CCIW

[The Sock Heir]

It was a matter of NP not playing well and nothing else.

Now THAT is a stupid thing to say. Teams don't play poorly all by their lonesome. The opponent has say in it too. It's not like Carthage just stood there while North Park missed wide open shots or something. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... this is soccer! A game where you can out shoot an opponent 30-1 and still lose 1-0. Oh and by the way, North Park got out shot.

Jonas is absolutely helping, as they wouldn't have been undefeated as long as they were without his goal scoring ability. Luckily for him, cards reset to zero in the postseason.

The CCIW race is so jumbled right now, no one can control who they might face due to the fact that teams can go from hosting to out of it in one game at this point. But if I'm North Park, I want to face Wheaton more than Elmhurst or Carthage. The Thunder defense can be quite porous in close.

Actually, teams do play poorly on their own. And there were no "Coulda, woulda, shouldas." My point was, NP lost because they did not play well (and no, Carthage did not do anything out of the ordinary. Their goal was garbage and they played within their capacity, that's about it). Which is how inferior teams actually win against superior teams.

[Gregory Sager]

Jonas really has become a headcase. He needs a good kick in the butt. How many times have I seen his teammates telling him to shut up. Probably more than a few players who can't stand wannabe prima donna. At some point you have to ask, is he helping or hurting.

Well, let's see ... Jonas Pettersson is ranked ninth in the nation in goals per game, eleventh in the nation in points per game, and in terms of counting stats he's 20th in the nation in goals scored and 33rd in points scored, in spite of the fact that NPU's reduced schedule and the two games he's missed due to cards means that he's seen a lot less time than most (if not all) of the other top scorers around the country.

I vote "helping".

Teams don't play poorly all by their lonesome. The opponent has say in it too. It's not like Carthage just stood there while North Park missed wide open shots or something. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... this is soccer! A game where you can out shoot an opponent 30-1 and still lose 1-0. Oh and by the way, North Park got out shot.

NPU had more shots on frame than did Carthage.

Actually, teams do play poorly on their own. And there were no "Coulda, woulda, shouldas." My point was, NP lost because they did not play well (and no, Carthage did not do anything out of the ordinary. Their goal was garbage and they played within their capacity, that's about it). Which is how inferior teams actually win against superior teams.

Looking at the arc of the season for both NPU and Carthage, and how well or how poorly they've fared against common opponents, I have to think that the advantage was squarely in North Park's corner last night, in spite of the fact that the game was played at Carthage and the Vikings were missing some key personnel. With the important caveat that I didn't see the game, I tend to believe the explanation that NPU didn't play welll and that that had a lot to do with why the Vikings lost. Having said that, however, Carthage is certainly a good team, and I don't want to take anything away from the Red Men's win; I wouldn't have been worried about the outcome going into the game if I didn't already know that the Red Men were capable of pulling off the upset.

[Whocares1]

Correct me if I am wrong.  North Park is in the CCIW tourney, win, lose or draw because of wins over Wheaton and IWU.  If IWU, Wheaton and Elmhurst all win on Saturday, Carthage is out, due to a loss to Wheaton and a loss, if it happens, to IWU on Saturday and Elmhurst with the better record.  Weird!  It makes for a great Saturday!

[blue_jays]

It was a matter of NP not playing well and nothing else.

Now THAT is a stupid thing to say. Teams don't play poorly all by their lonesome. The opponent has say in it too. It's not like Carthage just stood there while North Park missed wide open shots or something. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... this is soccer! A game where you can out shoot an opponent 30-1 and still lose 1-0. Oh and by the way, North Park got out shot.

Jonas is absolutely helping, as they wouldn't have been undefeated as long as they were without his goal scoring ability. Luckily for him, cards reset to zero in the postseason.

The CCIW race is so jumbled right now, no one can control who they might face due to the fact that teams can go from hosting to out of it in one game at this point. But if I'm North Park, I want to face Wheaton more than Elmhurst or Carthage. The Thunder defense can be quite porous in close.

Actually, teams do play poorly on their own. And there were no "Coulda, woulda, shouldas." My point was, NP lost because they did not play well (and no, Carthage did not do anything out of the ordinary. Their goal was garbage and they played within their capacity, that's about it). Which is how inferior teams actually win against superior teams.

Well I'll be happy to hear your explanation the next time North Park loses. Since evidently they are always "the superior team". I'm sure it will be because Ahlberg didn't sleep enough the night before, or Jonas ate a bad egg-salad sandwich, or the referee forgot his seeing-eye dog, or the sun was too bright for the Swedes who are used to 6 months of darkness, which will all correspond to make the team not play to their potential.

[Whocares1]

Actually, if NP loses, Carthage loses and Wheaton wins, you have four teams at 4-2-1, pluse whatever Elmhurst does.  Interesting!

[The Sock Heir]

It was a matter of NP not playing well and nothing else.

Now THAT is a stupid thing to say. Teams don't play poorly all by their lonesome. The opponent has say in it too. It's not like Carthage just stood there while North Park missed wide open shots or something. Coulda, woulda, shoulda... this is soccer! A game where you can out shoot an opponent 30-1 and still lose 1-0. Oh and by the way, North Park got out shot.

Jonas is absolutely helping, as they wouldn't have been undefeated as long as they were without his goal scoring ability. Luckily for him, cards reset to zero in the postseason.

The CCIW race is so jumbled right now, no one can control who they might face due to the fact that teams can go from hosting to out of it in one game at this point. But if I'm North Park, I want to face Wheaton more than Elmhurst or Carthage. The Thunder defense can be quite porous in close.

Actually, teams do play poorly on their own. And there were no "Coulda, woulda, shouldas." My point was, NP lost because they did not play well (and no, Carthage did not do anything out of the ordinary. Their goal was garbage and they played within their capacity, that's about it). Which is how inferior teams actually win against superior teams.

Well I'll be happy to hear your explanation the next time North Park loses. Since evidently they are always "the superior team". I'm sure it will be because Ahlberg didn't sleep enough the night before, or Jonas ate a bad egg-salad sandwich, or the referee forgot his seeing-eye dog, or the sun was too bright for the Swedes who are used to 6 months of darkness, which will all correspond to make the team not play to their potential.

Learn how to quote. I never said that NP was "always the superior team." And while you're at it, learn how to read. I never made any outlandish excuses. I simply stated that North Park did not play well, hence the reason why they lost. Surely even you can understand that when a team, with more talent (dare I say "superior") loses to a team that has far less talent, it is USUALLY, not always, attributed to the team with more talent not playing well.

[soc4life]

Quick question... Why does the "superior" team always just not play well when they lose? How about the other team just playing that well and deserving to win. How about the gameplan they put together, or their execution on that night. I am sure Carthage was the "superior" team the night they beat NP. Who knows...maybe if NP played to their potential Carthage would have raised their game even more and still won.

Give credit where credit is deserved and leave it at that. Carthage won and NP lost. NP will just need to raise the bar in the tourney as will every other team, to and see if they can win it.

[voiceofseason]

Actually, if NP loses, Carthage loses and Wheaton wins, you have four teams at 4-2-1, pluse whatever Elmhurst does.  Interesting!

Under that scenario, Elmhurst is champs with a win, and stays home with a loss.  The final three spots would all come down to goal differential I imagine.

My thought is that Wheaton will win for sure, and I don't see North Central beating North Park (especially at NP).  Carthage @ IWU and Elmhurst @ Augie would appear to be the games with the likelihood of deciding the final two.  If Elmhurst wins they're in.  A loss and an IWU win or tie and they're out, if I read the tiebreaker correctly (IWU holds head to head over Elmhurst).  As was pointed out, it makes for a great Saturday!

[The Sock Heir]

Quick question... Why does the "superior" team always just not play well when they lose? How about the other team just playing that well and deserving to win. How about the gameplan they put together, or their execution on that night. I am sure Carthage was the "superior" team the night they beat NP. Who knows...maybe if NP played to their potential Carthage would have raised their game even more and still won.

Give credit where credit is deserved and leave it at that. Carthage won and NP lost. NP will just need to raise the bar in the tourney as will every other team, to and see if they can win it.

I'm perfectly fine giving credit, where credit is due. For instance, when NP tied UofC. Both sides played well and the tie was a warranted result that night. I'll even go as far to say that Elmhurst executed an excellent game plan against NP (even though it pains me to say). BUT, Carthage was not one of those cases.

[d3fan1]

The Carthage defenders were clearly superior to what North Park put on the field that night. Gran was non-existant up front and was only slightly better when they moved him to mid-field. I didn't realize he was fighting an injury, but he never did assert himself. Maybe North Park is a superior team talent wise, but, on that night Carthage was the best team.

[IdahoSoccer]

Looking forward to seeing Greg's response to the NPU scoreline tonight

[Jim Matson]

Years ago, Greg started the CCIW basketball chat with a comment about parity in the league, and overall competitiveness within the region and nationally.

I think that CCIW soccer is in that position at this point in time. North Park clearly has the best chance to beat anyone in the country, but they are real hot and cold side this season. The rest of the conference can beat each other up, but can't (and won't have the chance to) make any waves in the post-season.

Yet, I think this is a turning point for the CCIW. The women's programs have made a name for the conference over the past five seasons, and even now, Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton are both national top 20 teams. This needs to happen on the men's side. Carthage? North Central? Or perhaps North Park has to get some consistency and get into the quarterfinals this year!

[voiceofseason]

Yesterday was just a crazy turn of events in a 15 minute period.  Illinois Wesleyan scores a goal to go ahead of Carthage 2-0.  A quick check of Elmhurst Live Stats and they trail Augie 2-0.  IWU is heading to the CCIW tournament.

Carthage scores, then scores again.  Overtime.

Elmhurst scores, then scores again.  Overtime.

An unfortunate ball off an IWU defenders arm and it's a PK near the end of the 1st overtime - IWU out, Carthage co-champs.

Elmhurst loses in overtime, but since IWU didn't at least tie, they still make the tourney.

And then North Park falls to North Central, and Carthage is outright champs.  Had IWU held on, it would have been a 4-way tie.

A weird day of soccer.  Jim writes about parity.  Yesterday is proof of how true that really is......

[soc4life]

Where are all the NP bloggers??? I am very intrigued to here what is going on behind the scenes since they have dropped their last 2 games. I know Carthage and North Central are having good years, but I would have expected more from a team that is on the verge of making deep run in the tourney.

Some insight would be helpful for those of us who have been keeping up all year. Thx

[The Sock Heir]

Where are all the NP bloggers??? I am very intrigued to here what is going on behind the scenes since they have dropped their last 2 games. I know Carthage and North Central are having good years, but I would have expected more from a team that is on the verge of making deep run in the tourney.

Some insight would be helpful for those of us who have been keeping up all year. Thx

As it already seems obvious, NP is having an end of year meltdown. They seemingly have played their way out of an at-large bid and will now have to win the conference tourney. They have Wheaton, at home, on Wednesday, but will be with out the services of Petterson, and McNaughton, and possibly Grahn. Hopefully NP can return to form and resurrect, a possibly lost, great season.