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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
Pacific high school soccer Top Ten, Far East kickoff just six days away edition
Posted May 11th, 2008 by Dave OrnauerNot much movement in the boys Top Ten, plenty of leapfrogging on the girls' side as we approach Sunday's kickoff in the Far East Class A Soccer Tournaments at Iwakuni; Class AA tournaments begin next Monday.
Here we go:
Boys
1. Seoul Foreign (23-0). Season complete.
2. Kadena (9-7-1). Panthers capture season series from Kubasaki; only Monday's match with Kadena's base team remains.
3. Kubasaki (4-10). Dragons come up just short in Okinawa Activities Council season series. Still a solid Class AA final four bet.
4. Christian Academy In Japan (6-1). Last go-round Tuesday with Yokota is all that's left before Far East.
5. Yokota (15-3). Both of the Kanto Plain DODDS boys powers went 1-1 during the week. Panthers swap places with CAJ.
6. Yongsan International-Seoul (13-3). Class A beckons for Guardians.
7. Seoul American (10-5-3). Season complete; only Far East left.
8. Zama American (11-4). Big win over Yokota offset by defeat vs. CAJ.
9. E.J. King (10-10-1). Four-match winning streak sends Cobras to Iwakuni for Class A title defense.
10. Seoul International (7-6-2). Season complete.
Girls
1. Seoul American (17-0-1). Season complete; Far East remains.
2. Zama American (15-2-1). These lofty heights achieved thanks to 4-0 shutout of ASIJ.
3. Kubasaki (10-6-1). Failed to make it four wins in five matches vs. Kadena, but still won season series.
4. Kadena (12-8-2). Huge win in shootout at Kubasaki, rebounding from flat first period to rout Naha-Nishi sends Panthers to Class AA with momentum.
5. American School In Japan (10-1-1). Mustangs still a Class AA title threat if they right the ship prior to Far East; they're 2-1-1 in last four matches.
6. Yokota (14-3-3). See ASIJ. Panthers 0-2-2 in last four matches.
7. Faith Academy (17-1). Vanguards loom as a major Class A title challenger.
8. Seoul Foreign (14-5-4). Season complete.
9. Matthew C. Perry (8-5-3). Season complete; hosting Class A tournament remains.
10. Osan American (14-5-2). Season complete; chance to reclaim Class A title last won in 2006 is next.
Next ratings come after Far East.
Who's your favourite? Shout it out! And remember, you've entered THE "No-Hate Zone." *smile*
Slight mistake
I think Zama is 12-4 Mr. Dave... and about records.... Earlier this season kinnick played CAJ for a league game that CAJ decided to split the team into two squads for. Kinnick won and I'm sure this counted for their league record considering that Kinnick only played CAJ one more time after that. And since CAJ also placed some of their starters on this squad, even though they refered to it as their "B squad" shouldn't it still count as a loss for them? I know it doesn't mean much since it wasn't their comple team but I think it still counts. I mean, not counting that game would be like not counting our game we lost to Misawa when we didn't play 7 starters in the first game (Kee, Johnson, Barrett, Patterson, Kimball, Palomino, and me) haha... What do you think Mr. Dave?
Re: Slight mistake
Dan: I'm aware of the match in question; it was always the understanding that that would be counted as a B squad match and not be counted in the league standings, even though varsity players on both teams played in that match. Same way that I don't count matches that Kadena's varsity plays against Kubasaki's B squad and vice versa. Unless somebody within the league structure, or the CAJ and Kinnick coaches, lead me to believe otherwise, that game doesn't go on the books.
...
Oh okidoky that makes sense, I was just curious about that. I wasn't sure if it was scheduled to be a b team or not...cool...
wow..
this list is very confusing to me..
Zama has beaten yokota twice out of three matches yet they are still 3 places behind them. I think zama boys deserve a little more credit..
Kubaski ranked 3rd with a record of 4-10??
How is this whole list based?
Does not seem to be by records..
Re: wow..
By way of explanation ...
Yokota beat defending Class AA champion CAJ. Zama did not.
Seven of Kubasaki's losses have come against adult teams, Mil United and Peru Nikei. Two quick teams that provide clinics on how to play defense.
Hope that helps.
rankings are purely Dave's
as you can see these are not based upon the standard win loss tie rankings - or actual performance stats of the team, but solely as dave's arbitrary rankings; and you have to take it with a grain of salt. if we knew that we could be top on the list and all we had to do was play and lose against all the club teams and adult teams here -..... a team beats defending champs (who may not have the same players when they were champs) but still ranked over a team that beat them in a series...ranking a team because they finally beat a varsity large school over korean small school teams that do it year after year (especially this year) ....using performance at past Far East as a criteria, but not ranking he defending champs at all.... the list goes on... however now instead of getting mad, it is now a source of motivation for us to show how flawed we think this list is again this year.. but keep it up dave, and especailly what you think will be the key match-ups, thats what keeps this blog interesting and controversial. btw- which Far East will you be at this year?
Dave's the Man
Agree with majoryellowcard that any such list will of necessity be arbitrary to some extent due to the simple fact that many of these teams don't actually face off against each other until Far East. That being said, I can't think of any individual more qualified to make such a list than Dave, and I would be surprised if he's not more right than wrong in the end. Can't wait for the tournaments to start!
thanks
explanation is understandable. thanks for clearing it up.
Well I definetely think CAJ
Well I definetely think CAJ will come out a little higher, they're a great team, plays fast, hard, and shows great sportsmanship, something we could all have a little more of.