Got the chance to head to Herkimer this morning for a scrimmage featuring these 4 teams. You can guess what it was like - a lot of jitters, miscommunication, and a little bit of rust. Kids getting their feet back underneath them, playing against someone from a different school for the first time this year. There's only so much you can take from a setting like this. Also, since it's a scrimmage, score wasn't kept - not like there needed to be. Not a whole lot of scoring was done. The "low" scores were also affected by the short "games" - 30 minutes in length per game. I didn't see any team score more than 1 goal in a 30 minute sitting. That being said, we'll deliver some 1st scrimmage grades, as promised.
Poland - B+ (incomplete). There's a reason why the defending NYSPHSAA Class D champions were only at a B+, and it's the same reason they have an incomplete. Just didn't see the full squad. Not sure if they played, but didn't see Mikki Blumenstock (MVT Small School Girls Soccer Co-Player of the Year last year) or Paige Sullivan, their 2 best players in my opinion, out there. Didn't even see Paige anywhere. They were still the best of the 4 teams, from what I saw. However, having those two out there would've put them in a different league. Shiane Irwin has made progress from last year, stronger with the ball and asserting herself much more. She's a youngin too... their defense wasn't threatened much because they were able to possess the ball in the attacking half a lot. Just didn't put the ball in the net too much.
Holland Patent - B. They'll be alright. It looks like they still have Ellie Bortiatnyski, their leading goal-scorer last season. She's got a strong leg and she's strong. I didn't catch a whole lot of them - maybe only 20-25 total minutes. Looked a little jittery on the defensive end, but they play hard, which helps. They'll get better as the season goes on - looked like a lot of players in new spots, or groups of players on the field that weren't used to playing together. They'll be tougher in a month than they are now.
Mt. Markham - B-. The Mustangs are, again, a young group. Not the fastest on the defensive end, teams were getting chances on them. Not the strongest on the ball, but they are fast up top. What they don't have in strength, they have in stamina, and they work. Scored a goal on Herkimer just because they worked harder. Not sure what will come of their season, playing in the same league as teams such as Sauquoit, but there are some pieces there.
Herkimer - C+. Tied HP and lost 1-0 to the other 2. A senior-laden group that's played for a while, they communicate well and shut down lanes defensively. GK Chelsea Jory, however, got way more work than she probably should have. Didn't finish off plays on either end. Would shut down lane and then clear to an opposing player. Had many goal-scoring opportunities and only scored once. They will be tough if they can connect on some of these chances, because they did have many good runs. However, you can't win if you don't score.
We'll be back out tomorrow afternoon. Catch us on the road. Coming to a town near you!
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