2012 Preseason Rankings Released of Minnesota High School Soccer Teams
The Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association (MSHSSCA) released their first poll of the season. The preseason poll is taken every year at the MSHSSCA coaches clinic which took place this year on August 10th at Hopkins High School.
The MSHSSCA polls their participating coaches each week and those rankings are then released to the media throughout the season. Generally coaches vote in the first poll on teams’ previous year’s record and on how many players graduated or return to a program. The next poll will be released on Labor Day, Monday, September 3rd.
This year’s girls high school season should be exciting and much like past years. But the boys season will be very different as the US Development Academy has extended its season to year-round training, making any young men who participate in either of the Minnesota Thunder Academy DA squads (U-15/16 and U-17/18) ineligible for high school play. This means about 30 of the best boys soccer players in the state will not play for their high schools this season.
Click -Read More- for the 2012 MSHSSCA preseason poll.
BOYS
CLASS 2A RANKINGS
1 – Eden Prairie
2 – Minneapolis Southwest
3 – Anoka
4 – Stillwater Area
5 – Wayzata
6 – Eagan
7 – Maple Grove
8 – Edina
9 – Apple Valley
10 – Eastview
Others receiving votes: North (St. Paul), Bloomington Jefferson, Prior Lake, St. Paul Central, Blaine, Rochester Mayo, Minneapolis South, Mounds View, Woodbury, Duluth East.
CLASS 1A RANKINGS
1 – Benilde-St. Margaret’s
2 – Prairie Seeds Academy
3 – Rochester Lourdes
4 – Mankato West
5 – Totino-Grace
6 – Orono
7 – St. Paul Academy
8 – Minneapolis Washburn
9 – Simley
10 – St. Paul Humbolt
Others receiving votes: Holy Family, Austin, Holy Angels, DeLaSalle, South St. Paul, Hermantown, St. Cloud Cathedral, Duluth Marshall, St. Thomas Academy, St. Paul Como Park.
GIRLS
CLASS 2A RANKINGS
1 – Wayzata
2 – Burnsville
3 – Lakeville North
4 – Centennial
5 – Eden Prairie
6 – Woodbury
7 – Eagan
8 – Duluth East
9 – Lakeville South
10 – Mahtomedi
Others receiving votes: Edina, East Ridge, Stillwater Area, Rosemount, Eastview, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Park.
CLASS 1A RANKINGS
1 – Blake
2 – Benilde -St. Margaret’s
3 – Totino-Grace
4 – Rochester Lourdes
5 – Orono
6 – St. Paul Academy
7 – Holy Angels
8 – Holy Family
9 – Monticello
10 – Minnehaha Academy
Others receiving votes: South St. Paul, Kasson-Mantorville, Esko/Carlton, St. Peter, Bemidji, Visition, Minneapolis Washburn, Holy Trinity
Comments are closed.
Clearly the Twin Cities Metro schools dominate the scene but it’s nice to see some greater MN teams being noticed.
The MTA Academy situation will cause the EP Boy’s #1 ranking to plummet very quickly. My understanding is 3 or 4 of their best players have decided to play in the Academy this fall.
im interested to see how the landscape of high school soccer will change with the MTA players leaving.
@SouthernMN Soccer – I doubt, on the whole, not very much since it is a team game. IMO, juniors have not affected MN HS hockey as much as everyone thought it might.
Agreed tomASS but I do think it will definitely change the quality over all, especially the State Tournament.
Maybe the best “team” will win more often, as the kids that can take over a game might by at the DA.
@ BQ you could be right and you know I am not always right, but never wrong
……….
I have not seen it at the double AA level hockey during state tourney time IMO. Maybe because the potential of playing in the one of the premier high school sports tourneys anywhere in the US (yeah, yeah yeah, IN with basketball, TX with that American Football) ; is incentive enough for kids who have played together in community hockey to stay together for the “dream”
It has affected some smaller A hockey squads ( privates excluded, who should opt up) when a home town hero that carries a squad decides to head for greener ice.
But I don’t think the MSHSL State Soccer Tourney has the history and heritage like hockey to accomplish the same thing. So I would tend to agree with you.
Change in subject, but sticking to HS and the state soccer tourney.
After this Vikings season the dome goes down, correct? If so, do we know the plans for the state soccer tourney site until the new stadium is finished?
Excellent question and won I hadn’t thought of. When I get some time I will ask around.
@ BQ, don’t worry you have already won in my estimation
Stillwater boys just graduated their best class in years. No way a top 10 team; they will struggle in Suburban East. North SP brings back nearly their entire team, nearly all St. Croix players. Like last year, they will use the lack of preseason attention as a motivator.
Where else do people opine about MN HS soccer.
I saw NSP play several times last season and sorry, but was not impressed. They were mainly physical and it was all about humping the ball forward with long balls. That’s not going to get them in the State finals.
I would like to see Minneapolis SW take the boys 2A crown this year.
I agree that NSP was “…mainly physical and it was all about humping the ball forward with long balls.”
But, when you look at the amazing talent that is gone, either MTA Academy or through graduation (IMHO, the 2011-2012 boys’ class was our deepest in years), kick and run will quickly become the mode to success. I predict a record for breakaway goals this year. It almost worked for NSP last year.
I’m still giddy.
@ BQ – that style has unfortunately worked for Apple Valley for years, and EP’s coach swears by it.
I don’t subscribe to that style of soccer, but at the HS level it’s a style that is easy to insert into a system of play for a team that is usually together less than 10 weeks.
@tomASS i can see the tournament staying at the neutral sites that already exist even though it is outdoors. what other indoor facility would be available with seating? i know the metro area has domes, but which ones, if any have enough seating capacity to house a state tournament?
Apple Valley and Sibley drew 0-0 this week in a scrimmage. Sibley has a really crafty #10 in the middle.
As for future state tourney sites, I would love to see the MSHSL look at a turf field, perhaps at Augsburg or Mac. If not turf, perhaps the U?
How about TCF Bank Stadium?
I like TCF stadium from a facilities standpoint, but St. Paul Ag Campus wouldn’t be a bad idea.
You mean ELR? I don’t think they’d ever entertain the idea of multiple teams playing in bad weather on that field.
Yeah the U of M St. Paul Pasture
I kid I kid
It’s too bad the MN Blog Spot died as it was a good place to get blog chatter on HS Girls Soccer. Any other suggestions? Obviously the rankings on the girls side are primarily a recap from last year’s state tournament. That said, aside from Burnsville which has really bad injuries to their top players, the best teams last year (Wayzata, LVN, Centennial, EP) were led by Juniors and should be excellent again.
@DavidT – I didn’t see the obituary. It was the inane anon parents that should be charged with its death
It didn’t die, it just took a different and a bit more responsible direction. And yes, good old tomASS did his share of potshoting but you always knew who he was. He never hid behind anonymous names and never did the name calling. Agree with him or not, tomASS has ALWAYS been about improving soccer in this state. Right tomASS?
Tim Gibbons is also good guy and I think I can at this point say he is a friend. He still puts discussion topics up for people to post on if they want. You can find the site here:
http://mnfutbol.blogspot.com/
Let me correct my statement. I know it still exists but there is no more good discussion. THe bad apples ruined the discussions. I wish he would reopen a high school thread and allow multiple people that are frequent contributors to delete the bad comments.
Ahh, moderators. Yes, you do need those. And I was glad that he finally got rid of the anonymous comments. It hasn’t happened very many times, maybe only 3 or 4 people in 4 years, but I have had to ban a few people along the way. There is always protest but the bottom line is, this is my site and no, it’s not a democracy where everyone has the right to say whatever they want. Mainly, I just want people to be respectful.
@ BQ – sometimes by stirring the pot to get the sediment from the bottom, but yes ..in general, you are correct.
Name calling is usually reserved for those that cannot put together a rational argument.
Saturday night you can watch a preview of the AA Boys final: Wayzata at Stillwater. Trojans are really good, and Ponies want to go out on top for their retiring coach.
I think the statement, “This means about 30 of the best boys soccer players in the state will not play for their high schools this season.” is a little misleading. Yes, those players are very good players, but SOME of the best players in the state did’t go out for MTA. Some of the best players are part of St. Croix Acadamy, (Stillwater, North St. Paul players are all U16 and U17 SC Acadamy and Premier players) Edina and Eden Prairie soccer clubs just to name a few. I’m sure this hit a few of the top teams hard, which will give some other teams, especially in the south and southwest to move up, North St. Paul only lost one player to MTA. Also, what does it take for North St. Paul to get respect from the coaches poll. I realize it’s only pre-season, but being 18 – 1 last year, ending the year ranked #2 and with only three graduating starters leaving, I thought they would break the top 10. It’s too bad Stillwater and North St. Paul are in the same Section. I predict NSP and Stillwater in the section final, it’s going to be a heck of a game to watch.
Any early observations from the girls HS season? Looks to me like the top teams from last year are starting strong. Woodbury and Centennial have meaningful early season wins (Centennial vs. Burnsville and Woodbury already beating EP, East Ridge and Eagan). Good to see the ladies back in action hopefully everyone is avoiding the injury bug.