Caught the game yesterday between these two heavyweights.  It's great that we're getting these "final four" like matchups in the first two weeks of play.  Emory/Messiah, Messiah/Hopkins, Hopkins/Emory and Messiah/William Smith.  After these four games were played no one came out with an unblemished record.  Could easily see some of these matchups again in November.

Back to yesterday's game.  I watched a game that provided two completely different approaches to the game.  Messiah with their possession and constant attacking style vs. the W/S kick it long to the strong front attacker and hope she can create from there.  Both styles were effective as a goal was scored by each. Messiah did miss a penalty kick early in the game. The last half of the game had Messiah doing more of the attacking and W/S just clearing it long.  Both goalies each made an outstanding save in the final minutes to keep the game even.  The game ended up with Messiah having the clear advantage in shots and corners and for the most part looked like the better team.  Like I mentioned before, it's great that these two play each other and for me it's a lot cheaper than having to travel to San Antonio to watch them play.

I just read where Messiah's senior class finished with a 96-1-4 record, with their only career loss being to H/S in last year's champioship game.  Wow!

I'm not a number cruncher, but does anyone know if there has ever been a class with a better record at any NCAA level...men or women?

Yes, W/S is a very good team, but don't start talking finals yet.  At this time of the year you have to focus on the next game.

The Hobart men were also a very good team and I believe their season just surprisingly ended today.  The point is, don't look ahead too far.

For what it's worth though, I too would love to see a Messiah - W/S matchup again.  The game they played earlier this year (0-0) was a classic.

Jim,  I think there are a few head scratchers this year.  How about a Trinity TX/Hardin Simmons possible matchup in the second round?

There's a good possibilty that the some of these matchups will be better than the final four matchups.  It's a good time to catch some great soccer in your neck of the woods.

I totally agree that JHU is deserving of a number one seed.  I'm a Messiah follower, but without a doubt (and I mentioned this before) JHU has been one of the top programs in the country over the past four years.  It's always a shame that JHU and Messiah have to play each other in the elite eight to see who goes to the final four.  The games have been great to watch, but unfortunately for JHU, Messiah has had the better of it.  Here's hoping they both grab a top seed and end up meeting in San Antonio.  Beware of the land mines along the way though....there will be plenty.

You're absolutely right, Coach Frey is the mastermind and it's a beautiful thing to watch.  I wanted my daughter to play for a coach that was going to be like a parent to her.  I think Messiah was the third college she visited and after five minutes of sitting in his office I knew that this was the guy she would play for.

Well one of them slipped and Hopkins moved in.  Two from the Mid-Atlantic in the top four...as of now.

ja,  well said.  I have a daughter that is on the team now and a son that played three years at Messiah from 2006-2008 (he missed his senior year due a lingering injury), so i have been observing the programs for many years.  You're right though when you commented that it's hard to put into words about how they maintain this high level. You have to be around it for a while and then you'll notice that love is the answer.  One more thing that I have noticed and not too many folks talk about, is that these kids work so hard in their summer workouts.  They do play for each other and they do play for their God, but they also outwork everyone else out there.

Can't wait to read the book.

I agree with those four Jim, but if any of them slip up down the home stretch, then I'm sure Hopkins will move into their place.  That would make things quite a bit more interesting.

I thought so ja.  Without asking your name I'm wondering if I know you.  I too have the MWS crest in my family (daughter).  Now you're probably wondering as well.

ja rowski,

Are you a former MWS player?  I noticed the MWS logo under your name.

I'm sure this will be a great read.  I have been watching both programs for the past six years and it's really hard to describe to people how they maintain this standard.  This book should help with that.  One thing that I find amazing is watching 3,000 people show up on a Saturday night womens/mens doubleheader.  There is a real passion for the game in the small town of Grantham.  If you've never been there, try and catch a Saturday evening game sometime.

2X,  I agree that as an opposing coach I might try and pack it in and keep it close until the end.  What upsets me as a fan is the team that packs it in and kicks the ball upfield to no one or kicks it directly out of play.  This was the approach Widener took this year against Messiah, even when they were losing 2-0 in the final twenty minutes.  It was apparent that their coach was pleased with a 2-0 loss, but he never let his girls really play.  I wonder if during the three days prior to the game if they practiced booting the ball long to no one.  Even in a lopsided loss you can still try to play the game right and improve your play.  No wonder Widener only draws 20 people to their home games.

Messiah just beat Lycoming 6-0.  That is actually a pretty good showing for Lycoming.  I heard that Lycoming played straight up instead of putting 10 girls in the box like Widener did against Messiah. Kudos to the Lycoming coach for playing the "right way"

A quick question for you D3 experts out there.  If Messiah and Hopkins run the table the rest of the year and end up ranked both in the top four in the country, would there be a chance that one of them would be moved to another region so they wouldn't have to meet in the sweet sixteen or elite eight?  It would be a shame that maybe 1 and 2 would have to meet before the final four.  I know it's along way off, but it's a good possibility that it could happen.

Messiah totally dominated Arcadia yesterday.  Arcadia looked a step slow and never had any type of flow to their game.  I too wish that Messiah and JHU could have played their game.  They are without a doubt above everyone else in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  It's a shame that they usually have to play each other for a final four berth every year.