Liberty League

[Saint of Old]

I must say the positive thing about your club's season being done in September is that you can enjoy and appreciate the soccer being played in the league.
We have three teams in the LL that can realistically make a play Nationally this year.

Hobart is always a tough team, but they seem to have gelled a bit earlier this season than normally.
Seemed to have already faced their toughest test in the league and should be a Pool C if they can avoid a melt down and make atleast the conference Semis.

Ithaca has 10 wins already and they have the best goalie in the league. When you have a good GK you can  climb the mountain with a  bit of luck on your side.

The thing I like about the Bombers is that they were planning for more than NCAA last season, and I am sure they are planning for more than a quick dance this season as well.

RPI is strong. What else can you say about this well coached program. I dont think any team in the league wants to face RPI in an elimination game.
It has been a while since they won the entire league as well so they are very hungry.

Clarkson is still undefeated after 4 games in the league.

Vassar at 2-1 is doing very well considering they are playing with a very depleted squad.

Union/RIT/ still alive and in OK shape  with a shout for the last  spot all with one win and only 3 games played and Skidmore got a very important win to stay alive with an outside shot as well.

Tough season so far for Bard, but this is a league without sympathy. I think they are rebuilding and with their new coaching staff will become a much better program in a couple years.

[Saint of Old]

I must say the positive thing about your club's season being done in September is that you can enjoy and appreciate the soccer being played in the league.
We have three teams in the LL that can realistically make a play Nationally this year.

Hobart is always a tough team, but they seem to have gelled a bit earlier this season than normally.
Seemed to have already faced their toughest test in the league and should be a Pool C if they can avoid a melt down and make atleast the conference Semis.

Ithaca has 10 wins already and they have the best goalie in the league. When you have a good GK you can  climb the mountain with a  bit of luck on your side.

The thing I like about the Bombers is that they were planning for more than NCAA last season, and I am sure they are planning for more than a quick dance this season as well.

RPI is strong. What else can you say about this well coached program. I dont think any team in the league wants to face RPI in an elimination game.
It has been a while since they won the entire league as well so they are very hungry.

Clarkson is still undefeated after 4 games in the league.

Vassar at 2-1 is doing very well considering they are playing with a very depleted squad.

Union/RIT/ still alive and in OK shape  with a shout for the last  spot all with one win and only 3 games played and Skidmore got a very important win to stay alive with an outside shot as well.

Tough season so far for Bard, but this is a league without sympathy. I think they are rebuilding and with their new coaching staff will become a much better program in a couple years.

Maybe the Saints will make a bit of noise yet.
Two freshmen scoring all the goals.
The positive thing is that this is still a very young team with room to grow for most of the players.

I could quible with benching a 6 foot 7 inch junior with 2 seasons under his belt for a 5 foot 9 inch freshman, but I am making an effort to keep it positive the rest of the way.
These boys including the gk are very young and will improve.

Some jerseys are very HEAVY... These boys might just need time to get adjusted to the college game.

[stlawus]

One thing I've come to agree with Toshack on is goalkeepers.   I was very skeptical when he named Roethel the starter and he had a tremendous year.   I felt the same about Smith and he played as good as any Saint keeper of the last 15 years.   This freshman has an incredibly strong leg and distributes well, so this is the one part of the season I will try to remain positive about.

[Saint of Old]

The Skidmore coaching staff must have heard you.  Their 38 man roster two days ago is now done to 30.  In terms of season predictions, I have Hobart first with 12 returning seniors and Ithaca second with impact players returning across the pitch.  It is appropriate that these two squads square off with Messiah this weekend.  It will provide a good sense of the overall strength of the league.  For SLU to return to the dance will require a coaching miracle given its losses to graduation.  For all the excitement of winning the league title, one and done with that group of seniors was a major disappointment.  While I didn't think it was possible, Union's non-conference schedule is even softer than it has been in previous years.  The plus for me in looking at their schedules is that I learn the names of colleges I never knew existed.  I expect RPI and RIT in the 3 and 4 spots but based on the past few years for the LL to get more than two berths in the dance would require divine intervention.  After that I have SLU and Vassar getting the last two spots in the LL tourney with Clarkson looking to be the spoiler.  Let the games begin.       

Extremely intelligent post.
I do agree that any team who finishes ahead of the Bombers will win the league.
There is nothing in sports more dangerous than a pissed off team.
Ithaca knew they were an NCAA team last year and they did not get an invite.
They cannot take out their frustrations on the Dance Committee but they can on the league... and I can see them doing that.

I do disagree on your assessment of the Saints and any other team based on graduating players, the game has evolved to the point where freshmen are coming into the league and playing like grown men.
I thought SLU's last African Soccer King #6 Jethro Dede was the best player in the league his entire 4 years at SLU.
He did get back to back POY of the league his Sr and Jr years, cannot recall another player doing this off the top of my head.
Another African King was Dan Annan who captained the team to a National Championship in the late 90s was also a gem of a player. Annan continued the legacy of fellow West African Mani Brito who still owns the scoring record from the 1996 season.
In between those 2 we had perhaps our greatest African General Macky Diop who led the team to a Final 4 in 2002 and perhaps would have led them to the promiseland had he and the other great player on that squad (Shawn Watson) Macky played with a smile on his face literally. I have never seen anyone (Besides Ronalldhino) do that had not missed the crucial semi at home v. Messiah....
Anyway, there is yet another African star donning the Saint midfield this year who might join the tradition of players I just mentioned.

I see SLU getting the first or 2nd seed based on the above.

Hobart is always strong and they will be 3rd
Skidmore will be disappointed by last year and make a push for 4th
Vassar will finish 5th. They have some talented upperclassmen who have been giving it to the league since freshman year.
6th place is tough but the alphabet soup of RIT and RPI will be fighting it out with the edge going to RPI who always seem to win the games they must down the stretch.

Bard will be there next season and Clarkson are still a year or two away.
What a league.

Well, atleast I was right about the African Star

[deutschfan]

Saint:  Thanks for that trip down memory lane.  I really missed on RIT, and Vassar playing without its three top returners was unexpected.  SLU's win over Union gives them the tie-break and if they beat Vassar they are looking good to get in the playoffs as they have played two of the top three sides this year.  It is coming down to the big three, Clarkson, and then everyone else but Bard.

[Saint of Old]

Hey, its hit or miss with these boyz these days Fan.
The league is definitely going through an evolution.
RIT is a Jekyl and Hyde team I have always said, never know what you will get with these boyz.

Clarkson is looking good, but still loads of soccer to play and they have little room for error.

Hobart is a lock for the league tourney but cannot lose again before the semis to have a shot at Pool C.

Ithaca and RPI are almost lock for both.

Look for the horses to make a late run!

[stlawus]

Toshack ain't it.   Need a better staff as well.  Steinrotter is ok but the rest of the staff is nowhere near the caliber of the Durocher years.

[Bartman]

Watched the Hobart Statesmen beat Vassar yesterday 3-0. Great unselfish team play. Looking forward to the LL tournament assuming Hobart stays healthy and playing at this level.

[deutschfan]

Hobart got 29 into the game. Awesome. Binjo is having a great campaign. In many ways this is the year of the defender in the LL.

[Mr.Right]

How bout Clarkson leading the LL this late in October? Did anyone catch the 1-0 upset over Ithaca? Did they park the bus and counter? Or how did it play out? Either way  we could see 4 LL Teams ranked in the Top 25 for the first time maybe ever??

[Red Dog]

Perhaps even more surprising was RPI tie with Skidmore given Skidmores struggles so far. No doubt Clarkson is legit after tie with Hobart and win over Ithaca. All four to teams have a credible / plausible path to winning the regular season if chips fall the right way for them. Friday's RPI Hobart game is significant and the RPI Ithaca game on the last day of the regular season could decide things. RPI only team left that has not faced any of the other top four.

[Mr.Right]

I don't know as historically a Draw in an RPI / Skidmore match would probably be close to EVEN money no matter what season..

[d3d3d3]

RPI moves up to No. 9 in this week's poll; Ithaca falls to No. 16. Hobart receiving votes ...

[deutschfan]

Eight meaningful LL matches this weekend discounting the Bard fixtures. Will RPI's 80th minute heroics continue?  Is Ithaca getting a deja vu feeling after its loss to Clarkson puts a Pool C bid in jeopardy?  Whose streak of winning seasons will run out, SLU's, Vassar's or both?  Can Clarkson win in Poughkeepsie and stay undefeated in League?  Can Hobart get back into the top 25 by beating RPI?  So many questions?

[Mr.Right]

RPI goes up on Hobart 1-0 about 20 min in on a nasty hip check in the box by Hobart's Senior #3 Left back. Total bonehead play that any Hobart alum 20 years ago would be proud of..Not the Hobart of today as that was pure stupidity. RPI's #21 calmly buries the PK. RPI in a solid block of six and look very organized defensively in their 4-2-3-1. Hobart has had some moments and have had some nice combination play in midfield and then out to the flanks. Hobart has some skill in midfield but have looked uninspiring up top as of now.