Mid-Atlantic Region 2016

[just4kix]

Not a lock to host a sectional in an even year if their women's team makes it that far.

[Falconer]

Not a lock to host a sectional in an even year if their women's team makes it that far.

Do I have it backwards?  I thought men hosted in even years, whenever both teams make it.  Surely the women will also get a bid this year....

[just4kix]

I'm pretty sure men would host Round 1/2, women would host sectional round.

[Falconer]

I'm pretty sure men would host Round 1/2, women would host sectional round.

Thank you for that clarification.  I looked up the rules and you are correct.  So was I, but my terminology was wrong.  What I meant is that the men are a lock to host the first weekend, but I erroneously referred to it as the sectional.  I was assuming, incorrectly, that the terms are "sectional," "regional," and final four, whereas in fact the "sectional" means the second weekend, not the first.

[firstplaceloser]

Messiah takes care of business, beating Arcadia 4-0 in a lopsided and asymmetric game.  Predictably, Arcadia put everyone in front of the ball in the first half, and quite literally possessed the ball on the other end less than half a minute all together. No shots for them in the first 45 minutes, whereas the Falcons had maybe two dozen, maybe half of them on goal and many of those very well struck, including a couple of headers that just somehow ended up in the keeper's capable hands--he kept his team in the game and also got lucky, insofar as several of the rockets (there were several) were right at him.  No score at the half.

Messiah scored in the first six minutes of the second half and the floodgates opened as Arcadia was forced to attack.  No change in the result, but it made for better watching. 

The Falcons are at the top of their game heading into the conference final vs LVC on Saturday.  Barring a major surprise, they will be rolling into the dance next week as a lock to host a sectional.

i must admit at the beginning of the season the Falcons looked sketchy but they came back and are putting on quite a show.

[Mr.Right]

Messiah takes care of business, beating Arcadia 4-0 in a lopsided and asymmetric game.  Predictably, Arcadia put everyone in front of the ball in the first half, and quite literally possessed the ball on the other end less than half a minute all together. No shots for them in the first 45 minutes, whereas the Falcons had maybe two dozen, maybe half of them on goal and many of those very well struck, including a couple of headers that just somehow ended up in the keeper's capable hands--he kept his team in the game and also got lucky, insofar as several of the rockets (there were several) were right at him.  No score at the half.

Messiah scored in the first six minutes of the second half and the floodgates opened as Arcadia was forced to attack.  No change in the result, but it made for better watching. 

The Falcons are at the top of their game heading into the conference final vs LVC on Saturday.  Barring a major surprise, they will be rolling into the dance next week as a lock to host a sectional.

i must admit at the beginning of the season the Falcons looked sketchy but they came back and are putting on quite a show.

Let's wait and see when they come up against some top competition in the NCAA 2nd / 3rd round. With 3 NJAC teams going to the NCAA's you have to figure 1 or even 2 of the NJAC sides will be in their path down the line.

[backyarddawg]

Centennial Final 1:00 pm tomorrow.

F&M at Haverford.

Have both done enough or do the Fords need to win?

Predictions?

[Falconer]

Messiah takes care of business, beating Arcadia 4-0 in a lopsided and asymmetric game.  Predictably, Arcadia put everyone in front of the ball in the first half, and quite literally possessed the ball on the other end less than half a minute all together. No shots for them in the first 45 minutes, whereas the Falcons had maybe two dozen, maybe half of them on goal and many of those very well struck, including a couple of headers that just somehow ended up in the keeper's capable hands--he kept his team in the game and also got lucky, insofar as several of the rockets (there were several) were right at him.  No score at the half.

Messiah scored in the first six minutes of the second half and the floodgates opened as Arcadia was forced to attack.  No change in the result, but it made for better watching. 

The Falcons are at the top of their game heading into the conference final vs LVC on Saturday.  Barring a major surprise, they will be rolling into the dance next week as a lock to host a sectional.

i must admit at the beginning of the season the Falcons looked sketchy but they came back and are putting on quite a show.

It's normal for the Falcons to look less than stellar for about the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the season.  Some years they start even less than stellar, such as 2015 after losing that great class of seniors with significantly less talent behind them, but almost every year they take several games before their possession game starts to click.  I don't think this current group is quite as talented as the group I just mentioned, but they certainly have plenty and they are on a roll.  The biggest missing piece is a great striker--they have neither a Josh Wood nor a Jeremy Payne.  On the other hand, I actually think they have more overall team speed than that great class that played their last season in 2014. 

IMO, they snuck up on a lot of us b/c they are just so young, with only one senior starter--although he is their best player, who will surely be an AA this year, Jacob "Bend it like" Bender.  He was a regional AA in the back last year (he should have been a national AA, but since the Falcons didn't get a bid that didn't help his case), but McCarty moved him into an attacking MF position this year and he's dominating that side of the ball while providing extremely dangerous free kicks and corners.  Moving Bender was possible b/c of more depth in the back, and now that freshman Cooper Robbins (a younger brother of former AA CB Carter Robbins) is starting at CB, Justin Brautigan has moved up into the MF where he can add size and experience to a smallish group.  Those two moves have proved brilliant, and are partly responsible for the Falcon resurgence all by themselves.

[phillyfan12]

Centennial Final 1:00 pm tomorrow.

F&M at Haverford.

Have both done enough or do the Fords need to win?

Predictions?

I think with a loss the Ford's will have a nervy wait until the selection show as they'll be on the bubble. I watched both games yesterday and the Ford's looked the better team. They completely outplayed and outshot WAC who went down to 10 men in the 2nd half. Hopkins gave F&M all they could handle but somehow couldn't finish one of their great chances.

I think F&M was looking ahead to today but they survived so think they'll come out with ferocity and intensity that they didn't play with yesterday. I'm not sure which way to go in this game but gun to my head I'd say 1-0 F&M (maybe in OT, maybe in regulation).

It's going to be close and come down to one or two moments.

[rudy]

Centennial Final 1:00 pm tomorrow.

F&M at Haverford.

Have both done enough or do the Fords need to win?

Predictions?

I think with a loss the Ford's will have a nervy wait until the selection show as they'll be on the bubble. I watched both games yesterday and the Ford's looked the better team. They completely outplayed and outshot WAC who went down to 10 men in the 2nd half. Hopkins gave F&M all they could handle but somehow couldn't finish one of their great chances.

I think F&M was looking ahead to today but they survived so think they'll come out with ferocity and intensity that they didn't play with yesterday. I'm not sure which way to go in this game but gun to my head I'd say 1-0 F&M (maybe in OT, maybe in regulation).

It's going to be close and come down to one or two moments.

Ford's win it so centennial should get 2 in the tournament

[Mr.Right]

F&M is all set and may even host NCAA 1st / 2nd round...That will be interesting to watch for.

[oldford]

Haverford played very well. Got ahead 2-0 in first half. Although they allowed the Dips only 3 shots in the second half, F&M scored. Haverford missed one huge opportunity pretty late in the game.

[oldford]

Haverford played very well. Got ahead 2-0 in first half. Although they allowed the Dips only 3 shots in the second half, F&M scored. Haverford missed one huge opportunity pretty late in the game.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

F&M is all set and may even host NCAA 1st / 2nd round...That will be interesting to watch for.

I doubt they will host after this loss but you never know.

[FelixCloudy]

F&M will host, as will the Fords.  Bracket PDF is here:  http://i.turner.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/external/gametool/brackets/soccer-men_d3_2016.pdf

Tried to upload the PDF, but got an error msg.  Sorry.