Liberty League

[Shooter McGavin]

I'd like to take a crack at this if that's okay?

Vassar 1-0 Clarkson
SLU 3-1 over Bard
RIT 1-1 draw RPI
Hobart 2-1 over Union
Skidmore 2-0 over Ithaca

[deutschfan]

All predictions are welcome Shooter.  Someone will have bragging rights.  So far I am the only one to stick their neck out on Saturdays contests, even though not in as fulsome a fashion as I have done in the past.  Thanks for everyone's detailed analyses on the Friday contests.  How about your take on Hobart-RPI and Vassar-SLU on Saturday?

[Mr.Right]

Well here it is Halftime in all these games and I cannot decide which one to watch...I have Skidmore v Ithaca on right now...Just got home from work so i will have to decide which game to watch...At the Half we have Ithaca leading Skidmore 1-0, RIT up 2-0 at RPI and out shooting them 8-1 1st Half, SLU up 2-0 at Bard, Vassar and Clarkson must be stuck in the mud at 0-0 and Hobart at Union is 1-1...Lot's of goals which is good to see...I will keep the Skidmore game on to see if they can come back an win and to see what Ithaca has got. Intrigued to check out Hobart at Union though and Vassar v Clarkson....If Clarkson can hold that would be a fantastic result for them and with RIT winning and Skidmore losing things are playing out for SLU on this Friday the 13th.

[Mr.Right]

And Okoye comes up huge for Skidmore with a sweet header off a cross after a corner got cleared out...The kid is a pure goalscorer which is something a ton of teams just do not have. Again he is cagey as he will lull you to sleep and then Boom out of nowhere there he is...I must say Ithaca defending was pretty poor on the play...1-1 28 minutes left.

[Mr.Right]

Skidmore knocking it around pretty well on their carpet but cannot get a good look on goal here in OT...I do sniff a game winner though

[deutschfan]

Saint gets the award for his upset call.  Made my paper tiger description of RPI look good. 

[Saint of Old]

Lucky guess

I just thought RIT's season came down to that game, RPI's did not.
Still feel like RPI will get in, but it looks like 6 teams fighting for 4 spots.

[Mr.Right]

WOW..Ithaca almost wins it off a long throw that was cleared off the line by a Skidmore defender...1-1 Final

[Part_Bart]

Congrats to SLU, RIT and Hobart for their road wins. 
Home teams went 1-3-1 on Friday.

Ithaca continues to impress, as does Skidmore's ability to find a way to score late.

A no-reason-to-believe-me set of picks for 10/14 games:
RIT 1: 0 Skidmore (RIT on a rush, Skidmore's late game heroics fail them today).
SLU 2: 1 Vassar (My least confident pick, could see this go the other way and tie and not be surprised).
Clarkson 0:1 Bard (Bard finds a way)
Ithaca 1:0 Union (Ithaca rising, Union flat)
Hobart 1:0 RPI (How does RPI respond after laying an egg on Friday?)

[stlawus]

Nightmare start for SLU against Vassar.  Yet again their inability to defend corners bites them early.  Inexcusable when there are two players over 6'3" in the back line.

[deutschfan]

Brewers dominating. Player who got assist on the goal by heading off cross bar is 5'7".

[stlawus]

SLU centerbacks cost them yet another game.  Did well to equalize with 10 minutes left and another whiff directly in front of the goal mouth loses them the game.  That's 3 times this year.  This team just does not have it.   

Vassar are clearly the best team in the league.  They didn't have a tough out of conference schedule so I wasn't sure about them but they were dominant today and I think they can win an NCAA tourney game or 2.

[Mr.Right]

Skidmore ANOTHER draw and they are 5-1-6(1-0-5). I have never seen anything like that..A 1-0-5 record in league...hmm they will be playing one of those quarterfinal games. Vassar a huge win today 2-1 over SLU. They will host Hobart for the title next weekend. If Hobart can beat Vassar and SLU they will win the league...2 huge wins for Hobart at Union and RPI this weekend. I think Hobart is the only school with a shot for a Pool C. A long shot but a shot. They control their own destiny IMO as they will have a strong SOS and finish with Vassar,SLU and Cortland. Win those 3 plus Utica and they finish 10-2-4 with a .590-.595 SOS..Knowing Hobart they would beat Cortland and lay an egg v Utica so the whole situation is up in the air. Still a nice weekend for the Bart as they are looking for 1 of those Top 2 spots. At the bottom is another fight for the final 2 spots with RPI, Clarkson, RIT and Ithaca fighting for 2 spots. The good thing is they all still play each other at least once. My guess is Ithaca and RIT grab those spots. Ithaca was better than i thought when I saw them at Skidmore on Friday. RPI just does not get me out of my chair and i think they miss out

[deutschfan]

Notes on a scorecard after a wild weekend that leaves 3 teams undefeated in league after 2/3 of the season, with one of those teams in danger of not making the top 6, and it appears like it will be a repeat of last year's top two teams—in order of standings: 1) Vassar coaching staff deserves kudos for two influential decisions, turning freshman defender Jose Novas into one of the top finishers in the league, and swapping goalies after huge error against Skidmore putting Marcelino in position to come up big against SLU; 2) Hobart—if offense gets in gear still has a chance to get top spot in league especially as Vassar has not shown on the road; 3) SLU—makes case against recruiting size over skill as 5'7" Novas ruins their hopes of winning league or getting a Pool C although the silver lining is both Vassar goals were easily preventable while Dede's run was inspirational; 4) Skidmore—Santos finally shows signs of life during the league season as Okoye continues to make case for POY, and team is in danger of becoming first undefeated LL team not to make the playoffs; 5) RIT—A star is born in senior and former USSDA player Dean Kouroupas who breaks out with 3 goals including two beauts against RPI, and RIT establishes itself as a team no one will want to draw in the playoffs; 6) RPI--The Tigers demonstrate RPI to be the tigre de papier they are and even Coach Clinton won't be able save their regional ranking after Hobart drives in the last minute stake; 7) Ithaca—Great weekend for Bombers as they almost steal a win from Skidmore on the road and then explode in first half against Union; 8) Clarkson—While I greatly admire Coach Taylor this group is not going to get it done as team's inability to push Vassar allowed Brewers to sub liberally in anticipation of SLU game; 9) Union—Lopez Jr. shows glimpses of his talent as striker while defense takes the weekend off, and Union attempts to be first LL team to go undefeated out of conference and winless in conference; and 10) Bard—Bright sides in two home loss weekend are that they held each opponent under 20 shots, they have the same league record as a team that is undefeated out of conference, and they can claim an assist in the Vassar win by wearing out SLU, which could have been one reason for SLU's somnambulic first half performance in Poughkeepsie.  BTW, congrats Mr. Right on your Colby pick and excellent assessment of upcoming LL outcomes.

[deutschfan]

I meant Hamilton pick but you have been saying Amherst is vulnerable all year.