2016 Great Lakes Region

[MidwestGrinder]

NCAC Preseason Poll:
http://www.northcoast.org/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/PreseasonPoll

1) Kenyon (8)
2) OWU (1)
3) DePauw (1)
4) Oberlin
5) Denison
6) Wabash
7) Allegheny
8) Hiram
9) Wooster
10) Wittenberg

[Joe Wally]

Hoping that the Little Giants at least make it into the top half of the standings.

[Domino1195]

http://www.oac.org/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/2016_Soccer_poll.pdf

OAC top 6 - these are the team that make the post season tournament:

1. Ohio Northern 51 (6)
2. John Carroll 47 (4)
3. Capital 40
4. Marietta 18
5. Heidelberg 14
6. Baldwin Wallace 13

Scrimmages:  Capital v Ohio Domincan - 2-2 on Saturday 8/20.  Last night Baldwin Wallace beat Denison 4-0 - I watched some of the video - Dension very sloppy with the ball and BW very aggressive getting to the ball.  Capital plays at Oberlin tonight - 14 freshman who played extremely well in the ODU scrimmage - some could vie for starting positions - and this team returns 21 lettermen.

Heidelberg lost 8 of the 14 freshman from last year due to the coaching change I would expect.  We have a friend on the team -a  senior - this is 3 coaches in 4 years for him.  This year's team totals 26 players - 7seniors, 3 juniors, 6 sophomores and 10 freshman.  I wonder how Marietta will perform losing their key scorer Reasoner (15 goals, 33 pts). They both have their work cut out for them if they want to make the top 6.

I was impressed with Mount Union last year and they continue to build with young, exciting payers.  I think they make the top 6.  Otterbein has added a couple freshman with strong club credentials - and they have missed the post season tourney by a hair the last two years.  They easily could contend for a top 6 finish.

[Domino1195]

Wednesday scrimmage - Capital 1-0 at Oberlin - played 3 30 minute periods . Oberlin had three high quality chances saved - both teams evenly matched.

Thursday Otterbein and Denison 1-1. Something's off with Denison right now - Otterbein has added two freshman at D and DM that provide more stability in the back 8 - losing Rivas and replacing his goals is a question mark

Sat - John Carroll 2-1 over the newly reinstituted Ashland University program.

Capital 1-0 over Case Western - again a fairly evenly matched game - may not get the last 30 in due to storms - Case may struggle early on to replace the leadership of Cvenko and other graduates

[Ryan Harmanis]

OWU beat Urbana (DII, 2015 Sweet Sixteen Team) 2-0 and Wilmington 4-0 in preseason.  Not much to take from either game.  Hope and Calvin visit this weekend and should provide better tests.

[midwest]

For what it's worth, we heard from a player in the Otterbein-Denison scrimmage that Denison won 3-1, though we didn't see the match. 

[Domino1195]

For what it's worth, we heard from a player in the Otterbein-Denison scrimmage that Denison won 3-1, though we didn't see the match. 

I was there - saw one goal by Denison in the first half. Left midway through second half - I saw a video of Otterbein's goal off a corner late in the second half.

[PaulNewman]

CWRU has got to have one of the top 2-3 toughest schedules in the country.  Too bad they faded at the end of last year and had SoS issues, as I don't see much reason for optimism this season.

-- at Thomas More, Ohio Northern, John Carroll, Lycoming, Oberlin, and North Park

-- DePauw and Kenyon at home

-- the UAA schedule

Getting to more than 6 or so wins could be a challenge, and that's assuming Ws versus Mt. Union, Baldwin-Wallace, Hiram.  Of course if they do really well they should be in good shape for Pool C.

[Domino1195]

OWU beat Urbana (DII, 2015 Sweet Sixteen Team) 2-0 and Wilmington 4-0 in preseason.  Not much to take from either game.  Hope and Calvin visit this weekend and should provide better tests.

Urbana plays at Ohio Dominican tomorrow night - 7pm.  Rumor is they may use a player from the United States . . .

[Domino1195]

I wonder how Marietta will perform losing their key scorer Reasoner (15 goals, 33 pts). They both have their work cut out for them if they want to make the top 6.

Well we don't have to "wonder" any further as Reasoner is returning as a 5th year senior!

Otterbein vs Kenyon at 3:30; Thomas More vs Denison at 7 - and my wife asks what am I doing today. She'll never learn . . .

[PaulNewman]

I wonder how Marietta will perform losing their key scorer Reasoner (15 goals, 33 pts). They both have their work cut out for them if they want to make the top 6.

Otterbein vs Kenyon at 3:30; Thomas More vs Denison at 7 - and my wife asks what am I doing today. She'll never learn . . .

Game summaries and clinical observations to follow, correct?

[midwest]

I wonder how Marietta will perform losing their key scorer Reasoner (15 goals, 33 pts). They both have their work cut out for them if they want to make the top 6.

Otterbein vs Kenyon at 3:30; Thomas More vs Denison at 7 - and my wife asks what am I doing today. She'll never learn . . .

Game summaries and clinical observations to follow, correct?

Thomas More at Denison will be at 6:30 . . . in case that affects your evening schedule!

[Domino1195]

I wonder how Marietta will perform losing their key scorer Reasoner (15 goals, 33 pts). They both have their work cut out for them if they want to make the top 6.

Otterbein vs Kenyon at 3:30; Thomas More vs Denison at 7 - and my wife asks what am I doing today. She'll never learn . . .

Game summaries and clinical observations to follow, correct?

Thomas More at Denison will be at 6:30 . . . in case that affects your evening schedule!

NCAC - of course!  And thanks for the head's up on the schedule change, Midwest.  It does effect the pregame beverage plan I had for Brews Cafe . . .

[Domino1195]

I don't think any of the 4 teams I saw yesterday will be declaring the recordings of their games yesterday as Instant Classics - but you have to start the season somewhere.

Kenyon played a man up for 60 minutes and only got one goal in that time. The first team tried to get their forwards behind Otterbein's flat back line and succeeded after a few OS calls. #12 was taken down near the 6, about to walk the ball into an empty net when he was taken down. Tough start to that freshman's career but he should have not even challenged at that point. Kenyon's subs showed more patience to work the ball from side to side and keep possession - they played the latter part of the first half and most of the second, with starters returning to the side with 25-20 minutes left.

They lined up 4-3-3 but quite honestly they played like a 3-1-2-5! At times - their goal kicks - you saw the two wing backs as high as the 3 forwards. They definitely pushed the attack from the start. I think it will take some time to replace their midfielders from last year on offense - defensively the 3,4 guys in the middle owned that space.

Otterbein started a freshman keeper who did very well! Nothing he could do on either goal. Otterbein's back line also did well - but defense is a team responsibility and they didn't get much help from their midfield. They were missing a key senior starter in midfield - he really is a game changer when in the squad.

Denison - Thomas More was truly a game of two halves. I was still crossing the parking lot when TM scored in the 4th minute. TM played with high energy the first half - almost zero in the second. They pressed high, their midfield attacked the ball and won it back regularly. Denison struggled to link together three passes and when they got possession they sent the ball long to no one (on their team - TM was quite happy for the return of the ball) or they over dribbled and eventually lost it.

TM's  #11 freshman left wing is going to fun to watch. 6' 2", fast, strong, crafty feet - assisted on the second goal - blew by his defender on the by-line and pass into the 6 for a tap in. 4-2-3-1 - #19 started well and directed the attack when he got on the ball. He faded a lot in the second half - not getting nearly the same playing time. Good news for TM - they have a freshman #6 that plays the same position - small but very, very good with the ball. He played the bulk of the second half.

And then the second half started. Denison came out with amazing energy and scored 2 goals in four minutes. Just before they scored the first there was a loose ball in the 6 that somehow didn't go in. First goal - couldn't tell if the misplay by the TM defender went directly in or was touched by a Denison player - and the second - less than a minute later - was off a PK - foul barely in the area and just foolish to have been committed.

Denison linked up much better - more composure and patience with the ball. Honestly, the energy level of TM had a lot to do with it - they looked tired, their lines were stretched and support limited when they went on counters. Denison made one significant change in the second half, starting 6' 6" freshman forward who is the epitome of an old English target. Outlet balls went to him and he did excellently to hold the ball and allow midfielders to transition up. Hell - even when they had throw-ins it went to him. A solid kid - and not bad speed. Played almost the entire second half - only sub out was due to blood on his jersey.  But his presence allowed #5 to get in the ball more - key assist leader for Denison last year - and Denison used a lot of big switches to stretch the field east and west.

Looked away when the OT goal was scored but Denison's keeper created several scary moments throughout the game. Too aggressive leaving the 6 and NOT making contact with the ball - I counted 4 times!

At OWU today - absolutely glorious fall conditions today

[Ryan Harmanis]

OWU is expecting a record-sized crowd today for their game against Hope. The program will be honoring Luke Gabbert, a freshman who tragically died during the offseason. If you plan on attending, I'd show up early. Kickoff is scheduled for 7, with the ceremony at 6:45.