Quote from: PaulNewman on November 06, 2023, 06:24:22 PM
Some other initial impressions...

Mary Wash better be in Elite 8 mode assuming they get JCU...sneaky tough 2nd rounder for one of the top seeds.

I like Conn's draw..tough for sure with Denison and F&M and then likely Montclair or CNU...but doable for them if they are on.  Not a good draw for Denison who surely hoped for better and will not have any physicality advantage versus a grizzled NESCAC.

I agree St Olaf got a nice draw and especially because if form holds will only have to play Calvin or Chicago and not both.  Not to say that Carleton, UW-P, North Central or even UWEC couldn't knock the Oles off but they should be favored. 

WPI hosting?  Wow.  Amherst has a good draw per usual...and they have history playing Trinity and Amherst isn't a team that UST is going to intimidate in the least.

Midd I think has a tough draw.  Doable, but tough.  CWRU or Hobart might upset Cortland but Midd would be favored against Cortland too.  Can the Panthers concentrate on a very tough 2nd round tilt (Hopkins or Babson) and not think about who they possibly could meet in the Elite 8?

Tufts will like their draw and if each wins a couple the drumbeat for finally getting Messiah vs Tufts will grow louder.  Would that match happen in Grantham or is there a conflict with the women? 

Best 1st round matchups?  Wash Coll vs Otterbein, Wartburg vs GAC, CWRU vs Hobart, Hopkins vs Babson, Ohio Northern vs Lynchburg, W&L vs West Conn.....honorable mentions to Conn vs Denison, Carleton vs Pac Lutheran, North Central vs UWEC, Colorado Coll vs Oglethrope, Oneonta vs Catholic.

PN, thanks for the insight and initial impressions. Curious to hear your thoughts on Kenyon's draw and their chances this time around? Certainly a familiar face for Coach Wall in the first round, as he faced Dominican just two years ago at St. Olaf.

And North Central (MN) looks to continue their season as they appear on the bracket to be lining up against UW-Eau Claire. Kidding of course, but comical how this team continues to appear randomly(?) throughout NCAA's rankings, materials, etc.

Additionally, I'd be curious to hear any thoughts from the group on if there were any teams you felt were robbed of a bid and vice versa. Looking forward to the tourney!

Quote from: Falconer on October 18, 2023, 09:22:07 PM
Wheaton getting it done vs winless Augustana, 2-0 at the half. Watching it live at Joe Bean Field, since I happen to be in the area for a few days. Hard to tell just how good they are, since their opponents aren't, but IMO number 7 (Johnson) is a stud. Fast, quick, fearless, smart, and aggressive. He'd be all-conference in the MAC—I haven't seen anyone not playing for Messiah in the conference who's better. An Illinois HS player, he was apparently all-state and I believe it.

Wheaton's two goals came off great balls into the box, the first for a leaping one-timer and the second for a header. They dominated possession, but that was to be expected. I wish I could be here for the Saturday game vs NPU. The way both teams have been playing, I give Wheaton the nod.

Johnson making an impact again tonight as Wheaton leads North Park 3-1 at Joe Bean. He drew the penalty on the first goal and has scored the other two. Wonderful strike on the goal from him that put Wheaton up 2-1 - he brought a long ball down nicely on his thigh and smashed a left footed volley past the keeper.

Quote from: Coach Jeff on September 27, 2023, 11:50:21 AM

Quote from: Midwest Fan on September 26, 2023, 04:01:07 PM
Curious, is anyone able to explain how North Central University (not North Central College, #14) is still receiving votes after 3 (bad) losses and a tie? They've seemed to stay in RV throughout the season thus far... fully aware I might be missing something here. And I've seen the noise around taking these rankings with a grain of salt. Still, this one just seems... perplexing.

North Central (IL) is 9-1 on the season and they play in the CCIW DIII.  Should not be perplexing at all.  They do not have 3 losses or a tie.  Check out this team's information.  I believe you are looking at North Central UNIVERSITY in MN not North Central College in IL.

Thanks, sorry if I wasn't clear. I am looking at and talking about North Central University in MN. If you take a look at the below link, North Central UNIVERSITY has been in the "Also receiving votes" category for the past 3 weeks now. Maybe the first week makes sense, since they started 3-0. But still in RV? That is perplexing, because to me that means they are on the cusp of making the top 25. Which doesn't make sense given their history and recent results that I outlined.

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-diii-men/

Curious, is anyone able to explain how North Central University (not North Central College, #14) is still receiving votes after 3 (bad) losses and a tie? They've seemed to stay in RV throughout the season thus far... fully aware I might be missing something here. And I've seen the noise around taking these rankings with a grain of salt. Still, this one just seems... perplexing.

Not sure "early season" is accurate still here, however, exciting matchup today with Carleton against St. Olaf at 4pm CT. Carleton is 9-0 and has not given up a goal since their first game on Sep. 1. Might not have had the hardest schedule, but definitely respectable and includes impressive shutout wins against Gustavus and North Central. St. Olaf on the other hand, looks to continue their success after having a tough start to the season (albeit against a tough set of opponents).

Messiah down 1-0 to Salisbury off a nice free kick... the first goal conceded by them this year. The Sea Gulls aren't backing down one bit.

Curious if anyone else caught the end of the Brandeis vs. Bridgewater State game last night. With the game at 1-1 and just over a minute remaining, 10-man Bridgewater seemingly capitalized on a fanned clearance by the Brandeis goalkeeper. Bridgewater collected the loose ball at the end line and passed it across to a wide open player that tapped it in, for what everyone thought to be a sure game winner. The player that scored was clearly behind the ball/passer. However, after a brief debate, the refs called it offsides to keep the game at a draw. BSU coaches/players were visibly (and reasonably) upset and the BSU recap even gave its two cents, calling it "questionable".

https://www.bsubears.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/releases/20230912wr89ee