UAA 2019

[Gregory Sager]

I could look it up, but I wonder if one of those Chicago pods two years ago was a Friday-Saturday because it had Calvin, Hope, Wheaton "no Sundays" in it and the other one was Saturday-Sunday because it didn't. That would only put 3 games on Saturday instead of 4.

No, that wasn't the case.

A friend of mine pointed out to me an hour or so ago that Chicago also hosts a football game on Saturday. A home football game in and of itself is a major undertaking for a D3 athletic department in terms of human resources. The U of C folks will be going crazy hosting that and two D3 tournament pods on the same day.

[blue_jays]

And we do not know what circumstances led to Chicago hosting both men's and women's in 2017. I am sure that the NCAA tried to avoid it as they have successfully done in almost all cases ever since instituting the alternating men/women hosting priority.  We don't know which participating schools did not apply to host (which is done well before the tournament and before any tournament berths have been won or awarded).  Apparently they just couldn't find another workable solution in that instance, but don't expect a repeat of dual-hosting.

Both teams hosted in 2017 because both teams were ranked #1 in the country for a good stretch of the season. The women play on the grass, the men on the turf. Very do-able if both surfaces are available, with the men playing at night.
But doing women on day on the grass, football on turf in the afternoon, men at night on the turf plus an eight-team volleyball regional ... not feasible.

[blue_jays]

Chicago's women are hosting a pod, which is why the male Maroons have to go on the road to Holland, MI next weekend. I didn't see that coming, because the U of C women were only ranked third in the region last week.

The women's cluster among the top 3 of WashU, Wheaton and UChicago was quite close IMO. UC tied both Wheaton and WashU, and all 3 teams have been ranked in the top 15 basically all year. The gap between them and the rest of the region is vast, which is why all 3 schools are hosting opening weekend. They were rewarded for their SOS (all over .600 I believe) and quality wins.

[MaturinNYC]

OK, this is the UAA thread, so here is a UAA prediction:

1st & 2nd Rounds
Chicago has an early and somewhat familiar test in the shape of Dominican (IL), but they past the exam 2-0. The second round also brings a familiar foe, this time the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College who took them to 2OT back in September. This time the Maroons go behind early, but find the eventual winner in the 2nd half.

Rochester gets by a plucky Hanover squad by scoring 4 goals to their 2. Then in the second round they win a 1-0 nail-biter over host Kenyon, gaining the first shutout of the season over the Lords.

3rd Round & Quarterfinals
Chicago squares off against Luther (IA) and takes home an un-dramatic 3-0 win. Which leads them to a very dramatic game vs. Calvin in the Elite 8. Last year the Knights put the Maroons to the sword 3-0 in the Semi-finals, and they also claimed a 2-1 win in September. This time though Chicago has found a way to smother the Calvin attack, and also scores a goal in each half to walk away 2-1 winners.

Rochester draws a loaded Franklin & Marshall team in the Sweet 16, and while the Diplomats score first, it's the Yellowjackets who sting late, often and last, getting out of the match with a 3-2 win. That sets up a rematch with John Carroll, who won the first contest in September in Upstate NY 2-1. This time around it's Rochester who scores on an early counter and then stands up the Blue Streaks for the rest of the match, grabbing a 1-0 ticket back to the Final Four.

Semi-Finals
Chicago is slated against the top-seeded Blue Jays from Johns Hopkins, who have made the Final Four by knocking out John Jay, Ct. College, Eastern and the defending champion Tufts Univ. Both teams are battle-tested and feature dynamic attacking movement and solid defenses, but Chicago has the advantage of having played in the Semi-Final spotlight for a couple of years now, and that experience tells in a 3-1 win for the Maroons.

Rochester lines up against an old foe in Messiah, who ended the Yellowjackets season two years ago en-route to their 11th National Championship title. Last year it was Rochester who finished the Falcon's season. This year the meeting comes in the semi-finals in Greensboro. Messiah owns the early possession and lines up several promising attacks, but can't get a score. Rochester plays themselves into the game, getting into dangerous positions but also unable to finish. The game goes into overtime with 0-0 on the scoreboard, and nothing changes after twenty extra minutes. In the PK shootout that follows, it's the underdog Rochester that finds the winner.

Final
A year after both UAA teams were ousted in the Semi-Finals, the same two squads now meet in the Final. It's a first for both programs but the Maroons are favorites, having dispatched Rochester in each of their last four meetings. The Yellowjackets have an experienced Senior class who have helped bring their program to new heights, but they've never solved Chicago. Both teams know each other and, since both teams were also on the same field last year, neither are made nervous by the environment. Chicago controls the early possession but its Rochester that strikes first by finishing off an attack that began life as a turnover in midfield. Chicago finds the net late in the first half but the goal is flagged for offsides, and it's 1-0 'Jackets at halftime. Soon after the restart Chicago gets their equalizer after some patient build-up play moves the UofR defense. The game then opens up and both sides find opportunities, Chicago converting first before Rochester ties things back up on a corner kick. The weather is cold and flurries appear with 10 min to go in regulation, but both teams are comfortable playing in snow. Neither though are comfortable with sitting-in when a National Championship is on the line, and the match takes on an almost frantic basketball flow. The attacks come in waves, and it looks like the game is destined for OT when one wave breaks thru...(to be continued).

[blooter442]

OK, this is the UAA thread, so here is a UAA prediction:

1st & 2nd Rounds
Chicago has an early and somewhat familiar test in the shape of Dominican (IL), but they past the exam 2-0. The second round also brings a familiar foe, this time the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College who took them to 2OT back in September. This time the Maroons go behind early, but find the eventual winner in the 2nd half.

Rochester gets by a plucky Hanover squad by scoring 4 goals to their 2. Then in the second round they win a 1-0 nail-biter over host Kenyon, gaining the first shutout of the season over the Lords.

3rd Round & Quarterfinals
Chicago squares off against Luther (IA) and takes home an un-dramatic 3-0 win. Which leads them to a very dramatic game vs. Calvin in the Elite 8. Last year the Knights put the Maroons to the sword 3-0 in the Semi-finals, and they also claimed a 2-1 win in September. This time though Chicago has found a way to smother the Calvin attack, and also scores a goal in each half to walk away 2-1 winners.

Rochester draws a loaded Franklin & Marshall team in the Sweet 16, and while the Diplomats score first, it's the Yellowjackets who sting late, often and last, getting out of the match with a 3-2 win. That sets up a rematch with John Carroll, who won the first contest in September in Upstate NY 2-1. This time around it's Rochester who scores on an early counter and then stands up the Blue Streaks for the rest of the match, grabbing a 1-0 ticket back to the Final Four.

Semi-Finals
Chicago is slated against the top-seeded Blue Jays from Johns Hopkins, who have made the Final Four by knocking out John Jay, Ct. College, Eastern and the defending champion Tufts Univ. Both teams are battle-tested and feature dynamic attacking movement and solid defenses, but Chicago has the advantage of having played in the Semi-Final spotlight for a couple of years now, and that experience tells in a 3-1 win for the Maroons.

Rochester lines up against an old foe in Messiah, who ended the Yellowjackets season two years ago en-route to their 11th National Championship title. Last year it was Rochester who finished the Falcon's season. This year the meeting comes in the semi-finals in Greensboro. Messiah owns the early possession and lines up several promising attacks, but can't get a score. Rochester plays themselves into the game, getting into dangerous positions but also unable to finish. The game goes into overtime with 0-0 on the scoreboard, and nothing changes after twenty extra minutes. In the PK shootout that follows, it's the underdog Rochester that finds the winner.

Final
A year after both UAA teams were ousted in the Semi-Finals, the same two squads now meet in the Final. It's a first for both programs but the Maroons are favorites, having dispatched Rochester in each of their last four meetings. The Yellowjackets have an experienced Senior class who have helped bring their program to new heights, but they've never solved Chicago. Both teams know each other and, since both teams were also on the same field last year, neither are made nervous by the environment. Chicago controls the early possession but its Rochester that strikes first by finishing off an attack that began life as a turnover in midfield. Chicago finds the net late in the first half but the goal is flagged for offsides, and it's 1-0 'Jackets at halftime. Soon after the restart Chicago gets their equalizer after some patient build-up play moves the UofR defense. The game then opens up and both sides find opportunities, Chicago converting first before Rochester ties things back up on a corner kick. The weather is cold and flurries appear with 10 min to go in regulation, but both teams are comfortable playing in snow. Neither though are comfortable with sitting-in when a National Championship is on the line, and the match takes on an almost frantic basketball flow. The attacks come in waves, and it looks like the game is destined for OT when one wave breaks thru...(to be continued).

Wish I had your level of optimism! That said, would love to see an all-UAA final.

[Buck O.]

OK, this is the UAA thread, so here is a UAA prediction:

1st & 2nd Rounds
Chicago has an early and somewhat familiar test in the shape of Dominican (IL), but they past the exam 2-0. The second round also brings a familiar foe, this time the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College who took them to 2OT back in September. This time the Maroons go behind early, but find the eventual winner in the 2nd half.

Rochester gets by a plucky Hanover squad by scoring 4 goals to their 2. Then in the second round they win a 1-0 nail-biter over host Kenyon, gaining the first shutout of the season over the Lords.

3rd Round & Quarterfinals
Chicago squares off against Luther (IA) and takes home an un-dramatic 3-0 win. Which leads them to a very dramatic game vs. Calvin in the Elite 8. Last year the Knights put the Maroons to the sword 3-0 in the Semi-finals, and they also claimed a 2-1 win in September. This time though Chicago has found a way to smother the Calvin attack, and also scores a goal in each half to walk away 2-1 winners.

Rochester draws a loaded Franklin & Marshall team in the Sweet 16, and while the Diplomats score first, it's the Yellowjackets who sting late, often and last, getting out of the match with a 3-2 win. That sets up a rematch with John Carroll, who won the first contest in September in Upstate NY 2-1. This time around it's Rochester who scores on an early counter and then stands up the Blue Streaks for the rest of the match, grabbing a 1-0 ticket back to the Final Four.

Semi-Finals
Chicago is slated against the top-seeded Blue Jays from Johns Hopkins, who have made the Final Four by knocking out John Jay, Ct. College, Eastern and the defending champion Tufts Univ. Both teams are battle-tested and feature dynamic attacking movement and solid defenses, but Chicago has the advantage of having played in the Semi-Final spotlight for a couple of years now, and that experience tells in a 3-1 win for the Maroons.

Rochester lines up against an old foe in Messiah, who ended the Yellowjackets season two years ago en-route to their 11th National Championship title. Last year it was Rochester who finished the Falcon's season. This year the meeting comes in the semi-finals in Greensboro. Messiah owns the early possession and lines up several promising attacks, but can't get a score. Rochester plays themselves into the game, getting into dangerous positions but also unable to finish. The game goes into overtime with 0-0 on the scoreboard, and nothing changes after twenty extra minutes. In the PK shootout that follows, it's the underdog Rochester that finds the winner.

Final
A year after both UAA teams were ousted in the Semi-Finals, the same two squads now meet in the Final. It's a first for both programs but the Maroons are favorites, having dispatched Rochester in each of their last four meetings. The Yellowjackets have an experienced Senior class who have helped bring their program to new heights, but they've never solved Chicago. Both teams know each other and, since both teams were also on the same field last year, neither are made nervous by the environment. Chicago controls the early possession but its Rochester that strikes first by finishing off an attack that began life as a turnover in midfield. Chicago finds the net late in the first half but the goal is flagged for offsides, and it's 1-0 'Jackets at halftime. Soon after the restart Chicago gets their equalizer after some patient build-up play moves the UofR defense. The game then opens up and both sides find opportunities, Chicago converting first before Rochester ties things back up on a corner kick. The weather is cold and flurries appear with 10 min to go in regulation, but both teams are comfortable playing in snow. Neither though are comfortable with sitting-in when a National Championship is on the line, and the match takes on an almost frantic basketball flow. The attacks come in waves, and it looks like the game is destined for OT when one wave breaks thru...(to be continued).

Wish I had your level of optimism! That said, would love to see an all-UAA final.

Based upon two years of data, which is all that we need to reach indisputable conclusions, we know that the Final Four must include Chicago and one other UAA team.  In the past, the challenge has been in choosing which of the non-Chicago UAA teams in the Elite Eight will advance to the Final Four.  This year, the committee made it easy on us by inviting only two UAA teams to the tournament.  So it has to be Chicago and Rochester in the Final Four, right?

[MaturinNYC]

And there goes that...the dream dies in the 2nd round as OWU (NCAC) bounces Chicago 3-1. The Yellowjackets, now the last UAA team in the tournament this season, face another NCAC team as they take on host Kenyon tomorrow in a second round matchup.   

[MaturinNYC]

The UAA season is now over, as Rochester also falls in the second round, 2-1 at Kenyon. It was great to see the UofR play in a new formation Sunday that enabled more build-up play and empowered the attack, and it worked - almost. The Yellowjackets went ahead late in the first half after a sustained period of pressure, and while Kenyon brought some impressive pressure of their own (aided by fresh legs - they used 22 players in the contest!) the UofR team defense held the shutout until Kenyon found an equalizer with 14 minutes to play.  The hosts then piled on the attack but couldn't get a winner in regulation. In the OT period Rochester found a new gear and again built up their attacks - earning several free kicks and a pair of corners, but just not able to find that lucky bounce in the final 1/3. The feeling though was that the Yellowjackets had a handle on things and their experienced lineup would eventually get it - until only the second Kenyon possession deep in Rochester territory led to an unjust handball call (for more on that see my post in The Big Dance thread) and a golden goal for Kenyon from the penalty spot. It's a funny old game.

An "off" year for the UAA certainly, but 2019 was still a highly entertaining one to be a fan of this league. I'd like to salute and give thanks to all of the programs, their staff and especially their players - well done all, keep up the good work!  I've been a 'parent fan' now for four years, and while i've loved every minute of that i'm now looking forward to a new chapter as a 'regular fan'.  See you in the Spring!

[PaulNewman]

The UAA season is now over, as Rochester also falls in the second round, 2-1 at Kenyon. It was great to see the UofR play in a new formation Sunday that enabled more build-up play and empowered the attack, and it worked - almost. The Yellowjackets went ahead late in the first half after a sustained period of pressure, and while Kenyon brought some impressive pressure of their own (aided by fresh legs - they used 22 players in the contest!) the UofR team defense held the shutout until Kenyon found an equalizer with 14 minutes to play.  The hosts then piled on the attack but couldn't get a winner in regulation. In the OT period Rochester found a new gear and again built up their attacks - earning several free kicks and a pair of corners, but just not able to find that lucky bounce in the final 1/3. The feeling though was that the Yellowjackets had a handle on things and their experienced lineup would eventually get it - until only the second Kenyon possession deep in Rochester territory led to an unjust handball call (for more on that see my post in The Big Dance thread) and a golden goal for Kenyon from the penalty spot. It's a funny old game.

An "off" year for the UAA certainly, but 2019 was still a highly entertaining one to be a fan of this league. I'd like to salute and give thanks to all of the programs, their staff and especially their players - well done all, keep up the good work!  I've been a 'parent fan' now for four years, and while i've loved every minute of that i'm now looking forward to a new chapter as a 'regular fan'.  See you in the Spring!

Nice job here.  Very gracious under the circumstances.  We recall the 1st half differently.  I don't recall sustained pressure from UR and the goal imo was not a function of sustained pressure.  Our announcer was commenting in the 1st half that UR could not get much of anything going offensively while gushing about how fabulous UR was on defense.  UR needed to score in the OT sequence you have noted.  Even aside from the call, my biased bet is that Kenyon was then going to sustain a flurry of pressure, and except for the one sequence you have noted, Kenyon was close to scoring several times after they leveled and realized they were still very much in the game.

Anyway, Meliora!  I spent a lot of time on the River Campus.

[MaturinNYC]

We recall the 1st half differently.  I don't recall sustained pressure from UR and the goal imo was not a function of sustained pressure.

Memory, like the game, is funny! My recollection was that we'd had a nice period of pressure starting about 5 min. before the goal, then after scoring that Kenyon had all the ball. But i just took a look at the video, and we only had one nice run at the 34 min. mark (that ended with Aidan Miller pulling his shot an inch wide of the near-post). Before and immediately after that the ball was with Kenyon - albeit not in dangerous areas. Then the goal came at the 38 min. mark (off the head of Will Eisold, our MOTM at both ends of the field), and Rochester's sustained period of pressure was actually afterwards. You are right, the goal wasn't the result of a sustained push, it preceded it.   

Even aside from the call, my biased bet is that Kenyon was then going to sustain a flurry of pressure...

And that's the bitter pill - because of that one referring mistake all we're left with is our "biased feelings" that our side would've won it, instead of the sublime reveal of what the game would've delivered.  I respect why you would feel confident of a clear Kenyon victory based on that 2nd half push; but if you take a look at the replay of the OT period (which, chastened by my first half error, i did - and this time, whew, it does sync with my memory) you would no doubt understand why i feel equally confident that Rochester would've won. And of course neither of us can ever really know, and that's a shame - though very real for me, and very academic for you!

I wish Kenyon well next weekend. I know that players from our side felt that the game on the field was fine, hard played on both sides but with no hard feelings or animosity between the players, mutual respect and admiration. And that at least is a consolation. If you make it to Greensboro, get the affogatto dessert at Print Works Bistro!

[PaulNewman]

We recall the 1st half differently.  I don't recall sustained pressure from UR and the goal imo was not a function of sustained pressure.

Memory, like the game, is funny! My recollection was that we'd had a nice period of pressure starting about 5 min. before the goal, then after scoring that Kenyon had all the ball. But i just took a look at the video, and we only had one nice run at the 34 min. mark (that ended with Aidan Miller pulling his shot an inch wide of the near-post). Before and immediately after that the ball was with Kenyon - albeit not in dangerous areas. Then the goal came at the 38 min. mark (off the head of Will Eisold, our MOTM at both ends of the field), and Rochester's sustained period of pressure was actually afterwards. You are right, the goal wasn't the result of a sustained push, it preceded it.   

Even aside from the call, my biased bet is that Kenyon was then going to sustain a flurry of pressure...

And that's the bitter pill - because of that one referring mistake all we're left with is our "biased feelings" that our side would've won it, instead of the sublime reveal of what the game would've delivered.  I respect why you would feel confident of a clear Kenyon victory based on that 2nd half push; but if you take a look at the replay of the OT period (which, chastened by my first half error, i did - and this time, whew, it does sync with my memory) you would no doubt understand why i feel equally confident that Rochester would've won. And of course neither of us can ever really know, and that's a shame - though very real for me, and very academic for you!

I wish Kenyon well next weekend. I know that players from our side felt that the game on the field was fine, hard played on both sides but with no hard feelings or animosity between the players, mutual respect and admiration. And that at least is a consolation. If you make it to Greensboro, get the affogatto dessert at Print Works Bistro!

M-NYC, I just want to clarify what I thought.  Who I thought was gonna win fluctuated during the match.  I knew going in that Rochester was going to be an extremely tough out, with an experienced, talented and very disciplined squad coming off a Final Four that would be very tough to break down.  I probably thought the game was a 50/50 with Kenyon maybe getting a small edge because of hosting (although I also thought that any advantage might be countered by Kenyon's inexperience).  Kenyon was controlling play for much of the 1st half imo BUT they weren't getting any good scoring chances as our announcer stated multiple times, with multiple references to how good UR's back line was.  After UR scored, then I spent the next 35+ minutes of game time knowing there was a very good chance Rochester would prevail although I also thought the Lords would eventually at least get a few decent cracks at leveling.  I definitely thought UR had a very good chance to see out the last 14-15 minutes of regulation and get the win.  After Kenyon leveled, then I thought momentum shifted and I felt better about our chances.  We almost got one but didn't.  Anything can happen in OT so I wasn't confident but I thought we were going into OT feeling pretty good.  THEN, UR got Kenyon pinned in, and during that time, I was almost positive UR was gonna score and win.  So during that sequence I was NOT confident at all.  Once Kenyon escaped that sequence and was still alive that's when I thought Kenyon would likely enjoy a stretch of pressure again on UR.  And as you said, we'll never know.  Kenyon might have scored off a corner right after the Eisold play, or UR could have turned the tables again, or perhaps more likely we were headed to PKs.

Doubt I would go to Greensboro, as, gulp, my last season with a player on the team was 2014, and "our' Kenyon career ended on that same field in bitter, bitter disappointment as the hosting Lords had a couple of key injuries and also failed to show up, and were outplayed by a very good and confident OWU team in the Sweet 16.  Lots of tears and a long, long drive home.  Four years spent by a very large senior class working towards a dream season and I think a #2 ranking at the time (just behind Messiah), and then the abrupt, painful, no-way-around-this ending. 

That said, the person who brought me into this planet (aka Mom) lives in Greensboro, so who knows.

P.S.  BTW, Kenyon and Rochester are close enough that they should play regularly or semi-regularly.  Kenyon played CMU several years in a row and Rochester isn't that much further away.  Let's get Kenyon up to Fauver Stadium.