End of the road time.

Roosevelt entered the game with their heads held high and with a lot of confidence. And for good reason: a conference championship and a twelve-win season are nothing to be ashamed of! Plus, they had high expectations for the game-- the Riders,who narrowly lost to Stow earlier in the season, knew their opponents' game and was ready for the challenge in this winner-take-all, loser-go-home sectional final. Unfortunately for the Riders, Stow was also ready, also knew their opponents, and had the home field advantage. Despite goals by Emily Hook (woot!) and Becca Thomas, Stow was too much for Kent, and the Bulldogs sent us packing 4-2.

To Rider fans and Rider players and Rider coaches, it is surely a letdown to not get to the District level and have a chance to upset (probably) Jackson. It's always a letdown to end the season with a loss to Stow, whose team operates at about the same skill level as Kent. The difference is, in my opinion, the quality of schedule. Stow (whose schedule can be found here: http://www.highschoolsports.net/de faultcal.cfm?t=s&schoolid=OH442247168&spt=7&lvl=1&division=2) plays teams like CVCA, Hudson, Tallmadge, Western Reserve, Brush, Solon, and others consistently. Their quality of schedule is very high, which serves them well as they enter the playoffs and are more used to pressure games. Now, you'll argue with me, but Chris, Kent Roosevelt had the toughest non-conference schedule in school history this year! Yes, that's true, but in between playing Hudson and  and Cloverleaf, we were playing Coventry and Field and Norton and Southeast, teams we beat by a combined score of 22-3, including a 7-0 whomping of Southeast. It's NOT like we did awful against the tough teams in our schedule. Yes, the losses to Revere (4-1), Hudson (3-0), and Cloverleaf (5-0) were pretty severe. But look at the Green game: 1-0 loss. Boardman, a 3-0 win. Wadsworth, a 2-2 tie. Twinsburg: 1-0 win. Cuyahoga Falls: 2-0 win. Stow: 1) 2-1 and 2) 4-2. The losses were not unwinnable. The wins were impressive. The bottom line is, we play in a tougher conference or have a tougher non-conference schedule, we inevitably will elevate our soccer program. Credit Mitchell with seeking a tougher schedule for the girls... I would like to see us play even tougher games, like the boy's team plays.

This season will be just another season next year, just another fond memory that may inevitably get lost in the shuffle. I prefer to think of it, however, as a moment in time, a moment when we the fans could sit, freezing in the stands and scream our heads off at referees, huddle together with crossed fingers during a penalty kick, and shake cowbells at opposing team's fans as they sit, stunned by a Rider victory. For the girls, especially the seniors, these are the memories they will have as they embark on other journeys. For these seniors, they will remember wearing spray-painted shirts to school advertising for the game, they will remember uneven fields at Norton and turf fields at Green. They will remember last minute goals against Ravenna and Crestwood, and obnoxious fans (thank you, thank you) screaming from across the field. Some of the senior girls will remember playing with teammates with whom they've played since sixth grade or earlier. I will remember screaming at refs for what i thought were ridiculous offsides calls, only to be tsked by people who know soccer (thanks Mr. Bialik and Mr. Sampson) that yes, indeed, it was offsides. I will remember Erin Waples' fastest hat trick probably in the history of the universe, three left foots into the goal against Boardman in under 50 seconds. I will remember chaperoning six girls across the parking lot to the McDonalds that looked like a chinese restaurant in Norton, and trying to sneak back in without Coach Mitchell knowing. I will remember my sister walking across the field with my parents in tow during Senior Night. This team and each of its members are so full of heart and spirit, I will miss it, and I know you all will too.

Thanks for the memories girls!

Coventry downed 3-0

Kent took the fight to a scrappy Coventry last week, defeating them 3-0, with goals scored by Rebecca Thomas, Annie Kenney, and Erin Waples, the three you would probably expect to score. These three have definitely been the most consistent this season, and the exciting thing is, two of the three come back for next season! The first half, as always for the Riders, was a struggle to get focused, especially with Stow looming as their next opponent in the sectional finals. Many of the girls in the eyes of the fans saw their lack of genuine hustle and motivation in the first half of this game to be a problem of taking the game seriously. Coach Mitchell and the staff set them right at halftime, and the Riders came out firing, scoring two quick goals to start the half. Very few penalties or free kicks were awarded in the game; when they were called against their team, the hostile Coventry crowd went nuts. When they were called against Roosevelt, our crowd went nuts. At one point, the ball appeared to come off one of the Coventry player's hands... we erupted in cries for the field referee to make a call, loudly enough I guess that the referee looked over at us and said "She didn't touch it with her hands!" That was a funny moment. A late goal was added, securing a Rider victory. Thanks to Mr. Breiding, the girls had some leftover pizza, albeit cold pizza, at the end to celebrate.

Twinsburg and Green

Twinsburg came to town on Senior Night looking to prevent Roosevelt from getting its tenth win of the season. The game was closely contested. The game got more and more physical, especially on the Twinsburg side (they accumulated two yellow cards). A scary moment occured when goalie Abby Bradford got nailed in the stomach by an errant Twinsburg knee with ten minutes left in the game and Roosevelt and Twinsburg tied 0-0. Bradford had the wind knocked out of her, and couldn't breath well on the field. She had to be taken off and replaced with junior goalkeeper and occasional field player Jocelyn Schmidt, who has learned a lot from the adept Bradford through her years playing as Bradford's second-in-command. Schmidt commanded the goalie box well after Bradford came out, making several nice plays, especially with balls in the air and making a few nice punts. We know that next year when Bradford graduates we'll have some solid talent in her stead. Anyway, with 3 minutes or so left in the game, freshman Annie Kenney buried a goal in the left corner, giving Roosevelt a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish. When the clock ticked down to 0:00, Roosevelt got to celebrate its 10th win of the season, which is a rarity in Mitchell's tenure as head coach. Afterwards, the seniors were honored with delicious cake and punch. Cheers to the Roosevelt mom's for putting together nice photo montages of the six seniors.

Not to bring the mood down from the happy news of a Roosevelt victory, but Roosevelt fell last Saturday at Green 1-0. There were several factors that went into the loss. One was Coach Mitchell's absence. His absence was largely felt, especially at the end with some questionable substitutions that kept some bench players on the field for a longer period of time than normal in the 'meat' of the second half. Another element to the game was the turf on which the game was played. In my opinion, and this was supported by many to whom I talked afterwards, it gives a real distinct advantage beyond regular "home-field advantage" when a team like Roosevelt who has played on grass all season goes away to Green and must automatically adapt to a very different surface. It changes the game. I would argue that every team should play on the same surface, regular ol' grass. It's not fair, is what it is. Because Roosevelt had little experience on the turf, players had a harder time controlling the ball, clearing out of the box, making successful offensive ventures, and finally scoring. Though Roosevelt only lost one to nil, it was obvious some ball handling skills went out the window. I just hate that it partly came down to this. Another element was the loss of Michaela Kline to a concussion. Though the offense performed fairly well in the first half, they didn't have the depth at forward they would have had with solid consistent performer Kline. Kline would have brought some good ball handling skills and maturity to the field. The offense has been lackadaisical all season, but this concussion just adds insult to injury. A few good points: the defense performed very well, save for letting in a lucky goal with about ten minutes left in the game. Specifically Audra Parrish and Savanna Kirtley had great games, but everyone on D performed well, seriously.

Tomorrow (Monday) we got the tournament draw, followed by three more games (two at home!), then playoffs. I'll update accordingly as we get more info on our tournament draw.

Ravenna, Field, and Wadsworth

So a brief update about what your busy blogger hasn't gotten around to writing about.

The Ravenna game on September 30 was of HUGE importance. The PTC Conference title was on the line-- if Roosevelt lost to the visiting Ravens, they would tie with Crestwood and Ravenna for the title, something no one wanted. There is no substitute for victory, especially for this team. They love to win, and when they don't, you can almost hear their hearts being ripped in two. Or maybe that's the audiences' hearts... either way, the Ravenna-Roosevelt game was by far the most important game of the season. The Riders were up to the task. They countered a physical Ravenna team with some serious hutzpah. With Roosevelt winning 2-1, a Ravenna midfielder was tossed out of game by the referee for mouthing off after a yellow card. This was huge for Roosevelt. After this, Ravenna had no chance again to tie. Bottom line, Roosevelt wins 2-1, and the title is ours!!!

The Field game on October 1 was a bit of a joke, considering the team is about 0 and schedule. Roosevelt had some difficulty winning this game, surprisingly, but handled the Falcons just fine, winning 4-2. What was surprising is that Roosevelt was losing 1-0 early on. Bradford and the defense usually don't give up goals so quickly. The coaching staff of the Riders were incensed about the team's play, to the extent that the players were glowering by the end. I think Mitchell et al. were concerned about the team's apparent slacking after beating a tough Ravenna team, then coming to Field with a win kind of assumed. All the same, the coaches might have been a bit hard on the team, to the extent that they might have been played worse after half time in the face of a lot of harsh criticism. Roosevelt wins, nonetheless. Woot. 9 wins! Sad point: junior attacker Michaela Kline went down HARD midway through the second half. She left the game, and after a doctor's visit, she was revealed to have suffered a concussion. High school's sports are pretty serious about concussions, so Michaela will be forced to sit on the sidelines for a few after that game until a doctor clears her to play. No doubt she'll be raring to go.

October 3 against Wadsworth, Roosevelt worked the visiting Wadsworthians to a 2-2 tie, which was frustrating for many of the girls, as they had been winning at half time. Ah well. First tie of the season.

Kent falls to Hudson, 3-0

Kent lost a tough one to Hudson 3-0. From the outset, it was hard to ever control the ball for even a short period of time. It seemed every time Roosevelt got the ball, there were three Hudson players ready to strip the ball from her. Their passing on offense was enviable, for sure. Their offensive scheme, which was to effectively drew the double team and just in time, pass to the open man, worked very well. It seemed the ball was on Roosevelt's half nearly the entire game. Bradford did what she could, but in the end, faced some tough one-on-ones and, unfortunately, you're gonna lose some of those.

Mitchell got on his team at halftime about chasing the ball, being more aggressive. He cycled in and out players who normally sit on the bench, presumably to bring in fresh legs, though he may have also known the game was a lost cause, and was giving his "next generation" some playing time. Libby Bradford (yet another one) impressed on left attack with some nice runs down the side and a few nice shots. Hannah Sampson had a great game, not being afraid to be physical, and ensuring passes were put in the right place.

One spot of weakness, immediately seen, was the Roosevelt right side of the field. Hudson was able to beat our players on many occasions and dribble into the box with relative ease. Roosevelt defense needs to work on stepping in on dribbles and trying to disrupt the attack plan. Too often were the defense allowing Hudson to own the lane.

One bright spot was that we only allowed three goals. The defense stayed mostly solid through the game. For a team that had about a billion shots on goal, the fact that only three went in is a testament not to just to Bradford's skill, but also the defense's resilience. Offense, well, we've had troubles all season here. We are really improving our ventures down the field, but Mitchell should work the team on crosses from the corners into the box. While the crosses may land in the box, scorers in the box are getting beat on positioning, ending up behind the defense who has an easy clear out.

Game's like this are good. They reveal hidden weaknesses that are sometimes not so evident when you play teams like Southeast or Field. They also build our skill level. To have seen skill like this not just in the Hudson game, but in the Cloverleaf before that, will build our talent level, as well as give us an idea what we might face in the second or third round of the playoffs. This is what non-conference games are meant to do for a team. Mitchell knew that in the beginning.

The Ravenna game has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 5:00 (JV) and 7:00 (V). Be there to see the Riders take on the rival Ravens!! This game has enormous implications for the league title. If Roosevelt can get this one, and they should, (Ravenna lost previously to Cresty 3-0), the league should be wrapped up in a pretty pink bow. I like pretty pink bows. Let's get it! Respect this house!!

Kent defeats Crestwood 3-2!!!

In the most exciting game of the season, Kent DEFEATED league rival Crestwood 3-2 in a match that surely could have swung both ways. Both teams entered the game with a lot of anticipation and expectation for theirselves. For Crestwood and Kent, this was a chance to knock off their next closest rival and secure the 2009 PTC league title (assuming they can defeat the other teams). Both teams started off fighting hard, being physical whenever possible. Where I think this Kent team has improved is its physicality. This is huge. Kent for a long time has been known as a nicer, less physical team. While this is all good in terms of sportsmanship, they were allowing themselves to get beat by sacrificing that physical element. Kent brought the shoulders to this game, in particular in Erin Waples, who threw a couple of hard shoulders to the disdain of Red Devils fans. This had two effects: one, it immediately alerted the Red Devils that Kent was a team to be reckoned with. They were intimidated, for sure. The second effect was it took Crestwood's physical advantage out of the game.

The game did not lack drama. Crestwood scored first, early, scooting a ball in the box by goalie Abby Bradford. This spoke to the drive the Red Devils had entering the game. They were ready. But not to be stopped, Roosevelt scored soon after, tying the match at 1-1. Roosevelt would score once again, this one by Michaela Kline, to go up 2-1 at the half. The second half was full of drama. Crestwood tied the game at 2-2, and several times had goals annulled by the refs for offside penalties. With about twelve minutes left, Kline again buried a ball into the net to take the 3-2 lead, which they would never relinquish. Give Roosevelt defense some serious credit for holding Crestwood in those last pressure filled minutes.

Rahs to the junior and senior class for coming out and supporting their Lady Riders. This charged up the crowd, and undoubtedly charged up the team, to see such a large contingent of supporters in the stands. Plus, my mother brought her cow bell, which echoed across the stadium nicely. This was harkening back to the Crestwood game of last year, in which THEIR fans brought a cow bell and drowned out Kent home fans. We will never let this happen again, we said then, and true to our word, we murdered their noise with our own.

Also, cheers to the men and women working the concession stand. You provide a valuable service. Yummm. Go Kent!

Kent tops Cuyahoga Falls 2-0

Goals scored: Michaela Kline, Rebecca Thomas

I wasn't able to attend this game, thus the short post. Looking towards Crestwood tomorrow, a team that looks threatening coming off a 3-0 win against Ravenna. Big game tomorrrow!

Roosevelt tops Coventry, 5-1

Roosevelt took down visiting Coventry on Tuesday night, 5-1, in a game that was largely unintriguing for both players and fans. Coach Mitchell recognized early on that Coventry's varsity squad was roughly equivalent to his JV team. Mitchell put in the "B" part of the varsity team in order to get some playing time and practice for some of the players accustomed to not getting a lot of it. The defense was solid all game. Coventry was able to take advantage a bit of weak left side defense, executing some nice crosses, but in general these gains were minimal. Passes were well timed, and fifty fifty balls more often than not were won by the good guys. Bradford was denied her fourth shutout mid way through the first half when Coventry poked one in from inside the box. Aw, we'll let her off this time (ha).

The only point of real, ahem, non tedium, was when Bradford, defending from the north side, slid out from the goal to try and knock the ball out. She accidently hit the Coventry attackwomen coming from the right, gutting the poor girl in her stomach. Bradford, to her credit, immediately went to the girl, upset over the hurt she had laid upon her. The girl got up soon enough. The ref gave Bradford a yellow card, (re the rules of the OSHAA), sending her off the field for one series of play. You would think Coventry would have been granted a direct PK, but no, the ref granted Roosevelt a goal kick, as the ball had last been touched in bounds by the visitors. Now, we in the Roosevelt stands, and the Coventry fans in their stands, were both like "Say what?" Boos echoed across the stadium and verbal tirades rained upon the heads of the referees, who in the words of Mr. Mitchell, "clearly hadn't played soccer in their lives." Mitchell said after the game he had never seen anything like it. Mr. Bialik in the stands blamed it on the poor institution of American soccer. And Paul Sampson just sat there, blinking in disbelief. Now, we'll take it, but let's just hope we don't get this field referee again. Mitchell, who's had experience with the errant ref in question before, said of past games with him, "He's consistent". Mitchell worried that a mutton headed soft in the brain call like this would come at a big time, say during a close match or a playoff game.

What's important  here, the broader point is (and there are rarely times to find broader points!), referees end up being responsible for outcomes of games. Just like our Supreme Court justices need to rule over American citizens with decency, respect, and a firm knowledge of the law, so too do referees need to have the same reverence for the rules of soccer when officiating games at any level. Just like we saw with Serena Williams in her U.S. Open tennis semi final loss to Kim Clijsters, refs determine a lot. They can swing a game. Referees need to make sure that when they do swing a game, one way or the other, they are doing them with full knowledge of the rules and customs of the game. This was ludicrous.

It's Pancakes and Waples Syrup for Rough Riders!

With the team trailing 1-0 with fifteen minutes left to play, the Riders, nearly all of whom were off their game for one reason or the other, needed a big lift. Despite sloppy passing, bad defense, and an offense that had no trouble getting the ball into the goalie box but a lot of difficulty getting it past the Boardman goalie, the Lady Riders were only down 1-0, a bouncer scored by a Boardman attackwoman with under a minute left to play in the first half. The normally pragmatic and unemotional Coach Mitchell at halftime told his struggling squad at the break, "for the first time in seven years, I have nothing good to say..." Continuing, (paraphrasing) "we're not playing our best... correction, you're not playing you're best." Harsh words, but words the Riders apparently needed coming out of the half. The Riders seemed to control the tempo the minute the ball was put into the play that second half, making some nice runs into the box, and taking some of the pressure off of Rider goalie Abby Bradford.

The "big lift" came with fifteen minutes to play. Erin Waples, a sophomore attacker, whose brother plays on the boy's varsity team, approached the goal from the left sideline. With an amazing thwack of her left foot, the ball, bending like Beckham, flew just over top of the goalie's hand and into the goal to tie up the game with just under fifteen left to play. AND THE CROWD WENT WILD! But she was not done. Waples, on the next Rider possession, would shoot it past the goalie, again with her left foot. AND THE CROWD WAS INSANE. 2-1 Riders. We were just recovering from hooting and hollering in the stands, hyperventilating and all, when Waples took the ball once more on the left side, from a nice feed from Hannah Sampson, and bent it again into the top left part of the goal. 3-1 Riders. A hat trick in less than one minute, about fifty seconds by my calculation. This must be one of the fastest ever recorded. Yahoo! Answers says that the fastest hat trick by professional players came in 1964, when Ross County player Tommy Ross scored three goals in 90 seconds versus Naim County F.C. By this, Waples abolished Ross' record. 


After this "miracle minute," the Riders nor Boardman ever threatened again. Though the Riders should be happy to come away from Boardman with a win, they should be concerned with the lack of spirit and drive they had during the majority of the game. They'll need to improve if they want to stay competitive come playoff time. Waples won't be able to score three goals so easily again. Though I think she deserves more playing time... ! 

Kent 7, Southeast 0

Kent thoroughly dominated the game tonight, downing the Southeast Pirates 7-0. It was thoroughly a possession game for the visiting Riders, who scored FIVE goals in fifteen minutes. Players were shuffled around, giving defensive players like Savanna Kirtley a shot on offense (she scored!), and bringing in Jocelyn Schmidt for some experience in goal. The game was a bit of a letdown, what with all the excitement surrounding the Ravenna game. Though Roosevelt will be happy with a win, this doesn't feel quite as satisfying as a tight victory over Norton or the Ravens. The silver lining is, Roosevelt improves to 3-2, a winning record!! Cheers to Erin Waples for a two goal night, to Chloe Maxwell (who is really doing well this season) for her goal, my sister Emily for her goal, and to Erin Knopsnider for knocking one off her head into the goal from a corner kick. Niceeeeeee. Good job, Riders!

Kent-Ravenna game doomed by thunder and lightning, make up announcement soon.

An impressive victory over Norton 3-0

Solid defense, and goals from Michaela Kline, Erin Waples, and Annie Kenney, led to a demolition of the Norton Panthers at Norton HS tonight. The field itself posed more problems for the girls than the opposing team did: these problems included an uneven field (meant for football games), and harder soil leading to bouncier balls off the surface. This, not to mention the constant xylophone music from an adjacent field, and no national anthem, all provided deterrents for the girls. They were not to be deterred so easy. The offense rebounded from a ho-hum effort against Stow and really set the tempo of the game. Though passing was made difficult by the surface and touches at times were sloppy because of this, the offense managed to keep the pressure on Norton's goalie all the way through.

I was very impressed by the hustle of the team, especially against a very physical Norton team. The refs weren't making many pushing-and-shoving calls tonight. It took good leadership and good perseverance to keep up the pressure.

Norton had several moments in which they COULD have scored (maybe should have), including some well designed breakaways, though they couldnt ever capitalize. Roosevelt managed to take their opportunities when they could, luckily enough.

This game should inspire a lot of confidence in the girls, defeating their 2008 season rival and only real competition in the league from the last year. This puts them in a solid position to own the PTC as conference play really gets underway. NEXT UP, RAVENNA AT HOME!!!!!



P.S. Let's support Norton (in our hearts) in getting their levy passed this spring... their school could use a facelift! Still though, what a quaint little place it is.

Kent falls to Stow, 2-1; WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE.

Kent suffered a heartbreaking loss to crosstown rival Stow yesterday. Though the defense played solid most of the way through, it was the offense that failed to capitalize on several opportunities. Unfortunately, this is a trend we are seeing as this season unfolds. Roosevelt needs to refocus itself on offense; they even might want to add another player up on the forward line, or at least midfielders that typically play back up into the box. It's not that we are bad shooters-- it's that the offense, dominated last year by departing senior Katie Mitchell and a lesser extent by Brianna Serafin, is young and unexperienced. Rebecca Thomas provides good leadership on the forward line; however, she too admits to missing some easy opportunities yesterday. It's a matter of execution-- Coach Mitchell MUST get his offense reenergized. It's like my dad says, "it's hard to win games with one goal."

This has the added effect of putting pressure on the defense. After Roosevelt scored early (12') to go up 1-0, the pressure was on the defense to hold the lead. They did, arguably, a good job, but eventually fell apart-- Stow stepped up its game in the second half with two scores in the last 25 minutes. The pressure of holding a one goal lead is one thing, but when the offense continues to miss scoring opportunities, that  just may be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's, er, the Rider's, back. It must have been very frustrating to be a Rough Rider player yesterday-- I imagine the offense is kicking itself for missed opportunities, and the defense is doing the same for allowing their lead to slip away.

In the scheme of things, this isn't terribly important. Conference play starts up this Tuesday AT the 2008 conference champion Norton Panthers, the Riders' main competition last year. Remember what we talked about in preseason analysis-- for us to be successful, we need confidence. Our chemistry is there, our skill is there, but it's our confidence that can make or break this team. Senior leaders need to send a message to its squad that they will not put up with more preventable unnecessary losses. This is NOT the time for the team to doubt its ability; it IS the team for the team to reassert itself. After two tough non conference losses, Norton is a huge game for the confidence of the team. It's important for Roosevelt to know they can dominate their conference... headline Wednesday morning reads: "Roosevelt says 'YOU MUST RESPECT THIS HOUSE.'"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnECY26PSHk-- this is a bad-a commercial. Be inspired ladies.


P.S. A wag of the finger to OSHAA for continuing to sell tickets even after half time. I was hoping to prance in yesterday at halftime, saving the $6... but nooooo. The Stow ladies said they never stop selling tickets throughout the game. Well, boo boo to you you. I need to get a press pass or something... oh Mr. Rutskyyyy?

KR defeats Tallmadge 3-0

I will tell you, my friends, it is nice to have Abby Bradford in goal. Though the Riders didn't play their best game last night, especially in the first half, Bradford was spot on. Though passes weren't terribly clean, and though shots on goal weren't turning into shots in goal, and though the defense allowed some nice crosses into the Riders' box, there was Bradford to pick up our slack. It must be nice for the defense to know that EVEN IF they have an "off night," or even a not-up-to-par night, they have a solid field general directing them. This is Bradford's fourth shutout in six games (wow!).

This is not to overemphasize the degree to which Roosevelt didn't play "their" game. They allowed a relatively small number of shots on goal, a credit to the defense, and of course, didn't allow a goal. We at the blog love shutouts, prefer them really, so keep it going Roosevelt, if only to please us at the blog!

It was a particularly refreshing night-- it was cloudy, so those in the stands didn't have to watch the game with the glare of a setting sun in their faces. Expect more of these as winter approaches... ugh.

There was also quite a crowd gathered to watch our girls play! It seems this team has created quite a buzz around the school... now to keep the buzz going! Let's get 'em at Stow this Saturday, a crucial game from the standpoint of team confidence. Win or lose, let's play them tough!

KR falls to Cloverleaf, 5-0

Our Lady Riders fell hard Monday at Cloverleaf, 5-0. The game resembled very much last year's Massilon-Jackson game-- few solid possessions, inability to keep up with the offensive and defensive schemes, and just getting out hustled. Mitchell has taken this team far during the off season, let's see if he can correct the mistakes of this game, increase speed and quality of possession, so that when playoffs roll around and we play a team like Cloverleaf, we can better compete. Still, good effort girls, now for the HOME OPENER!!!!!1

Scrimmage roundup

The squad finished it's impressive scrimmage schedule with a 4-1 victory over visiting Niles McKinley on Friday. Goals were scored by Rebecca Thomas, who had two, and one each from Logan Bialik and junior Chloe Maxwell. Emily Hook had some dazzling assists, including a nice pass into the box to hook up with Maxwell at the end of the game.

Goalie Abby Bradford saw limited action in the second half, coming out with about 17 min. to play. I worry about this scrimmage schedule and the effect it has had on Bradford. She's had mega playing time, but little action in goal. I suppose Coach knows best, BUT, he better be cognizant of the little action Bradford's had.

Backup Jocelyn Schmidt did a bang up job in her stead, coming up with some tough saves. Schmidt showed her mobility, chasing ground balls on one side of the goal, and then leaping up to catch a sinking line drive from about 25 ft out. Though one goal was scored, I think this had more to do with defensive confusion, as Coach Mitchell was doing quite a bit of substituting in and out. The ability for Schmidt gives solid depth at the goalie position, and even puts Mitchell in a position to sub Bradford in at forward at times, a position she plays nearly equally well.

Now, a few observations, written down and texted to myself during the course of the game. These come not just from me, but from other fans, who unknowingly are finding their comments on this blog. Sorry guys!

1. There needs to be a better effort in defending throw-ins. What I saw was good positioning, but bad ball handling and passing when balls were won. Give your teammates dumps out there!

2. Carries were excellent. Good job on using speed and ball handling skills to get down the field quickly. This team is speedy, for sure. Advantage, Roosevelt!

3. Switches and short passes were great too. I was at my brother's soccer game yesterday. They are now in D-1 and U-13, meaning they use a field just as wide as high school pitches. However, they had struggles with using the whole field, resigning themselves to using mainly the middle of the field. In our Lady Riders' case, they have few of these problems. Michaela Kline and Liz Thomas were particularly bomb at nice switches, setting up teammates for scoring opportunities.

4. Taking scoring opportunities is still a bit of an issue, but this is bound to get better as the season progresses. Coach Mitchell has identified this as an issue, and is working on it with the girls. Passing into the box, though, was definitely better from the first scrimmage at Barberton.

5. Riders have got to keep up their speed, their intensity, and their confidence. They are a senior dominated team, with lots of team cohesion. This is one of Mitchell's most unified squads he's ever been a part of. I noticed the last scrimmage, energy was waning. Senior leaders and the coaches need to do their part to keep up the energy, especially as they encounter the tougher teams on their schedule.

Kent Roosevelt defeats Barberton (scrimmage)

The scrimmage last night was a treat for fans. The players put on a clinic of sorts, showcasing their skills in a variety of areas. What I thought was most striking were the clean passes being made, especially the clean crosses, and also the speed of the game. Coach Mitchell, whose priority this preseason were to clean up those spots, has done a great job in polishing this team for the regular season.

It was wonderful to be out in the stands again, as a fan. Thanks girls for putting on a great show.

Special shout out to Abby Bradford for a spectacular semi-whiff on a clear out kick, and then a nice scramble to save her butt. :) I don't blame her for it, she was getting much action on her side of the field.

Big games, and Coach's thoughts

Now that we have the schedules in front of us, let's look at the important games for the season. There are more non-conference games than last season, speaking to Coach Mitchell's desire to see the team improve by facing tougher opponents. Frankly, the PTC doesn't cut it for a soccer team looking to build upon each success it has during the regular reason. What will be important come playoff time is experience, and experience against tougher opponents. Thus, Mitchell's lineup includes Cloverleaf, Boardman, Hudson, Stow-Munroe Falls, Cuyagoa Falls, Wadsworth, Green, James Garfield, and Revere. While some of these teams may not have had great records in the past, and may not have the same skill level, fundamentally, than our Rider team, they do get to play tougher teams consistently through the season, which makes these games difficult to win. Plus, come playoff time in late October, it will be important for Roosevelt to have racked up some solid non-conference wins to secure a nice seeding, and hopefully win their way out of their section.

The conference should, as always, be a tight race between Ravenna, Crestwood, Norton, and RHS, says Coach Mitchell. RHS defeated 2008 conference champion Norton in earlier scrimmages this season pretty handily, so it should feel pretty confident going into their September 1 away match there. The Lady Riders should also be confident going into their match against Ravenna. For one, it's a home game. Secondly, RHS took down Ravenna in arguably their best game in a long while last year in the sectional playoffs. They should come in with a swagger, expecting to beat the hated Ravens. Who knows about Crestwood, but the Riders did defeat them twice last season. The point is, with this team, with its experience, leadership, and toned talent, RHS should expect to win every game they play in the conference.

Coach Mitchell highlighted this year's non conference schedule being the "toughest... during my time as coach. So what adjustments does the team need to make?

1. Goal scoring-- with goal machine Katie Mitchell graduated, new scorers need to step up. The front line should include freshman Annie Kenney, and sophomore Maggie Connell. In addition, junior Michaela Kline should provide experience and leadership on offense. The offense took a steep hit when it lost junior Taylor Murphy to some kind of virus, which has sidelined her for the season. We at the KRWS blog send our thoughts out to her for a speedy recovery!

2. Clean play-- passing needs to improve from last year. Many times, play was sloppy, touches were mishandled, which resulted in unnecessary turnovers. the final playoff game of the 2008 season, an unfortunate drubbing at the hands of Jackson. Now, Jackson was excellent. Their passing was impeccable, defense was unrelentless, and they had a girl who could throw a ball from the sidelines to the middle of the box, which resulted in at least two goals. RHS put up a good fight, and the game was enjoyable to watch. However, Roosevelt will simply be unable to compete with teams like Jackson without the ability to keep the ball in its possession for an extended period of time.

3. Lastly, speed is very important, and Coach Mitchell has stressed through in his early fall practices. Speed of movement with the ball, combined with good passing, will lead to favorable results for the Lady Riders.

4. Defense is important, obviously. Senior leaders need to step up and fill the gap left by Jessica Giulitto. Abby Bradford, goalie, needs to make her players aware of what they need to be doing to assist her in goal. Last year's team didn't have such a problem with this, but it's important I think just to highlight the need for better defense in the face of a tougher schedule. It's nice that Coach Mitchell has scheduled four (4) semi-tough scrimmages before the season is to start. It's important that the defense be consistently tested.

Any other improvements need to be made that I may have missed?

Now, the team already has several strengths that make it a serious contender not just for a conference crown, but to make it far in the playoffs. I'm sure I won't hit everything, so let me know if you have any more.

1. Team chemistry-- Coach Mitchell talks about his players as a very "positive" group, with "outstanding senior leadership." Whoever actually gets captain will almost be unimportant, as there are more than just three valuable seniors on the team, not just for their talents on the field, but for their ability to lead by example and stay positive through hard times I have been very impressed by the cohesion of the seniors through four years of high school soccer. The seniors should understand this team CAN do great things, but only through the COMBINED efforts of the outstanding senior class.

2. Goal keeping-- Abby Bradford is dope. That's it.

3. Toughness, both mental and physical-- I remember in the Ravenna playoff game of last year, a) the game was played at Ravenna Stadium in front of a hostile crowd, b) they were playing their rivals, c) the season would end if the game was lost, d) the surface of the field was astroturf, and very wet, which meant the ball was hydroplaning at every pass made, confusing players and taking them out of their fundamental game. This same game, Jessica Giulitto went out with a terrifying injury and goal keeper Abby Bradford (dope) got injured BUT stayed in the game. These were just some of the injuries sustained in the game. Ravenna was REALLY roughing up our players, getting more and more physical as the game progressed. And Roosevelt still won. Bradford played a great game in goal, stopping some very tough kicks. The defense held tight. The midline played great, passing well, focusing on advancing the ball with control. And in the end, though they were tired, dirty, and broken down, the team held strong, NOT letting these mental and physical hinderances prevent them from winning the game. This is DEFINITELY a characteristic of Roosevelt women's soccer. I love it.

New changes to shinguard policy, effective Fall 2012.

Cut and paste:

http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/so/SoccerRuleChanges_2-13-09.pdf

TAKEN FROM A FEBRUARY 22, 2009 PRESS RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

A few important rule changes here:

1. One new rule prohibits shinguards from being more than two inches from the ankle. This is in response to an increase in on-field injuries, especially on the bottom part of the shin. In addition, shin guards must bear the seal of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (N.O.C.S.A.E.).

“As is always the case, the Soccer Rules Committee is most concerned about minimizing the risk of injury for student-athletes,” said Mark Koski, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee. “The requirement of the N.O.C.S.A.E seal and height range on the front of the shinguard by 2012 is a good example of that. The committee wants to make sure that players are protected in the best way possible.”

This new policy will be effective by fall 2012 to give retailers a chance to manufacture shinguards according to these new standards.

EFFECTIVE 2009-10 SEASON:

2. "Joint" ankle braces will now be allowed to be worn OVER socks/stockings, providing braces are not metal or another hazardous material. This is in response to new advancements in sports medicine and athletic health care. Previously, only braces under the socks/stockings were allowed.

3. A change in rule 3-1-3 will allow any player to deliver the team roster to the field referee at least five minutes before the game begins. Previously, only the coach had the authority to deliver the roster. However, since high school coaches are very busy prior to a game, the new rule is being enacted.

4. The last change requires field refs to wear matching uniforms "distinctly different" from the field players of both teams, as to avoid confusion. Refs WILL be allowed to wear a uniform similar to that of the goalkeeper, just not the field players.

Any comments on these?

Women's Soccer Varsity Schedule (taken from official team schedule, subject to change)

Key:

(V)= Varsity team

(JV)= Junior varsity team

Scrimmages:

Wednesday, August 12 HOME against Barberton- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Monday, August 17 AWAY @ Marlington- 3:00 (JV), 5:00 (V)

Wednesday, August 19 AWAY @ West Branch- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Friday, August 21 HOME against Niles McKinley- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Season:

Monday, August 24 AWAY @ Cloverleaf- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Wednesday, August 26 HOME against Tallmadge- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Saturday, August 29 AWAY @ Stow-Munroe Falls- 3:00 (JV), 5:00 (V)

Tuesday, September 1 AWAY @ Norton- 3:00 (JV), 5:00 (V)

Tuesday, September 8 HOME against Ravenna- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Thursday, September 10 AWAY @ Southeast- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Saturday, September 12 AWAY @ Boardman- 11:00 (JV), 1:00 (V)

Thursday, September 17 AWAY @ Rootstown- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Saturday, September 19 HOME against Cuyahoga Falls- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Tuesday, September 22 HOME against Crestwood- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Thursday, September 24 AWAY @ Hudson- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Thursday, October 1 HOME against Field- 3:00 (JV), 5:00 (V)

Saturday, October 3 HOME against Wadsworth- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Thursday, October 8 HOME against Twinsburg- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Saturday, October 10 AWAY @ Green- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

OSHAA Tournament Draw

Tuesday, October 13 AWAY @ James Garfield- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Thursday, October 15 HOME against Coventry- 5:00 (JV), 7:00 (V)

Saturday, October 17 HOME against Revere- 11:00 (JV), 1:00 (V)

October 19-24 SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT

October 26-31 DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

November 4 and 7 REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

November 11 and 14 STATE TOURNAMENT

(schedule taken from http://www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=OH4424019949&spt=7&lvl=1&division=2)

1st post

Hello, and welcome to the first entry of Kent Roosevelt Women's Soccer blog. My name is Chris Hook. My sister, Emily, plays on the squad this year. I have watched her and her friends play since they were very young, and have always been excited about the prospect of a new season. This year, harnessing the power of the Internet, and following the trend of sports journalism, I (and others, if they want) will write a blog, commenting on the ups and downs of the upcoming 2009 fall season.

This season, the team looks to build on an exciting year, which saw them reach the precipice of entry into the regional playoffs. The team, though losing vital attacker Katie Mitchell and defensive whiz Jessica Giulitto to graduation, remains strong, with a core of senior girls who have played together for many years, as well as a strong group of underclassmen. Coach Steve Mitchell, a recently naturalized citizen of the US (originally from the UK), is coaching the squad of girls, this his sixth year of coaching at RHS. Coach Mitchell has consistently proven his adeptness at running teams-- his past teams' successes speak to his fine understanding of soccer and his exceptional ability to communicate with his players.

This blog is for fun. We will avoid direct criticism of players, keeping in mind they are high schoolers and not professional athletes. Criticism, if there be any, will address team flaws, such as group chemistry or lack of energy. Furthermore, failures and successes in soccer can hardly ever be attributed to individual efforts-- there is truly no "I" in "TEAM" in the sport.

Being a spectator for three years thus far, I know that women's soccer at Kent Roosevelt High School is exciting, an emotional rollar coaster that will keep you glued to your seats biting your nails one second, to leaping over railings and swarming the players with hugs after a sweet sweet overtime victory, especially one over the Ravenna Ravens. The spectators laugh and cry along with the players during the season. This is what sports is about. I hope you enjoy the season!

If you would like to write for this blog, send me a message at chook@kent.edu. Feel free to also comment on blog postings... this is your forum! (but please, avoid direct criticism of individuals, and be polite, please).