2018 Great Lakes Region

Domino1195 · October 10, 2018, 03:39:32 PM

OWU's tenacity to pursue and dispossess their opponent of the ball is as strong as I've seen it it years. They take the body - upper torso contact - all game long. When a team does what DePauw did last night - bunker in - a 0-0 result will happen.

Next Wednesday's game at Kenyon is listed as a 7:30 start ?? Playing on the football turf??

PaulNewman · October 10, 2018, 04:38:44 PM

99% sure that is an error...I think Kenyon website says 3:30.

Domino1195 · October 10, 2018, 06:28:27 PM

Thought I had a double header on my future with Denison and Wabash first. Will still be at Kenyon next Wed.

JJRock · October 14, 2018, 09:47:02 AM

CWRU has a big game today, to say the least, against Chicago. I'm very interested to see how they fare. Coach Bianco was by far my favorite coach that we met during my son's round of visits 3.5 years ago. Very organized, he told us and showed us his plans to be a top team looks like his plans are coming to fruition. Doesn't surprise me that they are doing well. Too bad my son didn't like the split campus at CWRU, he didn't like crossing Euclid Ave., what can I say 17 year old boy not raised in the city. I'll be quietly rooting for Spartans today.

Domino1195 · October 17, 2018, 11:23:52 AM

Big day in the NCAC today as OWU visits Kenyon and Wabash visits Denison. 1vs2, 3vs4. These 4 could be the teams that make it to the NCAC tourney, with DePauw very much in the mix. And these teams all have competitive games ahead of them with 4 games to go - I'd think OWU and Kenyon would need major meltdowns to not finish 1 and 2. I also think they'll be in the NCAA tournament barring said same meltdown.

The OAC has several evenly-matched teams in the top 5-6. In some respects JCU has the difficult part of their conference schedule out of the way. ONU has Cap and Mt Union yet to play, and Wilmington is the dark horse in the mix - they "should" make it into the conference tourney. Otterbein has three very difficult games left - two on the road. I don't think there is an at-large bid for the OAC this year, and given the balance at the top, the conference tourney ought to be interesting.

Not going to be a lot of at-large bids for the GL this year. Grove City and PSU-B need to take care of business - PSU-B recalls all too well what happens when you don't win the AQ in a weak conference. GC has had too fine a year to miss out - but everyone else in their conference will be trying to steal their bid come PRaC tourney time.

Case and CMU have good chances for at-large bids - Case with a chance to win the AQ. CMU has to avoid the late season swoon that caused them to miss the NCAA's last year; and Case has thrived on home cooking but finish the season with three straight road conference games after one more non-conference game.

Mr.Right · October 17, 2018, 01:15:18 PM

I can see Case getting a Pool C especially with that monster Win v Chicago but man the 1 game I saw them play at Brandeis I was not all that impressed with them in attack. CMU right now IMO is in trouble. They are 8-3-2 and only 1-3-0 in the UAA with a Draw v Kenyon and a Win v Lycoming but that is it. They have some difficult games remaining at UR and at Emory plus v Case. I thought CMU was a more talented side than Case but again I have only seen these teams 1 game apiece so maybe it was a one off. I do not expect Emory to go 0-7-0 in the UAA even though they are really struggling right now. If CMU loses to UR and Emory they will be finished.

midwest · October 17, 2018, 02:08:50 PM

Didn't Case beat Kenyon 3-0?

Mr.Right · October 17, 2018, 02:12:44 PM

Yup....All I am saying is that in the Brandeis game they looked absolutely anemic offensively...Like I said it could have been a one off because they do gave some impressive results and have an NCAA resume for sure...Just thought they did not look as good as Case BUT I have only seen them once each so I could have seen an off game

Christan Shirk · October 17, 2018, 04:00:36 PM

GREAT LAKES REGION - NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS - October 17, 2018

Rank	School	. Div. III . Record	. Div. III . SOS	. R-v-R .	. Overall . Record	. Prev. . Rank
1.	Case Western Reserve	11-2-1	0.607	--	11-2-1	--
2.	Kenyon	11-1-1	0.572	--	11-1-1	--
3.	Capital	10-3-0	0.595	--	10-3-0	--
4.	Ohio Wesleyan	10-2-1	0.563	--	10-2-1	--
5.	Carnegie Mellon	8-3-2	0.647	--	8-3-2	--
6.	John Carroll	8-4-1	0.626	--	8-4-1	--
7.	Mount Union	10-2-0	0.525	--	10-2-0	--
8.	Ohio Northern	9-4-1	0.540	--	9-4-1	--

Mr.Right · October 17, 2018, 05:50:16 PM

hmmm...Did Kenyon cut down those trees or something looks different with this field? Either way should make for a windier field and btw those fields in the back look real nice...must be their practice fields but those look better than most game fields

PaulNewman · October 17, 2018, 06:36:21 PM

Quote from: Mr.Right on October 17, 2018, 05:50:16 PM
hmmm...Did Kenyon cut down those trees or something looks different with this field? Either way should make for a windier field and btw those fields in the back look real nice...must be their practice fields but those look better than most game fields

I haven't seen it but found this info. Maybe Domino1195 can tell us. I think you're right about the trees.

Mavec Field is the home stadium for Kenyon's men's and women's soccer programs, as well as the women's lacrosse program. Long regarded as one of the best collegiate soccer fields in Ohio, it is known for its great playing surface on the 120 x 75-yard pitch.

Created in 1975 with funds provided by Bruce Mavec '72 and other members of the Mavec family, the field has been the site for numerous NCAA Division III tournament contests and was recently upgraded with new bleachers and new World Cup style goals. Additionally, a new scoreboard and perimeter fencing were added to the facility. Two more full-sized fields, adjacent to Mavec, are used for varsity practice sessions.

More than 200,000 square feet of practice space has also been created this summer for the successful men's and women's soccer teams and other Kenyon sports teams. The new fields use the same sod as many pro sports fields. Their surface matches that of Mavec Field, which was resurfaced last year. Mavec also has a new parking lot, to reduce parking on nearby grass.

https://athletics.kenyon.edu/news/2017/7/20/general-mavec-renovations-near-completion.aspx

PaulNewman · October 17, 2018, 06:43:26 PM

Tough result for Kenyon to swallow today but losing of course would have been even worse. Made some of the same mistakes that are beyond my comprehension that they made against CWRU. Play weak square passes in the defensive third and around the 18 repeatedly and you will pay, and the GK who overall does well insists on passing out short and they often get in a bind, in addition to some wild out of position action that leaves them totally vulnerable. Also have to finish point-blank chances when you get them. If they can clean up all that stuff they do have impressive depth that will be more matured by the tournament if they can qualify. The draw puts a ton of pressure on Kenyon for a very difficult early (12:00 pm) road game Saturday at DePauw.

Domino1195 · October 17, 2018, 06:45:52 PM

Yep - Kenyon cut them down. As a Cap fan, who's team had a difficult trip to play Case and still took them to OT: there is a lot of equality in the GL. I hope Case does well but I think they drop 2 of their last three. CMU gutted after the Chicago game - 18-22 y.o. boys are all about emotion. Don't fault them for their loss - but with a week off we'll see if they are last year's team or one with more grit.

As a lifelong soccer player, referee and soccer dad - there is a lot of parity in the GL. The grittiest team: OWU. Not the best talent but they win the Monty Python Black Knight award: None shall pass. I back them to be in the sweet 16. I cannot appreciate their grit any more than I did today. While Calvin should advance out of our expanded region (making assumptions about a final four team from the Midwest) to the final four - if OWU upsets them I will not see that as an upset.

Domino1195 · October 17, 2018, 06:54:02 PM

Yep - Kenyon had some sitters that needed to be put away. I tire explaining to freshman parents: where did the pretty game go? It is about grit. OWU and - IMO - CMU - have it. Kenyon is in the mix - I'm uncomfortable about their central defenders in a tight game. JCU has a culture that understands grit - as does ONU. ONU has too many flaws - JCU is interesting. Capital needs consistent grit as they showed in the JCU game. Right now they're too pretty to win gritty games

Domino1195 · October 17, 2018, 09:32:19 PM

Interesting day in the GL. NCAC results fair - DePauw's OT win vs Wittenberg not impressive - I think the current top 4 are the 4 that make the tourney.

OAC - ONU down for most of the match and pull it out late. Cap at ONU on Sat - men will win boys will lose. JCU has to go to OT? BW can score but cannot defend - WTH?? Capital - with any guys on Sat the conference is yours - not sure they have what it takes.

Hanover fails against Transy - incomprehensible. I still expect Hanover to win the conference - but this is a poor result