Final 4 Predictions

[Shooter McGavin]

I actually think if Middlebury gets in they are really built for this tournament. Athletic, Great GK, Size advantage on any team in most positions, Strong spine, 2 legit strikers. With their direct style and formation they are one of the hardest teams to break down. Now if they went out and won Nescac championship and somehow could host until the Final 4, that is another MAJOR advantage for them. They have not lost at home in 2 years.

YES!!!^^^^ I forgot about them. Add them to the list of under the radar teams built for this tournament.

[Shooter McGavin]

Ok so lets do this....You throw down 300 bananas to win 150 from me for a SLU victory...

I throw down 300 bananas to win 450 from you if Skidmore wins or draws....

Still waiting for those bananas/Coors Lights Mr. Right......season's almost over. You are a man of your word correct? 

[Mr.Right]

dude the game is not until Saturday..you haven't won yet

[Shooter McGavin]

dude the game is not until Saturday..you haven't won yet

This was from the bet we made 3 weeks ago...we can go double or nothing on the LL championship if you want? I got SLU 2 Skid 1 in OT.

You can calculate the bananas like last time. 

[lastguyoffthebench]

SLU 2-0 final.   3 to 1 odds.

[blooter442]

Final 4:
Amherst
Haverford
Loras
Trinity (Texas)

Elite 8:
Montclair St.
Kenyon
Middlebury
St. Lawrence

This is all based on gut feeling. Logically speaking, I think Amherst and Brandeis are the two most likely Elite 8 representatives from New England, and even if the Elite 8 game were to be played at Brandeis I think Amherst would win it on Brandeis' carpet. But you never know. Either way, not sure the Judges are an Elite 8/Final 4 team despite the rankings, and also despite them being my team.

Yes, I know Middlebury being in there seems ridiculous, especially considering they're by no means guaranteed a place, but I think they're well-suited to this tournament for all of the reasons mentioned - mostly that they're difficult to break down. That said, they were simply awful when I saw them against Tufts, and a lack of cutting edge will see them fall short of the Final 4, and probably even the Elite 8.

[PaulNewman]

Final 4:
Amherst
Haverford
Loras
Trinity (Texas)

Elite 8:
Montclair St.
Kenyon
Middlebury
St. Lawrence

This is all based on gut feeling. Logically speaking, I think Amherst and Brandeis are the two most likely Elite 8 representatives from New England, and even if the Elite 8 game were to be played at Brandeis I think Amherst would win it on Brandeis' carpet. But you never know. Either way, not sure the Judges are an Elite 8/Final 4 team despite the rankings, and also despite them being my team.

Yes, I know Middlebury being in there seems ridiculous, especially considering they're by no means guaranteed a place, but I think they're well-suited to this tournament for all of the reasons mentioned - mostly that they're difficult to break down. That said, they were simply awful when I saw them against Tufts, and a lack of cutting edge will see them fall short of the Final 4, and probably even the Elite 8.

Bloots, Trinity and Loras will almost certainly be in the same section, and Midd would likely be with either SLU or Montclair, although this is a crazy year so who knows.

[blooter442]

Bloots, Trinity and Loras will almost certainly be in the same section, and Midd would likely be with either SLU or Montclair, although this is a crazy year so who knows.

I had a suspicion that would be the case, but stranger things have happened and I can't say who else I would put to make a more geographically diverse yet equally likely bracket. If 2014 was "Year of the Jumbo," 2015 is "Year of the Crapshoot."

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Final 4
Oneonta St.
Haverford
Montclair St.
Kenyon

Elite 8
Ohio Wesleyan
Amherst
Trinity
Loras

Not sure if this works geographically...doesn't look to off does it?

And if we are doing a "Next 2" thing I would put Wheaton(Ill) and F&M in it.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Geographically this could be an elite 8

Elite 8
Trinity vs Loras
Amherst vs Middlebury/SLU
Haverford vs Oneonta St/NJAC school
Kenyon vs Calvin

I don't think we will see Oneonta St in the same pod as Amherst and Middlebury


Three byes:
Calvin, Kenyon (if win AQ), Amherst

[Mr.Right]

I would like to see SLU in a different pod than Amherst this year. They are always bunched in with Amherst or Williams and just have had some terrible luck in some of those contests. With Durocher leading the East region committee this year I would imagine he would like to mix it up as well. Hard to do geographically but a possibility. If you can send NJAC schools to Middlebury circa 2006-2008, then you can send NJAC schools to SLU or vice versa.

[SandyMac]

I'm obviously biased, but I'm also sick of seeing SLU get stuck with a NESCAC team ranked top 5 nationally in the second round.  They've had either Amherst (3x) or Williams (1x) 4 of the past 5 years in the round of 32, which is just brutal.  I'd love to see the bracket get a little shuffle, and see SLU match up against a team like Montclair St. or MIT.  SLU knocked off Midd at a Neutral site in NJ in 2008 (I believe), and I'm shocked that they haven't had more competition in the Metro NY/NJ area since.

Of course, as a traveling alum, I'd just like for them to play in a fun city 

[Mr.Right]

SLU knocked off Midd in 2006 at NYU and then totally blew a great chance to get to the 2006 Final 4 against NYU.

[SandyMac]

This SLU team is an interesting mix of seasoned veterans with NCAA experience, and hugely talented freshmen who are carrying the offensive load. 

It will be interesting to see how they react come tourney time.  Hopefully for the Saints, the freshmen aren't overwhelmed by the occasion and come continue to bang in the goals.

Defense, wins championships, right? 6 goals against in 17 games, 12 shutouts...

[lastguyoffthebench]

Player with most goals in 2015?  Mike Ryan  (Golz, Colofranson, someone from CSS).     

Team with the most shutouts?  Kenyon

Will a team go unbeaten before the tourney this year?   No

Longest unbeaten streak?  Wheaton Ill (gonna be tough going into Loras and getting the W).

Over/under Messiah losses... 3.5?  (over)

Over/under Tufts losses... 4  (over)

FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS:  Wheaton Ill, Trinity, Amherst, Rutgers-Camden    (Elite 8:  Loras, Ohio Wesleyan, SLU, Oneonta St).   Messiah bows out in Sweet 16.

I'll have to remind myself to check this come tournament time... haha.

Well it looks like someone from CSS will take the most goals for the season

Hopefully I'm wrong with the unbeaten streak, because Calvin will earn a Pool C if not...

Bad calls on Kenyon with the most shutouts...

Even more of a bad call with Wheaton (Ill)

Winner with Messiah over and push with Tufts.

Let's see how this final 4 pans out...