NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

Soccermom, glad you enjoyed my commentary. I am usually pretty restless during games and am up walking around — I got in 10,000 steps during the match yesterday — even ones where I have no dog in the fight, so it's a nice outlet. I would agree with your characterization of Bubb having a libero role, and I would say both center backs and their wingbacks stayed home for most of the match, although as Bobcat said McColl did get forward a few times and put a really nice service in which resulted in Bowdoin's biggest chance. Personally, I think that was the right approach, especially given Tufts' strength down the wings, particularly with Tasker.

All told, I think both teams would be happy with the draw. Curious to see who both teams will end up facing in this weekend's quarters.

I only saw the second half and over time periods, but I was surprised that Bowdoin didn't take more chances.  A win would have had a big upside and a loss wouldn't have hurt them.  Perhaps, given Van Siclen's proficiency in goal, their playoff mode will be to try to win without exposing themselves too much and prevail in PKs if necessary.

LOL...They have been playing like that since Wiercinski took over....Ultra-conservative to the point of sometimes tedious play....It killed them the last time they were in the NCAA's with a better team in 2015 at MIT. They snuck by Plattsburgh playing like that but easily could have matched up with MIT had they gone at them but Bingham stuck it to them in OT as they took no chances in that game..IDK maybe it is just me but they drive me crazy because they do have the talent to take some risks but just refuse...I will say that style has been very successful in the Nescac Tournament for them but not the NCAA's as of yet

[Ommadawn]

LOL...They have been playing like that since Wiercinski took over....Ultra-conservative to the point of sometimes tedious play....It killed them the last time they were in the NCAA's with a better team in 2015 at MIT. They snuck by Plattsburgh playing like that but easily could have matched up with MIT had they gone at them but Bingham stuck it to them in OT as they took no chances in that game..IDK maybe it is just me but they drive me crazy because they do have the talent to take some risks but just refuse...I will say that style has been very successful in the Nescac Tournament for them but not the NCAA's as of yet

It just seemed to me that the Tufts game was a freebie, in which they could have thrown caution to the wind with no repercussions if it didn't go well and a huge reward if it did.

[truenorth]

[/quote]


LOL...They have been playing like that since Wiercinski took over....Ultra-conservative to the point of sometimes tedious play....It killed them the last time they were in the NCAA's with a better team in 2015 at MIT. They snuck by Plattsburgh playing like that but easily could have matched up with MIT had they gone at them but Bingham stuck it to them in OT as they took no chances in that game..IDK maybe it is just me but they drive me crazy because they do have the talent to take some risks but just refuse...I will say that style has been very successful in the Nescac Tournament for them but not the NCAA's as of yet
[/quote]

I generally agree with your assessment Mr. Right.  Wiercinski seems to take a conservative approach that protects against the downside but does little to generate much in the way of an attacking and goal scoring threat.  Other than freshman winger Byrd, Bowdoin doesn't appear to have any real threatening attacking players in the final third, but they do have the overall skill and athleticism to be a more effective attacking team if they chose to do so.

[NESCAC11]

Interestingly for the NESCAC Tournament matches, I think Bowdoin might be the only team Williams can beat since they hardly score any goals. This game will be a 1-0 or even a 0-0 game in my estimation. Williams could get  lucky in this one. I don't think they deserve it and their midfield gives the ball away far too often, but Bowdoin doesn't really look to capitalize.

[truenorth]

That said and acknowledged, it doesn't appear that Williams's defending has been all that reliable so far this season...

[Mr.Right]

Nescac Playoff Predictions:

With all 4 games at varying times it will be possible to catch all 4 except if the Conn stream is behind the goal again forget it. Just a horrible stream at Conn.

Williams at Bowdoin----Nescac 11 feels this is the only team Williams can beat because Bowdoin does not score goals. I would tend to agree except for the fact that Williams does not score any goals either. Williams has been shutout in 2 straight games v Tufts and at Midd. 180 minutes and nothing to show for it. With those 2 losses Williams will have to make a deep run and get Wins not Draws and advance. Bowdoin has also been held scoreless at Conn and at Tufts. Both teams have been extra cautious in their play and it makes for somewhat boring viewing. Williams in the past would never play so cautious so it can be frustrating to watch. Bowdoin you know what you are getting before you tune in. Bowdoin has 3 ranked wins and are ranked pretty high in New England so they look to be in good shape UNLESS they lose this game. If they were to lose they would be smack dab on the bubble so they control their own destiny here. These two teams actually match up pretty well and since they both keep their wingbacks home and really only attack with 4 and maybe 5 it will be another low scoring game. Bowdoin has showed very well at Home this year but I see this one heading to PK's where Bowdoin can rely on Van Siclien. Williams GK Schneiderman made a terrible error in the Midd game and it could be said he should of had the Tufts goal as well. Not a good time to be making critical mistakes.
0-0 Bowdoin on PK's

Hamilton at Amherst----These two teams played an entertaining scoreless draw in Clinton,NY 3 weeks ago. I thought Hamilton showed well in that game and despite Amherst advantage in height and physicality Hamilton stayed strong throughout the game. They failed to show up defensively at Oneonta midweek and frankly have been awful on the road this year besides a win at Bowdoin where they held on 2nd half. I like Hamilton and they have some good pieces and are talented and athletic enough to hang with Amherst BUT Amherst narrow field will be a HUGE advantage for Amherst in the air. If Hamilton can deal with Amherst set pieces and long throws they will stay in the game. I just do not trust their backs as previously stated their CB Lichtman and wingback Kastilahn have both made horrific errors to cost them games. It is advance or go home so Hamilton will come out ready but Amherst has been playing very well the past 2 weeks and have not lost since the Colby game. I am tempted to go for the upset as if Hamilton can play Amherst the same way they did 3 weeks ago and can play with the same guts that Trinity showed on Wednesday against Amherst they will be right in this game. However, I just cannot ignore matchups and Hamilton's tendency to not be focused for 90 especially in the back. Amherst rolls..Amherst 3-1

Midd at Conn-----All of a sudden Conn looks to be on the Pool C Bubble especially with its inexcusable Home loss to Wesleyan. They must win this game or find a way to advance. In fact the same goes for Midd. The loser of this game will be in trouble especially Middlebury as they also must advance to snag a Pool C. I was impressed with Midd's win v Williams and if they come out and play with the same intensity and workmanlike attitude in this game they will be in good shape..O'Grady was the engine that could in the game as he busted all game. All that being said they still lack scoring prowess but Goulart is talented enough to get a goal and the Frosh Reid impressed me as he has the physical tools to be a good striker. I am not sure how skilled he is but he got into dangerous areas in the Williams game but did not finish. Not sure what to make of Conn as they could be coming back down to earth at just the wrong time. This is Saward's swan song and he usually gets his teams ready in games like this. It is hard to beat the same team twice in a season and even without the Home Field advantage I think Midd gets this game and moves on. Midd 1-0 OT

Bates at Tufts----Bates coming off an exciting season saving goal in the 109th minutes to end Colby's season. Bates played Tufts well just a few weeks ago up in Lewiston as an 85th minute goal gave Tufts the victory. They should be used to the turf as they have played some Home games on the Turf. Tufts keeps rolling along but have only 2 goals in their last 3 Nescac games. They play very well at Home and allow their opponent absolutely nothing going forward. I do not see Bates getting many dangerous chances in this game so the chances they get the must capitalize on at least 1 of them. That will be a tall task especially against Tufts. Tufts also struggles to score so if Bates sits very compact in a 4-2-3-1 like they did v Colby in a block of 6 and then let their attacking 4 the freedom to attack without defending that should be a good plan. The problem is Tufts is better than Bates in the same system. Somehow someway Tufts always finds the goal that they need to win a game. I would like just for once to see a team TEST TUFTS GK's. As the season moves into November Tufts will find itself needing a goal late in a game and they do not have the player to get them that goal IMO. But that thought will come back to me in a few weeks when the NCAA's start and it really will not be a problem in this game. Tufts will be to much in this game and will want to Host the Nescac Championship on their turf field for the 1st time ever. Tufts 2-0

[NESCAC11]

That said and acknowledged, it doesn't appear that Williams's defending has been all that reliable so far this season...

Not perfect but no 2 goal games and giving up .5 goals a game.

[truenorth]

Nescac Playoff Predictions:

Hamilton at Amherst----These two teams played an entertaining scoreless draw in Clinton,NY 3 weeks ago. I thought Hamilton showed well in that game and despite Amherst advantage in height and physicality Hamilton stayed strong throughout the game. They failed to show up defensively at Oneonta midweek and frankly have been awful on the road this year besides a win at Bowdoin where they held on 2nd half. I like Hamilton and they have some good pieces and are talented and athletic enough to hang with Amherst BUT Amherst narrow field will be a HUGE advantage for Amherst in the air. If Hamilton can deal with Amherst set pieces and long throws they will stay in the game. I just do not trust their backs as previously stated their CB Lichtman and wingback Kastilahn have both made horrific errors to cost them games. It is advance or go home so Hamilton will come out ready but Amherst has been playing very well the past 2 weeks and have not lost since the Colby game. I am tempted to go for the upset as if Hamilton can play Amherst the same way they did 3 weeks ago and can play with the same guts that Trinity showed on Wednesday against Amherst they will be right in this game. However, I just cannot ignore matchups and Hamilton's tendency to not be focused for 90 especially in the back. Amherst rolls..Amherst 3-1

Assuming Amherst holds serve vs. Hamilton and Tufts holds serve vs. Bates, and thus Tufts goes on to host the NESCAC semis and finals, I'm guessing Tufts's field is full size?  If so, that would presumably negate some of Amherst's uniquely narrow home field advantage if/when they get to Medford...

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Nescac Playoff Predictions:

Hamilton at Amherst----These two teams played an entertaining scoreless draw in Clinton,NY 3 weeks ago. I thought Hamilton showed well in that game and despite Amherst advantage in height and physicality Hamilton stayed strong throughout the game. They failed to show up defensively at Oneonta midweek and frankly have been awful on the road this year besides a win at Bowdoin where they held on 2nd half. I like Hamilton and they have some good pieces and are talented and athletic enough to hang with Amherst BUT Amherst narrow field will be a HUGE advantage for Amherst in the air. If Hamilton can deal with Amherst set pieces and long throws they will stay in the game. I just do not trust their backs as previously stated their CB Lichtman and wingback Kastilahn have both made horrific errors to cost them games. It is advance or go home so Hamilton will come out ready but Amherst has been playing very well the past 2 weeks and have not lost since the Colby game. I am tempted to go for the upset as if Hamilton can play Amherst the same way they did 3 weeks ago and can play with the same guts that Trinity showed on Wednesday against Amherst they will be right in this game. However, I just cannot ignore matchups and Hamilton's tendency to not be focused for 90 especially in the back. Amherst rolls..Amherst 3-1

Assuming Amherst holds serve vs. Hamilton and Tufts holds serve vs. Bates, and thus Tufts goes on to host the NESCAC semis and finals, I'm guessing Tufts's field is full size?  If so, that would presumably negate some of Amherst's uniquely narrow home field advantage if/when they get to Medford...

Nothing will stop/slow Amherst's long-throwing tactic.  That is how they play this year.  And the long-thrower's flip throw can go 50 yards, so no field will prevent it.

I should amend the above to state that perhaps a fenced-in field that prevents the run up and flip will be a deterrent.  That may be the case at Bello (Tufts).

[blooter442]

Nothing will stop/slow Amherst's long-throwing tactic.  That is how they play this year.  And the long-thrower's flip throw can go 50 yards, so no field will prevent it.

I should amend the above to state that perhaps a fenced-in field that prevents the run up and flip will be a deterrent.  That may be the case at Bello (Tufts).

Also, you can't really change the lines on a turf field. Then again, it would be really funny if Tufts decided to go back to Kraft for old times' sake and redo the lines, say, 90 x 120...haha...there must be a rule against that (my recollection is that 80 x 120 is max). Do we have lawyers on here (we must)?

[just4kix]

Nothing will stop/slow Amherst's long-throwing tactic.  That is how they play this year.  And the long-thrower's flip throw can go 50 yards, so no field will prevent it.

I should amend the above to state that perhaps a fenced-in field that prevents the run up and flip will be a deterrent.  That may be the case at Bello (Tufts).

Also, you can't really change the lines on a turf field. Then again, it would be really funny if Tufts decided to go back to Kraft for old times' sake and redo the lines, say, 90 x 120...haha...there must be a rule against that (my recollection is that 80 x 120 is max). Do we have lawyers on here (we must)?

I wouldn't get the lawyers involved just yet.  Have we not learned that #1 vs #2 is the least likely matchup?

[blooter442]

I wouldn't get the lawyers involved just yet.  Have we not learned that #1 vs #2 is the least likely matchup?

Of course it is unlikely, but it's still more likely than me knowing more about field dimensions than a lawyer (or anyone who has read the rule book).

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Nothing will stop/slow Amherst's long-throwing tactic.  That is how they play this year.  And the long-thrower's flip throw can go 50 yards, so no field will prevent it.

I should amend the above to state that perhaps a fenced-in field that prevents the run up and flip will be a deterrent.  That may be the case at Bello (Tufts).

Also, you can't really change the lines on a turf field. Then again, it would be really funny if Tufts decided to go back to Kraft for old times' sake and redo the lines, say, 90 x 120...haha...there must be a rule against that (my recollection is that 80 x 120 is max). Do we have lawyers on here (we must)?

I would admit to being a lawyer, but that would probably get me a bunch of negative karma!   

[blooter442]

I would admit to being a lawyer, but that would probably get me a bunch of negative karma!   

+K for honesty (and humor).

[just4kix]

I wouldn't get the lawyers involved just yet.  Have we not learned that #1 vs #2 is the least likely matchup?

Of course it is unlikely, but it's still more likely than me knowing more about field dimensions than a lawyer (or anyone who has read the rule book).

I haven't read the rule book, but I will be first in line to testify under oath that there is no maximum field width.