(Published Evening News & Tribune, June 24, '08)
Two southern Indiana players have made it to today's US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship semi-finals in Rockford, Ill.
Trevor Bruner of Jeffersonville and Keenan Sparks of New Albany are part of Javanon's U16 team, which won a tough bracket courtesy of a superior goal difference. They play Vardar Red of Michigan this morning (10 a.m.) for a place in tomorrow's final.
The boys will need no motivation for what will be one of the biggest games of their lives to date, as they lost to Vardar in the Midwest Regional League earlier in the season and will be gunning for revenge.
The team got off to a flyer on Saturday against another Michigan side, Vardar West, when running out 5-1 victors, but then lost narrowly on Sunday to KCFC Strikers of Kansas 2-1.
However, a 5-2 win against PSA United (Ohio North) yesterday put them atop the bracket after KCFC Strikers lost to Vardar West.
Over 200 teams and 4,000 players from 14 state associations descended on Rockford this week for the Region II Championships. The bracket games took place Saturday, Sunday and yesterday, with the semi-finals down for decision today, and the finals tomorrow.
Among them were a number of the area's top players, including New Albany's Kaitlin Robinett, who starred for Mockingbird's U16 girls Sunday when scoring both her team's goals in a 2-1 victory or South Dakota.
The girls, the club’s sole representative at the championships, tied their first game against FC Milwaukee Blue, and beat JUSC Premier of Iowa 3-0, but agonizingly went out on goal difference to Milwaukee despite an unbeaten run.
Also unlucky to miss out was Javanon's U13 girls, a team featuring Leah Mattingly of Floyds Knobs. They faced an uphill battle after losing their opening day game to KCFC Force from Kansas by a lone goal, but bounced back to beat Rushmore of South Dakota 4-1, and then Toro Booyah of Nebraska 2-1. Only a tiebreaker prevented them from going any further.
Pierce Crawley's Javanon U13s also lost out on goal differential. They got off to a great start on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Michigan Elite, but hit a flat spot on Sunday when going down 4-0 to CASA of Ohio. Undeterred, the boys put in a good performance against Bangu Tsunami Blue of Minnesota to finish on a high and second in a three way tie at the top of the table.
One of the most anticipated games of the tournament was the U17 Kentucky Open State Cup final rematch between winners United 1996 and Javanon, and it didn't disappoint. Javanon, featuring New Albany's Nathan Driggers, took a 3-1 lead, only to lose the game 5-3. United progress to the semi-finals after three victories and will play against Scott Gallagher (MO) at 12 noon today.
Javanon's U14s feature Providence's Daniel Wilburn and Floyd Central's Matt Kelsey. For Wilburn, from New Albany, the week got off to a nightmare start after he broke his foot in practice just three days before regionals. They lost to FC Milwaukee 2-0 (WI), Cleveland 3-1 (Ohio North) and Michigan Jaguars (3-2) . Wilburn has been blogging his team's exploits on US Youth Soccer's website (championships.usyouthsoccer.org/ChampionshipsBlog.asp)
United 1996's U19s featured New Albany's Derek Webb and Jefforsonville's TJ Fox, who lost to FC Milwaukee (WI), Arsenal Bluejays (NE) and KC Wizards (KS).
Jefforsonville's Chelsea Grover was part of Javanon U19 team which tied to PSA Gunners (MN) and FC Milwaukee (WI), before losing to Eclipse Select (IL).
The third team from Louisville to make today's semi-finals are Javanon's U18s, who play Shattuck St Mary's from Minnesota (10 a.m.). They had wins agains FC United (IL) and Cup Red (Ohio South), and tied with Arsenal Hibernians (NE) after coming from 2-0 behind to tie 2-2.
Gus Bender, president of Illinois Youth Soccer and host for the regional championships, said, "“This (US Youth Soccer National Championship Series) is the greatest tournament in the United States. Everyone in the nation knows that when you win a regional or national championship you have really done something."
Tomorrow's regional winners from U14 to U19 will go on to play at the US Youth Soccer National Championships at
Burns Park Soccer Complex in Little Rock, Arkansas from July 22-27.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Awesome Arshavin lights up Euros
The clash of the busiest period in the club youth soccer calendar with the European Championships in Switzerland and Austria has prevented me from commenting on the latter, which reaches its final stages this week.
To date, there have been many memorable games and some fine football (or futbol as my editor keeps reminding me) to keep the interest, despite the absence of all British teams and Ireland.
Standout games have included the quarter-final involving Croatia and Turkey, where a crazy final couple of minutes led to a penalty shoot out won by the Turks, and the 'Cardiac Turks' again when coming from 2-0 behind to beat the Czech Republic 3-2 in the group stages.
However, my advice to any youth player in the area is to get their hands on a recording of the quarter-final clash between the Netherlands and Russia, where the performance of Andrei Arshavin was simply phenomenal. He was at the heart of every Russian move and sliced the Orange defense like a knife on numerous occasions. The tireless energy and skill of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker was a joy to behold, as was the performances of his team mates such as Sergei Semak and Konstantin Zyryanov.
For one, I'm looking forward to seeing awesome Arshavin in Russia's semi-final on Thursday against Spain, who are no slouches themselves with a lethal strike force comprising Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Valencia's David Villa. Arshavin missed the group game between the two, when Spain ran out 4-1 winners.
First up, though, is another intriguing semi-final tomorrow, when Germany take on Turkey. Both games are on ESPN, while the final, which will be held on Sunday, will be on ABC. All games are at 2.45 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ready for Rockford!
A record number of Southern Indiana players will travel to Rockford, Ill. this week to participate in the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships.
They will be part of teams from Javanon, United 1996 and Mockingbird, who recently won the Kentucky State Open Cup in their respective age groups at the end of May.
Javanon once again dominated at the State Open Cup finals held at Bowling Green and Lexington — picking up eight titles — while two went to United 1996, and one to Mockingbird.
The teams will take on champions from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, South/North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota.
There are high hopes for Javanon's U13 girls, a team which includes Leah Mattingly of Floyds Knobs.
Dave Griffiths, girls’ technical director at the club, believes her team is a very good group which has a serious chance of making it out of its bracket.
“I feel good about their chances,” he said. “They are in a good bracket with teams from South Dakota (Rushmore Gold), Kansas (KCFC Force), and Nebraska (Toro Booyah).”
Griffiths is also coach of the U19s, a team which will travel to its seventh straight regional championship and is crammed full of college players, including Jeffersonville’s Chelsea Grover, who plays at Western Kentucky University.
“The girls are looking for their breakthrough year, but the likes of Bloomfield Force from Michigan would be big favorites,” he said.
One of the most fascinating brackets is at the U17 level, where Kentucky champions United 1996 have been drawn with local rivals Javanon, who they beat 2-1 in the final.
The pair have been drawn in the “Group of Death” with Michigan Wolves — last year's regional winners and national runners-up — and Ohio North's Pacesetter Premier. Javanon's team includes recent New Albany High School graduate Nathan Driggers, who is bound for Ohio State.
.jpg)
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville (right) and Javanon U13 team mate Brad Schickel after their Kentucky State Open Cup success.
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville will be part of the Javanon U13 team which has high hopes after scoring 23 goals in the state Tournament without reply. Crawley, who attends Providence Junior High, was recently selected for Indiana's Olympic Development Program U13 team.
Trevor Bruner, also of Jeffersonville and a Kentucky ODP player, and New Albany's Keenan Sparks are part of a Javanon U16 team which won its fourth state title. The team is having a great season in the Midwest Regional League, where they beat FC Pride, ranked fifth in the nation. That means confidence is high going into the regional championships.
Providence’s Daniel Wilburn and Floyd Central’s Matt Kelsey are part of the Javanon U14 side, which progressed to Rockford thanks to a thrilling 2-1 final victory over rivals Mockingbird.
New Albany High School's Kaitlin Robinett is part of Mockingbird’s only State Cup representatives. Her U16 team face a tough bracket, with FC Milwaukee, Dakota Gold Destiny and Johnston Freedom from Iowa.
Coach Larry Raible said, "We have some injuries that are a little troubling at the moment, but hopefully we will have all but two back for this weekend. I believe we will be ready to play, and I know that when we are focused and ready we can compete with the very best teams in our region."
United FC's U19 boys’ team includes New Albany's Derek Webb and goalkeeper T.J. Fox of Jeffersonville.
The opening ceremony will take place on Friday, with the bracket games taking pace Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The semifinals will be held on Tuesday and the finals on Wednesday.
Success at the regionals would see the winners progress to the national championships, which take place at North Little Rock, Arkansas, from July 22-27.
They will be part of teams from Javanon, United 1996 and Mockingbird, who recently won the Kentucky State Open Cup in their respective age groups at the end of May.
Javanon once again dominated at the State Open Cup finals held at Bowling Green and Lexington — picking up eight titles — while two went to United 1996, and one to Mockingbird.
The teams will take on champions from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, South/North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota.
There are high hopes for Javanon's U13 girls, a team which includes Leah Mattingly of Floyds Knobs.
Dave Griffiths, girls’ technical director at the club, believes her team is a very good group which has a serious chance of making it out of its bracket.
“I feel good about their chances,” he said. “They are in a good bracket with teams from South Dakota (Rushmore Gold), Kansas (KCFC Force), and Nebraska (Toro Booyah).”
Griffiths is also coach of the U19s, a team which will travel to its seventh straight regional championship and is crammed full of college players, including Jeffersonville’s Chelsea Grover, who plays at Western Kentucky University.
“The girls are looking for their breakthrough year, but the likes of Bloomfield Force from Michigan would be big favorites,” he said.
One of the most fascinating brackets is at the U17 level, where Kentucky champions United 1996 have been drawn with local rivals Javanon, who they beat 2-1 in the final.
The pair have been drawn in the “Group of Death” with Michigan Wolves — last year's regional winners and national runners-up — and Ohio North's Pacesetter Premier. Javanon's team includes recent New Albany High School graduate Nathan Driggers, who is bound for Ohio State.
.jpg)
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville (right) and Javanon U13 team mate Brad Schickel after their Kentucky State Open Cup success.
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville will be part of the Javanon U13 team which has high hopes after scoring 23 goals in the state Tournament without reply. Crawley, who attends Providence Junior High, was recently selected for Indiana's Olympic Development Program U13 team.
Trevor Bruner, also of Jeffersonville and a Kentucky ODP player, and New Albany's Keenan Sparks are part of a Javanon U16 team which won its fourth state title. The team is having a great season in the Midwest Regional League, where they beat FC Pride, ranked fifth in the nation. That means confidence is high going into the regional championships.
Providence’s Daniel Wilburn and Floyd Central’s Matt Kelsey are part of the Javanon U14 side, which progressed to Rockford thanks to a thrilling 2-1 final victory over rivals Mockingbird.
New Albany High School's Kaitlin Robinett is part of Mockingbird’s only State Cup representatives. Her U16 team face a tough bracket, with FC Milwaukee, Dakota Gold Destiny and Johnston Freedom from Iowa.
Coach Larry Raible said, "We have some injuries that are a little troubling at the moment, but hopefully we will have all but two back for this weekend. I believe we will be ready to play, and I know that when we are focused and ready we can compete with the very best teams in our region."
United FC's U19 boys’ team includes New Albany's Derek Webb and goalkeeper T.J. Fox of Jeffersonville.
The opening ceremony will take place on Friday, with the bracket games taking pace Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The semifinals will be held on Tuesday and the finals on Wednesday.
Success at the regionals would see the winners progress to the national championships, which take place at North Little Rock, Arkansas, from July 22-27.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Will gas prices hit standard of soccer?
(Published Evening News & Tribune, June 11, 2008)
We are now in the midst of the busiest time in the youth travel soccer calendar.
Unfortunately for soccer mom and dads, it has coincided with gas prices hitting an all time high at $4 a gallon.
But how much of an impact will it have? Will we see it hit the standard of soccer, with less participation at the higher level?
There have been reports in recent weeks of kids cutting back on athletic leagues in all sports all over the country as parents struggle to balance fuel prices with the travel demands associated with their children's sports activities. Recreational leagues are being preferred because they cost less. We're talking about the likes of basketball, baseball and softball.
Also expected to be hit is the strange creature we call travel soccer, seen by many as the domain of the upper-middle class of society in the US.
Consider this: You live in southern Indiana and your little Johnny or Mary is on a successful travel team, say Javanon, for example. One week you're traveling to Lexington for the Kentucky State Open Cup preliminaries; the next, you're down in Bowling Green for the final stages.
And now little Johnny's, or Mary's, team has made it to the regional championships in Illinois (which take place from June 20-25), where you will probably stay over for a couple of nights - catch the opening ceremony and the first three games. Maybe even stay until finals day. This is all in the space of a four week period.
I hear all sorts of tales about the expense of soccer, including one family which has estimated it forked out about $16,000 in one year watching their son, a successful regional Olympic Development Program player, all over the United States.
I'm no expert in how rich upper middle class Americans are, but I'm sure there's a fair few travel soccer families that are simply struggling right now, so that their talented children can follow their dreams; maybe get themselves a soccer scholarship at an NCAA Division 1 university.
There is, I have to say, a certain irony in the fact that parents could be seen at tryouts over the past couple of weeks with concerned looks and bitten down nails, hoping their children would be the ones to make it onto their travel teams of choice.
In fact, there were quite a few of them, as numbers were reportedly high at trials for a number of teams across Louisville and southern Indiana, so you would have to assume that prices don't seem to be bothering too many folks right now, despite the national mood.
However, the current economic climate could be a blessing in disguise for the sport in the US. I feel that if there was more concentration on local competition, with the creation of more teams within shorter distances and less emphasis on traveling long distances to numerous “prestigious” tournaments (maybe one or two a season), then more kids would be able to afford participation at said competitive level and the overall talent pool quality would increase.
As a matter of fact, the vast majority of players in the US play at the recreational level anyway. It would give those who are talented enough - but not rich enough - a chance to play travel. Call me stupid, but I would have thought that could only help the standard of the game.
There are those involved in travel soccer that are suited just fine by the status quo - they are not in a rush to change it. So maybe being forced to change it is the only way forward.
We are now in the midst of the busiest time in the youth travel soccer calendar.
Unfortunately for soccer mom and dads, it has coincided with gas prices hitting an all time high at $4 a gallon.
But how much of an impact will it have? Will we see it hit the standard of soccer, with less participation at the higher level?
There have been reports in recent weeks of kids cutting back on athletic leagues in all sports all over the country as parents struggle to balance fuel prices with the travel demands associated with their children's sports activities. Recreational leagues are being preferred because they cost less. We're talking about the likes of basketball, baseball and softball.
Also expected to be hit is the strange creature we call travel soccer, seen by many as the domain of the upper-middle class of society in the US.
Consider this: You live in southern Indiana and your little Johnny or Mary is on a successful travel team, say Javanon, for example. One week you're traveling to Lexington for the Kentucky State Open Cup preliminaries; the next, you're down in Bowling Green for the final stages.
And now little Johnny's, or Mary's, team has made it to the regional championships in Illinois (which take place from June 20-25), where you will probably stay over for a couple of nights - catch the opening ceremony and the first three games. Maybe even stay until finals day. This is all in the space of a four week period.
I hear all sorts of tales about the expense of soccer, including one family which has estimated it forked out about $16,000 in one year watching their son, a successful regional Olympic Development Program player, all over the United States.
I'm no expert in how rich upper middle class Americans are, but I'm sure there's a fair few travel soccer families that are simply struggling right now, so that their talented children can follow their dreams; maybe get themselves a soccer scholarship at an NCAA Division 1 university.
There is, I have to say, a certain irony in the fact that parents could be seen at tryouts over the past couple of weeks with concerned looks and bitten down nails, hoping their children would be the ones to make it onto their travel teams of choice.
In fact, there were quite a few of them, as numbers were reportedly high at trials for a number of teams across Louisville and southern Indiana, so you would have to assume that prices don't seem to be bothering too many folks right now, despite the national mood.
However, the current economic climate could be a blessing in disguise for the sport in the US. I feel that if there was more concentration on local competition, with the creation of more teams within shorter distances and less emphasis on traveling long distances to numerous “prestigious” tournaments (maybe one or two a season), then more kids would be able to afford participation at said competitive level and the overall talent pool quality would increase.
As a matter of fact, the vast majority of players in the US play at the recreational level anyway. It would give those who are talented enough - but not rich enough - a chance to play travel. Call me stupid, but I would have thought that could only help the standard of the game.
There are those involved in travel soccer that are suited just fine by the status quo - they are not in a rush to change it. So maybe being forced to change it is the only way forward.
Mavericks oh so close
(Published Evening News & Tribune, June 8, 2008)
It was oh so close for Southern Indiana United’s U14 Mavericks, who earned themselves a runner-up spot at the Indiana State Challenge Cup at Fort Wayne Sunday.
They swept through the preliminary round two weeks ago, with wins
over Indiana Invaders (2-0), Lawrence Soccer Club (5-0), and Pumas (3-1).
As bracket winners, they moved on to finals weekend where they faced Tippco Blue Heat (Lafayette) in the quarter final Saturday.
Jordan Vejar opened the scoring with a left footed blast for a 1-0 lead and the flood gates opened from there. Vincent Straight followed with two more blasts from long range, with Keegan Leuthart finishing off the scoring by slipping through the Tippco defense.
On Sunday morning, Mavericks faced Columbus Orange Crush, Indiana Soccer League champion and reigning 2007 Challenge Cup holders, in the semi-final. They gained revenge for a 1-0 defeat earlier in the season by squashing the Crush 2-1.
Vincent Straight opened the scoring from a throw in by Danny Laird as he slipped through the defense for a long blast that caught the goalkeeper off guard. After an equalizing score by Columbus, the Mavericks composed themselves and won the game with three minutes left on a
cannon by Kameron Jenkins who hit it so hard it knocked the Columbus' goalie into the net.
So to the final against familiar foe Indy Burn, a team they've beat, lost to and tied with over the past year in ISL and tournament play.
Indy Burn started energetically and took an early two goal advantage, but the Mavericks fought back to go in at half time down 2-1 after Cauldon Feldhaus finished off a Cray Trimble through ball to the far post.
Indy Burn came out strong in the second half again and scored twice more to almost put
the game out of reach, but the Mavericks never quit and scored two goals in the final six minutes courtesy of Jordy Rigsby and Kameron Jenkins to make it 4-3.
However, Mavericks could not tie the game despite intense pressure on Indy Burn’s defense.
Coach Mike Vejar said he was “overwhelmed with pride” because of the way team performed in the tournament, which had 28 participating teams this year.
It was oh so close for Southern Indiana United’s U14 Mavericks, who earned themselves a runner-up spot at the Indiana State Challenge Cup at Fort Wayne Sunday.
They swept through the preliminary round two weeks ago, with wins
over Indiana Invaders (2-0), Lawrence Soccer Club (5-0), and Pumas (3-1).
As bracket winners, they moved on to finals weekend where they faced Tippco Blue Heat (Lafayette) in the quarter final Saturday.
Jordan Vejar opened the scoring with a left footed blast for a 1-0 lead and the flood gates opened from there. Vincent Straight followed with two more blasts from long range, with Keegan Leuthart finishing off the scoring by slipping through the Tippco defense.
On Sunday morning, Mavericks faced Columbus Orange Crush, Indiana Soccer League champion and reigning 2007 Challenge Cup holders, in the semi-final. They gained revenge for a 1-0 defeat earlier in the season by squashing the Crush 2-1.
Vincent Straight opened the scoring from a throw in by Danny Laird as he slipped through the defense for a long blast that caught the goalkeeper off guard. After an equalizing score by Columbus, the Mavericks composed themselves and won the game with three minutes left on a
cannon by Kameron Jenkins who hit it so hard it knocked the Columbus' goalie into the net.
So to the final against familiar foe Indy Burn, a team they've beat, lost to and tied with over the past year in ISL and tournament play.
Indy Burn started energetically and took an early two goal advantage, but the Mavericks fought back to go in at half time down 2-1 after Cauldon Feldhaus finished off a Cray Trimble through ball to the far post.
Indy Burn came out strong in the second half again and scored twice more to almost put
the game out of reach, but the Mavericks never quit and scored two goals in the final six minutes courtesy of Jordy Rigsby and Kameron Jenkins to make it 4-3.
However, Mavericks could not tie the game despite intense pressure on Indy Burn’s defense.
Coach Mike Vejar said he was “overwhelmed with pride” because of the way team performed in the tournament, which had 28 participating teams this year.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Record number witness State Cup joy
A record number of southern Indiana players have tasted success at the Kentucky State Open Cup tournament finals held at Bowling Green and Lexington.
Some 181 teams from U13 to U19 took part in what is the first step in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the nation's premier youth soccer tournament.
The first team crowned state champ was United FC's U19s, which includes New Albany's Derek Webb and goalkeeper TJ Fox of Jeffersonville.
Webb had the assist on United's first win against Bluegrass SC 1-0 in Lexington on May 24, before they went on to beat Owensboro United 3-0 in the three team round robin the following day.
Last Wednesday, Javanon's U19 girls, featuring Western Kentucky University's Chelsea Grover from Jeffersonville, beat Louisville SC 5-0 to earn the right to represent Kentucky at the regional championships. Playing on LSC's team was Floyd Central graduate Chelsea Stanley, who plays at Center College.
However, it was over the past weekend that the majority of finals were held at Lover's Lane Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, and a number of the area's players were on winning teams.
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville was part of the ruthless Javanon team that beat Northern Kentucky United 4-0 in the U13 boys' final. They scored 23 goals in the whole tournament and kept clean sheets throughout. Crawley, who attends Providence Junior High, was recently selected on Indiana's Olympic Development Program U13 team.
Trevor Bruner, also of Jeffersonville and a Kentucky ODP player, and New Albany's Keenan Sparks, were part of a Javanon U16 team that won its fourth state title - and second in succession - when beating United 1996 2-1 in the final. Bruner attends Trinity, while Sparks goes to Providence.
The team is having a great season in the Midwest Regional League, where they beat FC Pride, ranked fifth in the nation, so confidence is high going into the regional championships.
Providence's Daniel Wilburn and Floyd Central's Matt Kelsey were involved in what was probably one of the most exciting games of the weekend, with their Javanon U14 side beating Mockingbird 2-1 in a nail biting contest, scoring with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Mockingbird's Kaitlin Robinett (pictured right)
New Albany High School's Kaitlin Robinett was part of Mockingbird's only State Cup success of the weekend, when her U16 team beat Northern Kentucky United for the second successive year in the final, this time by a 2-0 scoreline. It is their third state title, and was achieved with 16 goals scored and just one conceded.
Of the 14 titles on offer, eight were won by Javanon; two each by United 1996 and Lexington FC; and one each by Mockingbird and Central Kentucky SC.
Next up for the victors is a trip to the regional championships in Rockford, Illinois, which will be held from June 20-25. State winners from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, South/North Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota will be involved.
The national finals will be held at Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Arkansas, from July 22-27.
Some 181 teams from U13 to U19 took part in what is the first step in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the nation's premier youth soccer tournament.
The first team crowned state champ was United FC's U19s, which includes New Albany's Derek Webb and goalkeeper TJ Fox of Jeffersonville.
Webb had the assist on United's first win against Bluegrass SC 1-0 in Lexington on May 24, before they went on to beat Owensboro United 3-0 in the three team round robin the following day.
Last Wednesday, Javanon's U19 girls, featuring Western Kentucky University's Chelsea Grover from Jeffersonville, beat Louisville SC 5-0 to earn the right to represent Kentucky at the regional championships. Playing on LSC's team was Floyd Central graduate Chelsea Stanley, who plays at Center College.
However, it was over the past weekend that the majority of finals were held at Lover's Lane Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, and a number of the area's players were on winning teams.
Pierce Crawley of Jeffersonville was part of the ruthless Javanon team that beat Northern Kentucky United 4-0 in the U13 boys' final. They scored 23 goals in the whole tournament and kept clean sheets throughout. Crawley, who attends Providence Junior High, was recently selected on Indiana's Olympic Development Program U13 team.
Trevor Bruner, also of Jeffersonville and a Kentucky ODP player, and New Albany's Keenan Sparks, were part of a Javanon U16 team that won its fourth state title - and second in succession - when beating United 1996 2-1 in the final. Bruner attends Trinity, while Sparks goes to Providence.
The team is having a great season in the Midwest Regional League, where they beat FC Pride, ranked fifth in the nation, so confidence is high going into the regional championships.
Providence's Daniel Wilburn and Floyd Central's Matt Kelsey were involved in what was probably one of the most exciting games of the weekend, with their Javanon U14 side beating Mockingbird 2-1 in a nail biting contest, scoring with just seconds remaining on the clock.
Mockingbird's Kaitlin Robinett (pictured right)
New Albany High School's Kaitlin Robinett was part of Mockingbird's only State Cup success of the weekend, when her U16 team beat Northern Kentucky United for the second successive year in the final, this time by a 2-0 scoreline. It is their third state title, and was achieved with 16 goals scored and just one conceded.
Of the 14 titles on offer, eight were won by Javanon; two each by United 1996 and Lexington FC; and one each by Mockingbird and Central Kentucky SC.
Next up for the victors is a trip to the regional championships in Rockford, Illinois, which will be held from June 20-25. State winners from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, South/North Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota will be involved.
The national finals will be held at Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Arkansas, from July 22-27.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Goal tragedies continue
Exactly one year ago to the week, we interviewed the mother of Zachary Tran, a six-year-old who was killed when a goal struck him on the back of the head in Vernon Hills, Illinois in 2003.
Not long after the tragedy, Michelle and her family founded the Anchored for Safety initiative, which has spread education and awareness on the danger soccer goalposts can cause if not properly erected (www.anchoredforsafety.org)
Unfortunately, this month saw the 34th reported death in the United States from injuries sustained by soccer goals since a database was established in 1979.
Eight-year-old Gabriel Mendoza was playing goalie at the South Mountain YMCA in Phoenix, Arizona on May 1 when he grabbed the overhead bar to swing from it.
Suddenly, the bar came crashing down on Mendoza and he later died in hospital as a result of injuries caused by the impact.
Most of those who have died from goalpost incidents – 27 in fact – were between the ages of 5 and 18, the average age range of children who interact with soccer goals. There have also been hundreds of injuries - some serious - all over the country in that time.
They include a frightening head injury to a U8 player in Lafayette, Indiana in 2004, and another head injury to an 11-year old boy in Bardstown, Kentucky at a public elementary school field.
Michelle Tran's advice is simple but could save lives.
"There is an easy way to make soccer goals safer," she says. "Keep goals securely anchored with pegs or stakes at every use – whether it’s during practice or a game. And re-anchor goals after moving them for mowing or storage. This short-term solution is easy and inexpensive and can help stop completely preventable injuries and deaths.”
In the long term, the family is working on patenting a tip-proof goal with the help of an engineer. They are not sure exactly when this will be available, but Michelle says it will not be expensive.
"In their current design, soccer goals can weigh up to 400 pounds and are top-heavy because the bars are made of metal. While anchoring unsafe goals goes a long way to prevent incidents, the ultimate answer is to revamp soccer goals, using lighter materials and tip-resistant design.”
Photo caption
Zachary Tran
Not long after the tragedy, Michelle and her family founded the Anchored for Safety initiative, which has spread education and awareness on the danger soccer goalposts can cause if not properly erected (www.anchoredforsafety.org)
Unfortunately, this month saw the 34th reported death in the United States from injuries sustained by soccer goals since a database was established in 1979.
Eight-year-old Gabriel Mendoza was playing goalie at the South Mountain YMCA in Phoenix, Arizona on May 1 when he grabbed the overhead bar to swing from it.
Suddenly, the bar came crashing down on Mendoza and he later died in hospital as a result of injuries caused by the impact.
Most of those who have died from goalpost incidents – 27 in fact – were between the ages of 5 and 18, the average age range of children who interact with soccer goals. There have also been hundreds of injuries - some serious - all over the country in that time.
They include a frightening head injury to a U8 player in Lafayette, Indiana in 2004, and another head injury to an 11-year old boy in Bardstown, Kentucky at a public elementary school field.
Michelle Tran's advice is simple but could save lives.
"There is an easy way to make soccer goals safer," she says. "Keep goals securely anchored with pegs or stakes at every use – whether it’s during practice or a game. And re-anchor goals after moving them for mowing or storage. This short-term solution is easy and inexpensive and can help stop completely preventable injuries and deaths.”
In the long term, the family is working on patenting a tip-proof goal with the help of an engineer. They are not sure exactly when this will be available, but Michelle says it will not be expensive.
"In their current design, soccer goals can weigh up to 400 pounds and are top-heavy because the bars are made of metal. While anchoring unsafe goals goes a long way to prevent incidents, the ultimate answer is to revamp soccer goals, using lighter materials and tip-resistant design.”
Photo caption
Zachary Tran
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