I've disagreed in the past with deutsch's sentiments on certain player awards, but in this case I'd say I would definitely agree.  Only explanation I can come up with is that the league office didn't watch the Clarkson game due to the game being paywalled and there being no other winning teams across the league besides SLU who won as a result of Brown's penalty.   As Saint Dad mentioned the SLU wingers and midfield all had a ton of shots on goal that required Potsdam's keeper to make some really nice saves, they were much more dangerous.   I guess by default the league office wants to reward a winning team? Idk.  I just watched the highlight of the Clarkson goal and it was a worldie, definitely deserving of player of the week honors. 

I am curious how the players of the week are actually selected and how much effort goes into the selection?  Back when I played (in the last millennium) I was Player of the Week (before they broke it into offensive/Defensive/Rookie) twice and remember being surprised both times as neither time did I think I did anything exceptional to earn the award. Beyond those of us who pay close attention, I don't think they mean very much and I don't put too much stock in them. 

I also think it is difficult when you try to "spread the wealth" as this can lead to illogical choices, which I think is what happened here.  Jay Jezioro's goal for Clarkson was likely the best scored by a LL player this weekend, but came in a game where Clarkson put two shots on goal.  Having watched most of the game Jay did have a great game, but more for how well he played when Clarkson didn't have the ball.  On the flip side, Carter Kladstrup (Defensive Player of Week) had an excellent game with 7 saves and did a tremendous job keeping everything tight in the back.  Carter certainly turned in a performance worthy of being player of the week. 

So did Clarkson play well enough to get two Players of Week? No.  So when you take the most deserving player and award them (Carter for Defensive) you have to decide to either give Clarkson two awards or spread the wealth.  If you spread the wealth you are looking for someone who showed up in the score line and get Henry Brown, who is an excellent player.  I also think some of these selections are a bit of a make-up for an earlier week where they weren't selected due to having multiple good options for the award. Henry Brown was on the "Honor Roll" the previous week and with 5G/1A in 6 games would actually make sense from a cumulative perspective if there were no standout performances last week.

I can't believe I am siding with SLU on anything, but I guess all things are possible.  I do enjoy the banter between the SLU faithful and hope it continues.  I also hope that Clarkson's impressive start continues and they maintain momentum through the LL schedule.

There are a couple of things at play here with the weekly awards.

First, the "Liberty League office" consists of two people, and they are not watching games to make these weekly selections. That's not their job.

It is actually the job of the athletic communications departments at each institution to nominate for those weekly awards. There's a Monday deadline to get those nominations in, and then decisions are made based on those nominations.

The nomination process is not just clicking a box to submit a name. There's an opportunity there for SIDs to submit a paragraph to explain the reasoning behind the nomination.

I'd wager the Clarkson SID either didn't make a nomination in this case, missed the deadline, or did make a nomination but chose not to write anything in the box.

SIDs who go after the weekly awards hard, never miss the deadline, and write well bring more of these awards to their student-athletes. It's not a question of favoritism. It's professionalism.

I'm watching the Hobart/Ithaca kickball game.  Well, at least Hobart does try to play soccer at times, but Ithaca continues to try and keep it a game of kickball.  Difficult to watch.  I think Hobart is the better team and they have had a lot of hard luck so far this season.  The more I watch a game like this, the more I appreciate how SLU plays the sometimes beautiful game.

This makes sense.  I figured it wasn't the League Office coming up with these based on watching games and I did think it was some sort of nomination process.  The SIDs makes a lot of sense and my guest i that in Clarksons case they submitted Carter Kladstrup thinking he was the best choice and like only submitted one name.

It looks like in addition to Brown, George Charalambous was on the honor roll.  Now I didn't see the game, but unless one of his 3 saves saved the day for SLU against Potsdam it may just be that SLU always submits a few players every week while others are more judicious in their submittals, only submitting of they feel they truly deserved it.  I guess you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so unlike the SLU team playing it around the back all day, the SID is straight to goal every week!

Hobart's small field really makes the ball ping around a lot.  First 2 goals were a direct result of this.

Quote from: Saint_Dad on September 24, 2024, 04:46:16 PMI'm watching the Hobart/Ithaca kickball game.  Well, at least Hobart does try to play soccer at times, but Ithaca continues to try and keep it a game of kickball.  Difficult to watch.  I think Hobart is the better team and they have had a lot of hard luck so far this season.  The more I watch a game like this, the more I appreciate how SLU plays the sometimes beautiful game.

SLU plays the beautiful game but it is better to play the beautiful game with a purpose.  Possession is good but possession with a purpose will get you results. Every team has there own style of play.  Amherst has there style of play although I don't particularly like it it works for them.  It was nice to watch them play against SLU back in 2013, 2014 playoffs games. The different in contrast of style were evident in both games and yes field size does play into the style one plays. 

Hobart finally wins a game 4-1 against the Bombers. Hopefully this is the start of a string of wins.

Hobart usually tries to play an attractive style but they've also mixed in a direct approach, especially on their home field.  Today's game was like a pinball machine with the small field making the ball bounce around more so than usual.  They're usually a pretty good pressing team and I saw a bit of that today as well. Taking care of business at home is a must if you want to make the playoffs.

Quote from: kevdog on September 24, 2024, 05:53:46 PM

Quote from: Saint_Dad on September 24, 2024, 04:46:16 PMI'm watching the Hobart/Ithaca kickball game.  Well, at least Hobart does try to play soccer at times, but Ithaca continues to try and keep it a game of kickball.  Difficult to watch.  I think Hobart is the better team and they have had a lot of hard luck so far this season.  The more I watch a game like this, the more I appreciate how SLU plays the sometimes beautiful game.

SLU plays the beautiful game but it is better to play the beautiful game with a purpose.  Possession is good but possession with a purpose will get you results. Every team has there own style of play.  Amherst has there style of play although I don't particularly like it it works for them.  It was nice to watch them play against SLU back in 2013, 2014 playoffs games. The different in contrast of style were evident in both games and yes field size does play into the style one plays. 

Now I'm reminiscing a bit seeing those 2013/2014 teams mentioned. My junior and senior years at SLU so there was that extra bit of school spirit those seasons.  That 2013 team was a post away in OT from making the elite 8.

Quote from: stlawus on September 24, 2024, 07:52:34 PM

Quote from: kevdog on September 24, 2024, 05:53:46 PM

Quote from: Saint_Dad on September 24, 2024, 04:46:16 PMI'm watching the Hobart/Ithaca kickball game.  Well, at least Hobart does try to play soccer at times, but Ithaca continues to try and keep it a game of kickball.  Difficult to watch.  I think Hobart is the better team and they have had a lot of hard luck so far this season.  The more I watch a game like this, the more I appreciate how SLU plays the sometimes beautiful game.

SLU plays the beautiful game but it is better to play the beautiful game with a purpose.  Possession is good but possession with a purpose will get you results. Every team has there own style of play.  Amherst has there style of play although I don't particularly like it it works for them.  It was nice to watch them play against SLU back in 2013, 2014 playoffs games. The different in contrast of style were evident in both games and yes field size does play into the style one plays. 

Now I'm reminiscing a bit seeing those 2013/2014 teams mentioned. My junior and senior years at SLU so there was that extra bit of school spirit those seasons.  That 2013 team was a post away in OT from making the elite 8.

2014 team I believe was a foot away from going. I think the SLU player was called offsides (imo he wasn't) by maybe a foot with less than 50 secs left. Would have been a 1v1 on the goalie

Quote from: kevdog on September 24, 2024, 09:39:45 PM

Quote from: stlawus on September 24, 2024, 07:52:34 PM

Quote from: kevdog on September 24, 2024, 05:53:46 PM

Quote from: Saint_Dad on September 24, 2024, 04:46:16 PMI'm watching the Hobart/Ithaca kickball game.  Well, at least Hobart does try to play soccer at times, but Ithaca continues to try and keep it a game of kickball.  Difficult to watch.  I think Hobart is the better team and they have had a lot of hard luck so far this season.  The more I watch a game like this, the more I appreciate how SLU plays the sometimes beautiful game.

SLU plays the beautiful game but it is better to play the beautiful game with a purpose.  Possession is good but possession with a purpose will get you results. Every team has there own style of play.  Amherst has there style of play although I don't particularly like it it works for them.  It was nice to watch them play against SLU back in 2013, 2014 playoffs games. The different in contrast of style were evident in both games and yes field size does play into the style one plays. 

Now I'm reminiscing a bit seeing those 2013/2014 teams mentioned. My junior and senior years at SLU so there was that extra bit of school spirit those seasons.  That 2013 team was a post away in OT from making the elite 8.

2014 team I believe was a foot away from going. I think the SLU player was called offsides (imo he wasn't) by maybe a foot with less than 50 secs left. Would have been a 1v1 on the goalie

That was a round of 32 matchup, but yea I remember that well. Played OT up a man, just didn't get any luck. There were a lot of things I observed that weekend but I'll stay silent since people are probably sick of the topic by now. 

Tough break for Bard against RPI tonight. Both RPI goals hit the head of a Bard defender before going in the net. The last minute game winner was particularly unlucky, deflected header 18 yards from goal that bounced incredibly high into the air.

10 yellows and a red between Vassar and Union today, chippy affair where Vassar gets the 1-0 home win. 

Hobart looked to build momentum after beating Ithaca earlier in the week but give up a late equalizer to Skidmore who have to be very happy with that result.  Hobart announcing crew complaining about Skidmore's goal being offside but the Hobart right back kept him on, had to watch a few times on the replay but it looks pretty clear.

Brief moment of hope for Bard to get a draw against Ithaca but surrender the game winner minutes after equalizing.  Bard keeps getting close but just not enough.

Clarkson has still maintained their great start, winning a game they're supposed to and burying the result early.  As I've said before gotta take care of business at home which they did.

SLU's defense carries the day to get a very good 3 points on the road at RPI, as it's the first regular season road win for SLU at RPI since 2014. The big SLU CB's won just about every aerial duel and cross today and the keeper was a vacuum on long balls in the box.  Last 2 goals for Brown have been penalties but he's still putting them away and has now surpassed last year's goal tally.  6 of SLU's first 7 games have been on the road so they will be happy to return to Sandy for the next few games.

looks like the tale of 2 halfs for SLU. 1st half RPI was beating them to every ball and had some opportunities to score.  2nd half it seems SLU woke up and was beating them to the ball creating several chances to score before the PK.  The CBs were good and Gustav is just very solid back there.  Willis and Baker played very steady.  I hope the freshman Grant is ok. I think he went out with an injury.  Although Reddish did play well when he was in there, I wonder how good this team would be with Jeremy Ogohbe on the field.  When he played in the middle last year, he would win a lot of the 50/50 balls and was all over the place. Brown reminds of a pesky forward who might not have the silky moves but he is a menannce in the box becasue he doesn't give up on a play.  I thought he scored on the 2nd one.  Hope next year SLU can get a big, silky smooth foward with speed to go along with Brown's style.  Also would love to get mastro in the mid of the field like a Dede, DeMello, or Sibanda. I know that those players are hard to come by.  All and all it was a good win for SLU especially on the road.