Liberty League

[stlawus]

Saint_Dad, honestly, I think it's more bad luck than anything.   Most of these guys have had contact injuries or tweaks due to artificial turf (Peacock at Oneonta).   In the Durocher days it was always soft tissue or ACL injuries (oh what the 2011 season could have been), now it seems to be simply bad luck as a result of contact.  Last year most of the injuries were ankle injuries due to hard tackles as well. 

kevdog, it is my understanding that Petrone is an absolute baller who had D1 looks/offers.  Impossible to say how much he would have played but at the very least would have added depth.  I think he's out for the whole year.

Luckily for SLU Ogango and Diaz have made a nice CB pairing to alleviate the Malary injury.  Would have been nice to have Malary this upcoming weekend for set pieces as Vassar is absolutely murderous on corner kicks.

[kevdog]

Stlawus, thanks for the info. I thought was Petrone but was not sure. Thanks for all the inside info. It is appreciated

[Saint_Dad]

I think the Oneonta Hartwick weekend is a tough one at the beginning of the season.  The long trip playing on both grass and turf Back to back has ended with injuries for top players the last two years. I think they'd be better off with a few home games from lesser teams instead.  More kids could get a look and they would score some goals which will help with confidence on and off the field.  With everyone getting to play, the team will also be more unified and will help team morale.  Less injuries, more wins, more confidence, team morale.  They sacrifice some SOS.  But if they're losing and getting hurt, SOS doesn't matter much. 

[stlawus]

Well you'd think that but last year showed that having a good SOS was enough to alleviate losses and a lack of big wins. 

I do agree that they should change that weekend up every now and then, at the very least get a home game against Oneonta for once.  I know they go down there because it's an easy schedule plug since it's Oneonta's annual tournament, but seems a bit unfair to let Oneonta only play home games against you for the better part of a decade.   Last regular season home game against them was in 2011 (and unfortunately last game overall was against them at home that year).    In those days SLU always made the first weekend the hardest, frequently bringing up Rochester with another good team like Stevens or Oneonta, but they were at least at home.  You don't get SOS points for road wins (unlike d3 basketball which is absolute BS).

[kevdog]

SLU use to play in the Rochester tournament otherwise known as the Flower Tournament. Usually played against U of R and then another high rank team but Rochester stop playing SLU and from what I heard the reason why was they did not want to get beat by them but who knows.

[stlawus]

Rochester stopped playing SLU mostly because they didn't want to play SLU and Clarkson back to back. They wanted their UAA type schedule with Friday and Sunday.  The first weekend isn't even back to back any more, it's now mostly Thursday/Saturday so who knows anymore. It wasn't a very lopsided rivalry as UR did win some games but SLU definitely put some thumpings on them over the years.  Saint of Old was apart of one those beat downs. I'd also be willing to bet Apple is still upset over the 2005 sweet sixteen matchup when a "down" SLU team still beat them on their field when UR was 16-0 going into that game.

[Saint of Old]

Rochester stopped playing SLU mostly because they didn't want to play SLU and Clarkson back to back. They wanted their UAA type schedule with Friday and Sunday.  The first weekend isn't even back to back any more, it's now mostly Thursday/Saturday so who knows anymore. It wasn't a very lopsided rivalry as UR did win some games but SLU definitely put some thumpings on them over the years.  Saint of Old was apart of one those beat downs. I'd also be willing to bet Apple is still upset over the 2005 sweet sixteen matchup when a "down" SLU team still beat them on their field when UR was 16-0 going into that game.

U of R were always a good team and quality program... Rochester/Hobart/Plattsburgh from the SUNYAC were always teams up for a challenge and would always try to play the game to win.
That 2005 season is one of my all time favorite Saint squads.

[kevdog]

Rochester stopped playing SLU mostly because they didn't want to play SLU and Clarkson back to back. They wanted their UAA type schedule with Friday and Sunday.  The first weekend isn't even back to back any more, it's now mostly Thursday/Saturday so who knows anymore. It wasn't a very lopsided rivalry as UR did win some games but SLU definitely put some thumpings on them over the years.  Saint of Old was apart of one those beat downs. I'd also be willing to bet Apple is still upset over the 2005 sweet sixteen matchup when a "down" SLU team still beat them on their field when UR was 16-0 going into that game.

U of R were always a good team and quality program... Rochester/Hobart/Plattsburgh from the SUNYAC were always teams up for a challenge and would always try to play the game to win.
That 2005 season is one of my all time favorite Saint squads.
Those teams were always good and actually was recruited by them but decided to go to SLU and don't regret it.  I had some friends that play on the Plattsburgh team who encourage be to go there but academically I was looking for something else.  Coach Waterbury is great coach and guy.  the one thing that turned me off about was the trimester and Coach Durocher is great sales person, lol.

[stlawus]

Pound for pound I doubt there were few if any better recruiters than Durocher.  Every year he convinced guys to leave 300 days of sunshine in San Diego to come up to play in the North Country elements.

[kevdog]

His last recruitng class says it all. 2 High School All-Americans, a top 33 player from NJ, a 20 goal scorer from Kiski, and very good player from PA Ausitn Dilts who didn't pan out after his freshman year. Yes he could recruit.

[deutschfan]

So I assume that the lack of chatter about tomorrow's SLU v. Vassar game is due to trepidation on the SLU fans' part about the outcome--and rightly so.  Vassar has tied two of the top 10 teams in the country showing it can play with anyone, SLU does not have that distinction.  Vassar has, in Owen Fauth, the best and most prolific offensive player in the league.  I thought he would be the offensive player of the week this week with two assists against number 3 Middlebury, and an assist against League leading Hobart.  3 integral points against a top team in the nation and the top team in League in Hobart.  Instead, the award was gifted to the Dutchman who disappeared in the first game against Clarkson and had a goal on two shots against league winless RIT.  A Union player was also dissed given that he had two game winning goals in two games.  However, it has not been unusual for SLU players to get more of their share of honors than perhaps deserved.  In the last 5 seasons ending in 2022 SLU's regular season record (and year end awards are based on regular season performance) was 26-11-8.  Vassar's was 27-10-8.  During that same time SLU had 32 players with all league honors and Vassar had 21.  Given those statistics Vassar's coaching staff should have been honored every year since they clearly have obtained the best regular season results from inferior players.  Unless SLU has spent all week defending corner kicks final score tomorrow, Vassar 1, SLU 0. 

[Saint_Dad]

I have to agree that I thought the offensive player of the week award was soft, but it was a huge goal and a great run and shot by the Dutchman.  The award to Woelfinger was well deserved.  Regarding this weekend, it has the potential to be a total loss for SLU, where with a short bench, they use their energy all up on Friday, and have a two loss weekend.  Hopefully Peacock will be able to play as he was a key part of the midfield last weekend.  Perhaps SLU will bring in Owen's brother to stop him?  I'm sure he has experience covering him.  Vassar seems like the more complete team and will be deeper.  SLU is happy to play them fresh on Friday.  SLU can surprise with some quick goals early.  Watch for Mogul and Pijpers to hook up once again.  I'm looking forward to watching the best and most prolific offensive player in the league tomorrow.  We will see what color jersey he is wearing at the end of the game!

[Saint of Old]

Awards are always subjective man.
Also, regardless of the record football at its root is the eye test.
People are going to always judge players differently.
The record of a team "regular season" is not a test of the ballers on that team. When you play against the best then you will see real quality rise to the top.
As for today's game. The winner will get that automatic bye along with Hobart perhaps. Not making predictions, but like I said, when the best play the real talent will show itself.

[stlawus]

Another horror show road performance costs SLU valuable points.  Decent 1st half performance, and then in the 2nd half went right back into pass it backwards and give the ball away mode.  Counted 3 times early in the 2nd half where SLU had tons of space going into the final third and passed it backwards or sideways.      Were begging for it conceding corner after corner to Vassar's high pressure that paid dividends when SLU made the mistake Vassar was waiting them to make.   It really is incredible how every opponent scores because SLU self destructs in their own third.  This is a game you could have turned off the second Vassar scored because there was no chance SLU was going to get a chance after.   Vassar makes hardly any mistakes and never gives the ball away, a very stark contrast to how SLU performs against good road opponents.

Anyways, league is starting to tighten up with Union winning their 4th straight league game and RPI pulling one out of the hat to beat Hobart.  Union is for real, a very efficient goal scoring team that seems to have got the right coach.

Starting to think whoever has home field advantage will win the league tournament.  Hasn't been a guarantee in some years, but it seems like this might be one.

[deutschfan]

St. Law--Spot on analysis.  Especially in the second half SLU was no threat at all.  Who totally shanked the last free kick from about 24 yards out with 6 seconds left?