Mid-Atlantic Region

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

PSU Harrisburg plays in a weaker conference but has some nice results and overall strong record. Currently 13-4-2 with solid wins over NYU, Messiah, and Lycoming. They've won 9 of their last 10 so no reason to drop them out at this time. Others in the RV section could certainly be in that 10th slot.

MAF Power Rankings (10/28)
1. Dickinson
2. Hopkins
3. F&M
4. Messiah
5. Montclair St
6. Rowan
7. Muhles
8. York
9. Washington MD
10. PSU-Harrisburg

RV: Stevens, Catholic, LVC

Was surprised to see PSU Harrisburg in last week but let it go.  Why them at 10 and not others?

[SierraFD3soccer]

For those who are interested Hop (1st place) is playing Dickinson (3rd) at 5 today. Should really be a good game. Two teams in the top 20.

https://www.centennialconference.tv/hopkinssports/

[Freddyfud]

Rough half for the Dickinson GK.  The rest of the team can't get anything going.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Rough half for the Dickinson GK.  The rest of the team can't get anything going.

Definitely, no highlights there. Plus the pk was just bad.

[Hopkins92]

The second Hop goal, yeah, that's the dreaded Turf Monster rearing it's ugly head. He'll be seeing that one in his sleep tonight, regardless of the end result.

Turner stopping the PK early with the game at 1-0 was huge. Not a very well hit PK when the goalie can just react to the shot and still make the save. Put it in the corner and you score 99 percent of the time.

Beyond the gaffe goal, Hopkins' first was a nice cross and finish. The third... naive defending on the short corner gave Francis Meyer all day to slot that home. Again, as Freddy alluded to, that was a short-side goal... Cardinal sin for a goalie.

In the back, my guy Andersen is not letting their danger guy get anything going. Very impressed with that guy, as stated earlier this week.

Let's see if Hop can keep up the pressure. Sitting back and protecting for 45 is a recipe for disaster. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

I definitely believe that Hop is the much better team here. They should be ahead plus they hit the crossbar.

If it stands, Dickinson could be traveling easily on Tuesday

[Freddyfud]

Yea the second goal, stuff happens.  But the third one near post was rough.  And a miss on a corner clearance almost lead to a 4th.  Not sure but maybe they made a change at the half?

[SierraFD3soccer]

Yup.

Not great keeper play all around. Despite the 2nd D goal going through his legs, I think Appleton was subbing no matter what and will go with the sophomore the rest of the way. The grad student just spent a ton of cash to play several games.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Congratulations Hop, great reg season!

Announcer was good, a lot of great info. Only point I would say that this was not an upset. Despite Dickinson outranking Hop

[Hopkins92]

Announcer was fine, but not many people talk about B'more being Charm City. He, along with the vast majority of folks calling soccer, need to learn the "less is more" adage. I found him perfectly fine, but soccer doesn't need to be called like we're listening to it on the radio.

/peeve

I think Dickinson has probably relied on athleticism and size and Hopkins did a very good job of... Hopkins'ing them. They are very good holding the ball up and orchestrating a possession style that clearly frustrated the Red Devils tonight. A lot of frustration fouls.

Hop wins the regular season for the first time in a minute. In terms of THE ALGORITHMS, this is a pretty big win in terms of seeding for November Madness. 

[Freddyfud]

I get chills during JHU home games.  Not from the broadcast announcer but the Homewood Field PA announcer.  His voice is identical to Chuck Thompson, longtime and HOF broadcaster for the Orioles and  part of my childhood growing up.  It's like I'm back at Memorial Stadium or listening to a game on WBAL.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Announcer was fine, but not many people talk about B'more being Charm City. He, along with the vast majority of folks calling soccer, need to learn the "less is more" adage. I found him perfectly fine, but soccer doesn't need to be called like we're listening to it on the radio.

/peeve

I think Dickinson has probably relied on athleticism and size and Hopkins did a very good job of... Hopkins'ing them. They are very good holding the ball up and orchestrating a possession style that clearly frustrated the Red Devils tonight. A lot of frustration fouls.

Hop wins the regular season for the first time in a minute. In terms of THE ALGORITHMS, this is a pretty big win in terms of seeding for November Madness. 

Definitely, he knows his stuff and less would be so much more.

Anyone know, once we AQs are determined, how are going to seed and AQs plus mix in locations? I've shied away from that.

[Kuiper]

Announcer was fine, but not many people talk about B'more being Charm City. He, along with the vast majority of folks calling soccer, need to learn the "less is more" adage. I found him perfectly fine, but soccer doesn't need to be called like we're listening to it on the radio.

/peeve

I think Dickinson has probably relied on athleticism and size and Hopkins did a very good job of... Hopkins'ing them. They are very good holding the ball up and orchestrating a possession style that clearly frustrated the Red Devils tonight. A lot of frustration fouls.

Hop wins the regular season for the first time in a minute. In terms of THE ALGORITHMS, this is a pretty big win in terms of seeding for November Madness. 

Definitely, he knows his stuff and less would be so much more.

Anyone know, once we AQs are determined, how are going to seed and AQs plus mix in locations? I've shied away from that.

Seeds are based upon NPI order as I understand it, but they have the ability to do hosting not strictly based on highest seeds (more so than in the past).  Plus, they are in a two year pilot that allows them to place some teams more than 500 miles away.

[Hopkins Walk-On]

Attended the Hopkins-Dickinson game tonight and came away distinctly unimpressed by Dickinson. They looked awful in the first half - few passes, not much ball handling - just a lot of long ball. The goalie repeatedly punted it to half field, only to have Hopkins win it and send it back. For a team that is that big, they didn't win many high balls cleanly. Their goalie made one bad mistake on the second goal but didn't have much of a chance on the other two in the half.

Dickinson looked better in the second half, in part because they made a greater effort to possess the ball and bring it forward under control instead of just booting it. The second goalie did well with his throws to start a number of possessions. Still, they didn't have much offense beyond corner kicks and long throws. I didn't see anything to think they will contend for the Centennial tournament title or go far in the NCAAs.

Hopkins, on the other hand, looked terrific in the first half. Very rapid attacks, many through the middle, excellent heading given the size differential, and strong tackling. Things became disjointed in the second half as Coach Appleby subbed more and had to manage around several yellow cards but the game was never very close.

I expect Washington College and Muhlenberg to join Hopkins and F&M in the Centennial semifinals.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Attended the Hopkins-Dickinson game tonight and came away distinctly unimpressed by Dickinson. They looked awful in the first half - few passes, not much ball handling - just a lot of long ball. The goalie repeatedly punted it to half field, only to have Hopkins win it and send it back. For a team that is that big, they didn't win many high balls cleanly. Their goalie made one bad mistake on the second goal but didn't have much of a chance on the other two in the half.

Dickinson looked better in the second half, in part because they made a greater effort to possess the ball and bring it forward under control instead of just booting it. The second goalie did well with his throws to start a number of possessions. Still, they didn't have much offense beyond corner kicks and long throws. I didn't see anything to think they will contend for the Centennial tournament title or go far in the NCAAs.

Hopkins, on the other hand, looked terrific in the first half. Very rapid attacks, many through the middle, excellent heading given the size differential, and strong tackling. Things became disjointed in the second half as Coach Appleby subbed more and had to manage around several yellow cards but the game was never very close.

I expect Washington College and Muhlenberg to join Hopkins and F&M in the Centennial semifinals.

Really well played by Hop. Yeah, they really beat Dickinson.

As to Dickinson not making the semis, obviously, they are watching the other games to see if they will get a home game. However, I definitely think the Muhls are very vulnerable. Yes, they did beat Dickinson and tied JHU, but that is a long time ago and really have not been playing well. Last 5 Cent. Conf. games, they are -1-1-3 with a win against Swat (1-0) loss against F&M, ties against Ursinus (1-1), WC (0-0), Gburg (1-1). Struggling to get goals. Depending on who plays whom will make a difference. If the Muhls play Dickinson or WC, I would not pick them.

What is interesting is McDaniel which has made the CC tournament for the first time since 2005 (mind you that until 2022 the CC only took 5 teams) and they could host quarters if they beat the Muhls and WC loses as they would be in 3rd. If that happens, I think McD would play the Muhls at home on a very nice grass field. WC would host Dickinson.