NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

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.

Bloots, how's Serpone?

[Mr.Right]

Looks like with Williams down to Conn 1-0 Sullivan has sacked Seniors Dory and Captain Andreou in midfield for Oberg and Boardman both Frosh....

[Brother Flounder]

Rojas with a nice chance...shoots over the net.  Tufts continuing with the better play, but its only 1-0..

[blooter442]

Great hit by van Brewer for 2-0. 3 left.

[Brother Flounder]

Great hit by van Brewer for 2-0. 3 left.

Yep, excellent goal.. Ratzen made the play...

[blooter442]

Bloots, how's Serpone?

About as happy as I was during the first 88 minutes of the Liverpool game today. 

[Brother Flounder]

Nice save by Amherst goalie White on Ratzen!

[blooter442]

Amherst pulls one back off a set piece, 2-1.

[Brother Flounder]

Amherst pulls one back off a set piece, 2-1.

That was a wonderful cross and header!

[blooter442]

Amherst wasn't in the game at all until that goal. Now they look threatening until Tufts gets it and Delaney hits one wide.

[Mr.Right]

Conn holds on to defeat Williams 1-0 in New London...Conn now 8-0-0 and 5-0-0 in Nescac and while they did not really impress today they got a goal and held on. Williams definitely missed Gass up top and I could see he was on crutches which is not good. That probably means he is out for a while. Williams just did not have many dangerous looks at all the whole game(neither did Conn) but Conn finished their chance and Williams did not. That is what separates good teams in Nescac. The play by Liam Noonan was the difference. Conn has the best GK in the league. Marcucci is a cool customer and while their defense at times looked shaky he was in control the whole game. Williams drops to 4-2-1 and are now in a serious dogfight in the middle of the pack in Nescac.

[blooter442]

Amherst with one last throw of the dice but Mieth catches it under his bar as time expires. 2-1 Tufts the final.

[Brother Flounder]

Nice win by the Jumbos. Little chippy at the end.  Amherst got a little fight in them at the end but Jumbos hold them off....

[Mr.Right]

Couple great overtime Wins for Hamilton over Wesleyan off a long set piece and cross and Bates over Trinity but I did not see that winner....

Stat of the day:

Bates outshoots Trinity 28-5 and 15-1 SOG....Looks like Peder Bakken scores the GW'ing Goal with about a minute left. Montanaro owes him a beer as he could of cost Bates a Win that by looking at the stats they clearly deserved to Win. I do not think I have seen Bates outshoot a Nescac opponent like that since maybe 2005 when they had a pretty solid team defeating Amherst that year and I think they beat Conn 7-1 that year. They had some players but that was MOONS ago...Well done as Bates is all of a sudden 5-2-0 and Trinity drops to 0-5-0 and clearly are struggling this year bigtime. They did get their 1st Nescac Goal today so maybe they can try to get their first Nescac Win next game at Wesleyan. That game MIGHT be Trinity's last chance to get a Win in Nescac this year and I believe that game is midweek this Tuesday or Wednesday.

[Once_A_Metro_Always_A_Red]

Nescac Predictions:

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

Has Wheeler's program been the same since he missed his window to try to jump to an Ivy League job earlier this decade? Wild speculation aside, it's got to be frustrating that Wesleyan Men's Soccer has flatlined while the university boosted its athletic program in recent years, with a bunch of other teams at the university achieving newfound success.