New England Soccer Discussion

[blooter442]

I'm not sure if the job is still (or ever was) "up for grabs," but (counterintuitively) the Johnson/Mieth combo seemed to work pretty well for Tufts last year (only 2 goals conceded all season). 

From what I understood, they were inclined to let other 'keepers have a shot, but given Sunday's result and Irwin's strong performance last night I would bet that he stays starter going forward.

Second goal from last night, outside of the right boot. Audio on (but not too loud): https://www.instagram.com/p/BnXfPrXHuwM/?taken-by=brandeisjudges

[nhfan]

I think two of the biggest problems for the Beavers are the loss of the head assistant Groves(went to Brown) and their direct style of play. It appears that possession style players were recruited and are being forced to play a different way. It really looks like glorified high school soccer.  Maybe the new assistant coach recruited players that like to play a direct boom-ball style.

Yes I forgot I knew they struggled last year but forgot they missed NEWMAC Playoffs which is obviously even worse. Noah Parker is a legit player. Yes injuries are different than being benched but I am sure there has to be a couple players from last year that have been benched. If Anderson cleaned house that is a good thing. This program has been faltering since Anderson's son graduated. I know they brought in a decent class this year so even if these guys are injured if these Frosh play well here then these injured players might find it more difficult to get back on the field. Also, Anderson has always carried a MONSTER roster so if he cleaned house he must have cut a ton of kids? Info on this?

There were eleven non-senior players from last year who are not on this year's squad. I think their departure was a mixture of personal choice, told their playing time would be limited or cut. I honestly don't know which players fell into what category. I don't believe any upperclassmen who return with significant experience are playing behind a freshman. Fromhein a senior played a decent amount as the backup forward this past weekend behind Crompton who is a junior who also played a lot last year. One other player with a fair amount of experience is Beaulieu (M/outside back) who is injured and was not dressed for the two PA matches.

[blooter442]

I think two of the biggest problems for the Beavers are the loss of the head assistant Groves(went to Brown) and their direct style of play. It appears that possession style players were recruited and are being forced to play a different way. It really looks like glorified high school soccer.  Maybe the new assistant coach recruited players that like to play a direct boom-ball style.

My observation when watching them over the last few years is that they have lacked any real pace or — regardless of their direct style — a "direct threat" in the form of a top No. 9. They can keep the ball down the side and be tidy but they do not have any guys who I get really worried by when he gets on the shoulder of the last defender, either to out-sprint the back line and get on a through-ball or to bludgeon the opposing CB in the air. Moreover, I don't get the sense that they overpower teams through central midfield, although I do think fellow Maine native Noah Parker is a legit player and one of the better CMs in New England.

They had the direct threat of Anderson and a solid supporting cast (Walker, Iwaguwu, etc.) from 2009-2012. While they got bounced from NCAAs in the 1st Round in the first and last of those years, I still felt they were a quality side. Anderson was not the fastest but was great in the air and very good technically. Teams couldn't give away free kicks in the attacking half because Walker's service and Anderson's finishing were likely to punish them.

Since then, though, I don't think they've been of the same standard: 2013, they went 11-8-1, humbled 5-1 by Wheaton in NEWMAC semis; 2014, had a decent regular season on the back of Laurenzo's great year (14-5) but again bounced first round of NCAAs by RUN; 2015, had an unspectacular regular season (10-6-2) then fell backwards into a NEWMAC championship before getting thumped 5-1 by F&M in the NCAA 1st Round; 2016, had a solid regular season (10-4-3, beat Brandeis, 6-1 NEWMAC record and top seed in conference) but then got bounced from the NEWMAC and NCAA tournaments at home, by Wheaton (2-1, 2OT) and on PKs after a 0-0 by SJC, respectively. Last year, we all know the story (9-9, no postseason).

Despite all of this, I wouldn't be surprised to see them get a W against Brandeis tomorrow (although, of course, I hope they don't). They're at home, and those games are always close, regardless of who is in better form: eight of the last nine of those games have been one-goal games and four have gone to 2OT.

[ECSUalum]

ECSU pulls off the upset of Gordon College this afternoon 2-0 at Nevers Field in Wili this afternoon! Gordon upset Brandies U 3-2 last week.  The Warriors have recruited a bunch of very talented freshman who look technically sound as 4 started the game this afternoon.  Both goals were scored by freshmen today.   Forward Patrick Agyemang (East Hartford) and midfielder Will Toomey (Willington).  Agyemang recorded his second career goal when he knocked in a header with just under 14 minutes gone on a right-side from freshman midfielder Jackson Trierweiler (Framingham, MA), who was credited with his first career point. Five minutes later, team scoring leader Griffin Luczek (Lee, NH) sent a pass from the end line through the goal mouth to the far post, where Toomey beat Gordon (2-2-0) sophomore keeper Wesley Sprague (Naperville, IL) from close range to make it 2-0. The point was the team-leading tenth this year for Luczek.
Eastern played a technically superb match today holding a majority of possession and causing all sorts of trouble for the Gordon backs.  Match stats were as follows:
                       GORDON                   EASTERN CONN. ST.
Shots (on goal) 11 (3)                                 17 (7)
Saves                 5                                        3
Fouls                12                                        5
Corner Kicks       5                                        5
Offsides              1                                        1

Trinity College (Ct) comes to Willimantic next Tues to take on the Warriors

[blooter442]

Babson picks up a 2-0 home victory over Brandeis, the first time since 2014 (a 2-0 Brandeis win in Wellesley) that this game has been decided by more than one goal. Babson came out vastly stronger in the first half, although Brandeis FY Panson put a free kick just wide right from 22 yards. Second half, Babson gets a free kick, Parker sends it in, Brandeis defender gets outjumped on the flick on and Crompton finishes from 2 yards. Looked like Panarra got cleaned out in the box at 1-0 but I am not sure that it was a foul. Either way, Babson's second goal was a close-range finish after some slack defending. Not a great day for the Judges, who -- despite being even in terms of shots (12-12) and having more SOG (7-6) -- really only started to turn up after going behind by two (7 of Brandeis' 12 shots came after going 2-0 down). Sunday against Gordon they were unfortunate; today they were outplayed. Fair play to the host Beavers.

[stillwatching]

Really good result for Framingham State yesterday.  They beat MIT 1-0 on a goal with about 15 minutes to go.  MIT absolutely dominated possession, but Framingham did just enough.  First time FSU has ever beaten MIT. 

[Ommadawn]

Bowdoin v St. Joe's is underway at https://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/bowdoin-college/

[OldNed]

Bowdoin v St. Joe's is underway at https://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/bowdoin-college/

St. Joe's goes up 1-0 on a Brett Mattos goal.  I think Bowdoin has been better so far this game, or at least St. Joe's hasn't played as well as they can. Or maybe a little of both.

[OldNed]

The video feed from Bowdoin is terrible - herky jerky.

[OldNed]

The video feed doesn't disguise the fact that the ref is card-happy today.  5 on Bowdoin and 2 on St. Joe's, and most of those were questionable, from what I saw.

[OldNed]

The announcer says, "giving out yellow cards like Santa gives out candy on Christmas day"... as another card goes to St. Joe's. 15 minutes left still 1-0 St. Joe's.

[OldNed]

St. Joe's holds off Bowdoin 1-0-  A good result for St. Joe's.

[blooter442]

St. Joe's holds off Bowdoin 1-0-  A good result for St. Joe's.

I have to admit that -- while beating Bowdoin last year was impressive -- this year's result was perhaps even more impressive for SJC given that they were on the road (and on grass). The Monks mean business.

[Mr.Right]

Well it looks like St.Joe's has gotten through the hardest part of their schedule beating Bowdoin, Endicott and Gordon all on the road. They are 5-0-0 and have 0 GA to start the year. They also beat St.Joseph's(CT) 5-0 which is in their inaugural season and should be a force to be reckoned with for St.Joe's of Maine in coming years in their conference. Common sense tells me that St.Joe's(CT) has just about the same mission as St.Joe's(ME) except they are in a much more desirable location in New England. Since a ton of St.Joe's(ME) roster is from Rhode Island and Connecticut logic is eventually those kids will be enrolling in St.Joe's(CT) in the future. Am I over simplifying it? Possibly, considering I have never stepped foot on either schools campus or seen their facilities. Anyway, that recruiting battle is a couple years away. As for now, St.Joe's(ME) is 5-0-0 with 0 GA and have 12 games left. The 12 games left on their schedule would be considered cupcakes on any Nescac teams schedule except for maybe Johnson and Wales and Norwich which incidentally could be the only 2 teams left that have a chance to get a result against them. Is it possible St.Joe's(ME) finishes the regular season 17-0-0 with 0 GA? I would give that a 50/50 chance but maybe fair or not even with that record I believe they would still have to win their Conference Championship because of the weak SOS and OWP they will carry into the post-season. I give that a 35/65 because you may find some sympathetic members of that committee that would feel like St.Joe's would deserve a Pool C. That would really be a tough call if St.Joe's were to lose in their Conference tournament. Since St.Joe's has beaten Bowdoin 1-0 the past 2 years I give Wiercinski a 60/40 that he drops them next season..Just a hunch an could be wrong.

[Mr.Right]

Big game tonight in Worcester with WPI hosting Brandeis. WPI is 4-0-0 and a win here would elevate their confidence even higher before they start their NEWMAC schedule. Brandeis is in a way more precarious situation. Brandies is 2-2-0 with a full UAA slate left plus Tufts, Amherst, MIT, Clark and Wheaton. There is little to no breathing room left. Brandeis might end up with one of the highest SOS and OWP in the country but it might not matter if they do not get going soon. Gordon IMO is not a strong team this year and at worst should have been a draw and the Babson game IMO I think Brandeis might have had tired legs being their 4th game in 8 days. Somehow they have to gut thru tonight because this will be their 5th game in 11 days and then will have a full week off. They MUST get a result tonight preferably a Win but a Draw will also work because I am confident WPI will be ranked in November. In 2016, Brandeis really struggled out of the gate in their first 12 games they were 5-4-3 and then ripped off 5 in a row to finish 10-5-3 and while they still hosted a 1st/2nd Round pod I think they were sweating until the very end especially after losing to NYU to finish the year. Of course that was Coven's final season and Brandeis kicked it up a gear advancing all the way to the NCAA Final 4. Still, IIRC New England was down that year and Brandeis obviously had a strong resume but still had only 5 losses. They have 2 already in games that somehow they needed to dig deep and if the could have they could have gotten draws. So tonight is big because a loss tonight and all of a sudden it could come down to having to win the UAA which is going to be very difficult.