Liberty League

Saint of Old · October 23, 2015, 05:29:09 PM

Not surprised Skidmore lost to RPI.
RPI needed the game or their season was over, Skidmore did not.

Big game tomorrow between SLU and Skidmore.

I wont predict an outcome, but I will say that the Saints are looking as fresh as I have seen them at this point in the season for a long time.

Coach Tosh knew that by building a deep squad throughout the year might cost a game or 2 but it was all done for this very stage.

A great Coach told me in the 1990s that a team is only as strong as its weakest link.
That has always stayed with me.
I think that the teams who will compete for a championship are the ones with 18-20 players not 11-13.

Mr.Right · October 23, 2015, 05:35:20 PM

I have no ties to Skidmore at all but I am surprised by how many Skidmore "haters" there are out there....Last time I checked they were in 1st Place with a game in hand....I still say they somehow get a draw or possibly a win at SLU tomorrow...Unless they have serious injuries that I do not know about up and down their spine.....They can deal with injuries to their flank players but not the athletes up and down the spine....Skidmore is not deep at all, as they might go 13-15 deep but they play with heart.....I just have a hunch is all, Igot the Geneseo upset predicted right today over Plattsburgh and I will get the Skidmore upset tomorrow....Also, how can you say Skidmore has nothing to play for v RPI...They had just as much on the line...A win would of given them 5 League wins with a game in hand....You don't think home field on that crap turf means anything to them???

Sandy · October 23, 2015, 05:49:02 PM

I'm not a hater. I'm just biased.

Mr.Right · October 24, 2015, 04:32:23 PM

Well I was close, I still got my 2 Plattsburgh losses prediction right and Skidmore had held SLU 0-0 into the 60th minute but....SLU goes up 1-0

Vassar defeats RPI 2-1
Union defeats RIT 1-0
Hobart leads Clarkson 1-0 25 minutes left
SLU leads Skidmore 1-0 25 minutes left

So...

Top 4 are SLU, Skidmore, Hobart and either Vassar or Union who play mid-week...

Very Interesting...

RPI who is 10-4-3 and had such a great start to the season was frankly overachieving all year and they are eliminated from postseason play.

East Rankings this week will be interesting with records v Ranked taken into affect I just do not see how Hobart and SLU are not #1 and #3. Oneonta #2...Stevens(still un-impressed with their resume) will be #4 or #5 and I suppose Platttsburgh will drop to #5 or #6..Cortland must drop out completely and Brockport is my new #6.

stlawus · October 24, 2015, 04:57:11 PM

Another big win for the Saints. The freshmen continue to make their mark. I admit I was skeptical of Toshack's approach early in the year but his plan is now in full fruition.

Saint of Old · October 24, 2015, 05:04:16 PM

Toshack had always planned to build a solid unit of 18-22 players.
I must admit, having played for him, I am a bit biased, but I think his tweaks have benefitted the team this year.
Still a possession team, but now a bit more threat.

Credit to Durocher for leaving him with the best recruited class in a decade.

soccerfan111 · October 26, 2015, 11:34:18 AM

Imagine this team if they had Seyefe Brouk and Rob Brandell still. Those are 2 guys that could have went along way.

Any news on R Grant and if he'll be back this year? If they could get him back, that would give them another Senior for the late run (would mean 6 SR starters on the field). That experience could go along way come NCAAs.

Saint of Old · October 26, 2015, 11:45:39 AM

Grant will be back.

SandyMac · October 26, 2015, 02:29:34 PM

Injury bug has been brutal for SLU over the past few years:

2011 - Lost entire starting front 3, including an All-American. Still managed to go unblemished through the regular season and make the Sweet 16
2012 - Lost DeMello 3/4 through the season, didn't have him in the LL playoffs or NCAAs
2014 - Lost Morgan Smith who had been leading the team in goals to that point
2015 - Brandell breaks his leg in preseason

Hopefully the rest of the squad can stay healthy! I think those teams could have gone a lot further had injuries not plagued them. Then again, that can happen to anybody.

deutschfan · October 26, 2015, 03:38:50 PM

So all you SLU supporters out there can perhaps pipe in on this. Now that RPI is RIP, which has to be vexing them given their incredible start and expectations, it looks like the Union/Vassar contest will decide the 4th seed, no disrespect to RIT, but I don't see RIT getting past Hobart. Hobart is playing too well now. In any event, who would you rather see SLU play at home in the first round? The answer is not that obvious to me as Union will have total revenge on their minds after an 8 goal shellacking and SLU will want to avenge its only league loss.

Mr.Right · October 26, 2015, 04:03:02 PM

As a non-SLU supporter I can say they would rather see Union....An 8-0 thrashing is no easy feat and I can assure you that when Union gets off the bus and onto the field they will have that in their heads...Almost like Union would expect to lose. That is a total guess but I have seen this time and time again.

Also, I believe Vassar has beaten or beaten SLU in PK's before and Vassar beat them this year.So I do not think SLU would want to face them and believe me that SLU is on the "bubble" right now and cannot afford a Semi-Final loss at all.

Also, I would not count out RIT all together. Hobart is the stronger side but Hobart does not have much to play for as they have already qualified and I believe cannot host. RIT will be battling for THEIR LIVES..

deutschfan · October 26, 2015, 04:21:41 PM

I agree with your SLU NCAA assessment. If they lose a semi-final LL contest at home they will not get a bid.

Part_Bart · October 26, 2015, 06:56:22 PM

Pretty sure that Hobart has to win (or at least tie) to be certain of a playoff spot.
And, pretty sure that Hobart fans are rooting for Skidmore to get no more than four points from their final two games.
That would allow Hobart home field advantage and likely a rematch with Skidmore.
Seems like that is lots to play for?

Vassar likely needs all six points and then will travel SLU for what is likely to be a great match.

Mr.Right · October 27, 2015, 12:31:47 PM

SLU will not lose to Clarkson....When was the last time that has happened???

So SLU will host no matter what. Hobart will be heading up to Canton,NY no matter what. Also, I said Hobart is the better team but RIT is fighting for their lives so they MUST WIN. Hobart will either be the #2 or #3 seed which has no importance whatsoever except for taking the home teams bench and home fields scoreboard side. Those are not biggies to be playing for. NOW if Hobart moves up the Regional Rankings tomorrow to say #4 or #5 then they HAVE A LEGIT SHOT AT AN AT LARGE which will make that RIT game and the semi-final game MUST WINS.

stlawus · October 27, 2015, 02:39:17 PM

Quote from: Mr.Right on October 27, 2015, 12:31:47 PM
SLU will not lose to Clarkson....When was the last time that has happened???

So SLU will host no matter what. Hobart will be heading up to Canton,NY no matter what. Also, I said Hobart is the better team but RIT is fighting for their lives so they MUST WIN. Hobart will either be the #2 or #3 seed which has no importance whatsoever except for taking the home teams bench and home fields scoreboard side. Those are not biggies to be playing for. NOW if Hobart moves up the Regional Rankings tomorrow to say #4 or #5 then they HAVE A LEGIT SHOT AT AN AT LARGE which will make that RIT game and the semi-final game MUST WINS.

The last time Clarkson beat SLU was 1993