Liberty League

[deutschfan]

LL kicks off tonight between two undefeateds with the league's leading scorers.  Yawn.

[Saint of Old]

BIG BIG Test for Union.
In terms of confidence they need to win this one.

[Saint of Old]

Great work by Union!!!!!
This team is now 8-0 and not just against cup cakes.
They could be a real problem for the Liberty League and means that SLU/Vassar or another annual league participant might be bumped out.
It is just one league win, but in the way they did it (3-2) against a nemesis will do wonders for confidence.
Again, CONFIDENCE is the most important ingredient of a soccer player or soccer team.

I like Union, they are a program who have had some great players over the years and seem due to have a nice era going right about now.

[Mr.Right]

Yes Union just shut us all up for now...I agree they are an interesting team to follow through the years. I will say I am not totally shocked by Union defeating Skidmore last night...All these LL games are going to be tight as this league is starting to show its muscle this year. Atleast the TOP/Middle of the league.

[Mr.Right]

Hobart and UR just opening up and both teams look PUMPED..Both teams with tons of energy to start and looks like it will be a physical bloodbath

[d3d3d3]

Ithaca makes jump from No. 21 to No. 12 in the latest poll; RPI makes jump from not ranked to No. 15:

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-diii-men/

[deutschfan]

They are ranked 1-2 in the region as well.  Skidmore dropped out of the regional rankings after the loss to Union.  Union is number 10 but will drop out as soon as they lose their first game which imho will be against Vassar.  Skidmore out statisticed (not a word) Union everywhere but in the score line.  Union is still ranked in the 300s in strength of schedule.  If they beat Vassar, other than Bard, I don't see another win.  For me the surprise team so far is RIT.  I thought they would be much more impactful.  Clarkson gets a redemption victory against Plattsburgh which must have been a bitter pill for Coach Taylor.     

[stlawus]

You'd think an engineering school like Clarkson would be able to figure out how to set up a live stream

[Saint of Old]

Exactly.
Very poor form.

RPI on the other hand always brings it with their coverage.

On a different note.
Very impressed with the new African star for the Saints.
Quality Quality player.

[stlawus]

Is he the first Saint from Zimbabwe?    He's racking up numbers on the stat sheet. 

[Saint of Old]

He might be... he does, as I have said before, joined a few all-time great Saints from the continent.
Mani Brito (top single season  scorer in team history)
Dan Annan (Former National POY)
Macky Diop (Maybe the most naturally talented player of the bunch)
Jethro Dede (back to back league POY, who dominated the league 4 straight years).

This kid will fit into the above players seamlessly, I saw that since he was still in HS.

We need all our talent to step up around him.
Including left sided players who pushed up one this season to give the team some scoring punch. They must pick it up since this is Senior year.
Talented South Americans who have already had a season to acclimate and need to start scoring goals to go with assists at this point.
Defenders that had excellent 2018 seasons and have to brush off whatever has affected them and lead this team as they know they can and tighten it up in the back.
Seems to me that SLU has always found a key striker that leads the line with class and talent after being written off as someone who would not cut it.
We really need that guy to step up this season to have any hope of saving this season.

[Saint of Old]

So SLU plays for 90 minutes and uses 3 subs.
Have been doing this for the entire year.

Clarkson plays 8 subs (one of who gets the goal to equalize in the 88th minute).

Is it just me or is it not a smart thing to consider using more than 3 subs since the rules allow this to be done?
Would a fresher team not have the energy to close down and not let up goals late in games or run out of gas?
If there are only 14 players with the ability to play at this level, then does that not speak to recruiting preparation?

I am just trying to understand if I am  understanding soccer correct or just getting a bit more grumpy as the years go by...

This thing is hard. It is difficult to run a program and keep it at the top  and easy to talk smack on a keyboard, but seems to me that common sense has to start kicking in at some point.

[deutschfan]

Saint I feel your pain and understand your concern.  SLU has 36 on the roster and routinely plays 14.  Doesn't do much for development of the 22 bench sitters or their desire to stay another winter in Canton.  Hobart played 24 in their close win over RIT.  SLU is not going to survive the Statesmen legions.  SLU and Vassar have the longest streaks of winning seasons in the LL.  There is a decent chance that both will wind up with losing records this year and a very decent chance that the loser of their fixture will break their winning string.  One common denominator explaining the change of fortune for both programs is their loss of last year's talent.  SLU graduated a whole bunch of quality seniors while Vassar's two strongest offensive players, who were to be seniors this year, are not playing. 

[Ejay]

Playing 24 is equally as harmful as 14. Where's the incentive for the starter to play like your position is on the line? Where's the incentive to work hard in training if you're know you're going to play anyway?

I think there's a balance - probably somewhere around 16.  Starters need to be pushed and know there's someone ready to take their spot.  Subs need to push themselves to get better so they can earn playing time. Build a competitive training environment, carry that over to game playing time, and you'll get the best that your players have to offer.

[Caz Bombers]

Vassar losing at home to one of the for-profit Berkeley College teams is...woof. At least it doesn't count in terms of selections or SOS calculations because it's not an NCAA Division III opponent...but I re-iterate, woof.