NESCAC

[d4_Pace]

Here are highlights from Tufts-Amherst. I don't think the video really shows how good of a save it was by Lauta on the potential own goal in overtime. Goalkeeping was a question mark coming into the season but he has stepped up big time and has been one of the 3-4 most important players for the Jumbos this year. Also just a warning the commentary is a bit over the top

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwyA0TxbURI

[Hopkins92]

* I actually appreciate the dude's enthusiasm.

* I don't understand what the Amherst keeper was doing on that first goal. Backed up a good 10 yards to pretty much give the 1v1 confrontation away. I can see backing up and then coming forward a few steps, bu not just backing up to your 6 like that.

Just watched it again... He's backing up as the shot was taken. Just... textbook what you're not supposed to do in that situation.

[PaulNewman]

* I actually appreciate the dude's enthusiasm.

* I don't understand what the Amherst keeper was doing on that first goal. Backed up a good 10 yards to pretty much give the 1v1 confrontation away. I can see backing up and then coming forward a few steps, bu not just backing up to your 6 like that.

Just watched it again... He's backing up as the shot was taken. Just... textbook what you're not supposed to do in that situation.

Don't know how this would impact your analysis, but the video doesn't show just how far up the GK was (maybe within 8-10 yards of midfield when he realized Cano was about to score an empty netter).  As soon as Tufts crossed midfield or even before you could tell Amherst and especially the GK were in trouble.  From the Amherst perspective that play just can't happen, but Cano created something similar a couple of more times.  I was gonna say the other day when D4 suggested Amherst scored on their only good chance that GG finally had a decent look and nearly scored forcing Lauta into very good save.  Provided a glimpse of how little time and space GG needs to be dangerous.  Imo they had a couple more good chances including the own goal save noted above.

[Hopkins92]

I can't remember the math, but when I train goalies I show them how just one yard ceded can open up a ton of space, especially to the far post. He was better off just holding his ground, in my very humble and lack of context/full-field view opinion.

[d4_Pace]

I think Paul's point was he couldn't hold his ground initially because he was a solid 15-20 yards outside of his box. But once he retreated to his box he probably should have been more aggressive like you said. I'm not a goalie so I'll defer to you, but from a defender's perspective you can't allow one simple pass on the ground to beat both center backs. It seems like the goalie maybe could have done better here, but I think most of the blame lies with the defenders. 

After all that though it was a great finish from Cano who was easily man of the match. I'm glad to see Mati stepping up his senior year. He's struggled with injuries including a nasty fracture in preseason that made him miss his whole freshmen year. He's bided his time behind Tasker and Lane and now he is keeping the offense afloat in the continued absences of Ratzan and Jacobs.

[Hopkins92]

I think Paul's point was he couldn't hold his ground initially because he was a solid 15-20 yards outside of his box. But once he retreated to his box he probably should have been more aggressive like you said. I'm not a goalie so I'll defer to you, but from a defender's perspective you can't allow one simple pass on the ground to beat both center backs. It seems like the goalie maybe could have done better here, but I think most of the blame lies with the defenders. 

After all that though it was a great finish from Cano who was easily man of the match. I'm glad to see Mati stepping up his senior year. He's struggled with injuries including a nasty fracture in preseason that made him miss his whole freshmen year. He's bided his time behind Tasker and Lane and now he is keeping the offense afloat in the continued absences of Ratzan and Jacobs.

Yeah, it's a subtle thing, but you are drilled that you should never be flat-footed AND unless you are being chipped/lobbed, you should never be moving backwards when a shot is taken. I do understand why he was retreating initially; even though I'm ancient, I used to like to play way off my line and act like a sweeper when that was an option. So, I totally get it. I just think he should've set himself/stopped retreating and then taken a step forward when he could see a shot was coming.

But, ultimately, it's a little nit-picky, as that was just an excellent, decisive finish. Not sure he could've gotten to it regardless.

[PaulNewman]

Yeah, you have to see just how far out he was.  As soon as the pass left the Tufts teammates foot...a good 12-15 yards inside the Tufts half, you knew the GK was...well...screwed.  Maybe he should have tried to just close on Cano from 40-45 yards out where he was instead of retreating at all, and the CBs definitely got burned as well.  Perfect pass right between them and for Cano to run on to from I think Woovin Shin #8 who had come in as a sub and got a lot of minutes.  And (got this from Tufts website) whose older brother is a senior starter at Swat.  I don't want to think about how smart you have to be as a student at Swat and also an athlete (or at Chicago).

Anyway, I previously endorsed Cano as man of the match, but Shin might have been man of the match runner-up.  Gonna be a really good, dangerous player for Tufts.  And van Brewer is excellent, but he's never been 5'9 a day in his life.  I think they changed his height on the website from 5'7 to 5'9.

[PaulNewman]

LOL.  I got a lot of deficits, but memory is solid.  van Brewer 5'7 for entire Tufts career until his post-grad year now.

But by far the best hobbies on the team......"Extreme ironing, competitive dog grooming, soap carving, toast toasting."

[Mr.Right]

The announcer was well prepared. He knew all players and numbers for both teams or had a spotter but it came off as clean. I love the last chance Tufts had in the box..." Instead of yelling out the name and number of the player he just screams and begs FINISH...hilarious

[Mr.Right]

Wes at Springfield

WPI at Amherst

Swirling Wind in WMASS rn

[hiyasoccer]

If anyone wants a different keeper's take on the Cano breakaway goal, I think (although it's hard to tell from the camera angle) that Cano was potentially being forced wide enough that the Amherst GK didn't need to come confront. Looks like he got caught in no man's land though, not retreating far enough to have time to react to a shot but not close enough to close the angle. John Harrison (@Jhdharrison1 on Twitter) puts out some great stuff about when and where goalies should come off their line on breakaways, and has the only sophisticated public goalkeeping analytical model I've seen.

It's much trickier than it looks to find your positioning well when you're retreating from sweeper-keeping. I definitely struggled with it.

[Hopkins92]

I want to acknowledge a little more directly: I didn't see the full context when I first posted. You guys can probably tell as I continued posting. Much trickier than I first thought.

But, I'll stand by my overall point... He was back-pedaling when the shot came off. That's a dagger.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst #9 a GOW....free kick beauty...someone find a highlight

[Mr.Right]

Wes 3rd game in 5 nights look a bit off 1st Half. Key starting CB Frosh #26 Chris Porte leaves 1st Half injured.. That would be a loss if he is out.

[Mr.Right]

Rubinstein / Ruehlemann show...86th minute winner....Wes has enough depth that Wheeler rests his starters early 2nd Half and then brings them back on fresh with 10 min left...It was not as pretty as this weekend in Maine but they sneak out of Springfield with a 1-0 Win. Springfield really battled hard but Wes gutted out a victory. Newmac is an improved league this year. Now they need to hope CB  #26 Porte is not out for a long stretch.