Conference Champs!!

It turns out that the previous conference champs, Mosinee, had played an ineligible player for their first 6 games. So since their were forced to forfeit those games, which included 3 conference games, we were then bumped up to first in cenference! So this is now our 6th conference title in the last 10 years.

What Happened to Fox Valley Lutheran After They Defeated Us?

After defeating me and my team in Regional Finals, Fox Valley advanced onto Sectionals and won there defeating Amery. From there they move onto the Wisconsin Division II State Soccer Tournament in Milwaukee which starts this Friday. Last season Fox Valley Lutheran had placed second at state. Now this year the semi-finals are: Fox Valley Lutheran (17-6-3) vs. Catholic Memorial (17-5-1) and
Mount Horeb (18-2-2) vs. Sturgeon Bay (21-2-1). Winners of these two games will move on to State Finals. If Fox Valley makes it to the finals, all the luck to them.

Recommendation Letter from Steve Heaton

To whom it may concern

Evan Hartwig

Rarely am I given the opportunity to write a letter of recommendation for an athlete for whom I have such regard. It is, therefore, with great pleasure and my enthusiastic support that I endorse Goalkeeper Evan Hartwig as, both, an upstanding individual and a highly-talented Goal keeper.

Evan has just completed his junior season on the Northland Pines Varsity team & a summer season with United Northwood’s Soccer.  I have been privileged to have been a part of Evans development in both these seasons.  Northland Pines had a record of 7-3 in Conference finishing second in their Div 2 Conference, overall record was 15-6-1. The first 7 games Evan kept clean sheets, over all 10 shut outs for the season. Northland pines was seeded 4^th in Div 2 play offs winning their first round playoff game against Seymour after coming from behind to eventually win 2-1. Northland Pines went out to number 1 seed Fox valley Lutheran Away in Appleton in the second round regional play off, Evan pulled of a string of shot stopping saves in the second half.

My evaluation of Evan over the time that I have known him is as follows: - Evan has many strings to his bow that complements his game. He is very competitive and evaluates his own performance constantly. He communicates well with his back four and trusts them not only to protect him but has confidence to roll the ball to play out from the back. Evan has good positioning and footwork, his hand eye coordination is excellent. Evan has good communication skills however emotion sometimes affects his performance when he is critical of himself and others.  Evan has somewhat overcome this part of his game as the season has progressed. He has learned to take advice from his Head coach and myself to enhance his performance the later part of the season.  Evan is fearless in 1v1 situations pulling off a string of saves that has kept his team in the game. His height is an advantage and deals with crosses comfortably. Distribution is very good and he knows how to react when his full backs get wide and open. Distribution to the wide midfield players is quality too when he realizes the time to counter attack after a goal scoring opportunity is broken up with one of his quality saves. Evan can throw the ball half field which has helped his team counter quickly when opposition is vulnerable. Evan punts the ball very well too.

My opinion of Evan is that he is very coachable. He adopts a good set position and stance and is comfortable in all areas of his game. Although room for improvement his technique is quality. Evan is a young keeper but I feel he has the necessary qualities to make it at a high level. A little help with his emotional state during a game when things don’t go right is probably his weakest point. I personally think that he will overcome this as he matures and not to take things personal, but to concentrate on his strengths and be positive.

Many weaknesses can be overcome and I am confident Evan will progress with the right quality coaching that he needs to stay at the top of his game. With that said I have no hesitation in recommending Evan for a suitable College scholarship to continue his love for the game, and strive for excellence of which I have no doubt he will. Furthermore Evan is a strong individual with a lot of willpower to succeed. He has an excellent understanding and knowledge of the game he loves so much. Please accept my endorsement of Evan as a true and honest opinion.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.

steveheaton@blueyonder.co.uk

My personal experience if required

I have been coaching since 1996 Grass roots in Blackpool Uk I progressed my knowledge of the game and took the various licenses and qualifications to become a successful soccer coach. In 2000 I took up a post at Manchester United academy scouting talented players through the youth system. I also still coached at the grass roots local level.  2002  I took a post at Blackpool  football club Coaching within the school of excellence program u5 6,7,8,9.I have been blessed to see so many players develop over the years, that is rewarding in its self. I had experience to work with top coaches and backroom staff to help me progress my knowledge and understanding. I scouted also for talented players to bring in to the program. 2006 I got a coaching position with British challenger sports here in the States. Since then I have worked at many clubs as a professional coach developing players, helping the clubs structure a development program and mentoring coaches to enhance their own personal development.

Yours Respectfully

Steve Heaton

British Challenger Sports Corporation

Thank you Steve!

Season Finaly

Last night we played last years state runner-ups Fox Valley Lutheran and lost 6-1. The score was not a good representation of how well we played. Weather conditions were horrible. It had been raining all day and was still going while we played. The wind and standing water did not make things any easier either.

Ready for a corner kick.

Both teams started out with a hard time trying to control the ball in the bad weather. Everyone was slipping and losing the ball so it did alot of bouncing around in the middle field. About 17 minutes into the first half we get a free kick from near the half and Scott Moline sent the ball into the goal area and Trevor Lazskowski finishes it for a 1-0 lead. About this time was when everyone was used to the weather. The Foxes had a strong return and they had started getting more shots on me. I hung onto most of the balls but I was struggling in the wet conditions. I had a hard shot going far post and I deflected it out giving them a corner kick. They played a short ball and brought it in close and chipped it over me. They had a guy on the far post that my defenders had not covered that chested it in tieing up the game 1-1. Later, a few minutes before half, their striker is on a brake away on my left side and he takes a long touch and I call out "Keep!" and I slide for the ball. As I'm sliding he touches the ball wide of me and I slide into him, taking him out, as the ball goes out of bounds. Since the ball had already went out of bounds before I had made contact with the guy I should not have been called for a penalty. But the ref thought otherwise and a gave me a yellow card and a penalty kick. So I had to leave the field till after the kick and my back-up, Dom, took the penalty kick. They scored and I was able to come back on the field. The half ended 1-2 in favor of Fox Valley.

Second half was not the best for my team but I had a LOT of saves and most of them were really good. There was one going upper 90 and I dove and hit it away. Unfortunately no one was able to clean it and they had a rebound and scored. There was also one point where I had 6 saves in a row. The play ended with me holding onto the ball after getting kicked in the hand and fallen on top of and a shocked crowed. I wish I had pictures or video. It was a tough half and the game ended 1-6. Personally, and everyone would agree, the score did not show how well we played but that's the way life is.

After the game my dad told me the the fans for Fox Valley thought that I was a senior and said that I was fearless.

This what I looked like after the game. I wasn't very happy that we lost.

Oops! Last Post

I just realized that it was regional semi finals that we just won. So we are onto Regional Finals lol.

On to Sectional Finals!!!

Fourth seed Pines (14-5-1) verses fifth seed Seymore (12-4) went head to head to see who would go to sectional finals to play Fox Valley, who I believe have won state three times. We (Pines) pulled through with a 2-1 victory over Seymore! First half we played defense trying to see where their strengths were we had about three or four good scoring oppertunities but we didn't put them away. About half way into the first half they had a weak cross that went through all our defense because of failure to communicate and Seymore had a 1-0 lead going into second half. Starting the second half we picked it up. I had better communication and we gained better control will about 25 minutes left in the game. At 10 minutes left Trevor Lazkowski, leading goal scorer, scores on a cross to tie it up! And with about 3 minutes left Matt Meyer, second leading goal scorer, scores on a left foot, near post shot that he never misses! To finish off the game I had about 2 solid saves to hold us through for the win!! I was so tired from celebrating lol! But it was worth it! Fox Valley here we come!!!

Lakeland Victory!!

We had just got done beating Lakeland 2-0! This is my 10th shutout of the season and our record is now 14-5-1. It feels sooo god to beat our rivals at there home field under the lights on their homecoming game. Oh the feeling is glorious!! Go Pines!