So, this was my first time to watch Memorial this year. New Year, New Team, and I was very curious to see how they would look. But….before we get started on the game tonight, Memorial vs. Chippewa Falls, let me take a quick look back at my post following last season. Curious what I was thinking….I know you are as well.
2019 Season Preview–original post 11.18.18
So lets take a quick look at what is returning in 2019 and how the team is taking shape.
Attacking: The loss of Brenner will hurt. He was a dynamic scoring threat and had 37% of the goals. Who will step into that role. In the Forward spot there is no obvious choice. Peloquin has played there, but his scoring dipped in 2018 and he played more on the wing late in the season. This will be a developing story…who will step into this important role in the 9 spot.
Wing Play: Some better options here. It feels like Hartman and Smith are ready and able to take on these spots. Scoring ability, crossing ability and good team play make them dangerous out wide.
Midfield: Memorial will be dynamic in this area. Returning Rosenberger, Nunez and Woodworth makes this maybe an All Conference Midfield, except for that darn Kolton Prater at Hudson and maybe Lui Shi Xiong at North. A bunch of goals may need to come from midfield pending the development of a high scoring striker. All three are capable and dominating midfield may be the key to next years team.
Back Four: Another area of strength. Returning 3 starters along with All Conference player Logan Junker will make the back four tough to beat. Throw in Matt Gyorfi, a healthy Ryan Biwer and fill in that 4th spot with a developing Sophomore or experienced Senior and you have a nice situation on the back line.
GK: Hard to replace a 3 year starter and Co-Conference Player of the Year. Scott Knowlton likely assumes the spot and he will have big shoes to fill. A strong back 4 and dynamic midfield will need to protect him a bit as he grows into the role. Tyler covered up a bunch of defensive hiccups with his GK play and sweeper keeper mentality. A stronger, more experienced defensive group will certainly help the new keeper.
Reserves: Memorial loses 10 Seniors and will need the next wave to step up to fill important roles on the team. The JV squad was dominant all year, so who will step in to take those open spots. Can we find enough scoring , midfield play and defense to round out the team. Can we find that chemistry to build around. Can we make a deep run and get back on top of the BRC. Hudson had it a year, time to take it back! Go Abes!
The New Season Begins
So let’s get a few things out of the way quickly. Memorial 11 v. Chippewa Falls 0. Oh my….two teams going in two completely different directions. Memorial looking to have a special year while Chippewa is just trying to begin the rebuilding process with new leadership. It’s going to take some time to get competitive again. I plan to write a full blog on the game tomorrow, so please be patient with me. I do have a few thoughts about the games leading up to this point. So hang on, here we go. Memorial’s early season non-conference games are always difficult. Coach Kite takes the approach to use these games as a measuring stick for his teams as well as expose them to the quality of soccer that will be needed to go deep in post season. Other than Hudson….Memorial will not face state tournament quality teams very often in the Big Rivers. Memorial has consistently been a Top 10 program….so play big games to get ready is the mantra. This season is no different. They started with a traditional rivalry from Minnesota…Park High School in Cottage Grove. I think this is the Battle for the Paddle….did I get that right coach? Memorial is on a pretty good streak against Park and this year continued that trend with a solid 2-0 win. Both goals scored by Luke Rosenberger. Next up, a difficult two game swing over the weekend to Green Bay area. They played perennial State tournament teams Appleton North and Green Bay Preble. A hard fought 2-1 win over Appleton and a very competitive 0-0 game against GB Preble. A bit of a revenge game against Appleton North who knocked Memorial out of the playoffs last year in an OT and Penalty Kick thriller. Still a bit painful. A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE START. 2-0-1 leading up to their BRC opener tonight.
Early Season Top 10 Division 1
Given the fast start, what do the state coaches think about Memorial. Here is the High School Boys Week 1 Rankings.
- Marquette 2-0-0 (shocking—you might already know how I feel about private schools competing against public schools in D1)
- Verona 2-0-0
- Middleton 2-0-0 Memorial plays Middleton Friday Sept. 27th
- Madison West 1-1-0
- Arrowhead 3-0-0
- EC Memorial 2-0-1
- Hudson 1-1-0
- Sun Prairie 1-0-2
- Kettle Morraine 1-1-0
- Sussex Hamilton 1-1-0
Memorial also plays Oregon-ranked #7 in D2 and Wauwautosa East–#8 in D2.
BRC Title; Memorial or Hudson Again
This could get interesting. It certainly looks like these two teams are going to fight it out for the title. Early games indicate it will be a Battle Royale. Hudson season to date; Loss to powerful Woodbury (MN) 0-1. A win against Green Bay Preble 1-0 (yes the same team we tied 0-0), and a tie against Appleton North 0-0 (yes, the same team we beat 2-1). Mark your calendar. Memorial plays at Hudson on Tuesday September 17th and then again at home on Thursday October 10th. That game might decide the BRC Champ.