Mid-Atlantic Region

[SierraFD3soccer]

Mid-Atlantic turning out to be fascinating with a great deal of parity after Messiah (who also hasn't exactly rolled over opponents). I was surprised by the F&M/Kean result as I watched Kean play in preseason and was not impressed. It seems they must have dealt with a few injuries early in the season. I also watched LebVal in preseason and was impressed. Good result for Gettysburg as it looks like Catholic will have to win the Landmark to get in. The Centennial is going to be fascinating to watch and I'm also not sure Widener can hang in for an at-large berth. Perhaps a 2-0-7 record wins the CC? 

Definitely a lot of parity.  Centennial should be a dogfight as usual.
As to F&M and Kean.  F&M could not finish and Kean had a nice goal.  F&M had some great shots (11 on goal I believe) and keeper made some very good saves. Stuff happens.

[Falconer]

I've taken the time to go back and watch video from the Messiah games (love schools that broadcast and archive games) - and of  three goals that they have given up this season  - two are from set pieces (and both bad fouls at the top of the 18, one with a wall that failed, and one with a gem of a shot) - and one from a really bad give away from the center back  - yielding a seed of a shot and goal.   Nothing has been really given up during the normal run of play -  which is telling.  Saying that  - they have also controlled the ball every game - and simply need to finish! They are also still without Lent-Koop - so when he can return - the already tough defense gets tougher.  While I realize that Messiah is not lacking passionate supporters  - I still see an exceptional side that seems to be simply be settling into the season.  I have also been impressed with their GK play.  A plus distributor of the ball - and if you watch the Dickinson match - the difference maker.   Whiel we expect them to win - they have had a good early season schedule - and are performing well as they find their form.

I agree with this analysis. The main differences between last fall and this fall, for the Falcons, are IMO these:

(1) They lost all 4 starters up the spine--GK, plus the three MFers whose job in their system is always to collect the ball, control the ball, and set up the scores. Of those four players, the biggest loss was Luke Groothoff, whom I believe was the best attacking MF in D3 last season. The men playing those positions this fall are arguably as talented as those last fall, except that Groothoff's only close comparables in Falcon history (IMO) were Hayden Woodworth and Kai Kasiguran. This year's team has no such player. That's why they don't look as dangerous, so far.
(2) The absence currently of Lent-Koop is telling on both ends, but especially on the offensive end, where he has been their best player in the air during his career. If he returns at full speed, people will notice.
(3) The FR players this year are, as a group, maybe even more talented than those from last fall. None of them presently start, or are likely to start, but McCarty doesn't hesitate to have all of them on the field at once in tie games. That bodes well for the future, but also for this year. The leading Falcon scorer so far is a FR. They will only get better, as they get significant PT. The Falcons run an offense similar to Bob Knight's motion offense in basketball: most players can't just come to Messiah and start playing it well. They need to figure out how it's done, how the expectations and the freedom work together. This group might get up to speed faster than most other FR classes, owing to the amount of PT they are getting when it counts.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Looking for games besides UMW v. Messiah.  Saw that Stevens is playing U. of Paywall in Rochester at 7.  Could be the first step on Stevens redemption tour, maybe??

[SierraFD3soccer]

Upset alert in the Cent. Conf.  Ursinus got a really fluke goal in my opinion in 2nd half over Hopkins.  Game just finished. Did not see most of the game, but statistically the game seemed pretty even unlike the game against Stevenson. Game is a game is a game. Tough game.

Did not seem to be raining and looks like Ursinus has resurfaced its field.  Looks nice.

[Hopkins92]

Fluky goal or no, this isn't the first time the Bears have pipped Hopkins in recent years.

0 goals is 0 goals.

[Kuiper]

As someone who is not a close observer, I was surprised to see Ursinus is 6-1 (1-1 in conference).  After the 4-1 loss to McDaniel, I just assumed Ursinus was back at the bottom like last year.  Maybe they still will be, but they have certainly gotten off to a better start.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Fluky goal or no, this isn't the first time the Bears have pipped Hopkins in recent years.

0 goals is 0 goals.

Yup, Maybe it's Ursinus' home.  JHU lost in 2021 by same score but later in the season. As to Ursinus being 6-1, their previous 5 wins have been to programs that are probably sub .500, but you still have to score which they definitely have been able.

https://ursinusathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2023

[SierraFD3soccer]

F&M got lucky.  It had 25 shots 6 on goal.  Many of the 19 should have been on goal, just couldn't figure out.  Swarthmore had one shot one goal almost all they needed.

F&M with 4 min. left on a free kick nailed it from outside the 18 into the upper 90 on the far side of the goal.  Think the keeper misread or was anxious because of the rushing players??  I'll share the highlights when it comes out.

3 games, score 2 goals give up 3. Over those three games 70 shots with 24 on goal. Not going to get it done.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Worth the watch. Great goal to tie.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxlTSAQxcXu/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Freddyfud]

Worth the watch. Great goal to tie.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxlTSAQxcXu/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Keeper will want that one back.  It was a screamer and assume the storm winds were swirling but still.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Yup keeper should have done much much better. It was pretty windy and the keeper clearly mismanaged his back line. Kick was clearly far out of the box. Keeper should have had his backs at 18 or even with the wall. Instead he was clearly distracted all the bodies to his left. Weather maybe but the shot seemed to be still rising.

[TNAggie]

CENTENNIAL gonna be tight all season ... no teams 2-0 and no teams 0-2 after 2nd weekend

Muhlenberg 1-0-1
Washington College 1-0-1
Ursinus 1-1
McDaniel 1-1
F&M 0-0-2
Haverford 0-0-2
Gettysburg 0-0-2
Swarthmore 0-0-2
Johns Hopkins 0-1-1
Dickinson 0-1-1

[SierraFD3soccer]

CENTENNIAL gonna be tight all season ... no teams 2-0 and no teams 0-2 after 2nd weekend

Muhlenberg 1-0-1
Washington College 1-0-1
Ursinus 1-1
McDaniel 1-1
F&M 0-0-2
Haverford 0-0-2
Gettysburg 0-0-2
Swarthmore 0-0-2
Johns Hopkins 0-1-1
Dickinson 0-1-1

7 more games for each.  True dogfight.

[Hopkins92]

Midweek Games of Note (not comprehensive, just a quick scan):

- Widener is now 7-0 after soundly defeating Misericordia 4-1 on the weekend. Sean Fatiga with a hat trick. They host Stevens (3-1-3) tonight at home @ 7p. The Pride beat Swat early in the campaign, but this is likely the biggest "show me" game on the slate so far.

- Hopkins with an important CC road game against Western Maryland (mcdaniel) tomorrow @ 4pm.

- Messiah hosts Lycoming who have had a weird season, just glancing at their schedule. Should be a tap in, but we've talked about Messiah playing down to the opponent on occasion.

- F&M travel to Ursinus. We'll see if the Bears can keep things rolling.  All of the CC squares off on Wednesday, so we'll see if anybody wants to pull ahead of the pack.

- Over in the Landmark, eyes are probably turning to this weekend when Scranton hosts Catholic. Looks like mostly OOC midweek and nothing is jumping out of the screen to me, but, again.. quick scan.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Messiah vs Lycoming is the one I will be watching. The Warriors have gotten the better of the Falcons a few times (4 or 5 if I recall correctly) before departing the MAC Commonwealth. Since then these teams have continued to face-off in non-conference play with the Falcons getting their revenge the last few years. It's always a game I enjoy watching as the two styles of play are vastly different.

After watching both teams this season I'd think that Messiah is the clear favorite, and by a hefty margin, but Lycoming has always been a thorn in their side. My prediction is 4-1 Falcons. 

Midweek Games of Note (not comprehensive, just a quick scan):

- Widener is now 7-0 after soundly defeating Misericordia 4-1 on the weekend. Sean Fatiga with a hat trick. They host Stevens (3-1-3) tonight at home @ 7p. The Pride beat Swat early in the campaign, but this is likely the biggest "show me" game on the slate so far.

- Hopkins with an important CC road game against Western Maryland (mcdaniel) tomorrow @ 4pm.

- Messiah hosts Lycoming who have had a weird season, just glancing at their schedule. Should be a tap in, but we've talked about Messiah playing down to the opponent on occasion.

- F&M travel to Ursinus. We'll see if the Bears can keep things rolling.  All of the CC squares off on Wednesday, so we'll see if anybody wants to pull ahead of the pack.

- Over in the Landmark, eyes are probably turning to this weekend when Scranton hosts Catholic. Looks like mostly OOC midweek and nothing is jumping out of the screen to me, but, again.. quick scan.