Good Luck Soccer and Volleyball Teams!

SK entered the soccer season ranked 22nd in the state following their first ever regional title last year. The Lady Pioneers haven’t achieved what everyone had hoped with such a large part of last year's nucleus returning. The thing that the girls need to keep in mind as they enter the regional tournament this week is that they have the talent and ability to win if it is something that is in their hearts.

What must SK do to win the Region again this year? A lot of it seems obvious but worth covering:

Pressure, Pressure, Pressure, Score, Score, Score. SK has struggled to score at times this season. In the 10 games that they have tied or lost, they have averaged .7 of a goal. Of their 10 wins, only 4 have come across teams with winning records. It is easy to score in games you are supposed to win but more challenging against the better teams.

Did I say Score? They also need to better utilize their set plays to create more pressure. The conversion of set plays to goals has not been up to the level of teams that win championships. Set plays represent golden opportunities to score the easy way but SK has struggled in this area.

Win Balls Out of the Air: It won’t be enough to run up to a ball and let it bounce or simply get a shinguard on the ball. 50/50 balls need to be possessed and not just touched.

Utilize the possession better. SK seems like they do a better job of time possession of the ball than their opponents; even in some of their losses. However, they need to turn possession into goals. Cross and crash should be a given in these games.

Play Together with Positive Team Chemistry. This is the only way you can win championships. It has to be team above everything else.

I was remembering back to the regional semifinal game of last year. Every player that came off the field left every single ounce of energy that they had on the field. It will take that same type of effort because Regional Championships don’t come with preseason rankings.

Believe in what it says on the sign out front and let’s GO! Good Luck.

Jessie Cooper scored the winning goal in the Regional Semi's Last year. Here's Jessie in the District Final Saturday.