NESCAC 2010

[johnboy]

Becks was wrong abot the Wes score today! He must be happy!

I'm sure he is: Wesleyan played very well today.

[Becks]

 

[2xfaux]

Great job by Wesleyan.  This shakes things up in NESCAC.  How do you think Williams responds to what must have been a shock to the Ephs.

[Becks]

Comments on Sat, Sept 11 games:

Trinity 0-0 Colby
- Prediction: Trinity 2-0 Colby
- Stats indicate that Trinity should have won 2-1.  Trinity-Colby stats: shots 25-14, shots on goal 18-10, corners (one stat that Colby dominated) 1-8.
- Missing expected starters:  Trinity: Heather Lynn (D); Colby: Julie Denison (F).
- Frosh starters/scorers: Trinity: none (only 1 frosh played as sub); Colby: None (although 3 frosh played as subs and 2 frosh (Alex Yorke and Julie Blumenstyk) tied for most shots on the team).

Bates 1-0 Conn
– Prediction: Bates 3-1 Conn
- Stats indicate a close game and reflect the score.  Bate-Conn stats: shots 12-7, shots on goal 8-3, corners 4-4.
- Missing expected starters: Bates: Kim Suvak (D)(not on roster), Jacqui Easton (D); Conn: none.
- Frosh starters/scorers: Bates: Annie Burns (Goalie), Julia Rafferty (D), Jaimie Cappucci (F) (3 other frosh played as subs); Conn: Julia Byrne (M) (3 other frosh played as subs)

Amherst 2-1 Bowdoin
– Prediction Amherst 2-1 Bowdoin (nailed it)
- Stats indicate that Bowdoin created more opportunities and should have perhaps won 2-1. Amherst-Bowdoin stats: shots: 11-21; shots on goal: 9-13; corners 6-5.
- Missing expected starters: Amherst: Hannah Cooper (F) (#2 returning scorer), Emily Little (D) (#3 returning scorer), Kyla Woodhouse (F) (#5 returning scorer), Jess Wall (M); Bowdoin: Katharine Farrar (D), Rebecca Silva (M/F)(not on roster)
- Frosh starters/scorers: Amherst: Kate Sisk (M), Amanda Brisco (F)(scored off the bench), Sarah Duffy (F/M); Shannon Usher (D) (3 other frosh played as subs); Bowdoin: Molly Popolizio (M), Caroline Logan (D), Becky Stoneman (D/M) (3 more frosh played as subs)

Williams 2-2 Wesleyan
- Prediction: Williams 3-0 Wesleyan
- Stats indicate that Williams should have won 2-1 or 2-0. Williams-Wesleyan stats: shots: 22-8; shots on goal 12-6; corners: 6-0.

Tufts 3-0 Middlebury
- Prediction: Tufts 1-1 Middlebury
- Stats indicate a much closer game than the score.  Tufts-Williams stats: shots: 11-10; shots on goal: 7-3; corners: 3-6.

[Becks]

How do you think Williams responds to what must have been a shock to the Ephs.

Can't tell too much from one game, but Williams did not look convincing as a team that was going to dominate the league.  I'll be interested to see how they do today against Conn.  Victory should not be an issue, but do they respond with a dominating performance to show that the tie against Wes was a fluke?

[Becks]

Based on the results of their first two games, I think Amherst is struggling without 4 expected starters (including 3 of their 5 top returning scorers) in the lineup.  Early season injury problems?

[Dfense1]

Great job by Wesleyan.  This shakes things up in NESCAC.  How do you think Williams responds to what must have been a shock to the Ephs.

Seems like everyone including Williams is suffering from early days and not enough time yet on the practice field together.

Having said that, Wes took it to Williams and played their best game against the Ephs in recent memory. The Wes star could be rising...unfortunately teams like Salve will not be an appropriate test for them.

[onetouch]

While it is very early, we may be seeing that things with Williams will be more competitive.  The good news is that Williams is still strong and several other teams (Amherst, Mid, Tufts, and now WES) have improved.  The result of the past few years of Williams dominance is that other teams have raised their games.  Great news for the fans.

[solo lobo]

Comments on Sat, Sept 11 games:

Trinity 0-0 Colby
- Prediction: Trinity 2-0 Colby
- Stats indicate that Colby should have won 2-1.  Trinity-Colby stats: shots 25-14, shots on goal 18-10, corners (one stat that Colby dominated) 1-8.
- Missing expected starters:  Trinity: Heather Lynn (D); Colby: Julie Denison (F).
- Frosh starters/scorers: Trinity: none (only 1 frosh played as sub); Colby: None (although 3 frosh played as subs and 2 frosh (Alex Yorke and Julie Blumenstyk) tied for most shots on the team).

Becks... I think you got the stats for corners reversed for this game.  Trinity dominated play but once again, had difficulty finishing.  Colby relied on strong defense, some very good goalkeeper play, and some counter-attacking.  A frustrating start for what looks to be an improved Trinity team...  Colby did have the best chance of the game with Trinity's senior goalkeeper, Emily Weedon, coming up huge on a breakaway towards the end of the first half.

[Becks]

Lobo - The stats on both the Trinity and Colby websites say Colby out-cornered Trinity 8-1, but it was definitely a typo that I had said that the stats indicate that Colby should have won 2-1.  Should have said that the stats indicated that Trinity should have won 2-1.  I have fixed the typo.

[Becks]

The Wes star could be rising...unfortunately teams like Salve will not be an appropriate test for them.

You were right Dfense1.  Salve was apparently too strong to be a good test.  Salve 3-1 Wesleyan 

[Dfense1]

The Wes star could be rising...unfortunately teams like Salve will not be an appropriate test for them.

You were right Dfense1.  Salve was apparently too strong to be a good test.  Salve 3-1 Wesleyan 

Can never underestimate that powerful Commonwealth Coast Conference it seems.

[2xfaux]

Earth to Becks.  Are you still with us.  Seven days and nothing to read from you.  Should I get a job to keep me amused?  I have a Maynard G. Kreb's "Work" aversion.  Please help!!

[Becks]

Been quite busy at work.  Crunch time at the end of the fiscal quarter and all that.  Should have more time soon. For now, a few off-the-cuff observations, without the support of any stats.

Overall theme so far is parity.

Williams, despite returning most of their starters, has not come out of the gates as strong as expected.

Ditto for Amherst, although in their case, it may be due to injuries.

Middlebury is doing fine out of conference, but has had a rough start to the season in conference.

On the other hand, some lower ranked teams are doing a bit better than expected, including Tufts, Trinity, Bates and Colby.

[GUBFL]

Would agree about the overall parity as some of the weaker programs in the conference seem to be getting stronger. 

Went to see Bowdoin and Bates last weekend and Bates looks to be stronger than they have been the last couple of years.  Good defensively, but not much offense.  Same can be said about Bowdoin I guess.  Bowdoin has a very experienced back line and at least one good offensive player up front.  The rest of the team is young with lots of fresh and soph playing and it is still not clear just how good the team is going to be. 

Bates probably had the better of the play Sat from a territorial prospective, but Bowdoin had a little better scoring opportunities and thus the 2 to 1 OT victory.