Mid-Atlantic Region

[Hopkins92]

Stevenson scores with 90 seconds left in the second OT to notch their sixth straight win.

Messiah and Catholic with easy wins.

[FelixCloudy]

UNITED SOCCER COACHES NCAA DIII MEN — MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL RANKING AS OF 10/8

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-diii-men-mid-atlantic/

Fords shut out Scranton last night 1-0. 

[Hopkins92]

Dickinson scores with about 3 minutes left to put the game into OT. 2-2..

Not to put it on the goalie, but Mis.'s keeper biffed a fairly easy long throw-in... Dropped it right at the feet of a Dickinson player who slotted it home.

[Hopkins92]

F&M 4:1 Eastern
Susq. 1:0 G'burg
Swat 5:0 Cairn
Muhles 1:0 Moravian
Mis. 2:3 Dick. (1OT)

[Hopkins92]

Dickinson wins in the first OT session off of a BEAUTIFUL header from 8 yards out. Ball crossed in from the right flank and the Dickinson player met it in stride and HAMMERED it into the back of the net.

Plucky road win for the Red (Devils? Raiders? whatever.)

[Hopkins92]

St. Mary's, who are having one of the best seasons they've had in awhile (I assume) lost to top 5 Chris. Newport tonight 3:1.

[Ejay]

Actually, last year St. Mary's was 12-4-4 and went to the CAC final. They're definitely one to keep in eye on in the future after putting other another nice season this year.

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, it's why I said assume. I've been flying around checking top 25 programs and was too lazy to unsettle my bias about SMC. Thanks for putting me in check.

It's a beautiful campus, but in the middle of nowhere... They have a nationally ranked sailing program, to put them in context. My favorite BIL is an alum.

But back in my day, their soccer team was butt.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

F&M 4:1 Eastern
Susq. 1:0 G'burg
Swat 5:0 Cairn
Muhles 1:0 Moravian
Mis. 2:3 Dick. (1OT)

That might be the dagger for Moravian in terms of an at-large bid but they still have put together a nice enough resume that should see them fighting to be regionally ranked. Nice, gritty road win for Dickinson. Misericordia has been down recently but is trending up this season and it always seems to be a difficult place to play for the visitors despite the end result. This year LVC tied there after being down 3-0, Stevens drew there, and now Dickinson's come from behind win. Back in 2016 Messiah drew and Lyco and Camden both fell on the road to the Cougars.

Gettysburg with an absolute howler of a result to Susquehanna. This one will really damage their potential ranking and the Bullets are trending in the wrong direction as they fall to 6-4-1 for the year and 1-2-1 in their last 4 with the lone win against McDaniel. Huge game upcoming as they travel to Muhlenberg which may eliminate one of them all together and keep the other alive both in conference and regionally. I think the Muhles are already on the outside looking in but a result vs Gettysburg could keep them alive. Gettysburg next 5 include @Muhles, Dickinson, Randolph-Macon, @Swat, F&M. 2 losses in this stretch all but eliminates the Bullets from any at-large consideration and possibly regional ranking consideration.

Swat with an easy and needed win over Cairn. The Garnet still have 3 difficult games left with @JHU, Getty, @Fords. F&M also with an easy win over Eastern who has been horrendous this year. AQ or bust for the Eagles who were Sweet 16 bound just a year ago. F&M looks comfortably in already as they improve to 11-1-0 on the year and have won 10 in a row.

I'd also like to add that I am shocked by the most recent USC regional rankings. I have come to understand the NCAA regional rankings will be more accurate and make more sense but even from the eyeball test I don't get how Haverford is ranked 5th when they are barely .500 and have more blemishes than wins? I didn't even have them in my top 10 this week yet the coaches have them at #5? I have watched them multiple times this year and they are about as good as their record indicates. They tied Wilkes, who is not good to put it nicely, and have 1 good win over JHU. From just a guess, if the rankings came out today and had the RvR, they would be at best 1-3-2...This RvR and subpar winning % can't be overlooked by having a strong SOS (I am guessing SOS will be good as always). Same for the Muhles as they don't look to have a ranked win yet which accounts for all 5 of their blemishes and won't have nearly the SOS that the Fords have but better win%. It doesn't make any sense from following along over the years as this is the most bizarre rankings I have seen from the USC for this region.

Trending up: Messiah, Lyco. Etown, Dickinson
Trending down: Getty, Muhles, Fords, Stevens

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Weekend Games to Watch
F&M @ Ursinus
Swat @ JHU
Messiah @ Widener
Susquehanna @ Catholic
Etown @ Drew
Moravian @ Scranton
Getty @ Muhles
Hood @ LVC
Lyco @ Arcadia
Wilkes @ Stevens
Tufts @ Amherst 

[franklyspeaking]

I think you are giving Moravian too much credit.  They are a young team and next year will be their year but as of now they play some matches well and others, well not so great.  They were completely outplayed by Lycoming and Susquehanna had the better of them also.  If not for a last minute, questionable PK call Moravian would be on a three game losing streak.

[Hopkins92]

I'd also like to add that I am shocked by the most recent USC regional rankings. I have come to understand the NCAA regional rankings will be more accurate and make more sense but even from the eyeball test I don't get how Haverford is ranked 5th when they are barely .500 and have more blemishes than wins? I didn't even have them in my top 10 this week yet the coaches have them at #5? I have watched them multiple times this year and they are about as good as their record indicates. They tied Wilkes, who is not good to put it nicely, and have 1 good win over JHU. From just a guess, if the rankings came out today and had the RvR, they would be at best 1-3-2...This RvR and subpar winning % can't be overlooked by having a strong SOS (I am guessing SOS will be good as always). Same for the Muhles as they don't look to have a ranked win yet which accounts for all 5 of their blemishes and won't have nearly the SOS that the Fords have but better win%. It doesn't make any sense from following along over the years as this is the most bizarre rankings I have seen from the USC for this region.

I'll admit I am biased, but I, in fact, typically overvalue Haverford due to their long history of success... But I have to agree with you on their current ranking. That quality win against Hopkins... I watched a good chunk of that second half and it was one way traffic towards the Fords goal. Shots were 22(!) to 2 (!) and corners were 7 to 1 in favor of Hopkins. Extremely fortunate to pull that one off.

[Buck O.]

F&M 4:1 Eastern
Susq. 1:0 G'burg
Swat 5:0 Cairn
Muhles 1:0 Moravian
Mis. 2:3 Dick. (1OT)

I'd also like to add that I am shocked by the most recent USC regional rankings. I have come to understand the NCAA regional rankings will be more accurate and make more sense but even from the eyeball test I don't get how Haverford is ranked 5th when they are barely .500 and have more blemishes than wins? I didn't even have them in my top 10 this week yet the coaches have them at #5? I have watched them multiple times this year and they are about as good as their record indicates. They tied Wilkes, who is not good to put it nicely, and have 1 good win over JHU. From just a guess, if the rankings came out today and had the RvR, they would be at best 1-3-2...This RvR and subpar winning % can't be overlooked by having a strong SOS (I am guessing SOS will be good as always). Same for the Muhles as they don't look to have a ranked win yet which accounts for all 5 of their blemishes and won't have nearly the SOS that the Fords have but better win%. It doesn't make any sense from following along over the years as this is the most bizarre rankings I have seen from the USC for this region.

Trending up: Messiah, Lyco. Etown, Dickinson
Trending down: Getty, Muhles, Fords, Stevens

I had exactly the opposite thought: I was wondering why both you and Shooter have the Fords ranked so low. I'll admit up front that I haven't yet seen them play this year, so I can't apply the eyeball test.  With that noted, let's compare the Fords to Muhles, a team that Haverford just defeated.  Yes, the Muhles are 7-3-2 to the Fords' 5-3-3.  But let's compare their records against similar teams.

Against top-50 teams (per Massey), Fords are 2-2-2, Muhles are 0-3-2.
Against #51-#148, Fords are 2-0-1, Muhles are 1-0.
Against sub-148 teams, Fords are 1-1, Muhles are 6-0.

So it seems to me that the difference in record is primarily due to differences in schedule strength.  BTW, in case you're wondering why I put the break point at 148, it's because Wilkes is currently #149, so I deliberately constructed this comparison to make Haverford's record look as bad as possible by lumping Wilkes in with a lot of teams that are much worse than Wilkes.  Even so, I find Haverford's record more impressive than Muhles.

[YoungBuck]

Weekend Games to Watch
F&M @ Ursinus
Swat @ JHU
Messiah @ Widener
Susquehanna @ Catholic
Etown @ Drew
Moravian @ Scranton
Getty @ Muhles
Hood @ LVC
Lyco @ Arcadia
Wilkes @ Stevens
Tufts @ Amherst 

CC Tournament tickets could be all but wrapped up after this weekend, with the top 5 teams (F&M, Hop, Dick, Fords, Getty) playing the bottom 5.  If all goes to plan, #5 (Fords) will be 2 games up on #6 (Swat) with only 4 games left.  Don't really see any upset potential in any of these games, but anything can happen.

[YoungBuck]

Weekend Games to Watch
F&M @ Ursinus
Swat @ JHU
Messiah @ Widener
Susquehanna @ Catholic
Etown @ Drew
Moravian @ Scranton
Getty @ Muhles
Hood @ LVC
Lyco @ Arcadia
Wilkes @ Stevens
Tufts @ Amherst 

(Slightly Less) Meaningless Stat of the Day:

Ursinus, who took Dickinson to OT last weekend, hasn't won a CC game since a 2014 win over McDaniel.  Can the Bears build on last weekends performance and shock the Dips at home this weekend?