NESCAC

[Jump4Joy]

Could be teams are underestimating Conn. Saw them play Amherst in a brutally hard-hitting, fast-paced, high pressure (also incredibly ugly) game. I wonder if yesterday's game featured the same energy that seems designed to prohibit the opponent from developing any kind of rhythm.

Side note: Amherst is on a 30-game streak without a loss. Impressive.

[All NESCAC]

Conn dominated 2nd half and OT vs Tufts...deserved the win...especially with 3 injured starters and lost another one yesterday. Will be interesting how Conn does vs Colby.  Amherst unbearen streak in regular season is very impressive.

[PaulNewman]

Didn't realize until looking at the standings that Wesleyan is still in the mix.  Seemed like they had lost every game for a couple of weeks but somehow are 4-2.  I assume with their out of conference losses they would need to win tournament or at least get to final to snag a NCAA bid.

Bowdoin is suddenly alive and Conn College had a big weekend.  Middlebury hanging in there nicely.  Trinity treading water and Tufts has to be considered mildly disappointing.

Don't know what to say about Colby.  They didn't do much better with Meisel last year. 

[All NESCAC]

Basically 7 teams (Amherst not included since #1) fighting for playoff seedings #2 through #8.  They all play each other these last 2 1/2 weeks and all spots up for grabs as only 2 points separate #2 to #8. Middlebury has the easiest road left. Williams and Conn have all remaining nescac games at home. Wesleyan and Trinity have tough remaining away league games.  Bowdoin playing better could be a surprise. Playoff seedings and ncaa berths other than Amherst wont be decided until regular season is complete. League parity.... even Amherst has 2 ties and they could have lost to both Hamilton and Conn.  Who can get hot or stay hot and make a run?

[irvschmid]

Could be teams are underestimating Conn. Saw them play Amherst in a brutally hard-hitting, fast-paced, high pressure (also incredibly ugly) game. I wonder if yesterday's game featured the same energy that seems designed to prohibit the opponent from developing any kind of rhythm.

Side note: Amherst is on a 30-game streak without a loss. Impressive.

Love the semantics from Jump 4 Joy.    Somehow the team that has no losses in 30 games failed to get to the final four last year. 

Impressive.   

[All NESCAC]

Impressive is 9-0-2 and 30 game regular season win/tie streak.  Cant stand Amherst but it is impressive whether or not they made the final four or not. You have to give them credit.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Rutgers Camden now extends unbeaten streak to 27 (22-0-5)

[Jump4Joy]

Irv, make it 32!
Anyone know if any other teams, other than Rutgers Camden, in college soccer have that kind of streak going? Div 1, 2, 3? Men or women?

[All NESCAC]

Pretty amazing streak by Rutgers-Camden.  Any thoughts to this coming weekends games?
Tufts at Williams?
Middlebury at Bates?
Trinity at Conn?
Wesleyan at Amherst?
Colby at Hamilton?

[LaPaz]

Colby had some great winning seasons from 1990-1993. I believe they even won the ECAC's before Nescacs could go to NCAA's. They had a great striker at the time(name I cant remember) and were 15-1-0 one of those years. Point taken though

Colby at Hamilton- Hamilton must win to keep any playoff hope alive and Colby just must have no confidence right now. Hamilton has shown well at home this year and an 8 hour bus trip to central NY doesn't help. 2-0 Hamilton.

Bowdoin at Conn- Conn is at 7-2-2 and if they win out could def be in the picture for at large consideration. Bowdoin an athletic team who will give them plenty to handle.  Big game for Nescac seeding.  I do not see many scoring chances in this game as both coaches will play it safe.  0-0

Wes at Amherst- Always a battle game. Wes was undone by Williams last week and even had a man advantage for 25minutes. They just can't score (many nescac teams problem) Wes to young to hang here and Amherst would love to clinch the title and little 3 at same time.  1-0 Amherst.

Tufts at Williams- Tufts is having some injury issues and need big time performers to step up and get motivated if they want a win in Williamstown. Williams coming off a great win at Wes on Saturday disappointed with a loss to a bigger more physical Bowdoin team. Ben Brewster was an animal in that game. Williams is a roller coaster ride with Rashid yet to find his stride. They are having big problems finishing. Tufts 2-0

Midd at Bates- Bates has been Midd's bugaboo for years. But this Bates team is one of the worst I have seen live. Midd 3-1.

Trinity in typical coach Pilger fashion failed to secure a game for the weekend leaving a open hole on their Nescac bye week. I mean from afar the guy is clueless as hell but you cant argue 7-2-2. Overachieving is an understatement and my guess is they will lose to Amherst,Conn and possibly Wes.

[All NESCAC]

Like your predictions/analysis for Hamilton/Colby:Amherst/Wesleyan; and middlebury/Bates.  I believe Williams will beat tufts in williamstown.  Williams is more talented and healthier and at home. Also I believe Conn will find a way to score as they have been scoring a lot lately from multiple players thus will get by bowdoin in a tough battle. Home field and big homecoming crowd will help Conn..

[PaulNewman]

Colby over Hamilton, 2-1, (before losing to Bowdoin and Bates).  The other way to look at the long bus ride is that it is a long way to go to come back with another loss.

Wesleyan ties Amherst 1-1.  Will be very odd if Wes finishes 2nd in NESCAC with their out-of-conference losses in terms of potential bid.

Williams 2-1 over Tufts.  Williams needs this game and Tufts has disappointed after very high expectations.

Conn vs Bowdoin.  Toughest one to pick IMHO.  Bowdoin coming on but Conn playing well and has a chance to be what we thought Tufts was going to be.  Alas, I see everything coming back to the mean and so Bowdoin wins 1-0.

Midd also coming on strong after a couple of tough, close losses earlier.  Midd 2-1 over Bates.

[cacalum]

short and sweet here as I still haven't seen enough of these teams:

Hamilton Over Colby 1-0

Amherst over Wesleyan 2-0; Amherst too tough at home and Older Aoyama is back and healthy, which is not good news for Wesleyan

Tufts over Williams 2-0; Tufts will like playing on that big field 2-0; would like to see them hit their stride here and make things interesting in the NESCAC tourney

Conn over Bowdoin 2-0; Bowdoin coming off a big win vs. Tufts but I think Conn is tougher than folks are giving them credit for. they went toe to toe with Amherst in a pretty brutal game, I don't think Bowdoin's physicality will intimidate them

Midd over Bates 3-0; Midd is becoming more and more dangerous each week those young guys get time

[madzillagd]

Interesting split on the Williams-Tufts game but I've got to go Williams at home in this one.  I was able to watch the game last Saturday and they looked like a team that was getting back on track and getting to know each other better.  In the loss the next day they were flat as a pancake but after playing the last 30 mins on Saturday a man down it was predictable that they wouldn't have as much in the tank.  After having the week off to recharge and guys getting healthy, I'm expecting an effort similar to Saturday's match and not Sunday's match.  The schedule is in their favor and I think they know if they can get this one they've got a great shot at the #2 spot with Midd still having to play @ Wes. 

[Jump4Joy]

Irv, my bad. Now make it 32.