2016 Great Lakes Region

[PaulNewman]

Kenyon comes out flying and looks fantastic.  6-7 very good chances first 12 or so minutes.  Dominating Centre through 15-20 minutes.  Alas, no goals and game beginning to slow down a little.  We'll see how badly the Lords regret not getting a couple already.

And just I get ready to hit send Kenyon breaks through.  1-0.

[PaulNewman]

Oh well, Kenyon back to very ordinary the last 20-25 min of 1st half, probably partly due to extensive subbing but started looking more lackadaisical with loose passes, giveaways, etc.  First 15 min especially played with great urgency and purpose, crisp passes and combination play and repeated excellent scoring chances.  In other words, they looked like a very highly ranked team should look.  Still 1-0 at half.  We'll see how they come out in the 2nd.

[PaulNewman]

Kenyon wins 1-0 over Centre.  Ho-hum.  Superb first 12-15 minutes followed by what looked like pretty average, uninspired play.  Video perhaps distorts perception but it was clear when they were playing well.  To be honest, Centre didn't look very good.  Kenyon left them in the game and there's always a risk when a team gets a couple of corners and a handful of free kicks from 35-50 yards out that you suddenly find yourself 1-1 or down 1-0.  The Lords should be motivated to play at a championship or at least near-championship level for 90 minutes.  They are working in a few new or newer pieces to larger roles but overall this is a veteran team where maturity should not be an issue.  The talent is definitely there and maybe this is all about peaking at the right time, but there are teams out there with similar or even slightly less talent and/or experience playing with more sustained purpose and intensity at this point in the season.  Chicago, Rowan, F&M, Messiah, Calvin, Amherst, Trinity, SLU, OWU, etc come to mind.  The seniors and juniors who continue to be given a very generous 75-85 minutes with limited apparent product need to step up or be motivated more creatively.

[GLTrt]

Was at Kenyon v Centre yesterday. Field looked to be unplayable, which led to a disjointed game. Lots of long ball -- not what I expected from a top 25 game. Kenyon kept Centre on the back foot for most of the game, but not many clear chances after the first 15 min (which Kenyon utterly dominated), minus the goal of the long throw. Definitely seemed like Kenyon planned to press and force Centre into mistakes on the field, which was successful.

Kenyon was particularly effective switching the field (not just banging the ball long; hitting it long with a purpose) & letting #9 in the middle run the show. Centre showed that they weren't quite up for that high level of a game, but the gap didn't seem massive. Will be interesting to see how Centre responds and plays in the next couple of games. Bet they are more of a fringe top 25 team that can compete with anyone but the top 5-12 teams (although they have a history of beating OWU, Trinity (TX), and even Kenyon from time to time).

From what I've seen (haven't watched Rowan), Chicago is playing the best right now.

[Domino1195]

Was at Kenyon v Centre yesterday. Field looked to be unplayable, which led to a disjointed game. Lots of long ball -- not what I expected from a top 25 game. Kenyon kept Centre on the back foot for most of the game, but not many clear chances after the first 15 min (which Kenyon utterly dominated), minus the goal of the long throw. Definitely seemed like Kenyon planned to press and force Centre into mistakes on the field, which was successful.

Kenyon was particularly effective switching the field (not just banging the ball long; hitting it long with a purpose) & letting #9 in the middle run the show. Centre showed that they weren't quite up for that high level of a game, but the gap didn't seem massive. Will be interesting to see how Centre responds and plays in the next couple of games. Bet they are more of a fringe top 25 team that can compete with anyone but the top 5-12 teams (although they have a history of beating OWU, Trinity (TX), and even Kenyon from time to time).

From what I've seen (haven't watched Rowan), Chicago is playing the best right now.

Capital played at Wooster yesterday - field was very bad. NCAC - I walked across the field at Wooster - same tell-tale patches of brown that you see on Kenyon and OWU's fields.  Ball would roll and then pop up a foot or so off the ground. Denison will play all their games on the football turf field this year.

[Domino1195]

Results from recent games:

Capital at Wooster - not great field conditions - questionable officiating (14 fouls against Cap, 4 against Wooster - I assure you Wooster committed more than 4 fouls  . . .).  Evenly played in the early parts of the game - Cap asserted more control in the second half - but needed a fluky goal to steal the win.  Defender made a poor choice to play a ball back to his keeper who was instantly closed down by a Cap forward. Compounding the error was the ball was played to the keeper's weaker foot - his attempt to clear was a whiff and Cap walked the ball into an empty net. Cap's commitment to play team defense has improved dramatically since the opening day lose to Calvin. Two big tests against Thomas More away on Sat and OWU at home next Wednesday.

Transylvania at Thomas More - might be an understatement to say something's not right at TM. Dropped two straight at home (three in a row if you count the U of Cincinnati loss on Tuesday).  Transylvania is a very good team - they stayed connected all game - solid positional play - knocked the ball around, played to feet - solid defense. The lone TM goal was a deflection - I don't know if the box score credit for the goal will remain as there's no way that wasn't an OG.  Shot from outside the 18 hits a defender are redirects into the lower left corner.  Keeper already diving to his left- had no chance.  Transy come back by attacking down the wings and getting behind the RB for a chip across the area - skims off defender's head right to a wide open Transy player.  Winning goal scored in the final minute - blocked shot falls right back to the shooter's foot - given a second shot - drops it into the upper right 90. Heartbreaker for TM - who will play their 4th game in 8 days tomorrow.

Oberlin at Baldwin Wallace - shoot out at the OK Corral. Oberlin was the better side for most of the game - but when they had lapses they were doozies. First BW goal was a reaction shot after a cross was blocked and fell right to a BW forward who side volleyed the ball into the far right side netting - not much the keeper could do. Second goal was a quick counter starting with a long throw from the keeper to the left wing.  He cuts toward the center circle and passes to his mate on the right wing.  The RW receives the ball 30+ yards out and cuts towards the middle - gets to the D without being touched and drives it low and hard into his left corner. Third goal was a long ball sent down the left wing - RB misjudges it and it gets over his head to a streaking winger - again cuts inside across the area about 12-15 yards from goal.  His strike hits the underside of the bar and falls nicely to a teammate who heads it home.  Oberlin losing 1 goal leads 3 times wins it in the 88th minute off a free kick header - the foul leading up to the FK was just plain silly to have committed.

Oberlin might be the 4th NCAC team - I have seen them, Denison, Wooster, and Wittenberg in person - Wabash and Allegheny on video.  Oberlin can't afford the defensive lapses they had in the BW game once they get into NCAC play.  I think, talent-wise, Denison is on par with them - but the 4th spot is wide open IMO.

[Domino1195]

According to the Grove City athletics site there will be video for tonight's game against Carnegie Mellon:

http://livestream.com/accounts/13431056/events/6373695

[Ryan Harmanis]

According to the Grove City athletics site there will be video for tonight's game against Carnegie Mellon:

http://livestream.com/accounts/13431056/events/6373695

Video is up and working. Since we've been discussing GC at length I'm hoping to catch some of this and see how they measure up. Nice to see a good-sized student section for an afternoon game.

[Domino1195]

According to the Grove City athletics site there will be video for tonight's game against Carnegie Mellon:

http://livestream.com/accounts/13431056/events/6373695

Video is up and working. Since we've been discussing GC at length I'm hoping to catch some of this and see how they measure up. Nice to see a good-sized student section for an afternoon game.

Homecoming weekend - they have been pushing this game a lot this week.  GC is playing tighter than a miser's grip on his wallet - shoud be down two by now.  GK is playing scared - too afraid to come off his line and take care of situations - then when he does - he loses the ball and almost gives up another.  CM pressing high and GC not handling the pressure at all.

[Ryan Harmanis]

And on that note CMU takes the lead. CM has dominated territory and possession, although Grove City had one saved off the line on a free kick where CMU's goalie overcommitted. We'll see how GC reacts.

GC gets another chance as CMU's goalie overcommits again and comes 15 yards for a ball he didn't need to get. GC tries a bike from the top of the 18 but it's well over the bar.

[Domino1195]

And on that note CMU takes the lead. CM has dominated territory and possession, although Grove City had one saved off the line on a free kick where CMU's goalie overcommitted. We'll see how GC reacts.

Amateurish decision making and defending - GC is completely flustered - this could get ugly - fast!

[D3soccerwatcher]

Barn burner at Grove City. GCC ties it up 1-1. 3:00 to go in first half.

[Domino1195]

And on that note CMU takes the lead. CM has dominated territory and possession, although Grove City had one saved off the line on a free kick where CMU's goalie overcommitted. We'll see how GC reacts.

Amateurish decision making and defending - GC is completely flustered - this could get ugly - fast!

Well let's give GC some credit for settling down a little bit - but I kind of fault CM for letting them get off the mat. It's difficult to keep that level of intensity all game long (talking CM) but it just seems they let their foot off the gas. Well placed shot by GC to tie the score.

[D3soccerwatcher]

GCC's high pressure pays off. GCC moves ahead 2-1. 5:00 to go.

[Ommadawn]

Wow, that was not your typical own goal!