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Ahhhhh....welcome back, even though I never left.
This little thing called the Pepsi Showdown - the largest high school boys soccer tournament in the Midwest and third largest in the country - somehow managed to take up a little bit of my time since Labor Day.
I don't know how that is possible, but it did. In past years, I had to listen to the so-called pundits from Hinsdale to Barrington through Naperville moan and groan that all I was blogging about during this span was the Pepsi Showdown.
So I decided this year to say, well, enjoy the silence.
I then sat back and watched all the coverage of the Pepsi Showdown and wondered if I didn't run the Pepsi Showdown - would I be covering it?
From the Tribune, Daily Herald and Sun-Times to ComcastSportsNet, B96 and countless other media publications, the Pepsi Showdown was the focus for all media.
When you have 38 teams at one site promoting more than 800 kids and allowing them a chance to play part of a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park, I think it's easy to say that yes I would be covering.
It was the crown jewel of the boys soccer season this season, as it was last season, and as it will be next year. And as I've said since 2004, the girls version of the tournament will hands down be the bigger and most talked about of the two tournaments. It will be at 48 teams in 2010.
So with that, let's get into it. Boy, do I have some thoughts. Do you have any idea how hard it was to shut up for three weeks?
Where should I start? Well, I'll shoot a couple one liners and dig into things more in the coming days.
BOYS AND GIRLS: Mike Taylor has taken over the girls soccer program at St. Viator. After Rory Dames , who built the program into one of the best earlier this decade, left, the pride has been lacking.
There's no doubt Taylor will install that back into the Lions.
ANOTHER EAGLE SOARING: Katy Clemens - aka Katy Boll - is just the latest of former Sandburg girls soccer players to be coaching in the Chicagoland area.
Clemens is the sister of former Sandburg star and girls soccer coach Brian Boll. She played a key role during the Eagles rise to the top in the mid 1990s.
Now the head coach at Mount Carmel, Clemens is the latest high school coach to say the high school game is not what it used to be from an overall talent level.
There's no question the average player is much better, but where are the stars? Some will say the academies, but I just don't think we have the super superstars this year.
ONE OR THE OTHER: Will the real Streamwood please stand up, please stand up. Tons of talent returns from a 17-win season in 2008, but they are .500 now with three ties.
In the Pepsi Showdown, they went 3-2. But in its two losses, they were outscored 11-0.
I guess the slogan for the rest of the season is all or nothing for Alex Perez (top left) and Co.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Does the word All-State carry the same weight as it did 10 years ago?
Sadly, no it doesn't and that's something the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) needs to look at.
TAKE A SECOND: The Chicago Fire honored the IHSSCA Hall of Fame members at halftime this past Sunday.
As I stood there and watched folks like Lake Park coach Norm Hillner (middle left), Downers South coach Barry Jacobson, Gibault coach Jim Corsi and many others be honored, I realized just how much time all those members have donated to the sport, countless players and families over the years.
Next time you are out at Toyota Park, swing over to the west concourse and look at the IHSSCA Wall of Fame. There's a reason why they are there and without them, the game wouldn't be where it is today.
AND FINALLY: There's no question Neuqua Valley is loaded, just as New Trier was last year.
But after watching the Wildcats against Lyons on Sunday in the title game of the Pepsi Showdown at Toyota Park, I walked away thinking this: Does Neuqua Valley play too technical to win a high school state championship?
Now hear me out before you tell me to jump in Lake Michigan. In high school, the field sizes and playing surfaces are different everywhere.
If you get too pretty at times on a narrow field, you're going to get burnt. Teams need to have moments when they are more direct and go for the goal.
Taking nothing away from the Lyons defense and game plan on Sunday, Neuqua Valley's offensive attack was missing. For the talent it has, there needs to be more of a sense of urgency to put the ball away.
Call me an idiot, which I do to myself at times, but it just made me wonder.
Maybe it was just one game, but I started to wonder that on Saturday when the Wildcats slipped past Morton 1-0 on an odd goal.
But then I remind myself this - Tony Kees (bottom left) is on the Neuqua Valley sidelines. And when you have one of the best on the sidelines, things tend to workout in the end.
CORNERKICKS: Is there someone you think deserves some pub for what they are doing on or off the field? Let me know - joetrost@hotmail.com.
I'm off to Miami for the weekend. Get out and see a game.
- Joe Trost
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Nequas offensive attack was held in check by Lyons midfield until the Lyons coach made some last minute subs resulting in a score.
LT has a lot to prove down the stretch. They've put up an impressive record so far, but haven't played the best competition to date. Sandburg, Hinsdale South, St. Charles East (OT), Homewood Flossmoor, Providence, Rolling Meadows, DGN (2 OT), Glenbard West (flat), St. Charles North, Streamwood (2 OT). Not so impressive. Lake Zurich was nice win, but they've been inconsistent. Saturday's match against Marquette High will be a litmus test of how good their side really is.
LT has nothing to hang their heads over and can be very proud of their accomplishments so far. True with HS soccer, no team (even Nequa) plays the top teams every game, but LT has shown they belong. I caught the Pepsi finals and must say it was one of the best HS soccer matches I have ever seen. Too bad someone had to win as it could have gone either way. I do agree however with Coach72 that there were some real questionable substitutions made at critical times.
Neuqua's built their record playing, among others, LT twice, Naperville North, Morton, New Trier, Geneva, Waubonsie twice. LT's played four games against top teams: Neuqua twice, Lake Zurich and Marquette High, losing three of those matches. Most of the other teams they've played are at or below .500 records. Comparing strength of schedule LT vs. Neuqua doesn't hold water.
LT = super sectional champs
the end
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It was certainly interesting for me to read that article. Thank you for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more soon.