UAA 2018

[Mr.Right]

Jake Warren a solid look at the top of the box with time but skies it with his left peg.

Still 0-0 heading to 2nd OT

[Mr.Right]

Case has turned the tables in the 2nd OT as they are all over Brandeis with a chance or 2 to boot. Brandeis LB #7 Panarra the D1 transfer from St.John's had a huge giveaway that Case turned into a nice cross that was not finished. Brandeis backs are hitting more long balls than I have seen them hit in years especially Panarra. The problem is Warren, Allen and Nardizzi are not great in the air. Nardizzi another D1 transfer is skilled and dangerous but not very physical and not good in the air. They must play him to feet. Brandeis with a couple good looks but the game has ended...0-0 Final..Probably a fair result but Brandeis might be a bit disappointed in not finding a goal especially in the 2nd Half when they were dominating play.

[blooter442]

Not a terrible result for the Judges but they would have been worthy of a win particularly with how they played in the second half. Case came out much stronger as Brandeis — who lined up in a 4-1-4-1 for the first time that I've ever seen — kept trying to go long and Case was winning every header. I do not mind a direct ball out to the wing or occasionally over the top (or a hoof clearance under pressure) but these high balls to no one in particular confused me. Once they started playing the ball on the ground in the second half they looked much more dangerous and played some nice combinations. Work rate was once again very good. Case probably had the better of the play the first 40 mins or so but Brandeis was on top for most of the rest of the game, barring a few dangerous Case attacks in OT/2OT. Irwin did well to command his box for the most part considering the onslaught of high balls into his box.

As Mr.Right said the Judges have lost a lot over the past couple of years including a lot of physicality in midfield. When they tried to play Case direct they were getting absolutely demolished but they looked much much better once they settled down. They need to start doing that more because they really don't have the physicality to play direct as they have at times in the past. If they can play their game though they will be much more successful.

Nardizzi got into good positions a few times, including once at the end of the first OT, but while he tries to place shots he doesn't seem to get enough power. Actually, he did blast that OT chance into the side netting but he had a step on the Case defender and should have gone early to the far corner (easier said than done, for sure). The Case GK made a few decent saves but nothing you wouldn't expect, and I think that speaks to the Judges afternoon. A few efforts close but most off target. I think Breiter works hard and gets after it but he doesn't seem to have the silky skills or sprint speed of a winger. I am not sure what his best position is.

The ref was absolutely terrible. I've seen him a few times before, not only does he miss blatant calls — there was a handball in the first half in the box that was clear as day, but he claimed that the guy was pulling his arm away when it was clearly out at a 90 degree angle — but he completely loses control of the game and is super inconsistent (for both sides). Again, I understand the refs have a tough job, but in my experience he has been absolutely terrible.

[WUPHF]

Let me hear you say yeah!

Washington University downs Emory 2-1.

[Buck O.]

Let me hear you say yeah!

Washington University downs Emory 2-1.

Yeah, baby!!

[Buck O.]

Yikes Noel Cotterell is in the middle for the Deis/CWU match...He is a real nice guy but his prime years of reffing are history.

Surprising that he wasn't reffing my son's high school game, then.

[Mr.Right]

Looks like Oglethorpe busted Wash U's 5 game Winning streak including an important Win v Emory on Saturday. They sit at 5-4-0 but had they beaten Oglethorpe and gone to 6-3-0 they could have righted the ship and been back in the Pool C hunt.

[WUPHF]

It would be interesting to know more about that game.

Ogelthorpe had scored three goals within the first 20 minutes.

Clarke had switched keepers for the game against Emory, but both keepers played last night.

I guess the Bears are going to have to run the UAA table.

[Mr.Right]

Big weekend in the UAA. Emory hosts Chicago in a rematch of the entertaining 2017 NCAA Elite 8 match that Chicago advanced on PK's. Emory did Win at Chicago 3-0 in the 2017 Regular season. This could be the match of the weekend in all D3. Could Emory start their UAA battlefield 0-2-0? I would be a bit surprised if they do not scratch out at least a Draw. The rest of the UAA will want Emory to get a result as it will bring Chicago back to the pack and give everyone a chance to Win the UAA title.

NYU travels to Case in what is a must Win for both sides. I have not seen NYU but based on results they are an improved team. They have beaten Rowan and New Paltz with what looks like a tight loss to CMU last weekend. I watched Case get a Draw at Brandeis last Saturday and I do not think they had their best stuff on the day. They were coming off a 3-0 hammering over Kenyon and might have been a bit leg heavy in 0-0 Draw. If that was their best stuff it left a lot to be desired especially in attack.

Brandeis travels to CMU in a must Win situation for Brandeis. I suppose they could get a Draw and still be in the title hunt but somewhere along the way Brandeis must get UAA Wins. They should be a bit disappointed on not beating Case last weekend. They had a couple good looks for the winner but are struggling finding the back of the net. I have seen CMU once and at least on the stream they looked to lack a bit of size in midfield and up top. They are scrappy and quick with skill. Looks like their Senior GK was injured as he missed 5 games but is back playing now. This is an experienced squad with a roster heavy with Seniors and Juniors. They have not defeated Brandeis since 2013 which is a long time in a league that is very even every year(besides NYU). I think Margolis will be very conservative with his approach in this game especially 1st Half. He will be hoping to sneak a Goal early and sit on the lead. This matchup has seen plenty of Goals in it for the most part including a 4-2 Brandeis Win in 2015 so I expect Margolis to be cautious about giving up an early goal. The more I watch these 11am matches in the UAA the more I am convinced the best strategy is to come out of the gates fired up and attack to try to sneak a Goal before your opponent wakes up.

Wash U at UR will be played Sunday morning. UR has beaten 3 Liberty League sides and 5 cupcakes. Not sure what they graduated from 2017 and I have not seen them play yet but I really respect their run in the NCAA'S last year. They were a well oiled machine. Last weekend they really took it to Chicago and probably deserved a Draw but let up a late goal to lose. Wash U has been up and down all year. This is one of those coin toss UAA games that could end in a Draw. Its interesting that without a conference tournament in the UAA you almost have to hope that other teams Draw as many games as possible to give yourself the best chance to Win the UAA if you have a loss or 2.

[Mr.Right]

Chicago is ALL OVER Emory in the 1st Half. Chicago is dominating possession and busting all over the field. They are possessing extremely well and they are taking advantage of some real sloppy play by Emory. Chicago takes a deserved 1-0 lead in the 11th minute off a horrible giveaway in the middle of the field by Emory. Chicago hits the ball out wide and it gets served in the box right to the Emory GK. Emory GK then proceeds to absolutely muck up the play by trying to punch the ball out and basically missed the ball with his punch and it gets into the back of the net. Real sloppy stuff by Emory to start the game. 1-0 Chicago about 15 minutes left in the 1st Half

[Mr.Right]

Brandeis at CMU looks to be a very even and entertaining game as it is 0-0 with about 10 minutes left in the 1st Half...Ref has some serious rabbit ears as he gives Margolis a Yellow Card for complaining about a potential hand ball in the box. Actually, it was either Assistant Coach Adam Batista or Zach Abdu-Glass who was complaining that led to the Yellow Card...Good game though

[Mr.Right]

What a STRIKE by Brandeis #3 Devan Casey with about 5 minutes left in the 1st Half to give Brandeis a 1-0 lead. He was given plenty of space and just RIPPED it into the upper corner. GK had no chance..Interestingly, it came from a long throw behind half field by I think Handler...All that talk of long throws from the defensive third this week.....

[Mr.Right]

1-0 Brandeis at the Half. It will be interesting to see how Margolis plays this as Brandeis MUST get a Win here. I am betting he sits with a hard 6 and keeps his wide guys in more of a defensive shape. Stick Nardizzi up top or Allen as he is a bigger target to hold the ball up.

[Mr.Right]

As predicted Brandeis is in a 4-2-3-1 but when they lose the ball they are collapsing into a 4-5-1 with their wide players pinching in tight. I like the tactics to keep this lead...CMU bench/Head Coach gets a Yellow Card for yelling at the ref. The ref is definitely a bit sensitive but CMU bench is a bit of a disgrace with all the yelling/complaining. IIRC there is no love lost between these two Coaching staffs as a couple years ago I believe there was a ton of back and forth between the Coaching staffs in a match at Brandeis.

[Mr.Right]

1-0 Brandeis with about 15 minutes left. CMU turning up the pressure with Braneis a bit on their heels but they are still nursing this 1 goal lead. CMU almost tied it on a deep cross that was headed just wide but CMU had an open net as GK Irwin came charging out and could not get the ball. These GK's MUST stay home unless they are sure they can get the ball. That was almost the tying goal. Also, things are definitely getting heated on the field with both teams battling like crazy.