SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer Program of the Decade

I think for this decade, Northwestern has to be the program of the decade but a case could be made for Irmo as well. With the recent success of the trojans against Irmo in state finals, I think NW is more deserving of program of the "decade" title. However, Irmo is still the program that defines South Carolina High School Soccer. It would take another 15-20 years of this same level of success for Northwestern to have reach the standard that Coach Savitz has accomplished in his tenure at Irmo. Would be interested to see the results for all Irmo/NW games of the 2000's including regular season and playoffs. I know NW use to be a regular participant in the Lake Murray Challenge.

I will also agree with the previous poster about that '05 South Aiken team. They were phenomenal with Goose in goal and Geathers up top. The Irmo team they beat in the final was an Irmo team coming off back to back State Championships in '03, '04 and that had 12 seniors and something like 9 returning starters. And South Aiken beat them twice that year.

Northwestern All-Time Results vs Irmo:
07-06-00

'81 L 0-1
'84 W 1-0
'91 L 0-5
03 L 0-1
04 L 2-4
04 L 1-2
05 W 2-1
06 W 3-1
07 W 6-1
08 W 2-1
09 W 3-1
10 L 1-3
10 W 4-2

I'd say NW would be the only team in the state with a winning record against Irmo.

If you are talking about the best programs over the past decade you need to include some of the 3A teams from the upstate. Greenville's 07 team may have been the best team in SC history. They ended as National Champs and I believe only gave up a few goals the entire year. You also need to include Riverside who has won either three or four titles since 2000. J.L Mann and Eastside have also been dominant teams in the upstate that could have played with any other high school in the state. Some of these teams have competed and done very well in Palmetto Cup which is supposed to be the elite teams.

Also I think you would have to add BE. Even though they do play a lot of smaller schools they can hang with the big boys too. I believe they have won the Palmetto Cup a few times in the past decade.

I agree that Irmo and NW are two great teams and maybe the best this year but I think the people on here completely forget about some of the other schools that are not 4A.

Anyone know what it looks like when you compare Irmo and Northwestern's success at the Palmetto Cup since that is on more of a "National or Regional Stage" with several out of state teams?

Great point SweetFeet, that Greenville team of '07 was quality. It's easy for everyone to get caught up in 4A but 3A has had some gems too. The '05 Eastside team was also another great team. I think Northwestern and Irmo just seem to get such a large amount of recognition because of how consistent they have been. How many state championships this decade have at least one of those two teams featured in? 1 maybe?

If I was gonna make my list of a top 5, think it would look something like this...

1)Northwestern
2)Irmo
3)BE
4)Greenville
5)Wando

Wait...why has a team as talented and idolized as Irmo never completed in the cup? I'm sure Farragut would have loved to play the yellow jackets!

Putting BE in the program of the decade isn't even fair, they can recruit and get the pleasure of playing 2A!!! Sorry!

For a team who has been written off in recent years, South Aiken has performed quite well. I remember reading posts over the last three years about how they won't win their region and such, only to go on and play for 2 state championships. For the amount of hype the three teams(Irmo,NW,SA,) received, only South Aiken has out performed their hype in my opinion