NESCAC

[PaulNewman]

And the Bowdoin GK?

[Brother Flounder]

When is the final being played? And when are the NCAA at-large picks chosen??

[Mr.Right]

Voting was done Wednesday

[Brother Flounder]

When are they announced??

[Mr.Right]

I think next week

[Nutmeg]

When are the ncaa tourney teams announced?

[Mr.Right]

MOnday 1:30pm ncaa.com

[MENESCACFAN]

Interesting.  It would certainly have changed my vote.

Still would not have picked the Bowdoin GK, Sydor from Middlebury in my eyes.

[MENESCACFAN]

If Bowdoin win tomorrow.  Does that give NESCAC three in all likelihood or are Tufts toast?

[Corazon]

I think the NESCAC gets 3 in that case. I just can't fathom Tufts being left out in any case.

Amherst will be ready on their home field so Bowdoin is going to have to play their best game to have a chance. Predicting Amherst 2 Bowdoin 0.

[Jump4Joy]

Bowdoin may look like a different team when they face Amherst's high pressure. If the Polar Bears can still pass and move in triangles under high pressure the way they did against a lower pressurizing Midd team, they will give the Jeffs fits. If Amherst overpowers Bowdoin's niftiness on attack (led by Jones), Bowdoin will have to find another way. Do they have one? Hopefully no PKs for Amherst; Bowdoin's keep came up big yesterday.

[All NESCAC]

Bowdoin may look like a different team when they face Amherst's high pressure. If the Polar Bears can still pass and move in triangles under high pressure the way they did against a lower pressurizing Midd team, they will give the Jeffs fits. If Amherst overpowers Bowdoin's niftiness on attack (led by Jones), Bowdoin will have to find another way. Do they have one? Hopefully no PKs for Amherst; Bowdoin's keep came up big yesterday.

Mr. Right you were spot on on your predictions yesterday.  Bowdoin gets by Midlebury and Amherst gets by Conn as Conn has another poor performance from their keeper.  Great game meaning tense and on edge ending in pk win for Bowdoin.  Great job by both goalies in PK's especially Bowdoin goalie. But I must say the pk takers as a group were aweful on both sides but it was very exciting as a pk ending always is.  These shots in person were poorly placed and with no power at all but still exciting as PK endings can be.

size wise it was like the varsity vs JV team

[All NESCAC]

OORegarding Anherst vs Conn let me say this upfront Amherst was bigger taller faster and better than Conn.  The size difference for Conn without Patch and Punt's was comical.....it was like the high school varsity vs the JV from a size comparison. Anherst won every air ball all day and the ball was in the air all day.  Mr Right you are correct Murphy didn't recruit a goalie and the keeper position let Conn down again as Amhersts second goal went right through his hands.  Make that save and keep the game enen and who knows.  Murphy (Coach Negative and Dictator) again continues to underwhelm as a coach as he again thinks hes the smartest guying in the room and overcoached his team making changes when changes need not be made.  We know when you play Amherst its going to be a brawl (more on that later) and Amherst is going g to attack....if you are going to stay in your 4-3-3 formation and try to play defensively even when you are down and keep two of hour's better offensives attacking players on the bench especially when you are down 3 to 1? He doesn't play O'brien much who has size and speed and physicality to match Amherst. He also sits his only attacking back Garabedian which allowed Amherst not to worry about any offense coming out if the back line because it cant with the personnel he used. You dont use a4-3-3 if you don't have outsidebacks who can create any offense.  This played right into Amhersts strength as now they could suffocate Conn midfield which they did as Conn couldn't play wide with no attacking backs and O'brien on the bench much too long.
Not good coaching by Murphy not putting your best 11 out on the field. He also failed to use sub Schmidt a big fast physical forward who could counter someof Amhersts physicality. Too late too little he puts these 3 players in the game the last 15 minutes and guess what Conn produced some offense a few shots and the corner which led to Conn 2nd goal. Too little too late but imagine if Amherst had to actuallyworry about a Conn attack then maybe they don't dominate the midfield as much and maybe its a game but no lets change what we've done all year and play defevsive.....didn't work....bad coaching decision.  Amherst is good BUT they did not create any scoring opportunities in the final third from the flow of play BUT as they always do they create multiple dangerous set pieces (corners & free kicks) by my count 15 dangerously close attempts which produced all 3 Amherst goals. Its their style throw thugery Rugby brawl run-yiu-over knock-you-down all day style. Its ugly but it works for them because you end ho fouling g them and give them set pieces and THEY ARE DEADLY ON SET PIECES! #14 serves amazing kicks he was phenominal yesterday.  I don't like their style but they win and they were the better team and better coached team yesterday by a large margin. That said Amherst is the most obnoxious and arrogant team.  I have watched that team for 5 years and their histrionics complaining chirpping showboating theatrics (coaches and team) is way over the top.  There is a reason they are the most disliked team in the league and it has nothing to do with their winning record.  Thus like the vast majority of the NESCAC I say Go Bowdoin!         
outside outside backs who can

[PaulNewman]

ALL NESCAC, your comments about Amherst in microcosm are similar to why some outsiders trend towards a lukewarm or even mildly to moderately negative view of the NESCACs in general.  There is at minimum a vague sense of a superiority and socioeconomic status entitlement vibe that rubs some the wrong way, and which, for the most part, does not seem to pertain to the equally academically outstanding UAA group.

[Mr.Right]

I agree  Conn's keeper killed them on one goal. However, as someone else mentioned Conn's defense on Amherst long throws and free kicks was dismal. I saw a lot of ball watching and that hurt them. I said on the other board that if Amherst meets Brandeis in the sweet 16 or elite 8 at Brandeis they will have a distinct advantage on Brandeis narrow field. They are physically imposing and will force Bowdoin today under high pressure like someone pointed out to whack it. Bowdoin will not have time to play short quick balls into their midfield their wing backs will be forced to whack it. Also, I do not think Bowdoin can get away with playing those small wing backs today. what ever happened to #4 Melong? He does not have much skill but he is big and athletic. He would help today. I like Bowdoin chances today. They have already gotten thru Williams and Midd, why not Amherst. If they can get thru they will get to the NCAA's for the first time since a NCAA Final 4 run in 2010. That was really O'Leary at his best and some really athletic players. Physically imposing backs and very organized a good keeper and some skill in midfield with toughness, a deadly long thrower and speed on the wings. That was a good team who should have been in the Final that year.