2015 Great Lakes Region

[PaulNewman]

I did forget about that one sequence when Kenyon got lucky that OWU didn't score with about 18 min, although the initial play that created the chance(s) came out of nothing really and/or a defensive error.  Agree that OWU controlled possession first 15-20 minutes but in my view Kenyon survived that period much better with no real threats as compared to last game last year and last 20 minutes of 1st half more even with even some tilting to Kenyon.  The word about the 2nd PK is interesting.  Seemed like a yellow would have been the most a player could get for dissent and the ref had handed out some yellows, and seemed like this was a straight red.  The straight red fits with an obvious and clear takedown in the box.  At any rate, it was completely improbable that OWU was going to score twice in the last minute as Kenyon looked to be very much seeing the game out with little threat after the play noted above with 18 min left, and then even more improbable for Kenyon to get a PK with 2 secs left.  Those things happening in the same game in the same minute seems as likely as a solar eclipse.  I thought the OWU was GK WAS just letting the clock run for OT and threw the ball or punted out (I thought he punted but now I'm not even sure which Kenyon player drew the foul), and with 12 or so secs left the game would have run out and OWU would have had massive momentum in OT with Kenyon still absolutely dazed and gutted by what had just transpired. 

BTW, on the 1st PK, it looked like the GK made a decent play on the Kenyon player initially but the ball was loose and GK prevented player from getting up off the ground.  I thought that was the call.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Yea I have actual confirmation the red was not given to the player who committed the foul.  The red was for dissent, and I do have some personal knowledge of that ref and he does sometimes lose his cool completely, so I'm not surprised.

Pretty much agree with everything else you said.  I'm a little nervous about OWU getting in, but I refuse to believe the NCAC could be a one-bid league and OWU's at-large profile is above-average compared to the Pool C teams from 2014 and 2013.

[PaulNewman]

Fascinating about the ref, because I just checked and that's same ref that TennesseeJed and I complained about so much in the Kenyon-DePauw game when seemed clear that he turned on Amolo after Tony complained, and called a foul on him basically every time he moved.  If your info is correct, then that's a bad call, although still leaves the question about whether or how much a foul there was.  Can't give a straight red to a kid just for dissent especially at that very bizarre and emotional moment in the game.  Hopefully we'll all get a chance to see the play on video.

Amolo was out last 22+ min of Oberlin and last 26 min today.  Would make sense to me if he was a lone striker or going from 2 forwards to 1, but he's been playing much deeper recently apparently to get more of the ball and he's one of if not the best player they have on the ball.  And coincidence or not Oberlin ALMOST (and probably should have) tied that game, ironically in the last 30 secs of that one as Ingham barely missed on a chip wide.

I'm being told this is first time Kenyon has beaten OWU twice since 1956....so about 59 years.

I have to believe OWU is safe, especially if other teams with as many and even more blemishes get in given the very high SoS.  That said, I think DePauw and TMC are in serious jeopardy.  Very possible CMU and OWU will be the only 2 at-large teams and we'll never know if that last minute might have even cost Kenyon a bid had they gone on to lose in OT.  And you'll feel even safer if Case knocks off CMU.  Chicago coming back from a 0-2 deficit really shakes things up as well.

[Domino1195]

Must be something in the air in Ohio today. ONU scores twice in the last ten minutes, the tying goal goal with 50 seconds left, to send the game into OT.

[PaulNewman]

Must be something in the air in Ohio today. ONU scores twice in the last ten minutes, the tying goal goal with 50 seconds left, to send the game into OT.

Wow, cannot believe that and had just crossed off ONU on my master list!

[Domino1195]

Going to a shoot out at ONU

ONU 4-3 in the shoot out. Tied through 4 kicks ONU converts the first of the fifth round - JCU had their last effort saved

[PaulNewman]

Another brutal end of the season for JCU.  Up 2-0 under 10 to go and lose PKs.  Ohio Northern on the other hand came back with their backs against the wall and now at 17-4-1 probably deserved to be in the tournament.

Also, how about Westminster (PA), knocking off TMC away and then prevailing in PKs away at Geneva?

FYI, I posted link to highlights of Kenyon-OWU on national thread.  Also on Kenyon website.

[Domino1195]

Thank you schedule maker. Getting to ONU on Thursday will be tricky, but doable. 2 games on Friday at OWU. Pick up my college roommate at 10 am Sat - straight to Kenyon for 2, with no OT's we can get to OWU for the 5 pm start

[PaulNewman]

Will be interesting to see how Great Lakes fares especially with the 4 Pool Cs.  I'm sure our friends in other regions will be interested as well.  I think a couple of teams can make deep runs, but we also could be wiped out in the first weekend (Pool Cs and AQs). 

[Ryan Harmanis]

True, but I'm glad to see the committee rewarded the teams with good profiles.  Four Pool Cs is definitely high for the Great Lakes, but by the end of the season the Top 5 in the region (including Kenyon with the AQ) had created serious separation.  And I think OWU and CMU were in comfortably.  DePauw and TMC were closer, but when you compared them to teams from other regions - Tufts, everyone from the East, UW-Oshkosh, everyone from the West, and frankly even Wheaton and Wash U. from the Central, it's probably a fair outcome.

I question TMC over ETown only because the profiles are so similar, but perhaps TMC's win @OWU carried more weight?  DePauw I thought was getting in, as they have such a great pair of wins (Loras + Kenyon) and the bubble itself, while crowded, was not particularly strong.

The Middlebury thing is a head scratcher, but DePauw had the three ranked wins (Middlebury just the one), and Middlebury and TMC are actually kinda close in other regards.  I just assumed the committee wouldn't bump Tufts above Middlebury after a draw with Tufts not playing this week.

[PaulNewman]

True, but I'm glad to see the committee rewarded the teams with good profiles.  Four Pool Cs is definitely high for the Great Lakes, but by the end of the season the Top 5 in the region (including Kenyon with the AQ) had created serious separation.  And I think OWU and CMU were in comfortably.  DePauw and TMC were closer, but when you compared them to teams from other regions - Tufts, everyone from the East, UW-Oshkosh, everyone from the West, and frankly even Wheaton and Wash U. from the Central, it's probably a fair outcome.

I question TMC over ETown only because the profiles are so similar, but perhaps TMC's win @OWU carried more weight?  DePauw I thought was getting in, as they have such a great pair of wins (Loras + Kenyon) and the bubble itself, while crowded, was not particularly strong.

The Middlebury thing is a head scratcher, but DePauw had the three ranked wins (Middlebury just the one), and Middlebury and TMC are actually kinda close in other regards.  I just assumed the committee wouldn't bump Tufts above Middlebury after a draw with Tufts not playing this week.

Yep, I think I actually predicted four.  Definitely was a good year for GL, and that's not even including Case (who I think you and I both had as part of the GL top 4 just 2-3 weeks ago) and Denison.  A lot of good to very good teams.  We'll have to see if any of them are great.  Not sure any of them will strike fear in the hearts of other heavyweights.  I could see CMU and DPU exiting early, but hopefully they will surprise me.  TMC if they survive Chicago will then likely play Kenyon so at least one GL team will exit there.  And then OWU has two very good (but in my opinion winnable) games including with a traditional foe/rival.  ONU with a win will be confronted by Loras.

[PaulNewman]

Interesting finish in the NSCAA final Great Lakes poll, with Ohio Northern coming in at #3 (after Kenyon and TMC), and Case Western ahead of both CMU and DePauw.

[Domino1195]

Weather report for this weekend could make for some interesting games in Ohio.  Rain moves through tonight followed by high wind advisories for Thursday and Friday.  Tomorrow's ONU game may have the worst of it (gusts up to 50 mph), but forecasts are still calling for 20+ mph winds on Friday - temps dipping into the 40's and 30's.

[Domino1195]

ONU concedes an own goal within the first minute of the game and has been totally outplayed at home. They are playing with the speed of molasses and the strength of a team of first graders. Carthage very organized in the back - taking the ball away from ONU with ease and off on counters. Carthage hits the post off a set piece. Wind blowing directly across the field from the players bench to the camera

[Domino1195]

ONU ties it off a long cross into the box and headed home. Carthage players argue for an OS - not uncommon on long balls when defenders lose track of their marks. Goal came within minutes of the half. 1-1