Liberty League

[Saint_Dad]

Someone was asking why the SLU Hartwick game was postponed yesterday.   Apparently a referee go pulled over by the police and that delayed him.  Today they start early. Perhaps they are trying to beat the rain. 

[kevdog]

SLU better get this midfield figure out or it will be a long 2nd half. I understand no Pijper, Peacock and a don't think I saw Baker in there but they are just getting beat to the ball.  If I was Tosh I would be looking for a big target man that can hold the ball up front and can score goals but that is a lot easier said than done. Woeflinger has kept them in the game.

[stlawus]

Pijpers injured.  Brown got injured 8 minutes into the game. So both true strikers out.

Peacock injured 2 minutes into the game, with Baker seemingly having his minutes managed as a back to back wouldn't be great for him after his return from a major ankle injury. Peacock's replacement also got injured. 

Team is having to make due here.

[stlawus]

SLU is reeling from injuries, but Oneonta got the softest penalty I have ever seen.  Hard enough as is, impossible to overcome home cooking like that.

[stlawus]

Piling up for SLU.  Tons of injuries, poor performance, bad luck, you name it. Plenty of time to turn it around, but this is just not going to cut it right now.   

Hobart also reeling down 1 to JHU right now.

[kevdog]

SLU is reeling from injuries, but Oneonta got the softest penalty I have ever seen.  Hard enough as is, impossible to overcome home cooking like that.

That sure was especially since Oneonta was knocking the SLU players around hard in the 1st half and the ref let it go.  I liked Campbell at striker position more than Brown. It seemed like the team was just going through the motions today. I know that it was back to back games but that is what the NCAA tournament is like.  Also this is how it was back in the 90's.  One thing about Durocher teams that no one can argue is they were in great shape. There were two shoes in your locker- your cleats and your running shoes.  Your running shoes wore out before your cleats though. Hopefully the boys can get rested and recoup from their injuries before league play in 2 weeks. Defensively I think SLU is doing very well just have to figure out how to score some goals.

[Saint_Dad]

These back to back games in division 3 soccer are difficult on a team, especially one who only plays a few subs.  I don't think div 1 soccer has back to back.   Minutes will need to be managed for Vassar bard weekend.  Silver lining is more kids got some experience.  There is also no pressure for a pool C pick.  Only conference games and tournament matter now so I expect to see more subbing in the coming non conference games.  Without Will Baker, Henry Brown, Sam Pijpers, Sam Peacock.  These two games every year early in the season with a short bench are tough on the kids.

[kevdog]

These back to back games in division 3 soccer are difficult on a team, especially one who only plays a few subs.  I don't think div 1 soccer has back to back.   Minutes will need to be managed for Vassar bard weekend.  Silver lining is more kids got some experience.  There is also no pressure for a pool C pick.  Only conference games and tournament matter now so I expect to see more subbing in the coming non conference games.  Without Will Baker, Henry Brown, Sam Pijpers, Sam Peacock.  These two games every year early in the season with a short bench are tough on the kids.
[/quote

I agree and I know that time has change but these games definitely prepare you of how tournament time is like.  Like I said this is how they use to do it due to traveling cost I believe.  Exceed was your friend back then. Durocher would make you drink it after the first game.  Think carbo loading.  I know that he is a freshman but Brown has not really impressed me that much.  Myabe my expectations were high for him.  I like Campbell better in his place. Very impress with Diaz though.

[deutschfan]

SLU still has a chance to avoid this being another 2019.  Based on the League's performance so far, this could be one of the weakest overall in memory.  There hasn't been a win against an upper echelon quality team in the first two weeks of the season.  Vassar stands out because it has scored a lot of goals against weak opponents and was 14 minutes away from beating Brandeis when nature intervened.  Based on what I saw of that game Brandeis will be a cellar dweller in the UAA again this year.  RIT may be quality as it had a good win against Geneseo but I thought Geneseo was decent because it tied SLU and beat Skidmore.  Now I don't know.  Hard to bemoan the Oneonta result when SLU has zero shots on goal--can't win without them. SLU has six returning all-league players if you count McDougald from 2021, including DPOY and ROY. That is the most of any team in the league. 0-2-2 with ties against two very average teams is very disappointing, bad luck and injuries not withstanding.

[stlawus]

Restricted to live stats because of Paywall U but a pretty decent performance by RIT tonight. Down 2-0 pretty quick and took the lead late in the game. Unfortunate to give up a very late equalizer, but showed that their crosstown rivals are not at a level above them.

RPI looked better but I still don't know about them.

[deutschfan]

RIT looks like the class of the league.  Almost got a W against Rochester in the first point gained by a LL team against a quality opponent.  It doesn't help that RPI and Hobart had to deal with the top ranked team in the nation.  RIT may make its first NCAA appearance since joining the LL.  Saint was right in his preseason assessment of them.  Horrible loss for Vassar at home today against another RR team.  Unless they can obtain a miracle result at Montclair, and against Middlebury at home, their Pool C hopes are pretty much toast.  There won't be many opportunities to play regionally ranked opponents in league games given the league's pre-season futility.

[stlawus]

RIT has a lot of 5th years so it appears their experience is paying some early dividends.   Very surprised by the Vassar result.  Union managed a tie at New Paltz over the weekend, Vassar was at home. Stats seem fairly even too.

[Soccer BTN]

RIT started slow against a much more organized UR. Conceded early and struggled to maintain any meaningful possession. Questionable PK given as the UR player was going down before contact and was possibly outside of the box. However, referee decisions are absolutely part of the game so fair play to UR's Santi Ponce Ocampo for forcing the referee to make a call.

The combination of Dickerbach, Pottle, Donahue, and Price gave this team a real threat going forward. UR's defenders struggled with Dickerbach's size and created space for others to operate 1v1. Price was a marked man - UR kept the same defender on him regardless if he switched sides. Have to wonder if it was fitness or something else that forced him off a few minutes after scoring the go-ahead goal in the 85th - it was his replacement that conceded the free kick that led to UR's equalizer.

This game should pay dividends for RIT down the stretch as they responded well to keep the game from getting away early. Two late goals but they will need to be better at closing games down the stretch. For a program that was a serious contender in the 1980s under the late Head Coach Doug May, RIT hasn't made it back to the NCAA Tournament since 2004. Maybe they take advantage of the rest of the LL being down compared to years past.

[Recon]

All true... RIT is legitimate contender- they are an experienced team and at times displayed a relentless attack. If they can clean up some things in the back, they will challenge for the LL title. That said, constant light rain and slick conditions made it difficult for each side's defense. Also of note, UR's attack is much improved with multiple weapons lurking around the box. The first penalty was iffy, but there was a second take down in the box that was a clear penalty- the referee was not going to award a second in the half. RIT plays Vassar at home the last game of the season which could have large implications. For now, RIT will be riding a wave of confidence.   

[Saint of Old]

RIT started slow against a much more organized UR. Conceded early and struggled to maintain any meaningful possession. Questionable PK given as the UR player was going down before contact and was possibly outside of the box. However, referee decisions are absolutely part of the game so fair play to UR's Santi Ponce Ocampo for forcing the referee to make a call.

The combination of Dickerbach, Pottle, Donahue, and Price gave this team a real threat going forward. UR's defenders struggled with Dickerbach's size and created space for others to operate 1v1. Price was a marked man - UR kept the same defender on him regardless if he switched sides. Have to wonder if it was fitness or something else that forced him off a few minutes after scoring the go-ahead goal in the 85th - it was his replacement that conceded the free kick that led to UR's equalizer.

This game should pay dividends for RIT down the stretch as they responded well to keep the game from getting away early. Two late goals but they will need to be better at closing games down the stretch. For a program that was a serious contender in the 1980s under the late Head Coach Doug May, RIT hasn't made it back to the NCAA Tournament since 2004. Maybe they take advantage of the rest of the LL being down compared to years past.

Shout out to Doug May... one of if not the best Coach to do it in these parts or nationally. RIT and Nazareth can testify to how great of a Coach he was. Count myself lucky to have played against a Doug May Coached team... He is the Coach the the Great coaches call GOAT