Honesty is always appreciated. And stop hijacking the MD thread to try and boost the VA side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS I know there's at least one WS VA hater and verified sock puppet on this forum, I get it.

I gave Spirit MD the credit due in having the edge in skill, and explained why. The style of play was essentially the same, as I stated, regardless that one side executed it a little better than the other. For sensible folks on this forum, they played the same style and you can review the scorelines on the USSDA site for yourselves.

So that's your defense every time someone criticizes WS VA? Nice cop out. The only close game was from the McLean 05 team WS VA inherited. Gloss it over as much as you like.

Ummm, the person essentially agreed with you and simply pointed out where people can look up the scores if they are interested.

Spirit VA bows to your superiority. Oh mighty MD Spirit, we are all better just for having you in the world.

Feel better now?

Anonymous wrote:A loss by one or two goals is certainly not a blowout.

Good job Spirit VA!!!

Congrats to the U14 McLean/Spirit team for the one goal loss. And you clearly didn't watch any of the other teams play.

I read an interesting comment from RSD about a different club, but it is a good universal that fits here:

"All that said -- if they have teams that are clearly not competitive at whatever level, it's ... OK, maybe not a *red* flag but certainly a yellow one. It either means the coaches are deluded about the progress of their kids (something I've seen time and time again elsewhere) or that they're simply not able to bring these kids up to whatever standard they're seeking."

A loss by one or two goals is certainly not a blowout.

Good job Spirit VA!!!

Anonymous wrote:PS I know there's at least one WS VA hater and verified sock puppet on this forum, I get it.

I gave Spirit MD the credit due in having the edge in skill, and explained why. The style of play was essentially the same, as I stated, regardless that one side executed it a little better than the other. For sensible folks on this forum, they played the same style and you can review the scorelines on the USSDA site for yourselves.

So that's your defense every time someone criticizes WS VA? Nice cop out. The only close game was from the McLean 05 team WS VA inherited. Gloss it over as much as you like.

PS I know there's at least one WS VA hater and verified sock puppet on this forum, I get it.

I gave Spirit MD the credit due in having the edge in skill, and explained why. The style of play was essentially the same, as I stated, regardless that one side executed it a little better than the other. For sensible folks on this forum, they played the same style and you can review the scorelines on the USSDA site for yourselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In watching the games this weekend between MD and VA, the teams play very similar styles and there really wasn't that much difference between the teams at each age group. The games were competitive, with the edge to the MD side, probably because of the factors mentioned before on these two: Baltimore really has only one option plus many of the younger girls came part and parcel from Pipeline, a feeder to the MD side.

I was actually surprised that the VA teams were as competitive as they were, given all the flak they seem to get on this forum. We'll see how things shape up over the next few years for both, but I'd bet they are very similar in terms of style and performance in a few years.

I disagree completely. The MD teams showed a much higher skill level and overall played a highly technical game.

Guess we'll agree to disagree--the teams weren't that far apart. In at least one game the goals were fluky....i.e. due to keeper error or shots from well outside the area that beat a short keeper on height.

They weren't that far apart across the board, some less than others.

Every single MD team beat every single VA team, almost all by 2 or more goals. And the score line does reflect the level of play.

Anonymous wrote:In watching the games this weekend between MD and VA, the teams play very similar styles and there really wasn't that much difference between the teams at each age group. The games were competitive, with the edge to the MD side, probably because of the factors mentioned before on these two: Baltimore really has only one option plus many of the younger girls came part and parcel from Pipeline, a feeder to the MD side.

I was actually surprised that the VA teams were as competitive as they were, given all the flak they seem to get on this forum. We'll see how things shape up over the next few years for both, but I'd bet they are very similar in terms of style and performance in a few years.

I disagree completely. The MD teams showed a much higher skill level and overall played a highly technical game.

In watching the games this weekend between MD and VA, the teams play very similar styles and there really wasn't that much difference between the teams at each age group. The games were competitive, with the edge to the MD side, probably because of the factors mentioned before on these two: Baltimore really has only one option plus many of the younger girls came part and parcel from Pipeline, a feeder to the MD side.

I was actually surprised that the VA teams were as competitive as they were, given all the flak they seem to get on this forum. We'll see how things shape up over the next few years for both, but I'd bet they are very similar in terms of style and performance in a few years.

I don't know why Baltimore does not have its own ECNL/DA option.

Spirit's MD teams at the U14 and U15 age groups appear to be doing quite well so far this season, with the U14's undefeated so far this season and with a win over FCV this past weekend and 2 wins over Arlington. For those in the program, any reason why these teams are stronger than the other age groups? For example, I imagine the answer is "better players," and, if that assumption is correct, then I am curious if there was any reason Spirit has done a better job recruiting those years than the older or younger age groups.

Also, Spirit MD generally seems to be having better results than Spirit VA across the age groups. Is this primarily due to the fact that MD has no other DA options (with only MD United and BSC offering ECNL teams), whereas VA has several DA and ECNL options close by? Or is Spirit MD doing something different than Spirit VA?

Lastly, does anyone know whether there will be any other MD teams moving to DA (or new teams joining ECNL)? Not that I am hoping for MD to resemble NoVa in terms of options, but it would be nice if there was another DA option (or ECNL option).

Anonymous wrote:I think it's unfair all of Spirit gets pummeled because of VA issues. So here's an MD thread. How's the season looking so far?

Are the fall ID sessions for all age groups?

I think it's unfair all of Spirit gets pummeled because of VA issues. So here's an MD thread. How's the season looking so far?