2016 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[rudy]

That Rowan goal to equalize with F&M will stand as goal of the year.  Wow.  And F&M's actually was pretty good as well.

Wow what a wild second half.   Two missed PK's.  F&M lots of near misses.  They deserved a tie at least but that's soccer.  Sometimes the narrowest of margins between victory and defeat.

[D3soccerwatcher]

31 fouls and 6 yellow cards.  With so many stoppages it seemed more like a field hockey game at times than a soccer game.  Certainly not the prettiest soccer game I've ever seen. Add to that what looked like a very fast turf on the online feed, and the ball was out of bounds frequently as well.  Game didn't seem to have much flow to it at all.

[Go2Goal]

Rowan marches on with a huge win. That's the first out of conference loss for F&M in 4 years. Snapped a 30 game unbeaten streak out of conference for F&M! Big road win against a team that will definitely be in the tournament. The surface played fast and hard and the game seemed to big for the referees at times. Both teams had chances and some very exciting moments at both ends. The number 1 ranking didn't trip them up!

[SuperSub15]

And down goes university of Dubuque.

[Go2Goal]

Christopher Newport loses.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Messiah quietly sitting at 5-0-2. Playing well at home as usual but struggling in their few road tests so far. The next 6 games will make or break their season in terms of at-large bid potential. I think they will end up 3-1-2 during that stretch, which isn't great but isn't horrible either. 4/6 are on the road. Losses and ties to Etown, Wash Lee, and Lycoming. Wins vs Misericordia, Leb Val, and Alvernia. If the Falcons can continue growing their confidence and get through this stretch at say 4-0-2 or 4-1-1 watch out!! Realistically I think Messiah will end up 13-1-4 or 13-2-3 and have no problem getting an at-large bid if needed.

Misericordia is by no means an easy game for Messiah.  They do not have a loss at home (4-0) and beat York and RC in  last 2 home games.  They have to play well to beat them.  Could be a tie as well.

Messiah will win this game 3-1.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Lebanon Valley beat Misericordia 4-0. I would think Messiah could have a similar result.

[rudy]

Lebanon Valley beat Misericordia 4-0. I would think Messiah could have a similar result.

That was away game and early. Not sure if misericordia had injuries or what...but last 2 home games show something. Wouldn't mind 4-0 win but not taking them for granted.  Interesting to see Lynchburg beat Christopher Newport 2-1. Messiah tied Lynchburg early in the year 0-0 but thoroughly dominated them. Huge advantage in shots, possession, etc. I thought Lynchburg was not as good as Roanoke that weekend and just packed it in to get the draw. Now they beat a supposed top 10 team who will likely drop some spots after this loss

[Shooter McGavin]

CNU is always overrated. It was the same saga last season. Ranked top 10 early on then faded and missed NCAAs all together.

[PaulNewman]

Not only did Lynchburg prevail over CNU but in 2nd half dominated stats with something like 10 to 1 shots.  I had same thought about Messiah game, wondering how that fits with the picture.  CNU has now dropped two in a row after steamrolling all opponents and getting the big win over Redlands.

[PaulNewman]

Watched most of the Rowan-F&M game as well.  Both teams looked good and was a high intensity, NCAA-type tilt.  Impressive that Rowan comes out with a win after going down 1-0 (against the run of play) on the road against a very good opponent.

In my mind Rowan and Chicago have separated just a bit over the next group which for me is Trinity (TX), Kenyon, SLU, Amherst, F&M and maybe Midd and/or Messiah.  I would put W&L, OWU, Calvin and maybe UMass-Boston in the next, next group.  Of course at least one team and probably more will emerge later from the group of heavyweights that picked up a couple of early blemishes (Oneonta, Haverford, Brandeis, Montclair, etc).

[PaulNewman]

Two good games going....sleeper game in the West (well, actually Texas) between Concordia (TX) and Tex-Dallas.  1-1 at half.  Comets and hosting and video very clear with interesting mix of camera angles and better approximate of speed of play.  Really good play too.

Carthage is up 1-0 on UWW and UWW about 70 min in.  Big game for both.

Actually Texas-Dallas pushed Chicago more than anyone so far, as the Maroons pulled it out 1-0 in OT in first game of season.

[Ommadawn]

Among the more important games on tap for tomorrow are the Red Dragon Derby (Cortland v Oneonta) and Grove City v Carnegie Mellon.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Blockbuster Weekend Match-Ups

Friday-9/23

#13 Carnegie Mellon@Grove City-----If GC wants any chance at an at-large bid they need a convincing win tonight
Cortland St@Oneonta St-------------Huge implications in this clash. Can Cortland get a signature win over a clicking Oneonta?


Saturday-9/24

Williams@ #3 Amherst-----------------Game of the day? Big road test for Williams and they need a result to be taken seriously.
Rose-Hulman@ #5 Chicago-----------This will prove if Chicago is for real.
York@ #12 Christopher Newport------CAC conference play begins and CNU needs a win in this game or they are facing similar consequences from last season.
Tufts@ #14 Brandeis------------------Another possible game of the day? Jumbos need a result.
RI College@ #16 UMASS-Boston-----Flying under the radar but both teams off to great starts!
Bowdoin@ #20 Middlebury-----------Gotta love the NESCAC match-ups!!
#22 Messiah@Misericordia-----------Misericordia w/some big results as of late and Messiah's road struggles make this a little closer than once thought.
#24 Plattsburgh St@Potsdam St-----Battle of 1 loss teams with big conference implications on the line.
#25 Loras@Nebraska Wesleyan------Loras is in a downward spiral and might get tripped up once again by a stingy NW.
DePauw@Oberlin---------------------A big 3 game stretch starts for DePauw and this will be the easiest of the 3 for them.
Case Western@Lycoming------------Possibly the biggest game for two non-ranked opponents. It's make or break for both teams at this point.
Keuka@Morrisville St-------------------Winner wins the NEAC? Time will tell but this is a big one for both teams.
Swarthmore@Hopkins-----------------Centennial jostling starts for both teams in this cricital battle.
Rochester@RPI-----------------------A win for UR would almost guarantee a top 25 ranking in the next poll and an at-large bid would be in sights.
Eastern@Cabrini----------------------After not playing last season the rivalry is back!! Big game for Eastern to stay on pace in the region.
Camden@Montclair St----------------Big time game in the NJAC!!
Kean@Newark------------------------Playoff positioning on the line for these two teams with combined records of 15-3 this season!



Top 5 Games of the Weekend
1. Williams@Amherst
2. Tufts@Brandeis
3. Camden@Montclair
4. Rose-Hulman@Chicago
5. Bowdoin@Middlebury

Honorable Mention: Eastern@Cabrini(Rivalry), Swat@JHU, CWR@Lyco, and Kean@RUN

[Domino1195]

Blockbuster Weekend Match-Ups

Friday-9/23

#13 Carnegie Mellon@Grove City-----If GC wants any chance at an at-large bid they need a convincing win tonight
Cortland St@Oneonta St-------------Huge implications in this clash. Can Cortland get a signature win over a clicking Oneonta?


Saturday-9/24

Williams@ #3 Amherst-----------------Game of the day? Big road test for Williams and they need a result to be taken seriously.
Rose-Hulman@ #5 Chicago-----------This will prove if Chicago is for real.
York@ #12 Christopher Newport------CAC conference play begins and CNU needs a win in this game or they are facing similar consequences from last season.
Tufts@ #14 Brandeis------------------Another possible game of the day? Jumbos need a result.
RI College@ #16 UMASS-Boston-----Flying under the radar but both teams off to great starts!
Bowdoin@ #20 Middlebury-----------Gotta love the NESCAC match-ups!!
#22 Messiah@Misericordia-----------Misericordia w/some big results as of late and Messiah's road struggles make this a little closer than once thought.
#24 Plattsburgh St@Potsdam St-----Battle of 1 loss teams with big conference implications on the line.
#25 Loras@Nebraska Wesleyan------Loras is in a downward spiral and might get tripped up once again by a stingy NW.
DePauw@Oberlin---------------------A big 3 game stretch starts for DePauw and this will be the easiest of the 3 for them.
Case Western@Lycoming------------Possibly the biggest game for two non-ranked opponents. It's make or break for both teams at this point.
Keuka@Morrisville St-------------------Winner wins the NEAC? Time will tell but this is a big one for both teams.
Swarthmore@Hopkins-----------------Centennial jostling starts for both teams in this cricital battle.
Rochester@RPI-----------------------A win for UR would almost guarantee a top 25 ranking in the next poll and an at-large bid would be in sights.
Eastern@Cabrini----------------------After not playing last season the rivalry is back!! Big game for Eastern to stay on pace in the region.
Camden@Montclair St----------------Big time game in the NJAC!!
Kean@Newark------------------------Playoff positioning on the line for these two teams with combined records of 15-3 this season!



Top 5 Games of the Weekend
1. Williams@Amherst
2. Tufts@Brandeis
3. Camden@Montclair
4. Rose-Hulman@Chicago
5. Bowdoin@Middlebury

Honorable Mention: Eastern@Cabrini(Rivalry), Swat@JHU, CWR@Lyco, and Kean@RUN

Chicago is 8-0 with ONE goal against, a schedule not filled with cupcakes. How much "realer" to they have to get?