Ohio Athletic Conference

[woacfan]

Women's pre-season rankings are out. Otterbein is in at number 7.  Last year some polls didn't even have them ranked.  I always find the polls interesting.  It is intriguing to see them at the beginning of the season and see how many schools are on the list because they are just supposed to be there.    Love to see the upstarts knock them out. 

Well,  this weekend the feet hit the turf and we will see who is for real and who is not.  Hoping we have some good reps in the OAC this year......

[2xfaux]

I think most preseason polls (NSCAA for instance) are just reprints of last years final poll.  Good for the D3soccer folks for shaking that up a bit.  I am not comfortable with Messiah at #1 but that could just be a recent history vote. 

[woacfan]

Agreed.  I was speaking more to the NCAA poll that sometimes seems to favor the insiders long after their record deserves it.  The regional rankings sometimes are inconsistent with the national ones.  The D3 poll here is a nice change....

[Jim Matson]

Thanks!

[woacfan]

OAC opening weekend games:

Sep. 1  5:00 PM 
Ohio Wesleyan   Capital       
   5:00 PM  Wooster   Ohio Northern      
   5:00 PM  Rio Grande   Muskingum     
   6:30 PM  Mount Union   Waynesburg     
   7:00 PM  Mt. St. Joseph   Wilmington (Ohio)
     
Sep. 2  1:00 PM  

Otterbein   Rowan       
at Centenary (N.J.)   
   3:00 PM  Point Park   Marietta       
Marietta College Classic   
   4:00 PM  Susquehanna   John Carroll       
at Gettysburg Tournament   

Sep. 3  12:00 PM

Maryville (Tenn.)   Wilmington (Ohio)        
Rhodes Classic at Memphis, Tenn.   
   1:00 PM  Otterbein   Drew       
at Hackettstown, N.J. (Centenary)   
  1:00 PM  Capital   Denison       
   1:00 PM  Ohio Northern   Earlham     
   1:00 PM  Drew University   Otterbein       
Centenary (NJ) Tournament at Hackettstown, NJ   
   1:00 PM  Spalding (Ky.)   Mount Union     
   1:00 PM  Muskingum   Me.-Fort Kent       
at Daemen   
   7:30 PM  Heidelberg   Adrian 

Some games to watch highlighted.  I like the Otterbein - Drew game, the Capital -Dennison game, JCU v susquehanna and OWU v. Capital.....

[jellybelly]

Just wondering why 2xfaux doesn't like Messiah at #1.  Who do you think should be there?

[2xfaux]

I don't want to highjack the OAC talk but in response to jellybelly let me say that I am big Messiah fan and while I understand that their recent extraordinary success makes them, perhaps, the default choice for #1 they are, like all the top teams except HSU, on a one game losing streak .  So I don't disagree with the ranking.  I am a little uncomfortable with the expectations it puts on them.  I am certain Coach Frey will have them ready and in a couple of weeks we will know how good they are.

[2xfaux]

I am sorry your trip to Central Pa. wasn't more successful but I hope that despite the outcomes and questionable officiating you enjoyed the weekend.

I am wondering if you or any OAC fans have thoughts on a stat that continues to intrigue me....  Otterbein's opponent's yellow cards..22 last year and 2 already this year.  I assume their opponents are frustrated by the Cardinal's sufficating defense but I am still amazed but the stat.

[woacfan]

Great Lakes Rankings:

  Rank   School   Prev.     W-L-T   
1  Otterbein (Ohio)
DN Rowan 1-0; DN Drew 5-1        2  -  0  -  0   

2  Centre (Ky.)
DH Transylvania 5-1; DH Mount St. Joseph 8-0        2  -  0  -  0   

3  Denison (Ohio)
DH Capital 1-0; LH Marian 0-2        1  -  1  -  0   

4  Ohio Northern
DH Wooster 3-2; DA Earlham 1-0 (OT)        2  -  0  -  0   

5  Allegheny (Pa.)
DN Lycoming 5-0; LN SUNY Brockport 0-1        1  -  1  -  0   

6  Case Western Reserve (Ohio)
DA Westminster (Pa.) 2-0        1  -  0  -  0   

7  Earlham (Ind.)
DA Thomas More 3-1;' LH Ohio Northern 0-1 (OT)        1  -  1  -  0   

8  Kenyon (Ohio)
LH Marian 0-2; DH Capital 3-1        1  -  1  -  0   

9  Hanover (Ind.)
DA Trine 3-2; DA Ohio Wesleyan 1-0        2  -  0  -  0   

10  Washington & Lee (Va.)
DH Wooster 2-0        1  -  0  -  0   

Also receiving votes: Transylvania (Ky.), Thomas More (Ky.), Wilmington (Ohio)

A lot of Ohio Schools on the list.  Otterbein at number one,  Ohio Northern at 4 and Wilmington receiving votes.  Pretty good OAC representation there.  Add to that Dennison, Kenyon and Case Western.  Pretty solid there....

[woacfan]

Tomorrow's OAC Games:

Otterbein at Transylvania for their tournament
ONU takes on NYU at Stephenson
JCU hosts Olivet at their tournament
Wilmongton lost to Wittenberg on Tuesday and play Wooster (OH.) tomorrow
Capital lost to Centre on Wednesday and plays Frostberg State at their tournament tomorrow....

Transylvania is no pushover.  That should be an interesting test for the Otters.  ONU traveled quite a distance to play in NJ.  They are 2-0 and this weekend might show if they are the real deal.   

[woacfan]

The Blue Streaks destroyed Olivet, which looks to be in a rebuilding year.  The final shot total was close to 30 to 6 for JCU.  The Comets keeper was excellent. Honestly,  the score could have been 10 or 15 to 1 instead of the 5 to 1 final if it weren't for her excellent work.  JCU built up a 4-0 lead in the first 20 minutes and then subbed liberally from that point.  A good win for a team that needs to learn how to win.....

The second game was much closer.  Case-Western edged Grove City in double overtime.  This is the first loss for Grove....  C-W is going to look to move up in the rankings after its strong start.

[woacfan]

Blue Streaks get a nice win over Grove 2 to 1!

[woacfan]

Transylvania upsets #3 Otterbein in double overtime.  A big upset, but you knew this one was going to be close.  Transylvania is going to have a good year.  I expect the Otters to bounce back.
Ohio Northern loses 3 to 1 to an undefeated NYU team.  They play Stephenson tomorrow. 

As for JCU,  they looked good in their win against Grove City.  They are starting to show some resilliance.  They had a 1-0 lead and controlled most of the first half.  They responded to a second half goal with a late goal to seal the victory.  This week they take on their cross town rivals Case-Western.  Case is soaring in the early going and they have dominated the recent series between the two clubs.  It should be a great game.  You can catch on JCU's streaming video. ( I only wish they had a better video camera for the broadcasts!   )

[woacfan]

Suddenly,  the OAC is a big jumble as Otterbein loses again; this time to Centre.  Ohio Northern ties Stephenson.   Its early, but the OAC looks wide open right now!!!!!

[2xfaux]

It could be one of those years and not just in the OAC.  Lots of early results have really opened this thing up.