NESCAC

Bucket · October 15, 2016, 07:21:04 PM

Quote from: Mr.Right on October 15, 2016, 06:08:45 PM
Sunday's Predictions:

Middlebury v Wesleyan-----Wesleyan is very young as Wheeler started 3 Frosh and gave significant minutes to another 2-3 today. Wheeler has a very good Freshman class(I would say their Frosh are better than Williams' Frosh, which is alarming) as they have good speed and skill but they are young and inexperienced. They will be a pretty good side the next couple of years. Unfortunately, minus a miracle Wesleyan will not be participating in the Nescac tournament this year. They are solid at CB as Wheeler has moved Gruner back there with Nick Jackson and they possess the ball quite well and had some good counters today they just cannot finish. Middlebury is stuck in neutral after another draw at Trinity today. Another game and another Nescac game for Middlebury without a goal. This is starting to become worrisome as they are 0-1-2 in their last 3 Nescac games and have been shutout in ALL OF THEM. That's 5 goals in 7 Nescac games which is ABYSMAL. The good news is they have a dejected Wesleyan side coming into town. Wesleyan looked tired at the end of the game today and lack the size to deal with Middlebury on set pieces. You would think Middlebury will get out of its scoring slump tomorrow. If they do not get a Win v Wesleyan tomorrow their Pool C chances could start to flush down the toilet. They really need to get back on track as their only significant result is a 1-1 draw v Amherst. Middlebury 2-0

No Glaser certainly didn't help Middlebury's offensive woes in conference play today, though the Panthers did have several good scoring opportunities; they just couldn't find the back of the net.

Panther partisans are hoping the boys bust out of the scoring slump tomorrow, as you suspect they might. (And I hope you're right.)

Mr.Right · October 15, 2016, 08:21:00 PM

What was the reason Glaser did not play? Injured or Suspension?

Bucket · October 16, 2016, 12:34:46 PM

Quote from: Mr.Right on October 15, 2016, 08:21:00 PM
What was the reason Glaser did not play? Injured or Suspension?

He's injured.

Brother Flounder · October 16, 2016, 02:55:59 PM

Big win for the Jumbos yesterday. I agree with Mr. Right that today will be a tough one. 1-1 draw...

Mr.Right · October 16, 2016, 08:21:59 PM

Very rough day for Wesleyan and Trinity today. They were both completely outclassed today by Middlebury and Tufts respectfully. Neither Trinity nor Wesleyan had any dangerous chances all game.

As usual we find Colby and Bates missing the Nescac tournament again this year with Wesleyan hanging on by a thread. They will all be able to play spoiler but their seasons will be over in a week and a half.

NEPitch62 · October 16, 2016, 08:33:49 PM

Tufts certainly on a roll. Defense and goalkeeping dominate all weekend while the offense has taken advantage of their chances. Trinity, sorry Mr. Right, played admirably today but ran into a buzz saw. Becherano has taken Majumder's place as the go-to striker and Greenwood is not only the best keeper in the Cac, but one of the best in the nation. Look for Tufts to make another run.

Mr.Right · October 16, 2016, 08:51:00 PM

Quote from: NEPitch62 on October 16, 2016, 08:33:49 PM
Tufts certainly on a roll. Defense and goalkeeping dominate all weekend while the offense has taken advantage of their chances. Trinity, sorry Mr. Right, played admirably today but ran into a buzz saw. Becherano has taken Majumder's place as the go-to striker and Greenwood is not only the best keeper in the Cac, but one of the best in the nation. Look for Tufts to make another run.

Hey I agree with most of this..You do not have to apologize to me.....Tufts really IMPRESSED me today with their suffocating defense and all 10 guys buzzing around like bees pressing Trinity into oblivion. Becherano has really improved with another 2 goals today. I disagree with you that Tufts will make another NCAA run as while they are playing their best right now, I really believe they are peaking to early and will get bounced from the NCAA's rather quickly. This is not 2014 or even 2015 Tufts as against better teams they are going to struggle creating scoring opportunities as they just do not have the same complimentary pieces nor do they have a stud to take over a game. I hate to be a downer but I really believe Becherano can be taken out of a game by better teams.

NEPitch62 · October 16, 2016, 09:12:58 PM

Mr. Right, unsure I agree that Tufts is peaking too early. They started 3-3-1 through 7 games and since have gone 4-0-1 in their last five with 3 to go. Tufts mid-field has been relatively mistake free as of late and fellow national champions Majumder and Zinner are coming back into form. With Weatherbie on the wing - who is very impressive in my opinion and Becherano up front, goals will come. And the defense - Sullivan (who I know you are a fan of) and Coleman are doing a formidable job in front of Greenwood. Now, to be fair, it will remain to be seen if they can carry the weight of Kramer and Williams (All American) in the back if they make it to the Show.

Mr.Right · October 16, 2016, 09:27:31 PM

You could be right BUT it would really make me nervous as a coach to have Becherano with 9 goals and the rest of the team with no more than 1 goal. If Majumder or some midfielders do not start scoring they are in trouble....In November better teams can take Becharano out of a game and then what? Other guys MUST contribute to scoring goals or it will be a quick exit. I know you are a proud parent and I do not mean to sound like a downer as I really do enjoy watching Tufts play but I also am realistic about the situation.

NEPitch62 · October 16, 2016, 09:45:03 PM

Fair enough Mr. Right. If Majumder fails to build minutes in these last few, Becherano will be swinging in the breeze against quality defenses come the tournaments. All I can say is that Tufts right now is extremely confident and feel they can beat anybody - just ask Brandeis, Amherst, and Middlebury - all top ranked programs.

letsGOswans! · October 16, 2016, 09:51:38 PM

Tufts did not impress me in their win against Conn yesterday. Compared to previous Tufts teams they are inferior technically and far less imposing physically. I can see Tufts advancing to the second or third round of the tournament because the rest of the league is down this year, but Mr. Right is spot on when he says Tufts is VERY beatable.

blooter442 · October 16, 2016, 11:51:17 PM

On the subject of Tufts, Becherano has 9 goals this year in mid-October. IIRC Majumder scored 9 in the entirety of last year, and we were all raving about him, so given that the former was seen to be a fill-in for Majumder while he was out injured and he has carried the load and then some I think Becherano really deserves some credit for what he's done thus far this year. What were his #s like last year?

Brother Flounder · October 17, 2016, 11:11:00 AM

Quote from: blooter442 on October 16, 2016, 11:51:17 PM
On the subject of Tufts, Becherano has 9 goals this year in mid-October. IIRC Majumder scored 9 in the entirety of last year, and we were all raving about him, so given that the former was seen to be a fill-in for Majumder while he was out injured and he has carried the load and then some I think Becherano really deserves some credit for what he's done thus far this year. What were his #s like last year?

I agree that Becherano certainly deserves the credit. We all thought that Tufts would need time to gel. They "seem" to have done so with big wins over the last few weeks. I am not sure if there are any other teams that could have accomplished that feat. Their tough schedule and conference should propel them into the NCAA tourney. Notwithstanding, they still have a scant of unpredictability to them but they are certainly moving in the right direction and are playing excellent soccer.

oldonionbag · October 17, 2016, 11:39:19 AM

Tufts with two more NESCAC shutouts. The defense (and Greenwood) is coming up big. Also, Tufts defends EXTREMELY well as a team - high pressure, causing mistakes, smothering the opposition as soon as they cross midfield. I was very impressed.

Mr.Right · October 17, 2016, 01:30:17 PM

I agree with all of this and have even talked about Tufts relentless pressure and how hard they work as a team. First of all they are not quite a LOCK to get a Pool C just yet. They are certainly very close but cannot afford any slips. IMO they will struggle to score goals in and if they are in the NCAA's but alot of teams are like that around the nation. I guess I am just not completely SOLD on 2016 Tufts like I was on 2014 Tufts / 2015 Tufts. They do not have a player that can put the team on his back and win games. They have depth and a lot of similar good players but nothing "special" that can win games in November. We are getting ahead of ourselves so lets see how Tufts does in its final 2 games v Williams and at Bowdoin. I am thinking they are going to struggle breaking BOTH those teams down so I am interested in seeing it play out.