NESCAC

[blooter442]

Tufts beats Conn in a goal fest 3-2. Jumbos came from behind twice and Majumder scored a nice individual effort for the winner. Kayne could very well be POY - he makes them tick.

That said, Tufts looks very soft. Their defenders weren't there for the first goal, and they were completely caught napping trying to play offsides on the second. Their attack is still brilliant, but, as I said before, they have a skilled midfield but not an imposing one. Their CBs are not doing very well either. I have a lot of respect for Tufts for how they play the game, but they've got to become more solid if they're going to make a run similar to last year.

[Jump4Joy]

Strong first half for Amherst today. Early (very) goal held up in second half. Deserved the win.
What's the skinny on the Colby win?

[Brother Flounder]

Tufts beats Conn in a goal fest 3-2. Jumbos came from behind twice and Majumder scored a nice individual effort for the winner. Kayne could very well be POY - he makes them tick.

That said, Tufts looks very soft. Their defenders weren't there for the first goal, and they were completely caught napping trying to play offsides on the second. Their attack is still brilliant, but, as I said before, they have a skilled midfield but not an imposing one. Their CBs are not doing very well either. I have a lot of respect for Tufts for how they play the game, but they've got to become more solid if they're going to make a run similar to last year.
[/quote

Saw the video Which is hard to judge but your analysis is pretty spot on. Kayne turned the good conn college midfield in circles and the goalie made a great save on a Kayne blast. The conn college goalie played well. Tufts hot the post too. I think declined plays well but holds a lot. Kayne does make tufts tick as u say but the speed of brown gives Kayne space and pinhero and Holliday provide back up so he can move. The whole midfield plays good defense. Tufts defense needs more time.

[PaulNewman]

Strong first half for Amherst today. Early (very) goal held up in second half. Deserved the win.
What's the skinny on the Colby win?

I watched a decent amount of this one.  Colby just hung around and hung around.  Towards the end kept Williams from really threatening too much and occasionally won a free kick or corner of their own.  Vogel looked like he had scored directly off a corner in 1st OT but Williams GK managed to yank it off the line.  In 2nd OT Vogel got another corner to Colby's tallest player who has a clean finish to win the game.  Colby, deservedly, was very pumped.

[Brother Flounder]

Tufts beats Conn in a goal fest 3-2. Jumbos came from behind twice and Majumder scored a nice individual effort for the winner. Kayne could very well be POY - he makes them tick.

That said, Tufts looks very soft. Their defenders weren't there for the first goal, and they were completely caught napping trying to play offsides on the second. Their attack is still brilliant, but, as I said before, they have a skilled midfield but not an imposing one. Their CBs are not doing very well either. I have a lot of respect for Tufts for how they play the game, but they've got to become more solid if they're going to make a run similar to last year.
[/quote

Saw the video Which is hard to judge but your analysis is pretty spot on. Kayne turned the good conn college midfield in circles and the goalie made a great save on a Kayne blast. The conn college goalie played well. Tufts hot the post too. I think declined plays well but holds a lot. Kayne does make tufts tick as u say but the speed of brown gives Kayne space and pinhero and Holliday provide back up so he can move. The whole midfield plays good defense. Tufts defense needs more time.

Devlin

[Corazon]

I guess it was OT Saturday in the NESCAC. 4 of 6 went extra.

Williams MUST get a result today vs Bowdoin if they're going to contend.

Colby undoubtedly used NCAC New England's earlier scouting report as bulletin board material.

Anyone see the Hamilton-Trinity game?  Every team still in contention for playoffs but Conn and Trinity can not afford to lose again today.

Amherst takes out Bowdoin and Midd in consecutive weekends. Christopher Martin has 5 goals now in 4 games.

Amherst and Tufts separating from the pack. That match-up will be a war.

[amh63]

Amherst plays at Elms today.  Time is 2PM....stats...no video.   Maybe a good time for some backups to stretch their legs.  In the write up of the physical battle with Middlebury, Amherst coach mentions that Amherst has a number of nicks and bruises and was happy about the win...thinks the Panthers are one of the better teams in the conf.   A number of freshmen were getting time yesterday.

[Jump4Joy]

Will be interesting to see what Williams and Bowdoin have left in the tank today.
Edge has to go to Bowdoin, who slept in their own beds last night.
(Although the hotel mattresses might actually be more comfortable than dorm beds?)

[amh63]

Also surprised wrt to all the OTs yesterday.
Talking about Chris Martin...some concerns yesterday on the Amherst side as Chris went down....stayed down.  Relief somewhat when he put weight on a leg.  Assisted off somewhat.  Announcers was glad to see Chris on the sidelines in the 2nd half.   Did not watch the second half much.

[Brother Flounder]

Jumbos midfield doing a carve up job and majumber emerging with 2 more goals.

[Mr.Right]

Majumder having a monster weekend.

Conn having their way at Colby up 2-0 at half. They have played way better than their record indicated.

Williams to me looks just like they did in 2014 except now they Rashid, which befuddles me even more. THEY HAVE NEVER LOST TO COLBY and they looked pissed they were in OT for the tie. Today, I thought Bowdoin earned a draw as CJ Masterson missed a clear 1v1 with Alcorn to give Bowdoin the lead in the 2nd half. Williams converted off a set piece bouncer and leave Maine 1-1-0. Williams is 3-2-0 heading against Amherst but they also will have a key Oneonta win in their pocket and I believe they will beat an overrated but not overrated in the committee's eyes RPI to have 2 superb out of conference wins. However, they have not looked right since 2013 IMO.

Midd takes it on the chin against an Amherst side that might impose their way to the Nescac title but again fall short in the NCAA's...Amherst against Tufts might determine who hosts all the way thru but Brandeis might have something to say about that.

Midd's frosh impressed me against Amherst and will be a force in league play and will be very tough to beat in November

[Nutmeg]

Thoughts on the weekend. Amherst looks good. Conn college played Tufts well and has a good midfield but has trouble scoring. Tufts midfield, both offensively and defensively, dominates as a group, and Kayne does make the team "tick" and he played very well against the Conn College tough midfield, and with majumbder hot they will be tough. Williams is a surprise so far and needs to step up fast. Middlebury, is lurking and cannot be underestimated. In the NESCAC, though, many surprising things can happen.

[Mr.Right]

I will preview the upcoming Williams v Amherst game in depth not to mention the midweek Bowdoin v Bates and the other monster  game between Tufts v Brandeis later in the week.

One thing I will say about Williams v Amherst is that my biggest fear for Williams is their wing backs vs NPL and Chris Martin. Williams will start a very mature and fast wing back frosh in Greg Andreau who I imagine will be dealing with NPL. The experience vs non-experience does not bother as much as the other side. In fact in the 2012 NCAA Elite 8 game Russo started Frosh Noah Gruman at right back and he shut down experienced Spencer Noon. My issue is at right back where if Williams starts who they have been starting in TL Guest who is a good defender but 2 steps to slow for my taste that ultra speedy Martin will "do" him a couple times and one of those instances could lead to a goal. More on this later..........

[blooter442]

One thing I forgot to mention in watching Tufts yesterday: Greenwood is a fantastic shot stopper, but he did not look confident on set pieces. He punched away two deliveries (actually, "slapped" would probably be a better verb) when he had time and space to catch them. I heard a few Tufts supporters audibly wondering "why didn't he catch it?" The best thing Brandeis can do is flood the box with high balls and hope he misplays one.

Tufts looks fantastic offensively, and Majumder is on fire. He is a lot to handle up top, and I'd say he's an upgrade on Hoppenot. As I said before, they look soft through the middle and defensively, although I'd argue that their midfield is the best attacking midfield in the NESCAC. Brandeis, on the other hand, has pretty much the opposite problem; they look excellent defensively, but their CFs continue to drop too wide and too deep. That is something that they're definitely addressing in this 10-day break.

It'll be a fantastic battle, but I think homefield advantage will be big for Tufts, as they would have discovered losing 2-0 at Brandeis last year after winning by the same margin at home the year before. This year, I'd say based on current form, Tufts edges 'Deis 1-0.

[Nutmeg]

One thing I forgot to mention in watching Tufts yesterday: Greenwood is a fantastic shot stopper, but he did not look confident on set pieces. He punched away two deliveries (actually, "slapped" would probably be a better verb) when he had time and space to catch them. I heard a few Tufts supporters audibly wondering "why didn't he catch it?" The best thing Brandeis can do is flood the box with high balls and hope he misplays one.

Tufts looks fantastic offensively, and Majumder is on fire. He is a lot to handle up top, and I'd say he's an upgrade on Hoppenot. As I said before, they look soft through the middle and defensively, although I'd argue that their midfield is the best attacking midfield in the NESCAC. Brandeis, on the other hand, has pretty much the opposite problem; they look excellent defensively, but their CFs continue to drop too wide and too deep. That is something that they're definitely addressing in this 10-day break.

It'll be a fantastic battle, but I think homefield advantage will be big for Tufts, as they would have discovered losing 2-0 at Brandeis last year after winning by the same margin at home the year before. This year, I'd say based on current form, Tufts edges 'Deis 1-0.

I am a little miffed about your defensive view on the Tufts middies. They swarm and have many many steals. I've never seen other midfielders slide tackle as much, especially Kayne. Do you mean physical size?