NESCAC

[PaulNewman]

I think I finally got my answer on Conn's Jaran today.  He's wearing a major contraption on his right leg so he appears done for this year.  I think he has another year left.  Weird, because he was out, then played limited minutes, then started, back to reduced minutes, and finally never returned at all, so still a little unclear if he's had two injuries with the second being far more serious.  Also not sure what is up wth Djerdjaj......also injured or tough love from Burk?  He he didn't start either half and really did not feature much in the match.  It's been said many times, but that Yeonas kid is a baller.

[College Soccer Observer]

Enmore Cat:  Will you be able to attend this one?  Looking forward to a great matchup.  Middlebury jumped on top early against Hamilton.  Jordan Saint-Louis took a hard shot that was saved, but Tyler Payne scored on the rebound.  Middlebury had chances to put the game away, but could not do so until 4 minutes remaining.  Gavin Randolph led a 2 v 1 and slotted a perfect ball for Alem Hadzic who calmly finished to make it 2-0.  Fairly comfortable win for Middlebury in a game where they were not threatened extensively.

[EnmoreCat]

Sadly not CSO, presume you will be, but I will tune in @ Sunday 4.30am Sydney time for it.

[College Soccer Observer]

All the best to your son.  Let's hope for a great game.

[maineman]

Which of the top 8 from NESCAC are done as far as Pool C is concerned?  Wesleyan, Tufts, Hamilton???

[Saint of Old]

Hamilton chose the wrong time of the year to take a dip. Boysnhad a great season though, and there may still be hope but dropping that 2-1 out of conference game to Oneonta might have been a bridge 2 far.

[nescac1]

My guess is Bowdoin, Amherst, Midd, and Williams are all in.  That doesn't leave many bids for other Nescac teams.  Wesleyan and Hamilton are likely out.  Conn probably needs the AQ to get in but one more win maybe puts them on the bubble.  Tufts is squarely on the bubble.  The Amherst and Midd wins will help.  They need Conn to lose so they stay ahead of them.  If so I'd guess they have a decent shot of just squeezing in. 

[PaulNewman]

I know statistically insignificant but still interesting that after all the talk about OT or not OT and golden goals that the first two big OT games of the year did not produce a goal or a goal that would have been a golden goal under prior rules.

[PaulNewman]

My guess is Bowdoin, Amherst, Midd, and Williams are all in.  That doesn't leave many bids for other Nescac teams.  Wesleyan and Hamilton are likely out.  Conn probably needs the AQ to get in but one more win maybe puts them on the bubble.  Tufts is squarely on the bubble.  The Amherst and Midd wins will help.  They need Conn to lose so they stay ahead of them.  If so I'd guess they have a decent shot of just squeezing in.

Amherst, Bowdoin, and Midd are in.  I think Wesleyan is out unless there is some major unconscious sentiment to do a make up from last year. 

It's extremely tight between Williams and Tufts.  Very similar, weird records, both have two ranked wins, and they tied each other TWICE.  Williams can seal a bid with a win over Conn.  Tufts could still get a bid. If Conn wins that gets the Camels up to three ranked wins but Conn probably does need the AQ unless NESCAC gets six bids.

Hamilton amazingly I believe is still alive unless how they finished the season matters (and I don't know if that matters to the cmte or not).  Hamilton does have three ranked wins and the overall record is roughly similar to all of the above.  I could see Hamilton edging out one (or two) of the above.

Anyway, expect at least five bids and six would not be shocking.  Seven would be shocking.

There are a host of teams that could be competing with NESCACs for a couple of spots....Lynchburg, Cortland, CNU or MW, CMU, CWRU, JCU, OWU, NYU, even Wash U (if they win their last two), SLU, Vassar, Catholic, Alvernia, St Olaf, UW-P....

[nescac1]

PaulNewman fair point re Tufts and Williams.  They do seem as even as two teams can be right down to their aggregate records v Bowdoin, Conn, Amherst, Midd, Babson and of course each other.  Does the fact that Williams advanced via PK, and also finished higher in regular season league standings, serve as a sort of tiebreaker or is it totally meaningless?  I don't see the argument for Tufts over Williams given that everything else is dead-even.  Hopefully if Williams fails to best Conn both squeeze in ...

[PaulNewman]

PaulNewman fair point re Tufts and Williams.  They do seem as even as two teams can be right down to their aggregate records v Bowdoin, Conn, Amherst, Midd, Babson and of course each other.  Does the fact that Williams advanced via PK, and also finished higher in regular season league standings, serve as a sort of tiebreaker or is it totally meaningless?  I don't see the argument for Tufts over Williams given that everything else is dead-even.  Hopefully if Williams fails to best Conn both squeeze in ...

I doubt advancing in PKs means anything. but continuing to play probably helps.  I would guess both get bids.

[maineman]

Am I correct that there will not be any NCAA regional rankings this week and the next we'll hear from the NCAA will be when they post the bids

[stlawus]

According to the pre-championship manual there will be regional rankings next week.

[maineman]

I am sure that Bowdoin would prefer to be playing this weekend for the NESCAC championship at home, but they still are in an enviable position.   The decision on last Saturday did not involve a loss. They are a lock to make the NCAA tournament and host.  Other NESCAC teams that make it will likely have to travel because of the number of non wins they have.  Perhaps Williams, if they pickup two outright wins on the way to the NESCAC championship, would have a chance to host, but it is unlikely any other team will host.  Bowdoin also gets to rest up, heal up and avoid any other players being subjected to injury.  They should be primed to enter the NCAAs.

[nescac1]

Maineman I would think that Amherst would host for SURE with at least one more win, and might host even without one.  I think that Middlebury would also be well-positioned to host with two more wins.