Chelsea happy with "unbelievable" season

Jeffersonville's Chelsea Grover and Western Kentucky University just missed out on an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I soccer tournament at the weekend following a 2-0 loss to Denver in the final of the 2008 Sun Belt Conference.

The Lady Toppers (15-2-4) advanced to their first championship match in their history after victories over Florida International and North Texas.


Despite a good first half defensive effort by WKU in the deciding game, Denver broke through in the second half with goals from Taryn Hemmings and Brook Lamphere in the 58th and 68th minutes.

Sophomore Grover, a defender who played in all 21 games, said it was "awesome" to be part of the first Lady Toppers team to make it to the SBC Championship game.

"It was disappointing to lose because everyone wanted so badly to win, but our coaches are still very proud of us on our unbelievable season," said the Jeff High School graduate. "We all can't wait until next season for another shot at the title."

She said she was "extremely happy" to play in every game -- and even got to play in goal for a couple of minutes against Morehead State.

"I am now a retired goalie as I broke my finger in practice," she joked. "Morehead didn't take any shots on me so I didn't have to work too hard back there, but it is pretty cool to say that I have played goalie in a collegiate game."

Tigers on the maul

If you think you've caught a dose of the "deja vu" flu when reading the following couple of paragraphs, it's probably because you read them last year.

Louisville's St Xavier are the Kentucky's boys' soccer champs; Louisville's Sacred Heart are best of the girls; and Evansville Memorial are IHSAA boys' victors.

And, like last year, I will say something about it being a shame that the Evansville Memorial Tigers and the St Xavier Tigers don't square off in an exhibition type battle of Indiana and Kentucky, seeing that both are ranked amongst the top 20 teams in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America poll.

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?
Senior Andrew Estopinal from Jeffersonville was part of the rampant St Xavier squad (22-1) which won the Kentucky's High School State championship Saturday with a 7-2 thrashing of Highlands from Fort Thomas. St Xavier won its ninth title overall, tying Ballard for most Kentucky titles won in history.

Sacred Heart (21-1-3) regained the girls' championship crown by defeating Highlands 2-0 thanks to goals from Lucy Chauvin and Jenna Price.

Meanwhile, Evansville Memorial (23-0-2) won its 12th Indiana state title since 1979 - and second IHSAA tournament - by beating Zionsville in a thrilling penalty shootout 3-2 (5-4 PK) at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis last week.

It was a historic day for Memorial, as it became the first school to win both the boys' and girls' soccer championships in the same year. The Lady Tigers defeated Fort Wayne Snider 2-0 in the girls' final.

Spare a thought for Noblesville, which went through the entire regular and post seasons without conceding a single goal, but fell to Memorial in the semi-final on penalty kicks after a scoreless encounter.

Not such a Nightmare for Net-Surfers

Southern Indiana's Net-Surfers U12 girls were finalists at the Nightmare at the Rock tournament held at Center Grove Soccer Club in Gilbertsville, Indiana recently.

After winning their division bracket, which included wins against Mockingbird and SCSA Lightning, Net-Surfers met Kings Soccer Academy Elite Jones in a championship game which they lost in overtime after a 2-2 tie during regulation.

The team, coached by Marlon Jones, includes Maddie Burns, Jordan Reger, Alyssa Jones, Ashley Bittenbender, Fatima Maxwell, Alexis Lete, Leah Ellis, Rachel Labby, Taylor Haley, Emily Lewis and Madeline Coffey.

Javanon fundraiser

Javanon Soccer Club of Louisville, which features a number of southern Indiana players on its teams, will be holding its first gala at Holy Spirit, Lexington Road on November 15 (7pm).

The event will feature a silent and live auction, and music will be provided by Sound Decision.

All proceeds will benefit the 23,000 sq ft training facility which began construction in 2007. The facility features an indoor turf field and three outside fields. The facility is also in the process of completing a media center for coaches and players to review film, administrative offices and concession area.

The club plans to add a strength and conditioning room over the next several years along with additional playing fields. For more information about the gala or to make a donation to the club, visit www.javanon.com, or contact Kay Maum at 502-299-3865.