NESCAC 2013

[Ocean 1]

The Ephs' highly-regarded frosh trio of Katie Wardlaw, Kristi Kirshe, and Audrey Thomas have combined for 10 of the Ephs' 20 goals so far, despite Kirshe missing three games with an injury.  They are also 4th, 2nd, and 3rd in shots, respectively, for the Ephs.  In a few years they could really be an offensive force.  (The Williams senior class has, collectively, no goals and only one assist so far this year, so the future for Williams is certainly bright in general).

To add further perspective, the Ephs senior class numbers 3. Two of the three seniors are starting defenders supporting the 0.2 GAA their Goalie is sporting. Not a shabby contribution!

[Ocean 1]

Bowdoin did not have a great game at Conn College, thought they were the better team but Conn worked very hard and made it a much more exciting game than I was expecting.  Bowdoin goalie got hurt with 20 minutes to go in the game, hopefully nothing serious.

Agree with Jump4Joy, looks like home field in the tournament will come down to the results of 3 games, Middlebury v Williams, Bowdoin v Tufts and Amherst v Trinity.  Never know what will happen in the NESCAC, but if I had to guess, right now I would pick Middlebury, Bowdoin and Amherst to win.

Still sticking to my guns...nothing has happened to change my view on the top seedings from earlier prediction on 10/15. That is:

#1: Williams...25 pts. (will close out with 3 more wins)
#2: Middlebury...24 pts. (win 1/2 remaining games)
#3: Amherst...21 pts. (win 2/2 remaining games and are 3rd seed by virtue of final win over Trinity)
#4: Trinity...21 pts. (win 2/3 remaining games)

Additional rationale:

Williams is on fire and on a roll...team is gelling...game pace is exhausting vs. competition with platoon system and little fall-off in play...seem healthy enough...have several offensive weapons with solid defense...19 players have experience in winning a NESCAC championship.

Midd also has solid defense but not as many offensive options and not as deep a bench. While the Ephs are playing away and rain could be an equalizer, also like the psychological edge Williams brings to the Midd contest tomorrow...they spanked the Panthers in their preseason scrimmage.

[Ocean 1]

Regarding recent predictions...guess I need to go back to that crystal ball!

[amh63]

Amherst beats Conn 3-0 on a cold rare night game under the lights...on Gooding Field.  Players must like the turf field in a relative high scoring game.   Only one more conference game to go against Trinity.
Correction...score of game is posted as 4-0.  The video score was at times behind..must have frozen a little .

[Jump4Joy]

Kind of exciting that so much rides on the final game of the year. The final two slots in NESCACs are still up for grabs as is hosting rights for the fourth seed.

[madzillagd]

Took way too long for Williams to put Hamilton away 1-0.  Williams ended up with 18 shots total and at least 3 or 4 of those were very high % looks that should have at least been on goal and they were not.  But they got the job done.

[GUBFL]

Other than the Trinity v Amherst game most the team that I thought would win did, so now on to the tournament. In round one expecting Middlebury and Williams to win.  It's hard to play a team mid week and then have to come back and play them again that weekend in the tournament.  As a result, I give Tufts and Amherst a chance for the upset.  If I was forced to pick 4 winners in round one, Middlebury, Williams, Bowdoin and Amherst.  Good luck to all the girls!

[Jump4Joy]

Bowdoin and Amherst out of the league tournament.
But there's hope for NCAA bids: The top 5 spots in the regional rankings feature Mid, Trin, Williams, Amherst and Bowdoin, in that order. Will NESCAC get five in? Tufts is too far down at #11 unless they win the 'CAC crown, in which case, Bowdoin might be on very thin ice. Can they do it?

[Jump4Joy]

Bowdoin safe with all 5 NESCACs in NCAAs. Go NESCAC!

[Ocean 1]

Going out on (somewhat of) a limb and giving predictions on First Round NCAA NESCAC team game action:

Round I

- Trinity over Misericordia
- Midd over Bridgewater
- Williams over Lesley
- Bowdoin over Chr. Newport
- Amherst over Springfield

What do you think...doable?

[lefty2]

I will guarantee that Trinity will not beat Misericordia in the first round.

[Jump4Joy]

Ocean1, you called it! All 5 NESCAC teams won today (although Trinity defeated Elizabethtown, not Misericordia).

[2xfaux]

My New England friends are always, at least, one step ahead of me so I will assume that Bowdoin's game with CNU was played earlier in Maine than in Va.  Based on that I
predict that all five NESCAC team will make it to the final four.  Math is not my strong point.

 

[Jump4Joy]

Ha! I most definitely got ahead of myself, 2xfaux. Thanks for keeping me grounded. Go NESCAC!

P.S. What the heck with the 7:30 start for Polar Bears?! Not a good schedule.

[Jump4Joy]

OK! Now it's 5.