Sir!

Also a big week for Cooper this week with Simon Kenton, Highlands, and then NCC. SK is playing well, Highlands isn't as bad as their record, and NCC currently sits one above CCH at #15 on the Maher rankings.

South Oldham hosts St X on Wednesday (9/3). I'll pick South Oldham in a "Maher" upset (#9 over #4). South Oldham is a very nice team... they returned 8 of 11 starters and 5 of their 6 top scorers from last year. Game at South Oldham whose turf field is barely 59 yards wide.

A good result for CCH against Trinity should see CCH get more than the +1 movement it saw this week (going from 17 up to 16). I'll be rooting for CCH to rep NKY well when they head to Louisville on Saturday. The Maher ratings are interesting, and as the season progresses an increasingly good indicator of relative strength. They'll inform the debate heading into post-season about who are favorites and what should be considered an upset in Districts, Regionals and beyond.

Cooper is a big mover, jumping 13 places in the rankings from 74 up to 61. Highlands goes the other direction, dropping 14 places from 20 down to 34, but playing the toughest slate of KY games (according to Maher ratings) thus far.

It doesn't in the leagues that use accumulated yellows. But that's partly why the second yellow penalty needs to be dropped to a one-game suspension. As far as red cards go, they aren't tracked as an accumulated yellow (they are red).

IMO it's a good idea. At the same time, I'd reduce the penalty for a second yellow in a single game to a one-game suspension, rather than the two-game suspension where it currently sits. I'm OK with a straight red remaining a 2-game suspension. If it is set at 5 accumulated yellows = a one-game suspension, then it actually helps with consistency, because the five yellows are accumulated over multiple games and presumably different referees. As it stands now, a second yellow accumulated in one game with one center ref sits you for 2 games. So one game that is either particularly contentious, called very tight, or that a ref tries to bring back into control using cards can result in a harsh outcome for the kid who happens to be committing the cardable offense at the wrong (right?) moment in the game. I think some refs understand the potential harsh effect as well and are sometimes reluctant to give a second yellow knowing it'll sit a boy for the next two games. The converse is that players who know how to play in control carrying a yellow in a game can regularly use their "one free" yellow with impunity. The accumulated yellow card rule takes away this incentive. Note: I'd clear the accumulated yellow cards for post-season play. Otherwise you may get a player sitting on 4 accumulated yellows the first week of October looking to pick up his 5th card so that he doesn't enter the post-season with that hanging over his head.

Oh my! They shouldn't be allowed to ref if they are going to try to help one team win.

I know the ARs decide before the game which side they are going to be on, but I thought the center ran a diagonal on the field. Am I confused?

Very nice win with scoring a plenty. Nice job Colonels.

OK Goldilocks... what length would you like the grass cut to?

HHS in 2008 finals, striker = Dakota Beerman (two Lewis boys in support I think). Who were the marquee strikers and support players for Ryle in 2006 and 2011 finals? Any other NK teams in finals in last 10 or 15 years and who did they have up top?

Note: my former post was employing the literary technique known as hyperbole. I only mention this because some don't recognize it when they read it.

No winner in CCH v St H game... 0-0 tie. CCH plays with a Missing 9 (variant of Barca's False 9), has 80% possession and a ton of good looks, but just can't finish. St Henry also looks good with possession estimated at 60%. In contrast, the Scott v Highlands game is a goal/card-fest with aggregate possession less than 50% and both the final goal and card count at 4-3. No way to know winner in advance.

Yup. Stockton is a treat to watch play.

HHS (8/23), CCH (9/6) and St. Henry (9/13) all have Trinity in regular season. Ryle (8/23) and St. Henry (10/7) have Dunbar. Region 9 winner may well host Dunbar (Region 11@ Region 9). Something to look forward to.

Since 2000, Louisville & Lexington boys high schools have won states 13 of 14 years. Last year's LEX-LOU finals pairing brings back a lot of talent. Offensively, Trinity returns 3 of its 5 top scorers (Stockton, Armistad and Rickert with 37 goals between them) and Dunbar brings back two of its top four scorers (Clemente and Norris with 38 goals between them). I'm not sure any northern KY team brings back 37 or 38 goals across their entire set of returning players. Any chance a northern KY team can take a run at states this year?

hard to tell. Treadway and schneider we're not on the field at the same time the whole first half. Treadway only playing about half of the second half.

Ryle looked young and maybe a little smallish, but they played well. Ryle played soccer from the back forward more frequently and a little better than Scott. They had some good interchanges in midfield. Sully and Kareem both looked strong and sharp for Ryle and frequently led the attack. I didn''t catch who scored for Ryle, but it was fairly late in the game. Looking forward to more HS soccer to watch tomorrow evening. Concession stand food was standard fare, but pretty good (I recommend the cheeseburger, CW).And Tower Park is a nice venue to watch a game... particularly after the sun goes down and the lights come on.

Ryle v Scott headlined Thursday night's action. Blake Schneider and Treadeay got the goals for Scott. Schneider looked very good - maybe a more complete player than Treadway as he is good in the air and defends a bit. Treadway looked dangerous as usual and played with a little more maturity than prior years (read: no flopping or whining and minimal criticism of his team mates). I hope he keeps it up as he's enjoyable to watch when he plays well. Devon Morgan and Eric Hegerty also looked good for Scott. Morgan adds a third attacking threat for Scott and Hegerty is like a waterbug in midfield. So Scott attacks well but looks vulnerable in the back. Late goal against Scott beat keeper at near post (GK was not happy with himself).

Soccer in the second game much better. Grant Co finished better with a couple of faster boys up top, but Carroll Co had some nice possession and combination play in midfield. Both looked like decent mid-tier teams.

Holmes v Cov Latin were well paired. Not great soccer but boys trying hard.nice to see Sergio Vancini in the stands for Holmes. He graduated this spring and is headed to Spalding in Louisville to play soccer this fall... nice kid. I'm sure there were other good kids playing in the first game, but the soccer was hard to watch. Go easy guys.

Holmes 1-1 Cover Latin Grant Co 2-0 Carroll Co (maybe 3-0) Scott 2-1 Ryle