Mid-Atlantic Region

[PaulNewman]

Shout out to Cam Scott, an asst coach for Salisbury.  The last time he stepped on Shoemaker Field he was the starting right back for Kenyon in the instant classic Sweet 16 game with Messiah in 2013.  He had the very small task of trying to contain Jack Thompson.  I'm sure being there this evening brought back a ton of memories for him....and as a plus his team got a result.

[Shooter McGavin]

Messiah was fortunate to get the win at York. York played well and probably deserved the win. Late game heroics by junior Trevor Goodling saved the game. Messiah may be getting Luke G back on the field soon so that would be a welcome site. I saw that York scored 2 own goals against Hopkins and lost 2-1 so they are a legit team. Messiah has  shuffled players around quite a bit early this season but I think starting to figure it out. Next Saturday home game with John Carroll will be big test. Hopefully Luke is back by then.  Freshman Ben Lefever has been a key contributor on offense.

Luke finally returned, getting into the game off the bench in the first half, played most of the second half and both OTs in one of the most fun 0-0 games I've seen in a long time. A very physical and talented Salisbury team was utterly outplayed in the first half, when the Falcons had something like 16-1 shot advantage, but Messiah couldn't convert. In the second half things were pretty even, still with no scoring, though Luke missed a chippie that would have been the GW.

Each side failed to convert a PK in OT—first Salisbury (hit the bar), then Messiah (saved, with a brilliant second save of a point-blank shot off the rebound). Salusbury's keeper was the player of the game, IMO. Luke hit the post on a very hard shot from outside the box on the dead run, surrounded by Seagulls, and he also missed a bicycle kick where the keeper was probably watching his life pass before him. Once he gets the rust shaken off after several weeks recovering from some type of knee injury, LG is going to be just dynamite, and the Falcons are going to start scoring again. I only hope it happens next week vs Etown and John Carroll. If not, the Falcons will have to win the AQ in their conference tournament.

Might have seen injuries to two key defenders—definitely Joe King, who sustained some type of ankle injury and badly limped off, and perhaps to his counterpart Shay Quintin. Unsure about Shay, who went down near the sideline and soon disappeared without returning for the OTs. Real concern on my part, given the quality of the teams the Falcons are now facing. Will the injuries never stop? Will this very talented team ever get to play full strength?

Great assessment Falconer. I watched the full 110 and agree that it was a thriller for being 0-0. I think the officiating was poor and neither was a PK in the first overtime. Credit to Salisbury for playing physical which kept them in the game and threw off the rhythm slightly for Messiah, which we know has been a downfall for the Falcons in the past when they have dropped to the likes of Lycoming, Tufts and York over the past 15 years. With that said, Messiah was certainly the better side and deserved to win the game but very well could have lost it. Once healthy they will be a force as always.

One side note from the game that I want to comment on was the announcing from the play by play analysts. I have watched and listened to Messiah games and understand they are true Messiah homers, but last night they were borderline over the top with their commentary and demeaning toward some of the Salisbury players with their comments. Yes they get into the game and yes I have heard them bash others before but last night they were extra feisty and it took away from the game. I actually muted them in the second half and then turned it back on in the OT periods and it only got worse. I am all for rooting for your team and leaning a little more than neutral for a home game commentary but they need to be careful. The one that really got me, outside of the comments about the ref which was deserved but still uncalled for, was calling a Salisbury player "dumb." He later apologized but not a good look for Messiah. 

[Shooter McGavin]

Notable results from last night around the region...

Swat and Muhles both drop their first games of the year as they both finally faced decent competition. As expected they are not as good as their record indicates. Good wins for Dickinson and F&M alike. Great win for Haverford as Hopkins loses at home. Gettysburg keeps rolling with an easy win over Washington and McDaniel stays hot but curious what happens when they play better competition.

Stevens struggles on the road and draws Stevenson. Lycoming with another big win as they take down Eastern. Catholic with a solid win over Lynchburg and quietly keep climbing the ranks. Scranton squeaks by a struggling Alvernia and Leb Val trending in the wrong direction after giving up 5 goals to Eastern Mennonite. Etown wins again and is back on track while Moravian also keeps cruising. Keystone draws Wilkes and doesn't look like the NCAA side they were last season. Drew with a much needed off weekend as they remain under .500 for the year.   


UPDATED: Shooter's Power Rankings
1. F&M
2. Hopkins
3. Stevens
4. Messiah
5. Haverford
6. Catholic
7. Gettysburg
8. Moravian
9. Muhles
10. Swat
HM: Scranton, McDaniel, Etown, Lyco

[PaulNewman]

I can't decide what to make of Hopkins.  My guess is that they are one of just a few teams that would have a legit chance to knock off Tufts, but then they drop a home game to Haverford where they outshot the Fords 22-2 and corners 7-1.  Wondering if I have overrated JHU and underrated JCU.

[PaulNewman]

RE:  Messiah announcers....I've mostly learned to live with them because generally they are very knowledgeable and the overall production is well done and one of the best in D3.  My sense is that they go over the line whenever a bit of panic sets in.  I think at this point they know what they are doing but their love affair with Messiah soccer runs deep and they just can't help themselves.

[FelixCloudy]

Regional Ranking #3 is out:  https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-diii-men-mid-atlantic/

[Falconer]

Solid win for Messiah over traditional rival Etown tonight, 3-0. Luke Groothoff assisted on the first goal and scored the last on a lovely shot of his own, with Lucas Kokolios scoring in between on an all-too-rare, nearly impossible left-footed shot from the left endline that somehow sneaked inside the right post. The play on the field was quite a bit closer than the score. Etown almost always brings their "A" game against the Falcons, especially on their own Herr Field, and tonight was no exception. The Blue Jays had several excellent scoring chances, once or twice blowing them on their own but other times resulting in beautiful saves by Falcon keeper Flanders--the best game I can recall seeing him play in his career, though honestly he played very little until this, his final, season. The back line looked shaky more than I had expected, but offensively the Falcons were in gear and firing shots on goal. It's about time. Contrary to my concerns after Saturday's game, Quintin and King both played significant minutes--glad they aren't going to miss any games. Hard to say whether this team is ready to play John Carroll this weekend, but at least they looked good enough tonight to hope for a big win on Saturday.

[Falconer]

Great assessment Falconer. I watched the full 110 and agree that it was a thriller for being 0-0. I think the officiating was poor and neither was a PK in the first overtime.

You're spot on about the officiating, Shooter. I know I usually don't let that pass, but I stuck a sock in it this time since I don't want to sound like a broken record. Salusbury was very physical, true, but the fouls were being called so I didn't have a complaint there, except that more cards should have been given for intentionally fouling to stop dangerous attacks. What bothered me most, however, was that the official would call a foul, but not give the Falcons the advantage when clearly they had it. He nearly always made them bring it back to the point of the foul, regardless of whether the Falcons were looking dangerous after the foul. I actually think the game would have been won (by Messiah) in regulation, probably in the first half, if he'd not done that. Finally he stopped doing that, but Salusbury kept making those fouls b/c they weren't really paying a price for them.

Is that one of the problems you also noticed?

[Hopkins92]

I can't decide what to make of Hopkins.  My guess is that they are one of just a few teams that would have a legit chance to knock off Tufts, but then they drop a home game to Haverford where they outshot the Fords 22-2 and corners 7-1.  Wondering if I have overrated JHU and underrated JCU.

I think you answered your own question with the shot differential. I watched lot of the second half and it was one way traffic and a few Fords stopping goals in the goal box or off the line. Just one of those games where Hopkins was unlucky not to finish... Happens a lot against the Fords.

Picked up a very nice road win on Wednesday at St. Mary's. Granted, St. Mary's has never beaten Hop, but this was an undefeated squad, on the road (7pm start, and that's a decent trek), so that's a solid win.

Younker with a goal, btw. Big game at Gettysburg this weekend.

[Hopkins92]

UPDATED: Shooter's Power Rankings
1. F&M
2. Hopkins
3. Stevens
4. Messiah
5. Haverford
6. Catholic
7. Gettysburg
8. Moravian
9. Muhles
10. Swat
HM: Scranton, McDaniel, Etown, Lyco

Games this weekend
F&M @ Haverford
Hop @ Bullets
Stevens @ NYU (Stevens on a slide right now, fwiw)
JCU @ Messiah
Catholic @ Scranton
Juniata @ Moravian
Swat @ Muhles
McDaniel (Western MD, dammit) @ Dickinson (WMC is 9-0, folks... they haven't really played anyone. Bellwether match.)
Susq. v. Etown
Carnegie Mellon v. Lycoming

[lastguyoffthebench]

Any feedback on Haverford vs Camden?   Was not able to watch or attend?

Camden had a terrible loss vs Miseri, and a decent showing vs Cortland St... sitting at 8-2 with 5 straight road fixtures will do some damage to their record.

[Mr.Right]

Any feedback on Haverford vs Camden?   Was not able to watch or attend?

Camden had a terrible loss vs Miseri, and a decent showing vs Cortland St... sitting at 8-2 with 5 straight road fixtures will do some damage to their record.

No idea but that win could come in handy down the line especially if Haverford can break another Top 10 team today along with the Hopkins Win.

[Falconer]

Huge win for Messiah, 3-0 over John Carroll at home. JCU looked good, except for one major defensive miscue leading to the first goal. The Falcons just looked better—much better than the opening weekend when they dropped a pair to Hobart and Ithaca. This almost isn't recognizably the same team, and partly it isn't. Simply adding a healthy Luke Groothoff makes (IMO) at least a 1 goal difference/game, and other guys are also healing up and starting to get quality PT.

No one I know expected a game like this today. JCU played hard, smart, and respectfully (of the game and their opponent). In other words, the Falcons got to play against a very similar team. They are a very good team, perhaps as good as their W/L record, but if they are really #3 in the nation then the Falcons have come all the way back, b/c JCU lost to a better team today. Time will tell if I'm misreading what I saw.

[wchandy22]

Very nice play from Messiah's flanks. Very evenly matched for much of the game but Messiah seemed to gain control as the 2nd half rolled on. They have really stepped it up in these past three games.  Conference games up next ... See you at the Shoe.

[Falconer]

Heads up to curious D3 fans: you might still be able to view the stream of this game. I just reviewed the scoring plays here https://gomessiah.com/watch/?Live=247&type=Live

I hope they leave it up for a few hours. If you go there, to see what I mean about Groothoff's return and more confidence (which comes with the former) changing everything for the Falcons, watch these two segments:
(1) 1:53:30 to 1:55:45.  See how Groothoff, Kokolios, and Goodling (who had the hat trick vs York before Luke's return) manufacture the second goal--and how the defense gloms onto Groothoff, leaving Kokolios wide open to go unmolested to goal.

(2) 2:23:00 watch the sequence of two corners, with Groothoff finishing in spectacular fashion.

This is high level soccer. Such moments have been rare until this past week, including today.