Who plays better defense, Midwest or Northeast?

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

I'm sorry Karthik buddy, you are barking up the wrong tree if you want to challenge me on this one. The only thing I can suggest, come see it for yourself. FIRST in New England is a whole different ball game, and i guarentee anyone who has been here from out of town will back me up.

So let's stray from specifics for minute. I was at the Granite State regional in 2004, and I was not blown away by defense. Aside from Team 69's performance in match two of the finals, when they pushed 175 across the field, I didn't get the impression that I was watching a defensive region. I was definitely more wowed during my trips to the Midwest in the late 90's and early 2000's.

I'm not trying to say that the Northeast doesn't play hard defense, I'm just saying I've yet to see anything concrete that suggest the Northeast is far ahead of the Midwest in terms of defense. I mean, for every 121, 88 and 69 in the Northeast, I can bring up a 494, 68 or 48 from the Midwest. My best argument regarding the defensive strength of the Midwest has to be the 2002 game. The offensive way to play that game was to pickup balls, while the defensive way to play that game was to control goals. Almost all the best goal grabbers in that game were from the Midwest. Take a look at 71, 469, and 68.

I guess the only way to settle this is for a few Midwest powerhouses to make the trip east, and a few northeast big dogs to head west.