NESCAC

[MENESCACFAN]

WEEKEND PREVIEW

BATES @ MIDDLEBURY

Bates are clinging onto the #8 seed right now after a frankly astounding turnaround in form.  I can see it coming to end in Vermont this weekend though.  Freshman striker Glaser is an excellent attacking threat, and give Midd the victory needed to guarantee a playoff spot.

PREDICTION:  Bates 1 Middlebury 2

CONN @ BOWDOIN

One place in the standings separates these two teams, but they do seem to be heading in very different directions.  Bowdoin have reeled off 5 wins out of 6, while Conn are riding a four game winless streak with rumored injuries.

Polar Bears to take advantage of home field advantage and further separate the top 6 NESCAC teams from the chasing pack.

PREDICTION:  Conn 0 Bowdoin 2

AMHERST @ WESLEYAN

The sun rises, the sun sets, Amherst grind their way to a gritty 1-0 win, likely from a set play.  Somewhat of a pressure game for the Jeffs, with Tufts breathing down their neck for the #1 seed.

PREDICTION:  Amherst 1 Wesleyan 0

HAMILTON @ COLBY

Hands down the most intriguing game of the weekend in my eyes, and the one I will be watching.  Given the head to head tie breaker, the loser is likely all but done on the playoff race, and we all love a pressure game.

I believe Hamilton are the better team, but it is a long trip and Colby are very disciplined and organized this year.  I can see a cautious affair given the high stakes ending in a scoreless draw.

PREDICTION:  Hamilton 0 Colby 0

WILLIAMS @ TUFTS

Biggest point of interest here personally is if Tufts are as good as i think they are (league contender).  If so, I believe they beat Williams and go into the home straight neck and neck with Amherst for the #1 seed and regular season title.

Zach Grady may be the hottest player in the league right now, but Tufts simply have more threats from more spots on the field.

Williams 1 Tufts 2

[lastguyoffthebench]

Amherst, Tufts, winner of Wesleyan vs Middlebury for the 3rd NESCAC team to make the dance...

[Corazon]

MENESCACFAN nails 4 of his 5 picks including getting the correct score in 3 and calling a tie. Only blemish was missing the Wes upset of Amherst.  Well done!  Looking forward to your picks for next week. Will refer to you as Mr. Crystal ball.

[FourMoreYears]

1.  20pts  8gp  6-0-2  Tufts                 (home Hamilton, at Bowdoin)
2.  20pts  9gp  6-1-2  Amherst            (home Trinity)
3.  15pts  7gp  5-2-0  Wesleyan          (home Trinity, at Middlebury, home Conn College)
4.  15pts  8gp  5-3-0  Williams            (at Bates, at Hamilton))
5.  15pts  9gp  4-2-3  Middlebury        (home Wesleyan)
6.  12pts  8gp  4-4-0  Bowdoin            (at Colby, home Tufts)
7.    7pts  8gp  2-5-1  Conn College     (at Trinity, at Wesleyan)
8.    6pts  8gp  2-6-0  Bates                (home Williams, home Colby)

9.    5pts  7gp  1-4-2  Trinity                (at Wesleyan, home Conn College, at Amherst)
10.  5pts  8gp  1-5-2  Colby                 (home Bowdoin, at Bates)
10.  5pts. 8gp  1-5-2  Hamilton            (at Tufts, home Williams)

[Mr.Right]

Amherst, Tufts, winner of Wesleyan vs Middlebury for the 3rd NESCAC team to make the dance...
[/quote

Lets wait until the regional rankings come out. If Wesleyan and Midd tie than whats ur response? Not to mention Bowdoin and Williams still would have slim chances if they make the Nescac final and win out.

Wednesday's Regional Rankings will look like this:
1. Brandeis
2. Amherst
3. Tufts
4. Wheaton
5. Coast Guard
6. Wesleyan
7. Midd
8. Babson- although not if they lose to Bowdoin tmrw.
9. Williams
10. Bowdoin
11. WPI

[Mr.Right]

I do not see any other teams cracking the top 11 regional rankings. WPI is lucky to get in their with their super soft schedule. Nescac will dominate those rankings

[Off Pitch]

I think a more likely Regional ranking, based heavily on wining % and SOS, would be:

1. Brandeis
2. Amherst
3. Wheaton
4. Coast Guard
5. Tufts
6. Babson
7. Middlebury
8. WPI
9. Wesleyan
10. Gordon
11. Bowdoin

There is zero chance that Williams appears in this ranking with their 7-5-1 record.

[Mr.Right]

If your basis is on SOS than Gordon and WPI have no business getting near this..give me one decent win on either of those 2 schedules. NONE. Gordon will not be on that ranking. Williams beat Wesleyan, Midd and Bowdoin which are all on your rankings and mine. Gordon and WPI and for that matter Coast Guard have no quality WINS

[Mr.Right]

Never argue Mr. Right because I am always RIGHT.

[Corazon]

Nice to see you showing a sense of humor, LaPaz. Welcome back.

[Mr.Right]

Also to clarify last year I think Williams was ranked #3 in the 2nd regional rankings and had 4 losses, #5 in the 3rd regional rankings with 5 losses. Remember the committee looks at good wins being the great equalizer to bad losses. Without good wins your right 7-5-1 would be as useless as 11-3 with no good wins. Gordon and WPI have NO good wins and bad losses.

[Mr.Right]

Must have humor in life.

[Corazon]

How was the Tufts game today?  I didn't get a chance to see it. Was it as spirited as I would have imagined?  Parity makes things interesting. Still hard to see a team besides Amherst and Williams at the top.

[Corazon]

I meant it will take some getting used to. Tufts is a deserved leader, imo.

[Mr.Right]

Actually Tufts was the better team today. They had a some great scoring chances but couldnt finish. Williams was flat. They had maybe three legit chances and that was it. Santos got clipped running away from goal in the box and ref called a PK. It was a legit call as Santos got clipped but a defender should never be swiping at a players legs RUNNING AWAY from goal. The worst part about this result is now Tufts most likley is going to host the NESCAC tournament on that sh*t field.  When I rated the fields earlier in the week that field should of been grouped with Wes and Conn's. Horrible slick playing surface with uneven grass. They mow it high.