MIAA chat

[WLCALUM83]

Albion and Hope are tied at 2 at end of regulation.

[WLCALUM83]

Albion, despite being outshot, 14-9, beats Hope in OT, 3-2.

[Stinger]

Great performance from Albion freshman Ali Oatley who scored her 2nd collegiate hat trick.  The goal in OT should have been picked up easily by Hope's keeper, but, ahem, she pulled a David James, or more recently a Paul Robinson. It slipped right through her hand. Albion dominated the final 15 minutes and OT period of the game to get back in it.

[Dark Knight]

Calvin completes the 2006 regular season with a perfect 17-0 record. The last time that happened in the MIAA (and the only time in the last 10 years) appears to be 2001, when Albion's final record was 19-1-1, and their NCAA tournament record was 0-1-1.

That Albion team had 69 goals, with opponents scoring 18, compared to 57 for and 4 against for this Calvin team so far in 17 games. The smallest number of goals allowed by a MIAA team in the last 10 years is 7, by Hope last year.

No MIAA team in the last 10 years has gone further than the regional semifinals (Albion in 2001 and 2002, Hope in 2003). A chance to beat that this year?

[Stinger]

Dark Knight, I know the women's coach at Albion fairly well, and she has mentioned to me that she thinks this year's Calvin team is as good and probably better than her 2001 team.  That Albion team ran into Ohio Wesleyan who ended up winning the whole think. I do think  Calvin will have a very difficult time getting out of the region.  Calvin's schedule has not been very strong compared to others ranked toward the top of the region, namely Wittenberg, Otterbein, and Kenyon.   It will be interesting to see how they compare against those teams. Although Calvin hasn't wrapped up the AQ yet, I would think they'd get a pool C.

[Oval]

As far as I can tell Calvin has been using two goalies in each match.....splitting halves.  How long does a team do that?  Do you think they'll continue it through the NCAA's?  Is it too late to change?

[Dark Knight]

As far as I can tell Calvin has been using two goalies in each match.....splitting halves.  How long does a team do that?  Do you think they'll continue it through the NCAA's?  Is it too late to change?

At times, Calvin has been splitting time among three freshman goalies. But in a couple of tight games Bergsma played all 90 minutes.

Stinger, I agree that it will be interesting to see how they compare with the best regional teams. Calvin's ball control is good, and they have some very fast players who can beat their defenders with speed or get behind the opposing defense and score goals, but Chicago's one-on-one skills seemed a little better than Calvin's at times. Against another skilled team that is also fast, I'm not sure how it will all play out.

[WLCALUM83]

Kalamazoo vs. Calvin just underway.

[WLCALUM83]

Cavin 1, Kzoo 0. 30 minutes into the 1st half (Kzoo own goal).

[WLCALUM83]

Calvin 2, Kzoo 0. Still first half.

[WLCALUM83]

Calvin 3, Kzoo 0. Half.

[WLCALUM83]

Per Calvin announcer:  Hope 0. Albion 0. half.

[WLCALUM83]

Calvin 3, Kzoo 0. Final.

Per Calvin announcers:  Hope 1, Albion 0. Final.

[Dark Knight]

Calvin is now ranked #2 in the d3kicks.com poll.

Calvin hasn't played as strong a schedule as some other top teams, and none of Calvin's opponents are rated at the moment. However, other top teams haven't played against many rated opponents either. 

For example, #1 Trinity (TX) has only played #9 Hardin-Simmons, and tied. #3 Wheaton (MA) beat #13 and lost to #10. #4 Messiah only played #6, and lost.

[Jim Matson]

I think Calvin is still a strong team that will do well in the post-season.  Let's see how they do against Hope on Saturday.