Liberty League

[Saint of Old]

Football is like a Piano,  You Need 8 Men to Carry It And 3 who can Play the Damn Thing.

That quote by Shankly makes sense to everyone who has played the game. I think the LL team (or2) that fits that phrase best will be dancing later this year.

Liked what I saw from SLU, playing football but not holding possession in the backline longer than necessary.  Also a revolutionary technique of using a point guard in football.

RIT looked good with a couple piano players themselves.

[deutschfan]

Saint I love your passion.  I hope Sibanda is the next coming.  An excellent season and a free kick do not quite raise one to all time saint status but I hope for Saint fans that the saint comes marching in.  Comment about Vassar was accurate--very pedestrian effort.  Best player on the field was a freshman center back for West Conn, number 23, who is going to be a star.  RPI's tie was odd because the best player on each side did not take the field, Gaudiano, and a sophomore returning All American number 10 for Montclair State.  If for some reason Gaudiano's absence extends to the league season RPI is in a world of hurt.

[Saint of Old]

Right back at you Deutschfan.
Never said he was all-time Saint status, that group is maybe a good 22,am squad... I said he was top 5 (At minimum)

No over reaction man.
I told People Dede was the best player in the league before he kicked the first ball for SLU and he left as back to back league MVP.

This kid is even better.

First Saint in history to top score in his first two seasons (and scoring is not really what he does).
Already a league MVP and just really getting started.

There are players and then there are players.
Levels to football. This man is not normal.

[stlawus]

A day marked by goalkeeping errors.  Skidmore's 5th year and 2021 LL 2nd team keeper made a poor distribution error in the last 20 seconds of the game that led to a WPI equalizer.   RPI's 5th year keeper had 2 mistakes that led to the Engineers dropping a game against the Beacons. 

Clarkson and Bard get 2 good wins, great start for both teams.

Ithaca-TX Lutheran was perhaps the most boring game I've ever watched. 

SLU plays a pretty entertaining game with Buff St resulting in a 2-2 draw.  SLU had some severe bad luck, shot went off the post in the first 10 seconds of the game and they hit the post 3 more times.  Buff St is a really good team, however.  In my opinion they will be competing with Cortland and Oneonta.   They are a great passing team that knows how to possess and penetrate.   SLU will be happy to get away from turf for the next game, and hopefully start to get some injured players back in the lineup.

With all of these draws already piling up around the country I am going to be very interested to see how it affects regional rankings and Pool C bids.

[Saint of Old]

Any true Dutchman will fit into an Ajax team.

Saint Maxima and #33 are going to dictate  how far SLU go this year.

I want to see the rest of the league though. I obviously have a team close to the border close to my heart, but really want the LL to get more respect as a whole.

I think as a league we are wayy better than we get credit for.
RPI just had a deep run, Hobart had one just a few seasons ago.
Vassar is always there or there abouts and SLU is usually dancing.

Unfortunately this seems to be a 1 bid league for a while when realistically and in fairness the league should have 2 teams at minimum dancing like our Brothers in the SUNYAC.

I understand that it is about SOS/Head to Head/ Streaks at the end of season/record against winning teams/Many other variables, but it seems the league does not get the respect it deserves.

Saint Maxima and the Smooth one are indeed taking the team on their shoulders this season. Buff State will also hurt people this year.
Early days yet, but these SUNYAC v. LL games are fun to watch.
Hope both leagues are well represented at the dance.

[deutschfan]

Skidmore ends the long weekend with a nice win over UMass Boston, a team coming off a win against RPI at Troy.  Only two unblemished teams after the first weekend are Clarkson and Bard.  Not a good statistic for pool c bids.

[Saint of Old]

Yes. 2 games and no wins are not good statistics to start the season out on, unless you have a Casamero and Antony joining the team soon.
Still sticking to my predictions for now, but this league will likely beat other up pretty well so it is extremely important to not drop games in the non-conference schedule unless you plan on definitely winning the tourney.

[stlawus]

Vassar getting back on track with their 2nd straight win.  Big test this weekend against Stevens. 

RPI continues to feel the pain from Gaudiano's absence.  Unlucky to not at least draw with Manhattanville, but another dropped contest for them.  Manhattanville seems to have a pretty decent team, as they drew with Stevens earlier.

SLU tied the program record for goals scored in a 9-0 victory against the crosstown rival Roos.  Optimal scenario for the Saints as they pulled the starters at halftime, need all the recovery time they can get for a really tough matchup this weekend at Oneonta. 

[Saint of Old]

That 9-0 win was the biggest since 1969 and Coach Bob Goodwin coached team on his way to building the first SLU powerhouse era.
I have always said Coach Goodwin had many Good wins.

RPI looks like they have to win this league tournament at this point, but still early days yet.

Vassar and their new coach looks to be getting it going.

Union lost to Oneonta 3-0 and good for them. Playing strong teams is exactly what Union failed to do for the past decade which hurt them in the tough  LL.

This season is sure looking to be interesting.

[deutschfan]

We will see how the strategy of scheduling creampuffs before your toughest non-conference game works out for SLU and Vassar today.

[stlawus]

Really good win for Clarkson at CNU.  One of the best wins for that program in quite a while. 

   

[Saint of Old]

Great Great Game.
One of the best soccer games I have seen in a while.
The Queen's passing meant no premier league this week, but these boys did not disappoint.
SLU v. Oneonta.
Perhaps the 2 biggest names in the region for the past 20 years (Factoring in my bias).
Even game first half (with a slight edge to SunyO) but SLU went down 2-0 first half to a very clinical Oneonta team.

That advantage flipped (slightly) to SLU in the 2nd half even though they went down 3-1 in the second half.
SLU came back to 3-2 in the 2nd half with just a disrespectful flick in the penalty box by the African Saint who was once again worth paying money to watch in this game.


3-2 SUNY Oneonta.
I think both teams were well tested and had a much different experience than their past game.

Oneonta got SLU in 2011 Sweet16 game by a 1 goal margin as well and perhaps were the best team left in the dance after that and just didn't win the whole thing which went to Ohio Weslyan and Dr.J that year I think.

Both teams maybe learned something tonight but congrats to the Dragons on this one.

[stlawus]

SLU made a game of it, but like pretty much every year against Oneonta set pieces cost them.  Team could have easily rolled over but they stayed with it.    Oneonta starts around 8 seniors and they showed it, very few mistakes with lots of team chemistry.

[deutschfan]

Strange start to the year. Clarkson and Bard only unblemished LL teams after a week and a half.  RIT and RPI winless making their pool C chances almost nil only 3 games in.  I totally over-estimated the benefits of RITs pre-season trip abroad and I thank Saint for putting the right perspective on it earlier.  Oneonta is a tough place to play to begin with and the defensive errors in the first half sealed the deal for SLU.  SLU needs a result against Cortland or its Pool C chances start circling the drain as well. 

[Chargers96]

Saw the Clarkson - CNU game in person.  Field heavily tilted in CNU's favor nearly the entire game.  Clarkson pounced on a defensive miscue.  Clarkson keeper and defense withstood tons of pressure.  CNU 21 shots to 6.  Hit the post and a major shout for a penalty not given.  But credit to Clarkson's defense for keeping the ball out of the net.