2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Midwest Soccer]

Also another National Player of the Year candidate is Brian Potocnic from John Carroll. Sitting on 20 goals and 12 assists currently. 40 goals and 34 assists in his career. He is a special player who is carrying that JCU team which is very capable of making a deep run in the tournament. Should have been an All-American last year but JCU not making the tournament didn't help his case.

He's been the best all around player in the OAC the last 2 years, arguably 3.

And as I type this OWU takes an early lead on DePauw less than 2 mins into the game on an absolute bomb of a volley from 20 or so out.

**DePauw ties it up on a header off corner

***OWU re-takes lead off a Colton Bloecher header. Great ball in from #17

[PaulNewman]

I was listening to national anthem and looked up and it was 1-0 OWU. 

OWU looking very crisp and sharp with good combination play and creating multiple dangerous chances.  In other words, looking like how an in-form OWU team usually looks.

DePauw needs to get to halftime only down 1 and re-group, but not sure they can keep OWU from a 3rd goal right now.

[PaulNewman]

DePauw almost ties it under 10 secs of 1st half as GK was out and beat but OWU CB cleared a header going on off the line.  2-1 OWU at the half.  Excellent video feed and good perspective on the action.

[Midwest Soccer]

Best part is there is no announcers!

[PaulNewman]

Yeah, but that one OWU fan is annoying.

[wchandy22]

If I am not mistaken I believe the religious schools (Messiah, Wheaton, etc.) play Fri/Sat avoiding Sunday games.  Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

To my knowledge, Wheaton (IL) and Calvin are the only two schools that will not play tournament games on a Sunday.

[wchandy22]

To my knowledge, Wheaton (IL) and Calvin are the only two schools that will not play tournament games on a Sunday.

To clarify this a little bit.  Nearly all games will be played on Saturday and Sunday except for those teams that are placed into a group/site at which Wheaton or Calvin are placed.  Those games will be played on a Friday and Saturday.

[Mr.Right]

Messiah used to do it. They refused to play on Saturday and Sunday only the Friday / Saturday. In 2006 they forced Williams to play at 11am on a Friday morning. There was no crowd because students were in classes. Meanwhile the coaching staff of Messiah would then go scout the other teams that played on Sunday in a different region. It was a complete joke. They took FULL advantage of it. Finally opposing coaches caught on and put pressure on the NCAA to do something about it. I thought that rule was still in effect. Personally, if these schools cannot conform to the NCAA rules they should not be allowed to play in the tournament. They should start a different tournament

[Midwest Soccer]

OWU 3 DePauw 1 with about 13 left. OWU center back picks off an errant pass and goes in transition and does a great 1-2 with Colton Bloecher for the goal. Very nice goal

**Depauw pulls 1 back. 3-2... 7 minutes left

[PaulNewman]

OWU now in firm control, up 3-1 under 10.  DePauw had a couple of good chances to draw even but OWU has been a step quicker all over the field and very sharp.  Pretty flawless OWU performance.

The final should be be excellent with a great atmosphere.

And just as I hit send DePauw gets one back with 8 to go.  3-2.  And then OWU almost scores 15 secs later.

[KnightFalcon]

If I am not mistaken I believe the religious schools (Messiah, Wheaton, etc.) play Fri/Sat avoiding Sunday games.  Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Not true - Messiah has played Sunday games both weekends for at least the past several seasons. Both hosting and away. I know Wheaton did a Fri/Sat last year. Not sure about Calvin but I believe they have played Sundays as well.

[KnightFalcon]

Messiah used to do it. They refused to play on Saturday and Sunday only the Friday / Saturday. In 2006 they forced Williams to play at 11am on a Friday morning. There was no crowd because students were in classes. Meanwhile the coaching staff of Messiah would then go scout the other teams that played on Sunday in a different region. It was a complete joke. They took FULL advantage of it. Finally opposing coaches caught on and put pressure on the NCAA to do something about it. I thought that rule was still in effect. Personally, if these schools cannot conform to the NCAA rules they should not be allowed to play in the tournament. They should start a different tournament

Just curious, but is there something wrong with playing on a Fri/Sat instead of a Sat/Sun?

[PaulNewman]

I promise (almost) that I will not mention this Luther non-ranking again.  I compared their schedule to Wartburg.  Played Carleton and Mac and two UWs.  Virtually identical and yet Wartburg with a less sparkling record is ranked #2.   Also as noted in another thread no way Gordon's schedule is tougher than Luther's and yet they have a significantly higher SOS.  Something is not working.

[Midwest Soccer]

Final: OWU 3 DePauw 2

Disappointing season for the Tigers. Curious if any behind the scenes stuff derailed their season cause they should have been better and they lost 8 times this year.

OWU was the better team today, but they let in 2 pretty questionable goals.

The OWU vs Kenyon final should be a good one. Rematch of last years game.

Wouldn't be surprised to see it decided in OT or PK's...but I think both are absolute locks for the NCAA tournament. I'm hoping that the NCAA doesn't put them in the same pod though like 2010 when they went all the way to York (PA) to play each other in the 2nd round. Let them play some different blood.

[PaulNewman]

No, KnightFalcon, nothing wrong, but does make planning difficult.

And I wonder if KZoo will sneak past Hope in the secret regional rankings after dispatching Hope for the 3rd time in a row (which is not an easy task).  Congrats to KZoo who may have knocked another at-large team off the bubble.