Valley vs Hiland 10/27

[GoCats]

Valley has had a great year now on to districts. Thoughts? Predictions?

[4thgoal]

Hiland is always a tough team. Looking at their schedule and results for this year, they must be down a little. They still have a great record, but usually at this point, they have blasted someone and scored in double digits a few times. This year, they are only averaging a little over 3 goals a game and only have scored over 5 twice on the season. Good luck Valley!

[jazzfingers888]

If Hiland can stop Winters they'll have no problems with Valley. if they can't, and Valley can weather the storm the Hawks are in for an upset! Go Indians!

[Crab's Brother]

I know basically nothing about Soccer, but when I look at the brackets, this game shows as a District Final. How did Hiland start their tourney run in the District Semi's? Did they not have to win a Sectional? I'm sure they would have won easily, but this didn't make sense to me at all.

[EHSoccer]

I know basically nothing about Soccer, but when I look at the brackets, this game shows as a District Final. How did Hiland start their tourney run in the District Semi's? Did they not have to win a Sectional? I'm sure they would have won easily, but this didn't make sense to me at all.

It's the way the math works out. The SE district has 23 Division 3 teams. Of those 23, 4 qualify for the joint E/SE 6 team district. The E district has 7 Division 3 teams. They have had more in the past but a few schools have moved up to D2 and 1 school dropped their program. Of those 7, 2 qualify for the joint E/SE 6 team district. This year Hiland got the #1 seed and thus earned the bye in a 7 team bracket which meant they played 1 sectional game. Since this 6 team district is a 1 game district tournament, that makes the sectional final games the district semi-finals.

The joint D3 E/SE district has operated differently over the years. It used to be that only 2 teams advanced to regionals. However, last year and this year 3 teams have advanced (# of teams that advance is based on how many schools compete in that district) to the regionals and this is the way things have worked. When the OHSAA does their new enrollment counts for next year, which are only done every other year, things could change. There's the long answer.

[Bigbadwolf]

well said hhs. east has a 7 team sectional where southeast has an 11 team sectional.

[rxburgfan]

Hiland down a little from previous years but do not think soc team can get them. They defend well and organize well behind the ball. Always well coached

[Jeep79]

Hiland always plays a one win to district Bracket and have plenty of legs vs southeast teams that could have played three games already. If they have to play a third game early in the bracket they blast them by 10 or so. I agree kind of odd but that's how it's been for awhile now.

[EHSoccer]

Hiland always plays a one win to district Bracket and have plenty of legs vs southeast teams that could have played three games already. If they have to play a third game early in the bracket they blast them by 10 or so. I agree kind of odd but that's how it's been for awhile now.

Not to be argumentative, but always is a pretty strong word. What you meant to say was last year and this year. These two years are the only time this has happened for reasons that I explained in a previous post. We would actually like to have a game more but it hasn't worked that way. Last game of the regular season was Oct 11 and then 9 days to play on the 20th and then 7 days to play at the 27th isn't really ideal at this time of year. Fresh legs... possibly but mental fatigue and boredom are powerful negative factors as well. Anyone who has been on a team knows that at the end of a season practice loses some of its zing and you want to play games.

[GoCats]

I agree with hhs seems Valley will have the upper hand in this one with Hiland being rusty with out much zing in there practices and not playing for a while. Valley is a home field turf team so home field advantage goes to them also. Winters is a very good player and a game changer. I look for a close one Indians 3 Hiland 2.

[GaryGroundhawg]

HHS makes a pretty strong argument for Valley I admit but Hiland ALWAYS has a very good program. Berlin takes this one 4-0.

[goUK]

i know the other two games are at 1 and 3:30.....what time is this game?

[jazzfingers888]

Hiland is down a little from previous years but I don't think this Valley team can beat them. They defend well and are very organized behind the ball. And wow, they are well coached.

[EHSoccer]

Hiland is down a little from previous years but I don't think this Valley team can beat them. They defend well and are very organized behind the ball. And wow, they are well coached.

I wasn't making a case for Valley as someone suggested, merely stating that I don't think it really is an advantage to have only played 1 game coming into the finals. I know the team has been trying to mix practices up a bit but it's tough at this time of year. Valley playing all the time on turf is a definite advantage. Hiland, I believe, has only been on turf twice this season. Hiland has several players injured which also complicates things... the longer layoff might normally benefit this but in our case this year the layoff isn't long enough and they won't be back on Saturday. You move on with what you have.

Also, it's interesting to me that several posts feel Hiland is "down" this year. Having seen every Hiland team for the past 13 years, I don't know if that is true or not. This team is definitely different. Hiland doesn't have the explosive athletic ability that they have often had. Team speed isn't as good. Size of players is way down, we are very small this year. We do have some kids though who are smart and do what we ask them to do. The coach made some changes this year to things that we normally do to adjust for our lack of athleticism and they've worked pretty well. Many of you who post on here are knowledgeable about the game, I will be curious to see what your impressions of the Hiland team are if you actually get to watch them on Saturday. It has been a fun team to watch. Explosive goal scoring has definitely been down, partly due to our team and also partly due to the fact that some of the opponents that are normally more lopsided games were stronger this year. Looking forward to Saturday. The people at Jackson always do things well.

[saveTHEnight]

Hiland is down a little from previous years but I don't think this Valley team can beat them. They defend well and are very organized behind the ball. And wow, they are well coached.

I wasn't making a case for Valley as someone suggested, merely stating that I don't think it really is an advantage to have only played 1 game coming into the finals. I know the team has been trying to mix practices up a bit but it's tough at this time of year. Valley playing all the time on turf is a definite advantage. Hiland, I believe, has only been on turf twice this season. Hiland has several players injured which also complicates things... the longer layoff might normally benefit this but in our case this year the layoff isn't long enough and they won't be back on Saturday. You move on with what you have.

Also, it's interesting to me that several posts feel Hiland is "down" this year. Having seen every Hiland team for the past 13 years, I don't know if that is true or not. This team is definitely different. Hiland doesn't have the explosive athletic ability that they have often had. Team speed isn't as good. Size of players is way down, we are very small this year. We do have some kids though who are smart and do what we ask them to do. The coach made some changes this year to things that we normally do to adjust for our lack of athleticism and they've worked pretty well. Many of you who post on here are knowledgeable about the game, I will be curious to see what your impressions of the Hiland team are if you actually get to watch them on Saturday. It has been a fun team to watch. Explosive goal scoring has definitely been down, partly due to our team and also partly due to the fact that some of the opponents that are normally more lopsided games were stronger this year. Looking forward to Saturday. The people at Jackson always do things well.

Well said coach. Can't wait to see you hoist the trophy Saturday! What time is the bus leaving for you all?

[EHSoccer]

Early. 3 hr 20 min trip. School nice enough to spring for a charter bus though which helps big time.

[tigerSTRIPEZzz]

Man, I didn't think Sparta was that far. Charter will make things much better I'm sure though.

[realfutbol]

Valley has an impressive record, but against tough teams they have struggled and if you contain winters it pretty much shuts them down....I think that Hiland will be looking past Valley because of this and struggle to a 3-2 victory...

[EHSoccer]

Man, I didn't think Sparta was that far. Charter will make things much better I'm sure though.

I'm not sure if you are joking or are serious, but just in case...

the school that Valley is playing is Berlin Hiland not Sparta Highland. I am familiar with Sparta and it is about 1 hr 15 minutes from Berlin. The schools aren't spelled the same by the way.

Berlin is located in Amish country in Holmes County just south of Wooster. To reach Jackson we will probably first travel to Columbus which is 2 hours give or take a few minutes and then head south on 23.

[tigerSTRIPEZzz]

My bad on the mix up. I'm not too familiar with D3 soccer.