St. Thomas Aquinas 3 Newman 1

[q]

STA moves on to play the winner of Teurlings and Episcopal-BR.

[timaeus]

Guess that 4-0 STA win over Newman earlier this season wasn't a fluke.

This is just more evidence that when Newman doesn't play at home, they have serious trouble. Newman's record at home the past 20 years is incredible. Wouldn't surprise me if it's near 90% win rate. But take them away from home against decent competition, and I have a feeling that winning % drops below 50.

[Formerly Ole School]

The afternoon was the perfect, field was pristine, crowd was big, loud and supportive. Just a great setting for a high school quarter final soccer game. Newman played very high pressure for most of the game and took the lead 1-0 about 20 minutes into the first half. STA answered about 10 minutes later and never looked back. That game was one of the most competitive soccer games I have had the pleasure of watching in a long time. STA is a team to watch. They are very skilled when attacking and the defense looks as if they have played together for some time. I have not read much about STA on this board, but I saw first hand them frustrate the Newman possession and attack time after time. Congrats STA.

[stafalcon4show]

so to all the teurlings ppl. that were @ the game. what do you have to say a/b STA-vs-Newman game?

[foxtrot]

The better team didn't win... shotcount said it and newman dominated most of the game.. Newman cracked up basically.. oh and *4* that was cute to point at the guys along the fence after the 3rd goal

[lakeview]

I'll bet they were pointing back. With both hands.

[nolaball]

May be. Shots and possession weren't enough. Didn't get it done today. It wasn't the field. Well done StA.

[foxtrot]

i found that neither team really wanted to win.. idk what it was but neither 1 had the drive to want* to win

[q]

Congrats to St. Thomas Aquinas, but they are going to have to play at their best and Teurlings is going to have to have a bad game for STA to win.

[stafalcon4show]

well, Mr. Cute boy a.k.a. foxtrot, the better team did win, yes shotcount showed they had more shots on goal (although their shots weren't really good looks)..... but if you would have looked right above the shot count, you would have seen that it said STA:3 Newman:1 so plz tell me a/b this coulda, woulda, shoulda b.s. of how the better team didn't win? and idk what you were talking a/b later that neither team wanted to win, b/c we were down 1-0, battled back and got back in it before half 1-1, and in the second half our midfield worked their tails off to not let them control it like they did in the first half. So please, please, once again tell me where you saw that neither team didnt want to win? b/c Newman played very hard too...
and for the record, im guessing your from TCH, #4 pointed @ yall and said, "see yall in the semis"

[biome22]

Great job STA you were clearly the better team twice. Sounds like a fantastic game. Good luck to you in the semis vs. Episcobal or Teurlings!

[flat3]

Wow. I have to admit that I was surprised with the result, but pleasantly so. I liked STA's playing style and they are one of my favorite teams.
Congratulations, and good luck against either TC or EHS.

[foxtrot]

STAfalcon.. it was just a slow game from the beginning... i even talked to the ref after the game and asked him if he noticed that neither team wanted the win more than the other 1... maybe both teams just wanted it the same amount and i didnt realize which 1 wanted it more.. idk (i'm prolly wrong tho)

[stafalcon4show]

i mut say that we did start off very slow, and in the first half Newman's midfield dominated us

[thesim]

Well first, I am not surprised at all that STA took this one 3-1. I've never seen Newman play but STA is also one of my favorite teams to play and watch. I can't say that they have the potential to beat Teurlings or St. Louis but they will deffinately give them a hard time. Their overall skill of players are decent but they have SPEED SPEED SPEED every year. Congrats to St. Thomas Aquinas for a big win and a big statement.

[northshoreobserver]

Was at the game today. Newman did not generate any offense. Never put any pressure on STA defenders. Could have been because STA defenders stayed home and collapsed on the ball carrier. Saw many open Newman attackers but they weren't allowed to switch to them. On the other hand STA took advantage of the scoring opportunities they had and ended up with better result. The score speaks for itself. Good Luck STA.

[timerman]

Both teams played very hard. I wasn't watching a slow game.

STA was under heavy pressure for the majority of the first half and were truly fortunate to be tied at intermission. STA's defense did a very good job, except they cleared the ball straight down the middle, time and time again, right back to Newman to repeat the need for a defensive stop, over and over. The right midfielder for STA was WIDE OPEN the entire game, yet the ball wasn't played to him.

The third goal came near the end of the game when the Newman gk was pressured by the STA striker as the keeper was picking up the ball in the box. He took a step or two, dropped the ball accidentally, then picked it up. STA was awarded an indirect kick inside the box. STA touched the ball down quickly before Newman was ready. The ball was passed into the middle and hammered home. Nice finish.

If STA can reduce the "long ball" and possess the ball better they might win state.
However, I was told by one of the parents that they had similar problems against E.D.White last week.

Hey, a win is a win and hopefully STA can continue to do so.

[esungoal4]

congrats to sta and good luck in the semis

[northshoreobserver]

You are right about the fact that Newman was in STA's half of the field in the first half. They just didn't do anything with it. You are absolutely right about the fact that STA cleared right back to Newman only to have to do it all over again. They had open players to go to. A good coaching point for STA if they listen to us! Good Luck STA!

[loveofthegame]

maybe STA is real, if they beat teurlings then i will say they can win it all, until then congrats on the win over newman