The Big Dance

[bestfancle]

Watched Calvin games on Friday and Saturday, I was very impressed. I think the winner of Calvin/Chicago will go on to win the whole thing.

[NESCAC43]

Was anyone else not that impressed w/ Lycoming throughout the season? Saw them 3 times and each time I thought the same thing; solid team with great athleticism but ZERO discipline. Although CWRU is a good side and is probably the best team in the country that is never ranked, that loss against them showed me what I had been thinking the whole time was in fact correct. I have been far from perfect with my predictions for the tournament, specifically with Rowan, but to me, this Lycoming side never had a shot.

It is easy to come out and say this after the fact isn't it? Where were you when they knocked off the #1 team in the country last weekend? I didn't see any posts about them being bad then...

I think they were a capable team and worthy of the rankings they had. I watched them multiple times this season and they are as good as anybody else I have watched. They need a few more pieces to be a special team but they by no means were they not impressive this year.

I too think they were worthy of their ranking, but felt the lack of discipline would catch up to them at some point, therefore not giving them a shot to win 6 games in a row against quality sides. The amount of yellows for dissent they had throughout the season were insane and I didn't think their athleticism would outweigh some of their negatives. You're right about me not posting, I had just been reading the discussion and developing my own thoughts. Wasn't meant to be a dig at Lycoming as they obviously have proven to be a perennial powerhouse. Just didn't feel this year's team had the discipline to go the distance.

[NESCAC43]

I'm guessing North Park, Chicago, Tufts, Messiah will be hosting?

Allen has already reported this:

NCAA has picked North Park, Chicago, Messiah, and Tufts as the sectional site hosts on the men's side for next weekend.

You can see the host sites when clicking on each round-of-16 match on the ncaa.com interactive bracket.

Going to try to make the games at Tufts, only 45 min away from me. Hope to catch a few of you there.

[blooter442]

Going to try to make the games at Tufts, only 45 min away from me. Hope to catch a few of you there.

I am local -- Cambridge -- and would love to be there, but have family obligations next weekend. That said, I will definitely be tuning in and keeping up. Enjoy it!

[NEsoccerfan]

That's 6 straight sweet 16 appearances for Brandeis. I'm curious who else has this long (or longer) of a streak going. Calvin? Amherst?

Amherst has 8, including this year. No idea about Calvin.

I did some digging and this is Calvin's 3rd straight sweet 16. What a streak for Amherst and Brandeis at 8 and 6 respectively.

[deiscanton]

Going to try to make the games at Tufts, only 45 min away from me. Hope to catch a few of you there.

I am local -- Cambridge -- and would love to be there, but have family obligations next weekend. That said, I will definitely be tuning in and keeping up. Enjoy it!

I am also local, from Boston's southern suburbs, but I also have other obligations on Saturday.  Also, commuter rail does not start Sundays on the Providence/Boston line until 11:20 AM, and the MBTA's Red Line is also doing work on the Longfellow Bridge for the next few weekends.  I will be following the games on-line to keep up.  Enjoy the games!

[Christan Shirk]

That's 6 straight sweet 16 appearances for Brandeis. I'm curious who else has this long (or longer) of a streak going. Calvin? Amherst?

Amherst has 8, including this year. No idea about Calvin.

I did some digging and this is Calvin's 3rd straight sweet 16. What a streak for Amherst and Brandeis at 8 and 6 respectively.

You wouldn't have to do any digging if you read the articles on D3soccer.com!!!   

Check out the seventh item in the article 2017 Tournament Field Factoids.

[NEsoccerfan]

That's 6 straight sweet 16 appearances for Brandeis. I'm curious who else has this long (or longer) of a streak going. Calvin? Amherst?

Amherst has 8, including this year. No idea about Calvin.

I did some digging and this is Calvin's 3rd straight sweet 16. What a streak for Amherst and Brandeis at 8 and 6 respectively.

You wouldn't have to do any digging if you read the articles on D3soccer.com!!!   

Check out the seventh item in the article 2017 Tournament Field Factoids.

Owned :-)

[Shooter McGavin]

Was anyone else not that impressed w/ Lycoming throughout the season? Saw them 3 times and each time I thought the same thing; solid team with great athleticism but ZERO discipline. Although CWRU is a good side and is probably the best team in the country that is never ranked, that loss against them showed me what I had been thinking the whole time was in fact correct. I have been far from perfect with my predictions for the tournament, specifically with Rowan, but to me, this Lycoming side never had a shot.

It is easy to come out and say this after the fact isn't it? Where were you when they knocked off the #1 team in the country last weekend? I didn't see any posts about them being bad then...

I think they were a capable team and worthy of the rankings they had. I watched them multiple times this season and they are as good as anybody else I have watched. They need a few more pieces to be a special team but they by no means were they not impressive this year.

I too think they were worthy of their ranking, but felt the lack of discipline would catch up to them at some point, therefore not giving them a shot to win 6 games in a row against quality sides. The amount of yellows for dissent they had throughout the season were insane and I didn't think their athleticism would outweigh some of their negatives. You're right about me not posting, I had just been reading the discussion and developing my own thoughts. Wasn't meant to be a dig at Lycoming as they obviously have proven to be a perennial powerhouse. Just didn't feel this year's team had the discipline to go the distance.

I don't even know if it was a lack of discipline. They relied on a CB to score a majority of the goals this season. I think they struggled in large part due to a lack of firepower from the offense. Certainly capable of beating anybody on any day but with the amount of parity across the national landscape it is hard to consistently win.

[Jim Matson]

It will be a great soccer weekend in Chicago. North Park hosts, and Chicago hosts the women (early matches), and the men (late matches).

I doubt that this has ever happened in NCAA soccer history; three sectionals within 20 miles of each other.

[Falconer]

Was anyone else not that impressed w/ Lycoming throughout the season? Saw them 3 times and each time I thought the same thing; solid team with great athleticism but ZERO discipline. Although CWRU is a good side and is probably the best team in the country that is never ranked, that loss against them showed me what I had been thinking the whole time was in fact correct. I have been far from perfect with my predictions for the tournament, specifically with Rowan, but to me, this Lycoming side never had a shot.

Lycoming is very talented--and, as I pointed out, if they get a referee who lets them mug people without throwing cards and doesn't call many ordinary fouls, they can dominate a better team. This is clearly their style, and we have to assume it comes from the top. If however the fouls are being called (as apparently they were vs Drew), they aren't nearly as effective.

As you say, zero discipline. That's plainly obvious to anyone who studies the number of cards they receive (in games officiated competently), especially cards on the bench or individual players for bitching about appropriate calls that they seem to resent. Not to mention cards for outright fighting, such as that given to Tueno near the end of the game vs Drew. He is a splendid all-around player who can beat teams by playing well within the rules. So, why does he do that? It speaks volumes about team discipline and attitude.

Most good teams aren't like this, regardless of how physically they play. They accept that when they foul people, it's likely to be called, and if they take cheap shots they will probably find themselves on the sidelines pretty quickly. If officiating at D3 level were more consistent, even fewer good teams would be like this.

[Falconer]

Watched Calvin games on Friday and Saturday, I was very impressed. I think the winner of Calvin/Chicago will go on to win the whole thing.

I agree--and I think it will be Calvin.

[Gregory Sager]

It will be a great soccer weekend in Chicago. North Park hosts, and Chicago hosts the women (early matches), and the men (late matches).

I doubt that this has ever happened in NCAA soccer history; three sectionals within 20 miles of each other.

If anyone is of the mind to do such, they can watch half of the entire Sweet Sixteen bracket in person on Saturday without missing anything. You can make it from Foster and Albany (NPU's Hedstrand Field) to 46th and Drexel (the U of C's Stagg Field) in 45 minutes on a Saturday afternoon via Lake Shore Drive, which would give you plenty of time to leave at the end of the second match at NPU and still arrive in time for the start of the first match at the U of C.

I strongly doubt that any Sweet Sixteen bracket in NCAA history, regardless of sport, could make that claim.

Edit: Oops, forgot that the sectional down in Hyde Park is Friday/Saturday instead of Saturday/Sunday, because of Calvin. Well, at least you can watch two Sweet Sixteen matches and an Elite Eight match in one day. 

[Mr.Right]

As far as the Sweet 16 we have some intriguing matchups. I am most curious about Hopkins and Tufts. I have only seen Hopkins for the 1st Half against Dickinson in the Centennial Conference Semi-Finals. Obviously not a lot for me to work with. What I saw in that half was the ball on the carpet a ton. I have noted I saw more than enough square balls in the back and one that Dickinson picked off and scored on. If that is how Hopkins is going to play v Tufts I think that will spell trouble. Is Hopkins willing to change their style just a bit to relieve pressure from Tufts relentless pressure. If they are not willing to change and start forcing passes on the carpet then Tufts will be pressing like mad and cause numerous giveaway's that will lead to goals. Has anyone seen Hopkins more than once? If so, were the team they playing against pressing them like a Lycoming would? A couple of players to watch for? I need a scout.

[Mr.Right]

Looking at the 4 Quads still left in the NCAA's I would still say the Midwest is the weaker of the 4. However, Messiah's Northeast bracket would be a close 2nd. After watching Stevens and Middlebury on Saturday I was not impressed with Stevens as a dangerous threat. They escaped Middlebury who deserved to win that match had they been able to finish. I have no idea how Stevens played Cortland but they obviously got the job done somehow. I was not overly impressed with Cortland when I saw them beat Hobart. They were a solid team but nothing jumped out at me as a Final 4 contender. I would have been interested in a Middlebury at Messiah matchup as that would have been a complete contrast in styles. The way Midd had been playing the past month or so I would have given them a decent shot at getting thru. As it is,I think Messiah will easily handle Stevens especially at Home an then take on the winner of a UR v Amherst game. Amherst is still very young and I get the feeling UR is one of those inconsistent teams in which you never know what outfit will show up on the day. ConnCollege had them beat but totally blew it in the 81st minute and then lost it in OT. Still for UR to win at Oneonta the next day is impressive. Watching Amherst onMessiah;s wide field will be fun but I expect UR and Amherst to beat up on each other on Saturday with a well rested Messiah waiting. Still this is not the dominant Messiah of years past and can be had if you play them the right way and have a solid day. At this point I would have to say Calvin has to be the favorite to win the whole thing. They look like they are on a mission and they do not care who is in the way. They want that 1st Championship.