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.