NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

I believe that Tufts v Bowdoin will be a replay on Saturday in Medfa...You can bet Bowdoin will pack it in again and they are very good at it.

To the Charlier question....The kid is a flat out athlete and scored a 2013 game winner v Williams but I am not sure his skills match his athleticism. He dows not defend well enough to play wingback...His only real place to play is out wide due to his speed but then who do bench?  I also agree he has fallen off the map and should get a 10-15 minute run....That usually means one of three things...1.Bad Practice Habits....2. Coach's Doghouse...3. Not good fitness

[Mr.Right]

Trinity's season has been the opposite of Wes's. Trinity went 0-4-1 in their first 5 games and then went 3-1-1 in their last 5. They have played 9 OT games this year. At the start of the season they lost or tied them, at the end of the season they tied or won them.

They also outplayed Midd and should have won that game and add 2more wins against WCONN and Westfield that were disasters and a Draw with Colby then you are talking 4 more wins and a Regionally ranked team.  You could say that about any team though I suppose

[PaulNewman]

I watched 90% of Bowdoin-Tufts.  Might be in the minority, and aside from the shot count, I thought Bowdoin played a great game.  And The Polar Bears looked more likely to score during both OTs, and frankly in the 2nd OT I don't know how they didn't score.  I also thought Bowdoin had a good bit of possession and a handful of corners with some dangerous forays down the flanks, especially the left side.  Bowdoin will not be an easy team to take out and I'm guessing they would or will feel pretty comfortable playing Tufts again knowing they easily could have won today.  Greenwood is a great shot-stopper and Van Siclen was outstanding, and had a phenomenal outlet pass in OT that nearly led to a goal.

Amherst, OK, come on.  I've mostly defended you for the better part of 2 years.  5 cards again today?  Almost becoming a caricature.  You're too good for this.  Go out and physically dominate but cut out the histrionics.  Great school, great program.  Act like it.

And let me say that I think Patel has got to be the best (or in the top 2-3) natural left back in the country.  I love Lynch at Brandeis but he's naturally a mid or right back playing out of position.

[Brother Flounder]

I watched 90% of Bowdoin-Tufts.  Might be in the minority, and aside from the shot count, I thought Bowdoin played a great game.  And The Polar Bears looked more likely to score during both OTs, and frankly in the 2nd OT I don't know how they didn't score.  I also thought Bowdoin had a good bit of possession and a handful of corners with some dangerous forays down the flanks, especially the left side.  Bowdoin will not be an easy team to take out and I'm guessing they would or will feel pretty comfortable playing Tufts again knowing they easily could have won today.  Greenwood is a great shot-stopper and Van Siclen was outstanding, and had a phenomenal outlet pass in OT that nearly led to a goal.

Amherst, OK, come on.  I've mostly defended you for the better part of 2 years.  5 cards again today?  Almost becoming a caricature.  You're too good for this.  Go out and physically dominate but cut out the histrionics.  Great school, great program.  Act like it.

And let me say that I think Patel has got to be the best (or in the top 2-3) natural left back in the country.  I love Lynch at Brandeis but he's naturally a mid or right back playing out of position.

Patel is an unsung star for Tufts.  I also watched the game and Bowdoin's defense played well and they pack it in..  I thought Tufts has most of the possession and shots but Greenwood came up with an excellent save.  ... I feel Tufts will win a rematch IF they don't let Bowdoin frustrate them......

[Mr.Right]

If Bowdoin gets the 1st goal they drop deeper than any team I have ever seen. They are very hard to break down.


Wesleyan has one thing going for them tonight, with a win Colby could win the CBB for the 2nd straight year in Men's Soccer which would have to be a first in over 25 years.


Williams finishes under .500 for the 1st time ever in Nescac. Wow.

[Jump4Joy]

Gimand was MOTM for me and capped his afternoon with a goal.

Agreed. Nifty.
Amazing that Bull even got a piece of that one, as he had to extend himself fully and cover the entire 8 yards of the goal face.

As for Milbury being a "poor man's Conrad," the former was much more effective and present against Amherst than the latter was this year.

GK debate question: If Bull were on the Tufts team, who do you think Shapiro would start in net: Bull or Greenwood? What about Saward?

[Becks]

Colby 0-0 Bates, which means Wes is the 8th seed and gets a rematch against the Bash Boys.

[Nutmeg]

Gimand was MOTM for me and capped his afternoon with a goal.

Agreed. Nifty.
Amazing that Bull even got a piece of that one, as he had to extend himself fully and cover the entire 8 yards of the goal face.

As for Milbury being a "poor man's Conrad," the former was much more effective and present against Amherst than the latter was this year.

GK debate question: If Bull were on the Tufts team, who do you think Shapiro would start in net: Bull or Greenwood? What about Saward?

Okay, I'll bite on this... Kayne!!!😛

[12SNoon]

Tough to see the Lord Jeffs tie today, but I still think they're on the verge of being one of the best Amherst teams ever...

Food for thought – here's how the 2015 team stacked up in NESCAC play against my favorite Amherst team ever : http://cl.ly/image/1e3x1L3o1b3s

[Nutmeg]

I watched 90% of Bowdoin-Tufts.  Might be in the minority, and aside from the shot count, I thought Bowdoin played a great game.  And The Polar Bears looked more likely to score during both OTs, and frankly in the 2nd OT I don't know how they didn't score.  I also thought Bowdoin had a good bit of possession and a handful of corners with some dangerous forays down the flanks, especially the left side.  Bowdoin will not be an easy team to take out and I'm guessing they would or will feel pretty comfortable playing Tufts again knowing they easily could have won today.  Greenwood is a great shot-stopper and Van Siclen was outstanding, and had a phenomenal outlet pass in OT that nearly led to a goal.

Amherst, OK, come on.  I've mostly defended you for the better part of 2 years.  5 cards again today?  Almost becoming a caricature.  You're too good for this.  Go out and physically dominate but cut out the histrionics.  Great school, great program.  Act like it.

And let me say that I think Patel has got to be the best (or in the top 2-3) natural left back in the country.  I love Lynch at Brandeis but he's naturally a mid or right back playing out of position.

Patel is an unsung star for Tufts.  I also watched the game and Bowdoin's defense played well and they pack it in..  I thought Tufts has most of the possession and shots but Greenwood came up with an excellent save.  ... I feel Tufts will win a rematch IF they don't let Bowdoin frustrate them......

I also saw the game. Bowdoin's defense bends but doesn't break, especially in the constant rain. Ditto on Patel. IMHO, Tufts was the better team and probably deserved the win, but greenwood had to make a good save... yes, Msjumder was somewhat quiet and as mentioned above, Kayne was good. Guys were slipping all over and I thought it may end 0-0 because of the rain and the way Bowdoin sags.

[Nutmeg]

I watched 90% of Bowdoin-Tufts.  Might be in the minority, and aside from the shot count, I thought Bowdoin played a great game.  And The Polar Bears looked more likely to score during both OTs, and frankly in the 2nd OT I don't know how they didn't score.  I also thought Bowdoin had a good bit of possession and a handful of corners with some dangerous forays down the flanks, especially the left side.  Bowdoin will not be an easy team to take out and I'm guessing they would or will feel pretty comfortable playing Tufts again knowing they easily could have won today.  Greenwood is a great shot-stopper and Van Siclen was outstanding, and had a phenomenal outlet pass in OT that nearly led to a goal.

Amherst, OK, come on.  I've mostly defended you for the better part of 2 years.  5 cards again today?  Almost becoming a caricature.  You're too good for this.  Go out and physically dominate but cut out the histrionics.  Great school, great program.  Act like it.

And let me say that I think Patel has got to be the best (or in the top 2-3) natural left back in the country.  I love Lynch at Brandeis but he's naturally a mid or right back playing out of position.

NCAC, good analysis, but thought Tufts dominated the first OT. I missed the Amherst game.  What happened with the play behind the cards?

[PaulNewman]

I watched 90% of Bowdoin-Tufts.  Might be in the minority, and aside from the shot count, I thought Bowdoin played a great game.  And The Polar Bears looked more likely to score during both OTs, and frankly in the 2nd OT I don't know how they didn't score.  I also thought Bowdoin had a good bit of possession and a handful of corners with some dangerous forays down the flanks, especially the left side.  Bowdoin will not be an easy team to take out and I'm guessing they would or will feel pretty comfortable playing Tufts again knowing they easily could have won today.  Greenwood is a great shot-stopper and Van Siclen was outstanding, and had a phenomenal outlet pass in OT that nearly led to a goal.

Amherst, OK, come on.  I've mostly defended you for the better part of 2 years.  5 cards again today?  Almost becoming a caricature.  You're too good for this.  Go out and physically dominate but cut out the histrionics.  Great school, great program.  Act like it.

And let me say that I think Patel has got to be the best (or in the top 2-3) natural left back in the country.  I love Lynch at Brandeis but he's naturally a mid or right back playing out of position.

NCAC, good analysis, but thought Tufts dominated the first OT. I missed the Amherst game.  What happened with the play behind the cards?

You might be right about the 1st OT but Bowdoin had the far better chances to score and should have scored.  I disagree that Bowdoin just packed it in.  They kept possession when they got it, played through the middle and down the flanks and were looking to score throughout the game.  Perhaps Tufts had 60%+ of the possession but Bowdoin periodically was dangerous.  Let's remember what Bowdoin did last year.  They are not a team to take lightly.

With Amherst I just noticed the box score and 5 yellows in a row, all from Amherst.  I'm so ambivalent about Amherst because they clearly have an outstanding program and currently are the undisputed #1 team in the country.  I wish them well but they are just adding pressure to themselves if they turn everyone against them.

Bull gets the nod for me as a GK because he literally can kick the ball 85-90 yards down the field so his goal kicks and any other kicks he has are essentially free kicks and put the other team under in a way no other team can.

[blooter442]

GK debate question: If Bull were on the Tufts team, who do you think Shapiro would start in net: Bull or Greenwood? What about Saward?

Bull. Greenwood is the best shot stopper in the league in my opinion, but not nearly good enough on set pieces and crosses (see my commentary from earlier today, and throughout the season.) Last year, he had Williams and Kramer to take care of the majority of high balls, but he doesn't have that luxury this year. And while he was key in Tufts' run to the title last year he could be a real liability come tournament time. Bull is 95% as good as Greenwood at shot stopping but incredibly confident and composed on high balls, so that makes him a better GK for me. Tougher to say between Bull and Sydor, as I think Amherst's back line is better than Midd's, but Bull's distribution is excellent so I would say Bull on current form.

[Mr.Right]

Gimand was MOTM for me and capped his afternoon with a goal.

Agreed. Nifty.
Amazing that Bull even got a piece of that one, as he had to extend himself fully and cover the entire 8 yards of the goal face.

As for Milbury being a "poor man's Conrad," the former was much more effective and present against Amherst than the latter was this year.

GK debate question: If Bull were on the Tufts team, who do you think Shapiro would start in net: Bull or Greenwood? What about Saward?

I am in complete agreement with you and that is why I gave Milbury a back handed compliment which you took offense to. Millbury is no Conrad but he worked his ass off yesterday and if he and the whole Trinity team can continue to PLAY LIKE THAT we will see them in November at Amherst for the Nescac Final 4. The problem with Trinity under Pilger the last 11 years in which I have been repeating myself over and over is that WE do not know which Trinity side will show up? One thing about Serpone I KNOW Amherst SHOWS up to every game. Serpone is intense and his team plays that way. All I am saying is I have NO CLUE which Trinity side will show up at Midd. A side tha8t outplayed them earlier up there and lost in OT or a side that will think they are better then they are and get whacked 3-0. Trinity's backline and GK will have to be on their TOES all games with Ogle's long throws and set pieces...If Midd takes Gimand out of the game like they did Kayne at Tufts then it will be an ugly sloppy game that will finish 1-0 either way. Midd has an absolute knack of just cluster f*cking the whole game up in midfield and giving the game no rhythm which gives neither team an advantage. They just plan on scoring on set pieces. IT is UGLY but for the most part effective.

[Brother Flounder]

Gimand was MOTM for me and capped his afternoon with a goal.

Agreed. Nifty.
Amazing that Bull even got a piece of that one, as he had to extend himself fully and cover the entire 8 yards of the goal face.

As for Milbury being a "poor man's Conrad," the former was much more effective and present against Amherst than the latter was this year.

GK debate question: If Bull were on the Tufts team, who do you think Shapiro would start in net: Bull or Greenwood? What about Saward?

I am in complete agreement with you and that is why I gave Milbury a back handed compliment which you took offense to. Millbury is no Conrad but he worked his ass off yesterday and if he and the whole Trinity team can continue to PLAY LIKE THAT we will see them in November at Amherst for the Nescac Final 4. The problem with Trinity under Pilger the last 11 years in which I have been repeating myself over and over is that WE do not know which Trinity side will show up? One thing about Serpone I KNOW Amherst SHOWS up to every game. Serpone is intense and his team plays that way. All I am saying is I have NO CLUE which Trinity side will show up at Midd. A side tha8t outplayed them earlier up there and lost in OT or a side that will think they are better then they are and get whacked 3-0. Trinity's backline and GK will have to be on their TOES all games with Ogle's long throws and set pieces...If Midd takes Gimand out of the game like they did Kayne at Tufts then it will be an ugly sloppy game that will finish 1-0 either way. Midd has an absolute knack of just cluster f*cking the whole game up in midfield and giving the game no rhythm which gives neither team an advantage. They just plan on scoring on set pieces. IT is UGLY but for the most part effective.

Mr. Right, I was at the Tufts Middlebury game.  Middlebury simply played long ball and Tufts owned the midfield. Yes, it was 1-0 but Tufts really owned that game.... So, in that regard, I would disagree as they did not have any real midfield presence and didn't take any midfielders out of the game....