2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD

[blooter442]

It wasn't pretty, but Amherst is back in the Final 4. Trinity switched off for 1 second and it cost them. Fitting for Amherst that NPL scored the only goal of the game in 2OT.

[PaulNewman]

Had to figure that Trinity was going to give up one throw or corner too many.  Surprised they kept Amherst off the board as long they did.  Has there ever been a team with so many players 6'5 or taller?

[KICKIN95]

That Gibson save..... 

World class save right there Goose!

[KICKIN95]

Had to figure that Trinity was going to give up one throw or corner too many.  Surprised they kept Amherst off the board as long they did.  Has there ever been a team with so many players 6'5 or taller?

the only team that comes to mind would be Calvin from a few years ago.  Not sure how many they actually had, but they all seemed like skyscrapers against opposing teams.

[PaulNewman]

Oneonta did not look like best team in the country today.  And now Amherst gets them with a key player out on red card suspension.

The Elite 8 games this year have been phenomenal from a competitive standpoint.  Very even match-ups.  And maybe the best one still to come tomorrow.

[dontshootthegoose]

I can't wait for this Loras/Wheaton game tomorrow!!!!

[Flying Weasel]

Neither Drew nor Loras keepers are mentioned in the NCAA record book

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/2015/Div3.pdf

Perhaps they weren't all solo shutouts, or they weren't all against DIII teams.

This is not to anything away from Calvin's keeper, Giantsopoulos. Just wanted to mention some things to take into account.

First, the Drew keeper Peter Boyer is mentioned.  He's second on the list in the current record book with 17 solo shutouts.

Second, the NCAA record books often have omissions and errors (e.g. Peter Boyer's .940 save pct. in 2003 is NOT included).  I can't remember how many I have stumbled upon over the years and have e-mail the NCAA about.  Some seem to get corrected in subsequent years, some do not. So don't take the NCAA record books to be 100% accurate/true.
 
Third, how much stock you put in goalkeeper shutouts, that is, solo shutouts, as a stat should be done in the knowledge that if a 'keeper is substituted out to give the back-up some minutes, there goes the solo shutout. Consequently, you'll have some 'keepers lower on the list simply because their coaches wanted to take advantage of games well in hand to give a back-up some experience.

In the case of Drew's Peter Boyer, he missed two games in 2003, both shutouts, and was subbed out a few times including twice in shutouts--9 and 20 minutes from time--with Drew leading 3-0. So that's how his solo shutout total was 17 while Drew had 21 total shutouts that year.  (BTW, does anyone remember if he was dealing with any injury or ailment that year--I think I vaguely remember that being the case and why he missed those games).

[Domino1195]

Yeah, Domino, I thought the ref did Kenyon no favors.  Called a ton of touch fouls on the Lords and let some much harder stuff from Calvin go.  Seemed unbelievable Barnes didn't a call when he was taken out right outside the box.  Is the play you are talking about with #5 the play Barnes got sent off on?  I don't fault Barnes too much for getting a 2nd yellow (although that would have been a problem if they won), as there were only 2 minutes left and that certainly did not decide the game.  His real mistake was getting the 1st yellow for waving off the ref on a call leaving him with no margin for error, forgetting that the ref earlier had given him a gift by not giving him a yellow in the first minute or two in the game when he came in hard on a challenge. I'm guessing the ref resented Barnes' pretty minor dissent after giving him a break earlier.  Let's be honest.  Kenyon also really missed Carmona.  We lost the ball in the midfield needlessly time after time after time, and that's been a theme for a while.  My sense is the chemistry is pretty good, but when you have a bunch of talented kids and you're frustrated certainly there can be breakdowns and even complaints about who is favored and who isn't.

I believe building a team at the college level has to be one of the most difficult coaching jobs. By the time you get to U15 club, the boys - and the parents - buy in to the role each player has on the squad (those who don't - leave).  A college coach has 20+ players who were "all world" - and starting all over again does sit well for those who well, have to sit.  Managing expectations and egos is a huge coaching challenge - and dare I say more so in the Age of Entitlement that defines today's youth.

OWU players I have know tell me how Jay tells them straight out: "You aren't going to play as a freshman."  Of course some do - but I think - from what I've been told - his management of expectations - one of the keys to life - is excellent.  That, and letting players know where they are on the depth chart throughout their careers, can go a long way to creating a good team environment.

The play I'm referring to happened right at midfield.  Two Kenyon players were involved; one had their arm wrapped backwards around 5 - 5 was doing the same back. As they remained tangled and started to spin 5 grabbed the other Kenyon player's shirt and pulled all down with him.  Gave quite a theatrical cry as he fell.

The Barnes incident in the corner was a dive - even the Kenyon fans around me agreed.

The ref refused to allow any quick restarts unless the ball was placed on the exact blade of grass on which the foul occurred.  Annoying.  Inconsistent with things he called and let go.  I thought the foul right on top of the 18 - first half - when #11 was dribbling across the 18 - on his right foot and about to shoot - was a crazy example.  But I do not think he impacted the game, and as referees that's a "compliment" you want to hear.

[Nutmeg]

Yeah, Domino, I thought the ref did Kenyon no favors.  Called a ton of touch fouls on the Lords and let some much harder stuff from Calvin go.  Seemed unbelievable Barnes didn't a call when he was taken out right outside the box.  Is the play you are talking about with #5 the play Barnes got sent off on?  I don't fault Barnes too much for getting a 2nd yellow (although that would have been a problem if they won), as there were only 2 minutes left and that certainly did not decide the game.  His real mistake was getting the 1st yellow for waving off the ref on a call leaving him with no margin for error, forgetting that the ref earlier had given him a gift by not giving him a yellow in the first minute or two in the game when he came in hard on a challenge. I'm guessing the ref resented Barnes' pretty minor dissent after giving him a break earlier.  Let's be honest.  Kenyon also really missed Carmona.  We lost the ball in the midfield needlessly time after time after time, and that's been a theme for a while.  My sense is the chemistry is pretty good, but when you have a bunch of talented kids and you're frustrated certainly there can be breakdowns and even complaints about who is favored and who isn't.

I believe building a team at the college level has to be one of the most difficult coaching jobs. By the time you get to U15 club, the boys - and the parents - buy in to the role each player has on the squad (those who don't - leave).  A college coach has 20+ players who were "all world" - and starting all over again does sit well for those who well, have to sit.  Managing expectations and egos is a huge coaching challenge - and dare I say more so in the Age of Entitlement that defines today's youth.

OWU players I have know tell me how Jay tells them straight out: "You aren't going to play as a freshman."  Of course some do - but I think - from what I've been told - his management of expectations - one of the keys to life - is excellent.  That, and letting players know where they are on the depth chart throughout their careers, can go a long way to creating a good team environment.

The play I'm referring to happened right at midfield.  Two Kenyon players were involved; one had their arm wrapped backwards around 5 - 5 was doing the same back. As they remained tangled and started to spin 5 grabbed the other Kenyon player's shirt and pulled all down with him.  Gave quite a theatrical cry as he fell.

The Barnes incident in the corner was a dive - even the Kenyon fans around me agreed.

The ref refused to allow any quick restarts unless the ball was placed on the exact blade of grass on which the foul occurred.  Annoying.  Inconsistent with things he called and let go.  I thought the foul right on top of the 18 - first half - when #11 was dribbling across the 18 - on his right foot and about to shoot - was a crazy example.  But I do not think he impacted the game, and as referees that's a "compliment" you want to hear.

I also noticed some Kenyon "flopping" and bickering in the Kenyon tufts game.... Note: the flopping had no real bearing on the game but it was there on a few occasions...

[Nutmeg]

Had to figure that Trinity was going to give up one throw or corner too many.  Surprised they kept Amherst off the board as long they did.  Has there ever been a team with so many players 6'5 or taller?

Amherst 2012.....

[d3fan1]

Sure the Panthers handled North Carolina, but can they beat Dubuque? 

[d3fan1]

Domino, I understand what you mean about Calvin. I am a huge Calvin supporter and I don't think they have been given enough credit throughout this tournament, but they did need to switch the field more against Kenyon. It was definitely there. Hopefully they can make some adjustments and if they do, they will be very difficult to beat with that defense they have. You sure can't doubt their results, though.

[Jump4Joy]

Oneonta did not look like best team in the country today.  And now Amherst gets them with a key player out on red card suspension.

What happened? I was watching another match

[firstplaceloser]

Congrats to all final four teams so far. there's no better feeling than going to Thanksgiving knowing you're going to Kansas City. Good luck to loras tomorrow. Hoping for a Loras, Oneonta, Calvin, Amherst. I believe it will be one of the most interesting final hours in recent years!

[Domino1195]

Domino, I understand what you mean about Calvin. I am a huge Calvin supporter and I don't think they have been given enough credit throughout this tournament, but they did need to switch the field more against Kenyon. It was definitely there. Hopefully they can make some adjustments and if they do, they will be very difficult to beat with that defense they have. You sure can't doubt their results, though.

Not sure they need or should make adjustments - it's not broken!

My son's club and HS coach had a statement printed on the front of their warm-up t-shirts: "Defending our goal as we would defend our mother's honor."  That's where championships start - and many times end - keeping the other team off the score sheet.