Women'sSoccer....How Do We Become Respectable?

The Maroon · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Bethlehem, PA

OK...One conversation with Mick Statham and you realize he's forgotten more soccer than the "experts" in the stands will ever know. He also seems to have the correct approach to building a program...He seems like an excellent tactician and motivator. I'll let you soccer people whose experience in coaching extends beyond U10 debate if he's using the correct formations for his talent or whatever else.

What I'm saying is, I don't think it's Mick, but the program is as dismal as ever.

I still remember when Eve ran Magner out of town when the program was teetering on the verge of respectability...She went on to hire Kathy Jeremiah who fielded some atrocious teams. In the late 90's we got a nice player from Hersey (funny the two legends of Lafayette soccer are both from Hershey) and they at least sort of competed...It's been a disaster for YEARS now. We'd kill for Dan Magner's record now. Don't feel bad Mick...You are just joining the long list of coaches who aren't able to get this program on track. I think we're beyond the point where we can blame the coach...In fact I think we can send out an apology to all of the coaches we've blamed in the past.

Lafalum informed me (if I remember correctly) a few seasons ago that women's soccer was being forced to practice with WAYYY to many players for some sort of gender equity reason. Right now we have a roster of 26 which to my unknowledgeable self seems to be about 6 to many...BUt I could be completely wrong.

I realize there won't be a riot in Easton over this, I doubt even Carney has enough negativity to spread around to worry about this program--but this senior class is leaving with a record of 13-50-6. And to be fair to the last coach who we all dubbed a disaster: Mick's best season was with his players. We can all safely agree that we simply can not be good at every sport. I'm OK with this, but this is not "competitive based athletics." That's a cluster@#$%$. I mean is a 30% winning percentage over 4 years unrealistic? Are we just keeping this program around for Title 9 reasons?

Do we have ANY flexibility whatsoever with scholarships? Can we throw Mick a couple bones and get let him go after a couple higher level midfielders? Is this program just screwed indefinitely and in a couple of years we'll find another coach to feed to the wolves?
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Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

I think my comment was directed more at the FH program several years ago. Ann was carrying 30 plus players 10 of which never found their way on to the field in an actual game. They were carried for title IX purposes. It was inefficient and unfair. It makes practices slow and the coaches couldn't concentrate on game prep for everyone. I could say the same for the Men's soccer program.
If you examine what has happened in FH there may be a correlation. Yes there is a new coach who is an excellent recruiter, motivator and tactician... and he has scholarships.
FH could end up winning 15 games this year which included games against ranked oppoments and one (Drexel) that went to overtime ag the nbr 10 ranked program in the country and they have a shot at winning the PL next week. That was with spending the same amount of money and perhaps less because of the smaller squad.
I think Mick is a great find for us but he needs a shot in the arm. They have been losing close games but that habit of losing is hard to break. I would argue the advent of scholarships actually helped to reduce expenditures ( FH now numbers about 20), make practices more efficient, and brought in higher quality talent (athletically and academically).
If football get scholarships I would assume women' soccer and lacrosse would also get them and that would be a good thing.
Outside of that there is a long road to a PL championship.

bison137 · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 206

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

I did check a number of non patriot league schools and 23-29 seem to be the average number. Women's soccer is allowed 13 equiviliancies I believe but since they are not a counter sport they can split them. FH squads look to be smaller.

carney2 · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 1173

Xboreturns · Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 231

Let me point out that despite The Maroons statement about this years senior class leaving with a 13-50-6 record, that there were no seniors on this years roster. Thus one could argue that it is a young team and has a future.

Unfortunately, when you look at their record, you see that the team did not score a goal in it last 8 games. Their last goal came in a 1-0 win over NJIT way back on September 25. And that was the only goal they scored since September 13, making it one goal in their last 12 games.

I'll take The Maroons word that he's a good tactician since he knows more about soccer than me. But if thats the case, I have to question his recruiting.

I did see the Navy game, where we were down 2 goals mid-way through the second half and we kept 4 players back on a corner kick. That didn't make sense to me but maybe The Maroon can explain why it does.

bison137 · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 206

TheRock90 · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Easton

If we can't get a few more wins out of 26 players, why would we be any better with 20 players? I would expect the six you want to cut probably aren't playing anyway.