Liberty League

[stlawus]

RPI with a prime opportunity to get some pool C cushion with a win against Montclair St but they drop the home contest 1-0.  Even game, however.

[stlawus]

Deleted a previous post as I mistakenly believed the playoff field was set.  Did not realize that many teams have 2 games remaining and not 1.   There is potential for maximum chaos in the next week. 

[soccerfan111]

So much for prescience. I thought SLU would at least show up.

Been watching SLU for awhile and it's disappointing seeing the level of this program continue to drop each year. Current regime better figure out how and where to recruit or this program will be a mediocre Liberty League team, year in and year out.

[stlawus]

So much for prescience. I thought SLU would at least show up.

Been watching SLU for awhile and it's disappointing seeing the level of this program continue to drop each year. Current regime better figure out how and where to recruit or this program will be a mediocre Liberty League team, year in and year out.

For some reason the current staff has eschewed the usual recruiting pipeline.   NYC, San Diego, Colorado/AZ, Caribbean, Toronto and players from West Africa have always been the soul of great SLU teams.   One big CB has been a key to success as well.    Go through any team of Durocher's and you'll find plenty of players that match the aforementioned profile.  Toshack has the connections but thus far has completely ignored the aspects the gave SLU its reputation.  You would think Toshack would want to continue that pipeline considering the last NYC based player that Toshack coached was a 1st team All American and 2 time LL player of the year.   It shows you just how well oiled a machine Durocher had running when he was at the helm.

[Saint of Old]

Brother Saint.
You prove that the best thing about college soccer and this site is indeed the fans. The guys who will support the team no matter what.

I will always support the team, but also have to acknowledge that the last losing season SLU had before last year was 1992.

I feel old saying this but 1992  was almost 30 years 3 decades ago. The team won a Chip, but 30 years of not just winning football but good football.

It all starts with good football. There are those who think only results matter and that is true to a point, but people remember the Dutch team of 74 and the Brazil team of 82 not because they won but the football was always pristine.
The football must be good first and foremost before any thought of winning can be had.

SLU soccer is made from two things that work hand in hand Aggression and Skill.  Sounds simple but hard to pull off.

Wishing the boys the best this season as always.

I wrote the above of July of this season, before a single pre-season ball was kicked... could have been a couple seasons ago...
I figured I would just repost instead of chiming in.

[SaintsgoMarching]

Toshak has driven the program into mediocrity because of his arrogance. He thinks he can do it better.  He has burned bridges with key alumni who used to lovingly recommend players and help recruit players. The California, Colorado, Arizona kids came from key alumni who were coaches in those areas. Tosh has burned the bridge with those guys and they don't have any interest in helping. The Caribbean and West African connection came from guys in NYC and New England with ties to Martin Luther King high school and other pipelines. Toshack has burned that bridge as well. So what's left for him - average and soft New England boarding school kids who are mediocre at best and lack the real desire and passion that has been a hallmark of the program for nearly three decades. It is truly sad to see the state of this once great program. And as a former player I can hardly even stomach watching games any more... There is nothing special about SLU soccer anymore and I don't think under the current coach they will every rise to national prominence. And to think, Duroucher could have hired Brendan Murphy. And if he had hired Murph - SLU would be a perennial power for years to come.

[Ommadawn]

The thing that puzzles me about the SLU situation is that the downward trend has happened with AD Durocher at the helm as Coach Toshack's boss.  So presumably everything that has transpired has been with Durocher's approval and blessing.  I can see taking a "hands off" approach with one's former program, but this seems like even more than that given the program's former prominence.

[stlawus]

 I have no doubt Durocher has operated under a hands off approach when it comes to the program, as a micromanagement environment is not conducive for anyone.  But something has to give at some point.   It's not a surprise that the players who aren't originally from New England like Sibanda and Reynolds are the players who have carried the team.  But a team is still only as good as the summation of its total parts, and as SaintsGoMarching has pointed out the rest of the team is mostly made up of NEPSAC/NEPSA players.  There are plenty of good players from that league, and Durocher was able to nab the best of the best from that group (DeMello, Copeland etc) but now they're getting scooped up elsewhere.    I'll always be a SLU homer and will watch every game possible but it's pretty depressing seeing the product now compared to just a short while ago.  Sandy used to strike fear in every opponent, and now they are giving up goals on Sandy at will.    Who knows, maybe the ship gets righted but thus far I have not seen any indication that the approach will change for the better.   I doubt Toshack gets the boot, but one has to wonder if someone else could get things back to where they were.   All time Saint great Andrew Bednarsky is currently an assistant at Navy (current Patriot League contenders) following a very successful stint at Hobart, and there are multiple other Durocher acolytes still involved with the game.

[deutschfan]

These three games will decide the top two seeds with byes going into the LL tournament:  Ithaca v. RIT, RPI v. Vassar, Ithaca v. Vassar.  Hobart v. SLU is inconsequential to the question of who will be 1-2 at the end of the regular season but the game does pit the two most inconsistent teams in the LL, and the loser of that game could easily be jumped by Skidmore who finishes with Bard and Clarkson.  In that case either the former LL champ Hobart will miss the cut, or SLU will miss the six team tournament for the second year in a row--either scenario is mind boggling.     

[Saint of Old]

The Saints still have a great shot because they have the best player in the league.

I think that all other things being equal (which I'm not quite sure it is) the mentality of elite players will be the difference maker.

We will see how it shakes out.

My favorite SLU season was back in 05' when we were counted out and ended up somehow making the dance and even sunk a yellow submarine en route to a nice run.

Different time period/team I know, but the possibility is always there with some talented players on the roster.

[stlawus]

The Saints still have a great shot because they have the best player in the league.

I think that all other things being equal (which I'm not quite sure it is) the mentality of elite players will be the difference maker.

We will see how it shakes out.

My favorite SLU season was back in 05' when we were counted out and ended up somehow making the dance and even sunk a yellow submarine en route to a nice run.

Different time period/team I know, but the possibility is always there with some talented players on the roster.

'08 had similar vibes.   

Some LL action tonight with RIT and Ithaca playing for seedings. 

[stlawus]

SLU clinches a LL playoff spot with tonight's 0-0 result between Clarkson and Skidmore.    Hobart is in with a win or draw, Skidmore is in with a win and Hobart loss. 

[deutschfan]

NCAA Regional Rankings are out and put Vassar ahead of RPI.  RPI has stronger strength of schedule but has no wins against ranked opponents.  If Vassar prevails tonight RPI could be nudged out of a Pool C.  Vassar has been much stronger at home than on the road while RPI has lost two of its last 3 at home.  Vassar's D has been nails and RPI has a much more prolific offense.  Tossup. 

[deutschfan]

Vassar is officially a team of destiny.  In the last 4 games it has been outplayed in three of them and yet has a 3-0-1 record in those 4 games.  Coach Jennings retirement year is a victory parade as Vassar puts a serious dent in RPI's Pool C chances.

[stlawus]

RPI has now won 3 straight league games by scoring in the last 10 minutes.  Either a testament to their fitness and skill or a stat that is due for regression.  So far it seems the former.

And now it seems like we're seeing some mean regression.   They're now dropping one goal contests instead of winning them.