Area Round Up – West Wisconsin Soccer Talk

Soccer 2020….Where Do We Stand

September 7, 2020 No Comments

It has been an interesting, weird, frustrating, and at times… very sad 2020. A year unlike any I can remember in my lifetime. COVID-19 to some degree has consumed our lives, our thoughts and our daily rituals. And that includes the world of sport and soccer. Black Lives Matter, and the images on our televisions, regardless of your political affiliations, is a moment in time that will forever change our society. At least I hope so.

This is a soccer blog, and I am not here for judgments or preaching….but give me a little freedom of speech here to express some thoughts. I truly hope the events of 2020 will impact all of us in some positive way going forward. There have been moments in time in our history, in our lifetimes, we are forced into some self reflection. We are forced to consider bigger issues. We get trapped into our own lives and now is a time to consider other peoples lives, other peoples challenges and other peoples hopes and dreams. I am hoping we all come out of 2020 better and stronger and I am hoping that with a little reflection, we can all be part of some positive change. More love, more caring, more community, more sharing, and if you are reading this blog….more soccer.

Eau Claire Area Soccer

Eau Claire United is back and in full force this fall….well kind of full force….we are still social distancing and respecting COVID 19 safety protocols. Some clubs and organizations have advanced to scrimmaging and games, but we are taking a little more cautious approach, along with the City of Eau Claire. As a coach responsible for players, I am okay with the decision. Would it be awesome to play games and scrimmage….sure….would it be crushing to know I caused a small outbreak from players contact and playing a game….absolutely. So we wait and we try to be patient…..and make player safety our number 1 objective. And we train, train, train. And without being to too presumptuous, I think we are doing a pretty good job of it. I am coaching and after 3-4 months of trying to figure this out, it feels we have found a pretty good spot on how to coach in the COVID world. But I will admit….it’s hard. Finding ways to coach, finding ways to keep players engaged, finding ways to keep socially distant while still conducting training. I am proud of the group of coaches and administrators with ECU who have really stepped up their game to deliver a program under these circumstances. And I am really really (not good grammar, but impactful) proud of the players. They have been the most impressive in all of this. They come to training and work hard and respect the process. They just want to play games, they are the ones missing out….but they push thru it and keep working hard, and it is awesome to see it each week in training.

Eau Claire Has A Champion

Bateaux FC, a team who participates in the WPASL, the Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League, just won the league championship. Woo hoo….Eau Claire has a championship soccer team. The team is made up of local players from High School age, recently graduated, college age and also some savvy (by savvy I mean old) veteran players who just love soccer and are really good players. David Ripplinger, president and player, heads the team. He is the one with the cup and big smile in the photo (and I think Josh #14 as well who coaches in ECU). Well done Ripp and team! David has been part of ECU for many years and just loves soccer. Pretty cool for this group to come together and have such success. I think it lets people know we have a pretty strong soccer community and great players at all levels. As we continue to develop our soccer community, Bateaux FC likely will play a bigger role, providing players an opportunity past high school and college. This is a big deal! Well done boys, be safe!

ECU to Help Train with No AYSO this Fall

With COVID-19 concerns, AYSO will not have their traditional Fall season in 2020. For youth recreation players still wanting to have some Fall soccer and some fun, Eau Claire United has picked up the reins and will offer Socially Distanced, (no games or tournaments) training this fall for players born from 2009-2014. Registration is open with training starting on September 12th.

Big Rivers Update

It looks like Eau Claire Memorial and North Boys Soccer will not play this fall and will be part of an alternative Spring Season. A lot of things still up in the air as individual schools make decisions to play and some sports with very low risk like Golf and Swim, press on with a Fall season. The hope is by the spring we will have a very good handle on COVID and everyone’s season, including soccer, can resume.

World Soccer Update

It’s Back!!!! The English Premier League kicks off the 2020/2021 season next weekend with games starting on Saturday. Have I mentioned it’s the most difficult league in Soccer. Have I mentioned even the 20th rated team likely can beat a top ranked team on any given weekend. I think I have…..but here we go. Can Liverpool maintain the standard of excellence of this past season when they crushed the points and led wore to wire, winning easily. Will Manchester City and Pep make it a two horse race? Can Arsenal maintain their late season form and be a contender? Can Chelsea’s 6 major new signings catapult them up the charts? Will Manchester United be consistent all season and get back into a title chase? Is Leicester City fading? Can Tottenham make a jump with Mourinjo and another year to work his 3-year magic? Get your popcorn ready, this should be a good one.

A little tease….if you were ever curious how talented these top players are…check out this little snippet of a few top young Chelsea players messing around. Including Captain America…Christian Pulisic. Fun stuff.

UEFA Nations League has started their second Match Day and teams are beginning to advance. It is an interesting concept, a third big UEFA tournament in addition to World Cup and the European Championships. Its 55 teams broken up into 4 distinct groups of teams. In general, the intent of the Nations league is to replace some of the International Friendlies that occur each year, as well as use the games as part of qualifying for European Championships as well as World Cup qualifying. For Group A, the top 16 clubs in Europe, there is a semi-final and final after the early rounds. In the inaugural nations League, Portugal was cropped Champion in 2018. The League ruins biennially….I think that means every two years :). Fro the other three groups, there is relegation and promotion aspects to consider. The lowest team in each group is relegated down, while winners from B-C-D are promoted. Over time, clubs can make their move up the rankings to earn a shot at a Nations Cup title. In the top 16 and going for a title from Group A include:

Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Poland
Belgium, England, Ireland, Denmark
Portugal, France, Sweden, Croatia,
Spain, Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland

This should get exciting as Group A advances into the next rounds. Some highlights of one of the top games so far.

Germany vs. Spain

MLS Update

We are about halfway thru the adjusted MLS season of 18 games and Playoffs. Teams will continue games until early November at which time the Top 18 will make the playoff rounds commencing with the MLS Cup on December 12th. Soccer in a snow storm is a distinct possibility with many top teams playing in the North. The top teams from each conference as of this week.

Eastern Conference Top 5

Columbus Crew 20 Points
Toronto FC 18 Points
Orlando City 16 Points
Philadelphia 15 Points
Montreal Impact 13 Points

Western Conference Top 5

Sporting KC 17 Points
Seattle Sounders 15 Points
Houston dynamo 13 Points
LASFC 12 Points
Minnesota FC 12 Points

Final Thoughts

As I wrap this blog, just a few quick thoughts.

However big and whoever you decide is in your bubble, keep your bubble safe.

Am I excited to see pick up games at Soccer Park…..yes. Am I concerned when I see pick up games at Soccer Park….yes.

Am I ready to see high school kids play in games and tournaments….yes. Is it too soon to be playing in high school games and tournaments…yes (at least for me it is)

Is social distancing the best way to train soccer….no. Is social distancing soccer training providing a chance for players to improve their skills…..an emphatic YES.

Is this frustrating….yes. Is this unbearable….no.

Is patience any fun….no. Is patience a virtue….yes.

Will we eventually get all this behind us….yes….and I hope soon!

If you agree with me ..cool, if you don’t…that’s cool too….just hope you took a moment to think about it!

Thanks for reading and for your love of soccer!!!

Area Round Up, World Soccer Scene

Soccer Entering a New Phase

June 7, 2020 No Comments

I might be dating myself a bit, but one of my favorite games as a kid was Hide and Seek. All the kids on the block would assemble a dusk at the park and the games would begin. One of us would count to 100 at the big tree in the middle of the park…eyes closed….unless you tried to sneak a peek….not me though :)…and the rest would head out and try to find the ultimate hiding spot. The countdown was on…10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1….READY OR NOT HERE I COME! And the chase was on the catch them before they tagged the tree. It’s that phrase I was thinking about this week as I was prepping for this post. Ready or Not, Here I Come. I think we are ready…..to reintroduce it slowly and safely. That’s sort of what’s about to happen in the sports world across the country and to a smaller degree as Soccer starts to return to play across the Midwest including Wisconsin.

Across professional Soccer, Leagues have already started or are in process of starting back up. We have discussed the German Bundesliga has been underway for several weeks, with games being played in empty stadiums across Germany. The best league in the world (in my opinion), the Premier League, has announced return to play plans as well. FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and MLS have all announced plans. West Wisconsin Soccer Talk is excited as the posts will start to heat up more with the return of soccer.

Can we keep players safe, can we create protocols so everyone feels comfortable, that’s the issue we are focused on as move on from zoom training.. MN has kicked into their next phase already so we can look at them for some clues. Training started on June 1 in the Minnesota leagues into Phase 1 of a return to play protocol. In simple terms here is what US Soccer deems as the phases.

Phase 0. Online training only, no contact.

Phase I. Small Group Training. 10 person maximum (9 player and 1 Coach). Includes non-contact training, social distancing and COVID-19 safety protocols. 4-6 weeks is the general recommendation.

Phase II. Full Team Training. No limit on players but still maintaining social distancing and COVID-19 safety protocols. 3-4 weeks is the general recommendation.

Phase III. Full Competition and Training. No restrictions on contact. Social distancing is not required. COVID-19 safety protocols are still in place. Limited travel is encouraged.

Phase 1/2 Training

What does Phase 1 look like. Imagine Zoom training but with all 9 players in the same place, at the soccer park. Coaches will create training zones so players can maintain social distancing. Training still consists of a heavy dose of ball mastery, dribbling, fakes and feints, and juggling but might now be able to add some passing elements. Easy to social distance and include passing…..if leagues are okay with a ball transfer between two players with their feet (no one picks up a ball during passing drills). Maybe shooting, but again, some clarity needed on a ball transferring from 1 player to another if a GK is in place. Hand sanitizer, no sharing of equipment, players bring their own ball, coaches wear masks, coaches sanitize balls and equipment before and after training, players manage their backpack and water bottle in drop off zones to prevent any contact with other players. Parents will need to sign new waivers, players will be encouraged to check temperatures and confirm they are symptom free before attending training, coaches will record all attendance to allow contact tracing if a player at some point tests positive. A brave new world, but about to be the new normal.

How Do We feel About All That

So, this is our new world. I know everyone has been anxious to get outside, but now that it is here, how does it all sound. The protocols seem right and ensure as safe an environment as we can create. Is there some risk….we are talking about 10 people being in the same area, so possible, but with masks on coaches and players separated, it feels okay. I have been out shopping for groceries and supplies with less protocol than this. I try to avoid folks without a mask…I try to keep my 6 foot perimeter and so far so good. I have had a few interesting situations. I am trying to social distance and someone just decides to get up on you….close that gap and not respect my space….come on dude…..and of course they are not wearing a mask. It will not be perfect. A player may forget and walk into another players zone. A ball will drift into another space and a player will forget to kick and try to pick up the ball. These all seem acceptable risk, but this is what we all need to feel okay about. Coaches will set up plans, encourage players to stay safe and manage the sessions, and I am pretty confident players will be good with it, it will just take a little getting used to in this new normal.

Premier League Is Back

The English Premier League has announced a return to play plan. As of May 28, teams were allowed close contact and competitive training. Players reported back to their clubs and what started as small group training has now moved into full team training. Players are tested twice weekly as I understand, so they are getting instant feedback on anyone testing positive.

Games will start June 17th with the intent to finish the league season. All remaining games are planned to be televised as well. No fans in the stands. Kicking off the restart on June 17th is Manchester City vs. Arsenal and Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United The Premier League Table at restart will look like this. Race for the Top 4.

Liverpool 82 Points
Manchester City 57 Points
Leicester City 53 Points
Chelsea 48 Points
Manchester Utd 45 Points
Wolverhampton 43 points

The current three teams in the Relegation Zone include Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City. a few interesting changes in place for the restart. With player injuries a concern, Teams will be able to make 5 substitutions a game, up from the normal 3 per game. Rosters on game day will go up from 18 to 20, to allow a bigger pool, with the 5 substitute rule.

Bundesliga Update

Just 4 games remain in the Bundesliga season and here is where things stand. Bayern seem locked to extend their Championship run to 8 consecutive League titles. Wow!

Bayern Munich 70 Points
Dortmund 63 Points
RB Leipzig 59 Points
Monchengladbach 56 Points

MLS Update

The MLS has reached an agreement to restart play. Only a few games into their season when COVID-19 shut things down. The current return to play strategy includes all 26 teams heading down to Orlando and playing a League wide tournament set up as a World Cup style format. 3 group games and then the top 2 team from each group (likely 4 groups) advancing to elimination rounds. This could be pretty exciting to watch. After the tournament, teams would head back to their home markets to complete a 34 game season. No fans in the stands as I understand it.

FA Cup and Champions League

The FA Cup is scheduled to resume June 27/28th weekend. We are down to the quarterfinals. Here is the schedule.

June 27th– Norwich City vs. Manchester United

June 28th — Sheffield United vs. Arsenal, Leicester City vs. Chelsea and Newcastle United vs. Manchester City.

Champions League is set to resume August 7th with the completion of the Round of 16 Games. Quarter Finals and Semi Finals will be played in August culminating in a Champions League Final on August 29th.

Juggling Challenge

I want to finish off today with a few notes on Juggling. A really great way to improve ball mastery, footwork and confidence with he ball.

Challenge 1. 100 Juggles in 5 attempts or less. Here is the idea: How many attempts does out take to get to 100…..if you get more than 10 juggles you count it in the total. Any amount below 10 we don’t count. So it would look like this.

Juggle attempt 1 you get 12. Total Count 12.
Juggle attempt 2 you get 18. Total Count 30.
Juggle attempt 3 you get 9. Total count is still 30 since on this attempt your total was 9 and below 10.
Juggle attempt 4 you get 33. Total Count 63.
Juggle Attempt 5 you get 6. Total Count is still 63.

How many attempts does it take to get to 100? 15-20 attempts is pretty normal once you first get started. Track your progress and watch the attempts start to drop. Once you get to 100 in 5 attempts or less, it’s time to move the Challenge up to 200! This is a fun and exciting way to build your juggling. I have seen my current players significantly improve with this Challenge and many breaking their single juggle record multiple times during the process. Many players at 200 and a few over 500 already.

Challenge 2. The Around The World Juggle. Once you get over 100 in 5 attempts consistently, maybe for some fun, it’s time to try the Around the World Challenge as well. This is a tough one, requires some very good low ball dribbling and a little coordination too! It is very cool to watch, hard to master, but worth the try. Here a video with a little tutorial for you.

And if you are really looking for some Juggling Challenges, check out this video from Jason. Pretty amazing. Blows my mind!

Area Round Up, High School, World Soccer Scene

Big Rivers Conference Week 2 Results and Standings

September 11, 2019 No Comments

Big Rivers Conference is in full effect so let’s take a look at games and results this week so far.

Week of 9.10 Results and Games

Memorial 2 @ River Falls 1. Memorial kept it’s Conference record clean with a hard fought 2-1 win over a competitive River Falls team. After blitzing Chippewa Falls last week, the Memorial offense slowed down a bit, getting 8 shots on goal and earning a PK . Both Memorial goals were scored in the first half, a Lui Shi Xiong PK and then a goal off a nice cross from Peloquin to Evan Smith for the 2-0 halftime lead. A 68th minute goal on their only shot of the night, from a direct kick, brought River Falls back to 1 goaI, and it stayed there the rest of the way for the 2-1 final. These type of games will be common for Memorial, and I think Hudson this year, a team that sits pretty deep, does not commit numbers forward, sends a few teasing long balls forward with hopes of getting a Forward loose for a shot. Memorial will need to stay patient and find a few goals and that’s what happened last night. The defense only giving up 1 shot is impressive….the shot to goal ratio, unfortunately was NOT. But take the win and move on.

Rice Lake 10 @ North 0. Rice Lake is the early surprise this year, off to a 4-0 start and 3-0 in Big Rivers play. This week they got some love from the Coaches Association and entered the D3 rankings at #9 after being unranked so far this year. They have had a nice 2-3 run in D3 and are off to a great start again this year. The bigger surprise is North giving up 10 goals to Rice Lake at home. Things must have fallen apart a bit as they gave up 7 in the second half. North will need to regroup and maybe their upcoming cross town rival game with Memorial is just what they need to kick stsart the season. After 3 games, they have not scored in conference and lost last week to improving Menomonie.

Hudson 8 v. Menomonie 1 (@ Hudson). Hudson rolled on with another dominating performance in conference. They have 15 goals and only allowed 1 in 2 conference games. We will learn a lot this Thursday as Hudson will take on Rice Lake in a battle of two of the three top teams so far this year. In non-conference play this past weekend, Hudson lost to Stevens Point 2-1 and beat Cedarburg 1-0. That’s a nice win for Stevens Point.

Games on Thursday 9.12

North @ Memorial

River Falls @ Chippewa Falls

GAME OF THE WEEK Hudson @ Rice Lake. I am eager to hear the results from this one. Is Rice Lake for real. Is Hudson going to be a dominant BRC team again this year and leave the rest of the teams in the dust.

Conference Standings

Rice Lake 3-0-0 9 points
Hudson 2-0-0 6 points
Memorial 2-0-0 6 points
River Falls 1-2-0 3 points
Menomonie 1-2-0 3 points
Chippewa Falls 0-0-2 0 points
North 0-0-3 0 points

Wisconsin Soccer Coaches State Rankings

Marquette 4-0-0
Verona 3-0-1
Arrowhead 4-0-0
Middleton 3-0-1
Sussex Hamilton 2-1-0
EC Memorial 4-0-1
Hudson 4-2-1
Madison East 3-1-0
Homestead 4-0-0
Kettle Morraine 2-1-0

New Richmond sits at 10th in D2 with a 6-1-0 record.

Rice Lake sits at 9th in D3 with a 4-0-0 record.

The Premier League is back in action this weekend, so let’s get you ready. Here is a video of every goal scored in Match Week 4. Enjoy.

Area Round Up

It’s Official; I am a Soccer Geek

December 24, 2017 No Comments

We all have that moment of clarity, that instant we realize the truth. It hits us in the face. It is unavoidable. I had one of those moments this weekend. I am a Soccer Geek. So there are lots of ways to spend your weekend as you approach the holiday season. Shopping trips are an obvious choice. Catching a viewing of “It’s A Wonderful Life” is a holiday favorite. Fireplaces and hot chocolate and relaxing. So…it was on a Saturday a few days before Christmas that I found myself hanging out with a bunch of other soccer fans at the Burnsville Blast indoor soccer facility watching a bunch of men’s teams compete in a 7 v 7 tournament. Not on your bucket list I would guess. But here is the thing….it was fun. It was exciting. It was a little bit crazy as well.

Eau Claire Soccer Community

Every community has some characters in it and the local soccer community is no exception. If we are going to continue to grow the sport and fans of the sport, we need some crazy soccer fans to help it grow. I have come across a few in my day and want to introduce you to one many of you may know, David Ripplinger. If you have been involved in soccer in Eau Claire for the past 10 years , likely you have bumped into Dave. From player, to coach, to referee, to training camps, Dave does a little bit of everything related to soccer in Eau Claire. He has coached my kids and probably yours in Eau Claire United. He refs Indoor League and Tournaments at the Sports Center. He has been part of Blugold Camps for years. He is everywhere. Even during the holidays I can’t get rid of him! He contacted Austin about joining a team he was forming for a weekend tournament in Burnsville. An Adult Mens 7 v 7 Tournament.

The Craziest Soccer Ever

I have watched some interesting soccer in my day. I have watched some competitive soccer as well in my day. But…I must say…this might have been the most interesting and craziest soccer I have ever been a part of. 16 Teams and it felt like a World Cup atmosphere. It was awesome. Minneapolis is a diverse community and has a strong soccer history. This was the most ethnically diverse group of teams in a 16 team format in any tournament I had experienced. Influences of Central and South America, Mexico and Africa were everywhere. There were really good soccer players everywhere. Other than going to an MLS game or watching Soccer on TV, this group represented some of the best quality players I have seen this close up. High School soccer is good, but the athleticism and skill of these players took it to another level. Fast, athletic, strong, quick feet, aggressive and really fun to watch. Most of the players in their 20’s. A few of these teams were part of the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) considered the 4th level of soccer in the American Soccer system. An amateur league made up of 96 teams from across the states. A feeder system for players to launch into the other divisions of soccer as well as just a place for great soccer players not yet ready to give up the game a place to continue their soccer careers. Top Teams quality for the US Open Cup, the biggest open tournament in the United States. For you other soccer geeks here is the flow of US Soccer.

NPSL National Premier Soccer League along with the PDL Premier Development League: Level 3. Amateur Soccer.

USL United Soccer League and NASL North American Soccer League: Level 2 with approx. 38 clubs between the two. Professional soccer teams with a regional flare. Many of these teams have eventually made it to the MLS.

MLS Major League Soccer. The top professional league in the US with 24 teams and expanding on a recent surge of popularity. Nashville was just admitted into the league as the newest expansion team.

Burnsville Tournament

Back to the tournament. If I was to describe the action I would say it was a mix between Soccer-MMA Mixed Martial Arts-and Amateur Hockey. When you take games of 7 v 7 and put 14 really athletic (except our team…more on that later) players on a field the size of the Sports Center Field watch out. Again…really good players…lots of testosterone….small field….walls…a little attitude….maybe a lot of attitude… and include a Trophy and a Winners Check and you get some interesting results.

I saw a ton of yellow cards. I saw a bunch of red cards. I saw a fight break out. I saw players tripped, knocked down, forced into walls. I saw great goals and incredible soccer skills. A little bit of everything. Add in the spice of the diversity of the teams and at times it felt like teams were playing for a World Cup trophy. It was intense. The best team I saw was one of the NPSL teams, VSLT from the Saint Paul area. Pretty sure Minneapolis City FC had a team as well. A bunch of ex and current UW Badger players made a team as well. Really quality players were everywhere. Back to Ripplinger. He cobbled together a team of 12 made up of players all with some ties to the Eau Claire area. Aaron Wagner and Frank Lowry with Memorial and Vitterbo connections. Alex and Matt Glittenberg and Austin Lyons all with Memorial connections. Devin Bathke (Concordia), John Carli (Vitterbo) and Brian Crocker all with Chippewa Falls history. Josh Albrecht from North (played in college as well). Tyler and Norbert…sorry dudes..you both had mad skills but don’t know your back story. In the midst of all these teams Ripplinger put together the Bad News Bears of soccer. Most teams had cool uniforms and looked the part. Ripp’s team all had yellow shirts, but 12 different yellow shirts. Shorts all were different as well. It made for quite a look. As far as talent…pretty solid. A bunch of college players and high school all conference players. Maybe a few pounds heavier than their playing days. Maybe not quite as athletic looking as back in the day. Pretty sure when the other teams saw them, they did not intimidate anyone. But here’s the thing…they had talent, played together as a team and with Ripplinger flying around and scoring goals, they won their first three games to advance to the Quarterfinals. The fairy tale ended as they ran into the VSLT team who was loaded with talent, skill and athleticism. They were impressive and took down the Bad News Bears to end their day. But I must say thank you to the team for giving us all a fun day and a very interesting soccer experience. Lets take a look at some highlights of the day.

This will give a little flavor of the intensity. This was mild compared to some of the action. Ripplinger was one of the older players at 28, but mad respect for his skills, effort and attitude. The dude still brings it! Scored some nice goals. A typical striker who you love to have on your team but hate to play against. Found out he did not have a chance to play high school soccer (Fall Creek) but did play for North Coach Terry Albrecht for EC United. Speaking of Terry, had a chance to chat with him a bit as well as he was there to watch Josh. Loved talking to him and you can feel his passion for the game and his teams. Hope to be able to spend more time discussing his soccer history in Eau Claire and write some posts on his North girls team this spring.

Here is a little game action to give you a feel for the early games.

A winning goal. Pesky Ripplinger finds a way.

A small sample of the quality of the team that knocked them out. Man…what a rip from distance. I know they make all that look easy, but trust me, not as simple as they make it look. Nice uniforms too!

And a final tribute to Ripplinger’s Team.

Image result for bad news bears

Thanks for a fun day!

Area Round Up

Turkey Bowl: A Thanksgiving Tradition

November 26, 2017 No Comments

If you have been a part of the Eau Claire Soccer community for the past 15 years then maybe you have had the good fortune to participate in a really fun event; The Turkey Bowl 3v3 Soccer Tournament.

The event has been held at the EC Indoor Sports Center for the past 15 years. I think my kids have participated in at least 10-12 of these events. I know because I still have drawers full of the T-Shirts. I can’t seem to get rid of them, they keep showing up year after year when the boys are in need of a colorful shirt for some event, out pops a Turkey Bowl T-Shirt. Here is what I love about the tournament.

Minimal or No coaching. It is just kids playing soccer for the fun of the game. Occasionally, a team has a coach, but usually, the coach is just there to manage substitutions. At the older age groups, NO COACHES, which is perfect. Just play the game for the love of the game.

A Fun Family Event. Much of the soccer year is stressful. League play, tournaments, playoffs, win and advance or lose and go home. Players feel some stress, coaches feel some stress and parents really feel some stress. The Turkey Bowl is pretty stress free. A chance for kids to enjoy the game. They tend to experiment more, try some trick shots, fancy dribbles, crazy volley shots; things they would not normally do during their Club season or school season. It is fun to watch. There are always some great goals. Parents seem relaxed and just enjoy watching their kids play. I also love the opportunity for brothers and sisters to play together. I have two boys who played soccer, but never on the same team, they are 4 years apart in school. But…on Turkey Bowl Day, we have been able to have them on the same team. To be able to watch them play together was a real treat. I watched a few High School Games yesterday and had the chance to see the Jolley brothers on the same team. Really fun. Owen joined a team of younger players which included his brother Will. Very cool of Owen to join and really cool for mom and dad to watch them play together.

A Chance to Reconnect. Every year I attend, we end up reconnecting with friends and families we have not seen in a few years. Austin joined a team of players he played High School soccer with and it was great to reconnect with kids and families. Plus, what a treat to watch your kids play soccer again after 3-4 years away from High School. A blast from the past to see the group of boys back on the field. Plus, you end up reconnecting with the parents and other siblings you have not seen for years. I love all the older siblings back for the holidays spending the afternoon watching their little brothers or sisters playing soccer. We bumped into many of the parents who you just don’t connect with often. Soccer finding a way to bridge the gap and reconnect….how cool is that!

Good Soccer. Last but certainly not least, there is some good soccer being played as well. The Adult division featured some really high quality players. A bunch of college players, ex-college players, All Conference players and members of our local Men’s leagues participated. The High School boys featured a ton of quality players from Memorial and Chippewa Falls and I think one I recognized from Menomonie. 3 v 3 is fast and furious. The game moves quick and the scoring is early and often. I captured a few goals to give you a sense of the game play. Here are some highlights: A really good game between Chippewa Falls and Memorial. With 3 v 3 there are two primary options. A really solid 1 v 1 skill and shot or really good team play breaking down a defense and getting a 2 v 1 situation to score. Here is one of each.

Really good skill on display by Chippewa Falls team. I think I see a nutmeg in there and then a powerful finish.

Really strong team play for Memorial and creating a simple 2 v 1 opportunity and finish.

In the Adult division, I have to share a couple of videos. First, Alex G. wanted no part of Cha Cha (local soccer legend in EC) as he knows if you get hit by a blast from Cha Cha it hurts. He artfully stays away on the first blast…nice leg flip. Also notice the skill on Cha Cha to slice it into the net. He hits that with the outside of his left foot.

Alex gets his revenge later. Man, these guys generate a lot of power. Most of the players in the older division had some bruises and scrapes. Still competitive even after all these years.

This last video I had to add. Probably the sweetest goal I saw all day. A combination of power, speed and crazy skill. A back heel, nutmeg goal from 10 yards. What! Nicely done! Sorry Adam….but it was a really nice goal.

Thanks EC Sports Center. A great weekend and fun event.

Area Round Up

Area Soccer Round Up: Sectionals

October 25, 2017 No Comments

Okay folks, here we go, just two wins from State. Let’s take a look and see what we got for tomorrow.

Division 1

Sectional 1: Thursday Games

#1 E C Memorial vs. #2 Hudson @ Memorial at 3:30

#1 Green Bay Preble vs. #2 Appleton North at Preble at 7:00

Notes: Sectional 1 is the only section where all 4 top seeds advanced. Of course, we will need to go thru the hardest group to advance…why am I not surprised. Some of the Sectional groupings are a bit easier. Here is a quick view of the other three groups and the seeds that advanced.

Section 2: Seeds 1-2-5-6

Section 3: Seeds 5-6-7-9 That is crazy. What the heck happened. One of these teams is going to State! Life is not fair and neither is soccer. There will be some very surprised fans once this sectional is over.

Section 4: Seeds 1-3-5-7

Division 2

#1 New Richmond vs. #2 Holmen. This reflects well on Memorial. We beat New Richmond pretty handily late in the year.

Division 3

#1 Amery vs. #3 Rice Lake. would be great to see Rice Lake advance. If they were playing Memorial, likely they would!!

Division 4

#1 McDonell/Regis vs. #2 Barron. This should be a good one. Really pulling hard for McD/Regis. Some great boys on that team and had a chance to connect with Coach Cash recently. He has a passion for soccer that I appreciate.

UWEC Blugolds Soccer

WIAC Conference tournament right around the corner. UWEC snapped a losing streak today and had a nice 1-0 win over UW-River Falls. Currently sitting in 6th place in conference and avoiding the top two teams in the Quarterfinals.

Lets take a closer look at the first two Hudson games this year.

Memorial v Hudson at Hudson. 4-0. A hat trick by Longville and a goal by Orser lead a dominating performance by the Abes. They really took it to the Raiders. They controlled possession, bullied the midfield and were dangerous in the scoring zone. A complete game and an early sign this team would be trouble in the BRC. Here is the link to the post I wrote after the game.

http://westwisconsinsoccertalk.com/new-game-same-st…-past-hudson-4-0/

Here was the goal of the night.

Memorial v Hudson at Memorial. 3-1. Hudson brought a new level of energy and confidence for game 2. Memorial was short two starters and that impacted the rotations. A much more competitive game. Hudson focused more attention on Longville, but the Abes stepped up with goals by Rosenberger, Larson and Martinez. Hudson pulled one back late to make it interesting.

Here is the link to the post I wrote that night.

http://westwisconsinsoccertalk.com/memorial-earns-b…-win-over-hudson

Here was the almost goal of the year on a run by Jolley.

So what to expect tomorrow. As we have discussed, hard to beat a team 3 times in the same year. Playoff soccer in the sectional is always tough. I expect a close one. Hudson will be full of energy. As the underdog they will be playing loose and easy with no nothing to lose. Will they try to take away Longville again. Will the other Abe scoring threats step up. Will having Haig and Lyons back in the lineup swing things back in the Abes favor. Can’t wait. No surprise if it is another 1 goal game tomorrow. A battle. The Abes are ready . Let’s do this!

Area Round Up

Update to Area Soccer Round Up Week of October 9

October 12, 2017 No Comments

Regis/McDonnell

Regis turned the tables on Black River Falls winning decisively 5-0 at home earlier this week. Their record sits at 7-4-3 and they appear to be gaining confidence heading into the playoffs. Next up for McD/Regis is an away game today at Phillips.

Big Rivers Conference: Updated after Tuesday Games

Here is an update on the conference as we move into the last week of the conference calendar.

School Record

EC Memorial 10-1-1

Hudson 8-3-0

Chippewa Falls 6-4-1

Rice Lake 5-4-2

EC North 3-6-2

River Falls 3-7-1

Menomonie 0-10-1

Surprise result of the week: Rice Lake with a big 2-0 win at Memorial. As well, Memomonie with a close game against Chippewa Falls. No wins, but Menomonie is making progress and battling.

Teams to watch: Hudson. CF v Rice Lake should be interesting tonight. As well, we will get to see if North is improving against a very good Hudson team.

Schedule for the week.

Tuesday, October 10:

Memorial v. Rice Lake Rice Lake 2-0 win

Chippewa Falls v. Menomonie Chippewa Falls 3-2 win

Hudson v. River Falls Hudson 3-1 win

Thursday, October 12:

River Falls v. Menomonie

Chippewa Falls v. Rice Lake

North v. Hudson

UW-Eau Claire Women

A tough 2-1 loss on the road at UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday. A roller coaster season so far. Tough start and then a nice 4-game win streak but a tough three game stretch leaves them at 4-7-1 on the season and 1-2 in conference.

Next Game: Saturday October 14 v. UW-LaCrosse Point (Home Game) at 1:00.

Area Round Up

Area Soccer Round Up: Week of October 9

October 9, 2017 No Comments

Regis/McDonnell

Regis had a tough 1-0 loss to Arcadia last time out to move their season record to 6-4-3. They play again on Tuesday, Oct. 10 versus Black River Falls. They played them earlier this year on the road and lost 2-1. Should be a good game and hopefully the home field will make the difference.

Big Rivers Conference: Updated after Thursday Games

Here is an update on the conference as we move into the last week of the conference calendar.

School Record

EC Memorial 10-0-1 CONFERENCE CHAMPS 2017

Hudson 7-3-0 4-3 win v. Chippewa last Thursday

Chippewa Falls 5-4-1

Rice Lake 4-4-2

EC North 3-6-2

River Falls 3-6-1 2-1 win v. North last Thursday

Menomonie 0-9-1

Surprise result of the week: No real surprises. River Falls winning against North was a small upset with North higher in the standings. Hudson secured the second spot with a win over Chippewa Falls.

Teams to watch: Hudson. With two games this week can Hudson develop some confidence, continue their winning streak and challenge Memorial with a deep run in the Sectionals.

Schedule for the week.

Tuesday, October 10:

Memorial v. Rice Lake

Chippewa Falls v. Menomonie

Hudson v. River Falls

Thursday, October 12:

River Falls v. Menomonie

Chippewa Falls v. Rice Lake

North v. Hudson

Memorial Player Updates

Jack Longville currently sits #4 in the state in scoring with 34 goals. The leader is Zues Huerta from D3 #1 Ranked Delavan-Darian with 43. Jack sits at #5 in points (combo of goals and assists) with 76. You guessed it, Zues Huerta leads the state with 103 points.

Owen Jolley is in the Top 20 in Assists in the State. I have him at approx. 16 Assists.

UW-Eau Claire Women

The Blugolds are 11 games in their season and currently stand at 4-6-1 and 1-1 in Conference after a tough 1-0 loss at UW Whitewater. A tough opponent and a tough game. Scoreless for most of the game, Whitewater scored in the 78th minute and held on for the 1-0 win.

Next Game: Wednesday October 11 v. UW-Stevens Point (Away Game). Can we get another streak started!

USMNT

Big game Tuesday, October 10 vs. Trinidad and Tobago. A win or tie and the US team will advance to the World Cup. I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!

Area Round Up

Quick Weekend Update….and I Mean Quick

October 7, 2017 No Comments

So Soccer Fans, I feel I owe you some kind of update…I mean it has been two days since the last update. Busy weekend, not much access to my computer and unfortunately I do not have a co-blogger….I am it, you are stuck with me! so let’s get you a few quick updates.

BRC Update

Here are the results of the Thursday games.

Memorial 8 v Menomonie 0

River Falls 2 v North 1

Hudson 4 v Chippewa Falls 3 That should lock up second place for Hudson in the conference.

In other local soccer news:

Arcadia 1 McDonnel-Regis 0

Regis outshot Arcadia 12-7 but soccer is a funny game, more shots does not always equal a win.

Mens National Team

If you have not followed , here is a quick update. The USMNT (US Mens National Team) was in action last night in a must win game as they attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Here are the current group standings and points earned.

Mexico 21

Costa Rica 15

United States 12

Panama 10

Honduras 9

Trinidad and Tobago 3

The US team plays Trinidad and Tobago in their final game, so things look good for the US right now. Top three qualify automatically. enjoy some highlights from the game.

So I am thinking….Memorial plays Park tonight…maybe I am foreshadowing a little bit. 4-0 Memorial. spounds good to me.

Go Abes!

Area Round Up

Update to Area Soccer Round Up Week of October 2

October 5, 2017 No Comments

Regis/McDonnell

Regis had a nice win earlier this week over Marshfield Columbus 2-1. Scores by John Wampler assisted by Bill Wapler, yes, twin brothers. Also, Zach Yengo continues his fine form with a second half game winner. They stand at 6-3-3 on the year (I think!) and play later today against Arcadia.

Big Rivers Conference: Updated after Tuesday Games

Here is an update on the conference as we move into the second half of the conference calendar. Things are taking shape with Memorial and Hudson in the best spot to win conference.

School Record

EC Memorial 9-0-1 CONFERENCE CHAMPS 2017

Hudson 6-3-0

Chippewa Falls 5-3-1

Rice Lake 4-4-2

EC North 3-5-2

River Falls 2-6-1

Menomonie 0-8-1

Surprise result of the week: Some interesting results. North securing a tie against Chippewa Falls is a good result for North. Menomonie hanging with Rice Lake and losing only 1-0 is a good result for Menomonie.

Teams to watch: Hudson and Chippewa. They are chasing second place and more importantly, seeding for the post season. A big game tonight that might determine 2nd in conference. Hudson coming off a strong performance against Memorial looks favored unless they have a let down after a tough loss. CF can be great with their GK but has not been consistent this year. As well, in the playoffs, don’t sleep on North. They are playing better, and have a dangerous striker to contend with.

Schedule for the week.

Tuesday, October 3:

Memorial v. Hudson Final Memorial 3-1 Game of the Week

North v Chippewa Falls Final 2-2

Menomonie v Rice Lake Final Rice Lake 1-0

Thursday, October 5:

Memorial v Menomonie

River Falls v North

Chippewa Falls v Hudson

UW-Eau Claire Women

The Blugolds are 10 games in their season and had been on a nice winning streak after a slow start to the season. They traveled to Gustavus Adolphus on Wednesday and unfortunately, their winning streak of 4 games ended. Gustavis scored a goal in each half and doubled the shots on goal to win 2-0. Let;s hope Coach Yengo and then Blugolds get another streak started as they move back into conference for their next game. Season record stands at 4-5-1 and 1-0 in conference.

Next Game: Saturday October 7 v. UW-Whitewater at 5:00 (Away Game). Can we get another streak started!

Looks to be a challenge as Whitewater is 7-2-3 on the year with an early season win over Gustavis Adolphus.

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