NESCAC 2011

machine54 · October 11, 2011, 11:33:21 AM

OH, HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN

what a week: first the Yanks, then the Phils and then, last but not least, the EPHS !!

And you just have to love the post-game quote by Coach Pinard "I think Amherst was the best team we've played other than Messiah". You think ?? Maybe you want to add Conn College to the list.

No Woodson, no Walmsley, no Wolfson, no Wild (is is just me or did we all get the sense that Williams specifically recruited players whose last names started with "W') looking more and more like the EPH offense just runs through 2 extremely talented players - Amherst is stronger defensively and has more offensive weapons -- nice when the NESCAC rookie of the year comes off the bench.

We all realize that this is likely just round 1 between these two NESCAC heavyweights and that Amherst has choked it up in the past (6-1 regular season victory over Midd in '09 only to lose to Midd 1-0 in NESCAC semifinals (one of the most intense games ever)) should be an interesting tournament -- enjoy !!

amh63 · October 11, 2011, 06:03:29 PM

Amherst beats ECSU 2-1 at Williamatic this afternoon. It was Amherst 1-0 at the half. ECSU tied it up at 1-1, but Amherst gets the winner late in the game. Amherst out shot Eastern Conn. and had twice as many corner kicks. ECSU led in fouls. Back to the NESCAC this weekend.

2xfaux · October 11, 2011, 06:41:49 PM

Amherst is obviously very good. Does anyone have a real shot at them before the NESCAC tournament?

Ocean 1 · October 14, 2011, 11:37:51 AM

Quote from: 2xfaux on October 11, 2011, 06:41:49 PM
Amherst is obviously very good. Does anyone have a real shot at them before the NESCAC tournament?

With only 4 games left...at Bowdoin/Colby and home vs. Wes/Conn, unless the Maine trip gets in the way or injuries surface, I'm inclined to think they finish the regular season undefeated.

However, winning the NESCAC Championship will be another matter as there are still piranha lurking in those waters!

amh63 · October 14, 2011, 01:29:00 PM

Thanks Ocean 1 for making/answering the question wrt to the Amherst squad in the games ahead. I fully admit, I am not an close follower of soccer and today's game has passed me by as I watch them on the college level. I was introduced to the game as a freshman playing on the freshman team when Amherst was all male and there were freshmen (today's FY's) sports teams. When my kids were at Amherst, I watched soccer to follow friends of my kids....today, I follow the sport because of particular players.
Anyway, I do believe that as teams finish out the second half of their season, it becomes,IMO, more dependent on the coaches....call it the "coach's season". The coaches have had time to evaluate/watch their players in different types of games. They have started to build depth on their squad as injuries have occurred. Different player combinations have been made as new players have emerged. This is the time when lineups and substitue changes are more frequent.....to overcome tired legs, travel fatique, etc. Case in point is this week's player of the week.....won by an Amherst FY player that had little playing time early in the season and is listed as a backup GK/M player.
Yes, the post season lies ahead....but the coach needs to focus the players only on the next game. It the coaches cannot do this...the post season will be a short one. Much of my random comments applies to other sports that my kids played and I watched.

amh63 · October 15, 2011, 03:42:06 PM

Amherst beats Colby in Maine 5-1. It was 2-0 at the half and 3-0 before Colby scored to make it 3-1. Amherst closed it out with two quick goals and put in subs in the last quarter. They play Bowdoin on Sunday.

amh63 · October 16, 2011, 03:21:00 PM

Amherst stays unbeaten in a hard fought game at Bowdoin in front of a Homecoming crowd. Amherst wins 2-1 in 2OT. Game shows how tough it gets in the conference on a homefield. The league play seems to be even. Conference playoffs should be interesting. Amherst meets Wes. at home for a Homecoming match this weekend.

Jump4Joy · October 17, 2011, 10:31:19 AM

The good news for Amherst is they were able to come back from an even score to push for the victory. Same was true in their OT win over Hamilton. Coaches/teams like to know that they are capable of fighting through. Still, they could have put the game away in the first half, so finishing golden opportunities presents as a category to work on for this team for the NESCAC tourney and anything that comes beyond that. Of course, first things first: Wesleyan.

amh63 · October 19, 2011, 02:52:46 PM

Forgot that Amherst plays Keene St. in NH tonight at 7 PM. The game will be on the web, for free....courtesy of the fine people at Keene State. Amherst needs to stay focus on this game. Keene has won 5 straight games and is hard to beat at home. However, their record against conference teams is not good. Still, they beat Amherst last year at Amherst.

amh63 · October 19, 2011, 09:00:15 PM

Amherst beats Keene St. 3-1 on a wet field in a drizzle on a cold night in NH. Keene scored first and it seemed wake the Amherst players up. Amherst increased the pressure and scored two goals within two minutes of each other. Half ended 2-1. Amherst had made several subs early. The second half, Amherst kept up the pressure and by midway, it was 3-1. Amherst dominated the 2nd half and kept the play in the Keene's side. Game ended with Amherst credited with 10 SOG to Keene's 3 SOG. I believe the 3SOGs by Keene were all in the first half. Next game is on Sat. against Wes. and it is critical. A win by Amherst will give the team the top seed in the conference tournament, I believe.....even with one more conference game remaining.

Giggs · October 20, 2011, 04:16:06 PM

Looks like alot of teams will be fighting for their playoff lives over this next week. Wes on the boarder and can secure a spot with a win today at Conn. That would leave two spots for the remaining five teams -- any conjecture on who is in or out of the remaining five?

Ocean 1 · October 21, 2011, 12:13:35 PM

Quote from: Giggs on October 20, 2011, 04:16:06 PM
Looks like alot of teams will be fighting for their playoff lives over this next week. Wes on the boarder and can secure a spot with a win today at Conn. That would leave two spots for the remaining five teams -- any conjecture on who is in or out of the remaining five?

Here's my prediction for the NESCAC conference playoffs and seedings:

#1 seed to Amherst: look for them to sweep Wes and Conn in home games to close NESCAC regular season undefeated at 10-0-0...first team with a perfect record since the Williams teams of 2009/2007 & 2001

#2 seed to Williams: they will sweep Colby home and Midd away to close regular at 8-1-1

#3 seed to Middlebury: will beat Bates away and lose to Williams at home to finish at 6-3-1

#4 seed to Tufts: will drop a road trip to Hamilton and beat Bowdoin away for a 5-4-1 record

#5 seed to Wesleyan: will drop Amherst game away and beat Trinity at home to end at 5-5-0

#6 seed to Hamilton: will win at home v. Tufts to finish their first year in the conference at 5-5-0

#7 seed to Bates: will lose at home v. Midd and beat Colby at home to finish at 3-5-2

#8 seed to Trinity: will beat Bowdoin at home and lose to Wes away to finish at 3-5-2

machine54 · October 22, 2011, 10:19:09 PM

Not too great with the predictions my sea faring friend -- you thinking about changing your mind for what shapes up to be a huge midweek game for Midd - Midd has just about completed turned over its roster in two years (having lost 8 seniors last year - 6/7 starters) and now starts just one senior - the new starters have really stepped up in a big way -- a victory over the Michelyne Men would go a long way towards securing a NCAA bid and position them for home field advantage in the remote chance that Amherst would lose its first round NESCAC tourney game -- it should be a good one with the teams likely meeting 10 days later @ Amherst - although nothing is guaranteed in a one game - go home - format --

Jump4Joy · October 23, 2011, 03:14:42 PM

Ocean did fairly swimmingly on predictions for the first half of the two-part series. Missed the Tufts/Hamilton score by a goal (they tied) and missed the Trinity/Bowdoin mark (Bowdoin won), but otherwise scores held true per the preview. Mid-week matches will provide much excitement in the NESCAC as it comes down to the wire for some teams.

Ocean 1 · October 24, 2011, 07:38:28 PM

Quote from: machine54 on October 22, 2011, 10:19:09 PM
Not too great with the predictions my sea faring friend -- you thinking about changing your mind for what shapes up to be a huge midweek game for Midd - Midd has just about completed turned over its roster in two years (having lost 8 seniors last year - 6/7 starters) and now starts just one senior - the new starters have really stepped up in a big way -- a victory over the Michelyne Men would go a long way towards securing a NCAA bid and position them for home field advantage in the remote chance that Amherst would lose its first round NESCAC tourney game -- it should be a good one with the teams likely meeting 10 days later @ Amherst - although nothing is guaranteed in a one game - go home - format --

As you point out, prognostication is a difficult business at best...but alot of fun being out there in the mix of things nonetheless.

On the Williams vs. Midd game Wednesday, it shapes-up to be a huge game for both teams, and both teams share a number of characteristics in terms of player roster make-up.

That is, Midds roster has 17 upperclassmen (2 seniors) and 7 frosh while Williams (who lost 9 seniors from last year) has 13 upperclassmen (3 seniors) and 10 frosh. While Midd started 9 upperclassmen and 2 frosh in its last game, Williams started 8 upperclassmen and 3 frosh.

In this respect, it looks like Midd has the advantage on all fronts...experience, playing on their home field, and having far less team injuries than the Ephs.

So, perhaps I should take you up on your offer to change my prediction for this game. But NO...what fun would that be?

Perhaps the only thing sweeter than an underdog Eph victory over Midd Wednesday culminating by winning a NESCAC title for an unprecedented 5th consecutive year, would be the game that occurred in 2004 between the teams.

You may recall that is when the #6 seed Ephs playing away vs. #1 seed Midd, rallied to tie the score at 1-1 in the waning minutes of regular time in the NESCAC Championship game. The depleted Eph squad then pushed through 2 scoreless OT's before claiming their first NESCAC title in a shootout.

Change my prediction...NO WAY...I prefer to think that the current EPH squad will find a way to prevail!

GO EPHS!!!