Liberty League

[Saint of Old]

So sorry.
I hit send a bit too soon.
Now that I have had time to think about it, I am even more torn about this pick than I was.

These are two desperate teams, who could have a big confidence boost with a win.

I think the home team gets the edge.

2-0 SLU.

[Mr.Right]

RPI guts out a 2-1 victory over Ithaca...RIT slams Bard...Vassar and Bard 1-1 early 2nd Half and Clarkson and Union 0-0 early 2nd Half...SLU up on Skidmore 1-0 early 2nd Half...

These results do not bode well for Skidmore....Right now they are on the outside looking in and even a last match at Bard might not be enough...They need to fight for a draw up at SLU...

[Mr.Right]

SLU stream having technical difficulties but they look to be in control over Skidmore with about 10 minutes left it is still 1-0 SLU..

Hobart and Vassar knotted up at 1-1 late in the 2nd Half...Nice stream for the Bart..

[Mr.Right]

Hobart wins it 2-1 over Vassar in the 89th minute....#26 with a fine shot BUT I have no clue what the Vassar GK was doing on that play...He was caught in no man's land...Huge win for Hobart that sets up what looks to be a winner take all match at SLU next weekend. I believe Hobart can get a Draw and win the league..They will most likely be sitting deep and compact in Canton...BIG W

[stlawus]

Late magic for Hobart.  Really nice goal with 40 seconds left to knock off Vassar.  SLU had a very comfortable win against Skidmore.  Skid only really had one decent chance.  Impressive performance by the SLU back line. 

Sets up for a huge match up next weekend between SLU and Hobart.

[Mr.Right]

Yea in what I saw Skidmore had nothing dangerous at all the whole 2nd half...

[Mr.Right]

Clarkson and Union heading to OT...Skidmore better hope Union can hold for 20 minutes.


Another issue for Skidmore and frankly Clarkson is that RPI, RIT and Ithaca all have a game in hand on them.

[Mr.Right]

union knocking on the door in the 108th minute at Clarkson and almost won the game off a long throw and then a corner. This looks to be ending in a 0-0 stalemate. Clarkson really needed a victory in this match.

[deutschfan]

While this was unthinkable at the outset of league, Skidmore is pretty much done.  They have one game left and a maximum of 11 points.  Clarkson sits with 11 and holds the head to head tiebreaker against Skidmore.  Assuming Ithaca does not reach 12 points, Skidmore needs either RIT to go 0-2 against Ithaca and Union, or RPI to go 0-2 against Vassar and Clarkson.  Clarkson is in unless Ithaca passes them in points which is unlikely given the strength of Ithaca's last two opponents.  Congrats to Coach Taylor.   

[Mr.Right]

While this was unthinkable at the outset of league, Skidmore is pretty much done.  They have one game left and a maximum of 11 points.  Clarkson sits with 11 and holds the head to head tiebreaker against Skidmore.  Assuming Ithaca does not reach 12 points, Skidmore needs either RIT to go 0-2 against Ithaca and Union, or RPI to go 0-2 against Vassar and Clarkson.  Clarkson is in unless Ithaca passes them in points which is unlikely given the strength of Ithaca's last two opponents.  Congrats to Coach Taylor.   

What are the tiebreakers for the Liberty League?  It is very possible that a 3-way tie happens

[deutschfan]

First tiebreaker is head to head.  Second is best record v. 1st place league finisher then 2nd place league finisher etc.  If you have three teams vying for one spot and each team split a game against the others get out a calculator.

[deutschfan]

What a wild and crazy season.  For the third week in a row the number 1 and number 2 teams in the league will be fighting it out while there is a high probability that the two teams that were undefeated when they played their first league game will not make the expanded playoffs.  Here are notes on a scorecard by order of LL standing: 1) Hobart—Senior forward Patrick Schultz who has 4 game winners in 5 career goals decides that Hobart doesn't need another OT game, and, voila, a last minute run down the sidelines and goal to put the Statesmen in first place, at least for this week;  2) SLU—Am glad my earlier posts have motivated Mr. Dede who is now challenging Okoye for POY honors with his game winner against Skidmore; 3) Vassar—The nightmare that was Ocel's last minute goal that knocked them out of the 2012 NCAA tourney is repeated by Hobart but at least Vassar controls its fate to become regular season champion; 4) RIT—Six goals from six players during target practice against Bard is indicative that the Tigers are gearing up for a deep playoff run; 5) Clarkson—Tie against Union with tie-breaker edge against Skidmore has Coach Taylor's crew thinking first LL playoff berth ever; 6) RPI—But for Confair goal in OT Engineers would have been another historical LL stalwart that was in serious danger of missing the playoffs, although they still could; 7) Skidmore—Will the LL powers that be award POY to a player from a team that isn't in the top six, we soon may be seeing the answer to that question as Skidmore has lost definitely lost its mojo; 8) Ithaca—OT loss to RPI was a crusher in first season in a game that was very even but has Ithaca needing to win two road games against difficult teams to potentially make the playoffs; 9) Union—If there was any doubt about the lack of value in scheduling patsies, that doubt has been put to rest this season as Union still strives to become the first LL team to be undefeated in non-league contests and winless in league; and 10)  Bard—Point gained against Hobart is having a huge impact on the LL race but Shenberger's stellar career deserved a better ending. 

[Bartman]

Johnny come lately to this board, but looking forward to Statesman in a crucial LL game this Saturday. We have new stands in place with a "press box" just for soccer now....just in time .....hope we need to use it after this weekend.

[Saint of Old]

Hobart v. SLU has always been a classic UCAA/Liberty League clash.
Some big battles in the past, and it will be again this weekend.

I have to say that I am very proud of this SLU team, would have been very easy to quit on the season, but these boys are built on sturdier stuff.

Same can be said of Hobart.

Both teams had bad starts and rebounded quite well and are now competing for league supremacy as we enter the final weekend.

The more interesting race in m y view is that #6 seed.
Who will get in?

Clarkson looks good, but I think RIT and Ithaca are also in the hunt and wont go away until the last game.

Tough for Skidmore, I had a feeling they would take a step back, but did not think they would miss the tournament.

It gets even worse looking forward as the entire league will be competing next season and it will be hard on Skidmore next season as well without their best current player.

[SandyMac]

Going to be tough for one of Hobart, Vassar, or SLU to end up in 3rd and stuck with a play in game after such solid LL performances.  Given the competitiveness of the league, I don't think the 3 seed wants to mess with the 6 seed (whoever that ends up being).  Going to guess that Hobart tops SLU and Vassar tops Bard, leaving SLU in 3rd with a home playoff game, with the winner earning a trip down to Poughkeepsie for the semi's.

What a crazy year.  With this many teams in with a real chance, whoever has home field advantage is going to win it all.

Would love to see the playoffs back at SLU, but don't see it happening. With that said, SLU does have the ability to go down to Cozzens and get a result. Prove me wrong, fellas!