Ohio Athletic Conference

[deloar]

Sorry...still getting use to my iPad

[woacfan]

That's a good point about Otterbein.  They played a very tough non-conference schedule and are relying on a lot of freshmen.  Given that,  they look good.

Here are the scores from this weekend:

   1:00 PM  Mount Union  3  Marietta  2  Final - 2OT   
   1:00 PM  Muskingum  0  Heidelberg  1  Final   
   3:30 PM  Capital  0  Ohio Northern  1  Final   
   4:30 PM  Otterbein  1  Baldwin-Wallace  0  Final   
   5:00 PM  Wilmington (Ohio)  0  John Carroll  2  Final 

Ohio Northern edged Capital this weekend.  The Capital defense played tough, but they couldn't put any points on the board. 

John Carroll played fairly even with Wilmington in the first half, but put on a dominating performance in the second half to put down Wilmington 2 to 0.  It was a very physical game.   

[woacfan]

Tomorrow......Otterbein v. ONU!!!!!!!!

[woacfan]

Ohio Northern has now cracked D3 Rankings and has moved to 18 in the NCAA national poll.

[woacfan]

Ohio Northern swept Otterbein aside today 3 - 0 to stay undefeated in conference play.  The game was scoreless for the first 45 and was the tie was broken when ONU's forward notched a hat trick in the second half.

In another OAC matchup JCU knocked off Mount Union 1 to 0.  The interesting statistic from that game was the forty -yes forty- shots JCU put on goal.  Don't know if that's a good statistic or not.  The Blue Streaks are putting shots on goal, but are the forwards taking quality chances?  Its hard to say.

Capital beat Wilmington 2 to 0. 

Ohio Northern leads the conference while JCU, Otterbein and Capital are knotted at 3-1.

[woacfan]

Saturday's OAC matchups-

   1:00 PM  John Carroll   Muskingum     
   3:30 PM  Baldwin-Wallace   Ohio Northern     
   4:00 PM  Otterbein   Capital     
   4:30 PM  Heidelberg   Mount Union     
   5:00 PM  Marietta   Wilmington (Ohio) 

Otterbein v. Capital should be an interesting contest.  Its two 3-1 teams.   B-W has been inconsistent.  Early on they received some poll votes, but have struggled recently.  It might make their season if they could upset surging ONU, but that is a lot to ask at this point. 

[Jim Matson]

ONU seems to be getting up a head of steam. An upset now would be unlikely. But of course, on any given day....

This past week is the first time that there has been an OAC school with both mens and women's team in our Top 25. That accomplishment is not as common as one might think and forms an impressive list: Trinity in the SCAC, Williams and Amherst in the NESCAC, Emory, Rochester, Wash U. and Chicago in the UAA, Johns Hopkins in the Centennial, Hobart/William Smith in the Liberty League, Messiah in the MAC, Macalester in the MIAC, and Wheaton in the CCIW.

[woacfan]

Jim,

Thanks for the thoughts. I agree ONU looks unstoppable.  They might run the table in OAC. 
I have hope for my Blue Streaks, but some questionable decisions on their part might hurt them next week; only time will tell. 

I know this is a soccer board, but there was a great article on Heidelberg v. Mount Union football in the Times this week.  Here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/sports/ncaafootball/heidelberg-football-works-toward-upset-that-never-comes.html

As for ONU's elite company,  wouldn't you agree that elite programs are exactly that, "programs"?  The schools you listed generally have a departmental philosophy that allows both the men's and women's sides to flourish.  Some schools may have teams that excel because they have a great coach, or more often, a great core of players.  However, great programs have men's and women's sides that compliment each other and usually are strongly supported by the University administration.

[woacfan]

B-W gave it the old college try, but despite tallying 11 shots to ONU's 7 they lost 2 to 0. 
JCU routed Muskingum 4 to 0.  They outshot the Muskies 20 to 0 in the first half and led 3 to 0.

The game of the day has to be Otterbein v. Capital.  Final Score 2-2 after two overtimes.  Otterbein received a red card in OT....I'd love to hear the story behind that. Does anyone know the details of the game?

[Jim Matson]

I would agree on the program comments. You need two serious attempts at fielding a great team in order to have a shot at two great teams. Obvious, but perhaps not really believed?

[woacfan]

Tuesday night matchups:

   4:00 PM  Otterbein   Marietta     
   4:00 PM  Wilmington (Ohio)   Ohio Northern     
   4:00 PM  Capital   Muskingum     
   7:00 PM  Mount Union   Baldwin-Wallace     
   7:00 PM  John Carroll   Heidelberg 

Two early games and two late games as weather starts to be a factor in Ohio.  These games could be setting the table for some great weekend games!!!!

[woacfan]

Tonight's winners:

   4:00 PM  Otterbein  2  Marietta  0  Final   
   4:00 PM  Wilmington (Ohio)  0  Ohio Northern  2  Final   
   4:00 PM  Capital  2  Muskingum  0  Final   
   7:00 PM  Mount Union  0  Baldwin-Wallace  2  Final   
   7:00 PM  John Carroll 1  Heidelberg 0

This Friday night there will be a HUGE game in the OAC as Ohio Northern takes on John Carroll at Don Shula stadium.  Ohio Northern is undefeated in regular season play in the OAC and is ranked 11th on NSCAA and 18th on D3 Boards.  The JCU Blue Streaks are unheralded, but have already beaten nationally ranked Case Western.   They are surging.  They have not allowed a goal in 5 games.  Going into tonight's game they had a league leading 93 points and 325 shots and ranked second with 31 goals (tie) and 75 corner kicks.   Ohio Northern ranks first in the latter two categories.  Tonight the Blue Streaks continued to put up impressive numbers holding Heidelberg without a shot until the second frame.  They outshot the Berg 25 to 3.

So Friday will be a match between a rising national power in ONU and an unheralded, but determined underdog in JCU.  At stake is first place in the OAC and a potential preview of the OAC playoffs.  These two teams have been on a collision course for weeks.  Anyone who is interested in watching it should click on to the JCU soccer web page and catch the game on U-stream. 

And see, for a while I thought the only two teams in Division 3 were Hopkins and Messiah!

[Jim Matson]

And maybe Wheaton (Ill.)....

[woacfan]

Yes,  my bad.    Haha!

[woacfan]

What a great game!  ONU shows why they are nationally ranked in a 2 - 1 victory over JCU.  It was a beautiful contest.  Both teams played excellent soccer.  After ONU got its second goal, JCU fought with even more intensity and scored in the 77th minute.  ONU spent the last ten minutes in protect mode, which almost cost them.  JCU looked strong between the eighteens, but ONU's counter-attack is a thing of beauty.  One of the most enjoyable games I've ever seen-- -save for the result!