NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

Again Serpone benches his GK at halftime opting for Frosh GK Michael Stone who did make a fantastic save heading into OT for Amherst. I did not watch the 1st Half so I cannot comment on what Hope-Gund might have done wrong in a 0-0 game at the Half. Or maybe this is the new norm at Amherst and the job is seriously up for grabs may the best GK win.

[nescac1]

Man, when you beat the two toughest opponents on your schedule via own-goals, it may just be your year ...

[Mr.Right]

Maybe but frankly they are not THAT impressive and I have watched them maybe 5 times this year. They are a good team for sure with dangerous weapons but not great. Good but not great. I have serious concerns with them away from home. At Hamilton, the game was dead even. At Williams, dead even. Those have been their only 2 Nescac road games so far. They have BIG wins at home that will get them a Pool C but this cramped 65 yard wide sandbox is a big home field advantage. Let's see how they do this weekend especially at Colby. I think they will easily dispatch Bates but Colby will match up well with them and will be ready and prepared and more rested. Should be interesting.

[redsoccer06]

WOW...Amherst wins the game 1-0 in OT on an own goal...Massive long ball gets flicked onto McMillan who uses his great speed to absolutely burn #24 Nate Summers and crosses it into the middle but no one can finish it. Bellow gets to it first and crosses it back into the middle and #24 Summers deflects it into his own net. Just a disaster for Summers and that is Conn's 1st loss of the year to give them an 8-1-3 record. That loss is really going to sting as they deserved a draw but that is why you are always crossing balls into the mixer and shooting because you never know what will happen. Conn at 8-1-3 still has some work to do IMO to get a Pool C and Amherst with a huge win couple with wins over Tufts, RUN and Bowdoin should be all set with a Pool C and a Nescac Top 4 unless they completely collapse...

Before the game, was voted #1 in the region, and Conn #4. Conn will definitely drop after suffering their first loss and have three tough games remaining. Endicott away, Bowdoin at home, and Wesleyan at home. Endicott hasn't lost this year in games that their primary forward #5 Couchot has played in. Bowdoin is going to be a massive tilt in a game where both teams are very organized, but tend to have difficulty scoring. And Wesleyan, while they still have a difficult road ahead, could be fighting for their lives to get that 8th playoff spot.

[Bobcat1]

WOW...Amherst wins the game 1-0 in OT on an own goal...Massive long ball gets flicked onto McMillan who uses his great speed to absolutely burn #24 Nate Summers and crosses it into the middle but no one can finish it. Bellow gets to it first and crosses it back into the middle and #24 Summers deflects it into his own net. Just a disaster for Summers and that is Conn's 1st loss of the year to give them an 8-1-3 record. That loss is really going to sting as they deserved a draw but that is why you are always crossing balls into the mixer and shooting because you never know what will happen. Conn at 8-1-3 still has some work to do IMO to get a Pool C and Amherst with a huge win couple with wins over Tufts, RUN and Bowdoin should be all set with a Pool C and a Nescac Top 4 unless they completely collapse...

Before the game, was voted #1 in the region, and Conn #4. Conn will definitely drop after suffering their first loss and have three tough games remaining. Endicott away, Bowdoin at home, and Wesleyan at home. Endicott hasn't lost this year in games that their primary forward #5 Couchot has played in. Bowdoin is going to be a massive tilt in a game where both teams are very organized, but tend to have difficulty scoring. And Wesleyan, while they still have a difficult road ahead, could be fighting for their lives to get that 8th playoff spot.

http://unitedsoccercoaches.org/web/Rankings/College_Rankings/NCAA_DIII_MEN/web/rankings/ncaa/diii_men.aspx

Looks like Amherst was voted #2 and Conn #5.

[redsoccer06]

What are the chances that Bowdoin wins their next three games?

[Mr.Right]

What are the chances that Bowdoin wins their next three games?

Bowdoin has 4 games left:


v Hamilton
v Colby
at Conn
at Tufts

They are 9-2-0. That loss to St.Joesph's(ME) really hurts IMO..Bowdoin still has plenty of work to do to get a Pool C. They have wins over Williams and Midd but that is it. If they win those last 4 games they will easily get a Pool C and obviously win Nescac outright. Like I said 2 weeks ago it is not impossible but highy improbable. They have played very well at home but with their lack of scoring I do not see them winning those last 4 games. In fact, Bowdoin and Williams have the 2 most difficult schedule left. I would give Bowdoin a 3% chance of winning those last 4 games. The problem is I would also give them a possibility of losing all 4 as well. That is how unpredictable Bowdoin and Nescac is this year. Honestly I could see them finishing 1-2-1 and at least hosting a Nescac quarterfinal game.

[NESCAC11]

What are the chances that Bowdoin wins their next three games?

Bowdoin has 4 games left:


v Hamilton
v Colby
at Conn
at Tufts

They are 9-2-0. That loss to St.Joesph's(ME) really hurts IMO..Bowdoin still has plenty of work to do to get a Pool C. They have wins over Williams and Midd but that is it. If they win those last 4 games they will easily get a Pool C and obviously win Nescac outright. Like I said 2 weeks ago it is not impossible but highy improbable. They have played very well at home but with their lack of scoring I do not see them winning those last 4 games. In fact, Bowdoin and Williams have the 2 most difficult schedule left. I would give Bowdoin a 3% chance of winning those last 4 games. The problem is I would also give them a possibility of losing all 4 as well. That is how unpredictable Bowdoin and Nescac is this year. Honestly I could see them finishing 1-2-1 and at least hosting a Nescac quarterfinal game.

I think more likely Bowdoin goes 2-1-1 out of those last 4. Williams has some work to do with:

at Wesleyan
Hamilton
Tufts
at Middlebury

Williams is presently sitting in 6th but with a disparity in games played and other teams with a  tough schedule they could conceivably wind up in 4th. They have trouble scoring so winning isn't easy for them, but with some luck they could win 2 or 3 of them. Not sure when they last won at Midd. Finishing those games at 2-1-1 would get them a shot to host a NESCAC tournament game.

I saw them at Coast Guard yesterday and they were outplayed for much of the game. The defense is still strong and they got 1 minute of offense. I think their offense has turned a corner and is a little more explosive. Against Curry the sophomore Damian Gass had 2 goals on aggressive runs and almost had 2 others. He sat out yesterday at CC but he will be back on Saturday. Also getting Greg Andrieu back in the near future will help the defense and playmaking. I'm predicting that Williams finishes strong.

[Biggerthantexas]

Man, when you beat the two toughest opponents on your schedule via own-goals, it may just be your year ...

Actually it wasn't an own goal. Looks like a pretty good finish to me, from a tight angle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOuoeEKgbEE&feature=push-u&attr_tag=pu7wn4wM7yFzjQ7P-6

[blooter442]

Actually it wasn't an own goal. Looks like a pretty good finish to me, from a tight angle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOuoeEKgbEE&feature=push-u&attr_tag=pu7wn4wM7yFzjQ7P-6

It looks like the ball gets crossed in, Conn.'s #24 tries to clear, but fires it into the roof of his own net. The only way that's not an own goal is if the cross happened to be on target.

[Ommadawn]

Actually it wasn't an own goal. Looks like a pretty good finish to me, from a tight angle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOuoeEKgbEE&feature=push-u&attr_tag=pu7wn4wM7yFzjQ7P-6

It looks like the ball gets crossed in, Conn.'s #24 tries to clear, but fires it into the roof of his own net. The only way that's not an own goal is if the cross happened to be on target.

I was watching a couple of other games, but had the audio to this game on when the goal was scored.  The announcers clearly specified that it was an own goal.  Amherst's website describes it as an own goal:
"Breaking through with 2:10 remaining in the first overtime, Bellew directed the Mammoths to the 1-0 victory as he sent a shot from the top right corner of the goal box off a Camel defender and into the nylon."

[Mr.Right]

Just tuning into Trinity v Wesleyan. This is usually a tough rivalry game and will get chippy. Trinity is ahead 2-1 at the Half and if that score holds would put a serious 1st nail in Wesleyan's coffin. I knew Trinity would get a spoiler win or 2 with Savonen playing spoiler but let's see if Wheeler can get his troops rallied in the 2nd Half.

[Mr.Right]

What are the chances that Bowdoin wins their next three games?

Bowdoin has 4 games left:


v Hamilton
v Colby
at Conn
at Tufts

They are 9-2-0. That loss to St.Joesph's(ME) really hurts IMO..Bowdoin still has plenty of work to do to get a Pool C. They have wins over Williams and Midd but that is it. If they win those last 4 games they will easily get a Pool C and obviously win Nescac outright. Like I said 2 weeks ago it is not impossible but highy improbable. They have played very well at home but with their lack of scoring I do not see them winning those last 4 games. In fact, Bowdoin and Williams have the 2 most difficult schedule left. I would give Bowdoin a 3% chance of winning those last 4 games. The problem is I would also give them a possibility of losing all 4 as well. That is how unpredictable Bowdoin and Nescac is this year. Honestly I could see them finishing 1-2-1 and at least hosting a Nescac quarterfinal game.

I think more likely Bowdoin goes 2-1-1 out of those last 4. Williams has some work to do with:

at Wesleyan
Hamilton
Tufts
at Middlebury

Williams is presently sitting in 6th but with a disparity in games played and other teams with a  tough schedule they could conceivably wind up in 4th. They have trouble scoring so winning isn't easy for them, but with some luck they could win 2 or 3 of them. Not sure when they last won at Midd. Finishing those games at 2-1-1 would get them a shot to host a NESCAC tournament game.

I saw them at Coast Guard yesterday and they were outplayed for much of the game. The defense is still strong and they got 1 minute of offense. I think their offense has turned a corner and is a little more explosive. Against Curry the sophomore Damian Gass had 2 goals on aggressive runs and almost had 2 others. He sat out yesterday at CC but he will be back on Saturday. Also getting Greg Andrieu back in the near future will help the defense and playmaking. I'm predicting that Williams finishes strong.

Hmmm...I would be happy to wager with you that Williams DOES NOT finish 4th or better. No offense to Coast Guard and they are improved BUT if Coast Guard is dominating you for most of the game that is problematic. They have hardly solved their scoring woes as both goals were a bit lucky and fluky and Williams will have trouble scoring goals in their last 5 games against stingy defenses like Babson and Tufts. Hamilton, Wesleyan and Midd will be interesting match-ups as anything could happen in all 5 of those games. It is possible that Williams finishes 1-1-3 in those final 4 games.

As far as Bowdoin if you think they finish 2-1-1 against Colby, Hamilton, Conn and Tufts I could not disagree more. Who and how will they score against any 4 of those teams. They are all very stingy on a good day and Bowdoin on a great day will score maybe 1 goal..Like I said Bowdoin and Williams and all of Nescac is so unpredictable this year that we will just have to watch the games to see what happens.

[Mr.Right]

Wesleyan with a nice chance after a quick set piece by Martinez-Paiz to Nick Jackson for an absolute cracker and a fantastic save by Trinity's GK Zabelo. Other than that Wesleyan has not really threatened. Very disappointing for Wesleyan and with 10 minutes left still 2-1 Trinity.

[Mr.Right]

God...Wesleyan with a golden opportunity with 8 minutes left by Martinez-Paiz and he half-volleys a chance from the 6 yard line over the net. No defender near him. 30 seconds later Trinity clears one off the line. Wesleesyan starting to really push numbers now and look much more dangerous now. Where was this the whole game? Why not come out of the gates like this? Wheeler can be to conservative. Pilger continues to baffle with 5 subs coming into the game with 6 minutes left.