2015 Great Lakes Region

[Ryan Harmanis]

2-1 OWU, nice finish after sloppy clearance from a free kick, but DePauw looks...tired?  That seems odd to say coming out of halftime, but there's been a bunch of standing and 4 OWU players all reacted fastest on that goal.  Dominant start to the half for OWU, but still 39 minutes to play.

[TennesseeJed]

Lords dominating play in Hiram against Terriers with 13 shots total vs. the Terriers 1, 8 shots on goal vs. 0, 5 corners vs. 1, and a 1-0 lead at half.  Play a bit sloppy all around tonight, but the short turf football field venue not ideal for soccer, and making for a very fast, bouncy surface. 

[Ryan Harmanis]

2-2 off a bomb from the edge of the 18 for DePauw.  The Tigers got back into it off a series of long throw-ins, nothing in the run of play but it shifted the field and eventually the ball dropped to a guy who won a 50-50 and drilled one.  Big goal for DePauw, as OWU looked to be turning the screws.

[Ryan Harmanis]

And 3-2 OWU.  Have to say it was coming, OWU has been getting deep into DePauw's box for most of the game and this time they made them pay.  7 minutes left.

Also wanted to note Julian Gonzalez scored both goals for DePauw, and he's pretty much been DePauw's offense, taking 8/11 shots and both SOG for DePauw.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Ohio Wesleyan beats DePauw 3-2.  Fair result, all things considered.  18-14 shots, 10-3 SOG, and OWU carried the play for almost the entire second half.  DePauw's draw with Wooster is now very costly, as OWU can afford a draw against Kenyon and still win the NCAC.

Story of the game, IMO, was that OWU's two-man central midfield controlled DePauw's three-man setup, and both guys scored to boot.  That allowed OWU to stay pushed up on the DePauw CBs, which ultimately paid off on the game-winning goal.

[PaulNewman]

Agree that this obviously was big win for OWU and almost on cue they are in 1st place in the NCAC.  Also agree a fair result on balance, although if I was a DPU fan I would say the game should have been 2-0 DPU and OWU would have been in serious trouble. While OWU had the possession, DPU had the more dangerous chances up until OWU tied the game one trip down the field after DPU hit the post on a play the kid should have finished to go up 2-0.  Once 1-1, never felt OWU would or could lose although Gonzalez (a very dangerous player) made it interesting.  OWU is absolutely lethal around the box. They are fantastic passing inside and around the box, and even if it's just a loose ball they are typically clinical in their finishing.  That's a difference between them and other teams in these situations.  You hit the post, they score on the next play.  Game-changing plays that completely alter the course of the rest of the game.  Lethal in first 5 minutes of each half (and went ahead in first 5 minutes of 2nd half).  And OWU is super-competitive.  They are known for being technical and very skilled and dynamic in attack, and they are, but they also compete and will give as good or better than they get.  There is no arguing with the results.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Yep that's pretty spot on.  I thought that up until the first OWU goal, DePauw was more dangerous, but as you mentioned you make a mistake - or even miss an opportunity, as smashing a ball off the post isn't really a mistake, per se - and you get punished.  Frankly I think turf favors OWU, as it makes that short passing game you referenced even more dangerous around the box.

Since we're allowed to look ahead (the players can't/shouldn't, obviously), I think it's fitting that it would (or should) come down to Kenyon at OWU.  The last time Kenyon (or anyone else) won the NCAC was 2007, when the Lords beat OWU 1-0 at Roy Rike.  That game was a war, if the staples and concussion I had afterward were any indicator.  Makes sense Kenyon would need to repeat that to take the conference title.  Good news for the neutral is that both teams are hitting their strides right now.

[TennesseeJed]

Lords head home to Gambier with a decisive 4-1 W over Hiram. The video quality made it very difficult to see a lot of plays and definitely didn't make for the best post-game reporting, so no long analysis.  Box stats tell the story reasonably well:  24 shots vs. 7.  15 SOG vs. 2.  7 corner kicks vs. 1.

With OWU's win at DePauw tonight, OWU and Kenyon both have 5 conf wins in NCAC, but OWU has a tie and Kenyon its only loss for their respective 6th NCAC matches.  Current conf standings at 5-0-1 for OWU and 5-1-0 for Kenyon, giving the current edge to OWU.  Next conference games for both teams are away, with Kenyon @ Allegheny and OWU @ Oberlin.  The Lords face the Battling Bishops in Delaware, OH a week from tomorrow on Weds 10/28 for the biggest game remaining in the season for the NCAC.  DePauw drops to 4-1-1.

[Domino1195]

Yep that's pretty spot on.  I thought that up until the first OWU goal, DePauw was more dangerous, but as you mentioned you make a mistake - or even miss an opportunity, as smashing a ball off the post isn't really a mistake, per se - and you get punished.  Frankly I think turf favors OWU, as it makes that short passing game you referenced even more dangerous around the box.

Since we're allowed to look ahead (the players can't/shouldn't, obviously), I think it's fitting that it would (or should) come down to Kenyon at OWU.  The last time Kenyon (or anyone else) won the NCAC was 2007, when the Lords beat OWU 1-0 at Roy Rike.  That game was a war, if the staples and concussion I had afterward were any indicator.  Makes sense Kenyon would need to repeat that to take the conference title.  Good news for the neutral is that both teams are hitting their strides right now.

". . .you make a mistake - or even miss an opportunity, as smashing a ball off the post isn't really a mistake, per se - and you get punished."

This is what I've seen in DIII this year - perhaps it has always been the case.  The top 8 teams in the midwest are very equal, similarly built.  On any given Sunday . . .

Stay compact with the back two lines and be patient for counters and mistakes. OWU, Kenyon and Thomas More have more of an ability to create their own chances than the others I've seen - rather than strictly rely on the "wait and pounce" tactic.

I can see many 0-0 games in the tournament - first two rounds - if these 8-10 teams meet up a second time.

[PaulNewman]

A few musings before we head into the battle (likely plural) and this observer/fan regretfully but likely falls prey to full partisanship mode.

2007 is interesting in several regards.  Yes, the last time OWU did not win the NCAC regular season, and as I think I mentioned in the rising programs thread, a seemingly very odd scenario where Kenyon won it, ended with a 14-3-2 record, and (morphing into Mr.Right style) DID NOT GET A BID!!!!   I'm gonna take a wild guess that Coach Brown wasn't on the cmte at that time, and I'm gonna guess that winning the NCAC title and not getting a bid has rarely or ever happened other than this instance.  Kenyon did not advance in the NCAC semis, losing a PK shootout to Allegheny 6-5 (that went 8 rounds).  Meanwhile, OWU advanced past Wittenberg, also in PKs.  OWU then beat Allegheny 1-0 in the final, after the Gators had bested OWU 3-0 in the regular season.  Allegheny did not get a bid as they were only 10-8-1.  Apparently just 1 bid for the NCAC and at least on paper would look to be a major snub of Kenyon that year.  OWU then lost (did not advance) in PKs to Transy in the 1st round of the NCAAs.

I noted last night that OWU typically is very technical (and lethal) with quick combination passing in and around the box.  RH described well the approach that OWU employed last night versus the DePauw defensive strategy.  What impresses me so much about Martin and his teams are their capacity to play different styles and attack differently based on the opponent and/or when needs dictate.  I assume I'm not giving them too much credit and that this is by design.  Kenyon usually tries to press high.  They've scored in the first 5 minutes against Kenyon on at least two occasions in the last 2-3 years that I recall, including in the conference final last year when I think Shaefer played a long ball cross into Bloecher for a header for a goal.  Boom. OWU, up 1-0.  It's not just Kenyon...they do that to a lot of teams.  Kenyon was good enough to survive that in the final last year but in general those sudden strikes so early can be tough to rebound from.  They also have a history of their outside backs getting into the offense and scoring critical goals, but often even then the damage happens by them playing through the middle of the park with tight passes and runs more so than pure crosses coming in from the flanks.  Witkoff did that in Gambier 3 years ago in a game that was 0-0 into the 2nd half and that Kenyon had probably outplayed OWU.  The Battling Bishops in that game finished off the Lords in a Bloecher to Bloecher connection.  In the last meeting last year, OWU knew that Justice had not played in the first weekend against Heidelberg or TMC, so they had to have a good idea that he was hobbled.  Again, I assume by design, OWU seemed to drop their All-American Bloecher back deeper into the midfield, which sucked Justice in, and then Bloecher sent piercing balls right through the middle in that space to speedsters like Baum and Justice with his injury could not provide cover.  If that was a strategy it certainly was brilliant.  There was also the problem that Kenyon for whatever reason did not turn up as they needed to, and OWU outplayed the Lords in general.  That said, as I suggested last night, events during a game can determine whether you get turned on (during the game) and whether the game changes.  Kenyon was finally getting their feet under them after getting badly outplayed, got a nice cross in, and I believe it was Jeon who hit the post and then Amolo missed wide.  20 seconds later OWU is awarded a PK.  Then OWU scores again shortly before the half, sending the Lords to the halftime break down by 2 goals for the first time all season and knowing that their national DPOY candidate just could not go. 

A word on D3soccer.com's very own RH.  He does not seem like the type to brag about himself in the least, but I certainly can.  He has written some of the best pieces I've ever seen on the site, right along with the best we've seen from Mr. Shirk.  Extremely bright, very insightful, and always spot on in terms of his analysis.  This site (and all of us) are lucky to have him here, and I have no doubt that he could be a top-tier sports journalist if he wasn't pursuing what I'm sure will be a stellar legal career.  His soccer credentials are also impeccable.... a 4 year starter at OWU who was a THREE (3) year captain, which I'm guessing is unprecedented in the annals of OWU soccer, and a First Team Academic All-American.  He is an exemplar of the best of D3 athletics and what D3 athletics are all about, and no doubt is considered an icon among the pantheon of OWU greats over the years.  While the Wall brothers may have grabbed more headlines as offensive stars, I'm guessing RH is the alum Coach Martin would call in the middle of the night if he needed assistance.  No doubt he remains very close to the program, just as other alum players we've seen posting on the site the past couple of years remain close to their schools.  Finally, if I was in OWU admissions I would highlight him, not only as a representative outstanding student-athlete, but as an example of the type of excellence the university in general can produce.

[Mr.Right]

Jeez NCAC I can try to help you undo ur lips off his ass...but I agree he does a wonderful job along with FW and my man Bloots

[TennesseeJed]

Great Lakes      In-Division Record      Overall Record
1.   Ohio Wesleyan      11-2-2      11-2-2
2.   DePauw      9-1-3      9-1-3
3.   Denison      9-2-2      9-2-2
4.   Rose-Hulman      9-2-3      9-2-3
5.   Thomas More      12-1-1      12-1-1
6.   CWRU      11-2-1      11-2-1
7.   Kenyon      11-1-0      11-1-0
8   Ohio Northern      13-3-0      13-3-0


I can rationalize why OWU might be first in the NCAA's regional rankings for Great Lakes given their most recent string of wins, but with their losses to ON and TMC and tie w/ Denison, as well as their lower overall win/loss record than other teams, and given that the entire season record counts, I'm surprised that OWU's in 1st place in the region.  I'm completely baffled at how Denison and DePauw can be 2nd and 3rd and TMC, CWRU and Kenyon 5,6 and 7, resp.

[Mr.Right]

Based on that ...Kenyon is in BIG trouble unless they get the AQ....That game that was never played vs Case might really hurt

[PaulNewman]

Even if you take Kenyon out of the picture that ranking is just outrageous.

[TennesseeJed]

If you look at the data sheet for the GL region, it's dated 10/19/2015, but the record is correct through 10/20...  Curious how the results could have been known prior to the date of the games...