This topic was brought up on boys basketball forum.  How would a 9th region all-star team stack up vs. Covington Catholic this year, and who would you put on the team?  It sparked a good conversation, and it was popular opinion that you could put together an All-Star team that would compete against this year's dominant CCH team.  @FrankNicodemus suggested, in that thread, that he does not think that a 9th region girls all-star would stack up to this year's undefeated NDA Panda's.  In thinking about this, keep in mind that an All-Star team would still have to figure out a way to create quality shots and score vs. that NDA defense, while stopping their "All D1" organized attack.  

I have my ideas of who I'd have on that team, but for the sake of not taking the fun away from you, let's hear your starting 11, and reasoning how this All-Star team would compete with The Pandas. Or, do you agree with @FrankNicodemus comment and why?

Go!!!

(And feel free to add thoughts and comments regarding your picks)

Never mind. Just noticed this is in the soccer forum.

OK here we go....

Again, I stand by my chagrin that a 9th Region All Star girls soccer team will not beat this years NDA team.  I will say this though.....soccer like some other sports is a funny game and you can get lucky once in a blue moon.....

My criteria for the below roster was one that was filled with very unselfish resumes that can also score.  With the team NDA had you can't just take the ball thru the middle and shot and score, we need players that know how to score but even more so players that know how to create a scoring opportunity for a teammate.

Offense:

Grace Gerding (Dixie) 24 goals/31 assists

Maleah Alexander (Cooper) 20 goals/15 assists

Laney Smith (Highlands) 20 goals/13 assists

Sydney Noble (Conner) 15 goals/15 assists - committed to University of Findlay

Rylee Turner (NCC) 14 goals/7 assists

Faith Broering (Highlands) 12 goals/7 assists - committed to UC

Defense:

Brinley Derek (Conner) - committed to Thomas More

Jade Rehberger (Highlands) - committed to Eastern Illinois

Help me 1

Help me 2

Goalkeepers:

Against a team like NDA there is no way I could have 1 keeper for the whole game so I got 2, for each half

Meg Gessner (Highlands) 84 saves, 9 goals allowed - committed to NKU

Keelee Griffin (Ryle) 180 saves, 19 goals allowed - committed to Ferris State University

 

This is also so hard b/c soccer you play 11 players in the game, that's a lot of opportunities for NDA to expose some weakness.  Unfortunately, defensive players don't get much notoriety so I struggled to find other players at other schools that would be that brick wall that we would need to pull off the upset against the Pandas.....so I'll ask for help if anyone has someone in mind. 

@Big Red thanks for starting this thread.....let's see if anyone has a totally new lineup or at least can fill my Defensive gaps that I have on mine.....

Also, can we agree that we don't play at St. Henry?  Maybe we play at Holy Cross on their field in the dark.....that was the only location you almost let one slip by LOL

I think you are missing Kayia Griffin (Ryle) committed to Xavier to your offensive side.  She along with Faith in the midfield, would be a tandem that could create various offensive opportunities.  Add Kaiyia to your mix above, and would be fun to watch that play out.  

From a defensive perspective, it is difficult due to the fact that some of the better defensive teams played so many on defense it was tough to see the individual talent. 

Maggie Yelton (Dixie) has been a solid defender for several years there.  The only name I can come up with.

It makes me think how frustrating it must be to be a really good defender, and no one knows your name because no one talks about great defensive play in soccer!  

Agree to not playing at St. Henry, and No, also not playing on any other small grass field!

You know where we should play?  Let's jump across the river and play at Withrow.  Whenever I am there I feel like The Gladiator in the Coliseum.  That would be a fun venue for this Epic Battle. 

If you can pull in girls from 9th region schools that don’t play high school, you would be able to compete better.

Schlueter - St Henry - Ohio State

Dennigan - Ryle - FSU

Gerak - Dixie - UK

Gerak - Dixie - Michigan State

And pull one from the hallways of NDA:

Unkraut - Penn State

 

Sounds like we are saying "good game, but as the 9th Region stood this past year, NDA would be a solid favorite to win over an All-Star team."  

Looking at @nees1212 comment, is an interesting scenario.  I'm not sure we've seen a team like NDA, and it's incredibly impressive to look at the overall D1 committed kids (and kids that have offers still deciding), within the 9th region.  

Schlueter, Dennigan, Gerak, Gerak, Unkraut, added to a 9th Region All Star squad would be a beast of a team.       

 

18 hours ago, SoccerDaddy said:

Schlueter, Dennigan, Gerak, Gerak, Unkraut, added to a 9th Region All Star squad would be a beast of a team.       

 

Tons of talent in NKY right now.