Liberty League

stlawus · October 25, 2023, 08:07:06 PM

Diaz got hurt against Skidmore. Looked like he got spiked in his calf. Probably lingering a bit.

Offense is definitely a lot better, Saint Dad was right on that.

kevdog · October 25, 2023, 08:20:02 PM

RPI ties it up with Vassar 1-1.

stlawus · October 25, 2023, 08:55:55 PM

If I was a Plattsburgh underclassman I'd be pretty upset with Plattsburgh's coach. Completely meaningless game for both teams, Plattsburgh has no realistic expectation for Pool C yet in a totally meaningless game Taylor plays the Plattsburgh starters for the whole 90 in what seemed to be a face saving operation to make the record look better. He even threw the GK up on a free kick at the end. What for? You are ranked 7th in the regional rankings and will be out next week. That was cynical. Maybe I'm just reading into it too much. SLU subbed out the entire 10 outfield players for 10 underclassmen that included almost all sophomores and first years and played admirably in their first string of extended minutes.

stlawus · October 25, 2023, 09:05:14 PM

What is the deal with Vassar? Did they just greatly overperform last season? Was Wnorowski a much more important piece than we all thought? They're lucky they get to play RIT the last game of the season because otherwise they would be cooked like a Christmas goose.

RPI could finish as high as 2nd now with a win against Ithaca and a SLU and Union draw or loss.

Saint of Old · October 25, 2023, 09:45:20 PM

Quote from: stlawus on October 25, 2023, 09:05:14 PM
What is the deal with Vassar? Did they just greatly overperform last season? Was Wnorowski a much more important piece than we all thought? They're lucky they get to play RIT the last game of the season because otherwise they would be cooked like a Christmas goose.

RPI could finish as high as 2nd now with a win against Ithaca and a SLU and Union draw or loss.

Don't sleep on RIT, I have been saying for more than a decade that they are the Jekyl and Hyde of the league.
They can beat ANYONE.
RiT is also playing for pride and tonprove that they are no paper tiger.
I would not want to play this team for survival if I were Vassar.

stlawus · October 25, 2023, 10:15:13 PM

I didn't mean to imply that RIT is a guaranteed win for Vassar, just that they are the 2nd to last team in the league. If given the choice would Vassar want to play Hobart, SLU, RPI, Union or Ithaca the last game of the season, or RIT? I think the choice would be clear. Of course RIT can beat them, they have proven to be tough to beat in the final stretch of the season but for Vassar that is someone they would rather play the last game of the season.

Saint_Dad · October 26, 2023, 12:02:35 AM

Was great to see SLU continue with that awakened offense in the first half with the starters. The main difference seems to come with Mogul and his quick transitions from midfield, scoring the first and setting up the second. Brown has been using his strength, speed and hustle to create chances, drawing a penalty kick and getting both assists. This is not a team that will be held to just one goal anymore. I'm expecting a 3-1 victory up at Hobart. It should be exciting.

Saint of Old · October 26, 2023, 07:05:00 AM

Quote from: stlawus on October 25, 2023, 10:15:13 PM
I didn't mean to imply that RIT is a guaranteed win for Vassar, just that they are the 2nd to last team in the league. If given the choice would Vassar want to play Hobart, SLU, RPI, Union or Ithaca the last game of the season, or RIT? I think the choice would be clear. Of course RIT can beat them, they have proven to be tough to beat in the final stretch of the season but for Vassar that is someone they would rather play the last game of the season.

Good analysis, but Vassar just lost on the road andnhavebtheir next game on the road. RIT ends their season well, by well, ending Vassar's season. It is an "if my season ends tonight so will yours" mentality. One of the strangest years in the LL and the fun has not even started yet.

deutschfan · October 26, 2023, 09:33:35 AM

I have to agree with Saint on this. RIT, at home, is playing for pride, the chance to keep Vassar out of the LL tourney, and an opportunity for some late redemption in a season that started so well by getting a result against a team that tied two of the best teams in the nation. Vassar needs a win or they are out with Clarkson having the head to head tie break. However if they make the tourney this could be a SLU redux from 2021. Like SLU in 2021 Vassar has, imho, the best field player in the league. Fauth not only has the most points but he has put the team on his shoulders to come back in multiple games, Ithaca being the latest. It is true that he gets a bunch of assists because he takes the corner kicks but there is a definite skill and art to that. If Fauth and Vassar miss the LL tourney then the question is whether the league is willing to give its highest award to someone whose team's season ended in October? As to coaching staff of the year, for me that is easy. RPI has worked a miracle going on a late win streak to secure a playoff bid after an atrocious start with 16 newcomers. Hats off to Coach Clinton and his Assistants.

kevdog · October 26, 2023, 11:47:50 AM

Quote from: deutschfan on October 26, 2023, 09:33:35 AM
I have to agree with Saint on this. RIT, at home, is playing for pride, the chance to keep Vassar out of the LL tourney, and an opportunity for some late redemption in a season that started so well by getting a result against a team that tied two of the best teams in the nation. Vassar needs a win or they are out with Clarkson having the head to head tie break. However if they make the tourney this could be a SLU redux from 2021. Like SLU in 2021 Vassar has, imho, the best field player in the league. Fauth not only has the most points but he has put the team on his shoulders to come back in multiple games, Ithaca being the latest. It is true that he gets a bunch of assists because he takes the corner kicks but there is a definite skill and art to that. If Fauth and Vassar miss the LL tourney then the question is whether the league is willing to give its highest award to someone whose team's season ended in October? As to coaching staff of the year, for me that is easy. RPI has worked a miracle going on a late win streak to secure a playoff bid after an atrocious start with 16 newcomers. Hats off to Coach Clinton and his Assistants.

i agree with you about Coach Clinton but I am also going to have to say that the Union coach and his assistants have done a very good job of turning their program around this year to make the LL tourney compare to previous years. It is going to be wild weekend. I was almost going to say that Union and Clarkson can do with what Austria and West Germany did in the 1986 WC and just pass the ball around since they are already in the tournament but forgot that Clarkson has to win to stay off Vassar. I bet the coaching staff from Vassar and Clarkson will keep a close on on both games.

deutschfan · October 26, 2023, 01:36:49 PM

Kev: You are right about Union's coaching staff. It should be a co-award this year.

stlawus · October 26, 2023, 02:27:23 PM

If Hobart wins the league I'm quite sure their coaching staff will get the award since they would have gone from 6th to first.

deutschfan · October 26, 2023, 06:11:10 PM

That would be the safe choice, not the enlightened one.

d3d3d3 · October 26, 2023, 09:41:11 PM

I hate it when they give the COY to the coach of staff from a team that was expected to be good. Hobart overachieved? RPI? If we're being honest, many were picking Union to finish just ahead of Bard. My vote goes to Union, and I think it's a no-brainer.

deutschfan · October 28, 2023, 10:37:00 AM

Anyone willing to take a crack at predicting the order of the final 6? Since my preseason number 1 is on the verge of not making the playoffs I am sitting this one out.