The Liberty League

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Union has the best player in the league this year, which makes them dangerous.  Vassar plays everyone tough at home.  PKs would not be a surprise.

Is DeMello available for the RPI game?  If so, SLU has a definite edge.  RPI coming off back to back losses to Williams and Keene.

[LaPaz]

We will see based on tomorrows regional rankings but it seems to me that all 3 teams besides SLU need to win this tourney. Union with an easy SOS out of conference and not even regionally ranked as of now. There best win is over SLU and at Hobart and maybe at SKidmore but the rest of the schedule is weak. Vassar is regionally ranked and if they can beat Union maybe they have a shot but i doubt it. RPI should be commended for their schedule out of conference with Oneonta, Williams, Keene, etc however when you have a tough schedule you need to win 1 or 2 of those games to make it worthwhile and they really didnt get that part of it done. Records aganist regionally ranked opponents from any region play a big factor into at larges.

[cornerkick]

Still think DeMello is the best player in the Liberty League - 2nd in goals and points while missing 3 games due to injury.  Jansen has the most goals so he may be the best offensive player - also has 4 yellow cards. 

[Saint of Old]

I think SLU's big striker has the most league goals (8).
A Clarkson rookie who missed 2 league games has (6).
Jansen is a dangerous threat for sure a good finisher, actually scored against SLU in Unions win.
It is just tough when your leading scorer has half more than half (20) of team's overall goals (37).
This means that if Vassar shuts him down, it will be difficult for Union to advance.

To be an All-American, it helps if one "Dances".

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Jansen had 9 league goals.  Scored against everyone except RPI.

[LaPaz]

DeMello's career is done....hamstring tear...hats off to a great kid and great career

[Saint of Old]

Its RPI through on the automatic bid.
Vassar 1 RPI 1 (4-2 on penalties)
All playoff teams finished with 5 league wins.
2  of 3 games ends ina  shootout.
The most competitive I have ever seen this league.
Vassar has nothing to be ashamed of and have an outside (albeit slight) of making the NCAA tourney. They finish with 4 losses to good teams.

SLU should get an atlarge bid (though stranger things have happened), but hats off to a determined and diciplined RPI team.
They scored 21 yes 21 goals all year and find themselves in the dance.
They play good football and are well coached.
The most deserving team in the Liberty league won for sure.

Now will the Libery league produce 3 NCAA teams or 2 or 1?

[1970s NESCAC Player]

SLU definitely gets in.  Too bad no DeMello, although SLU still dominated RPI without him.

Vassar does not get in.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

I was wrong!  Congrats to Vassar for being selected.  Best of luck to all LL teams.

[Saint of Old]

Good to see 3 Liberty League teams advanced (second year in a row).
Funny thing is, the only way we get three was for RPI to win, and Vassar to not have a loss in the tournament.
Both things happened.

To the present:
Vassar has a good shot to get by Tufts. Brewers play a tough schedule year after year. This is why you do it!

RPI v Chris Newport:

I wont bet against RPI. I have seen them play twice this season, and they have that something special teams do... (Obviously there is no name for it).
Would be good to see how good Chris Newport is, they have been in the the Top25 for a few years running and even topped the charts a few times in the last couple years. They must prove themselves in the dance with a nice run to be taken seriously nationally (as every team must).

SLU v. ECSU:
SLU is coming in off a sub par performance, but look to peak at the right time. The squad is without "currently" its top player, but deep. They can ill afford to overlook a 1 loss team in the NCAAs playing close to home.

Good luck Freedom Players!

[magicman]

St. Lawrence downs Eastern Connecticut 2-1 in double OT. The Saints will now face Williams College at Williams on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 for the right to advance to the sweet 16. Williams advanced to the next round with a 2-1 victory over Thomas College on Saturday.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Congrats to Union's Sebastiaan Jansen on 1st team AA!  Gifted talent.  Good showing by the LL!  Jansen joined by Laird (SLU), Mrlik (Vassar), and DeMello (SLU).

[LaPaz]

This D3 AA list has a HEAVY midwestern bias.....

[Flying Weasel]

This D3 AA list has a HEAVY midwestern bias.....

FWIW . . .

FIRST TEAM DISTRIBUTION

Region	Selections	(Pct.)
New England	2	(18%)
East	3	(27%)
Mid-Atlantic	2	(18%)
South Atlantic	1	(9%)
Great Lakes	1	(9%)
Central	0	(0%)
North	2	(18%)
West	0	(0%)

New England + East + Mid-Atlantic + South Atlantic = 8 (72%)

Great Lakes + Central + North + West = 3 (27%)


OVERALL DISTRIBUTION (all three teams)

Region	Selections	(Pct.)
New England	5	(15%)
East	6	(18%)
Mid-Atlantic	6	(18%)
South Atlantic	1	(3%)
Great Lakes	4	(12%)
Central	1	(3%)
North	6	(18%)
West	4	(12%)

New England + East + Mid-Atlantic + South Atlantic = 18 (54%)

Great Lakes + Central + North + West = 15 (45%)

[d3fan1]

Thanks Flying Weasel, your posts are always well thought out and informative.

Lapaz there is some bias in your post, but i think the bias is on your part for everything East. 2 of the three AA picks from the midwest were from loras who is the 2nd best team in the nation and came very close to being national champions. I suppose you think there should have been no selections from the midwest