NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

Lauta is excellent, but let's hold off on the best in the NESCAC talk. It is at least up for debate. Grady from Middlebury has 12 shutouts and a .35 GAA. Saved a pk in the run of play today. He has 21 career shutouts and has not been scored on in four NCAA games over two seasons.

Grady is excellent. No debate on that... just watching that 13 round shootout was something... I have to say, if Tufts doesn't win I'll be routing for Grady & Middlebury!

[Mr.Right]

Nescac showed Top Dogs this weekend as they have 4 of the 16 teams in NCAA Sweet 16. All teams advanced with a combined 6-0-2 record while ALLOWING ONLY 1 GOAL IN 8 GAMES. I mean to have 7 Shutouts from 8 Games is crazy. The NCAA Commitee's decision to leave Wesleyan out of the tournament looks like an even greater travesty. Colby and Bowdoin did not have the resumes to get in but they could have possibly made some noise as well. The teams have really represented their league and schools with class and the talent in the league was on full display.



RD 32 Recaps. I will do one at a time as it was hard because at one point all 4 games were on at the same time. First up Conn v NYU.

[Mr.Right]

The Flounder has found his way home....Based on the writing Flounder I am guessing a few drinks in ya? PK's can be nervy and some have found the drink to ease the viewer's nerve.



I will say I heard in mid October from a Springfield player that said "Stevens was the best team they had faced all year". At the time I thought nothing of it but now I know why. They really came to play and gave it absolutely everything they had.

[Mr.Right]

Conn v NYU- This was a dominating performance by the Camels and something I had been waiting for. The cream of Conn's talent crop rose to the edge of greatness with #9 Tshuma and #14 Djerdjaj both scoring "Talent Only" Goals and #25 Yeonas adding a PK for Conn as they efficiently wiped NYU right off their field. Conn made NYU look like the JV team that comes up to practice Varsity once a week. Some good players but not the talent or the correct mentality to beat Varsity. NYU could not for the life of them get the ball and seemed overly insistent on not giving 110% to press and go get it. The difference in mentality showed early on once the teams walked out to Central Midfield to be introduced. One team and one team only looked ready for business and focused on "the plan". I would guess Conn dominated possession 70/30 but in this game they decided to look up field more when they had the ball. Most everything was forward whether building or direct and they did their work quickly enough to avoid 11 behind the ball defending. Conn finally showed that a determined transitional Offense is just as important as quick transition defending.

Conn's Starters: GK #00 Maidenberg, LB #6 Horvath Diano, LCB #24 Kelesoglu, RCB #5 Cerezo, RB #30 Doyle. Central Midfield had #16 Lobo, #8 Jaran and #14 Djerdjaj. RW #13 Scoffone, LW #25 Yeonas and Striker #9 Tshuma.

Bench: #18 Marvel Central Midfield. #17 Creus played both Wings. #11 Cibelli LW 1st Half, #19 Diane LW 2nd Half, #21 Dutkewych at CB 1st Half, #4 Mendo RB and #7 Zane as striker.


For good portions of the game Yeonas found himself playing Centrally while Djerdjaj was pushed up top to Striker.

Goal #1:      Just a perfect Tshuma header.   55'    1-0 Conn

The thing about greatness is it appears randomly and can leave just as quickly. Before you realize what has happened it is long gone. Or sometimes it sticks around for a joyride of euphoria and positive vibes. The problem is that means that one can find it nearly impossible to predict. When will it show up, if ever? Best to have your talent on the field when it matters and to stick with them when necessary to give yourself the best chance for greatness to appear. Tshuma had up to this point been having a tough game. Balls were bouncing off him like a brick wall and his touch was off. He also hit his usual one ta two 30 yard bombs over the net. Still when it mattered most the man showed up. A free kick was earned by the LB Horvath Diano outside the box to the left of Goal. A fantastic weighted ball by Jaran found Tshuma's noggin just outside the 6 and Tshuma did the rest by inconspicuously redirecting it with real power to beat the NYU GK. Striker's Goal.

Goal #2:     Yeonas PK.      70'     2-0 Conn

2nd Goal started at the midfield line with a legit slide tackle by Jaran. He stripped the NYU kid and decided to take the ball himself. Great run because he looked to have turned his head left as if he was going to play the LW but you could tell in the corner of his eye he saw his RW Creus. He played his RW and Creus drove hard into the NYU box and was taken down.

Goal #3:     Djerdjaj magic in the NYU box.        85'   3-0 Conn

Throw-In to Djerdjaj right near the goaline. He gets doubled by NYU and gets out of it with a piece of skill as he megged the NYU defender. He gets by another defender before absolutely ripping the nets off the goal with a massive blast. That is why he is so respected throughout the league and then voted Nescac POY. That was pure talent to get out of that double on the goaline and to do it by megging the poor kid. Gasoline on the fire.

Overall Conn was much better today. If they play like this next weekend they will be a very tough out. They just dominated the ball but with purpose today. Mixing some good balls over the top by the CB's Cerezo and Kelesoglu and with some great weighted balls by Conn's midfield. Jaran had a hell of a game and when this kid plays well usually Conn is playing well. The first 5 minutes of the game he hit a perfect vertical ball to get Scoffone alone in on goal but Scoffone overhit it just wide. Still I knew when I saw that ball that Conn was looking to play much faster and with purpose. They gave themselves numerous opportunities to score in the game and in the process dominated the whole 90 minutes. They should be proud of the way they played and celebrate it tonight but they must still be able to refocus for practice this week and for whomever they will be playing in the NCAA Sweet 16.

[SlideTackle]

Nescac showed Top Dogs this weekend as they have 4 of the 16 teams in NCAA Sweet 16. All teams advanced with a combined 6-0-2 record while ALLOWING ONLY 1 GOAL IN 8 GAMES. I mean to have 7 Shutouts from 8 Games is crazy. The NCAA Commitee's decision to leave Wesleyan out of the tournament looks like an even greater travesty. Colby and Bowdoin did not have the resumes to get in but they could have possibly made some noise as well. The teams have really represented their league and schools with class and the talent in the league was on full display.



RD 32 Recaps. I will do one at a time as it was hard because at one point all 4 games were on at the same time. First up Conn v NYU.

Agreed 100%  So maddening to see these results as a Wesleyan fan. 

[Brother Flounder]

The Flounder has found his way home....Based on the writing Flounder I am guessing a few drinks in ya? PK's can be nervy and some have found the drink to ease the viewer's nerve.



I will say I heard in mid October from a Springfield player that said "Stevens was the best team they had faced all year". At the time I thought nothing of it but now I know why. They really came to play and gave it absolutely everything they had.

came up out of the water for awile... ....  maybe a couple!

[DucksFan02]

The Flounder has found his way home....Based on the writing Flounder I am guessing a few drinks in ya? PK's can be nervy and some have found the drink to ease the viewer's nerve.



I will say I heard in mid October from a Springfield player that said "Stevens was the best team they had faced all year". At the time I thought nothing of it but now I know why. They really came to play and gave it absolutely everything they had.

Appreciate it Mr. Right! Was lucky enough to be able to be at the Tufts v Stevens game in person and was one of the most exciting and nervy games I've been at in all my years of watching the Ducks! Will take any sh*t coming my way on the chin as this is a NESCAC feed, but was not impressed with Tufts in any way. Didn't look up for the game, played like they were already counting their Sweet 16 chickens, and would be confident in saying Stevens had the significantly better chances. Was also a bit disappointed at some of the clearly targeted fouls (Tufts sub goes studs up on Stevens center back with 24 seconds left) and language from the Jumbos leading into some straight up violent behavior. Tough to blame the kids playing, but was not a classy win for Tufts in my honest opinion. Both teams clearly put a lot of work into their penalty routines, and it showed as it took 13 rounds to find a winner. Typically will cheer for the team that beats Stevens in the tournament, but this year will be wearing a Washington College hat next weekend. Hoping for some more exciting games as we all enjoy the sport that we love at the D3 level!

[camosfan]

Was also a bit disappointed at some of the clearly targeted fouls (Tufts sub goes studs up on Stevens center back with 24 seconds left) and language from the Jumbos leading into some straight up violent behavior. Tough to blame the kids playing, but was not a classy win for Tufts in my honest opinion.

I don't think there was any malice there, Tufts is one of the cleaner teams in NESCAC, the Jersey
on Tufts guys ,new #10 and #2, In can remember.

[blooter442]

maybe a couple!

Just a couple? 

[Brother Flounder]

maybe a couple!

Just a couple? 

BLOOOOTS!

[Novacat]

Was also a bit disappointed at some of the clearly targeted fouls (Tufts sub goes studs up on Stevens center back with 24 seconds left) and language from the Jumbos leading into some straight up violent behavior. Tough to blame the kids playing, but was not a classy win for Tufts in my honest opinion.

I don't think there was any malice there, Tufts is one of the cleaner teams in NESCAC, the Jersey
on Tufts guys ,new #10 and #2, In can remember.

This foul you referenced was hardly intentional. The tufts striker tried to block a shot and the CB hit him on the follow through. A foul yes, but questionable card and definitely not studs up. 

[maineman]

With all this talk about NESCAC getting shortchanged with only 4 teams in, had Wesleyan won the shoot out against Midd and then lost to Tufts in the semis as Midd did, do you think it would have reversed the selection committee's decision and Wesleyan would have gone with Midd receiving a bid as well?  This would have been at the expense of Swarthmore or the last UAA team in.

[Mr.Right]

Not sure how that would have worked

[Mr.Right]

The Flounder has found his way home....Based on the writing Flounder I am guessing a few drinks in ya? PK's can be nervy and some have found the drink to ease the viewer's nerve.



I will say I heard in mid October from a Springfield player that said "Stevens was the best team they had faced all year". At the time I thought nothing of it but now I know why. They really came to play and gave it absolutely everything they had.

Appreciate it Mr. Right! Was lucky enough to be able to be at the Tufts v Stevens game in person and was one of the most exciting and nervy games I've been at in all my years of watching the Ducks! Will take any sh*t coming my way on the chin as this is a NESCAC feed, but was not impressed with Tufts in any way. Didn't look up for the game, played like they were already counting their Sweet 16 chickens, and would be confident in saying Stevens had the significantly better chances. Was also a bit disappointed at some of the clearly targeted fouls (Tufts sub goes studs up on Stevens center back with 24 seconds left) and language from the Jumbos leading into some straight up violent behavior. Tough to blame the kids playing, but was not a classy win for Tufts in my honest opinion. Both teams clearly put a lot of work into their penalty routines, and it showed as it took 13 rounds to find a winner. Typically will cheer for the team that beats Stevens in the tournament, but this year will be wearing a Washington College hat next weekend. Hoping for some more exciting games as we all enjoy the sport that we love at the D3 level!

I just got thru the Midd / F&M game but yea Tufts / Stevens will be next..

[d4_Pace]

Yeah its a tough hypothetical to answer. In theory winning a shootout and then losing the next round may hurt your resume since you are lowering your winning percentage. That being said the committee sometimes does place value on the total number of ranked games a teams plays. My gut instinct is it probably wouldn't have been enough to get them over the hump.