2016 Great Lakes Region

[Dark Knight]

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.

Nice series of games coming up with Calvin playing Capital and Hope at OWU today, and the reverse tomorrow.

Calvin was picked to finish first in the MIAA, and they were ranked 5th nationally at the end of last year. However, Calvin graduated a number of key players including an All America defender and forward and a keeper who set an NCAA-D3 record last year for most shutouts in a season and has gone down under to play pro soccer. Midfield should still be strong.

Hope is picked to finish fourth in the MIAA.

How do Capital and OWU look this year?

[Ryan Harmanis]

How do Capital and OWU look this year?

Capital should be better than the last few years.  They finished 0.500 last year but got hot at the end of the season and went 7-1-1 in conference.  They return a bunch of guys and brought in a big recruiting class.  They've managed to surprise teams in the past at this opening-season tournament because visiting schools are often focused on OWU.

OWU will be talented but young, as they lost an important senior class.  OWU brought in a huge and very good recruiting class, but it'll take some time to get everyone on the same page.  It'll be an interesting weekend to see how they cope.  Tonight's game will be emotional, then they get Calvin after losing to them to end 2015.  If I were guessing I'd say OWU will be inconsistent early on - in play if not in results - but could be very, very good by the end of the season.

[Domino1195]

Capital returns the largest group of letterman in recent years and brings in a very talented group of freshmen. They played 3 scrimmages against Ohio Dominican, at Oberlin and Case - only conceded 2 goals in the ODU draw. The team seems to be gelling earlier than last season, and the players seem to share a common playing style  - which is interesting since about half are new players.

Might see two freshman start - several could get playing time today. For much of the preseason 3+ starters did not play - not sure of their status today - but the new players stepped in nicely.

[Domino1195]

Cap-Calvin: as with Thursday's matches - not a thing of real beauty. Capital made too many mistakes - equally shared by all players - against a team that thrives on gifts. Calvin's first goal was scored off a header by a player lying flat on his back; second an OG when a defender jutted his butt back to block a cross; third was when Vegter was allowed to jog - untouched - for 40 yds and flick on a header from over 10 yds away - keeper too aggressive coming off his line.

Calvin has moved Vetger into center back this year - that pairing did well. Their midfield won most of the battles and held possession much, much better than Capital. # 11 picked up right where he left off last season as their assist leader - he's so adept with either foot that as a defender you cannot overplay him either way. They turned the corner on the by-line at least 6 times - seemed like 100. They didn't send crosses in from 18-15 yards out but they get to the byline and cross - looks more like a hockey attack. Second goal was exactly that: shoot the puck into a crowd in front of the net - good things happen.

I only stayed for 30 minutes in the second game. Ryan was correct - packed house for the Gabbert memorial. Really a heavy moment - Capital has three or four players that played HS or club with him - two were visibly shaken and crying during the ceremony.

Ryan can provide the synopsis on the second game. But as he said in an earlier post: Capital has played in this tournament 4 of the last 5 years and benefitted on the second day after the opponent has played OWU. Double OT, finishing late, and to turn around and play the early game on Saturday (4:30pm) is asking a lot from the Hope players.

[Dark Knight]

Thanks for the recaps. The streaming video was more like a slide show than actual video, so it's good to hear a report from on site!

[Domino1195]

Capital - Hope: Capital really shook up the line up, starting 4 freshmen - only one who started against Calvin.  They controlled the match from start to finish - only conceded two shots on goal - none in the second half. Freshman forward Trevor Collins has scored or assisted on all three goals this year.  Interesting. Hope was just flat - as expected.  Jay Martin was watching a bit of the second half with other coaches and was overhead saying: "THIS isn't the team we played yesterday!"  I agree.

Watched first half of the OWU-Calvin game.  Provided just a few notes to NCAC's comment in the National thread.

Marietta at Denison - 2pm. Denison's grass field is being complete resodded, so this one will mostly like be on turf again.

[PaulNewman]

Glad to see my impressions last night mirrored Dr. Martin's post-game comments.  Those OWU frosh obviously have played in big games before and are very confident that they belong.  I envy the excitement they and their parents must be experiencing as they embark on their careers at a program with historical significance and very high expectations.  The parents will be stunned by how fast the 4 years go by.

Disappointed and a little surprised to see Oberlin get shellacked by Ohio Northern.

Curious to see how CWRU @ Thomas More plays out today.

[Domino1195]

Glad to see my impressions last night mirrored Dr. Martin's post-game comments.  Those OWU frosh obviously have played in big games before and are very confident that they belong.  I envy the excitement they and their parents must be experiencing as they embark on their careers at a program with historical significance and very high expectations.  The parents will be stunned by how fast the 4 years go by.

Disappointed and a little surprised to see Oberlin get shellacked by Ohio Northern.

Curious to see how CWRU @ Thomas More plays out today.

Capital scrimmaged Oberlin a couple weeks ago - Capital "won" 1-0 - which doesn't mean anything as both coaches played three different teams over three 30 minute sessions.  First period Oberlin played very well and was unlucky not to have scored twice.  They spread the field east-west - wingers on each touchline - and they do a nice job swinging the ball and changing field with long crosses.  Where they were vulnerable is down the middle - being stretched so wide - a counter attack by a speedy forward could lead to breakaways. And they played a high line - get the trap wrong and another breakaway (that's how Cap scored).  Have to see a replay of the goals - but ONU has all the main pieces returning and should finish first or second in the OAC.

Agree on the Case-TM game - saw both already this season - if TM puts together a full 90 minute effort they will be tough to beat.

Trivia note: the two goal scorers for OWU and one from Capital went to the same HS - Olentangy Liberty.  State champions a couple years ago - also made a final and lost.  It is interesting to see how much of OWU's team comes from Ohio - compared to when I played against them in the 70's.

[Domino1195]

Marietta at Denison: second straight OT affair at Denison - this time they come out on top 2-1 (interestingly this game was a 2-1 OT win for Denison last year). Marietta started 3 freshman - all did very well - two in particular - I expect will be significant to Marietta's success. They are a physical team - blue collar - tackle hard but not dirty. They scored first as their player found a spot on the top of the 18, in between 2 defenders, received the ball, pushed it ahead one step and put a hard shot inside the near post.

Denison ties it off a nice free kick - Marietta's keeper got a slight touch on it, but it was curling away - upper 90 - well struck and well placed. OT winner was a screamer from just outside the 18 - near post upper 90. #19 from Denison given plenty of space without a challenge to get off a clean shot.

There are fundamental issues with Denison's defending, marking and decision making in their defensive third. Dribbling when they shouldn't, making more difficult plays when wide open options exist. Perhaps more than one team this weekend can describe what they have as "a group of talented players who are not yet playing like a team" - Denison might be in that category.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Recap of last weekend @ OWU:

Calvin 4 - Capital 1
Already covered, but not quite as lopsided as the score would indicate.  Calvin controlled the opening exchanges and got on the board twice, but as soon as they subbed Capital took control and brought it back to 2-1.  Capital gave up a soft goal early in the second half and that was it.

OWU 2 - Hope 1 (2OT)
Luke Gabbert, a freshman last year, died in the offseason, and the program retired his number in an emotional ceremony prior to kickoff.  I'm sure it affected the team, as they played a little tight and distracted early on.  The first half was boring - Hope missed a breakaway after OWU's defense fell asleep and OWU almost scored on a volley, but that was it.  OWU took control in the second half and went up 1-0 on a cross and header.  Hope had one sustained period of pressure and made it pay off, getting a cross/shot that the GK could only parry into the path of a Hope player.  OWU had numerous chances to finish the game in regulation but were forced to go to overtime.  Eventually pulled off the game winner early in the second overtime.  Hope was exhausted, to the point where centerbacks were cramping up (and you don't run much in that position).  Not pretty, but a nice win in front of around 2000 fans.

Capital 2 - Hope 0
I alluded to this before the weekend, but teams that play OWU on Friday often lay an egg on Saturday.  (Back in 2011, Messiah beat OWU 2-1 in a matchup of probably the best two teams in the country, then the Falcons turned around and tied a terrible Hiram team the next afternoon).  However that shouldn't take anything away from Capital, who was better than advertised over the course of the weekend.  They controlled the game and made it count in the second half with two goals.  Cap has a freshman forward (#14) who is by far the fastest player I've seen this year.  He had a hand in all three goals over the weekend (1G, 2A) and is going to cause major problems for teams.  I'd expect Capital to improve on last season overall and push Ohio Northern for the OAC title.  As for Hope, I think they'll do better than last year's 0.500, but they just had nothing left in the tank.  They only had about 18 hours from the end of the OWU game to kickoff, used few subs on Friday, and lost an overtime game that was physically and mentally exhausting.  I'd guess they finish 2nd or 3rd in the MIAA, but probably no NCAA bid unless they win the conference tournament.

OWU 2 - Calvin 1
Weird game.  As NCAC mentioned, not much between the two teams or in the game.  The first half was a snooze fest, as Calvin controlled the territory and much of the possession but created very little.  Calvin's style is to get the ball to their wingers, try to get by the defender and play passes/crosses across the box, but OWU's outside backs were very good and didn't let much get in.  Most of Calvin's crosses were from deep and not targeted at someone - as opposed to their normal style which is much more of a targeted cut-back - making it easy for the OWU defense to clear.  OWU had major issues in the first half holding the ball up and keeping possession, and Calvin pressed and defended well.

OWU was better in the second half and the possession was closer to even until OWU scored on a free kick.  Identical to the one Calvin scored on Cap the day before: a ball served in from midfield, the GK commits but doesn't get there and a centerback loops a header over his head into an empty net.  Soft goal, but it changed the complexion of the game.  OWU controlled the next period, finally getting the ball on the ground and possessing.  Got the second goal off a PK.  Clear handball after a dangerous ball into the box, but OWU probably wasn't going to score on it, so a bit unlucky.  Calvin put some pressure on late but aside from one free kick still failed to create much going forward.  Calvin scored with one second left on a gorgeous volley.

I was a bit underwhelmed with Calvin.  They aren't as tight in the back and their attacking players, aside from Stark, were ineffective.  They also miss having Vegter on the outside, as they got very little from their outside backs.  Still, it's a talented team that is replacing major pieces and will need time to gel.  Still the team to beat in the MIAA, I'd expect something like 17-3 or 16-4 and an easy NCAA bid.

OWU is just young and inexperienced.  They start 5 seniors, but none of those guys has had to carry the load before.  Beyond that, the Bishops played only 3 juniors and 2 sophomores over the weekend, and three of them were getting substantial minutes for the first time.  OWU is starting 3 freshmen and using 6+ off the bench, so over half the guys seeing meaningful minutes are freshmen.  As someone mentioned, there were times against Hope and Calvin when OWU had 9 new players on the field, including a front six of five freshmen and a sophomore.

The kids can play -  three of the four goals and all 3 assists came from freshmen - but they're adjusting to the speed/physicality of the college game.  As a fan/alum, the most encouraging thing was getting wins, because OWU will improve as much as any team in the country over the season as the freshmen and new players gain experience.  This weekend, especially the win over Calvin, will also boost the NCAA resume.  There's a lot to work on, but the pieces are there.

[Ryan Harmanis]

Also, below is a link to the OWU highlights from the weekend, including the ceremony honoring Luke Gabbert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IyG9eyc9yk

[Domino1195]

Great synopsis, Ryan.

Saw about a half each of ONU v Olivet and Grove City v Behrend yesterday.  ONU must have a death wish, playing 4 games in 5 days this week.  Regardless of power ratings - and yes, the teams they are playing aren't the highest rated - that is a heck of test to put your boys through.  Weather is going to be very iffy the next four days - could be cancelations or storm delays through Saturday's schedule.  But ONU is just pretty to watch play: disciplined, calm on the ball, two-touch, players checking back and moving all the time - NO weak links on the field.  At times they lost patience as Olivet just sat in (very much like T&T did to the US last night) - but even when they strectched the defense with more direct play - it was to the wings and worked more than not.  The few moments Olivet was able to gain possession they were dispossessed almost immediately.  With so many upper classemen starting - it's difficult to see how they lose more than 2 games.  That being said - the game on Sept 14 at OWU will show what they can do against stiffer competition.

Grove City also works the ball from the back to the checking middies,who get the ball wide - and off they go.  Their home field played like a cow pasture - almost impossile to send a ball along the ground without it popping up. A 1-0 game at half - I didn't see the second - but GC controlled a better part of possession, but Behrend was able to get behind their wing backs and get a few corners.  GC hasn't conceded this year in three games - but that 3 home games.  The next three - at Hiram, Allegheny and Oberlin - are going to show us how seriously they should be taken as a challenger to Thomas More.

[PaulNewman]

Wabash loses to Earlham. Not a good sign for the Little Giants.

Interesting weekend game is Oberlin at Geneva. I'm thinking Geneva.

Update:  Geneva loses in OT to Franciscan, giving up 4 goals....to Franciscan.

[PaulNewman]

Odd stat in OWU-Otterbein game.  OWU up 1-0 but after 68 minutes OWU has yet to commit a single foul (compared to 12 by Otterbein).

[Domino1195]

Wabash loses to Earlham. Not a good sign for the Little Giants.

Interesting weekend game is Oberlin at Geneva. I'm thinking Geneva.

Update:  Geneva loses in OT to Franciscan, giving up 4 goals....to Franciscan.

Watched the first half - Wabash was non-existent. Earlham hit the crossbar early in the half - had the better of play - not dominant but more effective than Wabash. I was not expecting such a poor showing - of course I was expecting to watch Chicago at Knox but Mother Nature wouldn't cooperate. 

ONU almost pays the price for their insane schedule - after a late own goal they rebound to get the game winner.