2016 NCAA Tournament

[firstplaceloser]

This is footage of the 2 red cards and the headbutt that should have resulted in a 3rd red from the Umass Boston - Haverford game.  As a former player it's sad to think that the careers of the Haverford seniors were ended in PKs by a team that exhibits this kind of behavior. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ypZO-ULHFxA&feature=youtu.be

I just saw the video, and the actions of the UMB team are embarrassing to me, the University and the Little East Conference.  After watching UMB, this year it is obvious that their Coach, Beverlin either does not or cannot control his players when they fall behind and lose their composure.  I personally think Beverlin is a bit arrogant from pre/post game interviews I have watched over the last couple years. The Kang foul and his kicking the ball into the face of the Haverford player was bad in itself, but the two head butts, the last on an official, was way overboard.  I see Williamson name is still on the roster as of today.  These incidents put a huge black mark on this team...very sad!!

arrogant was a much BETTER use of word than i was thinking. but he's like the guy you hate see excel at anything in life. i'm sorry is that too much?

[1970s NESCAC Player]

It would have always be an uphill climb, considering he is already 26.

He is 28!  D/O/B per UMB roster is 2/24/88 . . .

[oldonionbag]

You're right - I was using the age listed in the highlight video that was previously posted. Makes it even more shameful.

[emanfish]

Anybody have reliable impressions of Redlands?  They have played in some big games and did well to get through Wash U and DePauw.  I know St Thomas has had a phenomenal season for them, but I would think Redlands is the one team in that sectional with a shot at upsetting Chicago if they can avoid falling behind early.

My first post... as a DePauw fan, I have to say Redlands is  a very technical, possessive, and aggressive Team (not dirty though).  They are also composed - and they went deep.  They seem to be able to hold, their own against good competition which I think Depauw is.  Good footwork and crafty.  I'm looking to see what happens against Chicago

[PaulNewman]

I'm going to try and make this my last comment about the UMass-Boston saga.  I do feel bad for Haverford, and I do lean towards believing the game should have been terminated with Haverford awarded a forfeit.  The latter did not happen.

Beyond the above, this is a sad story that UMass will have to suffer itself.  UMass should have been one of the great stories of the tournament and indeed the season overall.  What had been a magical season with a chance to shine brightly on the school and its mission has devolved into something ugly.  Many of us who would be cheering and pulling hard for them as the very talented, upstart underdog now wish they were no longer in the tournament.  Many of us would probably appreciate Williamson's story as well (which no doubt would tell us a lot about him), but now we're not really interested.  The coach, and by extension his players, could not afford to be blind to an appreciation for how much good they could have done for themselves.  Once you get past feeling bad for Haverford and being aghast at the behavior, in my mind the lingering and most important story will be what the team did to itself.  For two full years now we've known that UMass's most dangerous opponent was self-implosion.  There is no way that at least the coaching staff has not known that.  And now here we are....

[PaulNewman]

Anybody have reliable impressions of Redlands?  They have played in some big games and did well to get through Wash U and DePauw.  I know St Thomas has had a phenomenal season for them, but I would think Redlands is the one team in that sectional with a shot at upsetting Chicago if they can avoid falling behind early.

My first post... as a DePauw fan, I have to say Redlands is  a very technical, possessive, and aggressive Team (not dirty though).  They are also composed - and they went deep.  They seem to be able to hold, their own against good competition which I think Depauw is.  Good footwork and crafty.  I'm looking to see what happens against Chicago

Thanks.  Redlands has made deep runs before and I presume will show up expecting to pull the upset.  They were one of my early season faves before they went on a tailspin for a while but obviously they are doing something right now.

[firstplaceloser]

You're right - I was using the age listed in the highlight video that was previously posted. Makes it even more shameful.

HOW COME NO ONE POINTED OUT THERE WAS 1:30 LEFT IN THE GAME

[firstplaceloser]

I'm going to try and make this my last comment about the UMass-Boston saga.  I do feel bad for Haverford, and I do lean towards believing the game should have been terminated with Haverford awarded a forfeit.  The latter did not happen.

Beyond the above, this is a sad story that UMass will have to suffer itself.  UMass should have been one of the great stories of the tournament and indeed the season overall.  What had been a magical season with a chance to shine brightly on the school and its mission has devolved into something ugly.  Many of us who would be cheering and pulling hard for them as the very talented, upstart underdog now wish they were no longer in the tournament.  Many of us would probably appreciate Williamson's story as well (which no doubt would tell us a lot about him), but now we're not really interested.  The coach, and by extension his players, could not afford to be blind to an appreciation for how much good they could have done for themselves.  Once you get past feeling bad for Haverford and being aghast at the behavior, in my mind the lingering and most important story will be what the team did to itself.  For two full years now we've known that UMass's most dangerous opponent was self-implosion.  There is no way that at least the coaching staff has not known that.  And now here we are....

Couldn't have said it any better. A deep run in the NCAA is a very positive thing for a school and
now it means nothing for them.

[PaulNewman]

Really looking forward to this weekend as Kenyon has never been to New England in the 7 years I've followed the Lords and maybe never.  Rare opportunity for alums, families of alums, and friends of the college who live in the Boston area and those in NYC/CT and/or Philly/DC areas who can make the trip.  Kenyon tailgating event on Field A at Tufts adjacent to Bello Field prior to Trinity game.  Kenyon folks should go to the men's soccer webpage to register.  Also a great opportunity for talented prep and public high school players in the area to get a taste of Kenyon soccer and what NCAA tournament-level D3 soccer is like.

#makebellopurple

[NEPitch62]

The Jumbos come away with a strong weekend and are fortunate to have the home game ahead.  No matter the opponent I think they are primed and will push through to Sunday.  Nate Majumder is fit and will make waves going forward.  Becherano and the Halliday brothers are studs.  The defense, led by Sullivan, Coleman and Weatherbie will protect and serve.  Greenwood will take out the trash.  Jumbos 2-0.

[HooksLeft]

I am not defending UMB's antics at all. I do not believe they will be forced to forfeit because it is to late...I do believe the coach should be suspended or even fired.

My main point is that it is very ironic that we have former Amherst players being the first to comment on this teams antics and the antics of their bench. They have the least amount of credibility on this issue and BTW................. there is a HUGE difference at a player throwing a ball FULL SPEED into a players sternum(He could have been killed) then drop kicking a ball into another player(while absolutely stupid he could not have been killed)....I am commenting on the game live and did not get a chance to see full blown replays and zoom-ins.

2 things to address here: The first is that (to continue with the political theme) Mr. Right seems to have the consistency of Hillary Clinton combined with the grace and delicacy of Donald Trump. There have been more than a few examples of players getting over-the-top violent in past years that Mr. Right seems to quickly forget en lieu of referencing Amherst's bench behavior. For example: a few years back, Peter Lee Kramer of Tufts was suspended for a red card early in the season, then came back after his suspension and threw a HARD elbow at the face of a bowdoin player who had to leave the game ( https://www.instagram.com/p/uwEjgzpPg9/ ). Kramer was suspended again that season but Mr. Right said later on the threads: "Wow Kramer is usually pretty level headed. Kramer and big ole Sam Williams are two of the best CB's in the country in my opinion." Since then we have not heard 'boo' about Tufts being dirty or cheap. Yet someone in a game COMPLETELY unrelated to Amherst headbutts a ref and Mr. Right goes right to talks of the Amherst bench, and the time one of their players threw a legal throw-in off someone's chest.

Which brings me to my next point... Mr. Right can you please explain the science behind how someone could die from a soccer ball hitting them in the sternum (note, it was a THROW in)? Curious how it is more dangerous than someone kicking a ball at a players head. Furthermore, is it only lethal if the ball-to-the-sternum is a throw in or could it happen if someone kicked the ball as well? I only ask because literally NO ONE has ever died in the sport of soccer from a ball to the chest or sternum and it has happened *thousands* of times. I've attached a link to a list of every player who has died playing professional soccer to make things easier for you. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_association_footballers_who_died_while_playing ) While you're looking that up I'd also like to reference your "My advice is to look at your own house first" quote that you shot at Gab Wirz earlier. The Amherst "house" has had 4 NESCAC championships in the last 6 years (and missed the 5th by an inch in extra PKs), a National Championship, one of the best (if not THE best) records in the past 5 years across the NCAA, a handful of NCAA and NESCAC stat records, and a TON of individual recognitions without any suspenions or sanctions (I'm genuinely curious, in the past 5 years have we ever received a straight red?). Yet you've been telling us for years that "The antics can't last forever", "one day the karma will catch up to them", etc.... but will it? Where have Williams and the rest of the NESCAC been up to this whole time? Their coaches might want to spend a little less time reading books on etiquette and a little more time figuring it out what it takes to win soccer games. Serpone clearly has it figured out.

So in conclusion:

I'm disappointed to see haverford lose. I thought they were a good team and obviously UMass is going to have some other issues in the tournament so I think the competitive balance on their side of the bracket dropped off substantially.

I think (and I'm TOTALLY bias) Amherst has the best chance of winning the tournament again this year. They're playing well and, as I said in a post on the NESCAC thread, they have a senior class that you can always count on. We've seen year after year after year that a large, tough-minded senior class is a key to success in November and December.

Apologies to everyone else not named Mr. Right for the aggression here. The guy just gets to me.

Still love you though Mr. Right. The wild thoughts that go on in that cranium of yours will never cease to intrigue me.

RIP Biggie Smalls

[NEPitch62]

this is totally crap - all of it.  Videos about soccer players dying?  damnit..

[4samuy]

there are times Chicago struggles to score and their defense has bailed them out.   IMHO Redlands can definitely win this game if , as NCAC New Enlgand stated, they can get on the board first.

FYI-In typical Windy City late fall fashion,  Friday forecast 67 degrees and for the Saturday games?
You guessed it,  39 degrees 15-20 mph winds with flurries.

[TribeFan]

The Jumbos come away with a strong weekend and are fortunate to have the home game ahead.  No matter the opponent I think they are primed and will push through to Sunday.  Nate Majumder is fit and will make waves going forward.  Becherano and the Halliday brothers are studs.  The defense, led by Sullivan, Coleman and Weatherbie will protect and serve.  Greenwood will take out the trash.  Jumbos 2-0.

Please do us all a favor and destroy UMass-Boston this weekend.

[firstplaceloser]

The Jumbos come away with a strong weekend and are fortunate to have the home game ahead.  No matter the opponent I think they are primed and will push through to Sunday.  Nate Majumder is fit and will make waves going forward.  Becherano and the Halliday brothers are studs.  The defense, led by Sullivan, Coleman and Weatherbie will protect and serve.  Greenwood will take out the trash.  Jumbos 2-0.

Please do us all a favor and destroy UMass-Boston this weekend.

i think you have everyone's backing on this statement