So let’s get caught up on the World Soccer scene including the MLS, about to head into the playoffs and MLS Cup as well as updates on the Nations League, FA Womens Super League and even a little local Wisconsin news.
WIAA Boys State tournament
I have to admit, I totally whiffed on the WIAA Boys State Soccer Tournament. I mean, it just snuck up on me this past week. I have been focused on our Club training, was aware that our local school district postponed their Fall seasons and without Memorial or North playing, it just didn’t strike me there was much High School soccer being played…..but I was wrong. Happened to catch a sports update on the local news and Bam!….a state tournament update. Even in our area, private schools seasons continued and outside of Eau Claire, public schools pushed ahead with soccer. Without much local coverage, it’s tough to understand the full scope of the High School season, but I did a little research this morning.
It seems that teams who had seasons played about 10-12 games prior to the WIAA State tournament. The Big Rivers website had some results, but not a complete picture. MaxPreps site has a little better info, but it seems the reporting of scores was a little lax, so hard to grab a full picture there . For Big Rivers, the teams that played included Hudson, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, River Falls and Rice Lake. Hudson, as expected based on their recent years of being near the top of the Big Rivers, finished these games 7-0-1, with River Falls earning a 0-0 draw late in the season. So I guess Hudson is BRC Champ….not sure if they will officially award that this year? As far as the State Tournament; the Sectionals and Regionals were played late October with the State Tournament Semi-Finals and Finals played November 7th. Only 3 Divisions this year with the reduced number of teams playing. It looked like teams were moved around to fill out brackets and in some cases bracket sizes were reduced from 16 to 12 or 14. Locally we had Hudson #1, New Richmond #3, Chippewa Falls #5 and Menomonie #6 in D1, Rice Lake #1 in D2 and Regis/McDonnell #6 in D3.
And for the results: Hudson advanced to the State Tournament, congratulations Hudson soccer. Any State tournament is precious, especially since they went from 8 teams to 4 a few years back. As you would expect, top teams and programs continued to fair well. Marquette, the dominant force in Wisconsin High School soccer won their 15th State Tournament title over the past 21 years since joining WIAA when private and public schools joined up as one group. Crazy record of dominance, they are just really good. There were several first timers this year at State, which also makes sense with the reduced number of schools, with some of them being top programs. Roncalli/Two Rivers Co-Op made their first appearance and decided……what the heck….we might as well just win this thing! The Prairie School, another dominant force in Wisconsin, won their 7th State Tournament. Medord, St. Lawrence Seminary and Arcadia also made their first appearances at State, well done. I had the opportunity to attend State with two of my boys, so I know how excited the teams and families were to participate….what amazing memories. Here is the recap.
2020 State Boys Soccer Tournament
Saturday, Nov. 7
DIVISION 1 – Mukwonago H.S.
Semifinals:
Game-1: #2 Arrowhead (11-2-1) 1 – #3 Elkhorn (13-1) 0
Game-2: #1 Marquette (12-0-2) 3 – #4 Hudson (11-1-1) 0
Championship Game:
#1 Marquette (13-0-2) 3 – #2 Arrowhead (11-3-1) 0
DIVISION 2 – Marshfield H.S.
Semifinals
Game-1: #2 Roncalli/Two Rivers (13-1-1) 3 – #3 Medford (9-4-1) 2
Game-2: #4 Sauk Prairie (10-2-3) 2 – #1 Delavan-Darien (11-3) 1
Championship Game:
#3 Roncalli/Two Rivers (14-1-1) 2 – #4 Sauk Prairie (10-3-3) 0
DIVISION 3 – Kewaskum H.S.
Semifinals
Game-1: #3 St. Lawrence Seminary (11-1-2) 4 – #2 University School of Milwaukee (11-1) 2
Game-2: #1 The Prairie School (15-2-1) 1 – #4 Arcadia (8-3) 0
Championship Game:
#1 The Prairie School (16-2-1) 4 – #3 St. Lawrence Seminary (11-2-2) 0
MLS–About Time for the Playoffs
The 23-game MLS season has officially come to an end and now it’s time for some playoffs and the MLS Cup. The playoffs will start this week. There are 16 teams who will participate, broken out between the Eastern and Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, the playoffs start with a 4-team play in round. New England vs Montreal and Nashville vs Inter Miami kick off Friday 11/20. The winners will join the Top 6: 1. Philadelphia 2. Toronto FC 3. Columbus Crew 4. Orlando City FC 5. NYC FC and 6. NY Red Bulls to determine the Eastern Conference Champions. In the Western Conference the top 8 include 1. Sporting KC 2. Seattle Sounders 3. Portland Timbers 4. Minnesota United 5. Colorado Rapids 6. FC Dallas 7. LA FC and 8. San Jose Quakes. Semi-Finals will be played 11/29. Conference Finals on 12/6 and the MLS Cup Finals o 12/12.
Minnesota plays Colorado on Sunday 11/22 at 6:30. Let’s Go Loons!!!
UEFA Nations League Update
Professional leagues around Europe are on hold for a few weeks as International Teams formed again this week for play in the Nations League. Teams are currently playing Match 5 of 6 in the Group Stages. In Group A with the top 16 European teams, the top 8 will advance into a single elimination round to determine the top European team and winner of the Nations League. Only a few teams have locked in their place in the next round including France and Portugal. It looks like it will take the final matches to determine the final 6 qualifiers. A huge game today between England and Belgium as well as Poland vs. Italy that have big implications. Getting close to the knock out stages and the games should be very entertaining.
With all apologies to Sergio Ramos and Spain, I just had to drop this video into the blog. PK’s are hard….I know they seem like they always go in, but the pressure and the nerves are real, especially with the National team games. One of the best players in the world, a perennial League winner for Real Madrid and a World Cup winner with Spain, Sergio Ramos, had a bad day on Saturday. He had an incredible play saving a goal, but he’ll have a hard time getting his two PK’s out of his head. Not much to say here….and I think Sergio would agree….these were not his best efforts, especially the second….UFF DA! Hang in there Sergio!
FA Womens Super League
Teams are completing Match Week 7 of 15 and we had two big clashes. Four of the top 5 teams faced off this weekend in two big Derbies. Manchester City faced off againt league leader Manchester United while #2 Arsenal faced off against #3 Chelsea. A really big weekend for the Super League.
Tobin Heath, yes, the same Tobin who is a member of the USWNT, fires in a rocket of a goal to get Manchester United back into the game before a late corner kick goal ties it up 2-2. And yes, that was Sam Mewis on Manchester City. The FA WSL has taken on a bit of an American flavor this season.
These two games were really some good soccer and some great scoring chances as well. The Tobin Heath goal was a stunner. Current Table:
- Manchester United 5-2-0 17 Points
- Arsenal 5-1-1 16 Points
- Chelsea 4-2-0 14 Points (but with a game in hand)
- Everton 4-2-1 14 Points
Premier League Update
The Premier League took off two weeks for the international team games. The league is thru 8 of 38 games played so far. The table looks very intriguing….a wide open battle with at least 6 teams in range and likely a long battle for this years champion. The current table:
- Leicester City 6-0-2 18 Points
- Tottenham 5-2-1 17 Points
- Liverpool 5-2-1 17 Points
- Southampton 5-1-2 16 Points
- Chelsea 4-3-1 15 Points
- Aston Villa 15 Points
The remaining top 10 include Everton, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton and Manchester City. And yes, you did miss seeing two important names…Arsenal 11th and Manchester United 14th. It’s going to be a fun ride this year watching teams jockey for a League title.
MLS and Premier League updates coming this week. Check back in.
Manchester United 5-2-0 17 Points