Liberty League

[stlawus]

Toshack has now achieved the first .500 minimum season since 1992.   

What a disaster. 

[deutschfan]

Given Vassar's results against Hobart and SLU no way SLU beats Hobart. It will be a sub .500 year.

[deutschfan]

Since SLU nation is in silent mourning, a weekend update to myself. RPI takes care of business and has a pool c even if they don't win league which they should. Clinton's staff receives and richly deserves staff of the year. Another, small blemish for Ithaca but they start to add up. The Bombers effectively ruined Vassar's season last year coming from a three goal deficit to win and the Brewers are waiting to return the favor in Poughkeepsie. Clarkson misses on two first half breakaways and it likely costs them the LL regular season championship and a pool C.  Hobart soundly beaten in Troy also trashes their pool C hopes. When Vassar lost the last of its 3 returning LL players their destiny was as spoilers. Have been great at it ending Union's unbeaten streak, SLU's streak of winning seasons, and now Clarkson's chance for. a regular season title and pool C. Lookiing forward to wrecking Ithaca's year. Skidmore keeps its slim playoff hopes alive while SLU is pretty much dead. Union again will go undefeated in non-conference and not make the LL playoffs. At least their players have some nice personal stats as door prizes. Fittingly Bard's best showing in league will be against Union. Don't know what happened with RIT. A team that showed so much promise two years ago and flaming out. It will be interesting to see come awards time whether the lower echelon teams like RIT, Union and SLU receive a disparate share of the awards due to reputation or feasting on weaker teams.

[Saint of Old]

80% of Saint passes are backwards.
Teams have figured this out and simply sit back and pick us off...
Strikers dont make imaginative runs because they know the ball will simply be passed back.

If your #1 constantly has more touches than your #7, $10 and #8, then your team has a PROBLEM.
This soccer wont work.
Im done, signed off.
Its a joke in Canton right now.
Sad to say.

I knew this would be a bad season since week one.
I guess when you have been playing/watching something for almost 30 years you see the signs.
Last season's playoffs were ended when we tried playing that fancy stuff in the back, got picked off and got kicked out the tourney for the first time (or second) in the first round.
No need to keep beating a dead horse.
I will always support this program and the coach no matter what.
I just wish everyone starts realizing once again what made the program great in the first place and it was not backward passes allowing good teams to reset, pick you off and score easily.

The coach knows the game and has the ability to turn it around, but the team needs better recruiting and more internal competition.
If you are starting for 3 years in midfield and have yet to score a goal or an assist, then you should feel the competition breathing down your neck for that spot. This way you might up your game.
Same goes for each position on the team.
This is how good teams function, otherwise practices get soft (because bench guys think they are destined to stay there and starters get fat and lazy) and the first time real pressure gets applied in games (since its not happening at practice) is in games which leads to pick 6s.
You cannot give up pick 6s in soccer, yet we do all too often.

On a positive note, and just to play Saints' advocate.
We are still alive.
The team can still avoid missing the dance, as well as avoid a sub .500 record which would be the first in about 30 years.

Players need to have some pride in the shirt, in themselves and play harder!
Do NOT PASS BACKWARDS unless there is not a good pass forward or sideways Soccer 101.
This way you will encourage strikers to make those runs through the channels with the hope of getting the ball. If not those runs are not made and the play becomes stagnant... slow, predictable and you will NEVER break down a good team.

In other news.
Clinton should get COY at RPI.
Best coach in the league by far this year.

[Ejay]

I feel your pain Saint. Son's HS is a SLU clone. Coach preaches possession for the sake of possession.  There is no attack. They have 1 striker who is asked to play with back to goal. Opponents have learned to park the bus because they know there is no penetration coming. He refuses to budge on his tactics, even when losing.

He doesn't sub, so his players are gassed midway through the second half.  Starters know they play entire games, and bench players know they won't see the field, so there's no incentive to work hard in practice and fight for a position. Now granted, the team is having a stellar season, but it's because he has a ton of talent.  Soooo frustrating to watch, but they keep winning, so at least there's that.

But to your point - if they recruit well, good players will be successful regardless of coaching shortcomings.

[Christan Shirk]

EAST REGION - NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS - October 23, 2019

Rank	School	. Div. III . Record	. Div. III . SOS	. R-v-R .	. Overall . Record	. Prev. . Rank
1.	RPI	13-1-1	0.559	--	13-1-1	--
2.	Oneonta State	13-2-0	0.577	--	13-2-0	--
3.	Ithaca	11-2-2	0.560	--	11-2-2	--
4.	Hobart	10-4-1	0.591	--	10-4-1	--
5.	Skidmore	6-4-4	0.576	--	6-4-4	--
6.	Plattsburgh State	8-6-0	0.573	--	8-6-0	--
7.	Cortland State	7-5-2	0.579	--	7-5-2	--
8.	Vassar	7-5-1	0.575	--	7-6-1	--

[deutschfan]

Thanks Christian. While a big LL fan I don't understand Rochester's exclusion to Vassar's inclusion. Rochester beat 2 of the ranked teams, Hobart and Vassar, and has a better overall record. Vassar lost to Skidmore and Hobart, and other than unranked Clarkson does not have a win over a quality opponent—sorry SLU and Union. Perhaps Mr. Right who is good with these numbers can solve the puzzle.

[Domino1195]

Look at the data sheets - Vassar's SOS .575 vs UR .542.

[Red Dog]

Current Massey Ratings

                  Rank   SOS

RPI

[Red Dog]

Previous post incomplete - apologies

Current Massey Ratings

            Rank  SOS

RPI        12      54
Hobart   37      37
Ithaca    43      88
Clark.     101    94
Skid.      102    70
Vassar    142    110
SLU        150    76
Union     161    208
RIT        165    51
Bard       355    228

[deutschfan]

Based on the Massey Ratings Rochester's SOS is 42, or stronger than any of the LL teams except Hobart, who they happened to beat.

[PaulNewman]

And I would expect Rochester to jump into the rankings once RvR comes in next week (unless of course they go winless down the stretch).

[deutschfan]

Vassar reminds us that revenge is a dish best served cold and the ghosts of last year's NCAA snub are haunting Ithaca this halloween weekend.

[deutschfan]

An unexpectedly huge game tomorrow between RPI and Vassar.  If Vassar wins its last two LL games it is the regular season champ and will host the semis and finals, a ridiculously implausible scenario from the commencement of league play as Vassar is without its three best returners from last year and has one senior starting.  If Vassar beats RPI in Troy I am changing my vote to Coach Jennings for COY honors.  Vassar is a true anomaly.  It has crazily high academic admission requirements even for athletes and is a school that prides itself on the arts as much as or probably more than athletics.  It should be Bard, which has a similar vibe, and slightly less strict admission requirements, and yet it is not, it is one of the most successful programs in the LL over the past decade.  In other news, SLU could lose to Hobart and still make the playoffs with a losing record in league.  Its offense is now reliant on the defense to score goals.  Clarkson's tie against RPI was huge as it punched their ticket to the LL playoffs.

[Saint of Old]

Great summary as usual Fan.
RPI and Coach Clinton are probably a lock for a Pool C with just one more win, no matter what happens in the League mini dance.
Clarkson has a lot to be proud of.

Basically SLU
RIT and Skidmore are fighting for the 6th and final playoff spot.

As a fan, I guess you have to be happy if your playing your last regular season game and still have something to play for, but thats tough for a program that  saw the NCAA as a given.

Vassar if they win the league should also get huge props for a season of accomplishments without big guns.

The Bombers and the Statesmen had amazing starts but slowly blew their chances of a Pool C with too many blemishes down the stretch...
Either of them can still win the Tourney and are maybe favorites along with RPI to do so regardless.

What I will say is that any one of the 6 teams in the League Tourney could possibly win the whole thing regardless of which 6 end up making it.