The York team Messiah beat last evening started 6 or 7 players who are SR or 5Y, more in the latter category. I hadn't realized that prior to the introductions. In other words, if they are going to go far any time soon, it has to be this year. I expect that level of experience is more than anything else responsible for their record thus far.

So, as negative as I have been on Hopkins and what I described as their rigid coaching style, I have to give Coach Appleby and the team props. As Hopkins92 suggested above, they complete changed their play style for long periods of the game v. F&M, to significant effect. They focused on very quick counterattacks over the top instead of the long, slow build-up from the back and scored two nice goals as a result. Notably, the tensest parts of the game were in the second half when they fell back into their old ways a few times and gave F&M some very good opportunities.

Props also to Simon Turner, the sophomore GK, who has started the last 5 or so games. He made several excellent saves. I don't think Hopkins would have won without his work in goal. Emblematic of Hopkins's willingness to change things up was Coach Appleby showing up clean shaven. I have never seen him without a beard.

Great point about the GK and I feel like a jerk not mentioning it. In particular, he parried a very close in shot (I think off of a CK) that bounced off the inside of the post very late in the game. Hopkins defender scrambled back to clear the rebound attempt over the end line.

He made 3 or 4 other saves off of really nice shots from the Dips from the top of the box or thereabouts.

Final point, and we talked about this when it happened... You hope the team (and coaches) learn from getting got late in a couple of games (looking at you Kenyon) to tighten up the mentality at the end of games. I wasn't a huge fan of conceding so many corner kicks, but in general Hop was pretty composed to finish the game... sorta. F&M isn't going to allow for a "go quietly into the good night" type ending.

Props to the Dips. I may not enjoy some of the flavor... But I've kind of grown to appreciate it.

USC Coaches Polls

Region V - Poll 7 - October 22, 2024
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Dickinson College    1    12-1-2
2    Johns Hopkins University    4    8-3-3
3    Franklin & Marshall College    2    7-1-6
4    York College (Pa.)    3    9-1-4
5    Washington College (Md.)    5    8-2-4
6    Swarthmore College    7    9-3-2
7    Muhlenberg College    6    8-3-4
8    Messiah University    NR    8-5-1

Region IV - Poll 7 - October 22, 2024
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Rowan University    2    7-4-5
2    Montclair State University    1    11-3-1
3    Lebanon Valley College    5    8-4-2
4    Stevens Institute of Technology    3    6-3-3
5    Penn State University-Harrisburg    4    12-4-1
6    Rutgers University-Camden    NR    7-5-4
7    Ramapo College    NR    8-2-4
8    Cairn University    8    9-2-4

USC polls always a bit interesting. Once again, can't buy the Dickinson hype and won't until they beat one of Hopkins or F&M.

Interesting to see Rowan as #1 in their region with a pretty shaky record, but their recent win over Montclair definitely helped them.

The F&M v Hopkins game definitely proved to be a defining moment for Hop as they did end up changing their approach for this game. This game in particular they notably made use of how many players they have who are phenomenal ball carriers. The way some of the Hop players attacked the open space F&M left them was impressive to watch. Despite that, I thought F&M played fairly well and I am sure will look to seek revenge in the weeks to come.


The final few games of the Centennial are going to end up deciding the outlook of the playoffs and is going to be incredibly exciting to see how it plays out as a neutral.

UMW starts out with a goal over NC Wesleyan 17 minutes in. Castillo with a nice upper 90s shot from outside the 18.

a minute later Berg with a nice far post finish to make it 2-0

update: really nice 40 yd ball from Schmugge to Berg to put him through to make it 3-0 with 14 left in first

4-0 final. Much easier victory than the game in Fredericksburg. Maybe the 10 days off gave boys a boost.

MAF Power Rankings (10/23)
1. Dickinson
2. Hopkins
3. F&M
4. Montclair St
5. Messiah
6. Muhles
7. York
8. Washington MD
9. Rowan
10. PSU-Harrisburg

Wow!  F&M's GK made an awful play coming out of his box and trying to control it only to have it stolen it from him and the Dickinson shot from way outside was going in but the F&M defender ran to the goal line and just headed it over the cross bar.

Dickinson 2 - F&M 2 with 4 minutes remaining.

Most of the time GKs cover for awful plays up the field ... once in a while, field players return the favor ... 

Hop earns a PK with 12 minutes lift. I'm not a big fan of literally no run up, but dude finished.


JHU 1:0 Shorepeople

From what I saw in the 2nd half, Hop had a decent amount of the run of play, but WAC certainly had their chances and made things interesting.

I believe that puts the standings as Hop and Dips tied at the top of the CC.

ETA - I believe due to the FM - Dickinson tie the standings are what they are.

And because we get to cover whatever we want...

Widener ties York and Sean Fatiga scores his 9th goal of the season. Both teams now have a 2-1-1 record in the MAC-C.

Interesting finish in the Landmark. Wilkes defeats Lycoming 2-1 on a goal off a corner kick at "89:59".  What makes it interesting is the clock hit 00:00 before they took the kick but the ref let them play and the ball pin balled around the box a bit before someone poked it home.

Centennial with 2 games to go:

JHU - 16 pts (Fords, Dickinson)
F&M - 16 pts (Bullets, Shorepeople)
WAC - 13 pts (Muhles, catholic, Dips)
Dck - 12 pts (Bears, Jays)
Mhl - 12 pts (WAC, McD)
McD - 10 pts (Swat, Muhles)
-----------------------------------
Swt - 7 pts  (McD, Fords)
Gbg - 5 pts  (Dips, lycoming, Bears)
Urs - 4 pts  (Devils, moravian, Bullets)
Hvd - 2 pts  (JHU, Garnets)

I don't need to "analyze" what's to play for, as it's not super complicated. As an aside, and I know it's been discussed, but it seems weird to me to throw in those kind of random non-conference games so late in the season. If I'm Washington, for example, I don't really want to mess around with a traditionally difficult Catholic team when I need every CC point I can muster.

Quote from: Ejay on October 23, 2024, 09:41:06 PMInteresting finish in the Landmark. Wilkes defeats Lycoming 2-1 on a goal off a corner kick at "89:59".  What makes it interesting is the clock hit 00:00 before they took the kick but the ref let them play and the ball pin balled around the box a bit before someone poked it home.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll go check the Flosports stream.

Scranton beat Drew on a goal 88 minutes into their match last night.