Liberty League

[deutschfan]

So when the first regional rankings come out this week are there any Liberty League teams ranked?  Last week NSCAA had SLU, Vassar and Union ranked in the top 10 in the East but no guarantee that the committee gives the East that many ranking slots.  Union drops 2 games, SLU and Vassar 1.  Hobart picks up 2 overtime wins but has an abysmal preseason record as Mr. Right notes. 

[Mr.Right]

Well the East has gained 1 team this year so 8 teams will be regionally ranked. In no particular order the teams that will be regionally ranked IMO



SLU, Rochester, Oneonta, Cortland, Hobart, Vassar, Houghton and Stevens


So SLU would actually have 2 wins over Vassar and Cortland and 1 loss v Hobart.  2-1-0 is actually very respectable for Record V Ranked. If SLU won out and lost in the LL Final they actually would have a decent shot at  Pool C. Hobart and Vassar though would be near the bottom of the rankings so their Pool C hopes would not be as good. Hobart's SOS and OWP I would imagine to be pretty good though.

[Part_Bart]

Agreeing with Mr. Right on list of eight (and noting that Oneonta, Rochester and Cortland are step up from SLU/Stevens, then Hobart, Houghton, and Vassar).  Stevens keeps losing to top 15 teams, so likely they are fourth and SLU fifth. Hobart's upgraded SOS and OWP is offset by getting very few results from these. Vassar and Houghton have to earn the AQ to go on given their SOS/OWP.

Cortland and Hobart play on 18 October. A loss puts Hobart into AQ-only-trajectory for NCAAs.

Liberty league fans will appreciate the intensity and interesting matchup-results, but the rest of D3 might think of this as mediocrity?

Did not see Hobart coming back to beat Vassar, away and playing second OT game in 24 hours.
Climbing off the Vassar bandwagon (that I was about to get on...).
Staying with RPI as the toughest time to beat in Liberty League.
Pretty sure the 19 October game with Skidmore could go a long time before a score, given how both teams like to defend.

[Ommadawn]

Another topsy-turvy weekend in the LL!  Mr. Right's predictions are looking right on the money (with the possible exception of the #4 spot).  It's now Skidmore's regular season title to lose.  In the years that I've been  following the LL, it has usually seemed that 13 points is sufficient to get into the tournament (last year, 12 points was enough).  In alphabetical order, here's how the teams shake out on the path to 13 points:

Bard - It was nice to see the Raptors get a result against RIT, as they were unlucky not to have gotten one earlier.  They cannot reach the magic 13 points, but with RPI, Skidmore, and Vassar on the docket, they will have an opportunity to play spoiler down the stretch.

Clarkson - They inflicted a major wound on Union yesterday.  With 7 points and Skidmore (at home) and SLU (away) remaining on the schedule, getting to 13 points is unlikely.  Like Bard, they also have an opportunity to play spoiler.

Hobart - The Statesmen are playing their best soccer at the right time of the season.  If Skidmore falters, Hobart will be there to seize the opportunity.  Wins against Union and RIT would get them to 19 points and the #1 or #2 seed in the LL tournament.

RIT - The Tigers cannot reach 13 points.  With SLU and Hobart remaining on the schedule, a spot in the LL cellar is a likely possibility.

RPI - Like Hobart, the Engineers are coming on at the right time of the season.  With Skidmore and Bard at home, RPI could reach 16 points and the #2 or #3 seed. 

Skidmore - The Thoroughbreds control their own destiny.  If they win out, the regular season title and the #1 seed are theirs.  Doing so won't be a walk in the park, though, facing RPI and Clarkson on the road and Bard and Union at home.  Winning three out of four will get them 17 points and the #1 or #2 seed.

SLU - I fully expect the Saints to take care of business against RIT and Clarkson, reach 15 points, and claim the #3 seed.

Union - After falling at home to Clarkson yesterday, the Dutchmen need to win two of their last three to get to 13 points and have any prayer of making the playoffs.  Facing a gauntlet of Hobart, Vassar, and Skidmore on the road, Union is on life support.

Vassar - The Brewers need to win one of their remaining two games to reach 13 points.  Their opponents--Union and Bard--will be eager to prevent them from doing so.

[Mr.Right]

Mr.Right's Projected NCAA East Regional Rankings on Wednesday taking into account SOS, OWP,OOWP, Road results, etc.....


1. Oneonta St                  11-3-1
2. Rochester                     8-1-3
3. Cortland St                  12-2-0
4. SLU                              10-3-0
5. Hobart                           7-4-3
6. Stevens                         8-4-1
7. Vassar                           9-3-2
8. Houghton                      8-2-3

On the Cusp----Buffalo State and Fredonia St

[Kick-grass]

Big games coming up this week and weekend for the LL. Does Skidmore hold on and win it? Does Hobart, who has been playing the best soccer thus far, come in and play spoilers? Does RPI rise from the grave and make the league. Does Vassar hold on for dear life and make it? Does SLU get it together and make it? Does Union go on a streak and make it? Does Clarkson make their own run and squeeze in?

[lastguyoffthebench]

Welcome, grASSkicker! 

[deutschfan]

Cortland 5-Hobart 0: Too much road trip for Hobart after two overtime nail biters.  Another Liberty League Pool C aspirant gives up the ghost. 

[Saint of Old]

Would have been tough for Hobart to get a pool C in any event (had too bad of a start to the season).

Hobart is a strange team. They can beat anyone in the league when they want to play, but over the last few seasons have also had some lopsided losses handed to them from non league teams.

I guess maybe when you are fighting for a league title, a Europa League loss is not fatal.

Eyes on the prize I guess.

[Ommadawn]

Cortland 5-Hobart 0: Too much road trip for Hobart after two overtime nail biters.  Another Liberty League Pool C aspirant gives up the ghost.

They were only down 1-0 at the half (with 0 shots), but a red card/PK combo put them a man down and another goal behind early in the second half.  The last three goals were scored in the final 12 minutes of play.  It remains to be seen whether the red card will be a factor in Saturday's game against Union.

[Mr.Right]

Again, Shawn Griffin's Hobart team has under achieved. This is becoming very common year after year and it puzzles me because when he was at Plymouth St his teams always over-achieved. When I saw Cortland play at Oneonta I was disappointed and unimpressed with Cortland. Oneonta absolutely DOMINATED them but maybe it was a one off. I have only seen Cortland once so I will have to catch them one more time in the SUNYAC tournament. That is a BIG win and as long as they do not slip they will be a LOCK for a Pool C. Hobart I have seen a couple times this year and frankly they are better than a 5-0 drubbing. They lack discipline and become uninterested in some games. They will need to win the LL tournament and I do not think they will, just a hunch.


Big game tonight with RPI v Skidmore.....Skidmore controls its own destiny to winning the regular season and hosting rights in the LL. I have been VERY critical of RPI this year and rightly so IMO. Somehow they swept Clarkson and SLU last weekend to basically secure a Top 4 spot with only Bard remaining. This game is always a heated battle and while Skidmore will get frustrated in this game at trying to break RPI down they will eventually get their goal. They have had 8 days rest and RPI is coming off back to backs on the weekend. That will prove the difference late in the game. 1-0 Skidmore

[deutschfan]

RPI has one shot on goal and wins.  Crazy year. 

[Ommadawn]

RPI had only one shot on goal, but that's all it took for them to dispatch Skidmore 1-0.  RPI is looking strong for the conference tournament, and Skidmore, with games left against Union, Clarkson, and Bard, can still get to 17 points and a first or second place finish in the conference.  Hobart controls its own destiny.  If they win out, they will win the conference and the #1 seed. 

[Kick-grass]

Crazy League. Hobart, RPI, Vassar, and Skidmore control their own destiny. SLU is on the outside looking in. Union and Clarkson need wins and help. RIT and Bard can play spoilers. Final stretch here folks, what are the thoughts?

[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.

I have to say, besides RIT now out, I feel a bit like the Soothsayer that warned Caesar about 3/15/20 BC or there abouts.

RPI, I don't know how they do it, they just win when needed.
Skidmore might be in trouble despite only one league loss. The trouble is wins are much harder to come by this time of year.
Tough seeing Union get in, although people said that about RPI just a week ago.
Vassar is the most interesting team in the league right now.
Would almost seem unfortunate and unfair if they don't make it in, but they might not.

Hobart is almost a lock at this point, but who knows, maybe their loss to Cortland was a sign of form, maybe not.

Clarkson is still holding on to hope. Them getting in would probably be the feel good story of the league.

Then there is SLU.
I might break my keyboard if I think about their predicament now so I will pass.

This weekend will settle things I think.