2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD

[SandyMac]

Ugh....Forget it.  I am actually mad that he has disrupted this fragile UMASS Boston side. After that bus ride up to Canton, NY those local city kids probably feel like they just drove to the middle of Saskatchewan. At some point boredom hit and this is the end result.

Easy there Mr. Wrong, the trip to Canton is long, but is absolutely beautiful. And the best part? They get to play on the nicest grass field east of the Mississippi!

If these "city kids" can't handle the ride, then they definitely can't handle playing on a 120x80 REAL GRASS field.

[casualfan]

Anyone think one of the bye teams can get upset after watching yesterdays matches?

In my limited viewing I thought Carthage looked pretty good.  No idea if they play on turf at home, but getting a game on ONU's turf will be good preparation for Loras.  I don't see Amherst losing, but W&L will be battle-tested after the last few weeks and Haverford's open style of play could lead to a really good game.

Carthage plays on turf as well. I think they could pose a serious threat to Loras, but the Red Men can be so inconsistent that this game could be a close win for Carthage or a blowout win for Loras. Austin Bitta is a good player for Carthage that seems to be playing very, very well at the moment.

I'm thinking Carthage may squeak it out. 2-1 in overtime for me.

[Mr.Right]

Ugh....Forget it.  I am actually mad that he has disrupted this fragile UMASS Boston side. After that bus ride up to Canton, NY those local city kids probably feel like they just drove to the middle of Saskatchewan. At some point boredom hit and this is the end result.

Easy there Mr. Wrong, the trip to Canton is long, but is absolutely beautiful. And the best part? They get to play on the nicest grass field east of the Mississippi!

If these "city kids" can't handle the ride, then they definitely can't handle playing on a 120x80 REAL GRASS field.

I am sure those kids were wide eyed the whole way up and appreciated and enjoyed and the "beautiful" ride as much as you on a Sunday stroll. Try on a different pair of shoes sometime it might help.

[SandyMac]

Pretty sure I'll be wearing this very same pair of shoes until the day I die.

But your point is well received.  I hope that mess doesn't have an effect on the UMB team, and that we get some quality soccer up in Canton this weekend (and some good weather?)

[Shooter McGavin]

First off no one likes Taylor Twellman...he's lucky Alexi Lalas is in broadcasting or he would be the most hated instead of Alexi.

Second off if you go and read some of Twellman's tweets he is firing right back at kids...why if you are a professional athlete and figure would you dip so low and play their game. If anything he should get reprimanded as well for some of the stuff I have read on his Twitter account today. What a jerk he is.

[Saint of Old]

Have to come down on the side of the kids here.
They were unwise to send the tweets they did, but we are talking about college soccer guys, not NBA players who should know the dangers of social media.

What we have here are immature kids doing something knuckleheaded.
The response by a former professional player to then Disparage the kids and the "leadership" of the University is petty and shows a lack of maturity and self esteem.

This Twellman fellow knew quite well that by doing this these kids might miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to Dance.
Was that worth it?
Could he not have reached out to these kids and the University "quietly" perhaps used this as an opportunity to speak with college D3 players and High School Players from the region about his concerns for head injuries.

Had he approached this correctly, these very same kids would have been his disciples spreading the message after they became more educated on the  matter (or not, as I don't, but could still have a civil conversation and show the kids by EXAMPLE the correct way for adults to disagree).

This was a big time political payback move pulled on college players by a small person.

P.S.
I know that Saint Nation does not want to face a weakened Umass squad because of this controversy.
Heres hoping the team will stick together and get stronger from this.

[Gol2Gol]

NJAC Predictions:

MSU: They reach the final 4 and possibly win it all. They have weapons all over the field and can get goals from everywhere. Wide guys are super dangerous and central mids can hurt you also. Teams are going to have a hard time stopping all the fire power. Hosting is always a positive but all of their blemishes have been at home interesting enough. If they get past Tufts which i think could be a difficult game, they are on their way to final 4. Only way i see them losing is if a teams sits in and defends all game and survives it by countering or PK's. Don't see many teams being able to go head-to-head with them.

Rowan: Similar to MSU with a lot of attacking talent but a notch below. They are a bit reckless creating a lot of fouls and yellow cards which could hurt if they play a team dangerous on set pieces. Youth and inexperience may catch up to them but They advance from this weekend and end their run in the sweet 16.

Camden: Not to offend LGOTB but Camden is probably the weakest soccer playing team if you look at top 7 in NJAC. They were outplayed badly in 2 of 3 NJAC playoff games but credit to them for advancing. They park the bus from the beginning and hope to score 1st goal. if they score 1st, they park 2 buses. Team is built on defense, set pieces and Ryan up front. Stop that and not much else to worry about. Teams in NCAA should be good enough to lock down one player and deal with long throws. They may get by Eastern but it ends at Oneonta.

[Shooter McGavin]

NJAC Predictions:

MSU: They reach the final 4 and possibly win it all. They have weapons all over the field and can get goals from everywhere. Wide guys are super dangerous and central mids can hurt you also. Teams are going to have a hard time stopping all the fire power. Hosting is always a positive but all of their blemishes have been at home interesting enough. If they get past Tufts which i think could be a difficult game, they are on their way to final 4. Only way i see them losing is if a teams sits in and defends all game and survives it by countering or PK's. Don't see many teams being able to go head-to-head with them.

Rowan: Similar to MSU with a lot of attacking talent but a notch below. They are a bit reckless creating a lot of fouls and yellow cards which could hurt if they play a team dangerous on set pieces. Youth and inexperience may catch up to them but They advance from this weekend and end their run in the sweet 16.

Camden: Not to offend LGOTB but Camden is probably the weakest soccer playing team if you look at top 7 in NJAC. They were outplayed badly in 2 of 3 NJAC playoff games but credit to them for advancing. They park the bus from the beginning and hope to score 1st goal. if they score 1st, they park 2 buses. Team is built on defense, set pieces and Ryan up front. Stop that and not much else to worry about. Teams in NCAA should be good enough to lock down one player and deal with long throws. They may get by Eastern but it ends at Oneonta.

I don't think Rowan gets by Dickinson in the first round...

[lastguyoffthebench]

Not offended at all, but they've won 4 of the last 5 NJAC Championships and have a few solid seniors that can lead the team on a run.... so we will see what happens.   Whatever their style may be, it works.  They are patient and organized.  Eastern game is no guarantee...   This team is capable of losing to Eastern OR making a run to KC.   

I still agree with MSU reaching at least the Final 4.   They just have to break down Tufts, which isn't easy.  And on top of that...avoid getting countered.

I have Rowan losing to Dickinson...

[NJrexSoccer03]

NJAC Predictions:

MSU: They reach the final 4 and possibly win it all. They have weapons all over the field and can get goals from everywhere. Wide guys are super dangerous and central mids can hurt you also. Teams are going to have a hard time stopping all the fire power. Hosting is always a positive but all of their blemishes have been at home interesting enough. If they get past Tufts which i think could be a difficult game, they are on their way to final 4. Only way i see them losing is if a teams sits in and defends all game and survives it by countering or PK's. Don't see many teams being able to go head-to-head with them.

Rowan: Similar to MSU with a lot of attacking talent but a notch below. They are a bit reckless creating a lot of fouls and yellow cards which could hurt if they play a team dangerous on set pieces. Youth and inexperience may catch up to them but They advance from this weekend and end their run in the sweet 16.

Camden: Not to offend LGOTB but Camden is probably the weakest soccer playing team if you look at top 7 in NJAC. They were outplayed badly in 2 of 3 NJAC playoff games but credit to them for advancing. They park the bus from the beginning and hope to score 1st goal. if they score 1st, they park 2 buses. Team is built on defense, set pieces and Ryan up front. Stop that and not much else to worry about. Teams in NCAA should be good enough to lock down one player and deal with long throws. They may get by Eastern but it ends at Oneonta.

I don't think Rowan gets by Dickinson in the first round...

I am not sure Rowan gets by Dickinson either. And then to get out of the weekend we would assume they face Lycoming which wont be an easy task. Rutgers-Camden seems to find a way to get it done. I do have them going far like LGOTB but if they "park the wrong bus" it could be 1 and done!

[PaulNewman]

A few of you seem very confident that MSU is going to derail Daniel Webster's 16 game winning streak.  Just so you know, DW packed their bags for 2 nights.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Gol2gol, post your tourney picks in the 2015 Bracketology thread...

Good luck to MSU in the quest for a run at the title.

[lastguyoffthebench]

A few of you seem very confident that MSU is going to derail Daniel Webster's 16 game winning streak.  Just so you know, DW packed their bags for 2 nights.

What are they wearing the 2nd day?  Bathing suits?

MSU 4, DW 0.

[PaulNewman]

A few of you seem very confident that MSU is going to derail Daniel Webster's 16 game winning streak.  Just so you know, DW packed their bags for 2 nights.

What are they wearing the 2nd day?  Bathing suits?

MSU 4, DW 0.

Haha...."definitely a lack of respect....an opportunity to show everyone what we're all about."

http://athletics.dwc.edu/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/20151111ik03qu

MSU....FIVE asst coaches?  Really?  MSU is one of these teams that beats you in warm-ups when you look across the field and see the fancy uniforms and guys doing ball tricks and drilling lasers top corner in a shooting drill.  DWC just needs to come out and punch 'em in the mouth.  Nashua, NH is like a "poor man's New Jersey."

[NJrexSoccer03]

A few of you seem very confident that MSU is going to derail Daniel Webster's 16 game winning streak.  Just so you know, DW packed their bags for 2 nights.

What are they wearing the 2nd day?  Bathing suits?

MSU 4, DW 0.

HAHA!! After these comments I might have to go watch this game. An hour drive doesn't sound bad.