MSL cross-over games come to an end
By Mike Garofola
Last year, Mid-Suburban League girls team managers voted to eliminate cross-over games. The contests were played the day before the league's annual Soccer Bowl. The vote was the beginning of the end for what had become a time-honored way of putting the regular-season to bed.
After the balloting in May, 2018, the proposal went before the athletic directors who supported the decision according to Erik Hauser who, along with his duties as assistant athletic director at Conant High School, is also the MSL Commissioner for Girls Soccer.
IHSSCA Hall-of-Famer Gerardo Pagnani, who won more than 300 matches while the manager at Fremd, remembers the day when the conference was divided into North and South divisions and an entirely different set of fixtures.
"When I was coaching, we played home and away games within the division, and just two cross-over games," recounted Pagnani, who led the Vikings program from 1975-1997 and captured two state titles (1984, 1997) and a second place trophy (1994).
"The cross-over games didn't count in your division standings. The change to East and West divisions was precipitated by the District 214 schools that wanted a representative in the championship game. So they pushed for and got the change."
Since the 2000 spring season, the MSL West has lifted 14 championship trophies. The East has hoisted just five, three of which came in the first three years courtesy of Elk Grove.
Hersey owns the other two titles.
"It was time (for) the cross-overs to end," offered Buffalo Grove manager Pat Dudle.
"For a lot of us, you could be playing someone from the conference for the third time in regionals or sectionals after a regular season game and a cross-over, and maybe even four if you're in the same tournament.
"But it is still important to get a game in before regionals begin on that Tuesday or Wednesday after the MSL Soccer Bowl. For us, we scheduled a game with Glenbrook North.
"I think Tom (Froats) over at Prospect has Prairie Ridge this Friday, and Fremd has tradionally played New Trier on Thursday or Friday.
"It helps from keeping your team idle for a long period of time, and with the end of the crossover game, you can go out and play someone outside your sectional in order to see a difference look and style of play."
By Mike Garofola
Last year, Mid-Suburban League girls team managers voted to eliminate cross-over games. The contests were played the day before the league's annual Soccer Bowl. The vote was the beginning of the end for what had become a time-honored way of putting the regular-season to bed.
After the balloting in May, 2018, the proposal went before the athletic directors who supported the decision according to Erik Hauser who, along with his duties as assistant athletic director at Conant High School, is also the MSL Commissioner for Girls Soccer.
IHSSCA Hall-of-Famer Gerardo Pagnani, who won more than 300 matches while the manager at Fremd, remembers the day when the conference was divided into North and South divisions and an entirely different set of fixtures.
"When I was coaching, we played home and away games within the division, and just two cross-over games," recounted Pagnani, who led the Vikings program from 1975-1997 and captured two state titles (1984, 1997) and a second place trophy (1994).
"The cross-over games didn't count in your division standings. The change to East and West divisions was precipitated by the District 214 schools that wanted a representative in the championship game. So they pushed for and got the change."
Since the 2000 spring season, the MSL West has lifted 14 championship trophies. The East has hoisted just five, three of which came in the first three years courtesy of Elk Grove.
Hersey owns the other two titles.
"It was time (for) the cross-overs to end," offered Buffalo Grove manager Pat Dudle.
"For a lot of us, you could be playing someone from the conference for the third time in regionals or sectionals after a regular season game and a cross-over, and maybe even four if you're in the same tournament.
"But it is still important to get a game in before regionals begin on that Tuesday or Wednesday after the MSL Soccer Bowl. For us, we scheduled a game with Glenbrook North.
"I think Tom (Froats) over at Prospect has Prairie Ridge this Friday, and Fremd has tradionally played New Trier on Thursday or Friday.
"It helps from keeping your team idle for a long period of time, and with the end of the crossover game, you can go out and play someone outside your sectional in order to see a difference look and style of play."