So, I don’t know what I was thinking. I actually watched a good portion of the Division 1 State Title game today. Not sure if I am an idiot, a glutton for punishment or just a soccer fan. I think you might vote idiot and you might be right. I didn’t want to…I tried not to….but I just could not help myself.
If you have not looked and really didn’t want to know…SPOILER ALERT…Marquette 2 Arrowhead 1. Does anyone believe you only get so much good fortune in sports, that at some point your luck just runs out. Does anyone believe in karma…what comes around …goes around. Let’s examine the facts.
Arrowhead takes an early 1-0 lead on Memorial from a long free kick into the box that most observers think was an own goal on Memorial. Memorial generally outplays Arrowhead and gets more shots but can’t overcome three soft fouls and three very fortunate free kick goals by Arrowhead. Arrowhead wins 4-2.
Fast forward to today. Marquette scores its first goal on a long free kick into the box that is headed up and over the Arrowhead GK by an Arrowhead defender. An Own Goal. I am not making this stuff up. It happened today. Arrowhead generally outplays Marquette but can’t overcome the own goal (OG) and a PK from a play in the box in the second half. They showed multiple replays of the penalty and the Marquette forward does get taken out on the play by the Arrowhead GK. The GK did get a touch on the ball just before taking out the Marquette player. Maybe no call, although announcers both felt a good call (I agree). When your luck runs out, things don’t go your way. Penalty called. Marquette scores and goes on to win 2-1. So Arrowhead loses a State title on an OG and a PK. That’s tough and I can relate…I felt the same way Thursday night. It takes good players, a great team AND a little luck sometimes to win a title. Memorials luck ran out Thursday and today…so did Arrowheads.
If you read my playoff preview you’ll remember a little rant on Marquette. Let’s review their tournament history since 2000 when they were added to the WIAA Playoffs when previously they were part of a private school conference and playoff system. Since 2000 there have now been 18 State tournaments. Here is Marquette’s Record.
17 Tournament Appearances
15 Appearances in the State Finals Game
13 State Championships
Let me repeat that….13 State Championships in 17 years. Can you say Dynasty. Can you say unfair system. I knew you could. That makes our loss to Arrowhead even tougher. I think we had a chance to take them down and you can’t say that very often. This year they were beatable. Marquette has now won 4 STRAIGHT STATE TOURNAMENTS. Yes, you read that right. Bad news for the rest of us…they started a large number of players today who were NOT Seniors. Pretty good chance they make it 5 in a row. Not sure what the rest of us can do about it with the private school advantages.
In Division 2. Whitefish Bay won their 3rd straight State Tournament Title. Another dynasty at Division 2. They were actually a much better team than Marquette this year…beat them 3-0….and were ranked in Top 10 in the nation in high school soccer.
In Division 3, it is much easier (sarcasm). There are two teams playing in the State Tournament title game for back to back years…Delavan-Darien is playing Mt. Horeb. One of these two teams has won the last 3 titles at Division 3. So as I say, much easier, two teams split the dynasty here.
I am not sure how Eau Claire high school soccer can compete with the dynasty of Marquette. How do we develop a program where we can have teams compete at this level on a consistent basis. I have some thoughts. It won’t happen overnight. Better youth programs, better club programs, a soccer support system to encourage talent development.
Congratulations to the winners. Hope to join you someday.