2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD

[Mr.Right]

Can one of those assistants do their stream this wknd?

[NJrexSoccer03]

MSOE keeper makes a poor error and Ohio-Wes goes up 1-0.

[NJrexSoccer03]

MSOE keeper makes a poor error and Ohio-Wes goes up 1-0.

2-0 now.

[Ryan Harmanis]

OWU 3 MSOE 1.  OWU moves on to the second round.

OWU took the lead when the GK misjudged a short-hop cross (think baseball) in the first five.  MSOE started strongly and man the Andryk brothers are quick, but OWU settled in.  Second goal on a through ball and a great, great finish off the inside of the back post.  MSOE's defenders are struggling with the speed of OWU's forwards - maybe having Lee in the back is a blessing here (?) - and OWU is crowding the Andryk brothers with 2-3 defenders any time one of them touch the ball.

Referee is calling the game touch-tight, so we've somehow seen 14 fouls even though it hasn't been overly physical.  I'm guessing the game has more goals in it, and the third one will be crucial.  If MSOE gets it, game on.  If OWU gets it, game over.

Now 2-1, Braden Andryk scores for MSOE against the run of play.  OWU had started the second half extremely well, but MSOE dragged a CB out of position and left Andryk 1v1.  Took the ball toward the left side and a clinical finish to the back post.  Here we go...

Game is on a knife's edge right now.  The Andryk brothers are better than advertised, and any time they get someone 1v1 it's causing problems.  On the other hand, MSOE is starting to commit too many men forward, and if you leave Baum and Schaefer 2v2 at some point they're going to burn you.

3-1 OWU, dagger.  OWU's freshman CM has been great all game, cleans up a loose ball and plays a fantastic through ball for a breakaway goal.

Final thoughts: overall, pretty good performance from OWU.  First half was professional, and weathered a storm from MSOE in the second half before closing up shop down the stretch.  MSOE didn't even get a look at goal in the last 15 minutes of play.  Tough one for MSOE, as the game was pretty even overall, but OWU had just a bit more quality in the back to control the Andryk brothers, whereas MSOE's defenders couldn't cope with OWU's attacking players.

OWU now gets a 3-year starter at CB back from suspension for tomorrow, which should help when they square off against (I assume) Calvin.

[Flying Weasel]

Well that should take the game off the knife's edge.  Great pass and awareness to set up OWU's third goal.

[Ryan Harmanis]

WOW.  Wheaton and Lake Forest now knotted at 2 after only 17 seconds in the second half.  Lake Forest just drew even on a bomb from at least 30 yards out.  That was the player's first goal of the season - he'd only taken five all year - and has to be the best of his career.

[Domino1195]

OWU 3 MSOE 1.  OWU moves on to the second round.

OWU took the lead when the GK misjudged a short-hop cross (think baseball) in the first five.  MSOE started strongly and man the Andryk brothers are quick, but OWU settled in.  Second goal on a through ball and a great, great finish off the inside of the back post.  MSOE's defenders are struggling with the speed of OWU's forwards - maybe having Lee in the back is a blessing here (?) - and OWU is crowding the Andryk brothers with 2-3 defenders any time one of them touch the ball.

Referee is calling the game touch-tight, so we've somehow seen 14 fouls even though it hasn't been overly physical.  I'm guessing the game has more goals in it, and the third one will be crucial.  If MSOE gets it, game on.  If OWU gets it, game over.

Now 2-1, Braden Andryk scores for MSOE against the run of play.  OWU had started the second half extremely well, but MSOE dragged a CB out of position and left Andryk 1v1.  Took the ball toward the left side and a clinical finish to the back post.  Here we go...

Game is on a knife's edge right now.  The Andryk brothers are better than advertised, and any time they get someone 1v1 it's causing problems.  On the other hand, MSOE is starting to commit too many men forward, and if you leave Baum and Schaefer 2v2 at some point they're going to burn you.

3-1 OWU, dagger.  OWU's freshman CM has been great all game, cleans up a loose ball and plays a fantastic through ball for a breakaway goal.

Final thoughts: overall, pretty good performance from OWU.  First half was professional, and weathered a storm from MSOE in the second half before closing up shop down the stretch.  MSOE didn't even get a look at goal in the last 15 minutes of play.  Tough one for MSOE, as the game was pretty even overall, but OWU had just a bit more quality in the back to control the Andryk brothers, whereas MSOE's defenders couldn't cope with OWU's attacking players.

OWU now gets a 3-year starter at CB back from suspension for tomorrow, which should] help when they square off against (I assume) Calvin.

#8 was man of the match - solid from the beginning. Very impressive for a freshman!

[PaulNewman]

As a not-so-neutral neutral, thought MSOE would have had a real chance with just a couple more players.  For the most part the brothers just could not get on the ball enough to generate more chances as OWU did a great job smothering them.  The older brother dropped deeper into the midfield and for some reason was even taking free kicks from his own end which I'm sure was fine with OWU.  The older one also looked exhausted the last 15-18 minutes.  He created one great chance that would have tied it up, driving to the touchline and putting in a cross that was drilled point-blank from probably the six (or closer) and Farynowski made a fantastic save.  Looked like a sure goal.  2-2 would have allowed MSOE not to be so exposed the last 15 minutes.  That was last real chance MSOE had.  Will be interesting to see what Martin does with his other CB coming back, as Barnes and Lee together look like a formidable duo and they seem to have several players who can be just as effective together offensively as when they have Lee up top (and who of course they can still bring forward on set pieces).  Bottom line is that OWU just had too much overall quality for the visitors from Milwaukee and of course going on the road and spotting a heavyweight a goal in the first 2-3 minutes with a GK gift sure doesn't help when you're going for the upset.

[PaulNewman]

Macalester and CSS in a tight one.  Looks like 1 goal will decide it (or PKs).

I just cannot figure Wheaton out.  Every time I watch them I think they should never lose a game.  So talented, so fast, so HUGE, so much (apparent) team love/chemistry, etc, etc and yet they are 2-2 with Lake Forest (not Wake Forest...Lake Forest).

BTW, the Wheaton video (HD quality and camera angle/proximity to field) is exceptional.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Macalester and CSS in a tight one.  Looks like 1 goal will decide it (or PKs).

I just cannot figure Wheaton out.  Every time I watch them I think they should never lose a game.  So talented, so fast, so HUGE, so much (apparent) team love/chemistry, etc, etc and yet they are 2-2 with Lake Forest (not Wake Forest...Lake Forest).

Not only that, Lake Forest could easily be up a goal or two.  They've missed a sitter inside the six and two breakaways.

Wheaton's biggest issue for years, IMO, has been that they sometimes play and attack with such reckless abandon that they don't manage a game.  Tonight's a great example.  They dominate but lose focus at the wrong time and suddenly the other team gets a chance or two.

[PaulNewman]

Macalester and CSS in a tight one.  Looks like 1 goal will decide it (or PKs).

I just cannot figure Wheaton out.  Every time I watch them I think they should never lose a game.  So talented, so fast, so HUGE, so much (apparent) team love/chemistry, etc, etc and yet they are 2-2 with Lake Forest (not Wake Forest...Lake Forest).

Not only that, Lake Forest could easily be up a goal or two.  They've missed a sitter inside the six and two breakaways.

Wheaton's biggest issue for years, IMO, has been that they sometimes play and attack with such reckless abandon that they don't manage a game.  Tonight's a great example.  They dominate but lose focus at the wrong time and suddenly the other team gets a chance or two.

That's interesting.  I've commented before that Wheaton always looks too frenetic, and for no good reason, but then I wondered if it was just the good video making the game looking much faster than other video.  And the turf field with the very tight sidelines/corner areas and weird looking goals gives an impression of an indoor-type game.  I've heard that the surface is very fast even for a turf field as well.

[PaulNewman]

Good night St Scholastica.  Thanks for ruining my perfect bracket.

[Centennial1]

Calvin playing direct ball as usual, but looking skilled enough to make it work deep into the tourney. Big props to the announcer (perhaps from OWU) who is the first commentator I have heard online that knows the game. Good job.

[Domino1195]

Calvin playing direct ball as usual, but looking skilled enough to make it work deep into the tourney. Big props to the announcer (perhaps from OWU) who is the first commentator I have heard online that knows the game. Good job.

Set pieces - monster back line. All their attack starts with their backs - many times bypassing their midfield. #26 does get on the ball some, but their back 4 are something. Mt Aloysius is a glorified HS team - most lack essential trapping and passing skills - YET it is 1-0 at half.

Per tomorrow's match up with OWU: if OWU keeps the ball on the ground and gets their forwards facing forward - if may be interesting. Calvin has many complementary players in the top two lines - I think OWU has the advantage there. Calvin's back 4 are fun to watch.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Calvin playing direct ball as usual, but looking skilled enough to make it work deep into the tourney. Big props to the announcer (perhaps from OWU) who is the first commentator I have heard online that knows the game. Good job.

I believe the announcer is actually a freshman at OWU, and yes he does a pretty good job.

Assuming Calvin holds on, tomorrow will be interesting and should be a good, open game.  I wouldn't put much stock in Calvin's performance today either way, considering Mt. Aloysius lost 5-2 to the eighth place team in the NCAC.  The only thing to take from it, truthfully, is that because the score has remained close for much of the game Calvin can't just yank the whole lineup to get extra rest.

Some history between Calvin and OWU, including last year's second-round PK win by OWU and the 2011 title game won 2-1 by OWU.  Going farther back, 10 years ago Calvin upset a 20-0-0 OWU squad in the second round.