2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD

[Domino1195]

Thomas More down to ten men against Chicago and still down2-0. Thomas More has been dominated. Expected Chicago to win but thought TM would be much better.

Not just a red card, but TMC's All-American and best player.  TMC always seems to play on a edge with a very chippy style.  Ref missed a blatant hand ball by Chicago and Juniet must have used the wrong language in his dissent because didn't look like he did anything that merited a red.

Happened 15 yards in front of us - choice words were in Spanish too! Per the handling - if it's the one by the center mid-back -more ball to hand. If I were TM I'd go after #10 - he's on the edge.

Red card because of bad language? I'm sorry, but that's an absolute joke, and should be a yellow at most. These are adults playing and letting some curse words dictate the outcome of a match is absurd.

Just getting back home after the OWU game. Great response by Calvin after falling behind - they took it to OWU and the front lines showed what they are capable of - kudos.

Sitting with three other refs - that red card in the Chicago game was a roughy call. Maybe the fact that the opposing player was Hispanic played into the ref's decision - but we all agree that a yellow would have been the better choice. But AL is a send-off offense - players have to know the rules!!!

[jknezek]

From my distant days as a referee it mattered to me if the player  cursed, or if he cursed at me.  A curse about a play or at the ball I didn't care about but, for example, calling the referee a "piece of sh!t" or saying "only an a $$hole makes that call" in any langauge I knew got you tossed.

[PaulNewman]

Domino, any impressions of Chicago or Chicago and TMC other than red card issue?

[Domino1195]

Domino, any impressions of Chicago or Chicago and TMC other than red card issue?

They're a very balanced team - I think similar to Calvin where all players on the field are competent and support each other well. We'll be there at one - I hope it is as good a game as was Calvin last night.

My college teammate's son is on the coaching staff at Chicago - he checks these boards occasionally - hi Pat - but they do get their best forward back today (sat out yesterday due to yellow card accumulation).

Very impressed with Calvin's second half last night. Don't know if they played down on Friday but the front two lines really stepped up their game. Liked # 11 on the left wing and #26 had a very good game in the middle of the field.

[Dark Knight]

Very impressed with Calvin's second half last night. Don't know if they played down on Friday but the front two lines really stepped up their game. Liked # 11 on the left wing and #26 had a very good game in the middle of the field.

Calvin had a ton of good chances in the Aloysius game. With 32 shots (16 on goal) they would have scored almost 6 goals at their season-average rate. I give a lot of credit to Aloysius' keeper.

#11, Mitch Stark, is the team's lead table-setter. He has 16 assists to go with his 8 goals on the season. #5 Nick Groenewold on the back line (6 goals, 3 assists) was the league MVP, though.

[lastguyoffthebench]

oeonta st vs Rutgers-Camden is at 1:00 not 2:00

the winner of this game is headed to KC, IMO

[Domino1195]

Gorgeous day at Kenyon - bright sunshine, 60 degrees, light breeze!

[NJrexSoccer03]

oeonta st vs Rutgers-Camden is at 1:00 not 2:00

the winner of this game is headed to KC, IMO

Predictions for this game!
R-C wins on PKS. If not my bracket is busted.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Thoughts on Calvin-OWU:

-OWU should have and easily could have buried Calvin in the first half.  The goal, one off the crossbar (that I think the GK may have tipped), a breakaway that just went over, a sitter from 8 yards out, and a few other very good chances.  At a minimum the game should have been 2-0 in the first 30, and with how poorly Calvin reacted in the first half to going just a goal down - before recovering for the second half - I think the game would have been over at 2-0.

-Calvin was lucky to survive the first half, but they'll be better off for it in the long run.  Calvin was on the edge, both from a scoreline and a composure perspective.  The one CB for Calvin, who looked like an extremely talented player, shoved several OWU players during/after plays, finally picked up a yellow for just kicking someone 5 yards away from the ball, and was both lucky to stay on the field and probably one foul away from seeing red.  But then again, that's probably the first real adversity Calvin has seen all year, so to come back and survive it bodes well going forward for two reasons.  First, they won't be shell-shocked the way they were yesterday - the 10 minutes after OWU scored it looked like the game might get out of hand.  Second, they know they can come back and will trust their style of play and keep their composure better in the later rounds.  Kudos to the coaching staff for getting Calvin back to its style of play at halftime.

-OWU was going to need a second goal to ice the game.  They saw out the first half with basically no problems, and I thought they started the second half well and had some half-chances.  But with about 30 to go, Calvin started turning the screws and it looked like whoever scored the next goal would win.  Calvin with the territory and a barrage of set pieces, long throws, and 1v1s from the wings with crosses into the box.  OWU trying to hit on the counter.

-Calvin wore OWU down with the set pieces and long throws.  I cannot stand long throws, but they're part of the game and you have to defend them.  OWU handled the actually throws fine, but Calvin did a really good job picking up every second ball when OWU would try to clear it.  From the 60 minute mark until Calvin's goals, I don't know if Calvin let OWU out of its end with possession.  When Calvin is effective they basically play through their wingers, have them go 1v1 and try to play cutbacks and crosses into the box for finishes.  That's how they scored the first goal.

-Calvin's second way to attack is set pieces.  Their team is huge, especially when they bring the backs up, and they won both games this weekend on corner kicks.  They also have a long throw that can basically get to the penalty spot from the sideline on a rope.

-That was a late-round game in terms of quality.  It's a shame to watch two teams with Top-10 talent have to battle it out so early, but Calvin's schedule was terrible and OWU failed to win several big games in the regular season, so that's the way it goes.  But that was a very, very good game.

-Finally, as an OWU alum (and with a brother on the team), I feel for the guys.  Losing two starters to season-ending injuries really hurt the depth and flexibility, but when they were on (like in the first half) they were capable of beating anyone in the country.  There's frustration because OWU basically went even with two Top-5 teams down the stretch without getting a win, but on the other hand I'd prefer to see OWU go out against a good team that comes to play than against a team that can't match up and packs it in. 

Congrats to Calvin as well, that was a really good comeback.  The opening game of the season next year is a rematch, Calvin @ OWU, so looking forward to doing it again.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Camden already in trouble, down 1-0 vs Oneonta St

[blooter442]

Bowdoin hit the post against MIT on a penalty from Keefe. Still 0-0. Looked like a bit of a harsh call so perhaps it was fair.

[Flying Weasel]

Does Rutgers-Camden really not have a single shot?  Or is the scorekeeper for the on-line broadcasts and electronic scoreboard at the field just not recording shots for the away team?

[lastguyoffthebench]

Oneonta St has been very impressive... Expect Camden to go 4-1-3-2 midway through 2nd half if they can hold this potent attack from Red Dragons.

[NJrexSoccer03]

Camden already in trouble, down 1-0 vs Oneonta St

A goal against the run of play on a set piece. The first 8 minutes in R-C's favor and give up a foul 20yds out that the keeper can't hold onto. The rest of the half I think went to SUNY. It could be 3-0 SUNY. Some poor defending in the box by R-C.

[lastguyoffthebench]

I don't think they do, FW.   Yesterday OWU held Calvin to 2 shots in the first half.

I can see a scrappy goal coming for Camden off a throw in...