Liberty League

CU_GKnight · November 03, 2019, 07:37:07 AM

It has been a great LL season so far. I don't tend to write a lot during the season and like to sit back and observe. I think the programs at RPI, Vassar and Clarkson have a lot to be proud of, but a lot of soccer is still to be played. Many thought early on that it was Ithaca and Hobart that were the class of the league, but these other programs showed the depth of the league. RPI and Vassar have their shots at a second LL Championship and I hope to see Clarkson get its first. As a Clarkson alum I know I am biased, but I think this is a very special team and can be dangerous in the playoffs if they can score some goals. I think most people have discounted the progress Clarkson has made over the past 4-5 years and I am glad it is now beginning to show through. I had the opportunity to spend a couple days with the team recently and was thoroughly impressed with the way the program is being run. All of the players are class acts and the coaching staff does an incredible job of motivating players. Clarkson has developed a very strong defensive team over the past few years and has had some very strong keepers. Now they are beginning to play with confidence and play forward without having to just defend and counter. Having Ithaca in the quarters is a tough draw, but I think this team is confident and believes in themselves. Only time will tell how the rest of the season plays out. Regardless of the results this team should be extremely proud of itself and the way they have turned this program around and put it back into the conversation about the best teams in the LL.

I don't think anyone can dispute Clinton as coach of the year as it is well deserved. Carter Lincoln also deserves a lot of credit for the work he has done at Clarkson and his accomplishments are pretty impressive for such a young coach. The other player at Clarkson that I think needs some recognition is Ian Roeloffs in goal. He has made timely saves and is the difference between 4th place and being out of the playoffs. I know the Ithaca keeper gets a lot of press and accolades, but if I had to build a team for a tournament run I would take Ian every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I hope he gets the recognition that he deserves when the LL selections come out.

Saint of Old · November 04, 2019, 12:26:40 PM

Great year in the LL.
Looking forward to the playoffs and watching the 6 teams that fought hard and are there because of tehir hard work.
Special mention to RIT (battled hard all year and earned a spot at the very end).
Vassar has had a great season with some special wins and Clarkson has not gone over the hump and could win this entire thing.

I think any one of these teams can win actually.
My hope is that we have atleast 2 teams dancing as a league this season.

SLU has had a bad season like any other program.
I think that the SLU fans should continue to support their team and hopefully things can be turned around with a few changes and better recruiting.

d3d3d3 · November 04, 2019, 01:29:19 PM

Tuesday
#6 RIT at #3 Vassar, 11 a.m.
#5 Ithaca at #4 Clarkson, 4 p.m.

Saturday
Ithaca-Clarkson winner at #1 RPI, 4 p.m.
RIT-Vassar winner vs. Hobart at RPI, 6:30 p.m.

SaintsgoMarching · November 04, 2019, 02:16:38 PM

Quote from: Saint of Old on November 04, 2019, 12:26:40 PM
Great year in the LL.
Looking forward to the playoffs and watching the 6 teams that fought hard and are there because of tehir hard work.
Special mention to RIT (battled hard all year and earned a spot at the very end).
Vassar has had a great season with some special wins and Clarkson has not gone over the hump and could win this entire thing.

I think any one of these teams can win actually.
My hope is that we have atleast 2 teams dancing as a league this season.

SLU has had a bad season like any other program.
I think that the SLU fans should continue to support their team and hopefully things can be turned around with a few changes and better recruiting.

I would like to know what has happened to those long standing pipelines SLU used to get players from? Does Toshak not reach out to the old alumns who used to send players to Canton? The current group of players looks a full notch below the standard of the program. I.E. not good enough to wear that shirt.

SAINT OF OLD - please shed some light. You seem like a knowledgeable alumni with still close connections to the program. I used to help the program out with players, Durocher would call me all the time to ask about kids in my area. But the current head coach has not contacted me once to ask about players in my zone... I wouldn't care if he was recruiting SLU quality players, but he is clearly not. The current crop of players is lacking. This is a 5 year re build process in my opinion. We will be an average mid table team until the current group of players graduate and phase out.

Red Dog · November 04, 2019, 02:33:06 PM

RPI becomes the first non Hobart/SLU regular season winner in 8 years since Vassar in 2012.

SLU 18,15,14,13
Hobart 17, 16
Vassar 12

A lot of concern being expressed about St Lawrence, but they still have the most recent era regular season championships. Not sure it is possible to win the league every year and current D3 recruiting is very competitive. I think it is fair to say that there are a lot of good teams in the LL where excellent players want to play and some very fine schools that students want to attend.

Saint of Old · November 05, 2019, 10:31:09 AM

RIT might just continue this improbable journey and advance to the Semi final.

There is no room for anyone to falter in these playoffs, except for RPI.

I am rooting for anyone but RPI to win, not because I dont like and respect the program, but because I would really like to see 2 teams from this conference in the dance and RPI will more than likely get an at large regardless of how they finish in the league tourney.

Caz Bombers · November 05, 2019, 11:20:39 AM

it's like watching EPL on Saturday mornings on NBCSN, only it's the Liberty League and following live stats at the office on a Tuesday.

Goal Tigers! Garno header in the 18th minute. 1-0 to RIT.

Reason for the early start btw - Vassar women also hosting today (against Union) and have to get both matches in before dark.

EDIT: Vassar equalizes in the 25th. About 10 minutes left before halftime now.

NoSuchThingAsOffsides · November 05, 2019, 01:02:14 PM

long time/first time

I haven't been able to catch as many matches this season and have just been watching out of the corner of my eye but RITs fullbacks seem a bit rough. To their credit I think they have sucked Vassar into their game but wouldn't be shocked if either one gives the game away here.

Caz Bombers · November 05, 2019, 01:43:10 PM

1-1 final and RIT advances on penalties. Both teams made their first three kicks, each missed the 4th, final round Vassar no good and RIT buries it to move on to Troy.

Caz Bombers · November 05, 2019, 05:20:36 PM

Clarkson with an early 2nd half goal and leads 1-0 with about half an hour remaining. This would be an incredibly disappointing end to a Bombers season that looked like it was going to be special.

deutschfan · November 05, 2019, 05:56:55 PM

Ithaca loses. A great win against RPI with a bunch of losses surrounding it. Clarkson should move past them in the rankings along with Hobart and RPI. Is Ithaca done?

d3d3d3 · November 05, 2019, 06:57:36 PM

The Ithaca coach says:

We have had a remarkable season with four wins over Top 25 programs and believe that we stand an excellent chance at a Pool C bid on Monday," said Dezotell. "We have been in the top four in our region and top 25 in the country all season. We will be ready when the call comes."

deutschfan · November 05, 2019, 07:30:48 PM

Those are the positives from the coach. Negatives are 1-3 in last four games, 5th in league, one and done in tourney, and 2 losses to the Clarkson team that has a claim to their spot in the next regional rankings. Also abysmal road record where they would be in the dance.

stlawus · November 05, 2019, 07:31:27 PM

I think Ithaca's goose is cooked. I am far from an expert on tournament selections but I think they at minimum they need RPI and Oneonta to win the LL and SUNYAC tourneys in order to have a chance. Year in year out LL gets shortchanged due to NESCAC sucking up Pool C oxygen (usually for good reason). I'd love to see Clarkson win the LL tournament (is this sacrilegious as a SLU alum??). That program has had a phenomenal turn around and it'd be great to see the North Country represented in the tournament.

CU_GKnight · November 06, 2019, 05:45:57 AM

Stlawus - coming from a Clarkson alum we'll take any support we can get. I have said a few times I've actually become a big fan of SLU over the past decade and have a lot of respect for their program.

I am also not an expert, but I have trouble seeing a path to the tournament for Ithaca. I don't see how you can put Ithaca ahead of Clarkson in the rankings at this point. Clarkson is 9-1-3 since their week long debacle in early September (loses to Brockport, Geneseo and Utica). They have beaten Ithaca twice and have draws with RPI and Hobart with the only loss being on the road to Vassar as they began to round into form. The early season win against Otterbein is also looking much better, especially if they maintain their regional ranking in the midwest. If Plattsburgh has a good showing in the SUNYAC tournament then that could be another quality win for Clarkson. It will be interesting to see how the committee looks at the three loses against mediocre teams early in the season versus their resume over the past 6 weeks.

I think RPI and Hobart should be locks for the tourney and Clarkson likely has some work to do to get a Pool C. I would think a shootout loss against RPI or a win in the semis would make them a very viable Pool C if they were to lose the AQ in the final. If Clarkson is ahead of Ithaca in the rankings then I don't see any chance for Ithaca making it as the LL getting 4 teams in is not very likely given the SOS of the region.