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Since the restructuring of Regionals to add a round (just for money-making), being a quarterfinalist isn't as big as one might seem. Totall teams are 12-16 per age group and 8 go through....that's 50% at least....not bad odds.



Beezer,
Making the quarterfinals at Regionals may not seem "big" to you but, speaking as someone who has now seen it from both perspectives (once from behind a computer screen, from afar with no child involved, and once on site, up close and personal, with a child involved), making the quarterfinals of Regionals is outstanding , in my opinion. Yes, 50% of the teams in each division do go through to the quarters, but it is not as if they randomly flip a coin to determine which 8 teams these will be! Rather this is decided by 3 tough 80 minute matches (90 minute matches for u17 and older)in near 100 degree heat, against some of the best teams in the region and nation, in which every result counts and in fact, every goal for or against counts. And, although, I can't speak for the other SC teams, I do know that the 7 CESA teams representing SC prepared themselves for this challenge in the weeks leading up to Regionals, with 3-4 practices at least per week, scrimmages on the weekends, and in the last couple weeks, numerous 2-a-day practices. So please do not insinuate that the odds were simply "good" that they'd go through to the quarters anyway. I assure you that if the CESA coaches and players had looked upon it as you do, as 50-50 being good odds and simply took their chances, they would not have been among the 8 quarterfinalists in any division. Their success at Regionals came from hard work, sacrifice, dedication, determination and incredibly gutsy performances against equally tough competitors. I believe that if you had seen the matches that I saw during my 6 days in Little Rock (not just the results on the website), you would think it was a very big deal to make it to the quarterfinals.

Granted the team I'm associated with (CESA u16G) was striving to get even further than the quarters and go on to the semis, as I'm sure the other 2 CESA quarterfinalists were, as well, but the good news on that front is that the gap is narrowing between them and the top-ranked teams that have stood in their way the past 2 years. Specifically,the CESA Premier u16G lost to Dallas Texans Red (currently ranked 5th nationally) in group play 2-0 (after losing to them last year 5-0), and lost to ESC Oklahoma (currently ranked 1st nationally) in the quarters 2-0 (after losing to them 4-0 in the quarters last year). Whereas last year these 2 teams were looked upon by our girls as nearly untouchable, this year the girls were going to the bench at halftime knowing they were in a winnable game. And believe me, Dallas Texans Red's (eventual finalist) and Edmonds SC Oklahoma's (eventual champion)level of play has not declined- the CESA level of play has risen. I heard similar observations about the other CESA teams as well. The CESA u15 girls only lost 1-0 in the quarters to the 8th ranked team nationally, and the CESA u17G lost only 1-0 in the quarters to the top ranked team nationally. It's a tough row to hoe when you're playing eventual winners in the quarterfinals. I'd venture to say that you would have possibly seen a CESA team or 2 in the semis had any of them played anyone other than eventual champions in the quarters.



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The State's "elite" club, if correct, has one semifinalist and three others went out in the quarters. Not very good considering there's 12 titles up for grabs and 48 semifinal spots. 1 for 48 isn't a elite club in the region, just in a poor state. What's good for South Carolina still isn't good in the big picture.



I'm afraid your "logic" here is a little off. True, there are a total of 48 semi-final spots but any one team can only expect to claim 1 of them, per division. Thus, SC was 1 for 11, as far as semi-finalists go (SC didn't field a u19G team), not 1 for 48.
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Kind of like the U.S. in the World Cup. Everyone think they are good in CONCACAF and meaningless friendlies until they step into the World Cup and are, yes, poor



If you are trying to say that the SC teams that represented at Regionals, including the ones that reached the quarters, are only "good" in SC, and that they are still "poor" regionally and nationally, you are way off, in my opinion.

Congratulations to all the teams that represented SC at Regionals and especially to the CESA Premier u15G, CESA Premier u16G, CESA Premier u17G on their outstanding performances in reaching the quarterfinals!! Also congratulations to the CESA Premier u15G, CESA Premier u16G, and CESA Premier u17G on their new national rankings: 37th, 34th, and 27th respectively!

Last edited by sbs; 07/20/06 10:19 PM.