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On my flight back from St. Louis on Saturday evening I thought, "Why is every girls soccer team having so many issues this season?" From 1,001 different Spring Breaks, weather, ODP commitments, suspensions and other things, I don't know if I've seen one team in person that's had a complete squad.
For example, Neuqua Valley was without Alexa Gaul (groin strain, left) and Megan Oyster (U.S. National Camp, right) during its 2-1 loss to Nerinx Hall Saturday at the College Showcase in St. Louis. I've always thought the IHSA needs to push the start of the girls soccer season back, but instead it moved it up to late February. The first girls soccer game should be no sooner than April.
Push the season back a week or two to start and it would be April 1. I know it makes the folks in the Bloomington Ivy Tower work an extra week in June, but it's time to do what's best for the sport and the kids. The IHSA vacation plans can wait a week.
But that would be common sense.
COLLEGE SHOWCASE: As I said last week, I've always been a big fan of the College Showcase in St. Louis. The site is perfect, and it's something the Chicago area needs.
After Lake Zurich and Neuqua Valley split their games over the weekend, Barrington will face St. Louis powers Nerinx Hall and Incarnate Word this weekend at the St. Joseph Tournament in St. Louis.
With lacrosse growing in popularity, it's time for some town in the Chicagoland area to have a multi-purpose turf site with two or three fields right next to one another just like St. Louis has.
PEPSI COLLEGE SHOWCASE: The inaugural event will take place Sunday at Concordia University in River Forest.
Here is the schedule:
9:30 - H-F vs. Glenbrook South
11:15- Cary-Grove vs. Loyola
1- Fenwick vs. Jacobs
2:45- Huntley vs. St. Charles North
Eight good programs at one site. A chance to give fans an opportunity to see different matchups, while giving players a chance to gain some exposure in front of college coaches and media.
Beginning in the fall, there will be a Pepsi College Showcase every Sunday on college campuses following the Pepsi Showdown. They will feature different teams each week during the boys and girls seasons.
It's time for high school soccer to be in the spotlight - on the field and in the media.
BLIZZARD OR MCFLURRY? I never thought I would've had so many people email about my blizzard comment in last Friday's blog. I figured more people would've emailed to ask when was the last time I saw New Trier lose at home during the regular season?
It was actually back in 2006 against St. Joseph (St. Louis) to start the season.
I'll be at New Trier again on Thursday to see the Trevians battle Lake Zurich. And yes, I'll visit Dairy Queen again.
STARTING TODAY: I'm going to start listing coaches who don't report scores on a daily basis. It takes one second to give a player some pub, and it's so easy to do these days. If a coach doesn't have time, let a player or parent do it.
Here are three different ways to do it:
312-321-2247
preps@chicagosuntimes.com
312-321-0122 (fax)
Today's schedule is listed on the YourSeason.com web site, as it is everyday. Check back tomorrow to see who couldn't take a second to give their players some pub.
And before I get one email from a coach saying to stop picking on coaches, here's my response - stop being lazy, it's your job. Save yourself the call or email to me.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: A year ago, Hinsdale Central scored a total of 31 goals. How many do you think the Red Devils are going to score this spring at this rate? And on that note, Hinsdale Central won only one conference game in 2008. Amazing what happens when you have a couple talented players return from the club scene.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Are there more injuries during the girls season compared to the boys? Broken legs, broken wrists - girls are falling left and right. The latest was Geneva sophomore Kari Kosog, who broke her leg Saturday against St. Charles East.
DREAM BIG, HAVE FUN: As I was sitting next Robert Morris College associate women's soccer coach Tom Czop on Saturday in St. Louis, we both agreed it's odd not seeing Pete Ternes (middle right) on the Lake Zurich sidelines this spring.
But if there was a perfect replacement for the all-time winningest coach in Lake Zurich history, it's first-year coach Meghan Kolze (bottom right). Not only is she a former Lake Zurich and Illinois star, but she's just as competitive in the right way as Ternes was. (And if you are wondering if she liked Janet Rayfield as a college coach, she says if she could invite five people to dinner they would be - Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, her parents and Janet Rayfield.)
During her high school playing days, Kolze, whose personal motto is "dream big, have fun," played for current Barrington boys coach Scott Steib. She also might be the only person who says she loves the movies Rudy, Remember The Titans and The Notebook in the same sentence.
And if someone didn't know she was the new head coach, all they had to do was look at the back of her t-shirt on Saturday morning against Incarnate Word at the College Showcase.
It read - "Coach." And yes, the letters were almost as big as billboard on the Kennedy Expressway.
- Joe Trost
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About St. Louis fields.... Three fields together would be nice but in Las Vegas, Nevada they have at least two large strictly soccer complexes. One complex has ELEVEN lighted full size strictly soccer fields and FIVE of those field are artifical turf. The Chicago area is WAY behind in terms of soccer facilities. Very sad. ( And Chicago wants the Olympics???)
new treir lost at home to glenbrook south 1-0 during the regular season in 2007.
"The last time I SAW New Trier lose at home."
Hey Joe,
When are you going to show your due respect to the MSL West. Some good showing among the girls. To bad some of the underclass girls can't break the varsity lineups. But I'm sure they would rather play than sit on the bench.Would you agree.
Thanks Matt