Liberty League

[d3d3d3]

RPI beat Bard, 1-0. Shots were 14-11, shots on goal were even. They kept their starters in. Down 1-0 Bard had an equalizer disallowed mid-second half.

[Saint of Old]

Bard will surprise people this year.

Hobart and Union are both still very much in the hunt.

Clarkson running out of time to impress.

SLU will have a tough time getting home field come playoffs.

[d3d3d3]

RPI drew with Babson this afternoon.

[Mr.Right]

I believe RPI is a good team, not great but good and they are 1 team that is completely over achieving. 8-0-1 against a solid schedule is commendable but again this team lost 2 of their BEST players from last year and I believe they will be fighting for their lives to get into the top 4 LL play-offs. After watching Union and Hobart I was impressed with Hobart even though they drew Union. SLU is top dog but I believe Hobart, Vassar, Skidmore and RPI will be battling it out for the top 4 spots. If RPI fails to make the top 4 LL Playoffs which is possible not probable but possible it will be interesting to see if they get a Pool C.

[Ommadawn]

There are lots of great games on tap for this weekend's LL double-headers.  I suspect that there won't be many (any?) games decided by more than a couple of goals.  Here are my predictions:

Friday

Clarkson 1 - Bard 1      Perennial cellar dwellers on the rise!

RPI 2 - Hobart 1     This might be the game of the day. 

Skidmore 2 - RIT 0     Skidmore has built up a head of steam and they'll be at home.

St. Lawrence 2 - Vassar 0     Watch for Augustine to have a big day.

Saturday

St. Lawrence 2 - Bard 0     Fatigue from Friday might help keep the score down.

Vassar 2 - Clarkson 1     Apprentice beat the master last year.  Look for a reversal this time around.

RPI 2 - RIT 0     The Engineers seek to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

Skidmore 2 - Hobart 2     I expect a wild one in Saratoga Springs.  The cards may fly.

[Mr.Right]

Yes BIG weekend for the Liberty League. Gotta love the back to backs as a fan because the standings move rapidly. However, as a coach this Fri/Sat in league play must drive some nuts. I am guessing but without looking each team does 3 back to backs each year with the 1 game that is solo. That is not to bad but for instance when your opponent on Saturday is playing an improved but still weak Bard on Friday they have a massive advantage against you on Saturday. That would be Clarkson this week. Vassar will have had to battle for 90 or possibly 110 minutes against SLU while Clarkson has an easier game against Bard. To be honest I have not seen Clarkson this year so maybe they are not that much better than Bard but you get my point.

[Saint of Old]

Bard beat Clarkson last year, at Clarkson.

[Mr.Right]

My Liberty League picks...Home team listed 1st.

Fri:

RPI v Hobart-               0-1          This is Hobart's most important week-end of the year because they are playing 2 teams that they will be battling for a Top 4 spot. I feel like Hobart is going to get 2 wins this week-end as I have seen them play once and I feel they are flying under the radar. They have more weapons offensively than RPI and Frosh stud Derrick Acheampong is playing up to his potential. Some Nescac's wanted him bad but could sneak him thru admissions.

Vassar v SLU-              0-0         Vassar gets pumped for this one and is pinned in for a half but sneaks out with a well earned draw.

Bard v Clarkson-          0-1          I have not seen either team this year. If either team wants a sniff of the Top 4 they need to win this game.

Skidmore v RIT-          2-0           Skidmore is well coached and organized. they also have better athletes and skill than RIT whose program has dropped off considerably.

Sat:

RPI v RIT-                  1-0         RPI bounces back and RIT goes home scoreless for the week-end.

Bard v SLU                 0-4         Bard gets blitzed.

Vassar v Clarkson       1-0         Vassar gassed from the day before but prevails in a MUST win for them.

Skidmore v Hobart      0-2        Skidmore always finds a way to put up a stinker or 2 each year. This is one of those games.

[Mr.Right]

Yes BIG weekend for the Liberty League. Gotta love the back to backs as a fan because the standings move rapidly. However, as a coach this Fri/Sat in league play must drive some nuts. I am guessing but without looking each team does 3 back to backs each year with the 1 game that is solo. That is not to bad but for instance when your opponent on Saturday is playing an improved but still weak Bard on Friday they have a massive advantage against you on Saturday. That would be Clarkson this week. Vassar will have had to battle for 90 or possibly 110 minutes against SLU while Clarkson has an easier game against Bard. To be honest I have not seen Clarkson this year so maybe they are not that much better than Bard but you get my point.

One more point about the LL schedule:

It looks like teams are face with a totally OPEN weekend when not playing in these back to backs.  Like on Saturday Oct 31st RPI is off and Oct 17th Skidmore is off. This is very hard for coaches to find games on Saturday's this late in the season because every other league is in conference play. Nescac kind of does this also and it is very hard for teams that have the BYE in mid to late October to get games. You do what you can but if you are lucky someone will play you on their back to back on a Sunday. If not, you are going all weekend without a game, which IMO can throw teams off a little. 

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Union is the team with the weekend off this week.  They played New Paltz Tuesday (1-0 win), and don't play again until Wednesday night (10/7) at rival RPI.  Union's season will likely depend on that game . . .

[stlawus]

Wow, lucky goal for Vassar.  SLU defender slipped trying to defend an easy cross leaving a Vassar forward wide open in front of net.

[Mr.Right]

How is the Vassar feed? I was going to watch the 2nd half of the RPI match because the stream is so good but would rather watch the better game SLU v Vassar as long as the stream is watchable

[stlawus]

It's alright, definitely a bit grainy but watchable. 

[Mr.Right]

The Vassar stream is grainy but very watchable...I am certainly not paying $7 for the HD upgrade..That is the first  time I have seen that.

SLU knocking the ball around well in the 10 minutes I have seen. I have not been to Vassar in years but the field looks very well maintained. Looks a touch narrow

[Mr.Right]

Vassar with a dangerous free kick just outside the box before the half ends..#8 hits a nice ball just needed more rocket fuel behind it..It kind of whimpered out before reaching the GK