NESCAC

[Bucket]

Bad news is that young Bucket's high school soccer team lost in the state semi's this week on an OT golden goal. Silver lining is that it frees us up to make the journey down Rt. 7 for tomorrow's match.

Go Panthers!

[coach analytics]

Williams actually has two wins versus regionally ranked teams (Midd and Bowdoin) plus a tie vs. the top-ranked team in region two, I would think those results are looked upon highly.  But the Ephs definitely need to advance on Saturday to feel safe ...

Who knows what happens over the course of the weekend with conf tournaments but I think the 4 and 5 seeds in Region 1 are in pretty good shape.

[MNBob]

Bad news is that young Bucket's high school soccer team lost in the state semi's this week on an OT golden goal. Silver lining is that it frees us up to make the journey down Rt. 7 for tomorrow's match.
Go Panthers!

I feel ya... My son is a 2022 graduate playing his first year of D3 soccer but his high school team was in the MN State Championship game today. They were up 2-1 with less than 2 minutes in regulation when they gave up the tying goal. Then in golden goal OT they were pressuing in the final third when the opponent started a break out which ended with a perfect pass to a wide open forward who was all alone in front of the goal. Keeper makes an outstanding kick save but the rebound directs straight out in front of him, hits the foot of a defender who was charging full speed to get back into the play and deflects back into the net for an own goal.

[Dustin_Patrón]

I've been a silent reader of this thread for a few years now and recently decided to join the conversation. I generally pay closest attention to PN's "four horsemen" in Amherst, Conn, Midd, and Tufts though I've enjoyed watching the league open up a bit this year.

Truly missing Mr. Right's frequent insights and game predictions. I'm sure there are others out there like me that are eagerly awaiting his return.. whether or not we vocalize it on the thread. Surely my small feet cannot adequately fill the enormous boots Mr. Right has left unattended, but I still wanted to post some predictions for tomorrow as I feel someone needs to get the post-season predication ball rolling.

Williams may steal a goal on a set piece/long throw, however, I don't think they have the offensive fire power to put more than one past Conn's back line. Conn College switches the ball more than any other team in the conference and I think this will hurt Williams as they seem to shift their entire team to one side of the field in order to defend the ball. I think Conn's experience from last post-season will come into play.
(Conn 2 Williams 1)

Midd v Amherst is one of the best rivalries in recent years. The two have very different styles of play but one thing they both share is their high level of physicality. I think the winner of this semi-final will go on to take the crown on Sunday. Amherst will play as Amherst does, avoiding any and all dangerous play in the back. Their back line is physical, yes, but lacks some pace and 1v1 defending ability. I think Midd's wingers will capitalize on this weakness.
(Midd 1 Amherst 0)

[PaulNewman]

Just wanna clarify given continued references to 'my' four horsemen....absolutely did not and do want to diss Bowdoin or Williams in any way (or any other NESCACs).

I think Bowdoin is totally legit and I should have included the Polar Bears in another thread when I referenced Midd and Amherst as legit challengers in a matchup with Messiah.

As for the predictions above, that is very consistent with what I would predict...my one caveat is that if Midd and Amherst play TWO more times, Midd would much prefer to win the second one.

[Hopkins92]

I've been a silent reader of this thread for a few years now and recently decided to join the conversation. I generally pay closest attention to PN's "four horsemen" in Amherst, Conn, Midd, and Tufts though I've enjoyed watching the league open up a bit this year.

Truly missing Mr. Right's frequent insights and game predictions. I'm sure there are others out there like me that are eagerly awaiting his return.. whether or not we vocalize it on the thread. Surely my small feet cannot adequately fill the enormous boots Mr. Right has left unattended, but I still wanted to post some predictions for tomorrow as I feel someone needs to get the post-season predication ball rolling.

Williams may steal a goal on a set piece/long throw, however, I don't think they have the offensive fire power to put more than one past Conn's back line. Conn College switches the ball more than any other team in the conference and I think this will hurt Williams as they seem to shift their entire team to one side of the field in order to defend the ball. I think Conn's experience from last post-season will come into play.
(Conn 2 Williams 1)

Midd v Amherst is one of the best rivalries in recent years. The two have very different styles of play but one thing they both share is their high level of physicality. I think the winner of this semi-final will go on to take the crown on Sunday. Amherst will play as Amherst does, avoiding any and all dangerous play in the back. Their back line is physical, yes, but lacks some pace and 1v1 defending ability. I think Midd's wingers will capitalize on this weakness.
(Midd 1 Amherst 0)

I know I'm not a NESCAC guy, but... Welcome!!!

[EnmoreCat]

I tipped 2-0 to Amherst in the tipping competition, but given that the last ten games have been either 1-0 or 1-1, my forecast appears statistically out of kilter and clearly incorporates an optimistic bias.  Two evenly matched teams, both with genuine X factor up front, it could be whoever gets the one moment right, may well be sufficient to determine it.

I went for Conn, 3-0 I think and that's with no disrespect to the Ephs.  Having watched the Mammoths/Cams game, albeit on a screen, I came away with respect for them.  Also, they beat Babson 3-0 and whilst I have no idea of how that game went, I still have the view that Babson was the best team I saw live.  I like the way they played and if Conn was able to get that result, whilst some of their others may be have been not up to that level, I suspect if they get it right, they are going to be very difficult to get past.

I won't be able to watch game 1, but will be up at 4.30am in downtown Enmore, potentially waking neighbours, either with delight or profanity (or maybe both).

[hiyasoccer]

After being a deserved Bowdoin winner away from predicting every score exactly last weekend, I'm feeling pretty good about my prophetic abilities that definitely have nothing to do with luck. I'll go Williams 1-1 Conn and Amherst 2-1 Midd.

[Yankeesoccerdad]

I too miss Mr. Right and hope he returns.

Williams always plays hard and they are home but I predict Conn will win 1-0. Their roster is too strong and I am betting last week's result was a wake up call. PN has been noting the absence of Jaran but from what I've seen the last couple of years Yenoas is probably their most dangerous player. Augie didn't play much last week and when he was on the field he seemed limited by injury, which is too bad. When healthy he is among my favorite players in the conference to watch given his combination of size, ball skills and soccer smarts.

Amherst/Midd is harder to pick. Both great squads and their coaches will have them more than ready. Easy to predict a super physical game with lots of fouls and yellows. I think Midd has the edge with GK Grady. Midd 1-0

Unrelated, I saw Maryland beat Northwestern in the Big 10 tournament last night. Former POY German didn't play and hasn't seen active in a few weeks. Although I hated seeing him as an opponent, I was rooting for him in D1. Their season isn't over so hopefully he gets more chances.

[camosfan]

It is very difficult to beat a team twice at home in the same season,so I am giving Williams the edge in this game, Mid will struggle at Amherst.

[PaulNewman]

I too miss Mr. Right and hope he returns.

Williams always plays hard and they are home but I predict Conn will win 1-0. Their roster is too strong and I am betting last week's result was a wake up call. PN has been noting the absence of Jaran but from what I've seen the last couple of years Yenoas is probably their most dangerous player. Augie didn't play much last week and when he was on the field he seemed limited by injury, which is too bad. When healthy he is among my favorite players in the conference to watch given his combination of size, ball skills and soccer smarts.

Amherst/Midd is harder to pick. Both great squads and their coaches will have them more than ready. Easy to predict a super physical game with lots of fouls and yellows. I think Midd has the edge with GK Grady. Midd 1-0

Unrelated, I saw Maryland beat Northwestern in the Big 10 tournament last night. Former POY German didn't play and hasn't seen active in a few weeks. Although I hated seeing him as an opponent, I was rooting for him in D1. Their season isn't over so hopefully he gets more chances.

I agree that Yeonas is probably Conn's best player (and maybe the best player pound for pound in the league...the ultimate gamer and it's almost impossible to take the ball off him).  He may be the most dangerous Camel too.  My point with Jaran is that he adds a dimension with his creative passing and free kick skills that Conn needs.  And you mentioned Augie who apparently is hobbled.  Imo, Conn needs all three to make a deep run.

I'm a Conn fan but I'd hate to see them knock out another NESCAC with a better chance in the NCAA tourney IF they don't have a chance to make a real run.

[camosfan]

Seems like Augie not on the field?

[Kuiper]

With all the talk about commentators, this one in the Conn College - Williams game is quite irritating.  He's clearly not a student, so I'm assuming he's a professional, but it's like he's not watching the game or he watches and then looks down while he's talking and misses everything happening when he stops watching.  He'll make a call about the GK making a great save to tip the ball over the bar and continue praising the GK while the GK is setting up for the goal kick, indicating he either didn't get the touch or the ref didn't see it.  I get that these guys don't have spotters and can miss things that viewers can easily see (like a deflection for a CK early in the game or a ref call that he is surprised is a foul), but it's just embarrassing if they don't watch the play the whole way through.  After all, the ref's signal should alert you what the call is immediately.

[camosfan]

With all the talk about commentators, this one in the Conn College - Williams game is quite irritating.  He's clearly not a student, so I'm assuming he's a professional, but it's like he's not watching the game or he watches and then looks down while he's talking and misses everything happening when he stops watching.  He'll make a call about the GK making a great save to tip the ball over the bar and continue praising the GK while the GK is setting up for the goal kick, indicating he either didn't get the touch or the ref didn't see it.  I get that these guys don't have spotters and can miss things that viewers can easily see (like a deflection for a CK early in the game or a ref call that he is surprised is a foul), but it's just embarrassing if they don't watch the play the whole way through.  After all, the ref's signal should alert you what the call is immediately.

Quite a few of these guys do not have a good knowledge of the game!

[Fitz@615]

Watching Conn College v Williams. Are the fans there just not knowledgable. CC kid grabs jersey from behind and then pushes Williams player down. Foul called and crowd immediately yells at the ref and then when yellow given, they are even more vehement in there disagreement. Seriously, I mean a clear foul and yellow. I get pulling for your team, but that was ridiculous from the CC fans.