NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

[quote author=luckylefty link=topic=7480.msg1835096#msg1835096 date=1510879969
They are so good in possession. It will be interesting to see how they react to being aggressively pressured from Tufts. They are so tough to get the ball from and their possession allows them to keep the game under their thumb, they just always feel in control. With that said if Tufts press can cause problems they could very easily make a mistake in their end and have it cost them the game.

I have said this before but I saw Hopkins play Dickinson in the Centennial Semi's and Dickinson pressed them and were forcing giveaway's in the back which led to 1 Dickinson goal. That is why i said Hopkins MUST adapt and not play short square balls in the back just to play short square balls and switch the field. They are going to have change and hoof a few more long balls then they are probably used to BUT it will be necessary to negate Tufts press and force Tufts to change and keep them honest.

I don't think they will do that. It's not who they are. Obviously getting pressed in your own end is a huge threat, but they've played this way all year. They would be fools to try to change that now. The benefit to playing this way is that they control the tempo of the game all the time.

I respect the hell out of Hopkins for playing this way. And their 3-5-2 is tactically very sharp. Tufts will have to commit a lot of numbers forward to press them off it, and if Hopkins can find a few combinations they will break Tufts open.
[/quote]


I will give Hopkins all the credit in the world if they are able to break Tufts down and control the tempo of the game BUT I am not sure how familiar Hopkins will be with Tufts physicality and quickness. Should be a great chess match.

[SoccerMom_5]

I believe Van Siclien played for BC Head Coach Ed Kelly at club level. Kelly raved about him but his injuries overshadowed it all. He proved everyone wrong that is for sure.

Yep.  http://tournaments.usyouthsoccer.org/events/2012-Region-I-Championships/Game/11430/NEFCEagles/EmpireUnitedSARochester/

But why did other schools lost interest after he tore his ACL?  It's a serious injury, of course, but it's not as though the surgery followed by rehab is some of experimental shot in the dark.

The story as I understand it is that Van Siclen wanted to play both soccer and ice hockey in college.  Williams and Bowdoin were among his top choices.  Russo or Sullivan (depending on the timing) wanted him to play only soccer if he came to Williams.  Wiercinski was willing to have him play both, so Bowdoin was the fortunate recipient of Van Siclen's talents.

I believe Sam Ward also plays two sports at Bowdoin.

Good luck to Tufts and Amherst.  (They play today, right? Where are those games?)

[Mr.Right]

Interesting....Tasker not playing due to illness? Kid better have mono because you should not be missing a game like this because you have the sniffles

[Mr.Right]

Jumbocast KILLING ME....Let's figure this out boys

[Mr.Right]

0-0 Tufts v Hopkins at the Half...Jumbocast was in and out so I did not catch much of the 1st Half but based on what I did see and the Stats this game is stuck in midfield as there have been few chances for either side. Both teams feeling each other out.

[Mr.Right]

Hopkins just to SLOW building up their attack IMO..They are allowing Tufts to set defensively. On the flip Tufts is giving the ball away way to often as they need to keep possession better. Tufts press starting to get at Hopkins

[Mr.Right]

Halliday is absolutely busting his butt today..His motor is running high as he is all over the field.

[Mr.Right]

Tanner Jameson makes an appearance as he has been injured since September. Interesting time to make an appearance

[Mr.Right]

No idea where Kulcsar is as it looks like the Frosh Aroh is holding

[Mr.Right]

About 20 minutes left in the 2nd Half an still 0-0 between Tufts and Hopkins...Things starting to get chippy as both teams are getting frustrated.

[NEsoccerfan]

Thoroughly impressed by JHU.Ilove their one touch buildup, in-back-throughs, etc. etc. They seem like the better team today and are dominating possession. It is very difficult to break down tufts in the final third, though.

[Mr.Right]

Both teams really struggling with the final pass in their attacking 3rd. It really is going to take an individual piece of skill or brilliance to win this game...0-0 12 minutes remaining

[Mr.Right]

Zinner with the best chance of the Half with a real nice run but hit it just wide.

[Mr.Right]

Hopkins #7 Youncer with a nice chance on the other end but it was luckily blocked by Zinner as that was heading for the back of the net

[Mr.Right]

Thoroughly impressed by JHU.Ilove their one touch buildup, in-back-throughs, etc. etc. They seem like the better team today and are dominating possession. It is very difficult to break down tufts in the final third, though.

They are dominating possession but they are going nowhere fast as they are not generating many chances from all that possession. Tufts has had the better chances even though they are getting out possessed.

Halliday with an excellent opportunity on a set piece. he is very dangerous on set pieces but he hits it at the GK