Liberty League

[Saint of Old]

RPI will be top 4.
They are a strange team.
They tend to always win games they must win.

I would not be surprised if any of 8 teams make it to the top 4 though...
At this point:
SLU
Union
Vassar
Clarkson
RPI
RIT
Hobart
Skidmore
All still have a legitimate shot at top 4.

[Part_Bart]

RPI will be top 4.
They are a strange team.
They tend to always win games they must win.

I would not be surprised if any of 8 teams make it to the top 4 though...
At this point:
SLU
Union
Vassar
Clarkson
RPI
RIT
Hobart
Skidmore
All still have a legitimate shot at top 4.

Agreed.  I'm still not sure of Clarkson or RIT but after SLU I think its pretty much all about match-ups, mistakes and situations. This weekend's slate of games will provide some clarity.

[SandyMac]

Not so sure on SLU based on the past few weeks. They'll be tested in a big way this weekend down on the turf at Skidmore.  The team has never played well there, and any wins they've gotten over the past 6-8 years have been close calls. If SLU starts off their 4 game road trip with a W against the #2 team, I like their chances to take home the regular season title.

[Mr.Right]

RPI will be top 4.
They are a strange team.
They tend to always win games they must win.

I would not be surprised if any of 8 teams make it to the top 4 though...
At this point:
SLU
Union
Vassar
Clarkson
RPI
RIT
Hobart
Skidmore
All still have a legitimate shot at top 4.

I realize RPI and Adam Clinton in years past have over-achieved but 2016 RPI IMO is not the same type of team. I have watched them play 3 times this year and frankly they are not very good. Against better teams they have NOTHING going forward and even against lesser competition they cannot score goals. As usual, Adam Clinton sides are very organized defensively and work very hard and do all the little things but this years side is missing what RPI usually has. A creative central midfielder who can spray the ball around, someone resembling a striker that is above average in his finishing ability and very good GK'ing. I just do not see any of those 3 things in this RPI side. I will bet my house that they are NOT A TOP 4 SIDE in LL this year. In fact based on current results I am guessing that the LL Playoffs will resemble last years.

1. SLU
2. Skidmore
3. Hobart
4. Union / Vassar Winner

RIT and Clarkson IMO have harder schedules remaining but they could sneak into the 4th spot. If Skidmore gets a result this wknd against SLU they will have #2 locked up and possibly #1.

We will see....

Saturday Predictions:

Skidmore v SLU-----Skidmore has the athletes to keep up and they are usually capable of playing tenaciously on defense but I have not seen them play this year so I have no idea what they have in net. They have had a roller coaster season so far but in the Adam Beek days Skidmore would play their best against SLU and Williams. They will be up for this game but I say SLU 2-1

Hobart v Clarkson-----I still say Hobart is under achieving this season. It seems like all thru Shawn Griffin's tenure Hobart is under-achieving which is strange to me because when he was at Plymouth St his teams were always OVER-Achieving. They were always tough to play in the NCAA's especially at home and since he left Plymouth St they have been an outright disaster for a program that has some very good history in New England. Anyhow...Hobart 2-0

Vassar v RPI----Personally, I do not rate either of these teams but Vassar is better. Vassar 1-0

Union v RIT-----winner of this gane is in good shape for contention in the Top 4, loser will be in a hole..Tough to predict a LL wknd without 1 draw but what the hell...RIT 1-0

[deutschfan]

Haven't picked one right yet but even a blind squirrel.  Generally the Liberty League teams are mired in mediocrity this year.  New Paltz over Union and Elmira over Skidmore are cases in point.  I picked Vassar over SLU last weekend and despite the final outcome that was a very, very close contest.  Instead of picking games this week I am picking the winner of the LL regular season--the Vassar Brewers who happened to crush Elmira.  They have demonstrated the most consistent offensive attack and but for Bard, all of their remaining LL games are at home where they have not lost this year.  If RPI beats them today then never mind, but if Mr. Right is right, and RPI's offense is anemic, today should be the start of an undefeated LL string for Vassar til the playoffs. 

[stlawus]

Disgraceful officiating in the SLU-Skidmore game.  Absolutely disgraceful.  PK called for SLU and just as Bunton steps up to take the kick the refs call it back for reasons I have absolutely no idea.  Shameful.

[stlawus]

Looks like Skidmore's on their way to a win over SLU.  Goalkeeping error from SLU makes it 2-0.  Skidmore is very disciplined in the back.  LL is up for grabs this year.

[Mr.Right]

Was Skidmore down a man the whole 2nd Half? Box score say's same player on Skidmore got 2 yellows?

[Mr.Right]

Was there a fight at the end of the Hobart / Clarkson game as a Clarkson kid got a straight red right when the game ended in OT?

[Part_Bart]

Was there a fight at the end of the Hobart / Clarkson game as a Clarkson kid got a straight red right when the game ended in OT?

I believe it was a second yellow in game to the Clarkson player protesting the Hobart score, cursing at ref and acting out. Combined with a yellow from first half, out came the red. Clarkson coach apologized to refs (kudos to Clarkson coaching staff and several of the team leaders for getting a silly situation under control).

As an aside, my observation is that the AR missed the offside call in first half that allowed Clarkson to score, then missed the offside in overtime that allowed Hobart to score.

[Mr.Right]

Was there a fight at the end of the Hobart / Clarkson game as a Clarkson kid got a straight red right when the game ended in OT?

I believe it was a second yellow in game to the Clarkson player protesting the Hobart score, cursing at ref and acting out. Combined with a yellow from first half, out came the red. Clarkson coach apologized to refs (kudos to Clarkson coaching staff and several of the team leaders for getting a silly situation under control).

As an aside, my observation is that the AR missed the offside call in first half that allowed Clarkson to score, then missed the offside in overtime that allowed Hobart to score.

LOL so he misses to huge offsides calls and pockets $150 plus mileage for the game. Fantastic.

[Saint of Old]

Clarkson is likely done.
A bad weekend for SLU and things might be the same for them as well.

The RPI game is a must win, and RPI are always formidable at home (Won 2012 League Semi Final over SLU at home).

This is a very competitive year in the league with Union/Skidmore/Vassar and Hobart all looking determined to make the league tourney.
This weekend will tell us who is in or who's out, or atleast narrow down those still competing.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Clarkson is likely done.
A bad weekend for SLU and things might be the same for them as well.

The RPI game is a must win, and RPI are always formidable at home (Won 2012 League Semi Final over SLU at home).

This is a very competitive year in the league with Union/Skidmore/Vassar and Hobart all looking determined to make the league tourney.
This weekend will tell us who is in or who's out, or atleast narrow down those still competing.

If SLU miss, would it be the first time since 2009?  I was at the SLU-Union game that year, when Goss-Woliner was red-carded in the first 5 minutes of the game, and Union eventually won 1-0.

[Saint of Old]

It would be the first time since 2009.

2009 was the first and only ever time we missed the tourney as well.
Weird season that year.
I recall we started normally 7-1 (2) at one point then the bottom just fell out.

I think Tosh will right the ship, but the team has been dominated by top midfielders since 2010.
Its time the strikers step up and start scoring goals if SLU is planning on making a run this year.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

I think Tosh will right the ship, but the team has been dominated by top midfielders since 2010.
Its time the strikers step up and start scoring goals if SLU is planning on making a run this year.

Quite true about needing strikers to step up!  But then again, there aren't too many Brendan Gormans or Sebastiaan Jansens playing D-3 soccer!