| We wrap up this fall season with the awards banquet on Thursday November 7. As always with the close of the season comes one last "coaches corner" review, this time for the whole season. So without further adue, here we go! We entered the 2002 season with some big goals, but ones that we felt were ultimately attainable. Let's look at what we wanted to accomplish, and evaluate ourselves. 1) No team should score over 7 goals on us this season. Well this didn't quite happen but the MSL was loaded with talented teams this year. We lost to New Albany 12-0, but they were 8th in the state at the time and advanced well into the tournament. We also lost to Circleville by a score of 7-0, but they are in the regional finals and looking to advance to the state semi-finals. No shame here. 2) We need to score at least 15 goals during the year. Well this was accomplished early in the season. We had 15 goals by our 5th game this year. Well done. 3) Our time of possession and increase in both quantity and quality. Mission accomplished. This was some of the best soccer we have ever played here at Logan Elm, and we look to build on this experience with ball possession to improve even more next year. 4) We should improve team communication. We worked together and held together better this year than in the past. But this is never really good enough, there is always room to improve communication. I think this season we really learned how valuable it is though. 5) Defensive organization should be better. This was a real challange with some new faces in the back line, but I am happy with the end results. We earned some shut-out victories this season (4 to be exact) and won several games onyl concedeing 1 goal (3 games). Our goal differential this season was even, and that is as much a testiment to our defense as it is to our offense. 6) Transistion from defense to offense through the mid-field should be better. Again this was a much better season in terms of transition than ever before, but such a vital aspect of the game can never be good enough. Next year we must strive to continue our improvements in this area of the game. Perhaps a bigger concern was our transition from offense to defense through the mid-field. 7) To post our first ever winning record. 10-5-1 in the regular season is far better than just .500, it is exceptional. Considering that 3 of our season losses came to teams that advanced far into the tournament, Circleville, Granville, and New Albany, we did very very well this season from a raw record standpoint. 8) To earn our first ever league victory. It was a hard fought match at Teays Valley, but we emerged with a win. Adding Canal Winchester and Fairfield Union to that victory meant 3 MSL wins this year, way to go! 9) To finish the year out of the MSL cellar. We ended up in 6th place out of 9 teams in the MSL, pretty good for a team that had not won even one league game prior to the season. 10) To have all players running the mile under 9:15, the 100m under :17, and the 40m under :6.5 The 40 times were close for many players, the 100 times were the most dissappointing. The mile times were much improved over last season. Many many players were under 9:00 and we had several knocking on the 7:00 door. The only way to accomplish this task is to enter the season in better shape, and that means summer workouts! Our off-field goals this year were as follows: 1) To increase home attendance: I think this was a success. The girls hard work, good play, and of course a winning record, all added up to more faces in the crowd, and that inspires us to work harder. 2) To foster a more serious and enjoyable approach to soccer. This was a big success, I think we all had more fun this year because of our performance and its results. Kristine and Kara, two of our new players, had a major impact on this approach to the game. Both of these players came to us from a competative soccer background and they helped to instill the necessary work ethic in their fellow players. 3) To establish and maintain a strong team bond all season. There were more problems with this than we wanted, but overall I think there was a bond between us that held together through some tough matches. 4) To nurish an interest in soccer among the youth of our community. As a junior high teacher here at Logan Elm, I can see this happening first hand. There was a lot of interest among the junior high girls, and everyone seemed to be excited about the future of the program. This is a major accomplishment for the long term. 5) To continue our search for a junior high program. We have a coach lined up and are working out the details as we approach this off- season. This is an unbelievablely big step in establishing a winning program that everyone can be proud of here at Logan Elm. Taken as a whole, our accomplishment of nearly all these goals has been remarkable. Our performance this year and development over the past three seasons has been incredible and I am so proud of everyone involved in this program. This season has been a success in every possible way one could measure it. We learned a lot about soccer, about teamwork, about hard-work and sacrifice, and most importantly about ourselves. Every member of this team should hold her head high with pride when anyone mentions Logan Elm soccer. We all deserve what we have earned. Congratulations on a great year and let's all remember this feeling and strive to attain it once again next year. BACK TO HOME BACK TO ARCHIVES |