Mid-Atlantic Region

[SimpleCoach]

McDonald definitely got his right foot on that goal. But I gotta say, that York keeper was pretty suspect on all those goals.  Would love to hear what SC and Hopkins92 have to say.

If I'm his coach and we're looking back...

1st goal...  Did you have your feet set? Were you able to square up to the ball at all... Kinda looks like you were still almost sideways right as the shot was taken... With that said, that's a pinball situation and I'm not gonna mark you down too much on that one. You just have to keep moving your feet...

2nd goal... You gotta know your opponent. The bald guy has a jet pack strapped to his back... If you're gonna come off your line, you absolutely have to be there first. You were not, because jet pack. Would've been better off closing 6-7 yards and then making yourself big. (He would've rounded you, but that's a lower percentage play for him, with two guys on his back.)

3rd goal... Dude. Dude? Duuuuuude. Near post goals mean sit-ups, you know this. That was Charmin soft.

4th goal...Again with the footwork. You just weren't set... You should have been able to tip that... We will have tip drills until you are very annoyed at the next contact practice.

I have not yet had a chance to look at the goals.... but if this is what Hopkins92 is saying, I am certain this is an accurate assessment of the goalkeeper in question.

SC.

[Coach Jeff]

I believe that we should be able to show a little grace to the York keeper and team considering the circumstances they are currently facing for the rest of the season and their life.  They will never be able to play the game we all love without thinking about or missing their teammate.  Just some thoughts.

[Hopkins92]

I believe that we should be able to show a little grace to the York keeper and team considering the circumstances they are currently facing for the rest of the season and their life.  They will never be able to play the game we all love without thinking about or missing their teammate.  Just some thoughts.

Yeah, I only watched those goal highlights, but it was definitely on my mind.

Hopefully my light-hearted "notes" were not taken as being overly critical... Most keepers are pretty self-critical, so I doubt the keeper would take too much issue with the critique.

But, yeah, heavy hearts for those guys for sure. I know it's always a dilemma for a team to even keep going when you lose a teammate. Hopefully soccer gives those guys an outlet and a distraction.

[MessageBoardMessi]

York was inspiring last night - and it was great to see them take the field.  They are a tough team and showed well in many regards.  As for Messiah, they continue to show a form and energy that is nothing short of poetic.  While we continue to see amazing play out of the starting 11,  the value add from the supporting cast is something to watch.  The team doesn't lose a beat when they sub, and actually get better in some regards.  Some players that continue to make a difference - and definitely are adding value:  Caleb Aldridge is a strong and active OB - greatly evidenced by his assist last night....he literally ran through 3 guys to make that play happen.  He is a starter in quality, and I think he could be an interesting play at the wing - just a dynamic player.  Luke Foster picks up his first career start.  That kid just has a motor to him - fun to watch, and has a great touch on the ball, and a good vision for the field and the play ahead.  Josh Bratager - got his second goal on the season - and I love watching him off the ball - always moving, and always seems to get to where the play is going.....his two goals this season are evidence of that.  Patrick Lee - he's a freshman+ , he has a calmness to his play, and shows with a lot of maturity and poise on and off the ball.  Dylan Englehart - got banged up and missed a few games - but that kid has speed, grit, and is a problem for opponent's back line.  All in all, Messiah continues to impress, and they just seem to get better each week........

[Hopkins92]

I guess add this to the pile on two fronts:

* - Hopkins needed an 86th minute goal to beat 2 win Salisbury. The game was 1-1 for a very very long time.

* - They had to really press the game in the last 10 to get the result. Just another interesting tidbit in the OT or not discussion.

[MessageBoardMessi]

Washington and Lee with their 3rd straight tie this evening against Virginia Wesleyan.....not reflective of a team that should be ranked in the top 10.  W&L just doesn't look very impressive, with a style that is hard to figure out. Not a very technical team, and they don't move the ball well....a little too loose of a style.  At this point in the season, they are simply over rated......Kudos to VW's GK for a few good saves....made for the only excitement in this yawner of a match.

[Coach Jeff]

Lynchburg 3 -1 winner over Randolph should move them ahead of W& L in the national rankings because the are the only team that Messiah has faced that tied them and Messiah 2 days earlier handle W & L 4-1 at W & L home field.  Just a added note

[PaulNewman]

Lynchburg 3 -1 winner over Randolph should move them ahead of W& L in the national rankings because the are the only team that Messiah has faced that tied them and Messiah 2 days earlier handle W & L 4-1 at W & L home field.  Just a added note

Coach, your logic here is...let's say...creative. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Lynchburg 3 -1 winner over Randolph should move them ahead of W& L in the national rankings because the are the only team that Messiah has faced that tied them and Messiah 2 days earlier handle W & L 4-1 at W & L home field.  Just a added note

Coach, your logic here is...let's say...creative.

Perhaps, but Lynchburg actually leads ODAC with a record of 5-0-1 and W&L is 4-0-2.  If Lynchburg gets by Roanoke and wins out which it may, that is a valid argument with respect rankings.

[SimpleCoach]

Lynchburg 3 -1 winner over Randolph should move them ahead of W& L in the national rankings because the are the only team that Messiah has faced that tied them and Messiah 2 days earlier handle W & L 4-1 at W & L home field.  Just a added note

Coach, your logic here is...let's say...creative.

Perhaps, but Lynchburg actually leads ODAC with a record of 5-0-1 and W&L is 4-0-2.  If Lynchburg gets by Roanoke and wins out which it may, that is a valid argument with respect rankings.

Not denying your argument, but from my standpoint, am not sure this a reflection of how good Lynchburg is with respect to national rankings, as it reflects on Washington and Lee.

SC.

[Hopkins92]

I guess add this to the pile on two fronts:

* - Hopkins needed an 86th minute goal to beat 2 win Salisbury. The game was 1-1 for a very very long time.

* - They had to really press the game in the last 10 to get the result. Just another interesting tidbit in the OT or not discussion.

And just to be totally fair... Good teams find a way to win. Hop is 10-0-3... We're way past "lucky" or "fluky" at this point.

[PaulNewman]

Lynchburg 3 -1 winner over Randolph should move them ahead of W& L in the national rankings because the are the only team that Messiah has faced that tied them and Messiah 2 days earlier handle W & L 4-1 at W & L home field.  Just a added note

Coach, your logic here is...let's say...creative.

Perhaps, but Lynchburg actually leads ODAC with a record of 5-0-1 and W&L is 4-0-2.  If Lynchburg gets by Roanoke and wins out which it may, that is a valid argument with respect rankings.

If someone thinks Lynchburg should be ranked ahead of W&L that's fine but not based on the logic that beating Randolph six weeks later somehow links up to and invokes opening weekend results.  All of the results will be factored into regional rankings in a few weeks but as for poll rankings this would be a kind of double jeopardy.  The opening weekend results were already factored in six weeks ago with W&L getting knocked at that time and Lynchburg credited. 

Three other points.  Conference standings do not always parallel rankings, either poll or regional rankings.  Secondly, reverse the order of the two opening games and what do you think would have happened....if Messiah had played Lynchburg first before they no doubt had a bit of a letdown after winning a super-anticipated match with W&L?  And finally, the result is what truly matters, but apparently W&L dominated most of the action just a week ago when they played Lynchburg head to head.

We won't have to wait too long as there is a very good chance Lynchburg and W&L will play at least once more...and maybe twice.

[Hopkins92]

I know it's kind of an outlier, but just look at Drew:

10-1-3 Overall
0-1-2, good for 6th place in the Landmark

[Ejay]

Weekend activity in the region.

NJAC
Stockton @ New Jersey City
RUN @ RUC
Ramapo @ Rowan
William Paterson @ Kean
TCNJ @ Montclair State
GOTW - Gotta be The Rutgers' who are sitting in 2nd and 3rd in the NJAC, though both are hovering right about .500 on the season. Edge to Newark who are the slightly better team.

CENTENNIAL
McDaniel @ Haverford
F&M @ Swarthmore
Muhlenberg @ Dickinson      
Gettysburg @ Washington
Ursinus @ Johns Hopkins
GOTW - McDaniel @ Haverford. Winner keeps their playoff hopes alive while the loser will likely be watching the playoffs. McDaniel is having a very good season, but will it continue against a 3-win Haverford team?

LANDMARK
Drew @ Elizabethtown
Goucher @ Juniata
Scranton @ Moravian   
Catholic @ Susquehanna
GOTW - Drew @ Elizabethtown (also in the week #2 pool). Drew is 10-1-3, but shockingly 0-1-2 in the Landmark.  A loss would be devastating to the Rangers, but will ETown's grass field (only grass in the conference) favor the Blue Jays?

MAC-FREEDOM
Delaware Valley @ Wilkes
Stevens @ Lycoming
King's @ Arcadia   
FDU-Florham @ Misericordia
*Albright @ DeSales
GOTW - Stevens @ Lycoming (also in the week #2 pool). #4 Stevens haven't been playing like the #4 team in the country and are ripe for an upset.  Is Lycoming the team to hand it to them?

MAC-COMMONWEALTH
Alvernia @ York (Pa.)    
Hood    @ Lebanon Valley   
Stevenson @ Widener   
Eastern @ Messiah
*Albright @ DeSales
GOTW - Alvernia @ York. York are home for the first time since the tragic passing of teammate Drew Ruehlicke. Expect Spartan nation to be out in full force to honor Drew and support the team. Side note: The York women just ended Messiah's historic 150-game conference unbeaten streak dating back to October 2000!

[camosfan]

GOTW - Gotta be The Rutgers' who are sitting in 2nd and 3rd in the NJAC, though both are hovering right about .500 on the season. Edge to Newark who are the slightly better team.

Got a son on RUC, they are so dependent on starting line up and how you sub!