Southwest Ohio Division 1

M

MTO80

Active member
I wanted to get one started for D1 only and get some opinions or predictions. My first thought is that Lakota West may turn out to be the team to beat. It is early and they have been too young the last few years to get to the top but this may be their year. Obviously the Southwest will have to go through the usual Moeller and Centerville but this may be they year for someone else to break through.
Moeller lost a great senior class and definitely got hit on the defensive side by graduation. They are starting I believe 7 new players some who are completely new to the program altogether. They have started off with 3 wins but all out of state teams who are kind of unknown to how good they may be. They have a big game againt Mason on Tuesday so that is always a rivalry game and a tough one that could go either way. Who else has anyone seen in person that looks good or has potential for a run later this year ?
 
 
Moeller and Mason play to 0-0 tie. I thought for this early in the year it was a pretty good game and as usual pretty intense. Both teams had a few shots on goal late but couldnt find the back of the net. Moe had 3 or 4 great opportunities but hit the crossbar I think 4 times with Mason having one opportunity in second half with an empty net and shot wide.
I will say I think Moe has a long way to go to get where they want to be. They not only are replacing 7 or 8 starters but have moved some of the returning players to new positions and it has been a bit of a struggle in my opinion. They should get a win this week vs St Henry KY then GCL starts next week vs St X.
 
Little Miami - solid group. 4-0-1. Game winning goal with 10 seconds left last night at Lebanon. Heard a LM dad say it was the first time this season they've really been pushed.
 
With Moeller beating St X last night and 2 very winnable games coming up next I am definitely looking forward to game with Lakota west coming up in couple weeks.
 
That very well could be true. Moeller best test before then will be Lexington Henry Clay, who looks to be pretty strong this year. Moeller offense is getting better but obviously their defense is their strong point. They have such a different lineup this year compared to last. So many new guys and players switching positions is causing them some growing pains right now. I have not seen West this season but know what they have coming back. Their speed up front on outside could cause Moe some problems and we all know just a few mistakes can cost you the game. I would imagine that this game will be a preview of a much more important matchup in the tourney.
 
MTO80 said:
That very well could be true. Moeller best test before then will be Lexington Henry Clay, who looks to be pretty strong this year. Moeller offense is getting better but obviously their defense is their strong point. They have such a different lineup this year compared to last. So many new guys and players switching positions is causing them some growing pains right now. I have not seen West this season but know what they have coming back. Their speed up front on outside could cause Moe some problems and we all know just a few mistakes can cost you the game. I would imagine that this game will be a preview of a much more important matchup in the tourney.
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5-0-1 a third of the way through, 2 goals conceded? Probably not going to get sympathy from Yappi on growing 'pains'.
 
Lol. I guess you are correct there. I wasn't shooting for any sympathy for Moeller in any way. Obviously I have been on here enough to know Moeller isn't get any sympathy in any sport. I guess my point is while they are winning they do have 9 new starters and don't seem to be clicking as well as you might think. I do think the Southwest District may be down a bit from the past 2 seasons and maybe that will help moving forward. I guess I am really looking forward to game with West as an idea of where both teams are at this point of the season.
 
After seeing West on that sandbox of a field at Lakota East, I'd imagine their attack would be pretty lethal for Moeller to deal with on a bigger field. They should have put about 5 in past LE. Their defense can be suspect on the counter though. Should make for a great game.
 
Looking forward to that game. Moeller has a big test this Saturday with Lexington Henry Clay coming to town who apparently is nationally ranked depending what poll you look at. Moeller beat them 3-0 last year but it was a much closer game than the score and IMO Moeller was better last year.
 
Moeller has made it past Henry Clay and Elder so now it is on to big game Saturday night at Lakota West. IMO probably the top 2 teams in Cincinnati area. I think LW has to be play Mason tonight , which I will be interested to see that score. Moeller's offense has woke up and started to get it together as the seasons moves along . They have so many guys who can score compared to last year where it seems like they leaned on Poppel so much. On the other end of the field they are a different team and are going to give up goals especially to LW I think. I think game ends 3-2 but cant pick the winner.
 
This Moeller team is young and a lot of their talent are Juniors, Sophomores and some Freshman. They are having a fantastic season during what most thought would be a transition year.

However, you can’t really compare any part of this team to Moeller’s team last year. Last year’s team was historic and achieved results that likely will not be duplicated in HS soccer. Everyone knows about the defense with zero run of play goals all year, two goals allowed all year (pk in game 1 and the set piece header in the state final), and 23 consecutive shut-outs. But their offense was very, very good too. Consider this:

- 93 goals scored (3.72 average)
- at least one goal scored in every game
- 22 different players scored at least one goal
- single season goals scored record by Poppel (23)
- Johnny Michael had double digit goals scored as well (12)
- Mason Cooper had 20 assists, which was either a single season record or top 2/3 seasons
- Karson Lang also added 15 assists

Also consider this … outside of Mr. Ohio and All-American Poppell, Mason Cooper was probably their next best offensive player. Mason played winger for CUP and was a double digit goal scorer and assist leader for their National Championship team and now plays forward for Xavier. Rather than play forward next to Poppell (could you imagine), Mason played center defensive mid and was a big part of their historic defensive performance. Not to mention last years team had a D1 goalie protecting the net.

This year’s Moeller’s team has 33 goals scored through 10 games (3.3 average). My point is last years defensive performance was so good that it makes you forget about how good that offense was too.

Yes, they have a nice team this year and likely could make a good run in the tournament. But it’s not going to be easy and there could be a few teams that could beat Moeller for sure. If not in the SW then either Columbus or the Northeast too.

This team has a chance to carve their own path and create their own identity. It’s not fair to the players to even try and compare them to last years team.
 
I by no means was criticizing either team from Moeller that last 2 years. Last years team was exceptional in all aspects of the game. This years team as you said is very young with a bunch of different players. I went to all games last year and I have seen all games this year. They are just a different style team I think with maybe as much or more individual offensive talent but I do not expect them to get many shutouts this year because their defense isn't near what last years team was. I think on offense they will be fine. If I recall correctly I think last year they won a total of 10 games by score of 1-0. I would say that most teams would split 1-0 games over the course of a season and go 5-5 in those games. A testament to how incredible last season was.
 
Just goes to show you how good that defense was. They played the entire year without ever being behind on the scoreboard. Just incredible. Also, you have to consider how teams played vs Moeller too. Most teams tried to play a low block. They could not out-possess them and they knew it was going to be really difficult to score a goal. So they packed it in and tried to not give up a goal. Scoring on a low block with 9/10 behind the ball is always incredibly challenging. I don’t have the same sense teams are attacking Moeller the same way this year. Teams feel they can score which allows for a more open game … which helps the offense for Moeller quite a bit.

As for this young Moeller team, it will be interesting to see how they develop the next year, possibly two years. As good as they are this year, I think they have the potential to be better .. next year especially with Lang, Griffith, Oliver, Bradley, Stefano, Gerace, Improvola and the Woolfe brothers all returning.
 
I am not a soccer expert or even close to it. The offsides rule is so confusing and hard to understand . It seems like the most controversial call in soccer. I was watching the Mason and Lakota West game online last night and the offsides against LW with about 4 minutes left in the game confused me. I am not from either school so I have no personal interest in who wins , was just watching a very good game. If some one can give a detailed explanation with pictures or video of what made the play offsides , maybe it was something obvious and I missed it.
 
IMG_8108.jpeg
 
Here’s a still shot photo of when the ball was coming off the first forwards head. The rule in simple terms is no offensive player can have any body part that can play the ball beyond the second defender when the ball was originally played. Think of the second defender in soccer as the blue line in hockey. The ball must be played before crossing the blue line. As you can see here, the second Lakota forward looks to be beyond the second defender (goalie in this instance is the first defender). Certainly this is a very tough camera angle and the AR would have had a better view. Based on what I see here it was probably the right call.
 
Ok Thanks. I see that, it was hard to tell live . It seemed by the time the player scoring headed the ball the second defender was actually closer to the goal. I am sure AR had better view and correct call was made. Sometimes in live action it is hard to see.
 
You are a Moe fan and were probably at the Henry Clay game. Moe had a great goal in the first half called back on offsides. Karson Lang slipped a ball through the line as Charlie Bradley made an inside run from the wing. It was well timed and a great goal … Bang - bang play and the AR put up the flag. Easy to be upset with the call but it was the right one as Charlie made his run in behind the CB instead of in front of him. He was clearly behind the 2nd defender when the ball was played.
 
I was at that game and remember the play. I am a basketball guy and just trying to catch on to soccer because a family member plays . The offsides always seem to be the play that is not understood and causes the most fan complaints.
 
MTO80 said:
I was at that game and remember the play. I am a basketball guy and just trying to catch on to soccer because a family member plays . The offsides always seem to be the play that is not understood and causes the most fan complaints.
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The problem with most of those complaints is that the fans are often like 40 yards away from the play and arguing that a ref right on the line didn’t get the call right.
 
Good win for Moeller at Lakota West by score of 3-1. Moeller started with 2 quick goals in the first 7 minutes and never looked back. Moeller clearly controlled the second half, especially last 20 minutes with ball on their half most of the time. They also had multiple corners and finally got one to go for the lone goal of the half.They have GCL game at St X Wednesday then Columbus St Charles comes to Moe on Saturday.
 
MTO80 said:
Ok Thanks. I see that, it was hard to tell live . It seemed by the time the player scoring headed the ball the second defender was actually closer to the goal. I am sure AR had better view and correct call was made. Sometimes in live action it is hard to see.
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The key is where the player who scored was when the ball was played (i.e. in this instance where he was when the previous player headed the ball.) When the ball was played, he was in an offisde position, which is all that matters. By the time he received the ball and headed it into the goal, he was onside, but that's irrelevant. The rule is often confusing and misunderstood by fans because they are watching the ball, and by the time they see the offside player receive it, he is onside, but he was offside when it was played (or vice versa.) The AR's are supposed to be watching the line so they have the best view, and of course the best angle, when the ball is played and they make a lot of calls that the fans miss.
 
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Scottyflatstix said:
This Moeller team is young and a lot of their talent are Juniors, Sophomores and some Freshman. They are having a fantastic season during what most thought would be a transition year.

However, you can’t really compare any part of this team to Moeller’s team last year. Last year’s team was historic and achieved results that likely will not be duplicated in HS soccer. Everyone knows about the defense with zero run of play goals all year, two goals allowed all year (pk in game 1 and the set piece header in the state final), and 23 consecutive shut-outs. But their offense was very, very good too. Consider this:

- 93 goals scored (3.72 average)
- at least one goal scored in every game
- 22 different players scored at least one goal
- single season goals scored record by Poppel (23)
- Johnny Michael had double digit goals scored as well (12)
- Mason Cooper had 20 assists, which was either a single season record or top 2/3 seasons
- Karson Lang also added 15 assists

Also consider this … outside of Mr. Ohio and All-American Poppell, Mason Cooper was probably their next best offensive player. Mason played winger for CUP and was a double digit goal scorer and assist leader for their National Championship team and now plays forward for Xavier. Rather than play forward next to Poppell (could you imagine), Mason played center defensive mid and was a big part of their historic defensive performance. Not to mention last years team had a D1 goalie protecting the net.

This year’s Moeller’s team has 33 goals scored through 10 games (3.3 average). My point is last years defensive performance was so good that it makes you forget about how good that offense was too.

Yes, they have a nice team this year and likely could make a good run in the tournament. But it’s not going to be easy and there could be a few teams that could beat Moeller for sure. If not in the SW then either Columbus or the Northeast too.

This team has a chance to carve their own path and create their own identity. It’s not fair to the players to even try and compare them to last years team.
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Sounds similar to the stat line the Howland 2020 team put together.

My favorite? Gave every team on the schedule their worst loss of the season.
 
Salad76 said:
Sounds similar to the stat line the Howland 2020 team put together.

My favorite? Gave every team on the schedule their worst loss of the season.
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That Howland team was incredible. They did have a 0-0 tie with 8-5-4 Canfield (but also beat them 4-0...their worst loss). Only beat an awesome Bay 1-0 (very controversially) that also lost to Hoban 2-0. Also beat an excellent Shawnee team 3-0 in the state semis which lost 6-2 to Lexington. So I'm quibbling with your stat in an epic season.
 
Moeller 2 St Xavier 0. I thought possibly Moeller worst played game of the year especially the first half. Lack of energy and effort . IMO they were lucky to be tied at half . I thought St X controlled the first half but wasn't able to find the back of the net. Finally mid second half Moe gets 2 goals . Everybody struggles some days so hopefully they will get back to it on Saturday.
 
With the tourney fast approaching I was wondering your guys sw d1 rankings. For me I have:
1. Moeller
2. Mason
3. Lakota West
4. Springboro
5. Beavercreek
I am interested to see how the tourney plays out with maxpreps doing the seeding
 
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