Soccer 2007

nortx9 · July 20, 2007

Been a while, been on a self imposed GMG detox. All that Dodge-ball blogging totally fried me out..... but its almost time for the "other " exciting fall sport.......... besides Dodgeball and V-Ball.

First, some interesting news about the competition.... MTSU lost the 2006 SBC F.O.Y to transfer- left for Creighton...(you may recall Zappapas edged UNT's Juett for the FOY award, although Juett was awarded first team All Conf and Zappapas placed 2nd team?????? Anyway...).... big loss for MTSU.

UNT was ranked 14th out of 31 teams ranked in the Soccer Buzz NCAA DI Central Region recruiting rankings for 2007. 2007 class is very good. The class was also ranked 77th nationally! Denver ranked 10 in region, but opinion is UNT have a better overall class of 2007 recruits. If the transfer players show well, UNT will be an even better 2007 recruit year than the ranking suggests... MUTS bringing it up at 24th.

UNT already has its 2008 class verbal commitments and the list is veeeeery impressive! 2008 class has verbals from several Sting and Dallas Texans Red D-I club stars, among other talented commitments from Dallas and Houston area. This is a very important class for replacing the Hutyras and Slavonics, among others scheduled for graduations. All 8 players currently committed come from teams currently ranked in the top 35 '90s club teams nationally.

For those who did not hear.... Kelli Lundsford fell to ACL injury in the last Spring game matchup. Will miss her hustle and winning attitude on the field this year.

No word yet on any of the SBC pre-season rankings, or pre-season player superlatives predictions.

Team is on voluntary summer workouts and report around first of August for preseason training. Some players are coming off of their U-19 and U-18 USYSA Regionals club performances., and two of our freshmen recruits (Herron, Hall) will be playing for their Solar 89 team at Nationals in Frisco in July.

GrandGreen · July 21, 2007

Good report, it is always great to hear more about the so called non-revenue sports. I am glad to hear that NT already has all its 2008 commits, specially some Houston area recruits. Unlike the other women sports, soccer recruiting seems to be have been entirely focused on the metroplex in the last few years. It seems that softball, volleyball, and swimming haven't done that well in recruiting local talent and need to improve. While it seems soccer maybe missing out by not dong more state wide recruiting. Even though the metroplex is probably as good a recruiting area as there is, I have to think there a few top tier players from other parts of the state that would be like to be part of the Green.

nortx9 · July 23, 2007

Good report, it is always great to hear more about the so called non-revenue sports. I am glad to hear that NT already has all its 2008 commits, specially some Houston area recruits. Unlike the other women sports, soccer recruiting seems to be have been entirely focused on the metroplex in the last few years. It seems that softball, volleyball, and swimming haven't done that well in recruiting local talent and need to improve. While it seems soccer maybe missing out by not dong more state wide recruiting. Even though the metroplex is probably as good a recruiting area as there is, I have to think there a few top tier players from other parts of the state that would be like to be part of the Green.

I think the deal on the local vs. non-local recruiting focus is simply that the club teams are better/deeper in the DFW local club league. If they are too good, non-local players are going Big(gest) Conf School. If they are D-I calibre, but less than Big(gest) Conf School, the DFW club scene is probably better talent, woman for woman, and my guess is they can probably be had for a less-than-full scholarship initially with a bump later. I don't think UNT are missing out, just think that all considered equal, they go local. And, a local athlete has a better chance of sticking with a program than one far removed from home if playing time/school/etc don't go as planned early on. I think the key to getting non-local players to commit is to have some success at getting a few commits to get it started, and sustaining it the next few follow on years from the same region while the players are familiar to the recruits. Tulsa also is a good area, and I know we have been looking there as well, year to year. Believe we lost out on a couple of those players to TCU. If we can add a few more Conf champs and NCAA appearances from the last few recruiting classes including 2008, we stand to gain a bigger sustained foothold outside the local area in the next 4-5 years.

nortx9 · July 25, 2007

This week is the USYSA Nationals (profiled today in the DMN) in Frisco at PHP complex. In addition to the the UNT Solar recruits I mentioned here in the thread, and also profiled on the UNT soccer webpage, the 90's Texan Red team has three players verbally committed to UNT for next years recruit class. While they are verbals at this point, that means there are five players that have signed with or committed to UNT that are playing in the Nationals tourney this weekend in Frisco. Fairly impressive. Both teams are well positioned to win their respective divisions whichwould bring additional regional/national cred to the outstanding recruiting efforts we are seeing in the UNT program.

nortx9 · August 14, 2007

Buzz soccer rankings are out for Central region. Same ol' - - - -!! UNT ranked 18, displaced in the top 15 by some very discouraging nominations. Seems like if you win 15-17 games (UNT and MUTS), in SBC conference, you must not be as good as perennial mediocre programs such and LSU and Mississippi who can't break double digit wins. Where they come up with some of this pooh pooh I'll never be able to figure it out........

Soccer Buzz Rankings

KRAM1 · August 23, 2007

JUST keep winning and we'll get respect...be it in the SBC or elsewhere. Can't help the "pundits" who think other programs are better just because they have better/deeper football programs than the SBC...you know how that goes, right? Just win...get to the NCAA's and then we can beat the "higher ranked" teams and let them KNOW they don't want to tangle with the MEAN GREEN! GO MEAN GREEN SOCCER!

UNTLifer · August 23, 2007

Buzz soccer rankings are out for Central region. Same ol' - - - -!! UNT ranked 18, displaced in the top 15 by some very discouraging nominations. Seems like if you win 15-17 games (UNT and MUTS), in SBC conference, you must not be as good as perennial mediocre programs such and LSU and Mississippi who can't break double digit wins. Where they come up with some of this pooh pooh I'll never be able to figure it out........
Soccer Buzz Rankings

Maybe we should schedule the LSU's and Mississippi's of the world and whip their arses.

Green Crazy · August 24, 2007

From someone who cheers and keeps a pretty close eye on the womens soccer team, but doesn't know much about our competition (or the sport), can we win the conference this year? I mean, I know we can, but is Denver a better team than us or is it a toss up?

FlatFoot · August 25, 2007

From someone who cheers and keeps a pretty close eye on the womens soccer team, but doesn't know much about our competition (or the sport), can we win the conference this year? I mean, I know we can, but is Denver a better team than us or is it a toss up?

I am no expert, but I have watched/coached maybe 500 to 700 games of one of this years recruits for UNT (parents are demented that way). You may think that number is too high but when you consider all the rec, indoor, 3v3, 8v8, 11v11, tournaments,scrimmages, club, guest play, high school, high school tournaments, I may be underestimating the amount... but I digress.

I have also seen maybe 75 - 100 games of all the other UNT recruits combined (team mates and rivals of the above referenced player)

I would guess that I have also seen maybe 100 - 200 or so games played with and against some of the top Denver recruits (team mates and rivals of the above referenced player)

On paper, it would appear that Denver recruited higher caliber players. However, I submit that while the Colorado girls certainly have earned every credential they have been honored with, Texas is a MUCH!!! bigger state and credentials in Texas have got to carry more weight than that of Colorado. Having said that...

I believe using raw statistics, DU probably had the edge on UNT last season. HOWEVER!

Recruiting this year I would have to give the edge to UNT (despite what SoccerBuzz says). I think the Colorado girls are good heady players and I like them personally (great kids), but the level of play is a step higher in Texas, each and every team, each and every day. UNT recruited more speed and I believe a bit more tenacity.

Coaching?.?.?. We'll see... Both are top tier. Hooker coached the above referenced player for a few seasons so I know his style well... while Hedlund is HUGE and INTIMIDATING!!! lol.... A great coach too. I think the Coach who is able to get their team to FOCUS on TEAM statistics and honors and unity and not Individual statistics and honors will be the one who comes out on top.

If the two team played today, I pick UNT. But it's a long season.

nortx9 · August 27, 2007

I am no expert, but I have watched/coached maybe 500 to 700 games of one of this years recruits for UNT (parents are demented that way). You may think that number is too high but when you consider all the rec, indoor, 3v3, 8v8, 11v11, tournaments,scrimmages, club, guest play, high school, high school tournaments, I may be underestimating the amount... but I digress.
I have also seen maybe 75 - 100 games of all the other UNT recruits combined (team mates and rivals of the above referenced player)
I would guess that I have also seen maybe 100 - 200 or so games played with and against some of the top Denver recruits (team mates and rivals of the above referenced player)
On paper, it would appear that Denver recruited higher caliber players. However, I submit that while the Colorado girls certainly have earned every credential they have been honored with, Texas is a MUCH!!! bigger state and credentials in Texas have got to carry more weight than that of Colorado. Having said that...
I believe using raw statistics, DU probably had the edge on UNT last season. HOWEVER!
Recruiting this year I would have to give the edge to UNT (despite what SoccerBuzz says). I think the Colorado girls are good heady players and I like them personally (great kids), but the level of play is a step higher in Texas, each and every team, each and every day. UNT recruited more speed and I believe a bit more tenacity.
Coaching?.?.?. We'll see... Both are top tier. Hooker coached the above referenced player for a few seasons so I know his style well... while Hedlund is HUGE and INTIMIDATING!!! lol.... A great coach too. I think the Coach who is able to get their team to FOCUS on TEAM statistics and honors and unity and not Individual statistics and honors will be the one who comes out on top.
If the two team played today, I pick UNT. But it's a long season.
[/quote
Agreed. I will say.... Denver is NCAA Tourney tested, and only a couple of their new recruits will see significant field time. UNT experience and depth is not as strong. Athletically, based on last year, we closed the gap a bunch. The Conf. player of the year last year from Denver is not the Pre-Season pick this year, another Denver player is, so may tell you what they are packing. I will also say after watching the Alumni game its my opinion that the UNT team is much faster and more skillful throughout the lineup than last year. Denver has a great defense, we will have to match that level of play. We could not do that in two games last year when the Conf Title and Conf Tourney Championship and NCAA bid were at stake. By end of season we should have gained more experience and coordination. Don't forget MUTS.......