Mid-Atlantic Region

[Falconer]

Misericordia didn't look at all like a team without a result this year, and they almost got one tonight vs Messiah. The Falcons' most dangerous player, Colby Thomas, finally got one past the Cougars' keeper (who played a terrific game and kept it scoreless) in OT. Thomas usually plays on the right wing, but McCarty switched him to the left in OT so that the Falcons could try to find something across the box instead of from the corners--and it worked. His characteristically hard shot from maybe 25 yards out hit the net, after he'd been stiffed multiple times from closer in by the keeper and the very active, well organized defense. Many Falcon shots were blocked before reaching the keeper, and he made some great saves on those that weren't.

The Cougars tried to score for a grand total of perhaps 40 seconds, and at least once they almost did. Had they done so, the score would not have accurately reflected the game. Messiah dominated almost completely, except that most of their best shots were blocked and many of their best passes were deflected just enough to nullify them, or else didn't end up on a friendly foot b/c someone slowed down or stopped too early. I give the game balls to Ruiz Plaza for controlling the game and to Alejos for creative energy, especially in the second half and OT. His terrific cross three yards in front of the goal late in the game came up empty somehow, or it would have ended earlier.

Etown is next, on their pitch. They are going to be awfully motivated after getting bombed by Drew today. The Falcons had better get a couple of early ones if they want to come out ahead.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

1. Lycoming College- def FSU 2-0, lost to Case 1-0
2. Messiah College- def York 1-0, def Miseri. 1-0 OT
3. Johns Hopkins University- def Neumann 5-0, def Getty 1-0
4. Haverford College- def #6 Scranton 1-0 2OT, def F&M 3-2
5. Gettysburg College- lost to LVC 2-0, lost to JHU 1-0
6. University Of Scranton- lost to #4 Fords 1-0 2OT, lost to Moravian 2-0
7. Drew University- def TCNJ 2-1 2OT, def Etown 6-0
8. Eastern University- def PSU Abington 2-0, def Cabrini 3-0
9. Elizabethtown College- def Alvernia 3-2, lost to Drew 6-0
10. Franklin & Marshall College- lost to Rowan 3-0, lost to Fords 3-2

Others:
Dickinson def MW 1-0, def McDaniel 5-0
LVC def #5 Getty 2-0, def Keystone 4-0
DeSales def Muhles 1-0, def LBC 1-0 2OT
Moravian lost to Stockton 2-0, def Scranton 2-0

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

I think the region will shape up close to this:

1. Hopkins (8-0-0)
2. Messiah (7-1-0)
3. Lycoming (8-1-0)
4. Haverford (6-1-1)
5. Drew (8-0-1)
6. Eastern (7-1-0)
7. Dickinson (5-2-1)
8. Moravian (6-1-1)
9. Lebanon Valley (5-1-1)
10. Gettysburg (5-2-0)

RV: Etown (5-3-0), Scranton (5-3-0), DeSales (7-1-0), Arcadia (6-1-1)

Hopkins being undefeated, only giving up 1 goal, and big wins over Fords and Getty gets them the jump to #1. Messiah's stagnant game vs winless Misericordia keeps them from jumping to #1. Lycoming falls only 2 spots as they drop a tough road game but have big wins over Rowan, Dickinson, and Scranton. Fords stay put at #4 having lost to Hopkins and another blemish vs Catholic. Drew jumps to #5 after a thumping of Etown but this was the first legit team they have played. Look for them to continue to rise as the wins keep coming. Eastern follows Drew at #6 with a nice 2 slot jump thanks to some woeful results from others around the region. #7 welcomes Dickinson back to the picture. Losses to Lycoming and Messiah are respectable but the draw vs Swat keeps them outside the top 6. #8 also welcomes maybe the biggest surprise in Moravian. A tie vs Montclair and loss to Stockton rebounded by an away win vs Scranton gets them into the top 10. #9 With a lack of SOS so far and dropped results vs struggling sides of Susquehanna and Muhles keeps LVC leveled at the 9 slot but a nice win vs Gettysburg helps the cause. Rounding out the top 10 is Gettysburg. A hot start followed by 2 straight losses drops them 5 spots but with plenty of big games ahead they can climb back up the ladder. On the outside looking in is Etown, Scranton, DeSales, and Arcadia. F&M is not even in the picture after dropping out of the top 10.   

[Shooter McGavin]

Shooter's 10:
1. Messiah
2. Hopkins
3. Lyco
4. Fords
5. Drew
6. Eastern
7. Dickinson
8. Getty
9. LVC
10. Moravian
RV: Etown & Scranton

[rudy]

I think the region will shape up close to this:

1. Hopkins (8-0-0)
2. Messiah (7-1-0)
3. Lycoming (8-1-0)
4. Haverford (6-1-1)
5. Drew (8-0-1)
6. Eastern (7-1-0)
7. Dickinson (5-2-1)
8. Moravian (6-1-1)
9. Lebanon Valley (5-1-1)
10. Gettysburg (5-2-0)

RV: Etown (5-3-0), Scranton (5-3-0), DeSales (7-1-0), Arcadia (6-1-1)

Hopkins being undefeated, only giving up 1 goal, and big wins over Fords and Getty gets them the jump to #1. Messiah's stagnant game vs winless Misericordia keeps them from jumping to #1. Lycoming falls only 2 spots as they drop a tough road game but have big wins over Rowan, Dickinson, and Scranton. Fords stay put at #4 having lost to Hopkins and another blemish vs Catholic. Drew jumps to #5 after a thumping of Etown but this was the first legit team they have played. Look for them to continue to rise as the wins keep coming. Eastern follows Drew at #6 with a nice 2 slot jump thanks to some woeful results from others around the region. #7 welcomes Dickinson back to the picture. Losses to Lycoming and Messiah are respectable but the draw vs Swat keeps them outside the top 6. #8 also welcomes maybe the biggest surprise in Moravian. A tie vs Montclair and loss to Stockton rebounded by an away win vs Scranton gets them into the top 10. #9 With a lack of SOS so far and dropped results vs struggling sides of Susquehanna and Muhles keeps LVC leveled at the 9 slot but a nice win vs Gettysburg helps the cause. Rounding out the top 10 is Gettysburg. A hot start followed by 2 straight losses drops them 5 spots but with plenty of big games ahead they can climb back up the ladder. On the outside looking in is Etown, Scranton, DeSales, and Arcadia. F&M is not even in the picture after dropping out of the top 10.

While Hopkins may deserve #1 I highly doubt they will move ahead of Messiah since Messiah won both games played. A win is a win. If they tied or lost then Hopkins would pass them.

[JHU Fan]

I think the region will shape up close to this:

1. Hopkins (8-0-0)
2. Messiah (7-1-0)
3. Lycoming (8-1-0)
4. Haverford (6-1-1)
5. Drew (8-0-1)
6. Eastern (7-1-0)
7. Dickinson (5-2-1)
8. Moravian (6-1-1)
9. Lebanon Valley (5-1-1)
10. Gettysburg (5-2-0)

RV: Etown (5-3-0), Scranton (5-3-0), DeSales (7-1-0), Arcadia (6-1-1)

Hopkins being undefeated, only giving up 1 goal, and big wins over Fords and Getty gets them the jump to #1. Messiah's stagnant game vs winless Misericordia keeps them from jumping to #1. Lycoming falls only 2 spots as they drop a tough road game but have big wins over Rowan, Dickinson, and Scranton. Fords stay put at #4 having lost to Hopkins and another blemish vs Catholic. Drew jumps to #5 after a thumping of Etown but this was the first legit team they have played. Look for them to continue to rise as the wins keep coming. Eastern follows Drew at #6 with a nice 2 slot jump thanks to some woeful results from others around the region. #7 welcomes Dickinson back to the picture. Losses to Lycoming and Messiah are respectable but the draw vs Swat keeps them outside the top 6. #8 also welcomes maybe the biggest surprise in Moravian. A tie vs Montclair and loss to Stockton rebounded by an away win vs Scranton gets them into the top 10. #9 With a lack of SOS so far and dropped results vs struggling sides of Susquehanna and Muhles keeps LVC leveled at the 9 slot but a nice win vs Gettysburg helps the cause. Rounding out the top 10 is Gettysburg. A hot start followed by 2 straight losses drops them 5 spots but with plenty of big games ahead they can climb back up the ladder. On the outside looking in is Etown, Scranton, DeSales, and Arcadia. F&M is not even in the picture after dropping out of the top 10.

While Hopkins may deserve #1 I highly doubt they will move ahead of Messiah since Messiah won both games played. A win is a win. If they tied or lost then Hopkins would pass them.

That might be true, but then 8-0 vs. one loss, and more favorable results against the only two common opponents to date (Haverford, York) would argue for JHU being #1 regardless.  However, history rather than logic will likely rule here.

[rudy]

I think the region will shape up close to this:

1. Hopkins (8-0-0)
2. Messiah (7-1-0)
3. Lycoming (8-1-0)
4. Haverford (6-1-1)
5. Drew (8-0-1)
6. Eastern (7-1-0)
7. Dickinson (5-2-1)
8. Moravian (6-1-1)
9. Lebanon Valley (5-1-1)
10. Gettysburg (5-2-0)

RV: Etown (5-3-0), Scranton (5-3-0), DeSales (7-1-0), Arcadia (6-1-1)

Hopkins being undefeated, only giving up 1 goal, and big wins over Fords and Getty gets them the jump to #1. Messiah's stagnant game vs winless Misericordia keeps them from jumping to #1. Lycoming falls only 2 spots as they drop a tough road game but have big wins over Rowan, Dickinson, and Scranton. Fords stay put at #4 having lost to Hopkins and another blemish vs Catholic. Drew jumps to #5 after a thumping of Etown but this was the first legit team they have played. Look for them to continue to rise as the wins keep coming. Eastern follows Drew at #6 with a nice 2 slot jump thanks to some woeful results from others around the region. #7 welcomes Dickinson back to the picture. Losses to Lycoming and Messiah are respectable but the draw vs Swat keeps them outside the top 6. #8 also welcomes maybe the biggest surprise in Moravian. A tie vs Montclair and loss to Stockton rebounded by an away win vs Scranton gets them into the top 10. #9 With a lack of SOS so far and dropped results vs struggling sides of Susquehanna and Muhles keeps LVC leveled at the 9 slot but a nice win vs Gettysburg helps the cause. Rounding out the top 10 is Gettysburg. A hot start followed by 2 straight losses drops them 5 spots but with plenty of big games ahead they can climb back up the ladder. On the outside looking in is Etown, Scranton, DeSales, and Arcadia. F&M is not even in the picture after dropping out of the top 10.

While Hopkins may deserve #1 I highly doubt they will move ahead of Messiah since Messiah won both games played. A win is a win. If they tied or lost then Hopkins would pass them.

That might be true, but then 8-0 vs. one loss, and more favorable results against the only two common opponents to date (Haverford, York) would argue for JHU being #1 regardless.  However, history rather than logic will likely rule here.

The logic makes sense but I don't think they ever move a team ahead of a team that was above them in previous poll if the higher team does not have a blemish since last poll.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Hopkins could certainly jump Messiah and in my opinion they should jump them in this week's regional poll.

[Ejay]

Even though Messiah should have lost to Rowan (missed PK in OT), and they squeaked by Misericordia (despite outshooting them by 20+), they're still winning and therefore will likely stay on top.  We can end this discussion on 10/5 when Hopkins travels to Grantham.

[franklyspeaking]

Rankings at this level go by results so they dont care about much more.  It also doesnt matter at this point who is 1 or who is 4, the season will play out and the rankings will reflect the results.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Rankings at this level go by results so they dont care about much more.  It also doesnt matter at this point who is 1 or who is 4, the season will play out and the rankings will reflect the results.

Agreed. But what makes these boards fun are these kinds of debate 

[rudy]

Even though Messiah should have lost to Rowan (missed PK in OT), and they squeaked by Misericordia (despite outshooting them by 20+), they're still winning and therefore will likely stay on top.  We can end this discussion on 10/5 when Hopkins travels to Grantham.

Looking forward to this game. Messiah home field will help I think. Both teams will have had time to work out any remaining kinks by then. Should be very telling result for both teams.

[Ejay]

WEEK 3 REGIONAL RANKINGS
http://unitedsoccercoaches.org/web/Rankings/College_Rankings/NCAA_DIII_MEN/web/rankings/ncaa/diii_men.aspx

1    Messiah College
2    Johns Hopkins University
3    Lycoming College
4    Haverford College
5    Drew University
6    Eastern University
7    Gettysburg College
8    Lebanon Valley College
9    Dickinson College
10    University Of Scranton

Moravian still getting no love.

[MACalum]

WEEK 3 REGIONAL RANKINGS
http://unitedsoccercoaches.org/web/Rankings/College_Rankings/NCAA_DIII_MEN/web/rankings/ncaa/diii_men.aspx

1    Messiah College
2    Johns Hopkins University
3    Lycoming College
4    Haverford College
5    Drew University
6    Eastern University
7    Gettysburg College
8    Lebanon Valley College
9    Dickinson College
10    University Of Scranton

Moravian still getting no love.

While Moravian has a good record (6-1-1), it's hard to argue their SOS warrants a mention. They have a quality win over Scranton, but no other results to make a note of. If they can beat Drew this weekend and follow it up with a strong performance against E-town, then we can talk about them.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Games to Watch
Misericordia @ Lycoming
Hopkins @ Washington
Messiah @ Etown
Fords @ Muhles
Wilkes @ Scranton
Getty @ McDaniel
York @ LVC
Catholic @ Salisbury
Alvernia @ Kings
Dickinson @ F&M