NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

My 2 cents...I agree with Wirz and Corazon that EasyGoer has really exaggerated the issue with Amherst. They play hard and chippy but they are not out to injure anyone and it is a little much to be talking about lawyers and MMA and horse collars. I have not witnessed any late tackles after the ref turns away. To imply this is ridiculous.

I will say that Amherst does not show much sportsmanship which I feel is the reason that people fly off the handle about the way they play and the comments they make that are greatly exaggerated.

We can just leave it at that and move on, as Wirz said this is all becoming "White Noise"

[PaulNewman]

My 2 cents...I agree with Wirz and Corazon that EasyGoer has really exaggerated the issue with Amherst. They play hard and chippy but they are not out to injure anyone and it is a little much to be talking about lawyers and MMA and horse collars. I have not witnessed any late tackles after the ref turns away. To imply this is ridiculous.

I will say that Amherst does not show much sportsmanship which I feel is the reason that people fly off the handle about the way they play and the comments they make that are greatly exaggerated.

We can just leave it at that and move on, as Wirz said this is all becoming "White Noise"

Agreed.  And if Amherst gets to the Final Four and wins a national title they will have earned it.

[ECSUalum]

The referee is the person who has the control and authority to stop any un-sportsman-like conduct!  If it was up to me personally I would not hesitate to flash the red card if I saw a build up of very aggressive play, of course with  verbal warning to coach and the player(s) ahead of time.  These are student athletes and they deserve to be protected from harm in soccer as in any other sport or activity, and if a ref allows athletes to get injured, after a build up of dangerous play, they should be laible!

[Corazon]

Super Sunday
Amherst 0 - Bates 4. (shots 24-4)

Knoth hat-trick and a late goal by Pereira?

A question I pose to all of you, what would klinsman, the US national team coach, think if he saw an Amherst game?

He would invite Serpone to be his #2 and then Ancelotti will take over the vacant post at Amherst next year.

Ha ha. I saw this earlier and didn't get it, but just realized chrisseitz is (jokingly) picking a 4-0 win for Bates. I had assumed it was the other way around. Well, Bates is my under dog team, but I honestly see no way of pulling an upset here. I don't think it will be quite as one sided as many think though.

As for what Klinsi would say if he saw an Amherst game... I think you can safely replace Amherst with any NESCAC team (possible exception is Tufts, but Colby counts twice) He'd see hard tackles, athleticism, balls in the air, reliance on set pieces, a general lack of ball skills or anything resembling Barcelona  ... Kinda like the USMNT?  I will say this though, Klinsi will get fired before Serpone!

[EasyGoer27]

My final post on this matter. Easy goer, I'm the person who gave you a negative karma. Congratulations, as it takes a lot for me to give those out. Not sure I've seen such a smug, know-it all post which is so laughably one sided.  I should know better than to take a break in my work day to come back to these boards.
You seem like a rational sort.  Not meaning to be smug and it took a lot for me to log on here.  I am replying to several of the post not just you.  I don't know where the liability lies(somewhere between refs and coach).  You need to see it live.  Then watch the video, you catch a little bit of it as camera rolls away.  As far as cards, it is also clear the refs once they give a yellow to a player are very hesitant to give the 2nd.  The boys have caught on, a first yellow doesn't even slow them down.  The elbow that cut open a player a few games ago was from a player that had a yellow, in the box 2-3 seconds after the ball was up the pitch.  Bloody mess coming off the field, not even a foul much less a yellow.  Photo's also don't lie on some of the tackles, yes studs up.  Shall we start posting them, calling out the players by name and number?  Please don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.  I am a neutral observer and know as many people at Amherst as the other schools.  I was and am offended but what I've seen.
Go watch for yourself, watch after the play off the ball antics and draw your own conclusions before assuming I'm wrong. 

[EasyGoer27]

message received I will drop it.

[jumpshot]

My amHerst friends have been embarrassed and apologetic regarding lj men's soccer for several years. Even they are disappointed the poor behavior exhibited by the coach and players continues without the administration or athletic director addressing it. Oh well, players and observers of NESCAC sports have seen it before ---and will again. In a conference known for setting effective standards for operating leading higher educational enterprises, there have been many superb, even legendary, coaches in various men and women's sports. In any case, these conditions won't last much longer ...stay turned....

[Bucket]

As an ex-Amherst player, the constant Amherst bashing on the boards over the past few years has gotten old, but I respect the fact that people are entitled to their own opinions and can say what they want within reason about Amherst.  We play a very physical game, our bench has always been active, Coach Serpone is usually extremely animated on the sideline, and we don't look anything like Barcelona.  We argue on the boards about whether these qualities are good or bad for days, which usually doesn't lead to anything productive, but that is the nature of the boards and I have no problem with that. However, I think that EasyGoer27's accusations involving "studs up tackles", "tackles from behinds", "elbows that are more like punches", "borderline horse collars", and hypothetical lawsuits in which an opposing player is suing an Amherst player because he was hit so hard that he can't read or see clearly for a year, are a bit over the line.  I think there is very little evidence out there that Amherst players are truly dirty or that they purposefully try and injure other opponents (I do not think fouls or yellow cards can be equated with dirty play, rough yes, dirty no).  In the past 3 years there have been 3 instances of truly dirty behavior in the NESCAC that I can think of and none involved an Amherst player.  The players involved in these instances were Lima, and Kramer twice.  In no way do I think that their actions reflect the Williams and Tufts programs respectively, I just want to to point out that they were not Amherst players. 

At the end of the day, I think that the boards should continue to be a place where people voice their opinions, which undoubtedly will involve continued Amherst bashing (which is just white noise to me at this point).  However, it should not be a place where making baseless accusations about 18-22 year olds intending to harm one another is ok.  That is the only reason I've decided to jump on the boards quickly to defend my ex-teammates.     

I'm no fan of Amherst, but I find myself agreeing with everything that Gabe Wirz has written. Well said.

[Pat Coleman]

As an ex-Amherst player, the constant Amherst bashing on the boards over the past few years has gotten old, but I respect the fact that people are entitled to their own opinions and can say what they want within reason about Amherst.  We play a very physical game, our bench has always been active, Coach Serpone is usually extremely animated on the sideline, and we don't look anything like Barcelona.  We argue on the boards about whether these qualities are good or bad for days, which usually doesn't lead to anything productive, but that is the nature of the boards and I have no problem with that. However, I think that EasyGoer27's accusations involving "studs up tackles", "tackles from behinds", "elbows that are more like punches", "borderline horse collars", and hypothetical lawsuits in which an opposing player is suing an Amherst player because he was hit so hard that he can't read or see clearly for a year, are a bit over the line.  I think there is very little evidence out there that Amherst players are truly dirty or that they purposefully try and injure other opponents (I do not think fouls or yellow cards can be equated with dirty play, rough yes, dirty no).  In the past 3 years there have been 3 instances of truly dirty behavior in the NESCAC that I can think of and none involved an Amherst player.  The players involved in these instances were Lima, and Kramer twice.  In no way do I think that their actions reflect the Williams and Tufts programs respectively, I just want to to point out that they were not Amherst players. 

At the end of the day, I think that the boards should continue to be a place where people voice their opinions, which undoubtedly will involve continued Amherst bashing (which is just white noise to me at this point).  However, it should not be a place where making baseless accusations about 18-22 year olds intending to harm one another is ok.  That is the only reason I've decided to jump on the boards quickly to defend my ex-teammates.     

Thanks for making this post. I would say to people as well -- if there are posts like this that moderators should be seeing, feel free to hit the "report to moderator" link. That will help alert us to possible issues.

[blooter442]

Amherst men's soccer, women's soccer, football, and field hockey all playing at Colby today. Gotta praise the efficiency of getting four games against a single school done at once - the only things missing are X-C and volleyball if I'm not mistaken?

[blooter442]

Amherst - Colby still 0-0 in the second half. Gotta praise Colby for defending resolutely, but they're not exactly parking the bus - they're going forward when they have the ball.

And just as I'm typing that, a Colby player breaks in 1-on-1 with Bull, who came out well to cut off the angle. Great save at the second attempt, but the Colby striker made an absolute hash of the finish - should have gone for the chip. That was a good of a chance as he's ever going to get against the stingy Lord Jeffs defense.

[blooter442]

Amherst gets out of Waterville with a 2-0, but Colby showed a good account of themselves. Were unlucky to not go 1-0 up in the second half, but I'd still have fancied the Jeffs to finish it off even if down at one point.

Williams - Wesleyan is 0-0, probably will end up going to OT. Really good back-and-forth game where neither side has really been on top but both look equally threatening.

Bowdoin seems to have come alive after Monday's win over Babson, up 2-0 on Hamilton in the first half in a game where many predicted would be a one-goal affair.

Bates and Tufts still deadlocked at 0-0 in the first half, but probably the matchup of the day so far. Kayne is absolutely toying with the Bates midfield, displaying excellent passing and equally as good close control. Pinheiro has gotten a few passes wrong but looks decent otherwise, as does Halliday. Bates had the ball in the net but was ruled out for offsides, but Tufts has had the better of the chances and play and looks far superior.

Added note: Does anyone know why Knoth wasn't in the starting XI? Have to assume it's for an injury rather than tactical...

[Mr.Right]

Someone please tell me that the Tufts at Bates boxscore is wrong?

0-0 2ot

42 Shots 26 SOG for Tufts

[ECSUalum]

Someone please tell me that the Tufts at Bates boxscore is wrong?

0-0 2ot

42 Shots 26 SOG for Tufts

I was just about to make the same comment Mr Right  ha ha ha !!

[Jump4Joy]

NPL bikes the winner. Nuff said.