Mid-Atlantic Region

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

It seems like the men's Regional Rankings have been posted (https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d3/regional-rankings) but they have no W-L-T records included.

NOTE:  these are in alphabetical order, not ranked order.

Region IV   
Lancaster Bible
Lycoming
Misericordia
Montclair St.
NYU
Rowan
Stevens

Region V
Catholic
Drew
Elizabethtown
Franklin & Marshall
Gettysburg
John Hopkins
Messiah

MAF 1st Regional Ranking Predictions
Region 4
1. Stevens
2. Montclair
3. NYU
4. Misericordia
5. Lycoming
6. Stockton
7. Lancaster Bible

Region 5
1. Messiah
2. Hopkins
3. F&M
4. Catholic
5. Gettysburg
6. Drew
7. Elizabethtown or Alvernia (leaning Etown)

Only missed 1 

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

10/19 Results

Region IV   
Lancaster Bible (DNP)
Lycoming (W)
Misericordia (L)
Montclair St. (W)
NYU (DNP)
Rowan (W)
Stevens (W)

Region V
Catholic (W)
Drew (W)
Elizabethtown (T)
Franklin & Marshall (DNP)
Gettysburg (W)
John Hopkins (T)
Messiah (W)

[Hopkins92]

Once again, watched the Hop game on a secondary screen while hanging with The Wife. She's also a Hop alum and is fully on board to have the game running while we watch one of our stories. (Bad Sisters on Apple+ is an excellent show, if anyone is looking for recommendations.)

I want to give the Jays some credit, instead of reflexively slagging on them for a tie. They were extremely bent on going forward in this match and I felt a draw was (kind of) an unlucky result. The Red Devils did enough to trouble their opponents in the second half and scored a scrappy (garbage) goal with the ball popping around the box. The Hop goal was a thing of beauty off a set piece... They were threatening through most of the match and they hit the crossbar with about 11 seconds to go.

Kudos to both teams for a hard fought, relatively clean battle.

ETA - Hop has now given up 4 goals on the season. I'm trying to remember if any of them have come in a natural, run of play type fashion. I don't want to make a definitive statement, but I know at least 2, probably 3 that I can recall were off scrambles in the box. It's VERY difficult to score on them in the conventional, non-set piece, garbage type fashion.

Not that it matters, at the end of the day. But as from a goalie's frame of mind, it says something about the methodical dedication to defense for the Jays.

[Hopkins92]

Some interesting results in the CC yesterday:

Night Terrors 1:4 Projectiles
Diablos Rojos 1:1  Angry Birds
Beach Boys 0:0 Garnets
Donkeys 3:3 Cubs

The Ursinus game must've been a wild affair. 3-1 to the Muhles at half time...Apparently both teams missed PKs in the second half. The Muhles are the highest scoring team in the CC. We'll get into it in the coming days, but they host Hop on Saturday in what I anticipate to be a pretty entertaining match.

[Hopkins92]

In the Landmark, nothing too crazy as Drew and Catholic took care of business and Etown and Moravian played to a draw. Kind of a missed opp for the Other Jays, but Moravian is still playing for their (conference) lives so it's not a crazy result.

In MAC-C and -F action, only results that jump out is Wilkes beating Misericordia and Alvernia tying Eastern. Messiah laying the lumber to Hood 9-0. Yikes.

(Widener Watch!!! They handled a not so great Albright team 2-0... Fatiga with another goal to bring his season tally to 8. ... I'm all in for the Pride at this point. )

Not for nothing, but Wilkes is a bit of a sleeper team in the MAC-F... Just noting that they are kind of laying in the weeds over there... They've lost some close games to good teams (1-0 to Stevens, por ejemplo) and I wouldn't be surprised to see them do something silly in the Freedom playoffs.

[Hopkins92]

And to wrap up the "major" conferences in the M.A. region, in the NJAC, Ramapo pips RU-N, Rowan steamrolls TCNJ (5-0), RU-C ties Stockton, M-St. boinks W-Patt and Kean trumps NJCU.

M St. is bossing that conference... But the race for playoff spots is extremely topsy-turvy, as 7 teams(!!!) are bunched around 11-8pts with 2 more game remaining in league play. I don't know if it's top 5 or 6, but regardless, there's a lot still to play for all but 2 teams (WP and TCNJ).

[camosfan]

And to wrap up the "major" conferences in the M.A. region, in the NJAC, Ramapo pips RU-N, Rowan steamrolls TCNJ (5-0), RU-C ties Stockton, M-St. boinks W-Patt and Kean trumps NJCU.

M St. is bossing that conference... But the race for playoff spots is extremely topsy-turvy, as 7 teams(!!!) are bunched around 11-8pts with 2 more game remaining in league play. I don't know if it's top 5 or 6, but regardless, there's a lot still to play for all but 2 teams (WP and TCNJ).

6 go to playoff, 1 and 2 get a bye, 4-6 play and the winners play 1 and 2.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Once again, watched the Hop game on a secondary screen while hanging with The Wife. She's also a Hop alum and is fully on board to have the game running while we watch one of our stories. (Bad Sisters on Apple+ is an excellent show, if anyone is looking for recommendations.)

I want to give the Jays some credit, instead of reflexively slagging on them for a tie. They were extremely bent on going forward in this match and I felt a draw was (kind of) an unlucky result. The Red Devils did enough to trouble their opponents in the second half and scored a scrappy (garbage) goal with the ball popping around the box. The Hop goal was a thing of beauty off a set piece... They were threatening through most of the match and they hit the crossbar with about 11 seconds to go.

Kudos to both teams for a hard fought, relatively clean battle.

I watched most of it and I agree.  Very hard fought game.  JHU's goal was nice and Dickinson's was a popcorn situation in front of the goal is always tough.  Not much the keeper could have done. JHU almost got the win with the great shot in the final minute which went off the crossbar way beyond the keeper's reach.  Crucial games this weekend leading up to what could be a great game next Saturday!  It's what makes it all fun.

Good luck at Muhlenberg on that meadow.  They are supposed to be getting turf next year.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Some interesting results in the CC yesterday:

Night Terrors 1:4 Projectiles
Diablos Rojos 1:1  Angry Birds
Beach Boys 0:0 Garnets
Donkeys 3:3 Cubs

The Ursinus game must've been a wild affair. 3-1 to the Muhles at half time...Apparently both teams missed PKs in the second half. The Muhles are the highest scoring team in the CC. We'll get into it in the coming days, but they host Hop on Saturday in what I anticipate to be a pretty entertaining match.

Was a crazy night especially the Ursinus Muhlenberg game as well as JHU and Dickinson.  Yes, the PK's were missed by both teams, but keepers actually saved both as the PKs were on frame. Always a great time saving a PK.

[paclassic89]

Once again, watched the Hop game on a secondary screen while hanging with The Wife. She's also a Hop alum and is fully on board to have the game running while we watch one of our stories. (Bad Sisters on Apple+ is an excellent show, if anyone is looking for recommendations.)

I want to give the Jays some credit, instead of reflexively slagging on them for a tie. They were extremely bent on going forward in this match and I felt a draw was (kind of) an unlucky result. The Red Devils did enough to trouble their opponents in the second half and scored a scrappy (garbage) goal with the ball popping around the box. The Hop goal was a thing of beauty off a set piece... They were threatening through most of the match and they hit the crossbar with about 11 seconds to go.

Kudos to both teams for a hard fought, relatively clean battle.

I watched most of it and I agree.  Very hard fought game.  JHU's goal was nice and Dickinson's was a popcorn situation in front of the goal is always tough.  Not much the keeper could have done. JHU almost got the win with the great shot in the final minute which went off the crossbar way beyond the keeper's reach.  Crucial games this weekend leading up to what could be a great game next Saturday!  It's what makes it all fun.

Good luck at Muhlenberg on that meadow.  They are supposed to be getting turf next year.

It would be a shame if they went to turf instead of trying to rehab their natural grass.   There's a reason you don't see any of the top European leagues playing on turf. 

[Hopkins92]

While I don't really disagree... The US played their last 2 friendlies on grass fields in Europe last month, and both pitches were absolute garbage. Full of holes, sod coming up at every sharp stop or turn.

And when you look at the NESCAC... Amherst's field isn't full of potholes, but it looks like they're running on quicksand. Bowdoin's field, again, nice and flat, but it's so thick it looks like the rough at a PGA event.

Really nice grass fields are AMAZING and I remember some of my favorite games playing on them (Vividly remember visiting W&L and being absolutely floored by how nice their field was.) But it's kind of hit or miss and a bad grass field can be an absolute nightmare (Widener, back in the day, was the worst pitch I'd ever played on, including club in my youth days played on bad playground fields.)

[SierraFD3soccer]

Once again, watched the Hop game on a secondary screen while hanging with The Wife. She's also a Hop alum and is fully on board to have the game running while we watch one of our stories. (Bad Sisters on Apple+ is an excellent show, if anyone is looking for recommendations.)

I want to give the Jays some credit, instead of reflexively slagging on them for a tie. They were extremely bent on going forward in this match and I felt a draw was (kind of) an unlucky result. The Red Devils did enough to trouble their opponents in the second half and scored a scrappy (garbage) goal with the ball popping around the box. The Hop goal was a thing of beauty off a set piece... They were threatening through most of the match and they hit the crossbar with about 11 seconds to go.

Kudos to both teams for a hard fought, relatively clean battle.

I watched most of it and I agree.  Very hard fought game.  JHU's goal was nice and Dickinson's was a popcorn situation in front of the goal is always tough.  Not much the keeper could have done. JHU almost got the win with the great shot in the final minute which went off the crossbar way beyond the keeper's reach.  Crucial games this weekend leading up to what could be a great game next Saturday!  It's what makes it all fun.

Good luck at Muhlenberg on that meadow.  They are supposed to be getting turf next year.

It would be a shame if they went to turf instead of trying to rehab their natural grass.   There's a reason you don't see any of the top European leagues playing on turf.

Absolutely, money/skill plays a part I am guessing.  McDaniel has the best turf in a non MLS setting I have ever seen.  So it is possibility in Mid-Atl area.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Once again, watched the Hop game on a secondary screen while hanging with The Wife. She's also a Hop alum and is fully on board to have the game running while we watch one of our stories. (Bad Sisters on Apple+ is an excellent show, if anyone is looking for recommendations.)

I want to give the Jays some credit, instead of reflexively slagging on them for a tie. They were extremely bent on going forward in this match and I felt a draw was (kind of) an unlucky result. The Red Devils did enough to trouble their opponents in the second half and scored a scrappy (garbage) goal with the ball popping around the box. The Hop goal was a thing of beauty off a set piece... They were threatening through most of the match and they hit the crossbar with about 11 seconds to go.

Kudos to both teams for a hard fought, relatively clean battle.

I watched most of it and I agree.  Very hard fought game.  JHU's goal was nice and Dickinson's was a popcorn situation in front of the goal is always tough.  Not much the keeper could have done. JHU almost got the win with the great shot in the final minute which went off the crossbar way beyond the keeper's reach.  Crucial games this weekend leading up to what could be a great game next Saturday!  It's what makes it all fun.

Good luck at Muhlenberg on that meadow.  They are supposed to be getting turf next year.

If you have any doubt as to the shape of Muhl's grass check out a few minutes of this game - https://www.centennialconference.tv/muhlenbergcollege/?B=407668

[SierraFD3soccer]

While I don't really disagree... The US played their last 2 friendlies on grass fields in Europe last month, and both pitches were absolute garbage. Full of holes, sod coming up at every sharp stop or turn.

And when you look at the NESCAC... Amherst's field isn't full of potholes, but it looks like they're running on quicksand. Bowdoin's field, again, nice and flat, but it's so thick it looks like the rough at a PGA event.

Really nice grass fields are AMAZING and I remember some of my favorite games playing on them (Vividly remember visiting W&L and being absolutely floored by how nice their field was.) But it's kind of hit or miss and a bad grass field can be an absolute nightmare (Widener, back in the day, was the worst pitch I'd ever played on, including club in my youth days played on bad playground fields.)

I can imagine.  W&L is actually playing on a new grass stadium field which did not exist when you may have played. I played on the on the field that you may have in the 80's. It took them several years to get that new stadium grass right.  It has only been the last two that it really survived the season.  Muhls (and Haverford) is just a meadow that grass happens to grow on it. I don't know what they are doing to it. I think they end up playing on it because someone donated money (named field) when they could easily play on their turf football field.  Haverford might be same as it has a turf practice field right behind its meadow.

Last point, I think some, if not many, prospective players actually take the state of the field into account.  In our case, our son liked Haverford and Shane as well as the players alright, but hated the state of the field. That was a major turnoff for him and might be for other recruits. To play half your career on a rec league field after playing on great fields while playing club would probably be a huge turn off.

[Hopkins92]

I've actually been to Haverford for a game fairly recently (pre-COVID, but just) for a playoff game (I think)... My wife is cool with going up to PA this time of year because of the leaves and the general bucolic surroundings. I've also been up to Grantham (Messiah) for a similar reason a few years prior.

My general impression was that I'd rather play on turf. I just REALLY hated playing on slow surfaces, and when you let some of these mid-atlantic (and northeastern and midwestern and... etc) fields to grow too dense, it's like playing on a sandy beach.