CCIW

[Jim Matson]

I heard that they played well today.  The big test for Wheaton will be tomorrow's match against Chicago.  Over the years, this has become a great soccer rivalry.  Both teams are tough this season, but Chicago has an advantage here - I think the Maroons are a btetr team than Wheaton, and they are playing at home.

But, Wheaton is in the post-season, a place in which they really do well.  They have been in 4 out of the previous 5 NCAA national championship matches, winning 3 of 4. 

Should be a very good 90 minutes (or more) of soccer.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton senior forward Taryne Lee was named CCIW Player of the Year for the third-straight year on Monday. Lee has 97 career goals.
The Thunder had six players named All-Conference.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/news/2009/11/10/WSOC_1110093713.aspx?path=wsoccer

Geez, as a Titan fan, it is about time she graduated!

Congratulations to Taryne Lee!

[DIIIdad]

It was a nice weekend for Augie as they have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.  Even better is the news that they will host the Sectional on November 20-21.  The games will match Augie v. Calvin and Wheaton v. Wash U. 

Augie won their 1st round game against Albion 2-1, although I don't think the game was as close as the score line.  Augie dominated in every category, scoring their first goal in the 3rd minute.  Shots were 20-6 and corners were 7-1 in favor of Augie.  Albion did lead in fouls by a whopping 18-4 margin.  Albion's lone goal came in the first minute of the second half on a nice strike from distance that deflected off of an Augie defender's head and into the net. 

The second round win was a 1-0 shutout of Stevens Point.  The Pointer's keeper played a great game keeping them in the contest until the final horn.  Shots favored Augie 13-10, but shots on goal were 7-2 in favor of Augie, with Stevens Point getting 0 shots on goal in the second half.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

Alas, Augie fell to Calvin, 2-1.  Story on the front page, but anyone have more 'color'?

[usee]

Wheaton loses to WashU on Pk's.

[thunder38]

Wheaton really controlled play all night but couldn't bury the goal they needed.  Kopelman had two great chances but put one off the crossbar and one wide right.  Lee had two good ones as well (save and wide right).  The front three (Bergh, Lee, Kopelman) for Wheaton had all kinds of space to run in but just couldn't break the goal. Bergh even had an open night opportunity but couldn't get the foot on the ball.  Definitely a game the Thunder should have won.

[DIIIdad]

Alas, Augie fell to Calvin, 2-1.  Story on the front page, but anyone have more 'color'?

I was at the game, and all I can say is that last night, Calvin was the better team.  Augie came out flying for the first ten minutes or so, but Calvin was able to sustain the pressure without conceding any goals.  Augie did score first, but Calvin slowly turned the tide and eventually took over the game.  

Calvin dominated in all statistical categories, and clearly deserved to win the game last night.  It was the first time all season that another team was able to make the defensive back line of Augie look disorganized.  I can't really explain the play of Augie other than to point out that 8 of the starters are either sophomores or freshmen, and they have never been in this situation before.  I do believe their best years are still ahead of them, and that this team will be back even better next year.

As for tonight's game between Calvin and Wash U, I give the nod to Calvin if, and only if, they can play to the level they showed last night against Augie.  Of course, Wash U has a more seasoned team with post season experience, so that may prove impossible.  

[DIIIdad]

Final Postseason NSCAA Poll out today.  Central region (and CCIW) well represented with:

2. Wash U
9. Augie (CCIW)
12. Wheaton (CCIW)
15. Calvin
22. Chicago
24. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW)


Best year ever for Augie...yet.  Wait 'till next year.  I'm predicting final four next year.  No pressure ladies.

[The_Swede]

Wheaton College senior forward Taryne Lee was named an NSCAA First Team All-American for the third-straight year on Tuesday. Here's the complete list: http://www.nscaa.com/articles/20091207214524528.php

[badgerbimmer]

Any rumors insights on the recruiting front for the CCIW schools?

[DIIIdad]

In CCIW women's soccer, Augie was picked by the coaches to defend its title. 

http://cciw.org/fall_soccer_w/2010preseasonwspoll.php

I'm not sure, but this may be the first time in conference history that anyone other than Wheaton has been picked to win the conference.

Can't wait for the season to start.

[DIIIdad]

Two preseason scrimmages for Augie and no goals scored.  A 1-0 loss to St. Ambrose, and a 0-0 tie with the Rockford Dactyls club team.  I did not see the Ambrose game, but was told that Augie controlled play and just couldn't finish.  I did see the Dactyls game and saw again that Augie had many chances that were not finished.  More concerning was the number of chances that the Dactyls had. 

I think that once the season begins on 9/1 Augie will be fine.  There are too many goal scorers on the Augie roster to continue to go scoreless.  Also, many players were playing in different situations so that they could be seen and evaluated.  Once the regular rotations go into place, I'm hoping they will show the form from last season. 

A big question mark for this team is where the leadership on the field will come from.  There are only two seniors on the roster this season.  Someone from the junior or sophomore class is going to have to step up and show some leadership on the field.  There is plenty of character on this team so hopefully they get this figured out quickly. 

Cornell in Mt. Vernon, Iowa on Wednesday. 

[DIIIdad]

I think that once the season begins on 9/1 Augie will be fine.  There are too many goal scorers on the Augie roster to continue to go scoreless. 

Cornell in Mt. Vernon, Iowa on Wednesday. 

Augie got fine in a hurry.  23 seconds into the first game, the floodgates opened.  Augie beat Cornell 10-0, completely dominating every facet of the game.  Shots on goal favored Augie 23-0, shot attempts 34-0, corners 6-0.  This against a Cornell team that returned 10 starters from last season. 

Really not much to take from this game.  Next up is Coe on 9/5.

[Jim Matson]

Three teams in the Top 25.  And Wheaton is trailing Augie and Illinois Wesleyan.  A new dawn for women's CCIW soccer has Wheaton as the outsider looking in.  Probably about time, right Vikings and Titans?

[DIIIdad]

Three teams in the Top 25.  And Wheaton is trailing Augie and Illinois Wesleyan.  A new dawn for women's CCIW soccer has Wheaton as the outsider looking in.  Probably about time, right Vikings and Titans?

How about three teams in the top 10?  IWU at 4, Augie at 6 and Wheaton at 10.

Although, I still don't think Wesleyan has been tested.  Originally the wins over Chicago and WashU looked good, but neither of those teams is even ranked anymore.  Their remaining games are all CCIW games where anything can happen.

Wheaton's two losses are to Loras and Calvin, both ranked.  They have a match-up with UW Stevens Point today that should be telling.

Augie has a win over Loras and a tie with Calvin, and has only allowed 1 goal this season.  The question remains whether they can score enough to win.

Conference games have started and it will be fun to see it play out the rest of the way.