NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

Jumbos putting the hurt on Middlebury.  3-0 at half....

[BendIt007]

Camels let up a bit and Bates comes out strong and gets one back.  Camels 3- Bates 1 with 30 left.  A wake-up to Camels and will be interesting to see how the rest of the half goes.  As Mr. Right said, if Camels get one more that should give a chance to rest a few players, but right now still a game.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst and Hamilton heading to OT...Game has bogged down a bit and not sure there is a game winner in this one.

[Brother Flounder]

So far, Tufts best performance to date. 4-0 and could be more... Middlebury doesn't seem to have the power it had the last few years

[Mr.Right]

Amherst at Hamilton ends 0-0..1st half was entertaining, 2nd Half not so much..By OT some of Amherst players looked gassed and Hamilton had a golden opportunity with a couple minutes left but I think it was Schmidt could not pull the trigger..Very good effort by Hamilton today and they are going to be a tough out especially at home. Wood was streaking down the field with that awesome pace but Amherst did a very nice job keeping him outside and on his left. He is a fun player to watch though.

[Mr.Right]

Wesleyan and Colby finish 0-0. I only caught the 2nd OT but looked like Wesleyan was all over Colby and had some opportunities but never really got any dangerous shots off. I will say as talented as Martinez-Paiz is and he is very skilled I think its time he starts getting a little more selfish as he is always trying to find teammates BUT his teammates are not getting the job done and Wesleyan is really struggling to score goals this year except the 4 they posted on Bates. He's got the talent to be a goal scorer in this league and its time to show it.

[Mr.Right]

Sunday:

Midd at Wesleyan----Both teams are coming off disappointing games but more so Midd. Both teams really struggling to score goals. I caught very little of the Wesleyan v Colby match today and none of the Tufts v Midd match. I hate trying to read into a game by just looking at a boxscore but I will take a shot. Midd had 1 SOG all game against Tufts they also only had 5 fouls. That game sounds like Tufts absolutely dominated. I would guess possession was 75/25. Just one of those games and credit to Tufts they are really playing well. They are playing the best in Nescac by a long shot. Not even Amherst is close. To me Hamilton and Amherst today was an even game. Hamilton is starting to play very well also, especially at home. Midd is just not good right now. I would guess Saward maybe makes some changes for tomorrow's match. Different line-up? Gk? I do not know but they are generating NOTHING offensively. They have been shutout by Colby and Tufts and had 1 goal v Bowdoin in last 3 Nescac games. While that is bleak more concerning to me is I have never seen a Midd team giving up so many goals. They are giving up goals against the run of play, on set pieces and defensive breakdowns. I only saw the 2nd OT of Wes and Colby but from what I saw Wesleyan was knocking on the door for quite a bit all over and around the 18 without havin 1 dangerous sniff. That is also concerning. They just cannot finish or more importantly get quality SOG. I said my piece about Martinez-Paiz, HE MUST get selfish. Take guys on and shoot and if you mujst pass give it ACH who was really unlucky by hitting the crossbar 1st Half v Colby. Wesleyan has this game and Trinity next they must start getting W's or they will not qualify for the Nescac tournament for the 2nd year in a row. Wesleyan 1-0

Bowdoin at Bates----Bowdoin got a nice OT win at Trinity today and the recap made it sound like they had to work for it. 2 PK's in thhis game? As anemic as Bowdoin is offensively I think they will find some goals tomorrow v Bates defense. They will have some serious size advantage and they moved the ball nicely on the turf at Thomas and I really believe they might get some goals on the turf tomorrow. That does not mean Bates will roll over. They have plenty to play for which is unusual for them this late in the season. They can move the ball nicely in spurts so I will agree with all of you that this game should have some goals. Like I said earlier this week, if Bowdoin goes clean they will win this league. Doubtful but not impossible. They still play Tufts an have 2 games in hand on them and Conn. Throw the records out in these types of rivalry games..3-1 Bowdoin

[blooter442]

Bates-Bowdoin about to kick off and, seeing things from field level, Bowdoin seems to have a size advantage bigger than I thought. Not as many fans as I would have guessed but I imagine more will trickle in. Nice weather after a crummy day thus far. Should be a good one. Let's go.

[blooter442]

1-0 Bowdoin 6 minutes in. Nice left-footed curled finish to the far corner by McColl, who had way too much time it has to be said.

[blooter442]

Gotta say Bates has responded well to being down. They do have good spirit.

Just after I wrote that, Morant hits the bar.

[blooter442]

I don't get Opoku playing through the middle as has been the case in this game so far. He is a nice player with some great speed and dribbling, but he gets barged off the ball a lot. It's difficult to be 5'5" and a CF, particularly playing in a 4-3-3 with two imposing opposing CBs to double-mark. Why don't they play him out wide and let him cut in a la Messi? I am no Guardiola but this confounds me.

[blooter442]

1-1 in the 50th minute. Looked like an own goal off a long throw. Bates is fired up.

[blooter442]

Bates has really turned up a gear since the goal. This is end-to-end stuff.

[blooter442]

Bowdoin retakes the lead with about 22 left on a PK. Great hit from Stenquist into the corner. Looked a definite PK from my angle.

[blooter442]

Bowdoin 2-1 Bates is the final. Looked like Bowdoin might romp after the first few minutes but Bates grew into the game and deserved its equalizer. Probably a fair result as I think Bowdoin shaded general play. I was quite surprised at how well-behaved this rivalry is compared to other in-league clashes. A good, entertaining game.