Liberty League

[blooter442]

Well we know how Hobart plays and their ability but has anyone seen this Buff State outfit? Does anyone know anything about them? To me it is a total mystery but yea you are probably right that it might be a 0-0 or 1-0 game based on those stats. The question is how did they play Oneonta and Cortland? I think I looked once and the stats were even but who knows how accurate that is.

Saw them against Rochester. They are a functional side that doesn't do much wrong, but I don't see them really dominating games, either. I think Hobart has the edge.

[Saint of Old]

http://saintsathletics.com/news/2017/11/7/dede-named-offensive-player-of-the-year-seven-from-mens-soccer-earn-all-conference-honors.aspx

Dede Gets the MVP.

I think it is a good choice.
This kid has unbelievable poise on the ball.

Please give this man a little help and watch him take the team to great heights.

Lets go Statesmen!!!!

[deutschfan]

Congrats to Mr. Dede.  His stats improved mightily after I called him out early in the season.  Reasonable minds could differ between him and Okoye.  However, did the LL powers not realize that SLU was a little better than a .500 team and was at most the 3rd best team in the conference?  How do they get the most LL all star recognition?  Can anyone make the case that after Okoye SLU had the best two forwards in the league?  Under that assumption, with the league's best player on the roster the coaching staff was the worst in the league. Augustine's 2 goals, 4 assists and 9 SOG are anemic.  He didn't even start 5 games.  Don't even know how you explain that to seniors Novas at Vassar or Kouroupos at RIT who shot the lights out during league season.  Last take, while Tyler Gilmore is an excellent defender and offensive threat, he is a junior who missed the last 3 games and had a couple of goals.  Hobart's Hunter Critchlow is a senior on the championship team with twice as many points and was the clear choice as a Hobart player should have received one of the three main awards.     

[sideshowbob]

Great 2-0 win for Hobart over buff state. Tough draw against Messiah tomorrow.

[Part_Bart]

Great 2-0 win for Hobart over buff state. Tough draw against Messiah tomorrow.

Hobart's goal in the first half (a corner to far post and a header past defender by #26) changed the game.  Until then it was a very even game (and perhaps tilting towards Buffalo State -- who were fast and committing people forward). From then, Buffalo State had to attack more and left big spaces in midfied.  It was intense, and not as foul-laden as I'd expected.  But, the straight red to Buffalo State kid (who, sadly, went out of his way to stomp on a Hobart kid after the ball played away) limited what they could do.  Buffalo State had the better run of play for last 30 minutes, but did not have enough creativity to push past 10 Hobart players behind the ball.  Two great great saves by Buffalo State keeper kept score to 2:0.  The crossbar saved Hobart twice: the first from going behind 1:0, the second from having game tied 1:1. Hobart is stout on defense, but steady pressure on goal is problematic.

Moving on to today's affair, it will be interesting to see if the physicality of Hobart can offset Messiah's play.  It appears that Messiah struggle against physical teams (e.g., Lycoming), and Hobart disrupts fluid teams (e.g., Vassar).  My sense is that refs allow players a bit more leeway to play in tournament games, which will not benefit Messiah at first.

First goal wins this (as Hobart has had trouble coming back when down -- against lesser opponents -- and Messiah won't get two by Hobart's defense). Curious to see how fatigue, cold, and a mediocre turf surface contribute to the game. My head says Messiah will score first, and my heart stays with Hobart. Today, I'm going with heart.

[rudy]

Great 2-0 win for Hobart over buff state. Tough draw against Messiah tomorrow.

Hobart's goal in the first half (a corner to far post and a header past defender by #26) changed the game.  Until then it was a very even game (and perhaps tilting towards Buffalo State -- who were fast and committing people forward). From then, Buffalo State had to attack more and left big spaces in midfied.  It was intense, and not as foul-laden as I'd expected.  But, the straight red to Buffalo State kid (who, sadly, went out of his way to stomp on a Hobart kid after the ball played away) limited what they could do.  Buffalo State had the better run of play for last 30 minutes, but did not have enough creativity to push past 10 Hobart players behind the ball.  Two great great saves by Buffalo State keeper kept score to 2:0.  The crossbar saved Hobart twice: the first from going behind 1:0, the second from having game tied 1:1. Hobart is stout on defense, but steady pressure on goal is problematic.

Moving on to today's affair, it will be interesting to see if the physicality of Hobart can offset Messiah's play.  It appears that Messiah struggle against physical teams (e.g., Lycoming), and Hobart disrupts fluid teams (e.g., Vassar).  My sense is that refs allow players a bit more leeway to play in tournament games, which will not benefit Messiah at first.

First goal wins this (as Hobart has had trouble coming back when down -- against lesser opponents -- and Messiah won't get two by Hobart's defense). Curious to see how fatigue, cold, and a mediocre turf surface contribute to the game. My head says Messiah will score first, and my heart stays with Hobart. Today, I'm going with heart.

It will be interesting to see how Hobart approaches this game. Will they play Messiah straight up or try to pack it in and hope to get a score off free kick or corner where Messiah is more prone to let up a goal.  Basically a bend but don't break approach? Looking at stats against Brandeis Hobart outshot them 18-10 so they do not appear to have sat back in that game. a 2-1 loss. I presume Brandeis was favored in that early season game.  So I don't think we will see a stat line like yesterday Messiah game. 25 shots to 3. We'll see soon enough.

[Falconer]

Messiah and Hobart have met only once, in the 2010 season opener in Grantham. Hobart dominated the game, outshooting the Falcons 19-10, winning 2-1 and knocking future POY Josh Wood out for the season. A very, very bad night for the Falcons, despite good showings by some freshmen.

Hoping for a better outcome tonight.

Buffalo State and Messiah also have an interesting history. Specifically, a great Haitian player at D1 Buffalo State (Jean-Arnold Tassy) later coached D3 Buffalo State and sent both of his highly talented sons to play at Messiah. Jake Tassy (older) was extraordinarily shift with the ball. I rank him with Dan Wagner (not the Dan Wagner who went into coaching) as the two flashiest Falcons I've ever seen. Chris Tassy was FAST, probably capable of under 50 seconds at 400 meters. Also very tall and highly skilled. An AA forward.

[Bartman]

Congratulations to the Statesmen for the win against Buff State and for a gutsy , intense performance against Messiah last night....Messiah is obviously a highly skilled side, but the Statesmen almost pulled it off on some chances.....my complements to both teams on keeping this fan on the edge of his seat the whole game...good luck to Messiah the rest of the way

[rudy]

Congratulations to the Statesmen for the win against Buff State and for a gutsy , intense performance against Messiah last night....Messiah is obviously a highly skilled side, but the Statesmen almost pulled it off on some chances.....my complements to both teams on keeping this fan on the edge of his seat the whole game...good luck to Messiah the rest of the way

Hobart was very disciplined and organized. Definitely did what they had to do and came close to pulling out the win . Messiah  missed golden opportunity in first half as described well in the Hobart game recap.  But boy did Hobart come out on fire for the 2nd half putting Messiah on their heels.  A good 10 minute stretch where Messiah could not keep possession and Hobart took it to them.  Glad to get out of Buffalo with that win.

[Part_Bart]

Congratulations to the Statesmen for the win against Buff State and for a gutsy , intense performance against Messiah last night....Messiah is obviously a highly skilled side, but the Statesmen almost pulled it off on some chances.....my complements to both teams on keeping this fan on the edge of his seat the whole game...good luck to Messiah the rest of the way

Hobart was very disciplined and organized. Definitely did what they had to do and came close to pulling out the win . Messiah  missed golden opportunity in first half as described well in the Hobart game recap.  But boy did Hobart come out on fire for the 2nd half putting Messiah on their heels.  A good 10 minute stretch where Messiah could not keep possession and Hobart took it to them.  Glad to get out of Buffalo with that win.

Credit to Messiah for absorbing the pressure and imposing themselves on Hobart the last 20 minutes.  Credit to Hobart for staying true to its approach -- attacking the ball in midfield, chasing hard, absorbing pressure with the back line and holding mids, and hoping somehow to score a goal. It could have gone either way.

Next year awaits!

[Mr.Right]

I missed this match but am curious how many real threatening chances that both teams had? This would have been a matchup of 2 completely different styles so I wanted to catch the game but was unable to. Any detailed game reports or highlights?

[Part_Bart]

I missed this match but am curious how many real threatening chances that both teams had? This would have been a matchup of 2 completely different styles so I wanted to catch the game but was unable to. Any detailed game reports or highlights?

Happy for others to comment, but from where I stood:

Messiah had lots of time on ball: they work for speed advantages on the wings, diagonal passes off central defenders, and when they get frustrated, pump long balls and hope.  Hobart was able to deflect these pretty effectively (though the effort wore at the back line and that was a factor, late).
In the first half, Messiah showed lots of energy and control in the middle of the field. They generated a few half-chances off of corners and often looked threatening as they started their attack but often fizzled in the offensive third with more passing than attacking.

In the second half, their ball control, speed, and willingness to push numbers forward began creating more seams.
Messiah began the half with a good shot to low corner that came from a set piece. Following this, they had to deal with Hobart's pressure and did not do much.
Then, in the last 20' Messiah created three good chances -- a high ball that went to the GK, a driving low shot that seemed to get in but was not ruled a goal, and shot off the the missed clear/scrum that won it. So, four solid shots and a few more half chances

Hobart sat back more than I'd seen, waiting for Messiah to come to mid-line before chasing. 
Their forwards and wings chased well and often disrupted the passing and ball control. In the first half Hobart had several counter attacks that began as midfield take-aways and ended up as half chances.

In the second half, Hobart took it to Messiah for about 15 minutes and created three great chances, including a header (or was it a shot, I don't remember) that went off the post and seemed like it went in, but was not ruled a goal; a zinger that went jusssst wide after a corner was partly cleared, and a play off a direct kick. So, three solid shots and a few more half chances.

Messiah are a great side, more complete a team than Rochester and Brandeis (fellow sweet-16ers).
This said, my homer eyes say that once Hobart adjusted to the realities of Messiah's speed and size, it was an even game, well played.

[rudy]

I missed this match but am curious how many real threatening chances that both teams had? This would have been a matchup of 2 completely different styles so I wanted to catch the game but was unable to. Any detailed game reports or highlights?

I think Hobart write up captures all the dangerous chances pretty accurately.  In particular first half West got behind defense and was one on one with goalie.  Goalie maybe did enough to force him to push the shot just wide..but I thought for sure that would be a goal.   This team has been resilient all year and found ways to win. Similar to how Tufts always seems to find a way to pull out the win ... including this past weekend in PKs.  So many timely goals this year they are the cardiac kids.

http://www.hwsathletics.com/news/2017/11/12/hobart-soccer-9-falcons-get-late-goal-to-top-statesmen.aspx

[rudy]

Bart, is Hobart roster always so large? I counted 34 on current roster. That's rather large.

[Mr.Right]

Wow..After reading the recap Hobart's season ended with 40 seconds left in regulation. That is a real tough way to end. Besides a strange loss at Utica and a GK error to lose to Cortland, Hobart had not lost since the 1st weekend of the season to Brandeis. A great season for Hobart and to go without a loss in the LL is exceptional. Had the LL done better out of conference than they would have gotten maybe 2 Pool C's in such a weak year overall for bubble teams. Congrats to Hobart on a fin season.