2016 Great Lakes Region

[Ryan Harmanis]

OWU beat Otterbein 2-0 in another disjointed game.  Even first half, and at times Otterbein carried the play, but they couldn't put together a final ball or take advantage of good shooting opportunities.  OWU got the first goal on a nice strike (by another freshman) that caught the goalie off his line and went in over his head.  Otterbein was dead tired in the second half and OWU took complete control.  Much better combination play and eventually got a second goal off a cross that was deflected and fell right to Baum's feet.  W&L is going to be a good game on Saturday.

[PaulNewman]

Thursdays are tough with such a thin slate of games.

Grove City gets a 3-2 road win at Hiram.  Stats basically even although GC had a 3-1 lead.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Grove City starts season at 4-0, scoring 14 and allowing only 2.

[MidwestGrinder]

Wow Centre beats Thomas More 3-0 and out shoots them 18-4. Did anyone see this game? Centre now quietly 4-0. Looked at Centre's other results but none were nearly as impressive. They actually were outshot 16-14 at home in their 3-2 win vs Heidelberg. Shocking results today for sure.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Meanwhile Grove City moves to 5-0 with a 3-0 win over Allegheny and now holds the best record in the PAC.

[PaulNewman]

Meanwhile Grove City moves to 5-0 with a 3-0 win over Allegheny and now holds the best record in the PAC.

I've got Grove City on my teams to watch list for Great Lakes but maybe a little context is in order.  Opponents thus far have a 6-11-2 record against mostly mediocre to weak competition.  Let's see how they do in the next 3 tilts -- away at Oberlin and Heidelberg and home with CMU -- before we get too far ahead of ourselves.  The Wolverines will turn some heads if they can go 3-0 or 2-0-1 over that span.  Unfortunately, GC's conference showdown with TMC is on the road on 10/20.  Hard to see the conference getting more than the AQ, unless it's like a TMC last year with a much tougher out of conference schedule.

[Domino1195]

Got to see Wooster and Washington & Lee yesterday, Capital and Wittenberg.  From what I've seen after two weeks - and I don't want to use the "Parity" word too soon - there are a lot of teams in the great lakes that are similarly built. With the exception of the Finlandia games at Otterbein and Capital (Finlandia a rebuilding program with 20? freshman - and every game but 2 or 3 on the road) this weekend every team was in the game until the end. In some games a bounce here and fortunate rebound there was the deciding variable.

Another observation: I don't think there are any super stand-out players on the teams I've seen.  No POY candidates from this region.  And that's not a bad thing as the sides are built with complementary players that seem to support one another.  The weaknesses I observed in teams the past two years - these observations based mostly on NCAC and OAC programs - aren't as glaring, just as there aren't any players that - if they missed a game - would kill a team's chances to win.  Talking with fans and parents at the games this year - all say similar things: "We have more depth this year", "There isn't that much of a drop-off when we sub".

RE: the Capital Wittenberg game last night - there were a few Wittenberg players who were benched that would have made the game closer.  There are some issues within the team and I give full credit to the coach for addressing the situation.

As far as OAC vs NCAC - two match-ups Wednesday: ONU at OWU and Capital at Denison are unfortunately  at the same time - otherwise I'd be at both! ONU has the best team in the region that I have seen - the best balance of offense and defense. They can be impatient with the ball at times, but they attack a lot like Calvin - getting deep and cutting across the by-line. After the poor game against Calvin, Capital has put together three nice games.  I've seen Denison 3 times already and they seem inconsistent and/or play to the level of their competition (don't players hate hearing that from their coaches??). The 4th spot in the NCAC tournament is still up for grabs - I'd tip Denison and Oberlin for that spot - with Wooster and Wabash as just outside.  But a bounce here and a rebound there . . .

[Domino1195]

Weekly press release from NCAC:

http://northcoast.org/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/weeklyrelease-9-12-16

[PaulNewman]

Muskingum provided good medicine for Amolo.  A hat trick within a 10 minute span.  8-0 at half.  Supposedly his goal against Frostburg and one today are highlight reel worthy.

As I think Domino mentioned before, the Lords are almost playing 4 up top with outside backs getting called for offsides.  Not a lot of combination play through the midfield.  A lot of possession but final balls coming from the back or on crosses from outside backs.  Not sure what to make of that, although seems partly a function of the high press.  Brown is doing some moving around in the midfield in terms of players which I like.  Figure out now who really wants to play and who can also be effective and in what combinations.

[PaulNewman]

Domino, btw, at least on video Roy Rike and Mavec at Kenyon look awful!  Drought?  Most central Ohio grass fields looking like that?

[PaulNewman]

Oberlin and Grove City 1-1 at half.

[PaulNewman]

Oberlin prevails 3-2.

And Wabash gets huge win at Rose-Hulman.

Capital gets out of Granville with 1-0 win over Denison.

After playing so well John Carroll suffers maybe a trap game or fatigue loss to PS-Bherend.

OWU-ONU ends 0-0.  Probably a fair result.  ONU should have been ahead but were hanging on at the end.  ONU GK made another great save off Baum free kick late in 2nd OT.  ONU would have been very disappointed if they had left Delaware with an L.

[Ryan Harmanis]

ONU-OWU was a tale of two halves. ONU pinned OWU in its own end in the first half and could (should) have been at least two goals clear. ONU had three shots from 6-8 yards out, and all three were hit right at OWU's keeper. Very good saves, especially one with his feet, but saves you expect your guy to make in big games. ONU's best chance was on a cutback in the second half that OWU's keeper pinned on the goal line with one hand. The shots at that point were something like 12-4 (5-1 on goal).

From that point, OWU took over. A large part was fatigue; ONU plays a 4-3-3 but keeps all three forwards high, which puts an enormous amount of pressure on its center midfielders and outside backs. Once they slowed down a bit, OWU had a ton of space to play through the middle. In addition, OWU's depth showed. Although both teams used the same number of substitutes, OWU doesn't really have a drop-off unless Baum goes off the field. As NCAC said, ONU's goalkeeper made the two best saves of the game. The first was a bullet header that he tipped wide, the second was a free kick that was settling in the upper 90 before he got to it.

Overall, encouraging signs for both teams. ONU could have been out of sight in the first half in by far its toughest game, and was able to hang on for the last 35 minutes despite OWU coming forward in waves. For OWU, another step in the maturation process, and the Bishops went toe-to-toe with the second-most talented team in the region (Kenyon being first). I'm also encouraged in that ONU doesn't have a ton of room to grow, as they're all upper classmen - one sophomore and one freshman saw limited time - and they went to Europe in preseason. OWU is not even close to the finished product and was right there.

[PaulNewman]

Agree 100%, including the part about ONU having less upside room for growth (the only caveat being that #11 will be even better if and when he gets rid of the very unwieldy thing on his arm which no doubt impacts his balance and how aggressively he can cut and move).  And I also agree that result is one that works for both teams.  Once ONU didn't get a goal in the 1st half after so many very good chances it seemed clear that they would be fortunate to get out with a draw.

[Domino1195]

Saw the first half of Thomas More vs Heidelberg (0-0 - final TM 2-0) and the Denison -Capital game.  I think I am ready to officially use "Parity" to describe the competition in Ohio this year - especially with respect to teams that will finish in the upper half of their conferences.

Heidelberg did very well in the first half - the game couldn't be more even in terms of possession and chances (maybe 1 for each side).  The ball was up in the air too much for my liking - and the percentage completion rate for passes - both sides - was not great.  Whenever Heidelberg got into the attacking third the insisted on going down the middle.  They played from the back to the middies and into the final third better than TM - but refused to get the ball wide.  Need to watch the second half to see how they gave up 2 goals.

Denison and Capital played as even a match as two teams could - look at the stats. It was a classic grind - the kinds of games you see in the NCAA playoffs: lots of battles between the D's - not a lot of open looks at goal. This is the 4th time I've seen Denison and the best they played as a team - midfield was great last night - no excessive dribbling - moved the ball quickly. I really do love their #7 defender - he plays his position so well - smart with the ball - great decisions, great leadership (could hear him all night).

Referee was spotty in this one - there was more holding going on than during a slow dance at a HS prom. But it is difficult to make a calls - I say this as a referee - when both attackers and defenders are grabbing each other at the same time.  He just needed to be more consistent on the holds he called and those he didn't.

This was an important game for Capital as these are the games they lost in previous years.  Last year's OT loss to Denison, regular time losses to Hiram and Transylvania for example.  And starting 3 to 4 freshman since the Calvin game: these kids got to see the kind of game they will need to play against Thomas More, OWU, ONU and John Carroll.

Interesting fact about the OWU game on Sept 28: that will be OWU's first road game of the year and it will be on turf.

NCAC - add the fact that Denison's field is under repair for the entire year - being re-sodded.  Could be the drought - but the patchiness of the damage looks more like insects (old Scott's employee speaking now . . .)