Liberty League

[CU_GKnight]

Kevdog - at least we're still young enough to remember the good old days!  The 93 SLU team was a solid team and making the ECACs in that day actually meant something.  The NCAA's was 32 teams from 8 regions and only 4 per region qualified.  In 1993 Clarkson, Cortland and Rochester all won their AQ's and Plattsburg (who was ranked 10th in the country) got in as the fourth team.  It was also a time before conference tournaments so the AQ went to the regular season champ and I think we clinched in early October that year.  I agree the 94 SLU team is the team where losing wasn't seen as an option and the program really established its identity.

STlawus - As far as criticism of current players, I don't think any is warranted.  They are all excellent players who deserve to be where they are.  I do disagree that the player quality for SLU is what it always has been. SLU had 12 different players selected as All Americans (also in a time when they didn't select 16 players for each AA Team)over a 9 year period.  And honestly there are a few more who easily should have been selections. There were numerous seasons where they had 4-5 players on the field who would be AA at some point in their career. I see nearly all of the best of the current players as comparable to the middle tier of SLU's past teams (players 6-11). In the past 9 years they have only had 3 AA's with only one year of overlap between Copeland and Dede. There is a big difference between the teams of the late 90's thru early 2000's and the past decade.  There is a big difference in trying to defend a team with multiple AA players and a team with one.  Teams from that era would be like having Sibanda, Dede, Copeland and Dimello all on the same team.  There is no comparison in the current talent versus the talent of the best years of the program. While I wish Clarkson could get a talent like Dede or Sibanda once a decade (which I don't know that we've had since Kirmse graduated in 93), it still doesn't change that these players are only coming around every 4 years or so when they used to arrive every year.

Alright....Old.Man.Rant.Over....

[Saint of Old]

Kevdog - at least we're still young enough to remember the good old days!  The 93 SLU team was a solid team and making the ECACs in that day actually meant something.  The NCAA's was 32 teams from 8 regions and only 4 per region qualified.  In 1993 Clarkson, Cortland and Rochester all won their AQ's and Plattsburg (who was ranked 10th in the country) got in as the fourth team.  It was also a time before conference tournaments so the AQ went to the regular season champ and I think we clinched in early October that year.  I agree the 94 SLU team is the team where losing wasn't seen as an option and the program really established its identity.

STlawus - As far as criticism of current players, I don't think any is warranted.  They are all excellent players who deserve to be where they are.  I do disagree that the player quality for SLU is what it always has been. SLU had 12 different players selected as All Americans (also in a time when they didn't select 16 players for each AA Team)over a 9 year period.  And honestly there are a few more who easily should have been selections. There were numerous seasons where they had 4-5 players on the field who would be AA at some point in their career. I see nearly all of the best of the current players as comparable to the middle tier of SLU's past teams (players 6-11). In the past 9 years they have only had 3 AA's with only one year of overlap between Copeland and Dede. There is a big difference between the teams of the late 90's thru early 2000's and the past decade.  There is a big difference in trying to defend a team with multiple AA players and a team with one.  Teams from that era would be like having Sibanda, Dede, Copeland and Dimello all on the same team.  There is no comparison in the current talent versus the talent of the best years of the program. While I wish Clarkson could get a talent like Dede or Sibanda once a decade (which I don't know that we've had since Kirmse graduated in 93), it still doesn't change that these players are only coming around every 4 years or so when they used to arrive every year.

Alright....Old.Man.Rant.Over....

I don't know man, Clarkson's Secko brothers from Circa 99 ish were pretty good.
Also Baby Secko was a stud as well who played around 2010 I think?

[stlawus]

I would say that 4 points from Vassar next weekend in the North Country should be enough for the 1 seed. 3 might even be enough given their remaining fixtures.   Hobart is in the danger zone having only 5 points through 5 games. 

[stlawus]

I don't remember RIT's coaching staff being so whiny but they were going through it today even with getting the benefit of poor officiating.  SLU continues to defend tremendously, still just not getting any luck in front of goal.  2 posts and 2 or 3 incredible saves from RIT's keeper, but 1-0 does the job. 

Bard finally gets a league point on the road against Union.  They're running out of runway but a little run these last few weeks could see them in the mix.  Clarkson benefited from keeper error against SLU and then had it happen to themselves en route to a loss at Ithaca.  Hope this isn't the start to our annual 2nd half collapse by the Knights.  They're going to need 4 points next weekend to feel safe, and with Vassar coming to town that is no easy task.

[Saint_Dad]

I would say that 4 points from Vassar next weekend in the North Country should be enough for the 1 seed. 3 might even be enough given their remaining fixtures.  Hobart is in the danger zone having only 5 points through 5 games.

SLU not getting the win vs Clarkson lost their opportunity to control their own destiny to get the one seed. Of course there are a lot of games remaining, but this Friday's game between Vassar and SLU is a big one.  And with a short bench, and less than 24 hours the teams have another game, anything can happen.

[Saint_Dad]

A hard earned victory for SLU. Diaz, their defender, once again scores a goal. They got some unlucky breaks on offense with a couple posts, but some luck on defense as well with similar help from the woodwork. Their defense has been hard to penetrate, although Gustav continues to take unnecessary risks and lose the ball in dangerous places on the field. He plays hard, moves the ball forward and is an important part of this Saint defense. Diaz, Lillis, and Will Baker (not to be confused with Baker Diaz) have been terrific.
Maybe it is just bad luck that they haven't been scoring goals. But maybe there can be something done to help with this bad luck. They've played 8 games that weren't against Canton or Hartwick. In those 8 games, only their defender, Diaz has scrored (twice) a goal that was not a PK. When we take away the PK's, the striker has a total of 8 shots in those 8 games. Just 3 in the 4 LL games. I mentioned last week that I thought there should be someone else up top for parts of the game. Brown was given a 2 minute rest at the end of the first half. A minute later we saw Mogul (in the striker position) receive a nicely weighted through ball from Dennis Argueta. Unfortunately Mogul hit the post, but it showed what a different look up top might look like. I've seen Brown receive the ball on the wing before, and he is a master at shielding the ball and would do well in these one on one situations. Maybe a switch for 15 minutes sometime in the first half? Mogul continues to be the most dynamic player on the pitch. Why not make him the target for Petrone, who is becoming one of the top midfielders in the LL. Petrone's service to Diaz on the set piece score was spot on.
There are 5 LL games left before the playoffs. Something more that just saying it's bad luck needs to be done to score some goals. Set piece plays? Changing up the striker? Pijpers continues to get close to scoring that goal, hitting the crossbar. Should he go back to striker for a spell? Thoughts?

[stlawus]

Switching things up wouldn't hurt I would think especially since there's a marginal chance it throws the opposition's game plan off. Wings are giving outside defenders a lot of issues but the constant double teams results in a lot of those chances dissipating. Mogul up top for a game would definitely be something worth trying.  I also think a 4-4-2 with a Pijpers/Mogul tandem would work too, as that lineup and formation sliced up Plattsburgh on the road in the first half last year before starters got pulled.

I've noticed that Vassar doesn't really turn the ball over in the final third, so I'm sure they're going to try and press a bit to force SLU to make a mistake. Besides the obvious mark in Torbalski Vassar has a lot of on the ball skill players who always seem to make the right pass. Should be entertaining at the very least.

[kevdog]

I would say that 4 points from Vassar next weekend in the North Country should be enough for the 1 seed. 3 might even be enough given their remaining fixtures.  Hobart is in the danger zone having only 5 points through 5 games.

SLU not getting the win vs Clarkson lost their opportunity to control their own destiny to get the one seed. Of course there are a lot of games remaining, but this Friday's game between Vassar and SLU is a big one.  And with a short bench, and less than 24 hours the teams have another game, anything can happen.

This use to be the norm back in the 90's playing back to back games in less than 24 hours. Exceed ( drink that Durocher use to make us drink after the first game to replenish nutrients. Think Gatorade but it taste like Tang).

[deutschfan]

I doubt Brown is moved from up top. Every year coaches get behind a player to promote him with accolades, deserved or not. This is Brown's year for that. Give the pks to Mogul, by far the team's best player, and you have a whole different dynamic. This year's LL tournament is going through Gordon—-the best pitch in the league with a quaint field of dreams atmosphere. Keker is back and Vassar will get the most out of Tobolski until the Ivies or Serpone start calling at the end of the year. Despite the north country keeper hype Vassar has all clean sheets in league. Someone should do an analysis of the fall of Hobart. They had the best returning player and there is a good chance they will not make the playoffs. 

[kevdog]

Moving to a 4-4-2 might help but I would not put Mogul upfront by himself. He is not that big for hold up play and is a better player facing the defender instead having his back to the goal. Pairing him someone up top might be better with his speed and 1v1 abilities

[stlawus]

While not expected, Hobart's down year isn't entirely surprising.  Let's remember, last year they needed a ton of 25 yard wonder strikes to propel them through the end of the season.  That's not sustainable.   Secondly, they had several fifth years in the midfield, and as we see every year that leadership and experience is invaluable.  Their LL co-defensive player of the year has also been out for the past 3 weeks.

[deutschfan]

Thanks. They have been hapless from the start of the year. We are getting to the point that the covid grad student impact is just about over.

[Freddyfud]

I get the Tobo hype but he is still a freshman and the season isn't over yet.

[Saint_Dad]

I doubt Brown is moved from up top. Every year coaches get behind a player to promote him with accolades, deserved or not. This is Brown's year for that. Give the pks to Mogul, by far the team's best player, and you have a whole different dynamic. This year's LL tournament is going through Gordon—-the best pitch in the league with a quaint field of dreams atmosphere. Keker is back and Vassar will get the most out of Tobolski until the Ivies or Serpone start calling at the end of the year. Despite the north country keeper hype Vassar has all clean sheets in league. Someone should do an analysis of the fall of Hobart. They had the best returning player and there is a good chance they will not make the playoffs.

I don't understand why Tosh or any coach would get behind a second year player when he has arguably the best player in the league (a senior) on his team. And Tosh's goal is to win, not to promote a player. I'm sure he is flexible enough to make changes. The ball must go through Petrone and Mogul for SLU to move forward and to start scoring some goals. Brown should be a big part of making that happen. Not the focus. It should be a great game Friday. Perhaps the appetizer for the rematch in the finals of the LL tourney.

[kevdog]

I doubt Brown is moved from up top. Every year coaches get behind a player to promote him with accolades, deserved or not. This is Brown's year for that. Give the pks to Mogul, by far the team's best player, and you have a whole different dynamic. This year's LL tournament is going through Gordon—-the best pitch in the league with a quaint field of dreams atmosphere. Keker is back and Vassar will get the most out of Tobolski until the Ivies or Serpone start calling at the end of the year. Despite the north country keeper hype Vassar has all clean sheets in league. Someone should do an analysis of the fall of Hobart. They had the best returning player and there is a good chance they will not make the playoffs.

I don't understand why Tosh or any coach would get behind a second year player when he has arguably the best player in the league (a senior) on his team. And Tosh's goal is to win, not to promote a player. I'm sure he is flexible enough to make changes. The ball must go through Petrone and Mogul for SLU to move forward and to start scoring some goals. Brown should be a big part of making that happen. Not the focus. It should be a great game Friday. Perhaps the appetizer for the rematch in the finals of the LL tourney.

Mogul might be the best player in the league but he needs to start producing if wants to obtain that title at the end of the year.