PL schedules are up

http://www.gotsport.com/events/schedule.aspx?EventID=11555&Sex=Girls&Age=15

bronxdad wrote:http://www.gotsport.com/events/schedule.aspx?EventID=11555&Sex=Girls&Age=15

Thanks Bronxdad!

http://www.brokenarrowsoccerclub.org/PDF/ISSC_2010.pdf

Fields map-Tulsa

bronxdad wrote:http://www.brokenarrowsoccerclub.org/PDF/ISSC_2010.pdf

Fields map-Tulsa

I played my first soccer game at Indian Springs...35 years ago. 11v11 @ age 6. Can't remember if it was a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3...or a blob of 20 clueless kids chasing the ball.

Sadly...it appears this is the final season of Premier League for most of us.

We've got 3 new teams...1 from each area.
NTX - Texans replaces Solar
STX - Lonestars Red North (formerly Lonestars White) replaces Albion (B?)
OK - Hurricane Rhein replaces Tulsa Nationals

Anyone know anything about Lonestars Red N or Hurricane Rhein?

Thoughts, predictions?

socrocks wrote:Sadly...it appears this is the final season of Premier League for most of us.

We've got 3 new teams...1 from each area.
NTX - Texans replaces Solar
STX - Lonestars Red North (formerly Lonestars White) replaces Albion (B?)
OK - Hurricane Rhein replaces Tulsa Nationals

Anyone know anything about Lonestars Red N or Hurricane Rhein?

Thoughts, predictions?

If not playing in PL, then why play LHGCL? I think it might be the final season for both leagues for the top team of ECNL clubs.

As for thoughts on PL, it would seem that Sting/Texans will face their toughest non-NTX competition (LS/Albion/NOKC) in the first two weeks of PL. With both Sting/Texans having major turnover this summer and both having injury questions (Sting's seem to be worse) going into next week, it could make for a rough start.

With only one team getting the bye this year every game will be crucial.

Hurrican Rhein is basically the same Hurricane team that was in PL last year. Coaching change this year, so Rhein replaced Beattie in team title.

Hurricane Beattie for this year would be Hurricane's second team.

Pitch Fever wrote:Hurrican Rhein is basically the same Hurricane team that was in PL last year. Coaching change this year, so Rhein replaced Beattie in team title.

Hurricane Beattie for this year would be Hurricane's second team.

Thanks for clarifying. Is it safe to assume the Hurricane 2nd team will be a better fit (more competitive) than Tulsa Nationals?

Gunners wrote:

socrocks wrote:Sadly...it appears this is the final season of Premier League for most of us.

We've got 3 new teams...1 from each area.
NTX - Texans replaces Solar
STX - Lonestars Red North (formerly Lonestars White) replaces Albion (B?)
OK - Hurricane Rhein replaces Tulsa Nationals

Anyone know anything about Lonestars Red N or Hurricane Rhein?

Thoughts, predictions?

If not playing in PL, then why play LHGCL? I think it might be the final season for both leagues for the top team of ECNL clubs.

As for thoughts on PL, it would seem that Sting/Texans will face their toughest non-NTX competition (LS/Albion/NOKC) in the first two weeks of PL. With both Sting/Texans having major turnover this summer and both having injury questions (Sting's seem to be worse) going into next week, it could make for a rough start.

With only one team getting the bye this year every game will be crucial.

Have not seen Lonestars or NOKC, but I think any of our N Texas teams will handle Albion. Lonestars is always a challenge, I think N Texas should handle OK teams as well.

[quote="Gunners]
If not playing in PL, then why play LHGCL? I think it might be the final season for both leagues for the top team of ECNL clubs.[/quote]

Feet plan to play LH next season (no State Cup, PL or regionals due to ECNL regs). I think for the simple fact that such good competition can be had locally (at a very modest cost). Now...if all of the other ECNL teams opt out of LH or if ECNL expansion creates a scheduling problem, that might change.

Don't you think it would be a waste to not play a solid local schedule?

socrocks wrote:

Pitch Fever wrote:Hurrican Rhein is basically the same Hurricane team that was in PL last year. Coaching change this year, so Rhein replaced Beattie in team title.

Hurricane Beattie for this year would be Hurricane's second team.

Thanks for clarifying. Is it safe to assume the Hurricane 2nd team will be a better fit (more competitive) than Tulsa Nationals?

I am uncertain how the Hurricane 2nd team would stack up against Nationals, but I think it is safe to say that it will not be a better fit.

justbecause wrote:
Have not seen Lonestars or NOKC, but I think any of our N Texas teams will handle Albion. Lonestars is always a challenge, I think N Texas should handle OK teams as well.

I believe Albion combined their top two teams this Summer. If I'm not mistaken Feet played their 'new' team at the Houston Shootout, so maybe socrocks can weigh in with an opinion.

NOKC beat Sting at Texas Cup last year and finished 5th in PL last year.

As they've proven on several occasions, Lonestar can absolutely play with the best of NTX.

socrocks wrote:[quote="Gunners]If not playing in PL, then why play LHGCL? I think it might be the final season for both leagues for the top team of ECNL clubs.

Feet plan to play LH next season (no State Cup, PL or regionals due to ECNL regs). I think for the simple fact that such good competition can be had locally (at a very modest cost). Now...if all of the other ECNL teams opt out of LH or if ECNL expansion creates a scheduling problem, that might change.

Don't you think it would be a waste to not play a solid local schedule?

I think the scheduling will be the issue. I doubt very seriously that LHGCL will work with ECNL teams when it comes to scheduling around the ECNL events (ie league).

Gunners wrote:

justbecause wrote:
Have not seen Lonestars or NOKC, but I think any of our N Texas teams will handle Albion. Lonestars is always a challenge, I think N Texas should handle OK teams as well.

I believe Albion combined their top two teams this Summer. If I'm not mistaken Feet played their 'new' team at the Houston Shootout, so maybe socrocks can weigh in with an opinion.

NOKC beat Sting at Texas Cup last year and finished 5th in PL last year.

As they've proven on several occasions, Lonestar can absolutely play with the best of NTX.

I believe FC beat Albion 3-0 at Challenge Friendlies last week. I stand by my prediction that any N Tex premier league team can handle Albion.

Gunners, maybe a little off topic, but now you have me thinking...

This year's ECNL schedule will be 16 games (probably expands over next 2 yrs)
Lake Highlands 14 games
State Cup 3-5 games
Regionals/Nationals???
Premier League 8 games (3 duplicate with LH not counted)
Separate Showcase events 6-9 games (Houston, D'Feeters Thanksgiving, Sting's Thanksgiving, Texans' new Dallas Cup, etc)
High School 24-30 games (including scrimmages/playoffs)
This year's schedule will exceed 70 games for those kids playing ECNL and high school. Wow!


For 2011-12, the load will lighten with Premier League, State Cup and Regionals taken out of the mix (approx 12-14 games)....but still, about a 55-60+ game schedule...still pretty heavy.

Now enters the Club vs High School argument. Let's remove the high school intangibles...school pride, friends, etc, for just a moment.

Reduced games 14-18 (LH) vs 24-30 (school)
Quality of competition favors LH
Quality of coaching/training usually favors the club
Certainly the continuity of same coach/team quality players is noteworthy
And typically, the scholarships come from the club, not the school
Can't validate it but I hear repeatedly that injuries in high school games are more prevalent

I'm still thinking out loud....but doesn't playing LH make a lot more sense than high school?

Gunners wrote:

justbecause wrote:
Have not seen Lonestars or NOKC, but I think any of our N Texas teams will handle Albion. Lonestars is always a challenge, I think N Texas should handle OK teams as well.

I believe Albion combined their top two teams this Summer. If I'm not mistaken Feet played their 'new' team at the Houston Shootout, so maybe socrocks can weigh in with an opinion.

NOKC beat Sting at Texas Cup last year and finished 5th in PL last year.

As they've proven on several occasions, Lonestar can absolutely play with the best of NTX.

Albion combined the best players prior to the 2009/2010 premier season. I guess they can keep pulling off the other team if they think they made some mistakes when they made their "A" team last year.

Here is how Albion 96 competed at that Friendship Cup thing last weekend.
- FC Dallas 96G Premier: Lost 0-3
- Classics Elite 96G: Won 3-0
- Solar Royal 95: Lost 2-3

The Albion 96 Blue (2nd team) had the following results.
- Lonestar 96G Red South: Tied 1-1
- 97 STING (Wright) (Pre Dallas Texans 97 North): Lost 0-2
- Centex Cyclone 96G: won 2-0

[quote="Gunners] I believe Albion combined their top two teams this Summer. If I'm not mistaken Feet played their 'new' team at the Houston Shootout, so maybe socrocks can weigh in with an opinion.[/quote]

I didn't see anything from them that was terribly different than before. Feet were up 2-0 late and pretty well controlling the game - they had very few shots. IMO, they have a standout player (I think Zygor has mentioned that she's actually a true '97) who got loose outside and struck about a 25 yard laser to make it a 2-1 game. To me, they're the kind of team that can beat a top NTX team (or Lonestars) if NTX isn't on their game.

Ahh, seems I was getting my summers mixed up.

Gunners wrote:Ahh, seems I was getting my summers mixed up.

Time flies when you're spending money on select soccer.

....and yes, that girl is a true '97 player.
I haven't really heard what kind of changes have gone down with the '96G Houston teams during the off-season.

Albion did not make a lot of changes. They struggled at the Aggieland friendlies last week but have only been on the pitch for 2 weeks since early June. (my daughter plays for them)

In game shape they faired better this past June at the Texas Shootout.

Lost to Feet 2-1
Beat FC Dallas 1-0
Beat Texas Spirit North 4-0
Tied Solar Red 2-2

They are the best Houston has to offer and looking forward to see how they stack up against NTX this year. Hope the weather cools off a bit by the time we make the trip north.

The talented girl you speak of is a two year playup and was recently selected to the U.S. National player pool and attended the U-14 ID camp.

formerNTX wrote:Albion did not make a lot of changes. They struggled at the Aggieland friendlies last week but have only been on the pitch for 2 weeks since early June. (my daughter plays for them)

In game shape they faired better this past June at the Texas Shootout.

Lost to Feet 2-1
Beat FC Dallas 1-0
Beat Texas Spirit North 4-0
Tied Solar Red 2-2

They are the best Houston has to offer and looking forward to see how they stack up against NTX this year. Hope the weather cools off a bit by the time we make the trip north.

Guess that is one major difference between the NTX and STX. Houston friendlies are NTX way of looking at all kinds of new players. Certainly not a indication of the team they might present in the fall. Houston friendlies for STX I believe are a tune-up for State Cup South.

Only ONE of major differences. Not a lot of player movement in Houston and definately not the soccer culture NTX has. STX seems to suffer from lack of credible leadership.

formerNTX wrote:Only ONE of major differences. Not a lot of player movement in Houston and definately not the soccer culture NTX has. STX seems to suffer from lack of credible leadership.

And humidity!

socrocks wrote:Sadly...it appears this is the final season of Premier League for most of us.

We've got 3 new teams...1 from each area.
NTX - Texans replaces Solar
STX - Lonestars Red North (formerly Lonestars White) replaces Albion (B?)
OK - Hurricane Rhein replaces Tulsa Nationals

Anyone know anything about Lonestars Red N or Hurricane Rhein?

Thoughts, predictions?

Socrocks,
Just wanted to clear up the Lonestars situation for PLW this season. New State Classic League in Fall 2009 was set up to now determine PLW teams for following Fall season. Long story short...Lonestars second team beat Lonestars first team (ECNL) 1-0 during PLW last year and that result put the Lonestars second team back into PLW this season (they were in last year, too) and knocked the ECNL team out for this year. So...the Lonestars ECNL team is not participating in PLW this season...and probably won't be anymore if ECNL mandage holds for 2011-2012 seasons.

ChelseaFan wrote:

socrocks wrote:Sadly...it appears this is the final season of Premier League for most of us.

We've got 3 new teams...1 from each area.
NTX - Texans replaces Solar
STX - Lonestars Red North (formerly Lonestars White) replaces Albion (B?)
OK - Hurricane Rhein replaces Tulsa Nationals

Anyone know anything about Lonestars Red N or Hurricane Rhein?

Thoughts, predictions?

Socrocks,
Just wanted to clear up the Lonestars situation for PLW this season. New State Classic League in Fall 2009 was set up to now determine PLW teams for following Fall season. Long story short...Lonestars second team beat Lonestars first team (ECNL) 1-0 during PLW last year and that result put the Lonestars second team back into PLW this season (they were in last year, too) and knocked the ECNL team out for this year. So...the Lonestars ECNL team is not participating in PLW this season...and probably won't be anymore if ECNL mandage holds for 2011-2012 seasons.

I'm confused by your post, but I'll let zygor respond as he'll know more specifics about their situation. Lonestar's best 96 team is playing in PLW.