a.m.)
The luck of the draw has certainly favored this pair, one of which will play in a Championship game. CAI played in the Floyd Central sectional last year and went out at the first hurdle to North Harrison. This time, encouraged by recent results like its 4-1 win over Charlestown last week, it looks set to overcome Rock Creek and take its place in a championship decider. Verdict: Christian Academy.

Match 3 – Jeffersonville v Providence (Saturday 12 noon)
There's been much talk in the state about the issue of seeding teams and the disadvantages of sides having to play two games on the same day. Both issues come into play with this possible match up and the irony is that this might actually turn out to be a better game between the section's two best teams at high noon than if it had have played out in the evening. Jeffersonville coach Ryan Bixler definitely shares that view, as he said last week that both teams would have been tired from the morning game. Now, if you had have asked me some weeks ago who I thought was going to win this tie, I would have plumped for Jeffersonville, as they impressed me more early season. However, they looked simply flat against New Albany recently before then bouncing back with a 1-0 win against the Pioneers and a 4-2 victory against Floyd Central and it's hard to know which team will come out this week. Providence, on the other hand, have just welcomed back midfielder Ben Hughes from injury, while defender-turned-forward Keenan Sparks also returns to the fray. I've a feeling the latter's battle against the Jeff defense and keeper Seth Quinn could be where this game is lost or won - or if, indeed, it goes all the way. Overtime and penalty kicks anyone? Verdict: Providence.

Championship: Christian Academy v Providence (Saturday, 7.30 p.m.)
There is the belief that the winner of Match 3 just needs to shine its collective boots from the morning's exertions and make it to the field on time later in the evening to secure a sectional championship, lift the hardware and pose happily for pictures. However, having seen CAI play recently, it will take a bit more than that methinks. Coach Dan Johnson’s charges have improved from last year, and with the likes of striker Josh Loveland and midfielder Caleb Dorman in form, their opponents - dare I say, possibly exhausted opponents - won’t have it all their own way. Funnily enough, the Warriors and the Pioneers play tonight in what is the last regular season game for both camps. A dress-rehearsal, perhaps? Verdict: Providence.

Braving Adversity

Photos courtesy of Bradley University


(Published in The Evening News and The Tribune, September 25, 2007)

If Bradley University's Division I men's soccer team had come out this fall and performed consistently below par, everyone connected would have understood why.


But the manner in which the Braves from Peoria, Ill., have lived up to their name on the field following a summer of tragedy is one that demands respect.

Looking forward to the new campaign and buoyed by genuine optimism following its third regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title, Bradley was rocked to its core when 19-year-old midfield sophomore Sheridan "Danny" Dahlquist passed away on Aug. 12 following a prank that went horribly wrong.



Prosecutors say he died in a fire that started when four friends set off Roman candles under his bedroom door. After they realized the room had caught fire, they tried frantically to save him but were driven away by intense heat.

David Crady, Ryan Johnson, Nick Mentgen and Daniel Cox were charged with two counts of aggravated arson, residential arson and possession of an explosive or incendiary device.

Three of them — Crady, Johnson and Mentgen — were not only housemates of Danny’s, but Bradley soccer teammates, too. None of the players has participated in practices since the fire: Johnson has resigned from the team, while Crady and Mentgen have been dismissed for the season.

If convicted of all charges, the defendants face up to 30 years in prison.

Meanwhile, reminders of Danny are everywhere at Shea Stadium, home of the Braves.

On the field, two large Celtic crosses are etched into each half. Added are the words, "Life a Brave; Death a Brave," with his nickname "DQ" and his number, 29, on the arms of the cross. A flag also flies in his memory, while memorial wristbands are sold inside the ground. A minute's silence is held before games.

A tragedy that could have ripped through the heart of teams with lesser camaraderie and spirit, Bradley has come out and posted a fine start to the season. Watching the Braves record a 1-0 victory against Cincinnati last week, you would never have known this was a group of players still trying to come to terms with the loss of a friend and a teammate.



Among them is Floyds Knobs native Brad Snook, now a redshirt junior and enjoying regular playing time in defense.

Snook, a Floyd Central sectional champion in 2003 and a winner of six Kentucky State Cup titles with Javanon (five) and Louisville Soccer Club (one), told The Tribune and The Evening News he believes the way Danny's family handled the situation — with class and dignity — lent strength to everyone else who didn't know how to react.

"We see them on a regular basis (Danny's dad Craig is the senior associate athletic director for compliance and finance at Bradley) and they are such great people," he said. "They definitely raised Danny in their likeness, and the number of people this family has had an impact on is amazing.

"He was truly a top-class individual. Everything about him showed that he was a quality guy. He would help anyone no matter what they needed. No one wanted to be a Bradley Brave more than Danny. He truly felt it was an honor every time he pulled on the jersey. It was easy to see how Danny's family raised him to be a selfless, valued person."

Snook admits the season — Bradley’s 21st in Division I — took a drastic turn with what happened with Danny, but he said heart and battling qualities have seen them chalk up some notable results despite a tough schedule.

The Braves, now 4-2-1, have already recorded wins against conference champions Western Illinois (Summit League) and Cincinnati (Big East Conference Red), as well as a 1-1 tie against powerhouse North Carolina.


Their two losses were no disgrace either. They held what is considered the best team in the country — Wake Forest — scoreless for 65 minutes before succumbing 3-0, while they kept it tied with No. 9 ranked Saint Louis on Saturday for 75 minutes before going down 2-0.

"Honestly, no one really expected us to start out the way we did, mainly because of the trip to UNC and Wake Forest," Snook said. "We were supposed to lose those games, but our team just battled and showed a great deal of heart to get a result against UNC.

"I came into this season very optimistic about our team, and my individual performance as well. And for the first actual time in my Bradley career, I have been given the opportunity to play significant minutes in big games for our team."

And the Braves will continue to play big in those games, encouraged by an immense outpouring from the community.

"It's good to know that they are supporting us," said Snook. "It means a lot personally, and I know the team appreciates it too. This ordeal has really shown me the true meaning of 'Once a Brave, Always a Brave.'"

You can catch Brad and the Braves live on Fox Soccer Channel when they travel to take on Missouri Valley Conference rival and nationally No. 7 ranked Creighton on Wednesday, Oct. 10 (7 p.m.).

Meanwhile, Bradley hosts an invitational tournament which will see it play IUPUI this Friday (7.30 p.m.). The game will also see Snook face former Floyd Central teammate Andy Orwick, a native of Georgetown, getting regular playing time this season in defense with the Jaguars (2-5-1).

Sectional draw sets up possible FC-NA final

Published in The Evening News and The Tribune, September 25, 2007)

The draws for the boys’ and girls’ 14th annual IHSAA Soccer State Tournament series were made Monday — throwing up the prospect of some mouth-watering ties.


The boys’ sectionals 55 and 56 kick off at Jeffersonville and Floyd Central, respectively, on Thursday, Oct. 4, with the finals on Saturday, Oct. 6. The competitive girls’ sectional will be hosted by Jeffersonville and will commence Monday, Oct. 8, with the final taking place on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Either Christian Academy of Indiana or Rock Creek Christian will get a chance to play in the boys’ championship decider at Jeffersonville, as they both square off in the first semifinal.

That means that Charlestown, Providence and Jeffersonville will have to battle it out for the other final spot.

Charlestown get a chance to cause a major upset when it takes on reigning sectional and regional champion Providence in Round 1. Pirates coach Rick Stephens said it’s a game they are very much looking forward to.

“We played Jeff well in regular season, but did not face Providence varsity in the regular season,” he said. “I think the gap (between us) is closing but still exists. Jeffersonville has 1,900 students to access, while Providence is a private school and that always matters.”

The winner will play Jeffersonville in the semifinal and Red Devils coach Ryan Bixler said the great thing about this year’s tournament is that it’s anyone’s game.

“That rings true in our sectional this year especially,” he said. “I don’t think that any one team stands out as a clear favorite or underdog. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Providence following their accomplishments last year. We have seen both Charlestown and Providence this year already, so we know we will have our hands full in our first game no matter who comes out of Game 1.”

Is he disappointed there will be no Jeff/Providence final?

“No. If that scenario would have played out, it would probably have been a disappointing final as both teams would be tired from the morning game,” Bixler said.

The Floyd Central Sectional looks like it will have another championship game between the hosts and New Albany. The Highlanders, however, will first have to negotiate their way past Salem and then possibly Corydon, while New Albany will have just one opponent in North Harrison in the semifinal.

Bulldogs coach Dutch Vigar said: “I am looking forward to playing North Harrison and plan on being in the championship game on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the girls’ sectional at Jeffersonville will once again be very competitive as it features all the area’s heavyweights. Holders Floyd Central will play North Harrison in Round 1, and the winner will face either New Albany or Jeffersonville in the semifinal. The second semi will see Providence, beaten on penalty kicks by Floyd Central last year, play Corydon Central.

Pioneers coach Dave Smith said his team is “very pleased” with the draw, although Providence greatly respects Corydon’s program and remember what a battle it was against the Panthers last year when progressing with a narrow 1-0 victory in Round 1.

“The overall level of play in our area has been elevated so much in the past five to seven years that every team has skilled players and athleticism,” said Smith. “It should be an entertaining sectional for the community, so please come out and cheer on your teams.”



IHSAA State Tournament Series 2007:

Boys - Sectional 55 at Jeffersonville (Oct. 4 & 6). Match 1 – Charlestown vs. Providence. Match 2 – Rock Creek Academy vs. Christian Academy of Indiana. Match 3 – Jeffersonville vs. Winner of Match 1. Championship – Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3. Sectional 56 at Floyd Central (Oct. 4 & 6) Match 1 – Floyd Central vs. Salem. Match 2 – North Harrison vs. New Albany. Match 3 – Corydon Central vs. Winner of Match 1. Championship – Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3. Regional (At Floyd Central, Oct. 10 & 13) Match 1 – Winner at Floyd Central vs. Winner at Seymour. Match 2 – Winner at Jeffersonville vs. Winner at Madison. Championship – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2.

Girls - Sectional 28 at Jeffersonville (Oct. 8, 9, 11 & 13). Match 1 – Jeffersonville vs. New Albany. Match 2 – Floyd Central vs. North Harrison. Match 3 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2. Match 4 – Corydon Central vs. Providence. Championship – Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4. Regional championship (At Columbus North, October 17) Jeffersonville winner vs. Columbus North Winner.