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Post by lsufutbol on Feb 27, 2014 21:36:55 GMT -6
Ben Franklin 2x undefeated?? On January 4th in Mississippi, I watched BF tie a team 2-2, then get drummed by a team from Ocean Springs 5-0. I know that LHSAA does not count out of state games on a team's record, but if a team that I was associated with got beat as badly as BF was, I would not make the claim that they were "2x undefeated". Just be accurate and truthful.
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Post by Scott Crawford on Feb 27, 2014 21:38:53 GMT -6
I believe this is the first time in Louisiana high school soccer history that a coach has won two championships in one season.
Congratulations to Jose Ferrand and Ben Franklin for going 2/2 tonight.
Ferrand's all-time record in the championship game is now 3-1. (2-0 in girls and 1-1 for boys).
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Post by soccerdad23 on Feb 27, 2014 22:05:35 GMT -6
Ben Franklin 2x undefeated?? On January 4th in Mississippi, I watched BF tie a team 2-2, then get drummed by a team from Ocean Springs 5-0. I know that LHSAA does not count out of state games on a team's record, but if a team that I was associated with got beat as badly as BF was, I would not make the claim that they were "2x undefeated". Just be accurate and truthful. Number 1... Those games DID NOT count... And don't even get me started on how we lost that first game... They scored 2 goals on us in the span of two minutes as soon as all the starters were out,.... As for the second game... What u would call a drumming... We were out a bunch of starters due to injury.... But make NO mistake.... This year was...... Well never mind.... I digress... We aren't that good... Dont really have that many good players... And to satisfy you..... 2x undefeated in Louisiana 2x undisputed in Louisiana 2x division II CHAMPIONS in Louisiana :-) Whose your team.... Bring em on! |
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Post by FalconDad on Feb 27, 2014 22:07:02 GMT -6
78th minute: BF's #6 Noelle Higginson goes down with leg cramps. Although she gets back up, it's obvious she can barely run.
79th minute: Coach Ferrand has a sub up and ready to go in for Noelle. Noelle makes a "kill that idea" hand signal and refuses to leave the field.
80th minute: Noelle scores the clinching goal.
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Post by soccerdad23 on Feb 27, 2014 22:52:05 GMT -6
78th minute: BF's #6 Noelle Higginson goes down with leg cramps. Although she gets back up, it's obvious she can barely run. 79th minute: Coach Ferrand has a sub up and ready to go in for Noelle. Noelle makes a "kill that idea" hand signal and refuses to leave the field. 80th minute: Noelle scores the clinching goal. Pure warrior... Nothing less from her! And to be more accurate... Noelle gave coach the double barrel lusher special hand signal!..... Just kidding! :-) |
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Post by vistajay on Feb 27, 2014 23:46:48 GMT -6
St. Thomas More is a great team and brought a raucous crowd with them. Franklin overcame key defensive injuries this year but still repeats as undefeated LA state champs. Congrats to the senior laden Falcon back line that sometimes bent but never broke!
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Post by backofthenet on Feb 28, 2014 1:16:27 GMT -6
A lot of talk about Ben Franklin's attackers but their back line and Goal Keeper have recorded shut outs in the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final.. Give them some credit for their performances...They must be doing something right...
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Post by stmparent on Feb 28, 2014 9:40:16 GMT -6
Goal! 40th minute. BF counters, Alex Thomas gets the pass. Defense was pretty good, but she had just enough room to unleash a right footed shot from the top of the box. Keeper dove to her right but couldn't get there. BF with the dagger! 80th minute goal from #6. Sliced through a couple of defenders. Magical goal. That'll seal it.
I would like to propose a new rule that championship games play 39 minute halves.
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Post by soccerdad23 on Feb 28, 2014 10:09:01 GMT -6
Goal! 40th minute. BF counters, Alex Thomas gets the pass. Defense was pretty good, but she had just enough room to unleash a right footed shot from the top of the box. Keeper dove to her right but couldn't get there. BF with the dagger! 80th minute goal from #6. Sliced through a couple of defenders. Magical goal. That'll seal it.
I would like to propose a new rule that championship games play 39 minute halves.
That's Funny! :-) Our girls were thoroughly impressed with the play of STM not that they expected anything less but WOW! I don't know what y'all feeding those girls out west... But we need some.... Sure we'll be seeing you all again next year! |
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Post by Timbertwin on Feb 28, 2014 13:49:13 GMT -6
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Post by stmparent on Feb 28, 2014 15:14:11 GMT -6
That's Funny! :-) Our girls were thoroughly impressed with the play of STM not that they expected anything less but WOW! I don't know what y'all feeding those girls out west... But we need some.... Sure we'll be seeing you all again next year!
Thanks for the kind words. We are definitely looking forward to a rematch.
I was truly impressed with Ben Franklin as a team. By all accounts, they were outplayed for 78 minutes, but they still found a way to win. That is the mark of a champion.
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Post by alto1smom on Feb 28, 2014 16:48:22 GMT -6
The match was a great one, but I would have to disagree that BF was outmatched. The art of winning sporting contest is to exploit your opponents weaknesses and equalize their strengths. I know the reporters, coaches and parents don't mean to offend, but BF's defense has not giving up a goal to these much stronger, well rounded, club player infested teams. Does that mean that these teams are just not as good as people think they are since the BF's defense is so weak and poor and SHUT everyone except Bolton out? Hmmmm
If teams are that much better it should be like taking candy from a baby. Please understand my snippy response is because some of these posts truly sound like you are saying BF only has a couple good players and the rest of the team is, well RUBBISH?
Loved the fans from STM and the players as well. It was inspirational to watch the competitors perform on the field. The stands were filled with supporters including some amazing future soccer players that watched with admiration to quote,"These teams are phenomenal, do you think I will be that good one day?" The largest highlight were the girls hugging each other after the game. Great job and hope to see you all know who you are in MAY at the FLY!!
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Post by sokerfan on Feb 28, 2014 23:59:58 GMT -6
Alto1smom said,
The match was a great one, but I would have to disagree that BF was outmatched. The art of winning sporting contest is to exploit your opponents weaknesses and equalize their strengths. I know the reporters, coaches and parents don't mean to offend, but BF's defense has not giving up a goal to these much stronger, well rounded, club player infested teams. Does that mean that these teams are just not as good as people think they are since the BF's defense is so weak and poor and SHUT everyone except Bolton out? Hmmmm
Stmparent said,
I was truly impressed with Ben Franklin as a team. By all accounts, they were outplayed for 78 minutes, but they still found a way to win. That is the mark of a champion.
Alto1smom,
Outplayed and outmatched are totally different. You can speak for the defense all you want, but the best defender was #8. She along with the midfielder that fed her nice balls all night long kept the STM team at bay. The bottom line is the STM forwards got around the outside defenders all night. The difference is #8 is a finisher and STM doesn’t have that type of finisher. A player like #8 comes along maybe once in a coach’s career. She is a special player to watch. Be thankful she is on your team, because she would have put up more against your defense if she was on the other side of the ball.
In most games the forwards / scorers get all the attention and the poor old hard working defenders are never mentioned. In this case, it should be that way. It was a total team win, with #8 carrying more of the load. Congratulations to the Ben Franklin girls on their victory.
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Post by copaman on Mar 1, 2014 8:48:42 GMT -6
Very well said Sokerfan. I wanted to respond to Altos1mom but couldn't word it as nicely as you did. STM rarely gets the respect it deserves. Early in the boards I saw that their side of the brackets was called the weak side. I think after this final game they sure didn't look very weak. Congrats to both teams.
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Post by Ronaldinho on Mar 1, 2014 10:30:49 GMT -6
Interesting discussion here. I was really glad to watch this one, as it was a great game. All 3 girls finals were great games. Here's my two cents on this one, for what it's worth.
The majority of St Thomas More's team is probably a little better than the majority of Ben Franklin's team. St Thomas More seems to have a greater depth of club players, I'm guessing. As a result, they clearly had more possession than Ben Franklin and were able to sustain continuous pressure in Ben Franklin's half for huge chunks of the game. However, in addition to a greatly underrated keeper, Ben Franklin probably had the 3 best players on the field - two of the best midfielders and one of the best strikers you'll enjoy watching in Louisiana. Sheer individual quality is often what wins you tight games.
So what happened? One of those 3 players came up with 2 assists, and the other two scored the goals. They were wonderful goals - a beautiful spin move by #4 to set up a fantastic finish by #8, and then an incredible individual goal by #6 in the final minute. When both defenses and keepers are playing really well, this kind of ability makes the difference, regardless of possession. Ben Franklin had the individual attacking quality to create something from very little, even if their chances were limited. St Thomas More had many attacks down the wings, a lot of possession, but Ben Franklin's central defense remained really solid whenever St Thomas More tried to find the killer ball into the middle. BF's defense deserves a ton of credit for keeping them in the game and holding STM to few real scoring chances until their best players could win them the game. So, Ben Franklin absolutely deserved to win, and it wasn't just on one or two players.
Honestly, I was extremely impressed by St Thomas More. They gave Ben Franklin absolutely EVERYTHING they could handle. I think STM really surprised those who thought BF would cakewalk. If they had found the back of the net and won the game, it would've been thoroughly deserved because they played really, really well. But I do think Ben Franklin deserved to repeat, only needing a few scoring chances to win a championship game 2-0, after an undefeated season. That's impressive. Huge congrats to both teams.
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Post by soccerdad23 on Mar 1, 2014 16:36:40 GMT -6
Very well said Sokerfan. I wanted to respond to Altos1mom but couldn't word it as nicely as you did. STM rarely gets the respect it deserves. Early in the boards I saw that their side of the brackets was called the weak side. I think after this final game they sure didn't look very weak. Congrats to both teams. I truly don't think the consensus was that either side of the bracket was weak! I know for a fact that BF nor any of their supporters thought that whomever came outta the opposite bracket would be a for sure win.... These girls respect every opponent.... And I'm sure all the players from all the schools do likewise.... I'm sure not one player would say half the stuff that's posted on here... |
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