Comments on: Boys: Harrison exceeds expectations

By: SAL

SAL — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:20:26 +0000

A QUICK COMMENT, IN THE AA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, A PLAYER WAS INJURED, BOTH TEAMS WERE SENT TO THEIR BENCHES. IT TOOK OVER 30 MINTUES FOR A AMBULANCE TO ARRIVE. I WAS FURIOUS THAT THE POOR KID LAY FREEZING COLD ON THE FIELD WRAPPED IN BLANKETS UNTIL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ARRIVED. I TOLD THE STAFF THERE THAT A AMBULANCE SHOULD BE ON SITE ALL DAY, GIVEN ALL THE GAMES AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE FOR THE FINALS. THEY RESPONDED BY STATING, THAT IT WAS A GOOD POINT AND THAT IT WAS OPENING WEEKEND FOR DEER SEASON AND THAT THEY COULDN’T GET NEEDED MEDICAL STAFF BECAUSE THEY WERE HUNTING DEER. I ALSO AGREE THAT ALL THE FIELDS WERE BEYONG SLOPPY AND IN VERY POOR CONDITIONS. THEY MUST MOVE THE FINALS LOCATION.

By: Sweeper

Sweeper — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:30:34 +0000

Harrison did an exceptional job. To keep their season alive for that long says a lot. It going to take time before soccer can be in the drivers seat at high schools accross the country. Until then I am a SECTION ONE FAN and will be there when I can to give you support. Thanks to all players, coaches and writters for a job well done. I am looking forward to next season. New Rochelle will make noise.

By: sectiononesoccerfan

sectiononesoccerfan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:59:41 +0000

Jake,

A couple of comments about the Oneonta experience:

1. I agree with the quality of the hosting at Oneonta. Very, very well done. Losers could walk away feeling like they achieved something important (which all did), even though the weekend didn’t have the storybook ending they had hoped for. They pulled off this tricky feat.

2. An unfortunate but important story-line of the Finals, in my view, was the poor field conditions. I am still trying to figure out how playing on grass in Oneonta in November can be a good idea. Why put these great players and teams on a surface like this? None of the games I saw over the weekend were at the speed, skill or quality level to what I witnessed at the Sectionals, Regionals, or during the regular season. I saw players who hadn’t lost their footing in a 20 game season slipping and sliding repeatedly, particularly on Sunday. When I walked across the field after the Class A final, I couldn’t believe how ridiculously soft and uneven the surface was. Sadly, some of the goals I witnessed over the weekend involved defenders not being able to regain their footing to make a simple clearance of the ball.

The Committee that oversees this event needs to re-think this aspect. The SHOF is fine place to hold award ceremonies, and is probably a great place to play in the Summer. Using it as a mid-November playing venue to find the best teams in NYS just doesn’t make sense.

By: fassftge

fassftge — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:17:29 +0000

jeff did u not see my question or something?

By: why not

why not — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:35:59 +0000

Jake,

Again great job with the boys soccer. Is Jeff planning to do a similar wrapup for the girls? Rye and Briarcliff had great seasons as well.

By: fassftge

fassftge — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:35:43 +0000

jake just out of curiosity why are you saying maybe pearl river; as if they cant even compete with the 4 teams listed. keep in mind they lost to a solid keio team in penalty kicks after outplaying them the whole match and allowing a ridiculous goal with 2 minutes remaining

By: on vacation

on vacation — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:36:50 +0000

jake,

you raise an interesting point about football. it isn’t just harrison. other sports taking a backseat to football is a huge issue at just about every school in the county…and it doesn’t even matter how well the football teams do. football could have a winless season and the soccer teams could go undefeated and the football team will get better treatment, better coverage and better fan support. a lot of it has to do with the fact that football teams take 50 kids (thereby creating a built-in fan base)...but it is also because most football teams engage in separate fundraising activities which fly in the face of title IX. these funds that the football boosters raise are required under law to be shared with the other boys and girls teams, but this never happens. all the ADs know this, but choose to ignore it.

By: SAL

SAL — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:42:02 +0000

I WAS AT THE GAME, REFEREES WHERE A DISGRACE TO SOCCER. THE HARRISON PLAYER WAS RED CARDED, NUMBER 25 OF THE OTHER TEAM RAN OVER AND VIOLENTLY SHOVED HIM TO THE GROUND AND HE WAS ISSUED A YELLOW CARD THE REFEREE CLEARLY BLEW THE CALL AND EVENTUALLY COST HARRISON THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THE REST OF THE GAME THEY WERE COSTANTLY MISSING CALLS AND A SAD EXAMPLE OF SOCCER OFFICALS. SEVERAL FANS AFTER THE GAME VENTED THE ANGER WITH THE POOR OFFICALS, THEY RESPONDED BY LAUGHING AND STATING IT WAS A LONG RIDE BACK TO LONG ISLAND.

By: NSFan2

NSFan2 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:48:44 +0000

I do not doubt the Harrison player’s account due to the fact that the refs were terrible up in Oneonta. Bias much AGAINST Section 1? I guess when you have such a strong section and come into States with 4 schools representing it is intimidating. The refs also called the North Salem games very uneven, with NS getting the shaft. Having said that the team with the most goals scored at the end of the game wins PERIOD. We were sad that JJ-EF lost on Saturday, pulling for Harrison after our loss Sunday and very happy for Bronxville. Section 1 was well represented and our players far and away outclass every section in the state.