2016 NCAA Tournament

[Mr.Right]

This is a very good, competitive game with high-quality play all-around. Messiah passing the ball as well as any team I've seen this year and Calvin looks dangerous on the counter.

Agreed.....I have a hunch there are some more goals in this game

[blooter442]

Calvin's best chance of the game a few minutes into the second half off of a header from a free kick. My knowledge is mostly confined to NE teams, so perhaps it's not a surprise that I'm just finding this out, but I am impressed with Calvin's close control - it's certainly better than I would have guessed.

[blooter442]

Bang, bang. 1-1. Messiah punished for not making their dominance pay. I suspect Calvin will start to sit in more.

[FalconFan]

Calvin doesn't strike me as a team that is going to just sit back and defend.

[Mr.Right]

Calvin's coach must of lit a fire under his teams ass...They looked like a totally different team 2nd Half...They have conrolled play for the most part 2nd Half especially last 20 minutes...They are a very dangerous team and had they not come out asleep 1st Half they might of had a lead.

[PaulNewman]

Calvin doesn't strike me as a team that is going to just sit back and defend.

Agreed.  In Calvin's mind they are the best team in the country.  How many final fours in last 8-9 years?  Undefeated last year until Loras knocked them out I think 1-0 in national semis.

[blooter442]

I suppose my feeling was due to a lack of knowledge re: Calvin. I just knew that last year their defense was super stingy and that was how they got to the Final 4, but I have been super impressed with them on the counter.

[PaulNewman]

Unbelievably good first sweet 16 game.

[FalconFan]

Unbelievably good first sweet 16 game.

Agreed.  This game has had a real punch - counter punch flow to it.

[FalconFan]

Congrats to Calvin, what a game that was.

[blooter442]

Heartbreaker for Messiah, but congrats to Calvin. What a great, competitive game.

[PaulNewman]

Vegter was superb. Game saving tackle and takeaway inside the six.

[gustiefan04]

Outstanding game.

Messiah keeper has quite a mullet.

[Falconer]

Congratulations to the Knights.  They deserved to win this one and showed how much heart they have.  It must be especially gratifying to them, considering that the Falcons have beaten them more than once in the tournament recently, in games just as close as this one.

I'm so pleased to see how far the Falcons came from the opening of 2015 to the close of 2016.  The main thing they lacked this year was a target.  I don't know whether that problem will be solved next season, but nearly all of the top players return so I would anticipate an even deeper run next year.

Jacob Bender is obviously irreplaceable.  I said months ago that he's on my all-time Falcon team as perhaps (with JD Binger) one of the two best all-around players Messiah has ever had. 

I predict Calvin now goes all the way.

[Jump4Joy]

Bloots, thanks for the dialogue.
I have never professed to be objective! 
I agree that unsportsmanlike behavior taints the game. The hug shouldn't have happened. (Ironic that we're talking about hugs when headbutts kicked this back-and-forth off!)
And: posters shouldn't take every opportunity to evoke Amherst's name every time another team commits an act of poor sportsmanship.
This practice has become habit, especially by He Who Should Not be Named (who has offered many informative posts but can't help himself when it comes to his nemesis for some reason).
I'm not trying to distract. I'm just saying that folks are quick to throw Amherst into every mention of everyone else's dirty laundry. If I come across as defensive, it's because I am!

Wish I had seen the Messiah/Calvin game. Caught the OT. The end comes quickly.