Jamborees signal big kick off

(Published in The Evening News & Tribune, August 14, 2007)

While America and the rest of the world still await David Beckham's first full 90 minutes in an LA Galaxy jersey, there was no such hanging around for excitement locally as the high school soccer season kicked off with a bang at the weekend.
To the delight of hundreds of players, their parents, fans, coaches and referees, Saturday saw the beautiful game played in beautiful weather with two jamborees held at Providence and Floyd Central.
Games were 20 minutes in length with just one half being played. Of most interest was the latter jamboree, which featured not only the hosts boys' and girls' teams - both reigning sectional champions - but also some hot competition from the Red Devils, Jeffersonville, and the New Albany Bulldogs.
However, it didn't turn out to be the Highlanders' evening, with Jeffersonville coming out on top of both their boys' games, while New Albany's girls recorded 1-0 victories in both their encounters with the local rivalry.
Although it is very early stages indeed, Jeffersonville - who defeated Floyd Central 1-0 (Lucas Rigsby) and New Albany 2-0 (Scott Meneou, Dylan Abrahamson) - seemed to signal that it is they who will cope best with the loss of senior players. And despite a slow start against the Red Devils, New Albany put in a much improved display against Floyd Central later in the evening, winning courtesy of two Nathan Driggers goals.
Red Devils coach Ryan Bixler said they seem to have been a bit more fortunate than the other area schools this year in that they have quite a few returning players with a lot of varsity experience.
"We will definitely lean on that as one of our strong points this year," he said. "Our main goal this season is just to focus on improving as a team each game. If we can keep our focus on improving all season long, the wins and losses will take care of themselves."
The addition of Shawn Smith to the coaching staff will also help them fill the void left by Drew Starck, said Bixler.
"Starck was an outstanding assistant coach, and Shawn has done a great job of stepping in to fill his shoes," he said. "As a team we are very anxious to get started. Our players have worked very hard in the off-season, and we as coaches are pleased with the progress we have seen so far."
Expect to see a lot of very close and hotly contested games among the area's girls this season, as there seemed to be very little between the three in action here. All games were decided by just one goal, with Floyd Central's Maddie Satkamp netting against Jeffersonville, and New Albany's Kaitlyn Robinette and Chelsea Cottner securing Sara Dickman's impressive charges victory against Jeff and Floyd Central respectively.
Meanwhile, over at Providence, the boys' regional champions were in action against North Harrison and Corydon, and again they look a threat to all who cross their path this season. Although losing many important players such as Brad Orem, Hunter Mattingly, Eric Stackhouse, Nick Rogers and goalkeeper Kelyn Mann, they again look a very physical and imposing team, while also having the skill and agility of players like junior Omar Salguero to look to.
Providence girls also impressed and will be looking to go one better than their sectional final defeat to Floyd Central on penalty kicks last year.

Jaime a hit at Keynsham
You may remember our feature in June on Floyd Knobs' Jaime Halas (22), who became Southern Indiana's first professional female soccer player when signing for English FA Women's Premier League outfit Keynsham Town.
Well, we are happy to report that Bellarmine University's all-time highest scorer (with 39 goals) has been a big hit pre-season, ahead of Keynsham's first league game against Portsmouth this Saturday (August 18).
Halas scored in all three of the club's games on a tour of Belgium, not to mention chipping in with a number of assists.
"Everything is going really well," said the former Javanon striker. "I started every game and played 90 minutes in two games and 80 minutes in one game."
It might have been somewhat of wet summer in Britain this year, but the sun seems to be shining on Jaime.
"The sunshine has returned to England just in time for my arrival - I am quite lucky with the summer that they have been having," she told us. " I don’t think it has rained once since I have been here and that is almost four weeks!"
After a successful senior year at Bellarmine, Jaime felt she wasn't ready to quit soccer, so she sent out about 80 emails to various clubs affiliated to the Football Association in England asking for a trial.
Three clubs - Reading, Crystal Palace and Keynsham Town - showed interest and a January trip proved fruitful when Keynsham, a town between Bristol and Bath in south west England, offered her a one year paid contract (with a two year option), accommodation and the payment of fees to Bath Spa University, where she will officially be an art student.
Founded in 1993 as Super Strikers - a U11 six-a-side team - their rise has been fairly meteoric and this past season they finished a very creditable fifth in the FA Women's Premier League’s Southern Division under the stewardship of coach Barrie Newton. Their sights are now set on promotion to the very top flight, alongside the like of giants Arsenal, Everton and Leeds.
The team has a truly international flavor with two Brazilians, a Bosnian, a Serbian and a Romanian as part of their ranks - all members of their own national teams.