Predicted Finish versus Actual Finish
Actual Finish
1) Calvin  --Predicted 1 
2) Adrian --Predicted 2
3) Trine --Predicted 3 actually tied for 2nd Adrian wins tiebreaker based on head to head. Also, predicted will push for 2nd, which is correct.
4) Hope --Predicted 4
5) Kalamazoo --Predicted 7 Though Albion would sneak in at 5.
6) Alma --Predicted 6
7) Albion --Predicted 5.
8) Olivet -Predicted 8-winless in conference.

Overall 6 of 8 correctly.  MIAA Tournament starts Saturday, any predictions?

CWRU has a big game today, to say the least, against Chicago.  I'm very interested to see how they fare. Coach Bianco was by far my favorite coach that we met during my son's round of visits 3.5 years ago. Very organized, he told us and showed us his plans to be a top team looks like his plans are coming to fruition. Doesn't surprise me that they are doing well. Too bad my son didn't like the split campus at CWRU, he didn't like crossing Euclid Ave., what can I say 17 year old boy not raised in the city. I'll be quietly rooting for Spartans today.

Alright, I wrote this down (not here) about 3 games into the season on the predicted finish, lets see if this plays out like I predicted. Predicted conference finish:
1) Calvin-Too Much, great coach and depth. Best Centerback in the country.
2) Adrian-returning upperclass providing leadership, will improve over the season with new coach.
3) Trine-Added JUCO transfer with scoring ability. Improved depth with Senior leadership in key positions. Could push Adrian for 2nd.
4) Hope-new coach with aggressive style will score more than last years team. physical and tough minded team.
5) Albion-physical team, direct style that doesn't translate well against good defenses.
6) Alma-Hangs tough in most matches with little depth, hurting them at the end of matches.
7) Kalamazoo-young roster with no upperclass leadership, will quickly go to the bottom of the standings.
8) Olivet-good young coach but with a freshman/sophomore dominated lineup. Will improve and progress but will make mistakes as young teams do.

Looks like Calvin is still the class of the league. Thought Hope would show more against the Knights.

Albion 2 shots on goal against Trine...like I said earlier good defenses shut down this over the top stuff....not good soccer

Hope vs Trine could be a great game.

Tough league means each conference game will be tightly contested minus the wrecking ball that is Calvin

Top to bottom the league is quite balanced. Expect 'surprises' along the way.

Albion plays long ball, not a fan, good defenses shut this down easily. Lucky if they get 3 shots against Hope and Calvin.

Looks like my 'surprise' team in the MIAA (Trine) getting noticed, from the Midwest Roundup:

MICHIGAN

Hope (6-0-0) has won all six games under new head coach Dave Brandt. The Flying Dutchmen have only allowed two goals overall. Meanwhile, three players – Logan Bylsman, Ryan Flynn, and James Reymann - have each scored four goals.

Calvin (6-0-0) is once again off to an impressive start. Head Coach Ryan Souders' team has scored a whopping 21 goals, with senior Jacob White and junior Hunter Olsen setting the pace. The Knights have solid wins over Millikin, Ohio Northern, and Benedictine.

INDIANA

Wabash (5-1-1) has posted a shutout in each one of its five wins. Goalkeeper Chad Wunderlich has played every minute for the Little Giants. Head Coach Chris Keller's team has wins over Franklin, Earlham, Trine, Fontbonne, and Hanover.

Trine (5-1-0) is off to one of their best starts in recent history. In his second year, Head Coach David Jacobs has the team rolling early on. With shutout wins in their last three games, expect the Thunder to cause a stir in the MIAA this conference season.


Trine- young but with Senior leadership in key positions; added much needed depth;  off to a good start. Only Loss on a speedy, wet sports turf at Wabash 1-0.

Central Region Coaches Poll:

Rank    School    Prev.    W-L-T
1    University Of Chicago
DA Benedictine University 2-1; DA North Park University 4-2;    NR    3-0-1
2    Calvin College
DA Ohio Northern University 9-2;    NR    3-0-0
3    North Park University
DH Kalamazoo College 2-0; LH University Of Chicago 2-4;    NR    2-1-0
4    Hope College
DA Ohio Northern University 1-0;    NR    3-0-0
5    Carthage College    NR    1-0-0
6    Wheaton College (Ill.)
TA Albion College 2-2;    NR    1-0-1
7    Dominican University
DA Elmhurst College 3-1;    NR    3-0-0
8    Albion College
TH Wheaton College (Ill.) 2-2; TA Willamette University 0-0;    NR    2-0-2
9    Webster University    NR    2-0-0
10    Illinois Wesleyan University
DH Knox College 1-0; DA University Of Dubuque 4-2;    NR    3-1-0

Records shown are through games of Sept. 9, 2018

Also receiving votes: Benedictine, Greenville, Trine, Milwaukee Engineering, Spalding

Good to see that the MIAA are nicely represented 2) Calvin 4) Hope 8) Albion and 13) Trine

I understand that the playoff format is changing with the new conference format of playing each team once. Top 6 teams in the conference qualify for the post-season with the top 2 teams receiving a bye 3-6 play for the right to move on. Just curious if there is any predictions in the order of finish in conference play.  The coaches poll: 1) Calvin 2) Adrian 3) Kalamazoo 4) Hope 5) Albion 6) Alma 7) Trine and 8) Olivet. Don't totally disagree but I don't see Kalamazoo finishing in the top tier of the conference. Do believe there will be a surprise team to finish in the top 4 of the conference. Glad to see Ohio Northern get spanked yesterday by Calvin and Hope beating ON as well. Thoughts?