The Spring Girl's 2008 Dream Team selection was as follows:

The Spring Girl's 2007 Dream Team selection was as follows:

Past Miss Soccer (or, in early years "Top Player") Recipients:

Response to "Why No Defenders On Dream Team?":

In an attempt to help others understand how the Dream Team is selected and how the list appears to have only attackers on the team, please consider the following:

1.  The All State Committee that selects the Dream Team must start with the players who are listed #1 on the First Team All State of each division.  If you observe this year's list in each division no defender appears until the #7 pick on Division One; #11 on Division Two; #2 on Division Three (and she was a Dream Team selection) and #2 on Division Four.  The All State Committee is not allowed to jump the players who are ranked at the top to get to those further down the list.  The top players on the First Team come from the rankings of the All Region Team.  And, the top players of the All Region Team come from the top players of the All District Team.  At the District level we have 64 districts with ranked players.  At the top of those ranked players is supposed to be the best player in the district.  Those players are put on the top by the local coaches who judge those players the "best" out of that district.  If there is going to be a change in the Dream Team there must be local coaches who are putting "defenders" at the top of that list.    The All State Committee must work with the assumption the district coaches put the best players on the list.  If they do not, then the All State Committee can't (and shouldn't) jump the ranked order to get to another player. 

2.  Just because a player isn't listed as a "Defender" doesn't mean they don't play defense.  The coaches are asked at the District level to put the best player up on the top of the list.  That player often plays great "defense."   Soccer is not a sport defined by "position" like football or basketball.  Perhaps the problem is in our listing, or asking for, a position to define a particular player selected.  In truth, these players are able to and often do, play all "positions."  But, if they don't, they possess both attacking and defending skills. 

3.  We do have a problem with selecting players based upon stats.  So, that appeals to the attacking player versus the defending player.  The six to eight coaches that select each District Team need to recognize that stats are a limited method to judge and decide talent.  But, until the local coach at the lowest level decides to put the "defensive" player on the board first (with limited stats available), then the All State Committee is limited to those that are at the top of the board and follow that ranked process. 

If you have any comments or would like to share you thoughts on this, please email our Executive Director, David Hulings.  He will pass your thoughts on to the Executive Board who will consider your input. 

Web page designed and developed by Hulings and Associates, L.L.C.