Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

Same thing happened to the Herndon boys. Their keeper was at an MLS Next showcase and they lost.

That sucks. High school tournaments used to be the biggest thing a teenager could hope to participate in. Now they are letting their teammates down by bailing.

So the player should have let his club teammates down and sacrifice his own college recruiting instead? Or would you rather he didn’t play HS at all, which is a big reason why the high school team made it to their tournament position in the first place. His high school teammates understand and are grateful he played when he could.

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't willing to prioritize your HS *tournament* games, simple: don't take a Varsity spot. Every local HS cuts tons of soccer players at tryouts.

I'm ok with that. If a player is trying to get recruited, prioritize that.

If you aren't willing to prioritize your HS *tournament* games, simple: don't take a Varsity spot. Every local HS cuts tons of soccer players at tryouts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He should be cut from the team next year for not honoring his commitment.

I agree. Missing a district or regional tournament game as a key player is a huge betrayal of your high school teammates.

What about his commitment to the club which is actually helping the player get recruited and where the parents pay money to attend such events. Same could be said for the player skipping a club commitment and leaving his teammates hanging for an important part of their recruiting process.

Anonymous wrote:He should be cut from the team next year for not honoring his commitment.

I agree. Missing a district or regional tournament game as a key player is a huge betrayal of your high school teammates.

He should be cut from the team next year for not honoring his commitment.

They still are, for most kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

Same thing happened to the Herndon boys. Their keeper was at an MLS Next showcase and they lost.

That sucks. High school tournaments used to be the biggest thing a teenager could hope to participate in. Now they are letting their teammates down by bailing.

you even said it yourself - used to be

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

Same thing happened to the Herndon boys. Their keeper was at an MLS Next showcase and they lost.

That sucks. High school tournaments used to be the biggest thing a teenager could hope to participate in. Now they are letting their teammates down by bailing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

There were college scouts at games on Monday

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

Same thing happened to the Herndon boys. Their keeper was at an MLS Next showcase and they lost.

The question was more in the context of "do they not have an experienced backup GK?"

She was wearing a pinnie and didn't appear to have much GK experience. I was just surprised, given Madison has traditionally had a strong team and culture.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Because ECNL dangles carrots of colleges at their NC Showcase - sat - mon. Madison's GK plays for Bethesda and chose to go NC versus play in their regional final. Little do they know NO ONE show up on the third day of any showcase. But maybe she's close to her recruitment window and felt the pressure to play half a game on Monday at 3pm. They would have beaten Yorktown if they had their keeper. But kudos to the field player who did her best. ECNL steals joy and replaces hope with travel expenses.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Maybe that player is one of the back-up GK options. Tony Meola scored 31 goals in high school his senior year. He was the backup GK because he was getting plenty of GK with the national team and on his club team.
In HS one of my teammates was all-district for GK and for defender. He played one position each half.
This area is littered with talented players, and many GKs are phenomenal field players, they just don't want to play GK all the time.

But maybe you can provide more context. Was this for the entire game? Was the game a blowout? Were the other GKs hurt?

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me how/why Madison had a field player playing GK in a regional semi-final game tonight?

Magic