NCAA North Region

KICKIN95 · November 11, 2014, 10:21:26 PM

Quote from: NCAC New England on November 11, 2014, 09:30:13 PM
I watched good portions of Wartburg against Luther and then the final against Loras. I really like all of those Iowa teams, but in my opinion Wartburg is a real threat. Did I have that right about them putting Trinity to a real test last year as well?

Yes they did, but it was Loras who were down 1-0 to Trinity as in the Elite 8 last year and came back to win 2-1.
It's tourney time and this is when the Duhawks make their move.

PaulNewman · November 11, 2014, 10:27:56 PM

I guess I don't understand Iowa soccer politics. Can't both be really good? I'm a Kenyon supporter but bitter rival OWU is a great team and I love to watch them play and occasionally will even root for them, but maybe that's just me.

WarhawkFan · November 11, 2014, 11:05:06 PM

I can't see Loras or Wartburg ever rooting for each other, but I agree, they're both really good teams in their own right. That being said, I think Wartburg needs to show some consistency (which they seemed to have lacked this year) if they are going to have a chance to make a run in the tournament.

dontshootthegoose · November 11, 2014, 11:43:11 PM

IMO Wartburg is very hot right now (Hansel, so hot right now) and very talented in the attack. But MSOE has players that really can play and they were only shutout once this year (UWW). I could honestly see it going either way, Wartburg will struggle defending Logan Andryk but MSOE will struggle with Dan and his little fiery friends that feed off of him up top. MSOE 2- Wartburg 2 (Wartburg in PKS)

Chicago is obviously a beautiful team to watch, they posses the ball and are so fluid. Their center back (i think number 3) is an absolute stud and their center mids are second to none. It's hard to judge CSS because they practically played against co-ed teams up north. They have 3 players that rank highest among active players for goal scorers in the NCAA. I think it's safe to say Chicago wins this game, just too much possession and beautiful soccer. Chicago 2-CSS 1

dontshootthegoose · November 11, 2014, 11:53:09 PM

With the bracket hosted by Loras, I know they are banged up right now but what the Rock Bowl does to players knees is what they will do to Westminster's hope and spirit, crush it. I think its 3-0 Loras. Too much raw talent and anger from their pk loss to Wartburg will overflow in this game.

GAC and Dominican. GAC won their conference and are the only team representing it (hard to believe but that's how it ended up). I've liked GAC for a while and they are my darkhorse for the tournament. Dominican (should be UWO) was given a life raft by the NCAA committee but I think that's about it. As most of us know, Dominican has had a down year and I think GAC is just too good. Dominican has some players but not the same as they have had in years past. GAC 3-Dominican 1

GarbageGoals33 · November 11, 2014, 11:57:01 PM

St. Scholastica is a wild card team... I wouldn't want to play them because they are a bit of an unknown at this point in the season. Scholastica started the season by playing 7 away games... They went to Trinity and lost 3-1. Lost at GAC 3-0, GAC went up 1-0 then the Saints went down to 10 men a minute later. They beat CarlEton and UWO away 2-0. That is four teams that were ranked in the NCAA regional rankings by seasons end. The UMAC is the worst conference in the nation, hands down, but these guys will compete.

Madhatter5 · November 12, 2014, 10:03:51 AM

Quote from: Puerco Espin on November 11, 2014, 08:43:20 PM
I think it's interesting that a lot of people on these boards are picking Wartburg as a team that can make it to the Elite 8 or even the Final Four...

Is all this coming from a draw against Loras?

Wartburg enters the NCAA Tournament with 12-3-5 record ... Their signature win? A 2-1 win over GAC.

The Knights played two teams that made the tournament this year and came out with a 1-1-1 record.

And before anyone jumps on me, this is not a post coming from a sour Loras fan. I just don't know where everyone is coming from giving Wartburg a ton of credit.

My observation is obviously only from the game they played against Loras, though I only have them going to the Sweet 16. I would have to agree with NCAC that it is more of a compliment to Loras seeing that they controlled the game, didn't buckle under giving up the lead twice and could have put that game away in the second half if Roloff would not have made that save on the break away to push the ball to the post. Game would have been 3-1, nail in the coffin. That being said Loras is a NCAA tournament team who find ways to win and so is Trinity so Wartburg will eventually fall to them.

repete · November 12, 2014, 04:35:10 PM

Quote from: GarbageGoals33 on November 11, 2014, 11:57:01 PM
St. Scholastica is a wild card team... I wouldn't want to play them because they are a bit of an unknown at this point in the season. Scholastica started the season by playing 7 away games... They went to Trinity and lost 3-1. Lost at GAC 3-0, GAC went up 1-0 then the Saints went down to 10 men a minute later. They beat CarlEton and UWO away 2-0. That is four teams that were ranked in the NCAA regional rankings by seasons end. The UMAC is the worst conference in the nation, hands down, but these guys will compete.

They are a bunch of UK and other international imports up in Duluth. Haven't played a high-quality opponent in two months, although Morris isn't horrible like the rest of the league and Superior has played some good sides close. They gave GAC a pretty good run last year and I'd expect a decent game vs. Chicago.

Also need to ask:
1) What's with this "fitting end" as a poster, GG33? Did I miss something? Going into coaching or find an extra, long-lost year of eligibility???

2) The front-page poll references Oles complaining about not making the field. Didn't they get knocked off the bubble by getting one win in their final four games, including the 4-1 playoff flameout? And going 0-for-Iowa didn't help their case either.

gustiefan04 · November 12, 2014, 04:49:51 PM

Alright, here goes nothing...

Wheaton quadrant:

UWW 1 Caroll 0
Wheaton 2 UWW 1

Wartburg quadrant:

Warts 2 MSOE 0
Chicago 1 CSS 0 (Chicago in PK's)
Warts 2 Chicago 1

Loras quadrant:

Loras 2 Westminster 0
GAC 2 Dominican 0
GAC 2 Loras 1

GarbageGoals33 · November 12, 2014, 06:06:31 PM

repete,

I think this is a good time to end my D3 soccer input after this season. I play summer ball with 6-7 of the current Gustie players with a handful of them graduating after this year. My ties to the program are declining slowly, so it is a good time to hang up the d3 soccer message board boots... It has been a long 10 year run on d3soccer.net, d3kicks.com, d3futbol, and d3boards. I may change my mind, but that is where I am leaning. What would Barry Sanders do?

gustiefan04 · November 12, 2014, 07:04:07 PM

Quote from: GarbageGoals33 on November 12, 2014, 06:06:31 PM
repete,

I think this is a good time to end my D3 soccer input after this season. I play summer ball with 6-7 of the current Gustie players with a handful of them graduating after this year. My ties to the program are declining slowly, so it is a good time to hang up the d3 soccer message board boots... It has been a long 10 year run on d3soccer.net, d3kicks.com, d3futbol, and d3boards. I may change my mind, but that is where I am leaning. What would Barry Sanders do?

weak sauce.

casualfan · November 13, 2014, 11:16:46 AM

First round match tonight with Carroll @ UWW. Not much has been said about Carroll on the boards. Any insight on the Pioneers? Will UWW overlook Carroll with a matchup with Wheaton looming?

GarbageGoals33 · November 13, 2014, 11:31:12 AM

Carroll has played a fairly difficult schedule this season playing against 3 NCAA tournament teams (GAC, Loras, Dominican, and ~~UWO~~). Unfortunately for the Carroll's they haven't beaten anyone of NCAA tournament quality. If you overlook anyone in the NCAA tournament you are likely in for a shock. I can't imagine UWW not winning this game though...

D3 Scout · November 13, 2014, 01:22:33 PM

UWW scores a majority of their goals of set pieces and tonight they are without their target man on those set pieces due to a red card. It is hard to replace a man that stands 6 foot 7 inches and draws double and even some triple teams. Carroll might have dodged a bullet with that one but the problem is senior captain John Gottwald is healthy again after taking a knee to the face against UWP in the conference tournament. The soon to be WIAC offensive player of the year will find his name on the score sheet tonight. And to imagine this kid got cut his freshman year WOW!

repete · November 13, 2014, 02:30:11 PM

GG33,

If you go, best of luck and you will be missed. After years on the football side of this board, I got involved late. The chance to watch SJU on the web, plus seeing guys I've coached play college ball in the East and Mid-Atlantic sparked my interest. And it looked this season like I might be moving back to Minny.

I hope the North/MIAC boards grow. One thing I've noticed on the MIAC FB board: As more parity came to the league, the discussions improved substantially. The wide-ranging ages and backgrounds there enhance it. (Through all of it, however, it remains a solid source for craft beer info.)

Best o' luck to the Gusties going forward.