2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[Gregory Sager]

Apologies Mr. Sager.  I always have a voice in my head that says "Don't forget about that North Park guy."

LOL. I may have to change my tag from the Roberto Clemente quote to have it simply read, "That North Park guy."

Seriously, I was thinking about North Park when I wrote that and I did realize Wheaton already has a conference loss.  I'm figuring that by the time the CCIW tournament comes around your North Park may already be feeling good about nabbing one of those last 2-3 remaining Pool Cs and that Wheaton will be playing with mad desperation knowing that they have to win the AQ to get in.

You said "win the CCIW," though, and I interpreted that to mean the league title. As I indicated, NPU's got the leg up right now on winning the league (although nobody here in Chicago is counting his chickens before they've hatched). The AQ is another matter, of course ... but if NPU's got home pitch in a CCIW tourney title match against Wheaton, I like the chances of the Vikings, even if it's win-or-your-season's-over for Wheaton.

In full disclosure, I've learned that, just like in the movies, "the bad guy" isn't dead when you think he's dead....like when you open the shower curtain and he's magically standing there with a menacing, blood-curdling laugh right at you.

Believe me, nobody who roots for NPU will ever, ever, ever take Wheaton lightly. Not only has Wheaton been a national power for what seems like forever in this sport, it's also North Park's archrival. Foster's Finest (the NPU soccer student section) does anti-Wheaton cheers during matches against other teams, just for the sake of practice. Wheaton could nosedive into oblivion as a soccer program (won't happen, but a guy can always dream), and NPU fans would still bay for Wheaton's blood.

[PaulNewman]

Great job on the reply "North Park guy"!

Can someone please tell Case Western to remove the cap from the video lens?!

[Midwest Soccer]

lastguy, so who do you have missing out in the NCAC, Kenyon or OWU?  DPU is in driver's seat at moment for regular season, but, yes, AQ goes to tournament winner.

Great work on that minutes trailing post.  How did that even come into your head, lol?

NCACNE,

I think you're pretty down on your Lords but it's over the top in my opinion.

Between Denison, DePauw, Kenyon, and OWU, I think the team who ends up taking the best record vs each other puts themselves in the drivers seat for an AQ. Obviously DePauw with a win over Loras and Kenyon looks especially great now. Denison's big win so far is vs TMC. Kenyon's was Carnegie (which you've said is looking less impressive), and OWU doesn't have one yet. But each of these teams still has to play 2 of the others so some GREAT action is on the horizon.

There's still so much action to be played in this conference. Oberlin and Wabash are still trying to join the party too. This conference really is great this year.

[PaulNewman]

lastguy, so who do you have missing out in the NCAC, Kenyon or OWU?  DPU is in driver's seat at moment for regular season, but, yes, AQ goes to tournament winner.

Great work on that minutes trailing post.  How did that even come into your head, lol?

NCACNE,

I think you're pretty down on your Lords but it's over the top in my opinion.

Between Denison, DePauw, Kenyon, and OWU, I think the team who ends up taking the best record vs each other puts themselves in the drivers seat for an AQ. Obviously DePauw with a win over Loras and Kenyon looks especially great now. Denison's big win so far is vs TMC. Kenyon's was Carnegie (which you've said is looking less impressive), and OWU doesn't have one yet. But each of these teams still has to play 2 of the others so some GREAT action is on the horizon.

There's still so much action to be played in this conference. Oberlin and Wabash are still trying to join the party too. This conference really is great this year.

You're right.  Pessimism protects against abject devastation. 

But in this case I was responding to LGOTB who was projecting Denison and DePauw as getting Pool C bids and NCAC getting 3 total, so in that scenario either Kenyon or OWU would be out.  Just wanted to understand his thought process.

[PaulNewman]

CWRU video on now.  Case GK looks really good from a quick glance.  Anyone got any info on him?  Case looks pretty big too.  Up 1-0.

Haverford just went up 2-0 early 2nd half.

If Haverford pulls this out will be a huge win for the 'Fords, and a big blow to Camden if Camden ends up being a bubble team.

[Mr.Right]

3-0 Haverford...That's 10 goals on this field in 2 years...At 8-3-1 Camden's resume has serious holes as they cannot get to 5 losses.

[PaulNewman]

Oberlin just whiffed on a tap in from 4 yards out.  Playing pretty well.  Good video.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

3-0 Haverford...That's 10 goals on this field in 2 years...At 8-3-1 Camden's resume has serious holes as they cannot get to 5 losses.

Not a good showing by Camden at all. Dickinson is up 3-1 at Misericordia. Scranton with a big road win at Drew 2-1. That all but ends Drew's hope at an at-large bid. Etown over Susquehanna 3-1 as they are cruising along and heavy favorites in the Landmark. Merchant Marine draws Moravian...that might end their hopes of any post season play. RPI up 1-0 in the 60th minute

[PaulNewman]

And just when I was going to post that Case played too conservatively for my liking and was significantly outplayed by Oberlin in the 2nd half Oberlin scores to draw even in the final minutes. 

Case-Oberlin going OT.  Case lucky that Oberlin has not stolen this game outright.  I was impressed with Case and then they decided to sit in and defend.  This will be deadly for them against better UAA teams, and I can't recall but may be how they got themselves in trouble in TMC game.  And Oberlin looks pretty good, dominating possession.

[PaulNewman]

WENTWORTH BEATS WPI WITH PK IN OT.  Just when we started to believe in WPI.

[PaulNewman]

Case VERY fortunate to still be in this game.  Oberlin had great chance to end it and mostly dominated 1st OT (and 2nd half in general).  I was all prepared to jump on the Case bandwagon but they look shaky tonight.

[PaulNewman]

Oberlin 1 Case 1 2nd OT Final

Not a good result for Case.  Good result for Oberlin and will give them confidence when they play Kenyon, OWU, Denison.  Honestly felt Oberlin did enough to win.

I have a lot of respect for Oberlin coach who even when they don't have the firepower always try to play possession soccer.  I'm more impressed because coach (Blake New) was a D1 GK by trade (and I believe played in the the professional indoor league). 

And I recalled correctly...Case was up by a goal twice in TMC game, and lost in OT on a Juniet goal.

[blooter442]

WENTWORTH BEATS WPI WITH PK IN OT.  Just when we started to believe in WPI.

By far the most shocking result of the day. Did you catch any of the game? From the stats alone Wentworth looked to be in it. The last two days have blown the NEWMAC (predictions) wide open.

[PaulNewman]

WENTWORTH BEATS WPI WITH PK IN OT.  Just when we started to believe in WPI.

By far the most shocking result of the day. Did you catch any of the game? From the stats alone Wentworth looked to be in it. The last two days have blown the NEWMAC (predictions) wide open.

No, didn't see it.  But I had a feeling about WPI having a letdown against a Wentworth team that not too long ago was 7-0 and had a couple of decent wins.  I watched WPI struggle to score earlier in the season against teams like Mass Maritime and I thought draw with MCLA was not a good sign.

[PaulNewman]

Wheaton-Oshkosh 0-0 and in 1st OT.