The Big Dance

[Falconer]

Messiah played terrific soccer today vs Baruch, but a very strong wind against them in the first half limited their chances. West had a couple of great direct kicks, one of which was saved and the other just wide. All of his free kicks today cleared the wall, but the wind played havoc with them. A great header in close was saved by Baruch's keeper, or it would have been 2-0 at the half.

The second team scored the first goal--which was good, b/c the Falcons are now 6 or 7 men down with injuries. The first and second team RBs are gone for the season. CB Cooper Robbins is out for the weekend with a concussion. The roster is so short, that McCarty actually activated two men from the club team, both of whom played lots of minutes today. I've never seen a similar situation as long as I can remember. Four substitutes started for the Falcons today. It's obviously not an ideal time to have starters out, but what can you do? Robbins is just so important on the backline, but they will have to play JHU or W&L tomorrow without him or Joseph King in front of the keeper. Quite possibly, they won't win their own pod--but, they are mentally very tough so don't count them out.

West could have scored the second goal, when he beat two defenders on the endline and was headed for the goal, but he made a great pass to Jonathan Groothoff, who charged in from the RW and shot it hard into the left corner for the crucial second goal.

Baruch looked just awful when they had the ball, to be truthful. They did nearly score vs the Falcons' second team (with both of the taxi squad men playing), but missed wide. Otherwise they were wholly unable to possess and never threatened.

[Mr.Right]

Baruch comes from maybe the second or third worst league in the country and they were not even the best team in the league. That league is AWFUL and was basically a bye for Messiah without an actual bye.

[Mr.Right]

Carnegie Mellon and Centre look to be in 2OT heading to PK's.....

[rudy]

Falconer.. definitely tough to not have Cooper for the weekend. One good thing  I saw was freshman Luke K played. He had started some games before getting injured. David Alejos also played some.  I hope to see more of Britt in game tomorrow...he brings a lot of energy and toughness and has a nose for the net. It will be a tight game against either team tomorrow but Messiah still has enough firepower to move on. West is due for a goal so you can count on him getting one..

[Mr.Right]

WCONN at F&M about to kickoff as well....Curious to see if WCONN can keep up the solid play. They can attack but they are not so solid on the defensive end and can be shaky in net....This will be a tough match-up for them but they do have Chauncey Allers who has 24 Goals on the year...Can he put them on his back?

[Falconer]

Falconer.. definitely tough to not have Cooper for the weekend. One good thing  I saw was freshman Luke K played. He had started some games before getting injured. David Alejos also played some.  I hope to see more of Britt in game tomorrow...he brings a lot of energy and toughness and has a nose for the net. It will be a tight game against either team tomorrow but Messiah still has enough firepower to move on. West is due for a goal so you can count on him getting one..

Honestly, except for Vegter at Calvin, who should be defensive POY, Luke G is the best CB I've seen all season, even though it's not his natural position. Against Lyco, he took Tueno out of the game, and against everyone else he dominated his side of the field. And, of course, he's very dangerous going forward. I do think if he'd played all season at CB he would have been all-conference there. I imagine with some defenders coming in next year, Luke will move up at least a bit, but he's the best all-around Falcon defender, IMO, since JD Binger. Attackers can't beat him, but he can beat them.

[blooter442]

Stevens-Gordon thoughts:

- Stevens was the better side throughout the game, and had some nice interplay. That being said, Gordon was scrappy and hard-working and had a few chances of its own, although most of them came in transition or scrums in the box. Stevens was the better side in the first half despite playing against the wind, as they kept the ball on the ground. Likewise, Gordon looked dangerous in the second going against the wind as well, although I think Stevens was more threatening as far as having good chances.
- The Gordon goalkeeper is very good.  He made a couple of outstanding one-handed saves where it seemed like the ball was going in. I also liked Gordon's #23, but Stevens' #10 was the best player on the pitch IMHO.
- Gordon hit the crossbar with a rocket of a free kick in the 109th minute. It was struck super hard and hit the bar straight on, and if it was an inch or two lower I think it's off the underside of the bar and in.
- Both goalkeepers did well in the shoot out. The Stevens penalties were better than the Gordon penalties, though, so I cannot blame of the Gordon goalkeeper for not saving them. Both goalkeepers were going way off their line but no one was calling it as seems to be the case often these days.
- The ref was definitely letting them play but did well to keep a hold of the game despite it being a chippy affair.
- All told, an entertaining game despite it being scoreless.

[Mr.Right]

Nice recap Bloots...Was Tufts players watching the match?  How u feel Stevens will match up at Tufts tomorrow....

[gustiefan04]

Luther and Knox knotted 0-0 at end of regulation. Luther definitely better in possession, but Knox with a couple close chances as time was winding down.

[Mr.Right]

Unbelievable that UR is not charging to stream their game and then SLU's game...Maybe they thought that would not look good being an NCAA game and all or maybe there is some sort of rule about that by the NCAA but I highly doubt it.

[Mr.Right]

Luther and Knox knotted 0-0 at end of regulation. Luther definitely better in possession, but Knox with a couple close chances as time was winding down.

Wow I thought Luther would win that game 2-0...I think this is Knox's first appearance ever....

Meanwhile, Calvin being held scoreless by UWP

[PaulNewman]

The situation at Messiah sounds dire....but with the best striker in Falcons history and arguably the best defender ever playing I'm going to give them a puncher's chance lol.

[PaulNewman]

Will be interesting to see how Colby reacts when MSU scores (which seems inevitable). 

[Mr.Right]

Colby just blew a chance to grab a 2-0 lead as Pereira muffed it with his left foot....MSU giving Colby way to much space...

[PaulNewman]

Colby just blew a chance to grab a 2-0 lead as Pereira muffed it with his left foot....MSU giving Colby way to much space...

Yeah, I don't know how he didn't finish that....Nice setup by the quick wing #2...