Mid-Atlantic Region

[SimpleCoach]

Pretty typical Hopkins half of soccer. I'll be repetitive and say this version of Hopkins is much more prone to spraying the ball around the field. Refreshing... and with the added bonus of making them more unpredictable.

But, alas... Need someone to find a finishing touch... Pretty late in the year for that to be a problem.

Fairness to Hopkins.  Muhlenberg is sitting back and just daring them to come forward.  Not even trying to break out of their own half unless they get the ball and can get it forward to one of their wingers.  Outside of that, not sure they are doing anything to actually win.

SC.

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

[SimpleCoach]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

[paclassic89]

The Muhles take it in PKs 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Pretty typical Hopkins half of soccer. I'll be repetitive and say this version of Hopkins is much more prone to spraying the ball around the field. Refreshing... and with the added bonus of making them more unpredictable.

But, alas... Need someone to find a finishing touch... Pretty late in the year for that to be a problem.

Fairness to Hopkins.  Muhlenberg is sitting back and just daring them to come forward.  Not even trying to break out of their own half unless they get the ball and can get it forward to one of their wingers.  Outside of that, not sure they are doing anything to actually win.

SC.

Tough game for Hopkins.  I am guessing that any true finishers mostly don't go D3 except for Messiah and one or two other teams. Mulhs worked hard to take the Conf.  Sometimes it's better to lucky than good.  Fortunately both teams now have an extra game or two!

[SierraFD3soccer]

I'm in the middle of a multi-generational DnD game, so I'm not really gonna be able to do my real-time rambling. I will say... Really bugs me when goalies have on kits that are in the same color zone as the outfield players.

Muhles goalie wearing a read that's just not all that different than the field players kits.

Not a huge deal, just bugs me. Should be something that really stands out.

Agreed, weird color too.

[Shooter McGavin]

Looking at some teams that have a shot at getting a Pool C today

Region 4 Bubble Teams
Montclair (at-large)
NYU (at-large)
Lycoming (bubble)

Region 5 Bubble Teams
Hopkins (at-large)
F&M (at-large)
Catholic (bubble)
Drew (bubble)

[SierraFD3soccer]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

Agreed as many, many teams have no idea where their goals are going to come from. In most cases in D3 as I see it, they do not have that one (or maybe two) person they can rely for considerable pressure on goal.  FYI that includes Hopkins.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Looking at some teams that have a shot at getting a Pool C today

Region 4 Bubble Teams
Montclair (at-large)
NYU (at-large)
Lycoming (bubble)

Region 5 Bubble Teams
Hopkins (at-large)
F&M (at-large)
Catholic (bubble)
Drew (bubble)

IMO you nailed it. Lycoming and Drew I feel will be on the wrong side of the bubble. Catholic is very much a bubble team-if they get a bid it might be the last spot.

Unfortunately, I think all 3 will be left out. 

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

Agreed as many, many teams have no idea where their goals are going to come from. In most cases in D3 as I see it, they do not have that one (or maybe two) person they can rely for considerable pressure on goal.  FYI that includes Hopkins.

In a lot of instances, this is what separates the good from the great from the elite level teams.

Would actually be interesting to try and look at some examples.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

Agreed as many, many teams have no idea where their goals are going to come from. In most cases in D3 as I see it, they do not have that one (or maybe two) person they can rely for considerable pressure on goal.  FYI that includes Hopkins.

Elite teams are also able to develop goal scorers over the player's 4 years at school. They don't simply rely on whom they recruit then hope he gets marginally better.

I'm also assuming that there is tremendous pressure on proven goal-scoring recruits to go D1.

[Ejay]

Looking at some teams that have a shot at getting a Pool C today

Region 4 Bubble Teams
Montclair (at-large)
NYU (at-large)
Lycoming (bubble)

Region 5 Bubble Teams
Hopkins (at-large)
F&M (at-large)
Catholic (bubble)
Drew (bubble)

To me, Catholic losing in semi-final of Landmark keeps them out. And even more so for Drew who didn't even make the Landmark playoffs.  But I know that's not how it works, so my opinions are pretty useless.

[paclassic89]

Catholic actually would have been better off not making the landmark playoffs like Drew instead of getting a loss against Scranton.  Of course, making the playoffs and winning the conference is the goal but in hindsight, that semifinal loss might have knocked them out of an at-large

[SierraFD3soccer]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

Agreed as many, many teams have no idea where their goals are going to come from. In most cases in D3 as I see it, they do not have that one (or maybe two) person they can rely for considerable pressure on goal.  FYI that includes Hopkins.

Elite teams are also able to develop goal scorers over the player's 4 years at school. They don't simply rely on whom they recruit then hope he gets marginally better.

I'm also assuming that there is tremendous pressure on proven goal-scoring recruits to go D1.

Absolutely, proven DA or club strikers are all shiny objects for D1.  D3 coaches can't compete.  Do these strikers produce at the next level is another story. Most do not at as they have to compete with foreign recruits or the game (or to many games) shut them down.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Yeah, it's been pretty one way for sure.

This reminds me of coaches I would ask if with the no OT in the regular season would they starting playing for ties under the right circumstances.  They all said the same... they would play to win.  After watching this season play out, they absolutely do play for ties.  This one, Muhlenberg is absolutely playing for a tie.  PKs are the great equalizer for them.

SC.

Agreed as many, many teams have no idea where their goals are going to come from. In most cases in D3 as I see it, they do not have that one (or maybe two) person they can rely for considerable pressure on goal.  FYI that includes Hopkins.

In a lot of instances, this is what separates the good from the great from the elite level teams.

Would actually be interesting to try and look at some examples.

I would say Hopkins??  With a good or even a competent striker, you all would be much more formable and not have to rely on 0 error defense. 

Messiah is on the other side.  Who really ever talks about the defense (which could be great), but if all you ever do is score, then who cares.  Goal scoring is the best defense in many cases. Twice it gave up two goals and twice it only scored two goals (avg. 4.35 per game and let up .06 per game). Also had 466 shots (235 on goal) and only allowed 95 of which only 33 were on goal.  Not relying on 1-0 wins. Plus many teams are already beat with this type of offense already going in.  McDonald obviously is the big striker - 21 goals and 6 assists over 20 games.  Surprisingly enough, he only had three games where he did not get a point and in those games they were ahead by at least 3 goals. Also he had plenty of braces, but no hat tricks which is not a knock as plenty of other Messiah players scored.