MIAC 2013

[keeker]

I have no idea what carlton was playing yestrday. Their two defensive mids were horrible especailly the freshmen kids who kept on killing opportunities by holding onto the ball too long. Freshmen i understand but dude, this aint no highschool ball. You have to play disciplined. You're defensive mid playing 4-2-3-1. If the other undisciplined defensive mid acts like a center forward, you stay back. Instead, carleton was constantly outnumbered in the middle by more disciplined, compact Gustie mids. Lily was good, bald headed kid was good along with the samurai wanna be kid.
Carleton's center mid, omg,  i don't even know why he's playing. Can't dribble, can't atttack, only pass back or pass laterally. And why is he playing like he's a center forward?  Is Mcgarrity playing center mid? Why is he always on top of his own penalty box. The carleton commentator says Mcgarrity was dribbling like Messi. I had to clean my monitor as I happened to be drinking Ovaltine at that moment. I think the whole carleton soccer team and community are living in fantasy island just cause they had tons of luck last year. Corcoran is a real deal though, but can't do it all on his own.
Zach brown was awesome yesterday. Kid is good. Zach over brandon any day.

[repete]

I think KnightRider was talking about regular season championships which Carleton has been dominating for the past 5-6 years. Sure they're playoff runs haven't been anything to brag about but you can't take the championships away from them.

Looking forward to this weekend:

Mac  1 Hamline 0

Olaf 1 SJU 2 - Upset here. Is St.Johns still playing on their football field?

Augs 3 Bethel 0 - Should be another win for Augsburg

SMU 0 CAR 2 - Time for the knights to get back on track

CC 0 GAC 2 - Riding the wave of the victory in Northfield.

Not really an upset to pick SJU on their new pitch. Same team that beat Oles in Northfield last year. Oles have better NC record but  SJU had ambitious early sked. That said, Johnnies seem inconsistent so far.

[KnightRider23]

Go go gadget CarlE bias/logic:

Yeah a lot of luck in 2012. And 2011. And 2009. And 2008. And 2007. Gee come to think of it there is a lot of luck there. I can't argue with GG about the playoff record (2012: PK shootout loss, 2011: Double OT loss, 2009: One goal loss, 2008: WE R GUD!!!!!). And on a personal note, I place more value in the regular season and the ability to be the best team over a two month period than a week. But clearly being in the tournament and getting the AQ is top priority (as it should be for most teams), but to get there you gotta be in the top 4, and Carleton does that year after year after year. So while they might not be able to get it down in a one-off game, in a season, where every team plays each other, CArleton is in the top 3 (and usually, if not always the top 2) all the time. It makes no sense to say that caRLEton fans are in fantasy land. Especially when they have CONSISTENTLY been the best in the MIAC over the last 7 years.

I'll preface this next part with this: Zach Brown is a good (maybe even great) player, and has been one of GAC's best players over the last two years (and five games). And he had a good game yesterday. A great finish and a number #9 goal from the set piece.

But Branden is first pick everytime. That's some picking Arian Foster before Adrian Peterson thinkin' right there (if you're into fantasy football). I guess you have your reasons for Zach, and I for Branden, but if we are going to compare the return from both players (albeit 5 GAMES INTO THE REGULAR SEASON!!!!!), then Branden looks like the better player. But I look forward to hearing your view on why Zach is so undisputedly better.

To the weekend:

Mac 2 Hamline 1 -- The Scots continue their good run of form and remain undefeated.

Oles 3 Johnnies 2 -- I don't think anyone knows if Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde will show up for the Collegeville folks. If Coburn comes to play it could be a 10-goal game, but I think Olaf does enough to win. 

Augs 2 Bethel 1 (OT) -- Kordah should hit the net anytime now. St. Mary's tested the Dogsburg backline and I think Bethel could maybe even knick a draw.

SMU 1 CAR 2 -- Don't give up a goal after you score. Don't give up a goal after you score. DON'T GIVE UP A GOAL AFTER YOU SCORE! Anyways, a good comeback win after the GAC disappointment midweek. McGarrity and Bartholomay with the golazos.

CC 0 GAC 3 -- Yeah. Something like this. Anyone still upset that Riley McGlynn didn't win MIAC POY in 2010? Would have loved to see them in the tournament that year...

Luther 2 UST 2 -- UST backline looked very shaky against the Scots, and Luther frontline looked good against St. Olaf backline. Should be an entertaining match. The D1 transfer isn't too shabby for UST.

[GarbageGoals33]

We still aren't claiming keeker as a GAC fan...

I can't imagine too many freshmen having success against the Gustie midfield, especially in a game of that magnitude this early in the season.  David Lilly is a difference maker in every game he plays in.  I wish his goal tally would increase but he is a constant play maker that does a lot off the ball and on the ball.  He is making a strong case for 1st-team all-region and maybe 3rd team all-american this season.

Inregards to Brown vs. McGarrity...  Both are obviously exceptional players (all-region or all-american talent).  They were both top 5-6 players in the conference last season in their freshmen and sophomore seasons.  McGarrity is more versatile than Brown in that he could probably play in any forward role or he could play midfield.  The problem with McGarrity vs. GAC is that the midfield for CarlEton was outplayed so severely that McGarrity had to drop 30 yards deeper than he should be in order to receive the ball.  McGarrity has the ability to produce some magic, (see 30 yard bomb off the cross bar in the MIAC playoff championship last year) but I feel that he often times gets lost in a game when he doesn't have someone next to him (Ginet) to work off of.  Brown is an out and out striker that can work well with someone up top or crush it by himself.  He scores at will.  He will score you poacher goals (rebounds, right place at the right time, etc.), he will beat 3 players and dribble the keeper, or he will bend a shot from 25 yards out into the upper 90 turning nothing into something (as he did Wednesday)...  There is no settling a debate over which one is better.  But, after their first matchup of the season it is Brown 2 McGarrity 1.

[gustiefan04]

Pretty fair analysis of Brown v. McGarrity.

I think its safe to say that McGarrity is a more dynamic player, more versatile. Brown is a pure striker/finisher; give him a glimps at goal from within about 25-30 yard and he's going to punish you. Apples and Oranges really. McGarrity has, so far this season, been less impactful on the score sheet than Brown, but its quite possible the flood gates will open now that he's tallied his first goal of the season.

Weekend Predictions....

Mac 3 Hamline 1 -- After a slow start, MAC has turned things around. the Scots could very well be the dark horse of this season.

Oles 2 Johnnies 2 --   Neither team very strong defensively.

Augs 2 Bethel 0 -- Auggies win with 2 late goals.

SMU 0 CAR 2 -- Carlies with a good rebound win, holding SMU scoreless.


CC 0 GAC 2 -- GAC coming in off a big win. As long as they dont' look past the cobbers they should win this one easily.


Luther 1 UST 1 -- UST, always picked to do well at the outset of the season. I think they crumble early this year...

[GarbageGoals33]

Weekend results:
Macalester 1 Hamline 0: Big win for Mac if they are going to be contenders for the MIAC playoffs.  The Scots scored with under 5 to play in what looked to be a very even match.

St. Olaf 2 St. Johns 1:  Nice road win for the Oles.

SMU 0 CarlEton 2: It looks like CarlEton controlled this one from start to finish scoring both of their goals in the second half.

Concordia 0 GAC 1: GAC scored with under 10 to play to take down the Cobbers.  GAC could've won this game by 2-3 had they finished their opportunities early on.  David Lilly with his second consecutive assist on a game winner in conference play. 

Augsburg 1 Bethel 2: Shock of the weekend.  Bethel takes down Augsburg.  It looks like Augsburg had the statistical advantage but Bethel made the most of their chances.

UST 3 Luther 2 (OT): Rapisarda game winner.

[gustiefan04]

Very unfortunately result for the Auggies. They seem to lack scoring power. With rare exception, all their games have been decided by a single goal. Looks like Holker needs to find a go-to finisher.

[DoubleDeuce]

Nice role models, Kevin.

http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/soccer/men/bios/16skripke.html

[KICKIN95]

Nice role models, Kevin.

http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/soccer/men/bios/16skripke.html

AI and Mike Vick!?!  So you're telling me Kevin hates to practice and isn't a big fan of dogs?

[GarbageGoals33]

Unfortunate loss for GAC yesterday.  I caught about 30 minutes of the game online.  The GAC backline without Schmith looked like they were in shambles at times.  GAC completely controlled the game but were caught 3 times on a quick counter attack (long ball behind the GAC backline) that resulted in two Wartburg breakaway goals.  GAC had 2 balls cleared off the line in the 30 minutes I watched.  Tranoris hit a bomb from the top of the box that hit a defender in the face who was covering the post from a corner kick.  GAC will need to sort their backline out without the senior leadership of Schmith, not certain on the severity of his injury but hopefully he is back soon. 

[GarbageGoals33]

MIAC matches this weekend:

St. Olaf @ Concordia: Prediction 2-0 St. Olaf

SMU @ UST: Prediction 3-1 UST

CarlEton @ Bethel: Prediction 2-0 CarlE's

GAC @ SJU: Prediction 2-1 GAC

Augsburg @ MAC: Prediction 1-0 Augsburg

[BradleyFan001]

Wartburg's done pretty well against MIAC opponents this year. I think they have yet to lose against someone from MN.

St. Olaf @ Concordia: 3-0 St. Olaf

SMU @ UST: 2-1 UST

CarlEton @ Bethel: 2-0 Carleton

GAC @ SJU: 1-1

Augsburg @ MAC:  1-1

[gustiefan04]

St. Olaf @ Concordia: Prediction 1-0 St. Olaf

SMU @ UST: Prediction 2-1 UST

CarlEton @ Bethel: Prediction 3-0 CarlE's

GAC @ SJU: Prediction 3-0 GAC

Augsburg @ MAC: Prediction 1-1 Draw

[GarbageGoals33]

It is supposed to be high 50's/low 60's and rainy most of the day tomorrow.  Should make for some interesting results.

[KnightRider23]

St. Olaf 3 Concordia 2 -- Olaf defense just needs to do enough to keep Cobbers from scoring 2+

SMU 1 UST 2 (OT) -- Cards continue to stay close with the MIAC's best

Car 2 Bethel 0 -- Hopefully the run keeps going.

GAC 1 SJU 1 -- Schmith's role in the match might determine how this one goes. If he's in GAC gets it, but SJU has the firepower to surprise

Augs 2 MAC 1 (2 OT) -- Should be a good one. Mac is rollin' right now, and Augs needs to bounce back after the Bethel result. I could see it going either way...