The Observation Deck

The Lakewood Rangers Women's soccer team will take LHS field tonight, 9/19 at 7:00pm against a very strong Brunswick team. The Cul-De-Sac Crusaders (not their real name) area dominating soccer team and the underdog Rangers could use some vocal support, especially after their heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Berea on Saturday.

It'll be a really nice evening to take in a soccer game.

Jeff

What time?

Sorry.....JV plays at 5, varsity at 7.

Jeff-- I, personally enjoy vicariously the enjoyment that you and Joe Ott provide in the updates of soccer and cross country.

But--let me ask you to put on your "sociologist's" hat for a minute.

Is soccer an inner ring suburban sport or outer, exurban sport?

Based on that query, how does Lakewood rank?

Stan Austin

I'll be there, since today's indians game was a day game.

Is soccer an inner ring suburban sport or outer, exurban sport?

Soccer (a sport I love, REALLY) is egalitarian, much like baseball was. Kids from all over play it. Kids in the slums of South AMerica play it....really cuts across social/economic lines. Now, I'd have to agree the the exburbs have stronger programs, more community support (Mentor, Brunswick, Medina), but the real exurban sports are lacrosse, steeplechase, field hockey and polo.

Jeff

To answer Stan's question, the majority of PLAYERS are upper middle class, outer suburban white kids. Therefore we have the political term "soccer mom".

Unfortunately for the NASL and MLS, these kids reach 18 and never again watch a soccer game. Soccer has been "sport of the future" for about 30 years now.

In terms of PASSION and SPECTATING, the game is dominated by immigrants. European and Latin American immigrants still love to watch their native national teams, and their favorite club teams. Most of them do not take US pro soccer seriously, creating another problem for MLS.

Europe and Latin America don't take women's soccer seriously, as evidenced by the timing of the women's world cup. They have buried the event in September, a month dominated by UEFA play in Europe and football in the US. The European/Latin American disinterest in women's soccer has allowed the US and Asia to be much more competitive than in the men's game.

The Rangers Varsity played the Brunswick squad to a 1-1 tie. Hard fought. And if not a victory in the score column, certainly a moral one.

Jeff

"Cul-De-Sac Crusaders"

Never heard that one before.
My sister, who lived in a 'development' before she moved back to northeast Ohio, used to say it was like living in 'a fish bowl'.

The LHS girls soccer team has been blessed with a fantastic coach, Josh Thornsberry. He has the energy, the knowledge of soccer, and experience in coaching to take the program to the next level.
He will do great things with the girls soccer program at LHS.

Good Luck the rest of the season!

My friend and I took our daughters who play soccer on Travel to the Monday night game and I don't want to offend anyone...but there was a father(?) on the Lakewood side that was just mean about the game. He was very vocal...one of the things he kept saying was this was pathetic! We were all very uncomfortable, especially with younger kids there. Does anyone from this thread know who I am talking about? I guess someone from the opposing team (Berea) came over and said something to him. I thought it was embarassing for Lakewood.

Disclosure: I was only there for the last 9 minutes of the game, but according to my friend it pretty much was going on the whole game.

Katrina

Yes.....we all know who this is. It's one thing to root the team on, but it's an entirely different matter to try and quarterback it from the third row. I think most of the kids have learned to ignore him, but I know there have been some times that Tess has complained, "why is Mr._____ always picking on me?"

He wasn't there on Weds., against the Brunswick Cul-de-sac crusaders as his daughter was injured. But, its been an ongoing issue. One of these days one of his rants is going to get the other team a PK.....

Jeff

First...what is a PK? Sorry. Secondly, I was seriously thinking about calling the AD and complaining. Thirdly, I have a 6th grader...will he be gone in 3 or 4 years? Thanks!

Katrina

First, a PK is a penalty kick. Second, by all means call the AD. Third, I'm pretty sure that his last child graduates in '09, but unfortunately, there will probably be someone else to take his place.

Jeff

Thanks for the soccer lingo. Our team will be ball girls on Monday, looking forward to it!

The LHS team has been taking the volunteer ball girls out with them during introductions to stand with the team during the Star SPangled Banner....I think the little ones get a "kick" out of being a part of the varsity experience.

Jeff