groinpull

I don't disagree with this. Lower level club is essentially rec soccer of the past. This phenomenon is directly related to the club structure and their need for money. Clubs used to have one or two top teams and that was it. As their overhead grew, so did their number of teams with kids shelling out $1000+ per year to play. I remember when Buckeye Premier was considered an elite league, something for CUSL teams to aspire to.........now it's just another rec plus league. This structure has decimated the old rec leagues, which no longer exist for older players. Parents oftentimes coached those teams and it may have cost $50 or so to play a season. Those days are gone.

Most kids (on the boys side) play club soccer because they want to play high school soccer and if they are going to be in a competitive program in high school, it's almost required. Club soccer is fine but I just feel the cost is way too high but really, choices are very limited. There are not many rec leagues or teams for 15-17 year old boys.

If you want to play club soccer you have no choice but to pay the piper. One of the reasons that KYSA is ratcheting up the coaching license requirements is to limit the pool of people that can coach. Supply/Demand = $

Because coaches/trainers need money, otherwise they'd have to get real jobs. The single biggest impediment to growing the USA into a soccer power is the cost of youth soccer.

Surprised by this score really. I thought SK had a chance in this region.

If CCH can relax, possess the ball, move it around and be patient I think they will be fine tonight. I'm hopeful that NCC will come to play and not hunker down but who knows. The most critical thing for CCH is ball and player movement.

Nah.....this is lightweight stuff.

I believe the draw is this morning. If anyone gets updates, please post them here.

Using stats to determine an offensive POY is sketchy at best. Strength of schedule for their teams plays a large part. I'd agree on Smith from Trinity, he's the best defender I've seen this year.

I don't disagree that the Trinity/Anderson/Summit/Seven Hills, etc portion of the schedule was tough. They play those teams every year and they always are tough. My point is that some of the N. Ky portion of their schedule has been of no use in making them a better team overall and that they can't be judged on some of those games. I agree they are playing better than they were earlier in the year so hopefully that carries through to the regional. And I would not say the CCH schedule is soft by design as they play some of these N. Ky teams every year. It's just that this year, some of them are having really down seasons. Scott, Holy Cross, Dixie, Conner.........all have some of their weakest teams that I've seen. Not much CCH can do about that.

I'd have to disagree on the "playing very well" part of this. Back to back 10-0 wins does not show much and they will need to prove they can beat a couple good teams back to back. Overall the schedule has been pretty soft this year for CCH. In looking at their results, they have had a total of five games that ended 10-0 and another was Conner at 7-0 and that would have been 10-0 as well had not the JV played half the game. And as an aside, for my money, the younger Stava (frosh) should be in the starting varsity lineup but I doubt we'll see that happen.

There is no popcorn sold at Dixie. That takes them out of the running for the top spot IMO.

Wow, close match. Thought Ryle would have an easier time.

About a minute and a half, yes.

10-0 final with 16 minutes left

8-0 CCH. 17 minutes left

That's right. CCH played Highlands at Dixie due to the lights issue. I had assumed all first round games were played at Dixie last year.

And I believe as of next year, CCH will be able to host. Lights going in this winter as soon as the football season is over with.

Yes, I'm familiar with the rotation but my comment was more about how the #1 seeds were hosting the first round game vs. last year when all games were played at the regional site vs. anyone else hosting.

Last year, all regional games were held at Dixie. Not sure why the change from year to year.

CovCath has had temporary lights in use all season so hosting would not be an issue.

Rankings are just rankings. The last 3 state champs are from: 2015 - Region 9 (Region 11 runner up) 2014 - Region 4 (Region 10 runner up) 2013 - Region 11 (Region 7 runner up) So, despite what seems like an overflow of potential state champs from Region 7 year in and year out, it has not been the case the last three years. Will Region 7 still win their share of state titles? Yes, because it is the biggest metro area in the state with a strong soccer foundation but I don't think we need to go changing the regions around because of all the highly ranked teams in Region 7.

I won't argue the fact that those districts are pretty soft but Ryle, Cooper, Conner and Boone ain't exactly a murderer's row either. And of course, Cooper could upset Ryle in the final, especially on that field. Where is the regional being held this year? I believe Ryle is up on the rotation but I'm not sure.

Assuming that CCH, Ryle, Highlands and St. Henry are the #1 seeds, I would say that NCC is probably the toughest out of the #2 seeds that remain. With that said, I'd be surprised if the regional semi-finals are not the four teams named above.

I'm sure the football staff had their panties in a wad but the games were played on the football field that has soccer lines. Nice field.