gameplayedright

Very accurate. I would add size (with very, very few exceptions) and athleticism if you want to see the field. For some reason D1 coaches recruit players but then never play them. Many D1 rosters have 30+ players but most only go 14-15 deep in the games. Take a look at some the past couple of years' D1 recruits/signings (and these are not your Elite D1 programs) from NKY, some players not getting any or very little minutes. Tough decision but if you're selecting a school because of the soccer program with the goal to be one of the 14-15 players seeing the field, take a long hard look. Seen a lot of players take that D1 roster spot, never see the field, stick it out one year and call it quits. That D2 or D3 school with excellent academics likely would have been a lot better choice.

I'll take your retraction as your explanation then. Well said Stepover, " Way to represent NKY!!!!! Congrats CCH!"

I take your first quoted sentence above as a negative comment at CCH. I take your second quoted sentence above as making an excuss before you are even accussed, which is the definition of being guilty. If it was not meant to be negative, a hit on cch, please explain what you mean by your first quoted sentence above.

Keeper well had the ball in his possession when he got hit. And yea, maybe a bit biased but I can say the school I support is 2015 Boys State Soccer Champions, can you?

Center ref may have not "missed anything" but he sure did point in the wrong direction a lot of times. Explain the 13 fouls by cch Vs 3 fouls by HC. In a relatively close game until the last 12-15 minutes and a clean game, fouls not reflective. And from where I was sitting the HC player should have received a yellow card for blatantly running into the cch keeper.

Congratulations CCH players, coaches, and school. A fantastic win, great tournament, unbelievable season! Started off by winning the always tough 9th Region, then a difficult state tournament draw, beating a good Montgomery Co team on their field. Dominating a very good Trinity and then capping it off with a convincing 3-0 win against Henry Clay. No one can ever say your State Championship was not earned the hard way.

With the exception of a NBA, MLB,(no doubt KC was the best team this season) NHL, leagues that have best of 5 games, best of 7 games rounds on the way to crowning a champion, (and even in this format match ups, who's hot at the right time, etc, have a factor on the outcome) do you ever know if the "best team" won. One thing is certain, who ever wins tomorrow between CCH and Henry Clay, they alone will legitimately be able to say they are the best team in KY in 2015.

I have never quite bought into the "who wants it more?" I ask myself, does one team, one group of seniors on the field for a State Final Championship match truly want to win a State Championship more than the other? I guess it's possible but I don't buy it. I believe the game comes down to match ups, (Trinity did not match up well with CCH) coaching in preparing specifically for that game, coaching such as tactical changes throughout the game and how and when subs are used and the factor that is completely impossible to predict and understand, luck.

Reputation, good, bad or otherwise is partly self earned, so I agree players' reputation should not be completely overlooked. And this has nothing to do with this year's group of recognized players. I have been following HS soccer in NKY for over 15 years. Over the years I have seen players named to first or second team as a senior in large part due to their reputation and "potential" coming into their senior year. Then for a lot of different reasons, injury, lack of teammate support, moved to a different position, peaked his junior year/flattened out his senior year, the player did not warrant being named first team or second team based on his on the field play his senior year. The unfortunate circumstance as a result is another player more worthy of this recognition did not receive it due to reputation. Not a perfect system but I also appreciate what the NKY coaches do for the players.

Still believe there is a solution/fix to the system but it will likely never happen for a couple of reasons. One know one cares enough and two, the coaches don't want to give up their authority on this issue. My suggestion is to have 5 members from each school vote, and you can not vote for any player from your school. The five voting members are the Varsity head coach, JV head coach, Freshman head coach, AD and one non disclosed parent chosen by the varsity head coach. Players are not nominated, every varsity player is eligible. There is no back room debate, no let me stand up and argue my player is most deserving, no back room deals, you vote for my player, I'll vote for yours. Each voter must submit his votes in a sealed envelope post marked by a certain date and opened in front of all the coaches. Each voter MUST vote for 5 players in each category, listing the players 1-5. IMO the more voters… the more eyes, the more opinions you get, the more accurate the selections are.

CCH 2 - Henry Clay 1 in a well played final. The Boys State Champions are from NKY, finally!

Your were successful in spurring a conversation. I'm not offended, simply disappointed in how system works (in some cases every year voting is based more on reputation, not actual play) and the result is some good kids every year wind up not getting the recognition they deserve. And what I assume the reason you speculate I'm "offended" is incorrect, I do not have a horse in the race.

Disagree with your CCH assessment. This year's team is better, way better balanced, better defensively, maybe equal in attackers but not the team attack. And I have mentioned this on another thread, the one thing over looked by many is how effective the CCH backs are in supporting and actually being dangerous attacking their opponents defensive third of the field. Much of CCH success this season is directly related to this added element. HS teams struggle to defend this aspect, they do not have the tactical awareness to do so. Agree with HHS. This years NCC would never have scheduled last year's NCC team, they were a decent team.

My point is I don't understand how anyone can make an argument or question why any player did not make one of these teams that has admitted they have NOT seen the player(s) play one game. Again this is the problem, you "based upon information that has been talked about on here ad nauseum." BGP may well be one of the most nonobjective sources. IMO there is no replacement for watching a player with you own eyes against top level competition when evaluating who should be given the honor of being on one of these All Regional teams.

Unbelievable, you admit you did not see any games, yet you actually question why only one NCC player was named to the NKY All Region teams. I think I may have heard it all now. This is one of the HUGE problems with these ALL Region teams, way, way to many names are thrown out there based on "reputation" alone and/or because some think just because a kid plays for this school he must be good, etc. Reputation is one reason so many Seniors get named, coaches have heard their name for 2, 3, sometimes 4 years and think, "well they must be good", when in some cases it is not justified.

Clearly a refection of the team's season. As examples, 50% of the boys first team are from CCH (regional champ) and Ryle (regional finalist) and Cooper (regional semi finalist). Take NCC girls team as another example, they have a good season and they get OPOY, DPOY, Coach of the Year. My guess (based on final vote) is the coaches came to the conclusion NCC's lack of good competition combined with their results only warrant one of their players being voted to one of these teams.

Hilliard, 51 goals on the season, does he look look dangerous at all?

Does anyone know anything about Fern Creek, seen them play this season? And don't need their record, opponents, Maher ranking, etc. I can look all this up on my own.

Fair enough, I was not aware Henry Clay did not submit stats. Has your "eye test" seen CCH play this season? And I did not say HC played a tougher schedule, I said if you factor in CCH's OH opponents, (which are not factored into the Maher Ranking system) Walnut Hills, Elder, Seven Hills, McNicholas, and Summit Country Day, I believe HC and CCH's OAS are very, very similar, CCH could even be a little higher. Either way, I would love to see these two back lines on the same PL Dunbar field on Saturday.

Based on stats, (I have not seen Henry Clay play this season) an argument can be made CCH's back line is better then Henry Clay's. CCH defense is ranked second in the state with a 0.76 GPG, Henry Clay is not in the top 15 defensive teams. CCH OAS is 6.28 but this does not take into account the very strong OH opponents CCH played this season. Henry Clay OAS is 7.46, stronger but if you factor in CCH's OH opponents their OAS is likely very close. As you say Henry Clay's, "Goalkeeper could be an issue". So maybe this is the reason they are not in the top 15 defensive teams in state. Either way, a back line can only do so much, without a good keeper behind them team defense can be suspect. I'll take CCH's back line + their goalkeeper. And one aspect of CCH' back line that I believe is over looked, they are very good in supporting and adding to the attack. Massie had the assist on CCH's first goal Vs Trinity on Saturday, as an example. For the season, Massie has 8 assists, 2 goals, A Flynn has 4 assists, Theiman has 1 assist, 2 goals, not to shabby of an offensive contribution from your #2 ranked defensive back line in the state.

Up until Voice of Reason came in with post #18, this thread was all about the details of the game. As for Voice of Reason, can't help but quote you again because it makes it shows your football mentality, which explains a lot. "The facts are more fans attend freshman football games than attend varsity soccer. I will take a guess and say there were more fans at the Highlands -Campbell County freshman game last Friday than any varsity soccer game in N. Ky. this year. But please educate me if I am wrong. How many attended this state quarterfinal game? Quite funny how you write "The facts are" in your first sentence, then in the very next sentence you write, "I will take a guess". You still have not posted any facts, the actual attendance of the HHS/CC freshman football game. Yet there have been two post listing the attendance at two of the soccer matches mentioned on here. 700 specters attended the soccer match on October 26. 1441 specters attended the soccer match on October 31. Since you, " won't post anymore on this topic in this thread." I assume we will NEVER get the facts, the attendance of the HHS/CC freshman football game.

The article in the Louisville paper made it sound as though NDA had more and better scoring opportunities. Sounded like SH finished their lone chance, and their keeper had a great game. Very tough way to be eliminated, will keep you up night replaying those missed opportunities. NDA will be back, heard they start a freshman keeper, 3-4 sophomores and return some strong juniors. Early, early pre-season favorite to repeat as 9th Region Champs in 2016.

Read post #18, it may explain why there are so many post regarding attendance. And the players care if there are 14 or 1400 people at their games. Back to the game, what do you want to talk about?

Agree with YC. I did a quick check, CCH freshman football roster list 34 players, (have no idea is this is average, large or small roster size for freshman football). CCH Varsity soccer list 27 (larger then average). Using just one school as an example. Freshman football 34 players x 2 teams = 68 players x 3.5 supporters per player (2 parents, one sibling, .5 grandparent per player) = 238 spectators per game. Varsity soccer, 27 players x 2 teams = 54 players x 3.5 supporters per player = 189 spectators per game. AS YC says, roster size alone provides football with an advantage. Still be surprised to learn on average freshman football games attract a larger crowd then most varsity soccer matches.

I don't know why KHSAA doesn't make arrangements to play all State Tournament games at one or two neutral sites, same as they do for the boys and girls BB State Tournament. Aren't there some nice, non-high school facilities in the Lexington area (central location), UK, Transy, how about moving it back to Georgetown College now that they have turf? NKU has a perfect facility but not centrally located. But then again the girls State BB tournament was held at Western KY for years, not the most central location in the state. Tates Creek's facility for one is old, outdated and the turf is years over due needing replaced. KHSAA can and should do better then this. I assume profit has everything to do with it. Would assume at $10 admission and on average I would guess you have 400 supporters per game = $4000 gate per game would certainly cover the cost of field rental. Concessions, parking helps offset the college's cost and KHSAA makes their money on sponsors, the gate is expected to just break even on facility cost. BB State Tournament has the same number of teams 16, seems to work just fine being held at one site, why can't it work for soccer?