Hopkins and Messiah

[purplehat]

Messiah totally dominated Arcadia yesterday.  Arcadia looked a step slow and never had any type of flow to their game.  I too wish that Messiah and JHU could have played their game.  They are without a doubt above everyone else in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  It's a shame that they usually have to play each other for a final four berth every year.

[2xfaux]

I didn't see the game.  I am surprised Arcadia didn't play better.  I don't remember a game, certainly a Women's game, where a team scored two goals on PKs.  I think Hopkins also won 6-0.  Perhaps another NCAA tournament showdown is coming.  Hopkins does have TCNJ this week.  We shall see. 

[ja_rowski]

actually, Hopkins only won 2-0 against Arcadia, but they played away.  Messiah won at home.  it's always difficult to compare teams on paper; however, although i am biased in my judgment, i would def give the edge to messiah.  of course, that would have been nice if the game could have been played between these 2 great teams.  If it was played at Messiah (beautiful grass field), there's no doubt in my mind that the Falcons would have won.  Honestly, Hopkins has not played anyone worth talking about.  We shall see how they play against TCNJ tonight.  That will be a great matchup.  a great rivalry, #5 and #11.

[purplehat]

Messiah just beat Lycoming 6-0.  That is actually a pretty good showing for Lycoming.  I heard that Lycoming played straight up instead of putting 10 girls in the box like Widener did against Messiah. Kudos to the Lycoming coach for playing the "right way"

A quick question for you D3 experts out there.  If Messiah and Hopkins run the table the rest of the year and end up ranked both in the top four in the country, would there be a chance that one of them would be moved to another region so they wouldn't have to meet in the sweet sixteen or elite eight?  It would be a shame that maybe 1 and 2 would have to meet before the final four.  I know it's along way off, but it's a good possibility that it could happen.

[2xfaux]

Ja_ I had forgotten that Hopkins played Arcadia.  My 6-0 meant to reference Hopkins v Ursinus the same night Messiah played Arcadia.  My mistake.  Purplehat, your kodos to Lycoming for playing Messiah "straight up" is interesting to me.  I have been watching D-3 soccer games for several years now and have been maddened by seeing teams play "10 women/men in the box".  It is no fun to watch as a fan.  However, as the coach of an over-matched team, should I play the superior team's game and pray for mercy or should I give my team a chance to tie 0-0 or maybe get lucky and pop one in by counter-attacking? 

Have a good Homecoming and don't overlook LV.

[purplehat]

2X,  I agree that as an opposing coach I might try and pack it in and keep it close until the end.  What upsets me as a fan is the team that packs it in and kicks the ball upfield to no one or kicks it directly out of play.  This was the approach Widener took this year against Messiah, even when they were losing 2-0 in the final twenty minutes.  It was apparent that their coach was pleased with a 2-0 loss, but he never let his girls really play.  I wonder if during the three days prior to the game if they practiced booting the ball long to no one.  Even in a lopsided loss you can still try to play the game right and improve your play.  No wonder Widener only draws 20 people to their home games.

[ja_rowski]

agreed. yes, one would/should play cautious against a powerhouse team, but the players, the team, they do not learn anything that will help their own game.  i think for the coach, it comes down to respecting the game.  soccer is not a game of kickball.  You lose the system play and the team work related to the system play.  The game should be played within the spirit of the game.  On the other hand Messiah now has to fire shots from beyond the 18 or a cross/finish type strategy, neither of which is ideal, nor the Messiah style.  That's why, to a certain extent, it has worked for teams such as Widener. (not fun to watch either).  This of course does not apply to a team who legitimately scores first and then is cautious to advance outside of their defensive end.  I would no doubt be playing for the win in that circumstance.

Btw - well done, Hopkins 1-0 over TCNJ.  well done.  you have proven top 5 status, but i don't see them moving up over 1-4...Messiah, William Smith, Trinity, Wheaton, IL.  All 4 are solid teams and programs and the rest of their schedules should be handled with ease.

[Jim Matson]

PurpleHat, my opinion means nothing to the NCAA, so I will have to admit that Messiah will probably have to face Johns Hopkins in the second round, assuming that they both make it that far. My opinion is that the NCAA could easily stick with ground transportation and keep those two apart. This year, Messiah will have the advantage of hosting the women's sectional, so if Hopkins can manage to win their first two, and if enough other teams in the area make it that far, Hopkins might get shipped out to New England or somewhere West.

We will know more next week when the NCAA regional polls are released. Messiah has faced two tough opponents and so they should be at the top of the their ranking; where will JHU end up?

I have not seen Trinity play, but William Smith and Wheaton appear to be tough sides this season - maybe as good as anyone in the nation. Wheaton is as skilled on the ball as I have seen in some years, and has at least four strong scoring threats. They have defeated three teams in the top 15, and three that have fallen out of the top 25.

WMS has a an exceptional player and a strong defense, and has played Messiah to a scoreless draw, and defeated one other Top 25 team. They will face two more in Union and Ithaca.

Messiah has a diversified scoring threat as well and a very tough defense. Besides William Smith, they faced a top 15 team in Williams and won 1-0. Messiah's struggle is that they have a fairly weak schedule beyond those two sides.

My guess is that the NCAA will end up with the same opinion in their regional rankings. You'll see Messiah, Wheaton, William Smith, and Trinity as #1 teams in the Mid-Atlantic, the Central, the East, and the West.

[purplehat]

I agree with those four Jim, but if any of them slip up down the home stretch, then I'm sure Hopkins will move into their place.  That would make things quite a bit more interesting.

[purplehat]

Well one of them slipped and Hopkins moved in.  Two from the Mid-Atlantic in the top four...as of now.

[ja_rowski]

get ready...9/5/2012 at Homewood - one of the best games of the season in D3

[2xfaux]

Messiah's 2-1 OT loss to a really big, strong, well coached Emory team means Hopkins can make a run at #1 in the next rankings.  They play Messiah, mid-week and I think, Emory next weekend.  William Smith will be there as well.  William Smith plays at Messiah next weekend.  The possibility of the Messiah Women beginning the season 1-3 is real.  They are young and have some injuries.  Get well soon..  Go Falcons!

[2xfaux]

I am stunned.  Messiah 4 - JHU 0 at Homewood.  Go figure.

[ja_rowski]

If Hopkins and Messiah would have both played like they did in the first half, it would have been a closer game; but:
- although JHU played with energy in the first half; they were walking in much of the second half;
- Messiah played sloppy and uneasy in the first half; but as Messiah is arguably the fittest team in the country with somewhat of a deep bench, they ran over a JHU team that died in the second.
I am surprised not by the score, but by the way JHU seemingly just gave up at the end of the game.  Messiah was dominant at times, but needs to set their back 4 and develop a goal scorer.  On the plus side, their freshman goalie looked confident and saved them in the first half multiple times.

[hubert]

Wow.  JHU was awful!  So many things wrong where do you start?  Obviously at the top.  That's all I'm going to say.