Liberty League

[1970s NESCAC Player]

You can throw all stats and perceived advantages out the window when these rival schools play each other in any sport.  The U, 1-0.

[Mr.Right]

You can throw all stats and perceived advantages out the window when these rival schools play each other in any sport.  The U, 1-0.

You are correct and Union has impressed me. For the most part they have out possessed RPI and are keeping possession nicely. However, they do not have anything to show for it as they have had few chances. Their midfield looks solid. However RPI has a 1-0 edge at half off a corner.Union's defense fell asleep on that corner. Other than that RPI has not had much else.

[Mr.Right]

1-1 Union ties it up and are good enough to beat RPI in my estimation. Union scores on a nice counter off a 60 yard goal kick. With Williams,SLU, SKidmoe and Vassar still left for RPI and the end of this game their season is on thin ice

[Saint of Old]

0-0 tie likely.
Which does nothing for either team.

But still better than a loss.

Got the score line wrong on that one.
Union are actually not as bad off as RPI.
Undefeated in league play after playing two of the best teams in the league.

[deutschfan]

Agreed.  A decent result for Union on the road against the soon to be former top ranked team in the region.  Union still has 6 games left to pick up points.  For RPI a disaster.  Give up the lead at home, and sitting with 5 points after 4 games.  If they replicate the first half there is no way RPI makes the tournament.  With all these ties in the League maybe 12-13 points slips into a fourth spot. 

[Ommadawn]

RPI has a bye (from LL action) this weekend takes on Williams tomorrow. Otherwise, there is a full slate of action.  Following on deutschfan's picks from earlier in the week, here are a few predictions:

SLU 1 - Hobart 1      Fighting to save their season, Hobart will apply pressure on the Saints and should get on the board.  It might not be enough to earn 3 points.

RIT 2 - Clarkson 1     Empowered by their OT victory over RPI, RIT can enter the playoff hunt in earnest with a win.

Bard 1 - Union 2     It won't be easy, but Union should be able to pull it out at home.

Skidmore 1 - Vassar 1     I expect this one to be nip and tuck all the way.

[Saint of Old]

A very physical game going on between Saints and Statesmen at Hobart.

Hobart needs this one bad, as does St. Lawrence.

No one can afford to lose knowing that Skidmore have all but qualified for the Tourney leaving only 3 playoff spots between RIT/Hobart/SLU/Vassar/RPI.

[Ommadawn]

Skidmore has cemented its status as the team to beat with its 1-0 victory over Vassar.

[stlawus]

Starting to regret purchasing the one time pass for the Hobart broadcast.  Probably the worst broadcast I have ever seen.  Audio is 5-10 seconds ahead and the stream is continuously choppy.  Looks like I'm watching a 90's CCTV security camera. 

[stlawus]

SLU loses on a PK in overtime.  Time for Toshack and the boys to start panicking.  Playing some pretty awful soccer this year. 

[TheSwayzeTrain]

RPI continues to struggle against an under 500 Williams side. Can't get a result even on their home turf. 0-2-3 in their last five games and only scoring two goals; three of those games being at home. Certainly not a top team in the East Region and can also question their Top 25 ranking. Coach Clinton continues to use his spot on the committee to keep his teams spot on the polls. Currently T-6 in the league and only them and St. Lawrence getting attention; another team who is on the rocks. Both teams might have to fight some demons over the week before they meet this weekend with possibly a post-season on the line. Would be nice to not see politics take away from other teams in the region. Good results for Hobart, RIT and Skidmore in other action. Big weekend ahead for a number of Liberty teams, some can put themselves in the top and others can play their way out. Interested to see what the polls look like come Tuesday, but I won't get my hopes up; probably just more of the same.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

A very physical game going on between Saints and Statesmen at Hobart.

Hobart needs this one bad, as does St. Lawrence.

No one can afford to lose knowing that Skidmore have all but qualified for the Tourney leaving only 3 playoff spots between RIT/Hobart/SLU/Vassar/RPI.

Don't forget the U!  Still haven't lost a league game and have already played RPI and Hobart.

[deutschfan]

Christmas comes early in the top two Liberty League games today.  After perhaps one of the worst first halves of soccer in the last five years for SLU they try to make it a game and then the defense gifts a PK and the win to Hobart.  Vassar's keeper lets an easy save on a long distance shot go through his hands and gives the win to Skidmore.  Today's results as noted in an earlier post make it Skidmore and everyone else lumped together except Clarkson and Bard--five teams vying for three spots.  The negatives for the League as a whole with today's results are 1) this is looking again like a one team league for NCAA purposes, and 2) if that team is Skidmore while defensive prowess is nice, Skidmore's offense will not get them past the first NCAA weekend.       

[TheSwayzeTrain]

Christmas comes early in the top two Liberty League games today.  After perhaps one of the worst first halves of soccer in the last five years for SLU they try to make it a game and then the defense gifts a PK and the win to Hobart.  Vassar's keeper lets an easy save on a long distance shot go through his hands and gives the win to Skidmore.  Today's results as noted in an earlier post make it Skidmore and everyone else lumped together except Clarkson and Bard--five teams vying for three spots.  The negatives for the League as a whole with today's results are 1) this is looking again like a one team league for NCAA purposes, and 2) if that team is Skidmore while defensive prowess is nice, Skidmore's offense will not get them past the first NCAA weekend.     

So you think that if a team other than St. Lawrence gets the Liberty automatic bid that the Saints won't get an at large? Who knows where they will be but it seems like the St. Lawrence name along with others carry some weight when it comes down picking tournament teams. Hard to think that they wouldn't get one, but they could still get hot at the right time and go on a run. It's the same thing in every conference it seems, top teams getting beat up by each other. Tough decision to make come tournament time when at the moment 6 teams have three losses or less. I believe the only times the league got two teams was when RPI and Vassar won the tournament and St. Lawrence got the second. Some pretty good teams have been snubbed over the last few years out of a bid. Strange what a name carries regardless of record.

[deutschfan]

Yes, that's exactly my call on this.  SLU will have at least 4 losses and 2 ties even if they win out other than a loss in the LL tourney (assuming it is not a pk loss).  Their pre-season schedule was less than compelling (they should have kept UR on the fixture list although UR is not as strong as in prior years) and probably will not have a win against a ranked team other than Plattsburgh (who beat Oneonta today) given the RPI nosedive.  An overtime win against the last place Liberty League team will be viewed negatively as well.  If a 4 loss, 2 tie SLU team gets an at-large under these circumstances the system is broken.  In 2012 SLU received an at-large with 2 losses not including a shoot-out loss in the playoffs.