Va HS Boys Final
That was our own Ref on the sideline as assistant referee in the AAA Virginia Boy
s HS final, held at the soccer stadium on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on Saturday, June 8, 2007. Also officiating were Center Ref Jim Conlee, a National Ref from Virginia, AR Keith Armstrong, and fourth official Mel Shabelski.
s HS final, held at the soccer stadium on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA on Saturday, June 8, 2007. Also officiating were Center Ref Jim Conlee, a National Ref from Virginia, AR Keith Armstrong, and fourth official Mel Shabelski.The Ref centered the semi-final game between Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology and Cox High School, which TJ won 1-0. The Washington Post article from that game is here. No mention of anything controversial, which is a good thing if you're the referee!
In the final, between TJ and Osborne Park HS, the opening 10 minutes seemed to belong to OP, which had several opportunities along its right flank with crosses into the middle from deep in TJ's end. TJ had one really good chance early, and the ball found its way into the new, but CR Conlee immediately waived off the goal, seeing a push in the box committed by a TJ attacker. (The TJ coach was a bit peeved, to say the least, arguing that there was no way the ref could have seen a foul in the scrum, a comment later echoed in the press box (where I spent the first half). Of course, unlike players on the bench, coaches, and fans, the referee is watching the scrum just for that sort of action and his whistle was quick, without hesitation.) From midway through the first half and into the second, OP forgot to play wide and TJ began taking over, creating the better chances. TJ finally scored on an 18 yard shot that seemed to go eith
er just over or through the hands of the OP keeper. OP began playing with greater urgency, but several shots went wide, they were offside on a couple of occasions (great, spot-on calls from our Ref), TJ's keeper made a couple of saves, and the game ended with a wild celebration in the middle of the field as TJ's hundreds of supporters stormed onto the field. Here's the WaPo article on the final.
er just over or through the hands of the OP keeper. OP began playing with greater urgency, but several shots went wide, they were offside on a couple of occasions (great, spot-on calls from our Ref), TJ's keeper made a couple of saves, and the game ended with a wild celebration in the middle of the field as TJ's hundreds of supporters stormed onto the field. Here's the WaPo article on the final.I'll leave it to the Ref to describe the experience of being a part of the championship. Watching as a parent was a truly thrilling experience.
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