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To learn about the sport and appreciate how far high school girls soccer has come, you have to learn from the past.
Think about it - it wasn't until 1988 that the IHSA had a tournament for the sport.
Look at this photo to the above of the 1997 St. Charles state championship team. Back row far left you have coach Joe Moreau, who is now coaching at Neuqua Valley. Now look at that same row and move five players to the right - there's Anne Poulin, who is now an assistant coach at St. Charles North.
So who else was coaching the IHSA Final Four that spring - New Trier's Jim Burnside (third) and Palatine's Willie Filian. And guess what - they're still around, as is Moreau's assistant coach, Sue Soderberg (back row far right).
SAME STORY, DIFFERENT YEAR: Do you know how many times I've heard a coach tell me their finishing needs to improve and that it will come? Scoring against a good team isn't an easy thing, but I'm a believer that either you can or you're going to struggle.
Either you have a finisher or you don't.
A number of teams move the ball from the back through the midfield and make some nice runs. But either you have someone that puts it away or you don't.
A true goal scorer finds a way to get to the ball, find space and score - period.
There are those that get the job done, and then there are those who say their finishing needs to improve and that it will come.
Oh it will come all right...in 2010.
THE RISE IN THE SOUTH: The South Suburbs is nowhere near what it was 10 years ago, but it's starting to rise again.
When a solid program like Lincoln-Way splits into four schools, it's easy to understand how thing may take a while to recover in that district. But keep an eye on Sandburg and Andrew, who play on Friday night in Tinley Park. While they have yet to be truly tested, the Eagles are undefeated and Andrew will have sophomore star Emily Scott back in the lineup.
She has been cleared to play after suffering an ACL injury last year.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Wouldn't it be great to match Lake Forest and Neuqua Valley against one another right now? Lake Forest's Rachel Quon, Nicole Lipp and Annie Evans (in order to the right) trying to score on Neuqua Valley goalie Alexa Gaul?
I'm praying both teams have a nonconference game cancelled because of weather over the next week or two. And then I hope Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager and Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau (below) shoot an email to one another and say let's play (maybe at a college site like Concordia University - halfway in between).
The best in the North vs. the best in the West. I'll even help the cause and provide email addresses to make it easier:
stuckslt@lfcds.org
Joe_Moreau@ipsd.org
High school soccer needs the exposure and excitement. And because of our lovely weather this spring, a little creativity and a little extra work can create a lot of options.
KEEP AN EYE ON...Benet and Plainfield North.
The Redwings have some talent that could be dangerous come May. Kelly Diedrick and Liz Dudek keyed Monday's win over Wheaton Academy and Brynne Miller is another Benet stud.
Plainfield North, which will be joining the Pepsi Showdown in 2010 and knocked off Naperville Central earlier this season, is now 8-1. Stephanie Bar is a name you're going to continue to hear this season, along with Ali and Katie Cox.
CKICKS: Have some news or a note? Send it to me - trost@pepsishowdown.us.
- Joe Trost
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