HS Playoffs

Soccernovice wrote:Three years in a row McKinney Boyd plays in regionals making it to quarterfinals or higher good luck tomorrow. Are there any other Texas 5A high schools who also have made it this far the last three years in a row don't know other regions well.

Deer Park and i think they've hosted the Regionals for a few years.

McKinney Boyd 1 vs Kingwood 1 (Kingwood advances in Shootout win)
Flower Mound Marcus 0 vs Coppell 1

Went to a couple of mid-rounds HS playoff games recently. Much more exciting than anything I've ever been to at the classic league. Just the crowd and school pride factors. And the soccer isn't that awful, despite what some say. I think that once a few more middle school soccer programs are in place, the club system will fade pretty quickly.

Freeatlast wrote: I think that once a few more middle school soccer programs are in place, the club system will fade pretty quickly.

Real soccer coaches overwhelmingly do not have teaching certificates, so no - the MS football coach with the soccer players in the off-season doesn't cut it. At the risk of resurrecting the previous discussion, the semifinals teams were comprised of club players.

nearpost95 wrote:

Freeatlast wrote: I think that once a few more middle school soccer programs are in place, the club system will fade pretty quickly.

Real soccer coaches overwhelmingly do not have teaching certificates, so no - the MS football coach with the soccer players in the off-season doesn't cut it. At the risk of resurrecting the previous discussion, the semifinals teams were comprised of club players.

The real killer for free's prediction is the UIL limitations put on HS coaches for off season. Prior to Thanksgiving and after the season they can have no soccer involvement with their players. That pretty much guarantees the continued prominence of the club system.

Freeatlast wrote:Went to a couple of mid-rounds HS playoff games recently. Much more exciting than anything I've ever been to at the classic league. Just the crowd and school pride factors. And the soccer isn't that awful, despite what some say. I think that once a few more middle school soccer programs are in place, the club system will fade pretty quickly.

are you serious?

Congrats to Coppell on their Region 1 Championship, beating FM Marcus 1-0.

The two teams were very evenly matched. There was a sense that the first team to score would probably win. Both teams moved the ball well and attacked in numbers. I really like the 4-3-3 that John Gall runs. Very disruptive to Coppell's back four.

Coppell's Coach Chad Rakestraw plays the game correctly, with discipline to shape, movement and touch. In terms of these criteria, his team plays as well as any DA I've seen in NTX. I took my little one to the game on Friday. He emulated the 1-2, give-and-go in his game on Sunday. He got through the defense with the help of his cm and shot an upper ninety winner!

Quality soccer begets quality soccer.

Best of luck boys! Win State and bring the glory back to NTX!

Isn't Chad an odp coach, too? Or do I have him confused with a different Chad?

Yes, same Coach Chad. Very impressed with his ability to get the kids to adhere to a system. Last year, the team lost focus late in the season. This year, they were able to execute through the grind.

finish1 wrote: his team plays as well as any DA I've seen in NTX.

Wow. I haven't seen the current crop of top DA teams nor the Coppell team, but I have no doubt that teams like the U18 FC Dallas and Solar DA teams would shred this team. IMHO.

I was referring to the style of play, Grinder. Not heads up competition.

Got it. My bad.

Coppell vs Alief Elsik for 5A state championship
I think Coppell wins it all

Cheetos, did you just say you believe Coppell wins it all? Welcome aboard! Glad to have you as a new recruit.

Now, I just hope all that negativity doesn't somehow contaminate our otherwise vibrant, healthy Karma. If it does, you get 100% of the blame...

Well I would like a ntx team to win it all. At least.

Catrachito19 wrote:Well I would like a ntx team to win it all. At least.

So Coppell is the only NTX team left standing in 5A, and I guess Poteet is the lone NTX hope remaining in 4A - anyone like their chances? I haven't seen Poteet play but their ability to get through the playoffs winning every game by one goal I think is an indication that while they aren't dominent, they have something pretty special and will be a tough out.

On the girls side I think both HP and Plano West repeat and bring hardware home to NTX (although Southlake should provide Plano West their toughest test of the playoffs and could pull off the upset).

Best of luck to all NTX teams - hoping for a sweep

Poteet will play waco university in the semifinal. In regular season they lost 4-1 to them.

Catrachito19 wrote:Coppell vs Alief Elsik for 5A state championship
I think Coppell wins it all

omg now i can't bet on coppell
i'm w/f1
if they lose one of the next 2 we blame u

It was very cool watching the game on television at a local diner packed with fans cheering on their team.

After the game, one of the players put on a headset for a live interview. Sunday morning, there was an article in the newspaper, complete with pictures, names and notes.

Lots of people talk trash about HS soccer, but there is no other place to get media coverage like that!

Congrats to Coach Chad Rakestraw and his boys!

finish1 wrote:It was very cool watching the game on television at a local diner packed with fans cheering on their team.

After the game, one of the players put on a headset for a live interview. Sunday morning, there was an article in the newspaper, complete with pictures, names and notes.

Lots of people talk trash about HS soccer, but there is no other place to get media coverage like that!

Congrats to Coach Chad Rakestraw and his boys!

OK, I'm sold. Coppell proved they were as good as advertised over the weekend, pretty well dominating both south Texas opponents. From what I saw possession was probably averaging 70% - 30% in favor of Coppell during the two games, and they really only allowed one legitimate goal (Hanna's 2nd - their first was a PK that should not have been called as the ball was clearly out first). Anyway, they made it interesting enough to keep us by the channel :-).