> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Players hopeful of big Midwest regional showing

There will be a number of this area’s players in action at the US Youth Soccer Midwest Region II Championships in Dayton, Ohio over the weekend.

The tournament will see the top 212 boys’ and girls’ teams from 14 state associations in the U13 through to U19 age groups battle it out at Ankeney Park and Beavercreek.

The round robin games will be played from June 26-28, with the semi-finals played on June 29 and the championship games taking place on June 30.

Southern Indiana pair Kady O’Farrell (Floyd Central) and Leah Mattingly (Providence) said they are hopeful of a good showing with their Javanon ’95 team. 

The girls beat Commonwealth SC of Lexington 3-0 in the Kentucky State Open Cup championship decider, to add to its two titles won in 2007 and 2008.

Mattingly has played with Javanon for seven years and is one of two original members from the U9 team.

“This year is a very good opportunity for our team,” she said. “If we play well, we should have a chance to advance and make a good showing in the (later stages of) tournament.”

O’Farrell has been with the team since last year, although she has been with the club for five years.

“There are going to be some tough, competitive teams that we are going to be playing against, but I am ready to kick some butt,” she said. “Our team has really improved from last year, with new players and a new coach coming to the team.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Wilburn (Providence), Matt Kelecy (Floyd Central), Nick Blackwell (New Albany) and Jordan Vejar (Jeffersonville) are part of Javanon’s U16 team, which fancies itself to go well.

The team not only won the Kentucky State Open Cup, but also the Midwest Regional League Premier Division (Red), and hopes it can emulate the achievements of the club’s ’92 and ’91 teams, which both won regional titles last year and progressed to the national championship.

Javanon beat United 1996 — a team featuring two more locals in the shape of Providence’s Brett Bass and Henryville’s Gabe Stewart — by a 2-0 scoreline in the final, but the pair will also travel to the tournament as United earned a wildcard spot.

Javanon ’92, which has Trevor Bruner from Jeffersonville in its ranks, will be aiming for its third consecutive regional crown. It won its fourth consecutive state title – and sixth overall — with a 1-0 final victory against Mockingbird.

State associations represented at the tournament are Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio North, Ohio South, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Overland Park, Kansas from July 20-25.

For schedules and latest scores, check out: kickitblog.wordpress.com.



Koman and the soccer gods

Just when we were waxing lyrical about the high standard of refereeing at the World Cup, along come two poor performances back to back, like when you’re waiting for a bus.

First on Friday was Spanish ref Alberto Undiano, who controversially ejected Miroslav Klose for a seemingly innocuous challenge and handed out 10 cards in Germany’s 1-0 loss to Serbia.

And then there was Koman Coulibaly.

While perplexed U.S. fans were still wearing out the rewind button Friday afternoon to see exactly why the Mali official chalked off Maurice Edu’s effort against Slovenia, passionless England was creating its own headlines with an abysmal 0-0 tie against a gritty Algeria.

The latter performance was enough for the Three Lions’ disgruntled players to hold a clear-the-air crisis meeting with management Sunday following huge criticism from fans and the media.

So, considering, a 2-2 deadlock after a 2-0 half-time deficit doesn’t look too bad now for Bob Bradley’s boys, and victory against the Algerians tomorrow morning (10 a.m.) will see the U.S. through to the last 16.

Easier said than done, however. Bradley has a lot think about, none more so than shoring up a less than adequate defense. You can only come back from behind so many times, and chasing the game against a well organized Algeria is not recommended.

Will he consider dropping Onyewu, who was shaky (played Zlatan Ljubijankic onside for Slovenia’s second goal) and still has question marks over his fitness? It’s probably too late for a reshuffle, which would probably involve moving Bocanegra to partner DeMerit in central defense.

There was also the huge gaping hole in front of the back four which resulted in an unchallenged Birsa scoring their opener.

Maurice Edu, who had a good second half, is likely start and hopefully plug some gaps, while Dempsey may be deployed up front to partner Altidore for the suspended Robbie Findley.

On the plus side, the teamwork and tenacity shown in the second half was very encouraging, and the U.S. goes into the game in good mental shape, despite the disallowed effort.

Speaking of which, the “goal that wasn’t” seems to have sparked a lot of interest nationally, so maybe the controversy isn’t so bad overall — perhaps helping the sport in terms of awareness — if no real harm is done (like getting eliminated) in the process.

Whatever the interest, the incident was quickly replaced as global headline news this weekend by the French camp shambles. Nicolas Anelka’s early departure due to his refusal to apologize to coach Raymond Domenech for using naughty words during the half-time break against Mexico is eerily similar to Roy Keane’s exit from the Irish team in Saipan back in 2002.

That particular incident spawned several books and a musical comedy. A show on this would surely be funnier. Domenech did, after all, contemplate wearing a Mickey Mouse tie to the interview for the French coaching post six years ago, and has admitted his team selections are influenced by astrology.

The opening scene could be the Henry ‘Hand of Gaul’ goal in the World Cup play-off game against Ireland last November. Then, of course, the ensuing outrage. Cut to South Africa and a tie against Uruguay; then disaster against the Mexicans. Nicolas is sent home after his outburst, which was leaked to the press; Les Bleus refuse to train in protest; the fitness coach goes nuts; players get on the bus; team director resigns in disgust.

With the squad in total turmoil, it goes into today’s third, and last, group game against South Africa seeking a minor miracle to progress. The finale, perhaps?

Sochaux coach Francis Gillot, who branded the players’ attitude as both “pathetic and disgraceful,” said, “France is the laughing stock of the world. Today I am thinking of the Irish – they should have been there in our place.”

Maybe the soccer gods felt that way too.