NESCAC

[NESoccr]

amh 3, went to look at amherst site story. sounds like amh dominated, but no win. story mentions  a few posts, offsides on goal, saved pk. conn keeper has 10 saves. kovacs has 1.  don't know what it is w/ conn & amh, but conn has some edge.  btw, looked at midd-wms story on midd site & looks like midd totally dominated.

 

[NESoccr]

btw, noticed lots of guys from amh played v. conn, but not heo or tasimpe.  amh 63 or anyone else know why or whether they'll play sat?  missing one is tough, but missing both is a lot to make up.

[LaPaz]

From what part of that story do you read into the fact that Midd dominated?  I saw the game on video and Midd had numerous chances in first half and did dominate the half. 2nd half and OT were different story as Williams came on strong and had a cpl chances to win it in OT with some nice thru balls over the top of Midd's defenders and if not for some nice goalkeeping from Cahill would have won.  Williams 4 straight shutouts and Midd 1 goal allowed since September.  0-0 a pretty fair result.

Good luck to Wesleyan on Saturday, they better bring their "A" game or they will be quickly eliminated and we could see a nice Amherst v Midd Semi-final.

[NESoccr]

Lap - just looked at shots on goal & corners. Didn't see game, so oobviously you know better. Agree midd very tough 1st round draw.   

[LaPaz]

Agreed...Also, Tufts v Williams,,not an easy game for Williams at all. The home field should help but I'm sniffing an upset. However,If it goes to PK's adv Williams as Finan has saved 2pk's already this year and saved Amh Pk that was a rebound goal.

Final 4: Amherst, Wes, Tufts, Conn

[amh63]

Busy weekend on Amherst campus this weekend as both soccer teams host games and the conference cross country championships are being run, etc.  There is an interesting story on the website on soccer.  B. Saldana, a junior backup GK is featured.  Seems he was selected to play for his national team.  Selected as an candidate goalie, he won out and was in the net for two of his team's games.

[gustiefan04]

link to the story?

[amh63]

Sorry about that....don't know how to link in here.  However, go to ...Amherst.edu to get to the school's website and then click on the ...athletic site and the story is featured on the front page of the site.  It is also on the soccer team site.

[Sandy]

https://www.amherst.edu/athletics/teams/fall/soccer-m/articles/2011/1027_saldana

[amh63]

Amherst beats Colby 4-0 at home.  Webcast cancelled due to weather.  It was 2-0 at the half.  Amherst had more shots, corners, fouls, etc.  Noon scored 2 goals and had an assist.  The fwd line was missing Heo and T (can't spell his name) again and Mooney was missing again....as I was hopping he would show up in the post season.  Lerner had 2 assists and Sucre had a goal.  Weather conditions impacts on play unknown.......late start of game.  Awaiting the story.  Seems Wes. loss to Midd. and Trinity won over Conn.

[NEsoccer]

Don't think any of the results are too surprising. For the last several years, regardless of where they're ranked, midd seems to be the most dangeros team in the tournament. They and trinity are both playing really well right now. Reading the stories, seems like each game ended in a fair result. The most impressive thing to me from the weekend is amherst's depth. Three key starters, Heo, tsatsimpe, and norton all didn't play (on top of mooney having not been able to play this year). Any one with knowledge? Beating Colby without those players is one thing, taking on midd is another (do you think there is anyone Amherst wanted to see less than the team that has knocked them out the last two years and seems to be a guarantee every year to make the title game). Is the trinity v Williams game a play in game for the NCAA? I think whichever team wins that game, assuming they don't win the title should make the tournament. I think the most interesting scenario as far as bids could possibly play out would be midd winning it all. Amherst and Wesleyan must be in, if midd takes the tournament does the Nescac get four teams, or will that take the possible bid away from williams/trinity winner? Love to hear thoughts.

[Jim Matson]

I watched a couple of these matches, and the weather definitely had an impact on the results. Cutbacks were sloppy and it was tough for the players to keep their feet. I thought the pace of matches were slower than I would have expected, and the above has to the reason.

Amherst sets up the attack well. I was impressed with how they moved the ball, with or without their star. I anticipate they'll do well in the NCAA tourney.

[LaPaz]

6 Nescac teams have a legitmate argument to get into NCAA's. 6 will not get in but 4 or possibly 5 will, especially if Babson and WNEC win their leagues.

Locks:   Amh, Wes(However, this team is struggling and does not deserve any type of home field)
Very Close:  Williams, Trinity
Border:  Midd
Long Shot:  Tufts

First of all Wednesday's regional rankings will make things even more clear. Let us remember that one game does not make or break your season, so when you say Trinity/Williams winner is in, it doesnt reflect just that game.
Personally, I do not agree with WNEC's high ranking. They continue to beat on a weak league and are 0-2 aganist Nescac(losses to Bowdoin and Wes). I have a hard time finding a "good" win on that schedule. They should win their league but still need to get by Roger Williams and Gordon. There coach is on the regional rankings commitee and while I realize he is out of the room when his team is discussed it is hard for me to believe that there is no influence whatsoever.

Babson is a legit #2 or whatever they are. They have some "good" wins and will likely get a first round bye and host a one gamer on the saturday to get into 3rd round.

Trinity should be in with road wins at Midd, Wes and a road tie at Williams. Home wins aganist Conn and ECONN will help. Their losses to Westfield and Worcester state will hurt but shouldn't do them in because both those teams have winning records and could still win their league tournament.

Williams again has the best S.O.S and at 9-3-3 I believe will also be in. A loss to Tufts and they would have been done. They might still need a result aganist Trinity but not if WNEC and Babson win their tourney's.

Midd is playing the best out of any team right now and with a win at AMH on sat and they will have to get in even if they lose the final. That would be road wins at Amh and Wes and home ties with Williams and Wes. their out of league schedule is weak but Castleton could win their league and possibly Norwich. Remember commitee likes it when you beat NCAA bound teams.

Tufts a defenite long shot they will need Trinity and Midd to lose semi's and WNEC and Babson to win league plus alot of other stuff around country to probably happen. 

[NESCACInsider]

A look into Middlebury's win over Wesleyan after talking to coach David Saward, who got his 300th career win.

http://nescacinsider.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/mens-soccer-a-monumental-moment-a-monumental-game-for-middlebury-and-coach-saward/

[LaPaz]

Nov 2nd Regional Rankings have come out and are interesting to say the least.  Tufts are unfortunately done. A great season from a young team but losses to Hamilton and Williams at the end of the year looks to have done them in. Middlebury most likely will have to beat Amherst to get in.  A tie/PK loss might do the trick but highly unlikely.  Trinity has jumped 4 spots to the #6 seed and will need to either beat Williams or Tie.  To be on the safe side I would think it would be better to go all out and win that game for a definite at-large. I think Williams is in no matter what at #5 because they have the #1 S.O.S. A tie will not hurt them. However, a 1-3-3 record against ranked opponents is not good. Same for Midd as their record against ranked opponents is under .500.  Both those teams can obviously improve that with wins on Saturday.  Amherst and Babson have clinched home field for 1st and 2nd rounds and probably a bye into 2nd round. Wesleyan has played themselves out of home field but most likely will have an "easy" neutral site game for 1st round.  WNEC still befuddles me as a #4 seed with no quality wins. A loss in their tournament will drop their seeding, no doubt.

Trinity v Williams-   1-0       A tightly played match early in the morning.  Both teams are playing very well right now. Both teams are also dealing with some injuries.  With #26 Reilly out for the year Trinity has moved #6 Buckley in the back with #5 Packer and they have formed quite a defensive duo in front of the stellar and surprising play of the keeper Schonberg.  While I thought this move would hurt their midfield because Buckley was playing well there it hasn't as Frosh #19 Sun has some skill and the ever dangerous #10 El-Hachim is solid.  #7 Mayernick playing well all year and scores the game winner in this game with about 20 minutes to go.  Williams has played very well all year for such an inexperienced side and have dealt with a ton of injuries as well.  Their defense and goaltending has been the 2nd best in the league the past 3-4 weeks and their midfield is playing extremely well.  I just do not see them scoring in this game and in fact haven't scored more than 2 goals in a game since early September. It is tough to bet against Williams in this game because in the past Trinity has been so inconsistent but they have had Williams' # the past few years.  If it does go to PK's Williams has the advantage in net.

Amherst v Midd-     0-1      Not much detail needed here. Just a classic Midd/Amherst matchup. There will be some chances but not many and the team that can finish one chance will win/ If Heo and #15 Tebs are still out than advantage Midd and even if they are not out I still think Midd has a slight advantage.  They are playing the best in NESCAC right now and Amherst might have that feeling of if we lose we are still in.  Midd has to do win and must be thinking this is there year. They lose a ton of talent after the year.  Cahill, Redmond, Pitney Macnee, Calluci etc.  They might struggle next year a bit so these seniors will b e fighting for their careers here.