NESCAC

[Bobcat1]

Nescac Predictions:


4 out of 5 Nescac games last Saturday were 1-0 games. In 40 Nescac games we have a total of 32 Goals. It is pathetic. To many Head Coaches in this league are afraid to lose games instead of going out and trying to Win games. No guts no glory....

Middlebury at Colby-------In 2017 Colby absolutely dominated Midd on Midd's Home field shutting them out and only allowing 3 SOG in winning 2-0. Besides Colby's win over Amherst last season the win at Midd was their other monster achievement of 2017. Colby matches up well with Midd and this will be a tight match. Colby should have an edge on their Home field and the 5 1/2 hour road trip that Midd will take. Colby has had serious trouble scoring goals in Nescac this year that is really troubling. They have 1 Goal in 4 Nescac games and that is just not going to cut it. Both teams need a Win in this game to get an important 3 pts and move up the standings. Colby has a stout defense especially the 2 CB's and GK. They are a bit susceptible at wingback on both sides of the field and the question is can Midd take advantage? Colby has a distinct advantage in net and if Colby can get some solid SOG they should be able to sneak one past Midd's GK Hyer. I hesitate to predict a winner as I can totally see a draw in this match but I think Colby sneaks a win here......Colby 1-0


Hamilton at Wesleyan------------Hamilton is coming off a real disappointing weekend losing 2 tough matches at Home to Conn and Midd. Both games could have gone the other way but Hamilton could not get it done as they scored 1 goal in those 2 games. It's funny because the past few years just when you are about to count Hamilton out they surprise or bounce back with a victory or two. Hamilton has a mighty big weekend coming up with 2 games at Wesleyan and at Tufts. I can honestly say they could go 2-0 or 0-2 or even 0-0-2 I have no idea. Wesleyan is coming off two straight 1-0 losses at Bates and at Tufts. They showed 1st Half last night at Tufts they have some pieces. They look to be decent in net, Teddy Lyons is a Nick Jackson prototype and KMP and Gallo along with Haas up top can create some dangerous chances. Wesleyan's backline looks like Wheeler has moved Devanney to CB and he is quick and skilled but not the most physical presence as is Wesleyan's other backs. The Frosh in midfield Kelsch adds size but did nothing for me with his skill. Maybe it was an off night. Getting to the point it seems Wesleyan has some pieces but is not quite back to a level they were once at 5-10 years ago. Based on other teams in Nescac, Wheeler and Wesleyan are going to have a difficult time avoiding their 3rd straight missed Top 8 / Nescac Playoffs. For a school like Wesleyan it is just unacceptable but Wesleyan might need 1 or 2 more solid recruiting classes before they are contending again. Hamilton has more size especially in the back than Wesleyan. Hamilton's backline is quick enough to deal with Wesleyan's forwards. KMP still has zero goals for a Wesleyan side that cannot score goals much less create many chances. Hamilton takes this game.........Hamilton 1-0


Bates at Trinity--------Trinity had a nice little bounce back win over a decent WNEC side last night 2-0. That being said I still do not see their best attacking player Henry Farr in the lineup and if he is out for an extended period of time that does not bode well for them. I do not think Trinity is playing for a Play-off spot anymore with what they have left on their schedule. I believe they are playing to avoid going 0-10-0. To avoid that they must get results in this game v Bates and against Wesleyan. Bates is coming off two legitimate Shutout victories over Williams and Wesleyan at Home. They have never been as good on the road but I really like what their new Head Coach is doing in Lewiston. Bates is led by its Senior leader and one of the best GK's in Nescac in Robbie Montanaro. The defense in front of him have a mix of size and speed. Bates had some good chances against Williams besides the 2 Goals and at times looked the better side. While this is a big game for Trinity it is even more important for Bates. They have Trinity on Saturday and go up to Amherst on Sunday against an Amherst side that will be doing serious battle with Tufts the previous day. Kind of like the situation Williams found themselves in last weekend after battling with Amherst they looked tired at Bates the next day. Point is Bates has some real opportunity here. They are a better team than Trinity but they cannot be looking ahead to Amherst on Sunday. Bates has not defeated Amherst since I think 2005 on a neutral field. This might be on of their best chances to do that this year. Opoku keeps the hot streak going as he should be running wild against Trinity's weak defense......Bates 2-1


Williams at Conn---------Conn is 7-0-0 and looks to be on a serious mission in 2018. They have looked really solid all year and are not only playing so hard for Murphy again this year they are playing like a team and have more skill with Dieng than they did last year. They have one of the best GK's and I really think as long as they can find goals they have such a tidy defense and GK they can win games 1-0 or 2-1. They have Amherst and Tufts at Home this year and you better believe they will be gunning for both those teams and I give them a really good chance winning those games. Besides the letdown at Bates, Williams has looked pretty solid this year. They have enough athletes and talent to match Conn but do they have the same mentality? I am not sure yet. If Williams can get a Win in this game they will almost be a lock for a Top 4 and could be a Win that propels them into the NCAA's. After this game Williams has 2 weeks off from Nescac competition with some weak opponents in Coast Guard and Curry plus a decent Skidmore side. A Win here and they could be 8-1-1 before taking on the brutal part of their schedule which would be a real confidence booster.  The loss of defender Ranieri and striker Gass are big losses for Williams and I think Conn scores 1st Half and holds off a fierce Williams push to Win.......1-0 Conn


Amherst at Tufts----I have gone into detail on Tufts in an earlier post this morning. Amherst is in a pinch here as they are 1-2-0 in Nescac and really need to Win this game to get a Regionally Ranked Win. Amherst has lost 2 straight games to Tufts and has not defeated them in 3 years. Amherst plays a 4-3-3 but drop into a 4-5-1 when they lose the ball. They pinch their wingers so tight into the middle of the field it is suffocating to its opponent. In turn it gives as much space out wide that the opponents want and also gives a ton of space in between the strikers and midfielders. I think if Amherst stays in this system, which I assume they will, Tufts will be able to exploit it. Amherst is a team that has disappointed to say the least to start 2018 and seem off the rails a bit as a team. I see two teams going in different directions but Amherst has the talent to Win this game if they can get a few breaks and limit mistakes. Should be a tight battle but Tufts has the Home field and a little luck on their side in this game.......Tufts 2-1

Mr. Right, you've really gone beyond the normal with your analysis this year.  Good work!

I agree. Outstanding work and analysis by Mr. Right! Would love to see the 'Cats get a road W on Saturday. Opoku has elevated his game recently and he's dangerous when he gets going.

[BendIt007]

Great game previews by Mr.Right.  Going to see Camels play Williams. It's homecoming so should be big crowd for the game.  Hopefully on the grass . Not sure if they got a ton of rain there last yesterday/last night and need to move games (women's and men's) to turf field.

[Mr.Right]

Midd and Colby about ready to get underway in Waterville, ME.

I like how Elias keeps the same starting lineup pretty much every game. It breeds consistency. Same lineup with Moffat, Robinson, Davis and McFarlane in the back holding is Barovick with Barsamian attacking and Goulart and Potter wide. O'Grady and Reid up top.

Looks like Colby is also sticking with pretty much their starting lineup as well. I do see striker Ethan Fabricant in the starting lineup and Colby is missing KEY wide player #2 Kyle Douglas. That could become an issue for Colby in attack and they cannot afford any issues in attack.

[Mr.Right]

Midd all over Colby first 20 minutes of the game. They are looking for 3pts in a big way. Midd monster up top Brandon Reid gets in 1v1 with Colby stud GK Dan Carlson who steps up and stuffs him. O'Grady ended up with the ball and hit the post.

Something new and VERY ANNOYING...NSN has for the first time interrupted the 1st Half broadcast with 1 minute of school advertisements right in the middle of the game. Just missed a minute of action for school ads..I really hope this is not a continual thing for NSN.

As predicted Colby's LB is a weakness as #6 Grady Jendzejec gets his legs in a tangle by Midd's Daniel O'Grady inside the box and just trips him for a Midd PK. Colby's Dan Carlson made a fine attempt to save the PK but Midd's O'Grady gets a PK Goal to give Midd a 1-0 lead. If Colby had a better LB he would have been able to deal with O'Grady and stand him up instead of getting tangled up and tripping him.

O'Grady gets another free look off a half field set piece as he roams free in the box settles the ball and rips it off the post.

Colby is MIA so far in this game as Midd is in full control and very well could blow Colby off its field if this keeps up.

[Mr.Right]

Midd still in complete control over Colby 1-0 Halftime. Midd out shooting Colby 9-1 and 6-0 SOG.


Conn and Williams about to get underway. For Williams it looks like key striker Demian Gass is still out as Sullivan starts the Frosh Felito. Also, looks like Williams LB Ranieri is also out with Sullivan giving the start to Senior Paul Griffith at LB. That means Conn's most dangerous 1v1 player #7 Uzii Dieng will be going at the seldom used Griffith. That could be the matchup to watch in the game.

[NESCAC43]

At the Tufts Amherst game. About to kick off.

[NESCAC43]

Amherst should have scored on a corner. Could be 1-0 easily right now.

[Mr.Right]

Colby gets a 2nd Half equalizer by Cam Clouse on a nice left footed finish from a cross from the flank. Looks like he beat a Midd defender to the ball to finish it. 1-1 with about 35 minutes left.

[blooter442]

Tufts goes up 1-0, Cano finished off a nice spell for the Jumbos halfway through the first half. Great finish back post.

[Mr.Right]

Conn goes up 1-0 on Williams in a pretty good game down in New London. Hats off to Conn's Liam Noonan who was dribbling the ball in Williams Half and lost it but then busted his ass to get the ball back and passed it out to the flank and again busted his ass to get in the box and lost his Williams defender who was ball watching and beautifully roofed the finish...1-0 Liam Noonan over Williams.

[NESCAC11]

Williams down 1-0 after a major defensive lapse with 10 mins left in half. 2 CC players moved right into the box with the ball and no defenders. Prior to this Williams had outplayed CC with more possession and better opportunities.

[Brother Flounder]

Tufts goes up 1-0, Cano finished off a nice spell for the Jumbos halfway through the first half. Great finish back post.

God game in Sommerville/Medford!!! Tufts up 1-0 at half!

[Mr.Right]

Trinity even up the match 1-1 with Bates on a horrific GK'ing error by Bates GK Robbie Montanaro...I really cannot believe such a quality GK would make a mistake like that. Montanaro 'comes charging out of his net way outside the box to get the ball from a Trinity attacker and misses the ball and player and Trinity knots the game 1-1. Montanaro had no business flyin out of his net like that as if he stayed home I do not think Trinity finishes that play as a Bates defender was closing hard. Right before that play Bates almost put the game away with their 2nd Goal but a nice save by Trinity Frosh GK. 1-1 about 25 minutes left. Still when I have been tuning in Bates has been all over Trinity. This would be a tough game not to Win for Bates.

[blooter442]

Tufts with a deserved 1-0 halftime lead against Amherst. The Jumbos have been much the better side and Amherst's only real offense has been off long throws and a corner. They are big and powerful but do not seem cohesive in either half of the field. Giammattei has been quiet and I wonder if given his foot skills — he did have a couple of nice dribbles — it would make sense to put him out wide. He has not had much joy centrally. Either way, he's been heckled by the Tufts alums in attendance for wearing a face mask. He probably looks their biggest individual threat. Tufts is big and powerful and can play some nice stuff. Will be curious to see them play Conn.

[Mr.Right]

Midd and Colby still 1-1 with about 4 minutes left in regulation. Midd with another golden opportunity by Brandon Reid again 1v1 on Colby GK Carlson and again Carlson stuffs him. GK Carlson for Colby has really kept his team in games this year. He is their MVP so far this year IMO.