2015 NCAA North Region

[dontshootthegoose]

Platteville up 2-1 on Whitewater with about 20 left to play. From what I have seen so far, pretty even game overall. Whitewater's back line seems to be on their heels a little bit. Left hand side of their defense has committed some really costly mistakes and turnovers.

[dontshootthegoose]

Whitewater's center back (Stanko) robbed with a flick that hit off the inside of the cross bar. Whitewater is starting to look extremely direct, whereas Platteville is running the center of the park.

[dontshootthegoose]

Whitewater with a laser to tie things up at two a peice. Platteville missed an absolute sitter with the clock hitting zero at the end of regulation.

Overtime was much of the same, whitewater booting it to their offense and waiting for set pieces. Platteville won a defending set piece and passed around the trailing whitewater defenders to win in overtime. Have a feeling platteville may have a chance to slide into the regional talk.

[KICKIN95]

So with the UWW loss to UWP how will the last Regional Ranking on Nov 4th pan out?  Head to Head and losses UWW tops Loras (3 losses vs 4) which are the top 2 criteria, but the last 3 criteria of common opponents, ranked opponents, and SOS Loras tops UWW.  Since there aren't any matches scheduled for either team before Nov 4th I would guess the ranking will stay the same.

[casualfan]

Should Macalester bump up to the #1? Where will UWO sit? Will UWP jump in for Week 3?

[midwestfan1210]

Was in attendance at UWW/UWP game.  Yes, UWP controlled central park, and UWW went direct.  UWP played aggressively so hats off to them.  Novak was out of the game (red at UWO), and several starters played 25 mins in match.  Not sure if Guinn was giving freshmen sig. playing time, but many frosh registered 75-80 mins in this match.  Would have liked to see both teams play at full strength!! 

[dontshootthegoose]

I think the only way Macalester bumps UWW is if they win out/do extremely well in the conference tournament. And same goes with Loras, because everyone knows that the committee does not rank conference tournaments games to seriously.

From what I watched with the UWW/UWP game last night (and also stats indicated) was that the starters were in the game for the first two goals scored on them; whereas the subs came in and scored on both occasions. It seemed like a lack of focus on UWW's part, as if they knew they were the better side but also confidently knew they were in the tournament. (In which we all knew they are securely in the tournament).  Now this happens to a lot of teams, a lack of focus because you are so focused on the end goal of the NCAA tournament, and not the game ahead of you.

Let's not discredit Platteville however, they have now beat both Oshkosh/Whitewater. And from what I saw last night, Platteville was the better side on the night and deserved that win. But 8 times out of 10 UWW will win that game.

[midwestfan1210]

No disagreement with your points goose.  I too saw a lack of urgency from some starters, and mistakes on left defense.  Subs were in when goal was given up in OT, and I gotta think the defensive mids wouldn't have given up that middle so easily....

[Puerco Espin]

So with the UWW loss to UWP how will the last Regional Ranking on Nov 4th pan out?  Head to Head and losses UWW tops Loras (3 losses vs 4) which are the top 2 criteria, but the last 3 criteria of common opponents, ranked opponents, and SOS Loras tops UWW.  Since there aren't any matches scheduled for either team before Nov 4th I would guess the ranking will stay the same.

Loras is 12-3-1 according to the Division III Committee (Loss to Div. I Western Illinois does not factor in to rankings).

[KICKIN95]

Don't you go getting all technical with me there Mr. Prickly!  I made a post and I'll be damned if anyone is going to point out a flaw!! 

[Puerco Espin]

NSCAA jumps Macalester to #1 in North Regioin and pushes UWW to #2 and Loras to #3

http://www.nscaa.com/rankings/4881

1   Macalester College
DH Saint John's University 2-1; DA Bethel University 3-0

2   University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
LA University of Wisconsin-Platteville 2-3

3   Loras College
DA University Of Dubuque 2-1

4   College Of St. Scholastica
DA Northland College 11-0

5   Saint John's University
LA Macalester College 1-2; DH St. Olaf College 2-0;   5   12-3-2

6   University Of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
DA Finlandia University 5-1;   7   11-3-3

7   Luther College
LA Wartburg 0-1; DH Coe 4-0;   6   11-5-3

8   University of Wisconsin-Platteville
DH University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3-2; DH Carroll University (Wis.) 3-0

9   University Of Dubuque
LH Loras College 1-2

10   Carleton College
DA University of St. Thomas 1-0; DH St. Mary's University of Minnesota 5-1

[Wisco21]

Gents,

Obviously we will have more information tomorrow with the NCAA rankings, but what do you think the tournament picture looks like in the North this year? I could see us getting one Pool C maybe two, but with the parity this season who knows!

My assumptions are that Loras, CSS, and Macalester are going to take an AQ, and UWW snags the Pool B over UWO and UWP. Who gets a Pool C?

UWW should be a lock. Conference tournaments can be messy: I feel confident in Loras and CSS, and I wouldn't be surprised if Macalester didn't get their AQ, but then they'd would for sure gobble up the At-Large bid no? I feel UWO is the only other team that has a shout at the Pool C, would the committee take Luther or St. Johns or even Dubuque if they have a good showing in their conference tournaments?

[casualfan]

I think you make a lot of sense Wisco.

UWW will be the Pool B.

Loras is a lock and I think Macalester is a lock. Teams like UWO really need these 2 to win their conference tournaments.

CSS should win the UMAC conference tournament and likely would need to win it in order to ensure a spot.

I think the North deserves 1 at-large at the very least. I don't know the numbers but I'm sure there's been at least 2 at-larges from the North for majority of the years that the North Region has been around. Unfortunately, that's usually due to the strength of the MIAC & IIAC which I think are possible 1 team leagues this year unless Loras/MAC get knocked off.

Therefore, the teams remaining for the at-large bids would be.
UWO, UWP, St. Johns, Luther, Dubuque

UWO and UWP are very close, wish we could get 1 more game each to help decide. I think 1 of these teams surely gets in with UWO getting the nod.

Luther & Dubuque are fairly close, but I think St. Johns would be the more likely pick of these 3. If UWP is thrown in with this group, I think they come up short again.

So at the moment my predictions for Pool C bids from the North would be UWO & St. Johns.
note: with conference tourneys underway, this will surely change.

[dontshootthegoose]

Wisco21 and CasualFan, you guys are right on the ball.

My question is in regards with hosting. The top two from this region will host, as of right now that is UWW/Macalester. What happens if Macalester/Loras both win out right, do you think that is enough to bump UWW out of hosting?

Also any predictions on tomorrow's games?

Luther at Dubuque         Dubuque 3-2 overtime
Simpson at Loras         Loras 4-0

St. Olaf at Saint John's            Johnnies 3-1
St. Thomas at Macalester        Macalester  2-0

[Footy23]

Looks a little like 2012 with simpson squeaking by wartburg in the quarters before receiving a drubbing from Loras...only 3-0 this time around

UD seeks revenge and finds it with a 2-1 W

St. Johns 2-0
St. Thomas 2-1