2016 NCAA Tournament

[Falconer]

Tremendous game tonight in Grantham.  Messiah marginally more in control for most of the first half, got a great goal by Jacob Bender on a one-two to lead 1-0 at the half.

After a CNU defender got a second card, with a man down the Captains almost tied it when, after a few minutes of kamikaze style attacking (I have to hand it to them, they took the game over) a man went down in the box for a PK.  The Falcon keeper, Connor Bell, somehow got a hand on it, but it went right back to the same man who shot again and Bell saved it.  Later on, he saved 2 or 3 more shots.  Haven't seen a Falcon keeper rise to the occasion just as big, in a big game, in quite some time. 

Late in the second half, with CNU now down two men (the second red was a straight red for something verbal), Messiah got another goal.  Both goals still being peppered, believe it or not, but the Falcons lead 2-0 with less than 2 minutes left.

This was indeed a Final Four quality game for both teams.

[Falconer]

Sadly, two cheap shot fouls by CNU in the last 10 seconds, as the Falcons were simply playing keepaway.  Both men were fouled without the ball. A yellow card in the last second of your season, I suppose, is meaningless--but not morally meaningless.

[blooter442]

Deserved win for Tufts, who outplayed Rowan for the majority of the game. Good for Majumder, getting a goal in a big game in what has definitely been a tough year for him - form is temporary, class is permanent, and he is a top-class striker. Even without Williamson you can bet that feisty UMASS-Boston will be a test for the Jumbos, and - should they get by the Beacons - they could well see either Trinity or Kenyon in the following round. Final 4 is certainly possible, but it will not be a cakewalk for the Jumbos. That said, if the last two years are anything to go by, its that Tufts plays its best soccer in November.

[Mr.Right]

Tufts gets the convincing victory over Rowan 1-0. They go down to Jersey and pick up another 2 shutouts to reach the Sweet 16. They are playing very confidently right now and besides the  Bowdoin losses they have 1 loss in the last 2 months. Certainly they are playing with as much confidence right now as any team in the country. That is why I thought the 2 Bowdoin wins over Tufts was enough to get them into the NCAA's. That is how well Tufts has been playing lately. It is nothing flashy just very workmanlike and playing as a very cohesive unit. Tehy looked much better tonight than they did last night against Springfield where their defense showed some holes

[Saint of Old]

How legit is this Chicago team??
These guys seem to have come out of nowhere and are very very good.

The question is, are we seeing a new power come on the National stage to stay??

[NEPAFAN]

Sad to the season end for the Scranton Royals at SUNY Cortland. 2-1; Cortland scored twice in the first half and Scranton was pressing for the equalizer for the last 15 minutes of so. Back to Back Landmark Championships for this program; they graduate a ton of seniors so hoping they can keep it up next year. Good Luck to SUNY Cortland the rest of the way.

[rudy]

Tremendous game tonight in Grantham.  Messiah marginally more in control for most of the first half, got a great goal by Jacob Bender on a one-two to lead 1-0 at the half.

After a CNU defender got a second card, with a man down the Captains almost tied it when, after a few minutes of kamikaze style attacking (I have to hand it to them, they took the game over) a man went down in the box for a PK.  The Falcon keeper, Connor Bell, somehow got a hand on it, but it went right back to the same man who shot again and Bell saved it.  Later on, he saved 2 or 3 more shots.  Haven't seen a Falcon keeper rise to the occasion just as big, in a big game, in quite some time. 

Late in the second half, with CNU now down two men (the second red was a straight red for something verbal), Messiah got another goal.  Both goals still being peppered, believe it or not, but the Falcons lead 2-0 with less than 2 minutes left.

This was indeed a Final Four quality game for both teams.

We'll take the win.  Not pretty at times..lots of high pressure.  For early part of second half Messiah played well and possessed well.  Got much tougher last 20-25 minutes.   This one was a nail biter for sure.

[blooter442]

How legit is this Chicago team??
These guys seem to have come out of nowhere and are very very good.

The question is, are we seeing a new power come on the National stage to stay??

In my opinion, they are very legit. Whether that means they can be the first UAA side to get to the Final 4 since NYU in 2006 is another question, but if there has ever been a UAA team with the potential to do that it's this one IMHO.

Desai up top is a very, very good striker, and I think is playing his best as a senior. Koh and Lopez were both 1st Team All-UAA last year as freshmen, which is incredible - usually if a freshman comes in and get Honorable Mention, that's worth something, but both are very good players. Weis is also a very good CB and they have Bonin in goal who is a very good GK. Also freshman Adeyosun is extremely talented and would be my pick for UAA RoY.

This year they have emerged as arguably the preeminent team in the nation, but they've been building the last two years: two years ago, they won the UAA with a 5-0-2 conference record after having a so-so out-of-conference record (6-5 I think). Last year they brought Koh and Lopez in and - while they didn't win the UAA - they did come into form late season and took Kenyon to PKs in the 2nd Round. They have certainly taken it to a new level this year, but it has been coming - I guess that's what happens when you have an extremely strong spine and two promising underclassmen who have had a year to adjust to the college game.

[Brother Flounder]

Good win for the Jumbos.  They seem to relish the underdog roll in the tourney. Shapiro used his subs superbly to stretch out the second half.  Many players have been deep in the tourney and this experience may prove helpful against UMB.  Welcome back Mr. Majumbder.

[blooter442]

Good win for the Jumbos.  They seem to relish the underdog roll in the tourney. Shapiro used his subs superbly to stretch out the second half.  Many players have been deep in the tourney and this experience may prove helpful against UMB.  Welcome back Mr. Majumbder.

Certainly think that Tufts' experience could well be the difference. The only concern is that Tufts looked exceptionally vulnerable in the last 15 when Rowan started to flood the box with high balls - you can bet that UMB will have scouted that. That said, Tufts was the better side against a very good Rowan team today, on the Profs' home pitch, no less, and if they can repeat the quality of today's performance I think they'll be in the Elite 8.

[Jump4Joy]

Speaks well for the NESCAC that both of their NCAA teams have reached the Sweet 16.

[PaulNewman]

Not only did Tufts barely make the tournament but in all likelihood will host, and will be favored over UMB especially with UMB star out.  Then only have to beat Trinity (assuming Trinity wins and they are up 1-0) or Kenyon to get to Final Four.   One reason teams with great records don't want borderline bid teams is because some are very dangerous.  Two years in a row Tufts goes to Jersey and takes out a favorite for the national title.  Congrats.

Watched most of the Messiah game.  Announcers, especially the lead announcer, reverted to some old ways under pressure.  A major homer with no comments about whether decisions on CNU might have been harsh and putting them down to 9 men a little over the top and over-involved from a ref point of view.  After that one can expect a team and the coaches are going to on the edge of explosive.  Even down to 10 men would have been interesting finish if CNU converts the PK which he probably should given to someone else because he was shaken up on the play resulting in the PK.  CNU played hard and well while Messiah was a bit better. 

[blooter442]

Not only did Tufts barely make the tournament but in all likelihood will host.

As BF pointed out, Tufts seems to enjoy being the underdog in NCAAs, and I think part of that is that they have - at least in the last 4 years - always been on the road. They certainly have some good results at home playing on turf, particularly the 3-0 drubbing of Amherst, but they also lost to Wesleyan and Bowdoin at home this year, so you have to wonder if they'd rather be on the road?

(Then again, an alternate thought is that they've done it the hard way, and might like to be at home for once, but just a thought).

[PaulNewman]

Not only did Tufts barely make the tournament but in all likelihood will host.

As BF pointed out, Tufts seems to enjoy being the underdog in NCAAs, and I think part of that is that they have - at least in the last 4 years - always been on the road. They certainly have some good results at home playing on turf, particularly the 3-0 drubbing of Amherst, but they also lost to Wesleyan and Bowdoin at home this year, so you have to wonder if they'd rather be on the road?

(Then again, an alternate thought is that they've done it the hard way, and might like to be at home for once, but just a thought).

I guess a question is whether they even applied given that they could have never expected the current scenario with both them and UMass-Boston advancing.  If they did apply, they won't have a choice and will do whatever NCAA decides.  Certainly can't see them flying 3 teams to San Antonio (or California).  Will be interesting if none of the 3 other teams applied leaving Trinity as the only one.  I'm getting conflicting info about Kenyon, but that still would be a plane ride for 3 teams.

Of course if you already have to fly two teams maybe three doesn't seem like much more, so that would put Trinity back in play (now up 2-0 late).  And Trinity does have excellent video.

[4samuy]

How legit is this Chicago team??
These guys seem to have come out of nowhere and are very very good.

The question is, are we seeing a new power come on the National stage to stay??

In my opinion, they are very legit. Whether that means they can be the first UAA side to get to the Final 4 since NYU in 2006 is another question, but if there has ever been a UAA team with the potential to do that it's this one IMHO.

Desai up top is a very, very good striker, and I think is playing his best as a senior. Koh and Lopez were both 1st Team All-UAA last year as freshmen, which is incredible - usually if a freshman comes in and get Honorable Mention, that's worth something, but both are very good players. Weis is also a very good CB and they have Bonin in goal who is a very good GK. Also freshman Adeyosun is extremely talented and would be my pick for UAA RoY.

This year they have emerged as arguably the preeminent team in the nation, but they've been building the last two years: two years ago, they won the UAA with a 5-0-2 conference record after having a so-so out-of-conference record (6-5 I think). Last year they brought Koh and Lopez in and - while they didn't win the UAA - they did come into form late season and took Kenyon to PKs in the 2nd Round. They have certainly taken it to a new level this year, but it has been coming - I guess that's what happens when you have an extremely strong spine and two promising underclassmen who have had a year to adjust to the college game.


IMO Blooter is pretty spot on with his analysis.  desai was out today from his red card vs washu and was replaced by freshman Renato Corgi.  Weis and his back line mates [two Sophs and a freshman] Have been outstanding in front of Bonin all year. Fast , cohesive and strong on the ball and in the air.