Women's OAC 2013

[woacfan]

Halftime JCU hosting BW...I am so angry that I had to post this... THE OAC SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO ALLOW THE OFFICIATING THAT HAPPENS IN B-W GAMES...THE MOST FLAGRANT FOUL I HAVE SEEN IN YEARS.  The Streaks All OAC middie spun around like a rag doll and no card.  It deserved a red...didn't even get a yellow. I'm sorry.  I'm venting,  but that was just plain wrong.  And it was just one incident.  An atrociously officiated half of soccer!!!!

BTW, despite the bullying tactics.. the game is still tied at nil.

[woacfan]

And classy soccer beats bullies tonight.  JCU 1 - B-W 0.
Streaks starting to show their trademark grittiness.  Look out OAC!

Paraphrasing Ignatius Loyola - "Go forth and set the OAC on fire!"

[CrusaderNation]

Sorry to hear that the game was a bit of a slugfest, but, everyone knows when you play BW that is what you are going to get.  The Crusaders have had good officiating for most of the year but the MU & ONU games were very poor too.  It is a shame officiating can not stay consistent.

That said congratulations on the win.  It is good to see the streaks doing well.  Looks like the last two weeks will decide #2 - #6 this year!  With ONU all but sewing up the regular season it looks like a mistake here or there will be the deciding factor.  Wilmington almost snuck past Otterbein tonight and that would have shaken things up.  But, as it seems the BW - Cap and CAP - OTT games will shake most of the things out.  Going to be a hard road for the Crusaders!

[woacfan]

I couldn't get past the play, so I've now watched it three times.  The JCU player engages the BW and actually starts to have the advantage on winning the ball.  The B-W player elbows the JCU player in the face and then extends the same arm to create an arm bar.  This knocks the JCU player off balance.  The B-W player then hooks her arm around the JCU players forearm and swings her body which causes the JCU player to be catapulted into the turf.  The JCU player was actually swung face first into the turf.  The official seemed to be out of position, but if he had any understanding of the laws of physics he could have seen that it was not just a collision.  When will officials learn that when there is a rivalry game or a team known as being (euphemism alert) "physical" you'd better call it closely or it will get out of hand? Report is that the JCU player has some torn ligaments in her elbow and an injured nose.

Later in the game a B-W player was concussed in a head-to-head collision.  I've watched that one three times too.  In that collision, the JCU player had position on the ball, the B-W player went over her back and made forehead contact with the back of the JCU player.  Probably also a foul on B-W, but called on JCU because the B-W player was injured in the encounter.  It sends the wrong message to the teams, players and fans.  As long as the OAC allows that kind of reckless play they are inviting injuries. This is my fourth year of watching and it rarely happens with other teams.   

The worst part is that poor officiating increases the animosity between the two teams and makes the possibility of another encounter escalating more likely.

[woacfan]

Here are the standings going into the final full week of soccer.  Its hard to imagine a tighter contest.  The top six teams separated by one game and another only down by two games.  It looks like a typical year for the OAC.  Everything will be decided this week or next weekend!

Ohio Northern            5-1-0   
Baldwin Wallace         4-2-0 
Capital                      4-2-0 
Mount Union              4-2-0 
Otterbein                   4-2-0
John Carroll               4-2-0
Wilmington (Ohio)      3-3-0
Muskingum                1-5-0 
Heidelberg                 1-5-0
Marietta                     0-6-0

[woacfan]

Crusader,I'd say your team is right back in the thick of it. The Streaks beat ONU 3 to 0 yesterday.

[woacfan]

What a wild weekend!!!

First,  congratulations to Capital and Otterbein on their wins.  I hate to admit it CN, as much as it pained me to do so, I was pulling for B-W today.  The way I see it,  the Crusaders and Otterbein are fighting for the regular season championship and top seed right now.   

The JCU dream scenario almost happened as it took both Capital and Otterbein to the second overtime to dispatch their opponents. Drawn contests would have put the Streaks half a game ahead of most of the conference.  Neither Cap nor Otterbein have tough opponents mid-week this week.  So, for them, it comes down to next weekend...winner take all.

My Blue Streaks have the inside track for second seed, and that's not too shabby either.  It's still mathematically possible for them to sneak into the championship, but they still face Wilmington, which is always a dangerous team. Luckily for them, they are at home for that one.

Mount Union and Baldwin Wallace drop back, but the conference is so even, I would not count them out.

[CrusaderNation]

Well thanks for your honesty and next time I will be rooting against the Streaks! Lol!!!

However, unfortunately I am afraid that your thoughts are not quite accurate.  Due to the fact that ONU beat both Otterbein and Capital they are actually going to be in first place as long as they win out.  The only team to really have a chance to stop that is Wilmington.  If Wilmington beats ONU (unlikely at ONU) then that will mean unless Otterbein and Capital slip in the midweek game that contest will end up being for 2nd place.

Oh well.... so goes the conference.  Wilmington actually holds their own fate in their hands with games against two teams ahead of them.  If they can win either of those it will really throw a wrench into things!

[woacfan]

Well, let me ask you...how does it play out if ONU, CAP and JCU are tied?
(I think your analysis assumes only a two-way tie.)

ONU beat CAP
JCU beat ONU
CAP beat JCU?

I am not sure that it automatically goes to ONU.  My Streaks have the tiebreaker versus the Polar Bears.
What is the next level down of tiebreakers...I think overall record?

Second,  just so we're clear, my "heart" was with the Crusader's, but my self-interest was with B-W...

I just pulled this from the OAC website.  If there is more than a two way tie,  the tie is broken as follows:


2. Multiple (3 or more teams) Tie. Compare the combined record of each of the tied
teams against the other teams involved in the tie until and advantage is gained.
(Example: Team A's combined record against both Team B and Team C, as
compared to Team C's combined record against both Team A and Team B.) If the
multiple tie still exists, compare each of the tied teams' records against the team
occupying the highest position in the standings until the tie is reduced to a two-team
tie, at which time revert to the two-team process or until the tie is broken.

So,  it goes to combined record, which favors Capital, then Otterbein, then ONU, then (unfortunately) JCU....I still think that Capital is in the first position.  Either Crusaders or Otterbein win the conference if they win their last two games.  That would leave a three way tie between Crusaders^*, ONU and JCU.  As I read the rule,  (assuming wins during the midweek contests)  The winner of Capital -Otterbein has the best overall record and wins the season championship and first seed.  Then the tie is "broken" and the two remaining tied teams are chosen on head-to-head records.  This would put my Streaks second.  ONU would be third and after that it could be anyone.

Correct me if I'm wrong....and yes,  I am a total loser for analyzing this so deeply. 

I agree that Wilmington throws a wrench into things.  They always finish strong.

^* The same analysis applies if Otterbein wins.

[CrusaderNation]

I think that indicates you go down the conference list past the tied teams until you find one that breaks the tie?  But, I am far from sure!  It is all convaluted!  Next ones down appear to be BW, Mt Union and Wilmington...which I think are sll mixed up too until Wilmington which Cap lost to but the others beat?

Who know .... have to get to that point to find out what will happen?

[woacfan]

Streaks beat Heidelberg in the 89th minute...talk about a close call! And......Wilmington dispatches Ohio Northern. As you noted CN, they are a wild card and look like a possible contender. In most conferences we would have some of the playoff spots figured out by now.  In the OAC the picture is murkier than ever! What a fun time of the year and stressful too! 

[CrusaderNation]

I was getting a bit concerned about your Streaks WOAC!  Talk about cutting it tight.  But, to their credit they came through and are still in the hunt!  Now they just need to dispatch that pesky Wilmington team.

In terms of the playoffs it is pretty well decided except for the last spot.  If Wilmington happens to win or tie then BW will be out.  If they lose then they are out.  On the flip side of the table you were correct that Otterbein vs Capital will be 1/2 of the equation for the Regular season title and seeding.  Because they both beat the Streaks the winner will be #1.  However, a Cap loss will drop them to #5 due to tie breakers.... big things on the line #1 or #5!  Otterbein I believe will only drop to #3 with a loss.  A tie would give the Streaks the title (If they beat Wilmington).

Good win on the road for Cap tonight.  Had two starters out tonight and a first sub out too so it was a bit of a make shift line up, but, overall good showing.  Interesting to see what happens!

[woacfan]

The Blue Streaks and Crusaders share the championship. Capital is the first seed and JCU is the second. Looks like someone at OAC headquarters was pulling for the Polar Bears because they already have Ohio Northern beating BW and hosting the semi-final game. Haha!

Congratulations to your team Crusader. It was well earned.

The Streaks had an October to remember. Here's hoping they can keep the momentum going into November!

[CrusaderNation]

Congratulations to your Blue Streaks as well.  They showed a great deal of heart and focus to rebound from their shaky start.  I know getting players back made a world of difference for them, but, they deserve a great deal of credit all around!

It was a nice run for Capital as well.  Things looked bleak after the ONU loss, but, running off the last four and then having some things go our way showed the soccer gods looked kindly on us!

Here is to hoping both of us have a great run out on Thursday!

[woacfan]

So, CN,  any thoughts on Tuesday's matchups?

Otterbein v. Mount Union - A few weeks ago I would have picked Mount Union to win the conference, but they've faltered down the stretch.  Otterbein, true-to-form, has gotten stronger down the stretch.  Additionally,  they are playing on the Otterbein pitch, which is somewhat notorious around the conference.  I am picking Otterbein 3 to1.  I think you will have a rematch with the Cardinals on Thursday.

Ohio Northern v. Baldwin Wallace -  Those teams are so even its hard for me pick. Ohio Northern is the home team and they are very good at home. Ohio Northern beat B-W 3 to 0 on October 12th (which interestingly seems like a lifetime ago), but B-W's physical game can wear a team down.   Just for fun, I am going to say its Ohio Northern on PKs.

I am not brave enough to prognosticate on our teams' matchups later in the week.  However, I think that any one of them could beat any other one this week.  The conference play has been as close as any year...sort of a tradition in the OAC.  Its going to be an entertaining week of soccer! 

Hopefully, my Blue Streaks will prevail on Thursday and we'll be driving down to Columbus on Saturday...although -darn it- it would be nice to be at home one year!!! haha!