2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Saint of Old]

The Ducks laid an egg but came through to get the W and more than likely secure a ticket to the dance where no one will want to be their first date!
I do agree however that the team in white are not looking their normal selves, this could be the competition they are facing in a conference a bit down.
Seems this will again be a tournament where the big boys will come to play.

[Letthekidsplay59]

Can't see Kalamazoo getting an at large bid with their SOS an lack of a signature away win. They've been too inconsistent, for me. Elmhurst should probably sneak in behind Calvin, Wheaton and Chicago. Hope has a decent chance as well and have shown they can beat tournament opposition. I think Wheaton has a chance to go very far in the tournament this year. This has been their strongest team in years IMO.

[Soccergeek]

Can't see Kalamazoo getting an at large bid with their SOS an lack of a signature away win. They've been too inconsistent, for me. Elmhurst should probably sneak in behind Calvin, Wheaton and Chicago. Hope has a decent chance as well and have shown they can beat tournament opposition. I think Wheaton has a chance to go very far in the tournament this year. This has been their strongest team in years IMO.

I tend to agree with what you are saying, other than with respect to Hope.  Coming in third in their conference, losing in the semis, losing three times to Kzoo and finishing the season on a 1-4-1 streak -- they are done like dinner.  Also, I see Calvin (final four) going a bit further than Wheaton (final eight), assuming they don't run into each other earlier.

[pelinho5]

Hi letthekidsplay59,

Kalamazoo 1 Chicago 0
Kalamazoo 2 Hope 1
Kalamazoo 1 Hope 0
Kalamazoo 2 Hope 0

SOS: .528

Are you kidding me? They definitely should have a chance with that resume.

I've had the opportunity to watch the Kalamazoo Dodgers on 5 different occasions.

Save from a lucky win against Chicago, this team is legit.

[Letthekidsplay59]

Pelinho5,
Your stats don't make a very compelling argument. You admitted yourself that the win against Chicago was lucky, and the other games you reference merely serve to demonstrate that Kalamazoo can beat Hope, a team this forum seems to think lacks an ncaa tournament resume. Moreover, an SOS of .528 does little to move the needle, my friend.

Checkmate

[pelinho5]

Pelinho5,
Your stats don't make a very compelling argument. You admitted yourself that the win against Chicago was lucky, and the other games you reference merely serve to demonstrate that Kalamazoo can beat Hope, a team this forum seems to think lacks an ncaa tournament resume. Moreover, an SOS of .528 does little to move the needle, my friend.

Checkmate

Letthekidsplay59,

I haven't considered it from that perspective, I guess that makes a little bit of sense. Still think the Dodgers deserve a shot, who knows what they could achieve....

[Soccergeek]

Pelinho5,
Your stats don't make a very compelling argument. You admitted yourself that the win against Chicago was lucky, and the other games you reference merely serve to demonstrate that Kalamazoo can beat Hope, a team this forum seems to think lacks an ncaa tournament resume. Moreover, an SOS of .528 does little to move the needle, my friend.

Checkmate

Letthekidsplay59,

I haven't considered it from that perspective, I guess that makes a little bit of sense. Still think the Dodgers deserve a shot, who knows what they could achieve....

For what it's worth, I actually watched most of the Kzoo - Chicago match online and Kzoo was the better team (IMHO).  At least until they had a player sent off midway through the second half while holding a 1-0 lead.  Chicago then threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Hornets, but their back line and, particularly, their keeper held strong for the victory.  In fact, their keeper made a couple saves I've never seen made at that level before.

Still, as I laid out in an earlier post, I expect Elmhurst to get the nod over Kzoo, assuming the Central favorites win the AQs this weekend.  If one or more of the favorites lose, then all bets are off.

[PaulNewman]

I don't know how someone can make a serious argument for Hope.  While beating Hope 3 times may not mean enough for Kzoo, 3 losses to Kzoo certainly is telling for Hope.  And Hope is 13-7-1.  Their only really good win was against Wheaton and against the run of play for the most part.  They had a decent win over Elmhurst.  That's it.  But more important than the paltry number of good wins are the total number of losses.  I see North Park as similar although if they were fighting for a bid head-to-head I'd give it to North Park.  Both of these schools seem to get a lot of benefit of the doubt but there comes a point where an argument just can't be made.  Can you imagine Hope getting a bid while teams like Montclair, RPI, Luther, etc sit at home? 

As for Kzoo, they probably have too many losses also, but if they can beat Hope 3 times in one season they they should have a chance against Calvin, who, after being underrated, I think is now being overrated.  They have arguably the best forward in the country but I'm not sure they have the overall strength of at least 7 or 8 other teams.  If Vegter is marked out of the game, what happens?  For my money, Wheaton is stronger from top to bottom and may be one of only 2-3 teams in the country that would have a chance to match Messiah even-up.

After Messiah, I don't see any clear cut teams that are definitely #2, #3 and #4.  Instead, I see 7-8 teams that cannot be legitimately separated (until perhaps they play head-to-head), and then there are another 6-7 teams after that group who could prove to be just as dangerous especially if they get hot and catch some breaks.  In short, basically the D3soccer top 15 and CNU, Montclair (if they survive), and maybe a Cortland.

[PaulNewman]

Oshkosh goes up 1-0 on Whitewater with about 20 left.

MSU rolled to 3-0 lead over Camden and now 3-1 under 20.

[RUMSU]

MSU 3  RUC 1  Looks like MSU to NCAA's

[PaulNewman]

Centre going into 2nd OT with Sewanee.

[PaulNewman]

Centre going to PKs.  Even if they prevail they will need to win AQ most likely as another draw just adds to lengthy list of blemishes.

Of course what I forgot to add that is that if they didn't prevail in PKs they'd have no chance at the AQ either and would be done.

They did prevail in PKs (barely).  Some of worst PKs I've ever seen.  Centre missed completely wide right.  Then Sewanee hit one at least 10-12 feet over the goal.  Centre goes well wide left.  Sewanee makes.  Centre makes.  Sewanee hits one softly right at GK.  And it ended in the 6th round I think with Sewanee hitting another one way over.

[Mr.Right]

Stevens v Alfred had some of the better PK's I have seen. One miss each up until the 7th round when Stevens keeper made a nice save. Stevens is going to be a really tough out as they will likely be on the road for their 1st and 2nd round games. They might even send them up to New England. Usually one Jersey team always gets sent up to New England

[lastguyoffthebench]

Newark would get sent to new england again I think.  And I msu gets in a pod with centennial team, odac AQ and possibly mac freedom AQ?   Maybe with psu Harrisburg  if they win the CAC

If covenant and Centre does not win the AQ, does Camden win over Newark twice sneak them in as a last team?  I think 8 losses is too much,  but to only have one NJAC team would seem like an injustice.

[PaulNewman]

Mr.Right, you impressed me (blew me away actually) when you posted that you were watching Stevens and Alfred.  It's nice to see you spreading your wings outside of NESCAC Village.  I watched those PKs too (because you clued me in to the game), and they were very well taken, and several very clutch makes with the game on the line.  The miss for Alfred with the game on their boot was unfortunate.

Seems like there will be two NJAC teams, but most likely Newark with Montclair.