Random playoff thoughts
by pinella
So the brackets are set at long last. No coach made an on-site pitch for his or her team. They simply fought it out via e mails. Certainly made it a lot easier on the selection committee cause they didn’t even have to look anyone in the eye.
So, here are some random thoughts:
Underdogs in the first-round I would not want to play:
Div. I Boys: Casa Grande
Div. I Girls: Eureka
Div. III Boys: Sonoma Academy
Div. III Girls: Cloverdale
Team that was “dissed” the most on Selection Sunday:
Maria Carrillo girls – Tuff one, but can’t really bump a team with 19 wins (Montgomery) off the top, or the SCL champion – Casa – out of No. 2. So now the Pumas will probably have to go through Petaluma and Casa to reach the finals. Good luck with that.
Div. I Girls team to keep your eye on:
- Windsor
Div. I Boys team to watch:
- Montgomery
Biggest mismatch:
Always gonna be Nos. 1 & 16 seeds and no difference here:
- Class III Boys: Marin Catholic vs. Redwood
Or, in the case of the girls it’s a No. 6 vs. a No. 11
- Class I Girls: Petaluma vs. Fortuna
Can they defend their crowns?
Class I Boys: Maria Carrillo will have to play their best game of the year against Analy just to get out of the first round. And if they do it’ll be the end of the road against Marin Catholic.
Class I Girls: Casa Grande some how just finds a way to come up big at playoff time. If they face Maria Carrillo in the semis what a game that will be.
Class III Girls: Sonoma Academy I hope you have a spot to hang another banner.
Class III Boys: There is just too wide of a chasm between Marin Academy and everyone else.
Carrillo was dissed? Maybe if they could have defeated Monty Friday night…they would have the numero uno seed. The NCS is tagging the Friday game as a tie…end of story.
I would have loved to have seen the look on Debra’s face after she drove all the way down to San Ramon expecting to be handed the top seed…..only to be tossed into the pack of second raters. Tough luck…they “get” to play Petaluma in their first game. Carrillo defeated PHS in preseason 1-0 in a game Carrillo was lucky to win. Rumor has it…PHS is on the top of their game right now. Bill keeps pushing them as the second coming. We’ll see. Carrillo could easily be so “unhappy” with the treatment….they could lose focus. Of course the normally calm and collected coach will see them through this “insult”, no doubt.
Does any one else reads Bill’s glee in his comments about Carrillo being “dissed” as he calls it. He spends far too much time promoting the Monty girls team.
If Sonoma loses in the soggy bog in Eureka…..then Monty has to travel to that same bog. I would expect a tough game if that happens…..Monty will get the same ref treatment that is handed to their local opponents. It’ll be just like playing with Ukiah refs, only better…the field will be a mess. I think Monty will need the luck. Them lumberjacks are quite tired of being sent packing in this tournament when they travel to these here parts. If Sonoma loses…..the money will shift to the tree cutters. My bet…..Sonoma has no chance. Geez, I wonder how the Monty coach will like having the tables turned….a predetermined outcome?
Hey…..I have a good idea…..let’s shift soccer to winter!
by Lucky Stars
I don’t see any apparent mismatches on the Boys Division I bracket. In fact, Marin Catholic has their hands full against a Redwood team that has already beaten this year. I agree that Casa Grande is a tough match-up for anyone, especially coming off a huge win vs. Analy. Don’t be surprised if Arcata gives WIndsor a hard time. They are always a well coached team that can put up goals in a hurry.
My upset specials are Montgomery over Elsie, in what should be a heck of a game, and Tamalpais over Sonoma Valley. Tam’s defense frustrates teams into making mistakes. If Sonoma loses their focus for one second, Tam will make them pay.
by MCAL Coach
Did the refs officiate pk’s? Yes. Then Carillo won the game and Monty should be ashamed to post that game on their schedule as a tie when in fact it was a loss.
by NCS is a sham
Monty was rightfully the top seed, beating Casa twice and with only one loss, away to MC. MC might have an argument that it should be the No. 2 seed, based on current form; maybe NCS put too much emphasis on the early season victory of Casa over MC. On boys side, yes Redwood is about the toughest 16 seed you can find– they sometimes can’t score, but their D is one of the best, and MarinCath will be lucky to get more than two past them. In Div III girls, S.Acad. is not as much of a lock as last year– SV should give them a severe test if SV gets past Middletown.
by Impartial Observer
One other thing, Redwood Coach should send a thank you note to McKinleyville Coach for deciding not to accept McKinleyville’s bogus automatic bid as HDNL “Little 4″ Champion. McKinleyville would have been the 16 seed and Redwood would have been s.o.l. McKinleyville would have lost to M.Cath. by 15 goals if M.Cath. were to not let up the pressure, so good choice by McKinleyville– why travel 300 miles to get your butt kicked something terrible. (Like somebody else said somewhere, McKinleyville needs to be a Div. III school– anybody listening at NCS?)
by Impartial Observer
Boy do I agree with your comment on Casa Grande boys. I saw them play several times against Analy…and both times I was impressed by their midfield play.. If they can get it together up front and score some goals..they could be a very tough team to play.
by soccerfan
windsor beat arcata 4-1 on slow grass imagine it on turf this time should be fun game tomorrow but i got to say MarinC has its hands full i saw then play newman MC isnt a super power
by Daniel
Mr Impartial Observer has not observered SA my kid played them this year they are the most complete team SA has evered field. 12 – 0 in league 73 goals scored 0 given up. The team concept is played to perfection. They beat Monty 2 – 0 scrimmage yes but it had refs a screaming Monty coach and crying players at the end so no one played it like a scrimmage. No lock but you cant honestly say they were better last year.
by Dan Oliver
I think Piner is going to have the upset of the night since everyone is going against them, and they are a team who have cleared there mistakes up my prediction Piner 2- Terra linda 1
Tyron with a capital T out
by Tyron with a capital T
Without s doubt Windsor should be rated #1. The only had one loss this year to Sonoma on there second meeting. The took the SCL last year with mostly juniors and this year they very experienced seniors The have only lost one game in two years. The rolled over Tera Linda, beat the tar out of Sonoma in there first meeting, tore apart Analy, and easily defeated Casa last week.
Thee defense is the best in the North Bay, with talent through the field (David Mendez was the MVP last year) and have a strong bench.
They have been underarated all year and are really the team to watch.
by Wallace Wiggam
More random thoughts…First of all, congratalations to all teams for an entertaining regular season. I think its good for the game to have many teams with a legit shot at winning the playoffs, instead of the same strong favorites every year. As a Panther parent and former player obviously I’m happy to see both the SRHS boys and girls put in strong years, but I’m more impressed with how many strong teams our community is blessed with….Also Congrats to all of us who read the blog for OUR best season in years. Other than 1 or 2 parents that can do nothing but tear everyone else down (yes- probably from SRHS, but we’re getting better!), the entries have been mostly informative and well-mannered. Fanatico is the best. Remember how petty this blog was 2 years ago?….Bill took another shot at promoting winterball a couple weeks ago, just about the time when Elsie Allen girls was forfeiting games. Bill, the only thing worse than getting crushed over and over is getting crushed over and over in the rain. If EA can’t field an entire team during good weather, how are they going to do it in bad? If we go to winter, they won’t be the only ones not fielding a team. And I wouldn’t blame them. There are alot of players who are just here to have fun and represent their school – if it ceases to be fun why show up. And all this so ONE of our teams can move on to a state tourny and possibly play just ONE more game….
by I Bleed Orange
Kudos to Pat MacDonald. After the Panthers tied Monty last week to keep the Vikings from clinching the league championship (on Senior Night, easily the highlight of the year for the Lady Panthers), I’m sure Pat was initially dissapointed, but he stuck around after the game to watch the Panther Sr presentations, which took about an hour. Afterward he congratulated the girls and coach Nikki on a game well-played. Pat gets railed in this blog frequently, but his quotes in the paper are always gracious, which can’t be said for all the coaches. His biggest sin against those who blog against him seems to be that he has a loud voice and he wins alot. Sounds more like jeolousy to me. I can’t decide whether he should be Coach of the Year for winning with a hurt team, or Debbie at Carillo for winning with a young team, or Nikki at SR for winning with half a team that isn’t even playing soccer outside of HS.
by I Bleed Orange
Ursuline is seeded 7, Arcata 10, neither won their league (Eureka won HDNL) so…
why isn’t Ursuline hosting? is there a legitimate reason for this? makes no sense….
by observing
Be prepared to pay $9 a person at the gates tomorrow at games.
by Economic Stimulus
To “observing”– yes, there is a reason. Ursuline did not turn in an application to host games– if you want to host an NCS game, even if you are the number 1 seed and/or league champion, you still need to submit your application to host NCS playoff games. If you don’t do it, all your games will be on the road.
by Soccer Fan
Greatest week of futbol ever.
by ...
To I Bleed Orange……
John, John, John. You have such a low opinion of us.
by bleeds orange sometimes
To set the record straight, MCHS beat Monty two times, once in league play, and another time to decide seeding and first place. If the tables were turned, and Monty won in a shootout, would it still have been considered a tie? Exactly what was the point of that game anyway? To decide seeding (joke), to decide first in league (joke)? What was the point of going to a shootout? If the outcome would be the same, why not just end in a tie after double OT? Yes, Monty beat Casa twice. Yes, MCHS beat Monty twice. Fair or not, it’s a good thing that nobody on either team came away injured. Both teams fought hard and have had a great season. Now on to the playoffs. Here’s hoping the best for all teams, and an injury free playoff run for all.
by soccermom
Fanatico is back…Mr. Wiggam there is not a doubt in Fanatico’s mind that Windsor should have been seeded higher…regardless they are not and now they have to play some games…Fanatico doesn’t know if they should be #1…but what the heck…You state the Windsor has only lost one game in two years…well they did lose last year also to MCHS in the finals….maybe you meant in league…You state that the WHS defense is the best in the North Bay…Fanatico would disagree..Fanatico has seen Windsor play and he saw Sonoma slice that defense more than once. The only reason that Windsor hasn’t been scored often is because of Chris…he is one of the best if not the best GK in the North Bay….but the defense is suspect. The Bench…come on…. in observing the SVHS vs WHS game Windsor only subbed like one time each half…how do you know that they have a strong bench. Fanatico’s did see Andres suited up…will he play? He is a talented player…and can help Mr. Mendez up front. No one has ever “underrated” Windsor come on are you searious…?? Windsor has lost one game this year and you say they are underrated? Which games have you been watching….one minute you are saying they should be #1 and the next you say they are underrated…you obviously don’t know soccer….Is your son on the team? Fanatico thinks so….listen… hopefully you didn’t give your team the PINELLA kiss of death by trying to “blow up” Windsor HS…take if from Fanatico…watch games and cheer your team….and don’t worry about where your team is at…. a big shout to “I BLEED ORANGE” for being a fan of FANATICO’S….once again FANATICO HAS SPOKEN…FANATICO OUT!!
by Fanatico
i have to agree with wallace windsor is underrated
by Daniel
Good Luck to all in the playoffs. I’d like to see the Santa Rosa Teams make a run. It’s a great story! What a difference coaching can make.
by Another Fan
To Orange Hemophiliac……
No one is jealous…we are just amused how seriously he takes himself….when few do.
by laughing MAO
Well, what did I say when we heard the coaches would be emailing in their thoughts to the NCS selection committee. I said it would give the committee a chance to make arbitrary decisions without having to argue face to face. Well, we see the results. A clearly arbitrary decision to seed Montgomery over MC. They faced each other three times, with MC winning twice (and yes, no matter what you think, PK’s is still an acceptable way to break a tie game) and, although CG beat MC, they lost twice to Montgomery. Most of this occurred in the early season. Most recently, though MC had a better record than Monty in both halves of the league season (including the playoff game): 1st half: MC 6-0-1, Monty 6-1-0; and 2nd half: MC 7-1-0, Monty 6-1-1. To my way of thinking, without having to face the coaches, the selection committee was able to infuse personal bias and the seeds should have gone: MC, Monty, CG.
by IB 5150
Soccer Fan….thanks for heads up, apparently Ursuline never bothered to apply to host a game, which answers the question..
who got “dissed” the most? Ursuline, and by its own school!!! What, did Newman say the girls can’t play on the pristine (football only) field?
If Newman soccer qualifed for the playoffs (they didn’t…curious collapse of a once powerful team) …
would they have been allowed to play at the stadium…or does Newman only allow its precious football team to step on it?
by observing
Congratulations Elsie. Solid win over Montgomery tonight. Keep it up and keep winning!
by Another Fan
MC soccermoms can cry all they want about MC’s seeding, but if MC does not get past Petaluma, it will show MC did not deserve any better than the number 3 seed. And only soccermoms and soccerdads think a game that goes to PK’s to decide a champion/advancing team is a “win” for the official records– it is a tie for official records, even in the World Cup. But you need to determine a champion (in a final) and you need a team to advance (in a pre-final knockout round), so FIFA decided that PK’s is the way to determine that team– any everybody else including NFHS follows along. Truly a poor way to determine which team is best and definitely not a “win” in the official record of a team– and NCS agrees. Just read the link I have included above: http://cifncs.org/sports/soccer/files/tournamentties.pdf
by Soccer Fan
IB 5150
When is it finally decided, it does not matter who is seeded.
You have to play through the best to be the best.
If MC deserves the first seed, let them show that they are worthy.
The teams playing probably could care less, they just want a chance
to play, win and advance.
by e. zabala
analy will rule the world
by analy
To IB 5150….I think you should consider publishing your true full moniker…..as in IB Nuts AND Whining.
Soccermom…..for you too.
Go back read the whining and crying about how you was robbed. It’s embarrassing. Some one stole your rightful place among the pantheon of noble teams. The exquisite detail of the whining you present is at best a snoozer for the rest of us. Please….can some of the other MC parents get to this person and beg them to stop before we all fall into a deep torpor? Nobody cares.
You didn’t get what you think you should have…….so you continue to cry. It was last week, for heaven’s sake. You should consider therapy removing sharp objects from easy reach. Consider all of this to be Karma. Trust me on this, there is a level of payback going on here. And you know what they say about payback……it’s a &%$#.
If the now famous Friday event had posted you folks as the numero uno seed…..do you think the other folks would be whining? Can’t imagine Montgomery folks and coach whining, can you? Never happen.
I think the best you might able to hope for: the players aren’t crying over this nonsense quite like you are, lest they get their pockets picked by Petaluma come Saturday. I know the coach took this in stride and never gave it a second thought. Well I’m sure once she got over the long lonely drive home on Sunday clutching that numero tres seed package. That musta been tough ride. Can you imagine the heat that was generated inside that car, yikes? I heard the Monday practice strictly focused on the business at hand, but a couple of the kids in the Leadership class will never be the same.
Look at the bright side. To get back to Montgomery so you can really teach them and the NCS lesson, you only have to go through Petaluma, who you were lucky to defeat 1-0 in preseason. Then take on Casa, in their house. Do all this and we’ll cheer wildly for your charges.
La La La La La
by U B Whining 2
To IB 5150….I think you should consider publishing your true full moniker…..as in IB Nuts AND Whining.
Soccermom….read this too
Go back read the whining and crying about how you was robbed. It’s embarrassing. Some one stole your rightful place among the pantheon of noble teams. The exquisite detail of the whining you present is at best a snoozer for the rest of us. Please….can some of the other MC parents get to this person and beg them to stop before we all fall into a deep torpor? Nobody cares.
You didn’t get what you think you should have…….so you continue to cry. It was last week, for heaven’s sake. You should consider therapy removing sharp objects from easy reach. Consider all of this to be Karma. Trust me on this, there is a level of payback going on here. And you know what they say about payback……it’s a &%$#.
If the now famous Friday event had posted you folks as the numero uno seed…..do you think the other folks would be whining? Can’t imagine Montgomery folks and coach whining, can you? Never happen.
I think the best you might able to hope for: the players aren’t crying over this nonsense quite like you are, lest they get their pockets picked by Petaluma come Saturday. I know the coach took this in stride and never gave it a second thought. Well I’m sure once she got over the long lonely drive home on Sunday clutching that numero tres seed package. That musta been tough ride. Can you imagine the heat that was generated inside that car, yikes? I heard the Monday practice strictly focused on the business at hand, but a couple of the kids in the Leadership class will never be the same.
Look at the bright side. To get back to Montgomery so you can really teach them and the NCS lesson, you only have to go through Petaluma, who you were lucky to defeat 1-0 in preseason. Then take on Casa, in their house. Do all this and we’ll cheer wildly for your charges.
by UB Whining 2
UB Whining 2…….. Maybe you should get a life. You felt the need to write 5 paragraphs on a subject you feel is whinning, then you feel the need to publish it twice! Maybe its time to just learn to use the blog.
by Get a life
To Get a Life…..nice to see you can and read AND count. Seems like a point was well made and mayhaps, you missed it. As you go through this blog after the seedings were published last week…..all we heard was crying and bellyaching about how Monty this and Carrillo that.
Some of the Carrillo supporters are the biggest babies around and always have been, Orange Bleeder notwithstanding.
As noted…karma is at play here…..don’t mess with it!
by huh
Funny didn’t someone post earlier how all the whinning and complaining stopped this year, you spoke too soon. Listen MC if you were robbed prove them wrong by winning it all. As sports fans know until you knock the Champ down for the count they are still #1. CASA is two time NCS Champs. Until either Monty or MC beats them you are both #2
by Oh really