Liberty League

[Flying Weasel]

Looks like only one team from LL will get a bid this year.

Also looks like curtains for anyone not named Cortland, Oneonta or Plattsburgh in terms of a possible Pool C bid out of the SUNYAC.

Doesn't Buffalo State look pretty good too?

Buff State lost to Geneseo in their playoff game and Plattsburgh just beat Cortland yesterday to move on to the finals. I would think that Plattsburgh moves ahead of them

There is no criteria that accounts for what round of your conference tournament you were eliminated.  And from following and studying the at-large selections over the past 10 years, I have not seen evidence to support the idea that the committee gives extra weight to conference tournament games.  To them it's just another game(s) that contribute to the overall record, overall SOS, and RvR.

Buffalo State's resume is actually helped by Plattsburgh being ranked as it gives them another win vs. a ranked team.  So here's how they compare right now:

Buffalo State
14-2-3 (.816) D-III record is final
0.561 SOS
3-0-2 RvR w/ addition of win over Plattsburgh St. who is now ranked

Plattsburgh State
13-6-1 (.675) D-III record w/ one game left vs. Onoenta
0.597 SOS will improve with games against Cortland and Oneonta
2-5-0 RvR w/ Cortland win, will change with Oneonta result

So, if Plattsburgh doesn't win the SUNYAC AQ and are competing with Buffalo St. for an at-large berth, they will have lost or tied (PK elim) in the final.  Let's assume a tie.  That makes their resume look like this:

Plattsburgh State
13-6-2 (.667) D-III record assuming tie with Oneonta in final)
0.597 SOS will improve with games against Cortland and Oneonta
2-5-1 RvR w/ win over Cortland and assuming tie with Oneonta in final

In that case, . . .

Buffalo St. hold the advantage in D-III record
Plattsburgh St. holds the advantage in SOS
Buffalo St. holds the advantage in RvR
Buffalo St. won the head-to-head match
Common opponents of note:
   Buffalo St. tied Oneonta, Plattsburgh St. lost to and tied Oneonta
   Buffalo St. beat Cortland, Plattsburgh St. lost to and beat Cortland
   Buffalo St. tied Brockport, Plattsburgh St. lost to and beat Brockport
   Slight edge to Buffalo St.?
Misc:
   Buffalo St. beat Rochester; Plattsburgh St. lost to Johns Hopkins

Looking at all that, I'm not sure what moves Plattsburgh St. head of Buffalo St.  Buffalo St. lost at an inopportune time, but it doesn't undo everything else they accomplished this season.  Just like Plattsburgh's tournament run doesn't erase all their losses during the regular season.  Buffalo St. beat the teams ranked #1, #3, #5 in the region, tied the team ranked #2.  And Buffalo St. won the head-to-head.

[Bartman]

Ahh after watching RIT on Tuesday I would not count them out of winning it. Granted I only saw the Half where they had a huge wind advantage at their backs and Clarkson looked dead after 55 minutes and did not get a sniff on net for the last 35 minutes BUT STILL..They have something going on and they are athletic enough to compete for LL Title..

All of the final 4 teams have a shot at winning the tournament....I am a bit biased , but Hobart is very hungry right now and tastes the post season and it helps to be on familiar turf, but a bad/good bounce , a well timed header, the perfect corner kick, a slip of the goalie will separate these closely matched teams. It should be 2 good games.

[Mr.Right]

Hobart goes up 1-0 on a fantastic run by Derek Acheampong..Made a really nice off ball run after a pass to his teammate and turned on the jets got a nice return pass and slotted it home. RIT has had a few really good looks but have not been able to finish. 1-0 Hobart early 2nd Half

[deutschfan]

With his skills it is amazing Derek doesn't have more goals this year.  If Vassar holds lead SLU's epitaph for the season as well as its string of NCAA appearances will be "Couldn't clear a ball against Vassar."

[Part_Bart]

Vassar v. Hobart for AQ, loser will not be dancing.
Hobart lucky to get out of the first half of their game without being behind, but dominant in second half.
Vassar finds that first goal and then makes it stand up.

[Saint of Old]

Cmon Saint Nation, lets pull for that Pool C

But in all seriousness:
Big props for what is this year the two best teams in the league, Brewers and Statesmen.
When a team beats you twice in one season, it means they are better than you.
Vassar are a great team, that is well coached and has been tough for quite some time. They would be great representatives for our league.
The Statesmen are no joke either, and they just took out, what I consider, the best story of the 2017 LL, RIT, what an announcement they made, the Tigers definitely roared this season.

Hobart had a rough start to the year, only a great team can recover from such a start and then dance, so if they do I think they will be planning on really getting their boogie on.

Anyway, great work boyz. It is really a shame that the loser of Tomm's game could not get bid because there will be two NCAA caliber  teams playing for the LL title this year.

P.S.
Memo to SLU, if you keep possessing the ball with your defenders in your defensive half of the field then:
1. You give teams too much time to reshape and be ready for your attack
2. (as we saw today) You could lose it deep nd pay serious consequences as a result.
3. Possess and attack hard is a better option.

I have faith in Coach T and his vision for the program, the man is already a legend and has a good plan.
Next year is a big one for the program.

This will be the best SLU senior class in recent memory, but they must have help to overcome what is a powerful LL final 4 teams.

[Bartman]

A solid win by Hobart against a talented RIT team......can they persevere against Vassar today? Too bad the loser probably won't make the NCAAs....good luck to both teams

[deutschfan]

My miss on both teams in the finals certainly gives me the right to predict the outcome of today's final.  Vassar 2, Hobart 1.  Vassar repeats as champions and puts in its NESCAC application. 

[Part_Bart]

Cmon Saint Nation, lets pull for that Pool C

But in all seriousness:
Big props for what is this year the two best teams in the league, Brewers and Statesmen.
When a team beats you twice in one season, it means they are better than you.
Vassar are a great team, that is well coached and has been tough for quite some time. They would be great representatives for our league.
The Statesmen are no joke either, and they just took out, what I consider, the best story of the 2017 LL, RIT, what an announcement they made, the Tigers definitely roared this season.

Hobart had a rough start to the year, only a great team can recover from such a start and then dance, so if they do I think they will be planning on really getting their boogie on.

Anyway, great work boyz. It is really a shame that the loser of Tomm's game could not get bid because there will be two NCAA caliber  teams playing for the LL title this year.

P.S.
Memo to SLU, if you keep possessing the ball with your defenders in your defensive half of the field then:
1. You give teams too much time to reshape and be ready for your attack
2. (as we saw today) You could lose it deep nd pay serious consequences as a result.
3. Possess and attack hard is a better option.

I have faith in Coach T and his vision for the program, the man is already a legend and has a good plan.
Next year is a big one for the program.

This will be the best SLU senior class in recent memory, but they must have help to overcome what is a powerful LL final 4 teams.

Having watched both of yesterday's games in person, must say I was surprised by the lack of urgency from SLU once they went down.  Seemed like they were waiting for someone to do something special?   Vassar played a smart game -- these teams know each other well -- and stymied SLU.  Long ball soccer requires physicality up front, and SLU's strength seemed to be in the (often bypassed) midfield that was relegated to defending and delivering the ball to the back line. Late in the game, Dede started lots of runs on his side of mid-line ... and Vassar defended in waves.

The Hobart game was curious because RIT should have been ahead by half, but missed on two chances (one shot went right to the keeper -- unlucky for Vassar/lucky for Hobart, the other shot got be the keeper and #7's (Binjo Emmanual) amazing recovery run prevented it from rolling in).  Then Hobart played as good a half as they have this year.

Am keen to see the rematch of Vassar and Hobart given how close it was two weeks ago. As Saint of Old notes, it is very hard to beat the same team twice in one season.  Weather will be a factor (rain and high winds predicted), both teams will be tired, and there are enough nicks and bruises on both teams to lead me to suspect a relative unknown, and a strange play or two, will decide the game.

My heart says wins Hobart 1:0 in OT.
My head says Vassar wins 2:0 (the second goal is a product of Hobart throwing everything forward and giving up a counter attack).

[deutschfan]

I watched second semi and totally agree with your assessment.  Once down SLU was content to pass it around the back, a tactic that played right into Vassar's hand with a goal advantage.  Because of the camera positioning there was a lot of close shots of SLU's right back, the tall Spanish freshman who received the red card against Hobart.  He's big but that's about it.  He would collect the ball with space and take his time rather than quickly attacking up the right side even though that has been Vassar's Achilles heel as shown in the Wesleyan and Hobart games.  Both McNamee and Brandell disappeared in this one.   

[blooter442]

Hobart with a goal in each half to go 2-0 up on Vassar. "The little team that can't score got two yesterday and two today," says the announcer. I've only watched about 40 mins of this one, but the Statemen have been absolutely dominant.

[blooter442]

Hobart running riot here, almost makes it three, but the man running in on goal doesn't pass to his wide-open counterpart, and it's out for a corner.

[blooter442]

Vassar starting to create some chances, but Hobart has defended well.

Ooh, off the post! Then wide! This game isn't over yet. 15 left.

[blooter442]

Hobart settles down and almost ices it with 9 minutes left -- fantastic diving save by the Vassar 'keeper.

[blooter442]

Vassar with a man sent off. Not long left now.