PUTTING MY CLEATS IN MY MOUTH: Cougars 0, Knights 4 (blog date Oct 25, 2013)

Houston Cougars 0, Central Florida Knights 4 
W-D-L: 1-3-10            14-2-2
October 24, 2013
7:00 pm @ University of Houston

The University of Central Florida Lady Knights were going to have none of that baloney. They hit the grass at the Carl Lewis International Complex with every intent to disprove all the RPI-sceptics behind this blog (see blog entry dated October 18, 2013). They were not about to allow a sub-200 team to threaten the top-12 ranking that they have worked so hard to earn, and they were certainly not going to let some crackpot blogger out there discredit everything they have accomplished to get this far up in the national table. Certainly not after winning the Conference USA tournament in 2012 and then retaining eight starters from that squad, five of them seniors, bolstered by the transfer of junior striker Tatiana Coleman from Auburn, where she earned a spot on the All-Southeast Conference First Team last year. Certainly not after going unbeaten over the previous 13 outings leading to this Houston trip, outscoring their new American Athletic Conference opponents 18 to 6 to sit squarely atop the league standings. The Lady Knights brought a relentless game, possessing the ball overwhelmingly, distributing it all over the field, and limiting the Cougars to six total shots, only two of which were on target, while blasting at keeper Sydney George with ten on goal.

Tatiana Coleman (3) wreaks havoc in Houston's defensive third. Tatiana transferred from Auburn where she made the All-Southeast Conference First Team last year.

Combining bursts of speed with quick smart moves, Tatiana gets by even the most solid defenders like Lexa Green (30), Sydnie Green (12) and Danielle Muñoz (red 3)...

...to either set up goals...

...or score them herself. Tatiana logs two assists and a goal on the final stats sheet.

Cougar keeper Sydney George (00) has a very busy day against the likes of Megan Fish (20)...

...and a high-powered UCF offense attacking from all directions.

Facing ten total shots on target by Central Florida, Sydney George (00) spends a lot of time on the grass.

Jennifer Martin (5) takes on Courtney Dudley (26) and Shayne Clewett (4) on UCF's left flank.

Jennifer, who finished last season second on the team in goals scored, is a critical component in the Lady Knights' offensive drives.

Jennifer Martin (5) gets deep into opposing territory...

...to deliver deadly crosses, even under intense pressure. She sets up Tatiana Coleman's icer in the 64th minute.

Defender Shayne Clewett (4) has her hands full with freshwoman Kayla Adamek (6), who nets her eighth goal on the season.

Lexa Green (30), Sydnie Green (12), Natalie Juncos (26) and the rest of the Cougar defense are under heavy pressure all night from one of the most potent offenses in the country.

Amanda Wilkin (15) escapes to gain space in Cougar territory.

The Coogs manage to threaten. Alexis Weaver (5) drives against Alex Piercy (21), Ashley Nicol (2) and Conference USA's 2012 Defensive Player of the Year Marissa Diggs (32).

Ashley and Marissa anchor a Lady Knight defense that posted a school and Conference USA record 15 shutouts last year, and have allowed only nine goals over the first 18 matches prior to this road trip.

So much for my optimism since the last match on this blog - thanks to UCF, I now put my cleats in my mouth.

(All photos by Kokoy Severino.)

UPCOMING MATCHES OF THE WEEK: 

Friday Oct 25 Grambling State University (#325) @ TSU (#327) 7:00 pm (SWAC)

Sunday Oct 27 University of South Florida (#174) @ U of H (#232) 1:00 pm (C-USA)

Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round: 
              University of Tulsa (#93) vs University of Alabama-Birmingham (#114) @ Rice 4:30 
Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round: 
              Rice (#154) vs Marshall University (#131) @ Rice 7:00 pm
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals: 
              Florida International University (#158) vs UNT (#92) @ Rice 4:30 
              University of North Carolina-Charlotte (#112) vs Marshall (#131) @ Rice 7:00 pm
Friday Nov 8 Conference USA Tournament Semi-Finals:
              Colorado College vs East Carolina University @ Rice 4:30 
              UNT vs Charlotte @ Rice 7:00 pm
Saturday Nov 9 Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Final:
              Our Lady of the Lake University vs University of Texas-Brownsville 
              @ Houston Amateur Sports Park 5:00 pm
Sunday Nov 10 Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament Final:
              Jackson State University vs Alabama State University @ Houston Amateur Sports Park 11:00 am
Sunday Nov 10 Conference USA Tournament Final:
             CC vs UNT @ Rice 1:00 pm
Friday-Sunday Nov 15-17 NCAA Division I Tournament 1st Round @ Campus TBA
Sunday Nov 24 NCAA Division I Tournament 3rd Round @ Campus TBA
Friday-Saturday Nov 29-30 NCAA Division I Tournament Quarter-Finals @ Campus TBA
Saturday Dec 7 NCAA Division III Tournament Final @ Blossom Stadium, San Antonio 1:30 pm 

(Kokoy's Matches of the Week are those which I attended.) 

Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 20 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.

"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)

TWO DECADES OF CHAMPIONSHIPS: Bulldogs 20 (blog date November 24, 2013)

Southmore Bulldogs 20

Twenty years ago this fall, I first set foot on the Southmore Intermediate School campus in Pasadena, Texas. Immediately upon the start of the school year, I discerned among my students an urgent need, and I requested permission from our principal to establish a gang-intervention, extra-curricular after-school program providing 6th, 7th and 8th grade students an opportunity "to strengthen their spiritual, personal and intellectual growth through participation in a global athletic endeavor integrating cognitive and physical challenges within a team of peers." That was and remains the mission statement of the Southmore Soccer program. I wanted, at the very least, to battle the appeal and influence of gangs among the youth in a community with a growing immigrant working-class population. I wanted to bring these youths, boys and girls alike, under the mentorship of a positive adult role model in an activity which I knew would be deeply relevant to their lives. Little did I foresee that this soccer program would develop into an indelible part of Southmore's academic culture.

In 1994, there were no other public junior high schools with soccer teams to be found in the entire Greater Houston area. Being blessed with a private school education all my life, I knew I would find middle school teams to play against in that sector. I thus began to cultivate a footballing relationship with a number of private schools. In the years to come, other schools in Pasadena ISD began to follow Southmore's lead, with teachers volunteering to coach, seeking guidance from me in the establishment of their own programs. The District's intermediate soccer movement was thus born. Today, the Pasadena Intermediate Soccer Premiereship league and the Pasadena Intermediate Cup tournament have become an integral District-wide youth mentorship program grown from the grassroots.

While developing Pasadena's interscholastic soccer program, I continued Southmore's relationship with the private schools, playing a series of friendlies each year, and culminating in the annual Kinkaid School Tournament in November, before our District league gets under way. It is a true honor that Southmore is the only school from the public sector invited back to the prestigious Kinkaid Tournament year after year, facing teams like River Oaks Baptist, St. John's, British School of Houston, KIPP Academy, Annunciation Orthodox, hosts Kinkaid...

Twenty years on, generations of boys and girls soccer players have made their run on the Southmore pitch. I see them going on to stellar high school careers and beyond, many of them becoming the first in their families to go to college, some even on scholarships, many professionals successfully supporting families, some operating their own businesses. Some have been contributing to the community by coaching and mentoring their own youth soccer teams in neighborhood leagues. I hear their news when they come to visit, when they post messages and updates on Facebook, when they pick up their younger brothers and sisters after school, when they attend matches. I am no less proud of them now than I was when they donned a Southmore jersey.

This year marked our 12th Kinkaid Tournament campaign. The Bulldogs went to Kinkaid as defending champions, and left as back-to-back champions, capturing the trophy for the sixth time. Not only did this generation of Bulldogs perform so effectively on the field, with a beautiful style that is breathtaking to watch, but they exhibited utmost dignity and respect throughout the tournament, exemplifying the best representation of everything I have sought to instill in my players over the past two decades. And that is the most precious anniversary present a coach can receive.

Happy 20th anniversary Southmore Soccer!

Southmore Soccer boys, ca. 1994-1995

Southmore Soccer boys, Kinkaid Tournament champions, November 23, 2013

AN URGENT PLEA FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES: A Benefit for Typhoon Yolanda Relief (blog date November 16, 2013)

A Benefit for Philippines Typhoon Relief
Saturday November 30, 8:00 pm
@ The Reggae Bar, 2016 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, Texas 78218
featuring The Presidents and Performers to be announced
$8.00 suggested donation at the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/170702276470564/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Why am I in love with this game? My first contact with soccer was as a teenager living in Beijing, China in the mid- to late-1970s. My father was assigned to the Philippine embassy as Charge d'Affaires. My family arrived in China just after the passing of Chou En Lai, and a political upheaval was about to begin. We were there during the massive earthquake of 1976, and Mao Tse Tung's death, the purge of the Gang of Four, and subsequent rise to power of Deng Xiao Ping. The reforms which opened China's economy to the world which Deng initiated was only about to begin. China remained very much of an insular society, the authorities still wary of foreigners. The only foreign residents in Beijing were diplomatic staff and their families, a few university students, and some businessmen who had begun to trickle in, living in a couple of posh hotels. Our presence was monitored and highly restricted. Foreigners were allowed to live only on several designated diplomatic residential compounds enclosed by high walls and gates with armed guardposts, and almost all the embassies were located in one area of the city. Us kids were certainly not permitted to hang out with any local peers. Thus, the group of teenagers I hung out with were all from different countries far and wide, from very diverse cultural backgrounds. We all attended either international schools run by various embassies, except for the few accepted at one Chinese public school. Many of us could not speak the same language - but we could play the same game. So I learned the beautiful game as a mode of human communication which transcended any and all barriers. This game made me see the world not as a field of conflicting societies, but as people living together. This is the game at its highest form, at its most powerful. 

More than three decades later, I continue to espouse the ideal that soccer players have had the same type of experience at one degree or other, which accounts for the depth of passion with which we embrace our game. I believe, from my own experience, that we can see the world from a perspective far above the barriers that try to separate us, and we communicate with people on a flat even field, where governments and political movements dare not tread and impose their respective prejudices. And so when we see human suffering on the other side of the planet, we don't see them as members of a particular sect, or political persuasion, or religious affiliation, or socio-economic group, or as whatever else institutions try to define us, but we see them as people just like ourselves, on a flat even field, stepping up, moving into space, coming back to defend, marking our woman or man, going down the line, calling for the ball, cooperating together to create something beautiful.

I am now asking you to apply this innate instinct to step up, move into space, come back to defend, mark our woman and man, go down the line. I'm calling for the ball...

You are invited to help save lives in the worst natural disaster to befall the Filipino people. There are no words that can express the urgency of this plea. You have heard the news, you have seen the images, you have watched the videos, you have read the ongoing stories of survival.

The Reggae Bar, 2016 Austin Highway in San Antonio, Texas will be hosting this benefit on Saturday November 30 to raise urgently-needed funds to provide food, water, fuel for transportation, and other supplies. Suggested donation is $8.00, but every little bit helps and will be accepted for entry. Funds raised will be remitted directly to Oxfam America who were among the first to have workers on the ground in the disaster area and have set up an EMERGENCY: Philippines webpage for direct remittance to be used only for this Philippine relief effort. https://secure.oxfamamerica.org/site/Donation2?8300.donation=form1&df_id=8300&gclid=CIjwzc3b6boCFSEV7Aod5CQA0A

In return for your generosity, we humbly offer the gift of music for the soul. We are in the process now of confirming the complete lineup of musical talent devoting time, energy and creativity to the relief effort. I will continue to update this event listing as we get confirmations, but I can promise you that my band The Presidents will deliver a searing set to uplift us all - something we all need during these times. Our drummer Ray Jaceldo, keyboardist Ted Jaceldo and percussionist Caesar Jaceldo are from the province of Leyte, the hardest-hit island in this unprecedented calamity, and they have family who are in the midst of the suffering.

For more information, please email me at presidentscrucial@gmail.com or message me here.

This certainly is not the only opportunity to lend assistance. Whether you make it to this event or not, please continue to find the many other ways you can help. 

WHAT'S IN A NUMBER? Owls 3, Tigers 4 (OT) (blog date October 18, 2013)

Rice Owls 3, Colorado College Tigers 4 
W-D-L: 5-2-6            11-0-3
October 17, 2013
7:00 pm @ Rice University

The U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association uses the same ranking system for all of its sports, including women's soccer. It breaks down to an equation they call the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) based on three factors - 25% on winning percentage against Division I schools, 50% on opponent strength of schedule, and 25% on strength of opponents' opponent schedule. This ranking does not become critical until the end of the season, when a committee looks at it to select the numerous national tournament spots not filled by the various conference champions. The NCAA administration itself admits that this ranking system is not perfect, which is why the national tournament selection committee does not rely solely on the RPI, but also hears input from advisory boards of representatives from each conference.

This year, this blog began to include national ranks in its Game of the Week listing. As the season progresses, it becomes more and more clear that the RPI does not necessarily apply as a good predictor of match outcome. Based solely on current RPI, one would think that a team ranked 24th in the country would easily dispose of an opponent 110 places below them. The RPI could not have predicted that the two co-defending Conference USA league champions, separated by 110 rank places, would go into overtime, and only because #134 scored an own goal for #24, without which this game would have ended after 90 minutes. It is sagacious of the selection committee to consider many other factors in their decisions, and it may be best that coaches pay no heed to it either, for the RPI not only cannot be counted on, but may even be highly misleading. (If we compare these two positions in the FIFA world rankings, would we be so presumptuous as to expect that #24 Mexico should easily defeat #134 Congo?)

The writer of this blog on the other hand anticipated a very heated match between two programs that were dead even last year, their last two meetings won by CC each with a single goal. In contrast, this year's face off was a high-scoring affair, with four lead changes and a golden goal by junior striker Jessie Ayers, her second of the night and eighth on the season, surpassing her team-leading total from her sophomore year when she shared All-Conference First Team honors with Quinny Truong who put the Owls ahead first in the seventh minute of the game.

Jessie Ayers (7) surveys her options as she catches up to the ball, chased by Alexandra Trenary (22). Jessie, who lead the Tigers last year in scoring, nets two, including the game-winning golden goal.

The Colorado College offense gets plenty of service from Kaeli Vandersluis (9), despite the pressure from Alexandra Trenary (22).

Kaeli (9) provides the assist for Jessie Ayers's (7) first goal of the game.

Kaeli (9) launches a cross from the right flank under pressure from Alexandra (22)...

...but the Owls defensive line stands ready for this one - including Jenny Fichera (24), Jasmine Isokpunwu (8), Ashton Geisendorff (16), and Hayley Williams (15).

Jasmine Isokpunwu's (8) presence in the midfield is both an offensive and defensive boon for Rice. Jasmine is often effective even when she finds herself in traffic, surrounded by Jessie Ayers (7), Alexis Long (6) and Sarah Schweiss (black 8). Jasmine logs her second goal of the season to give the Owls back the lead.

Lauren Hughes (7) escapes Sarah Schweiss's (8) slide. Lauren scores on an unassisted drive 26 seconds into the second half to tie it back up.

Katie Uyenishi (27) has a busy night marking Lauren Hughes (7) and Jessica Howard (10). Katie's goal sends the game into overtime.

Jessica Howard (10) outraces Katie Uyenishi (27) to the ball, as Kecia Morway (3) arrives with help.

Jessica Howard (10) finds herself with space before Kecia Morway (3) can close in to serve up a cross for a charging Lauren Hughes (7), double-teamed by Sarah Haizlip (20) and Katie Uyenishi (27).

Senior Kecia Morway (3) is the anchor of the CC backline. A full-on starter at Notre Dame before she transferred in her junior year, Kecia is the toughest defender on the field and one reason why the Tigers finished the 2012 campaign with a conference-leading 0.73 goal against average per match.

Freshwoman Chanisse Hendrix (53) provides the Tigers with an offensive spark off the bench. The only one of the four freshwomen on the squad to see playing time tonight, quick, strong and smart Chanisse is the face of the future for Colorado College.

Rice keeper Amy Czyz (00) pounces on the ball before Sarah Schweiss (8) gets a boot on it.

With seven total goals scored in the match, scenes like this are plentiful in front of the frame...

...with bodies sometimes hurtling into the net.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kate Scheele intercepts an incoming cross up high.

(All photos by Kokoy Severino.)

 
With this junior generation about to turn seniors next season, it will be Quinny and Gabi's last and probably best chance to log a win in the series, while Jessie and Kaeli will look to make it a four-year sweep. This budding rivalry between Rice and Colorado College is going to explode in 2014 - regardless of the RPI.

UPCOMING MATCHES OF THE WEEK: 

Thursday Oct 24 University of Central Florida (#12) @ U of H (#232) 7:00 pm (AAC)

Friday Oct 25 Grambling State University (#325) @ TSU (#327) 7:00 pm (SWAC)

Sunday Oct 27 University of South Florida (#174) @ U of H (#232) 1:00 pm (C-USA)

Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round: 
              University of Tulsa (#93) vs University of Alabama-Birmingham (#114) @ Rice 4:30 
Monday Nov 4 Conference USA Tournament 1st Round: 
              Rice (#154) vs Marshall University (#131) @ Rice 7:00 pm
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals: 
              Florida International University (#158) vs UNT (#92) @ Rice 4:30 
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals: 
              University of North Carolina-Charlotte (#112) vs Marshall or Rice @ Rice 7:00 pm
Friday Nov 8 Conference USA Tournament Semi-Finals @ Rice 4:30 and 7:00 pm
Saturday Nov 9 Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Final 
              @ Houston Amateur Sports Park 5:00 pm
Sunday Nov 10 Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament Final 
              @ Houston Amateur Sports Park 11:00 am
Sunday Nov 10 Conference USA Tournament Final @ Rice 1:00 pm
Friday-Sunday Nov 15-17 NCAA Division I Tournament 1st Round @ Campus TBA
Sunday Nov 24 NCAA Division I Tournament 3rd Round @ Campus TBA
Friday-Saturday Nov 29-30 NCAA Division I Tournament Quarter-Finals @ Campus TBA
Saturday Dec 7 NCAA Division III Tournament Final @ Blossom Stadium, San Antonio 1:30 pm 

(Kokoy's Matches of the Week are those which I plan to attend. Schedule subject to change.) 

Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.

"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)