CCIW

[Gotberg]

It ended in a 2-2 draw. Kris only used his starters for about 25 minutes. I suspect that the same will hold true for this evening's scrimmage against Illinois Wesleyan. As far as North Park is concerned, this spring is all about getting everybody some playing time and tinkering with different lineup configurations.

It's worth pointing out that some of North Park's better players are taking a pandemic gap year and will be on campus in the fall but are thus not on the spring roster. I suspect that there are other programs out there that are in similar situations.

North Park hosts seven games while on the road for three with the first game tomorrow at EC.

https://athletics.northpark.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule

It's been called off. No word yet on whether that's a cancellation or a mere postponement.

It turned out to be a postponement. The NPU @ EU scrimmage has been rescheduled to April 11 (a week from this coming Sunday).

Thanks Greg.

I don't know what's behind the lack of game info from the schools, but as an outsider, I don't understand why they wouldn't want to recognize their players' participation and accomplishments (I.e., goals). 

I think the fans understand these are scrimmages and not sanctioned games, but would still like to follow along.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into the lack of info.

[Gregory Sager]

There are a lot of NCAA rules governing scrimmages in such matters as player participation, game periods, broadcast availability, fan access, scorekeeping, etc. Among the rules are, in several sports (including men's soccer), prohibitions against not only permanently keeping records (such as goals) but against officially disseminating information about them through the school or league.

In other words, it's not a matter of "why they wouldn't want to," it's a matter of "why they're not allowed to."

[Gotberg]

There are a lot of NCAA rules governing scrimmages in such matters as player participation, game periods, broadcast availability, fan access, scorekeeping, etc. Among the rules are, in several sports (including men's soccer), prohibitions against not only permanently keeping records (such as goals) but against officially disseminating information about them through the school or league.

In other words, it's not a matter of "why they wouldn't want to," it's a matter of "why they're not allowed to."

That makes sense, but it's crazy.  The NCAA should spend their energy on more valuable initiatives.

[Gregory Sager]

You'll get no argument from me on that, that's for sure.

I'm not one of those anti-NCAA types, but I think that the organization (which, I realize, is really just the collective body of decision-makers from among the member schools) does from time to time render decisions or adopt rules that seem excessive or unnecessary.

[Ejay]

And yet, many schools are publishing game result details on their website and via twitter/instagram/etc.

[Gregory Sager]

There's a difference between an exhibition and a scrimmage. There's no rules against publishing details about exhibitions.

Then again, I'm not sure how scrupulously scrimmage rules are policed. I've seen scoreboard operators at preseason basketball scrimmages forget to wipe out the score after the first half, leading to jokes about "NCAA fines" and that sort of thing.

[Gotberg]

There's a difference between an exhibition and a scrimmage. There's no rules against publishing details about exhibitions.

Then again, I'm not sure how scrupulously scrimmage rules are policed. I've seen scoreboard operators at preseason basketball scrimmages forget to wipe out the score after the first half, leading to jokes about "NCAA fines" and that sort of thing.

I'd assume you can only have X number of exhibitions per year?

[npbaseball40]

And yet, many schools are publishing game result details on their website and via twitter/instagram/etc.

SID here. Don't lose sight of the fact that coaches may also request to not broadcast or report official stats for scrimmages AND exhibitions. As Greg said, it's not as simple as "XYZ" institution "didn't want to take the time to post scores". It's often agreed upon (between coaches, not gameday personnel) to not have official stats kept.

Also, many schools are HEAVILY overlapped with all the sports going on at the same time. Right now, at NPU, our basketball teams are the only teams "out of season". Many are in the exact same boat.

We'll be back at full capacity this fall!

[Gregory Sager]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, NPU beat Illinois Wesleyan in a windy scrimmage at Hedstrand Field this evening, 2-0. The Titans couldn't score in the first half with the wind at their backs, but the Vikings managed to pot a pair in the second. The first came off of a nifty little flick from Ulrik Lund to Alfredo "Sauce" Pichardo that Sauce drove home past IWU keeper Austin Woodside from 30 yards out. The second came on a 25-yard direct free kick from North Park freshman Christian Vaaland that was clearly a matter of goalkeeper error, as Woodside lined up too far to the right in an attempt to see around his wall. Vaaland hit a perfect croquet-ball roller between the feet of two members of the Titans wall and into the lower left corner. of the goal.

It was a very physical match with a fair amount of shoving and hard feelings, and IWU's Donovan Malone even got red-carded in the final two minutes. We'll have to wait and see if Malone has to serve that one-game DQ next fall.

North Park used three 2019 starters (Lund, Peder Olsen, and Gustav Ericsson) in tonight's starting lineup, although William Boström-Rydfjell did play in the second half, and there were several Vikings who are no stranger to the varsity pitch (Pichardo, Abu Secka, Patrick Knap, and Edin Sabovic) who saw time as well. Only three Titans starters from 2019 (Malone, Dane Hoare, and Trevor Martin) started for IWU tonight, although the lion's share of the Titans starting lineup consisted of rotation regulars who came in off of the bench in 2019.

There's a whole lot to sort out between now and the end of August, but, man, was it fun to watch a men's soccer match at Hedstrand Field again!

[Gotberg]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, NPU beat Illinois Wesleyan in a windy scrimmage at Hedstrand Field this evening, 2-0. The Titans couldn't score in the first half with the wind at their backs, but the Vikings managed to pot a pair in the second. The first came off of a nifty little flick from Ulrik Lund to Alfredo "Sauce" Pichardo that Sauce drove home past IWU keeper Austin Woodside from 30 yards out. The second came on a 25-yard direct free kick from North Park freshman Christian Vaaland that was clearly a matter of goalkeeper error, as Woodside lined up too far to the right in an attempt to see around his wall. Vaaland hit a perfect croquet-ball roller between the feet of two members of the Titans wall and into the lower left corner. of the goal.

It was a very physical match with a fair amount of shoving and hard feelings, and IWU's Donovan Malone even got red-carded in the final two minutes. We'll have to wait and see if Malone has to serve that one-game DQ next fall.

North Park used three 2019 starters (Lund, Peder Olsen, and Gustav Ericsson) in tonight's starting lineup, although William Boström-Rydfjell did play in the second half, and there were several Vikings who are no stranger to the varsity pitch (Pichardo, Abu Secka, Patrick Knap, and Edin Sabovic) who saw time as well. Only three Titans starters from 2019 (Malone, Dane Hoare, and Trevor Martin) started for IWU tonight, although the lion's share of the Titans starting lineup consisted of rotation regulars who came in off of the bench in 2019.

There's a whole lot to sort out between now and the end of August, but, man, was it fun to watch a men's soccer match at Hedstrand Field again!

Thanks Greg, that was quite a strike from Pichardo.

[Gotberg]

I had a chance to watch a few first half minutes of the NPU / Elmhurst game Saturday.  NPU has depth, although I think we already knew this...

I was impressed with the Holm to Anamoo combination goals.  Quick, soft touches from Holm and composed finishing from first-year player Anamoo.

It's good to get some rhythm before the real competition in the fall.

[Gregory Sager]

I had a chance to watch a few first half minutes of the NPU / Elmhurst game Saturday.  NPU has depth, although I think we already knew this...

I was impressed with the Holm to Anamoo combination goals.  Quick, soft touches from Holm and composed finishing from first-year player Anamoo.

It's good to get some rhythm before the real competition in the fall.

Composed finishing, and a couple of outstanding goal-celebration backflips. The judges in the press box gave Anamoo two 10s and a 9.8.

I am enormously impressed by Noel Holm. He is really going to bring something special to this league.

[Gotberg]

Anyone have info on the last few NPU games?

[Gregory Sager]

There haven't been any other games scheduled. The Vikings were supposed to have a return friendly at Elmhurst this evening, but it was canceled.

[Gotberg]

I caught a few minutes last night of the Vikings' soccer game.  From what I could tell, the Vikings controlled possession the entire game and I think it finished, 2-0 Vikings.