Quote from: jknezek on November 19, 2024, 11:44:23 AM

Quote from: PaulNewman on November 19, 2024, 11:36:00 AMIt seems like money is an issue when folks wanna make money an issue. I thought this year was supposed to be different with NPI carrying a lot of weight (as jknezek has detailed effectively) and the exception being a situation like we have with Wisconsin and Amherst. If Trinity and CMS can go there Vermont, then certainly W&L can go to Williams.

You'd have thought. I certainly thought W&L was headed to Williams and was very surprised when Carlyle popped up on the W&L schedule page.

Then again, W&L's women's team, which I think was the 3 seed overall, is going to Scranton (9) for their second weekend. They are the top NPI in a pod with Scranton, Trinity (22) and William Smith (16). I really can't figure that one out, as William Smith is Hobart, and when W&L's football team went to Hobart for an NCAA game, it was a bus trip. Trinity is a flight either way.

So I'm real confused on why the W&L women aren't at home. Maybe it had something to do with hosting priority and W&L put in to host for both teams and the men had the second weekend, so even though they didn't get it, it forced the women to the road? Don't know how that works.

W&L is hosting the field hockey national championship this weekend in Lexington.

So all of W&Ls teams are on the road ( women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball) as Lexington will be at full capacity.

Quote from: 2xfaux on November 06, 2017, 12:06:51 PM

Quote from: Dave B on November 06, 2017, 11:11:49 AM

Quote from: 2xfaux on November 06, 2017, 10:58:40 AM
Unfortunately I have no idea how to quote someone and am too old and lazy to figure it out but Dave B's thought that Lycoming would host seems very unlikely to me because of the size of their field and the lack of seating for fans.  We shall see and it is a shame because I think they have earned it.  Perhaps, the success of the men's team will lead to some improvements in their soccer facilities.   

FYI- there is a Quote button on the upper right of each post.

Lycoming hosted in 2015, so there is precedent, even though you are right about their need to upgrade their facilities.  However, they are very "land-locked" at the present time.

Who knew?  Thanks.

Like everyone said, they hosted in 2015. And it was a very good atmosphere and well run host site, IMO, given the restrictions. My insight into the facilities is on par with Dave B. The field is surrounded by single family homes, and they haven't even been able to put up lights on the football field, much less the soccer field because of the resistance from the community. It is actually very sad, because it should be a school that continues develop an amazing soccer culture, new facilities would only speed up that process IMO.

On a side note, I'm interested in everyone's thoughts on the top 10 as of now. We should have more clarity here in a few minutes, but the results from the weekend seem like there could be a bit more shifting than normal at this time of year.

Quote from: Falconer on November 05, 2017, 08:58:07 AM

Quote from: firstplaceloser on November 05, 2017, 08:25:48 AM

Quote from: futballfan20 on November 05, 2017, 01:39:48 AM

Quote from: Falconer on November 04, 2017, 10:45:30 PM

Quote from: firstplaceloser on November 04, 2017, 10:33:48 PM
when was the last time Messiah didn't win the conference ..? his lycominng team resembles the way RUC played in 2013. press hard, getting stuck in, and work your *** off or sit the bench. this could be their year for a final 4 run. they just proved they have it. i would love to see lycoming play in the NJAC.

when it comes to reffing the ones who don't "let em play" are usually the ones who "don't get assigned games" i hear it all too often, parents can't stand seeing a high intensity physical game.

As I said the other day, Lycoming had nothing to prove before coming to Grantham tonight. They are as good this year as anyone in the country. It had occurred to me to suggest that they'd fit right in as an NJAC team, but I felt I should leave that hornet's nest untouched this time. Many here will recall the Rowan-Lyco game in 2016 as just another day in the NJAC--is this not so?

As for physical play, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, as long as it's not dirty. But, it should be called for what it is. When NBA teams would play "hack a Shaque," the fouls were called and free throws were taken. Teams knew there would be a penalty for playing that way, and they took a calculated risk. All well and good. That doesn't favor one team over another, as long as the fouls are called on both ends. In soccer, however, so much depends on what a given official will choose not to see. That's not just, IMO. Let a team decide to mug people, if they want to play that way, but let them be penalized with free kicks and (where warranted) cards of bright colors. Not to pull cards when players pull people down or knock them over, without going for the ball (something I saw at lease half a dozen times tonight), is IMO simple incompetence, if not dishonesty. If you think a team is offside, you call it. If you see a team mugging people, you call it. It's pretty simple, or at least it should be. There should be no more hesitation to call fouls and pull cards than there is to call back a play.

Lycoming plays a fast physical game regardless of who they play and that was no different tonight. To suggest a "Hack a Shaq" game or the post in the mid-Atlantic thread of targeting a certain player is, at best, making excuses for a dissapointing loss. While I will admit that the officiating was very poor this game Lycoming scored on two set pieces and played a very tough defensive game and that was why the result was what it was. Lyco's center back #23 who was snubbed of the Defensive MVP in the commonwealth  played a very tough game against Messiahs offense and put a goal away himself. Refs should not play a factor in the result of a match and there were no blatant missed calls that drastically changes the game. Unlike in the first match up in Williamsport where the ref missed two potential hand balls in the box and a Lycomings forward getting kicked in the face on a clear goal scoring opportunity. I understand opposing fan bases will always disagree on calls throughout the game. But Lycoming plays hard, not dirty and there is a big difference. Either way hopefully both teams will be playing for the next couple weeks and who knows there might be a chapter 3.

that type of play is mistaken as dirty. there are very few teams that actually go out there and try to hurt you or play dirty. we dealt with it all year

If you read my words carefully, you will see that I made no accusation that anyone on Lycoming's team last night was trying to hurt anyone. Had I concluded that from seeing the game, I would have said so in clear, unambiguous language, and I'd have identified players by number. I have seen that--probably all of us have--but I certainly didn't see it last night. Nor did I expect to. That's all for the good.

However, there were numerous cheap shots, in which people were run over, pulled down, or pushed down in ways that did not simply result from going for the ball--in several instances, the ball itself just wasn't part of the act. Many of those plays were seen by the officials and simply ignored. My anger was directed at the officiating, and properly so. A decent job of officiating can stop that stuff entirely or mostly, but such competence wasn't on display last night. That's all for the bad.

I don't want to comment on the officiating too much because it is hard to say from a biased perspective. But I do want to point out on play in the first half, if I believe correctly. It was in the middle of the field on Lycoming's half and one of the Messiah players went two feet, studs up, straight through one of the Lycoming players. It is not the actual act that got under my skin perhaps because Lycoming admittedly had some hard slide tackles as well... but the fact that the ref didn't give clear yellow, and on a different day a possible red. The ref also proceeded to joke and laugh and then fist bump the Messiah player. Through the own admittance of the Messiah commentators it was a very unprofessional passage of play. I didn't even think much of it until the Messiah commentators pointed it out, and fair play to them for being unbiased for that one play.

My point being there were uncalled plays both ways. Yes, Lycoming is very physical and isn't afraid to take a card... but it is never out of intent to hurt another player. I can promise you that and to say that is a unfair and unknowledgeable because no one knows these kids well enough to make that kind of strong statement. 

They went into Grantham and played their game. They didn't allow Messiah to get into a rhythm and it was the key to their victory. On the point that they sat in after the first 2 goals... DUH!!!! That's how they play! Defend and press un-relentlessly, get a goal, defend some more and wait for the opponent to expose themselves trying to go forward, and score more on their deadly counter. They are not concerned with possession or making 1,000 passes, they care about WINNING.

Congrats to Lycoming! Can't wait to possibly see this as a rematch in a final 4 or elite 8 game!

You are correct D3soccerwatcher. I intended to include this years result with out actually doing it. In regards to the 2013 stats, you are right, Messiah did dominate Lycoming on the stat sheet. But at the end of the day Lycoming raised a conference banner and Messiah didn't. I already know someone will come back with, but they won the National Championship. And that is true too and I do not disagree with their dominance. It was arguably the best Messiah team of all time, or atleast contained the best class.

My point being, in the playoffs it doesn't matter what the stats are, all that matters is who moves on and who ends their season. Thankfully for the enjoyment of the NCAA tournament both of these teams should still be playing regardless of tonights result. But for both of these teams this has to feel like a late round tournament game.

I already can't wait for the game to start! It is a chance for Lycoming to right the ship after an unfortunate detour last year and show the country that they are legit. And for Messiah this is a real strain on their dominance within the Mid-Atlantic and even within the conference. I think both teams will have a little bit extra in the tank tonight with what is at stake of the legacies of these programs. 56 years Lycoming went with out a conference title and now 2/4 since Gibboney signed on. And for Messiah the 7 year stretch on conference titles was interrupted by Lycoming back in 2013 and they are the only teams to have won since, can Messiah put themselves firmly back in the drivers seat of the league.... oh I am so excited!

Quote from: Falconer on November 02, 2017, 10:34:39 AM

Quote from: Mid-Atlantic Fan on November 02, 2017, 08:05:09 AM
In the end we all get the rematch that everyone has been waiting and hoping for! On Saturday, Messiah will host Lycoming in what will certainly be a hotly contested match. I am interested to see how the Warriors will play on Messiah's grass although they have already won in Grantham in the past, but that has to be advantage to the Falcons. I anticipate another well played game and this will be great preparation for both teams before entering the NCAA tournament.

As I said a few weeks ago, Lycoming has nothing to prove, and this year might be their best team ever--I'll let their fans sort that out if they wish. They certainly have a decent chance to win the automatic bid on Saturday. They beat Messiah twice in 2015, denying the Falcons an NCAA bid for the first time this century. But, both of those games were in Williamsport, and the Falcons were very, very young--it was the youngest Falcon team this century, with (at one point or another) as many as five freshman starters and usually four. Those guys are now juniors, and the seniors on this squad are better than the seniors from 2015. (I'm just doing an eyeball comparison, not dissing the very fine young men from the 2015 class.) Lycoming also won the 2013 AQ in Grantham, against one of the greatest Falcon teams ever (in my opinion, either the second or third greatest). But, that game was a scoreless tie decided 5-4 in PKs, not a victory for Lycoming. So, I can't recall Lycoming ever winning in Grantham. I'm sure someone will provide chapter and verse if I my memory has failed--not that I would be too surprised about that.

I too expect a really good game that will prepare both teams well for the tournament. Messiah will get a high seed unless they lose big, which no one expects. Lycoming is also a lock, and if they win they should also have a high seed. That's very unusual in Commonwealth history, actually, and speaks awfully well for the conference and also for the future of Falcon soccer. It's always good to have dangerous opponents in your conference. We probably all agree on that.

I know I don't do predictions, but this time I will. 2-1 Falcons in regulation.

Hi all, I'm usually just a content bystander to these posts, but I thought I'd add my two cents for this game... This is most certainly one of the best teams that Lycoming has seen in a while, and it has been building for the past 5 years. Let's not forget that 5 years ago Lycoming was picked to finish 9th in the CONFERENCE and now they are considered the main rival within the conference! And while you are right that the semi-final game against Messiah in 2013 wasn't a "W" in the official stats, they did eliminate Messiah from the conference title contention and end a 7-year run (I believe) of conference titles. Counting that as a "W" for the purpose of this post, the head to head since 2013 is Messiah: 4 and Lycoming: 3 wins.

While Lycoming does get a chance to play Messiah every year at least once, I'd be interested to know if there is any team in the country that has come close to that kind of record against the Falcons over that span.

On the semi-final game, I think Mid-Atlantic Fans analysis was pretty much spot on. The Warriors came out flying and didn't take their foot off the pedal even slightly until it was already 4-0 going into half. It reminded me of the game that they played against Leb Val back in 2014 when they beat Leb Val 4-0 in Williamsport. It was an all-around "Lycoming Soccer" game. While a lot of the fans out there don't appreciate the way that Lycoming plays, and I will defer to say that everyone has their own right to that opinion, it is hard to argue with their body of work.
Since Coach Gibboney has taken the reigns in 2013 the Warriors have done this (including this year thus far):
Overall Record: 70-21-13,
4/5 Conference Championship Games, 2 MACC Titles (2013,2015), 2 NCAA appearances (2013,2015), Best NCAA: Sweet 16 (loss to eventual champion-Amherst)

Looking forward to the Championship game... WOW! I can't wait to watch this game. I do give a slight edge considering it is at Messiah, but I don't think it will tip the scales too much. I think this match up might be a foreshadow to a potential Sweet 16/ Elite 8 match-up as well. I see this game going to overtime, and for the sake of the viewers I hope it does! I think it is going to be 2-2 going into overtime... although I don't want to make a prediction past that! Thanks for letting me join in on the convo!