NCAA North Region

[PickettStreetParty]

It is always difficult to play away on a grass field. Im going to say the duhawks will win this one 2-1, goals from Bradley and Rummelhart. While being challenged on grass, I feel the duhawks just have too much talent for UWW. The Hawk Cup will return to Dubuque where it belongs.

[casualfan]

I imagine Loras will benefit from the preseason trip to Costa Rica. The added practices and matches against quality opposition prior to the season should only add to the firepower that they already possess. I am curious why this game is held in UWW once again this year. After it was played in Whitewater last season, I expected this to be played at the Rock Bowl. Also, with the game being played opening night rather than later in the season, there may be some kinks to work out for both squads. UWW hasn't played opposition of this caliber on opening night for years.

In my opinion the key players in this game are Tom Fluegel for the Duhawks and Ryan Reid for the Warhawks. Both actually come from the same high school and know each other very well. With Fluegel playing in an attacking role and Reid in the back, this matchup could determine the outcome.

The extra practices and games will prove to be too much for UWW. The depth of Loras should give them fits as well. I think UWW steals one early, but Loras comes back for the victory.

I'm going to go with 2-1 to Loras.

[D3 Scout]

So by "years" do you mean three casualfan? UWW played Pac Lutheran and Whitworth on the opening weekend 3 years ago. And from the archives it seems as though five projected starters for the Warhawks got significant time that weekend. UWW will be ready opening night with no more rust than Loras has. UWW returns two fifth year seniors in Ty McCoy and John Gottwald who will be roaming the middle with many years of experience under their belt. Sam Novak returns up top for the Warhawks. He gave the DuHawks problems last year on the counter with his speed and strength. Loras is the favorite in my mind but I do not think UWW should be counted out so easily. Loras will dominate the game but lose 1-0 on a Ty McCoy goal in the first half.

[MidwestAficionado]

Who did Loras play on their trip?

[casualfan]

So by "years" do you mean three casualfan? UWW played Pac Lutheran and Whitworth on the opening weekend 3 years ago. And from the archives it seems as though five projected starters for the Warhawks got significant time that weekend. UWW will be ready opening night with no more rust than Loras has. UWW returns two fifth year seniors in Ty McCoy and John Gottwald who will be roaming the middle with many years of experience under their belt. Sam Novak returns up top for the Warhawks. He gave the DuHawks problems last year on the counter with his speed and strength. Loras is the favorite in my mind but I do not think UWW should be counted out so easily. Loras will dominate the game but lose 1-0 on a Ty McCoy goal in the first half.

Pacific Lutheran made the tournament and had a 4-1 first round loss to the Redlands in 2011 while Whitworth did not make the tournament at all. Hardly comparable to the Back-to-Back Final Fours of Loras. I still believe that UWW will struggle to score as neither McCoy and Gottwald are huge scoring threats. Novak has had a total of 7 goals in 2 years. Will there be a recruit that comes in that can score some goals since you know so much about UWW?

[D3 Scout]

A team's form at the start of the season is a lot different from their form at the end of the season. Looking at last year, Loras went up to the Advantage Emblem Cup and did not come home with the trophy. Something Whitewater did the previous year. My previous post was simply stating that Whitewater will not be as far behind the ball as you are making it seem. I also never said that McCoy, Gottwald and Novak would be big goal scorers this year. I said that the two fifth years would help control the middle while Novak would cause the Loras backline (or whatever you call it) problems. All in all to end this rant I also never said Whitewater was going to win in a offensive slugfest.

As for recruits I am not close enough to the situation to know who is coming into the program. So it looks like you and I will have to wait to see who the new faces will be for the Warhawks.   

[casualfan]

I never stated that you said those three would be big goal scorers. Just said that imo, they will struggle to score goals once again this season. Those three are solid players, but not true goal scorers by definition. If UWW can add a pure goal scoring threat, they could be dangerous.

[D3 Scout]

Besides UWW and Loras. I hear UWO will be without All Conference forward Kirby Allen this year. Can anyone confirm this?

[casualfan]

Rumor has it, UWO is playing the Milwaukee Sport Club Majors team on Thursday night. MSC won the highly competitive Majors League this pas fall over the Croatian Eagles. Will be a great test for UWO early on in preseason. Aside from this, I have no insight on the Titans.

[D3 Scout]

Looking at UWW's 2014 roster a couple things jump out at me. They lost two starters from the previous year in Shone and Sundby. This years team has added two field players and one goalie who are 6' 6" or 6' 7" tall (wonder how many inches they added to each of those guys). And lastly the 6' 7" forward is a transfer from Loyola. As Casual Fan said if this kid is a pure goaling scoring threat, they could be dangerous.

Looking at UWP 2014 roster two major things come to my attention. They will be very young this year and Emilo Lopez who was one bright spot for the team last year is not on the roster this year.

[gustiefan04]

surprised not to see Shone on the roster. I'm guessing an injury maybe the cause and will verify. Saw him play a few times this summer and was looking strong and from what I understand was planning to return to UWW.

Stanko, the transfer fom Loyola is definately tall, although I don't know that he's actually 6'7 (unless he's grown in the last year). Strang to see him listed as a forward, he's traditioanlly played center back. He's got a canon for a leg, pretty strong technically and certainly a threat in the air. It will be interesting to see how he tranitions to the forward role.

[D3 Scout]

Looking at past years statistics it seems as though last year was Shone's last year of eligibility

[casualfan]

I guess we'll find out how UWW can fare on Friday then. Division I transfers rarely hurt a team so I'm sure Stanko should add a different dynamic to the team that's been missing. Shone was a senior last year so he's gone. I'm sure McCoy can step in and fill the void that Shone's graduation leaves. Shone was a very consistent player for UWW, but he wasn't going to take over a game. Can Stanko provide that aspect? Who knows? Another DI transfer joins the Warhawks in Kevin Winters from UW-Green Bay. Could he shore up the backline and help out where Sundby will be missed? Guinn must have gotten some things right on the recruiting end of things.

UWP should be around the same as last year. They return key players in Streich and Sarr. Losing Lopez and McMahon from last season, who should have returned, will be hard to overcome I'm sure. Look out for impact newcomers from Sean Ryan, Babacar Kone, and Greg Michalski.

UWO has yet to post their roster so no real thoughts there.


Hey Gustie, just curious where you've seen Stanko and Shone play? I always wondered where Shone played during the summer and this Stanko guy intrigues me..

[gustiefan04]

They both played youth club and U23 with Strikers Fox Valley SC. McCoy and Freshman GK Lucatoro from UWW also played with Strikers. I'd imagine Lucatoro won't see many minutes this year, as UWW has a Sr. Keeper this year, but Chris is very talented. Definitely a great pick up for the Warhawks.

[MidwestAficionado]

I guess we'll find out how UWW can fare on Friday then. Division I transfers rarely hurt a team so I'm sure Stanko should add a different dynamic to the team that's been missing.

Word has it Stanko was only at Loyola because of his father being a professor/administrator and costing the program 0 money... he was brought in under the old coach who was fired. His stats were very forgettable in one year despite his size. Could be a stud or could have been a D3 type all along. Guess we'll find out soon enough.