WellRead

As the fall season is winding down I checked up on these players in an will attempt to answer your question. The following is a summary for those playing in Houston: Zach Clark - TSC Texans 91/92 - BU16 Classic Div I 0 Win, 6 losses 2 ties 6th place Matt Deaver - Dropped out due to tennis conflicts Matt Kirby - TSC Texans 89/90 - Premier League - Top DivI ????????????? (help) Nat Lombardo - Texans FC 91/92 Black - BU16 Classic Div I 1-5-2 5th place Scott Poole - Texans FC 92 Red - Premier League - Top Div I 9-1-1 2nd place (only loss was to Dallas Texans 92) Understand they will begin National League (new league established by US Youth Soccer) play over Thanksgiving Holidays. (Raleigh, North Carolina) Nathan Stockie - TSC Texans Elite 91 - BU17 Classic Div I 3-2-3 3rd place Brent Waldrip - Space City 90 - BU18 Comp Div I 4-1-3 2nd place Congratulations to all on excellent play this fall!!!! My understanding is there was some great competition in all levels of play. I saw several games at different levels and without a doubt the Premier League play is incredible! If you ever get a chance to see (or play) a Premier League game you will understand my comment. Please, if there are any corrections or additions to the above, please post.

wos08, A few short years ago a survey was taken of inmates incarcerated in Texas prisons. Of those surveyed, 94% indicated that after the initial thrill of alcohol use subsided, they moved on to harder drugs such as weed, crack, etc. By definition, therefore, alcohol is a gateway drug for these abusers. This said, I must say the issue of underage drinking is a serious issue and as such should be dealt with firmly. Coaches should, no matter how important a player is to the team, at least bench a player for several games. Personally, I think the player should be removed from the team for the rest of the season. If he is an underclassman he should be given the opportunity to earn his way back to the team the next year. If he is a senior, hopefully he will learn from this mistake before he damages another life besides his on. As for being arrested Thursday and out by noon Friday, most schools have a rule to the effect that if you miss most or all of a school day, you cannot participate in the extra curricular activity scheduled for that day. (with the exception of a doctor's excuse) Problem solved.

SFA's post (see 1st post on topic) was quite enlightening last spring so I kept my ear to the ground during the summer to see if any of the local players took his advice and headed west to Houston. Several players did take your advice, SFA, and earned positions with top quality clubs. Here is what I have learned: Zach Clark - TSC Texans Red 91/92 (1st team) - Div. I Classic Level Matt Deaver - Texans FC Red 90/91 (1st team) - Div. I Premier Level Matt Kirby - TSC Texans Red 89/90 (1st team) - Div. I Premier Level (?) Nat Lombardo - Texans FC Black 91/92 (2nd team) - Div. I Classic Level Scott Poole - Texans FC Red 91/92 (1st team) - Div. I Premier Level Nathan Stockie - TSC Texans Black 90/91 (2nd team) - Div. I Classic Level Brent Waldrup - Space City 89/90 (1st team) - Div. I Competitive Level If anyone has any additions or corrections please post them. Good luck to all these local players who stepped out to improve their game! I'm sure many others will also improve by playing in the local clubs as well. Good luck to these guys too.

VPsoccer15, I must take exception to your comment that Brent Waldrup "carried his team to a championship". Lumberton's fantastic season was about the entire team, not just one person. As most people who have seen Lumberton play will say, it was a full team effort - midfielders, defenders, goalie, forwards - and let's not forget the bench and coaching staff. It was a total team effort that brought home a district championship. (plus a little help from PN-G) Brent has excellent skills with the ball. It would be hard to argue otherwise. His weakness tends to be using those skills to excess. Instead of depending on his teammates and passing the ball, he continues to dribble (head down) into trouble until he is shut down by several defenders (hence the Central game??). If other players from Lumberton (#11, #6, #7, and others too numerous to mention) had not risen to the occasion (or "stepped up" as many like to say) the outcome of the season could have been different. There have been games when Brent has used his teammates to his advantage - passing, sprinting for a hole, receiving a pass and scoring. I believe Brent will begin to recognize this weakness and will work to overcome it as he continues to play. When he does...watch out soccer world! With all the forum comments, pro and con, I think we sometimes get carried away with individuals. "It_Takes_11_to_Win" has the right concept. Yes, there will always be standouts on teams. We need to remember, however, they are all young men (and women) who are continuing to develop, mature, and improve as soccer players. We should be careful not to elevate them too high. Instead elevate their teams and the team play that brings many to the forefront and creates champions.

I must reply to Shark's comments on Scott Poole. I'm sure many people can tell you Scott (#8) does not "bang the ball". Nearly every strike of the ball he takes is a pass to a teammate. As he approaches the ball he is looking upfield for someone to pass to. He also uses his left foot a great percentage of the time. When on defense he can turn to his right or left using either foot. Many high school players (juniors and seniors) have yet to learn how to do this. Too many players don't work their non-dominant foot, but Scott does. While Scott has played defense (stopper/sweeper) most of the season he has had the opportunity to play upfront (forward and midfield) and attempt some shots. It is interesting, Shark, that you say he is too right footed, yet at least two of his goals this year were scored using his left foot. As for the last two games you saw him play--1) against Nederland his play and accurate passing along with his teammates excellent ball control held Nederland scoreless the second half (and Lumberton won). 2) The last game, which you say you saw, Scott didn't play in the backfield. He played upfront and scored with -- his left foot. Hype? No. Facts? Yes. Nothing more. Scott is a freshman and yes, he still has a lot to learn. And, yes, there are many good freshmen in this district (and area), which is wonderful for the future of soccer in southeast Texas! We must remember, however, it's not about the individual performances, but the team performances that count.