Beechwood wins in PKs knocking out the Indians.  I felt the Indians controlled most of the game but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.  There were multiple near misses.  Holy Cross was down three starters that were injured in the Campbell County game last week so had to shuffle around players and had several girls who hadn’t played much earlier in the season step up it just wasn’t quote enough.  Good luck to all the remaining teams.  

It seems like this annual district playoff matchup comes down to penalty kicks every year. If you are ever looking for a great first round district playoff matchup to watch, put Beechwood vs Holy Cross at the top of the list. 

Congrats to the Tigers!

14 hours ago, rjal said:

Beechwood wins in PKs knocking out the Indians.  I felt the Indians controlled most of the game but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.  There were multiple near misses.  Holy Cross was down three starters that were injured in the Campbell County game last week so had to shuffle around players and had several girls who hadn’t played much earlier in the season step up it just wasn’t quote enough.  Good luck to all the remaining teams.  

 I just looked it up. Seven times in the last ten years Holy Cross vs Beechwood has gone to shootout/penalty kicks.

How did the penalty kicks go? Did it come down to the last kick?

Interesting you should ask.  As spectators we were surprised with the lineup the Indians sent up.  One of our best was not out there.  Both made the first shot.  Beechwood went first.  One the second shots Beechwood hit and HC missed high.  Third shots both made.  Fourth shots Beechwood made and HC was stopped by the keeper.  Beechwood 4-2 fifth shots not done since not necessary.  

I think PKs to decide a game is so on the coach preparation.  As you state @rjalthat you were surprised by the lineup, I wonder if the girls were as well.  I consider this something like Special Teams in football.  Its the small things right.  A good coach in my opinion all year sets aside a few minutes to make sure the players are mentally prepared on where they fall in regards to this ever so important part of the Post Season soccer game.  You don't really need this in Regular Season since you can end in a tie except for those District games or Invitational games.  This allows players to KNOW exactly where they fall in the pecking order of a PK shootout.

Case in point:

Highlands girls 2 seasons ago (Fall 2020), Dean put together 5 shooters who as you point out yesterday you had to scratch your head on why this 5, it just didn't make sense at the time.  I also don't think those 5 girls picked realized they were going to be picked until that moment.

After that I remember having a conversation with a kid on the Highlands boys team and he mentioned that was part of Neidert's coaching is you knew your pecking order.  You might be the 4th kicker or the 6th or even the 10th kicker if it ever got there.  You then might take some extra PK practice on the side knowing that you might have the kick that will allow you to continue your season or your season might be finished if you don't make it.  Point is you knew what to expect and can be prepared if it got to that point.

Maybe HC girls knew who and what position they were going to kick, but if not I think this is a coaching point that a lot of coaches miss b/c they don't think it is important.  Especially to @Voice of Reason research I think this match up shows its CRITICALLY IMPORTANT!!!

I have a question about the final score based solely on how I see other soccer scores stated at professional levels when penalty kicks are involved.  Shouldn't the official final score be 0-0 (4-2) for Beechwood?

5 minutes ago, nkypete said:

I have a question about the final score based solely on how I see other soccer scores stated at professional levels when penalty kicks are involved.  Shouldn't the official final score be 0-0 (4-2) for Beechwood?

No, you account for 1 goal for the winner of the PKs.....so you would say the score was 1-0 (4-2 PKs).  I think some people actually would think its the opposite where the final score should be 4-2, because of the PK goals.

The other interesting STAT trivia question is that the PK goals the players made during the PK shootout does NOT go into their personal stat line.

Also regarding the Keeper individual stats these goals or saves do not count towards their Individual stat line.

2 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

No, you account for 1 goal for the winner of the PKs.....so you would say the score was 1-0 (4-2 PKs).  I think some people actually would think its the opposite where the final score should be 4-2, because of the PK goals.

The other interesting STAT trivia question is that the PK goals the players made during the PK shootout does NOT go into their personal stat line.

Also regarding the Keeper individual stats these goals or saves do not count towards their Individual stat line.

Thanks....I did not know it was that way in high school.  Definitely different than World Cup, for example, where it would have been 0-0 (4-2).