MIAA chat

[Harrier]

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?

So how long would you split time with your goalies.....all the way through the NCAA tourney?

[Dark Knight]

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

I'll bet Calvin's non-conference schedule will get stronger in future years. Last year the conference played a double round-robin. That's 16 conference games, with room for only 4 non-conference games before the NCAA tournament.

This year, there are 8 conference games followed by 3 MIAA tournament games. That leaves room for 9 non-conference games. This year some of those were filled with non-conference games against MIAA opponents. It probably takes time to set up a good non-conference schedule.

[Stinger]

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

I'll bet Calvin's non-conference schedule will get stronger in future years. Last year the conference played a double round-robin. That's 16 conference games, with room for only 4 non-conference games before the NCAA tournament.

This year, there are 8 conference games followed by 3 MIAA tournament games. That leaves room for 9 non-conference games. This year some of those were filled with non-conference games against MIAA opponents. It probably takes time to set up a good non-conference schedule.

The addition of St. Mary's and Tri-State led to the 16 conference games. That was the main reason the women switched to the tournament format.  They wanted more nonconference games to set up the league schedule.

[WLCALUM83]

Who would you rather play in your first match--Capital or Kenyon? (not that it matters that much to the team--they'll be ready no matter who anyway--just asking for your take).

[Dark Knight]

Who would you rather play in your first match--Capital or Kenyon? (not that it matters that much to the team--they'll be ready no matter who anyway--just asking for your take).

I don't know much either team, but Massey has Capital at #65 and Kenyon at
#28, something like an 0.7-goal favorite over Capital. Calvin would be about a 2-goal favorite over Capital.

With the first round bye, Calvin only has to win two games to get out of sectionals and do better than any MIAA team has in recent history. The highest ranked team they might have to play is #17/#21 Otterbein, compared to Calvin's #2/#3 ranking.  So if the polls are any good, they should have a good shot at it.

To get to the final four, Calvin could have to go through #3/#2 Messiah or #9/#6 Oneonta St.   Massey's computer ranking has Calvin at #6, Messiah at #4, and Oneonta at #2, so the elite 8 game should be a tough one.

[Bushop]

Calvin'll be busy with NCAA soccer and volleyball this weekend.

[WLCALUM83]

Women's Soccer playoff final:  Kenyon 2, Capital 0.

Calvin women get Kenyon after the bye.

[Dark Knight]

Almost an inch of rain last night, and a 40% chance of snow showers today -- could be interesting conditions for today's match between Calvin and Kenyon. Yesterday almost 1200 showed up for Calvin's NCAA regional semifinal volleyball game against Hope. How many will slog through the mud and brave the snow for soccer?

[Dark Knight]

The Calvin won 1-0. Though the conditions were somewhat sloshy, the knights had quite a few good scoring opportunities.

[WLCALUM83]

Final just in:  Denison 1, Wittenberg 1:  Denison advances on PK's 4-3.

Denison gets Calvin next.

[Stinger]

So, Calvin gets a little screwed in having to travel to Rochester for the games this weekend.  The NCAA didn't want Messiah to have to fly to GR because it was longer than 500 miles.  GR to Rochester is less than 500 miles (not by much) if driven through Canada. However, the Calvin team couldn't get the necessary documentation together in time to be able to cross the border. So they have a much longer trip around the lake. 

And, Rochester has an artificial surface. They are they only team in the regional that plays on the turf.  The NCAA works in mysterious ways.

[Dark Knight]

And, Rochester has an artificial surface. They are they only team in the regional that plays on the turf.  The NCAA works in mysterious ways.

Aaargh! I hadn't heard about the artificial surface. Calvin didn't have the greatest game the last time they played on an artificial surface.

[Bushop]

Calvin soccer match can be listened to at....

http://www.calvin.edu/sports/ram/calvinsports.ram

....on realplayer.

[Bushop]

0-0....20:00 left in the second half

[Bushop]

0-0....overtime