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.