The Big Dance

[blooter442]

Chicago gets another five minutes later, 2-0. Again, it's Lopez.

[rudy]

We get it Messiah fans: you have the toughest road to the final 4, your best players are injured, the weather has cost you a home game, and playing on turf hurts you. All teams have to play with some level of adversity.

Sheesh!  You clearly do not get it.

No Falcon fan has claimed we have the toughest road to the Final Four.  I personally don't think any sectional is significantly tougher or easier than the others.

No one has claimed all our best players are out injured--Nick West is playing, Luke Groothoff is playing, etc., etc.  Talking about the affect of players missing due to injury is a natural thing to do.  It's not making excuses to discuss the reasons for a team to be underperforming as Messiah clearly was in the first half and suggest that the absence of a player as central to what Messiah does as is the case with Ruiz Plaza might be a significant contributing factor.

No Falcon fan has lodged a complaint about the change of venue (OK, I did because it meant I couldn't be at the game). 

I personally don't think turf hurts us as much as some other fans because I've seen us play awfully well on turf including in last year's Sectional.  And I'm not convinced our problems today were due to the turf.

"It might indeed be the case that Messiah will have the toughest road to the Final Four, as has been suggested." - Falconer

"Quite possibly, Ruiz Plaza is the most skillful handler in the tournament--and now he's not in the tournament." - Falconer

"The change of location may cost Messiah its 12th championship." - Not from a Messiah fan, but adding to the echo chamber.

"Turf field also not our best surface." - Rudy

YOU clearly don't get it hahahhahaha.

I love watching Messiah. They are one of my top 3 favorite teams. Great coach and great players. As far as you fans though...

I also said no excuses. Read my entire statement.  Truth is they play on grass all year so yeah it effects them some. What are you Mr Rights brother.

[blooter442]

2-0 final in Chicago in favor of the Maroons.

I stayed for the first half of the Montclair-Ramapo game after the first matchup. Ramapo actually looked the stronger of the two teams for the first 20 or so minutes. Montclair then started to get into the game and won what looked to be a very soft penalty with the MSU player going across the Ramapo player and falling down where it didn't really look like much (if any) contact. Then the Montlcair guy who won the penalty started doing a dance while he was still on the ground celebrating that he'd won the penalty. Not a great look. Heard that Ramapo actually came out the better in the second half. I saw Montclair's other two goals online: the first was the Ramapo defenders letting the ball bounce in the box and the second a breakaway -- and the third one was followed by some more bad sportsmanship as the goalscorer shoved the defender out of his way en route to celebrating. I am guessing there was some back and forth throughout but again not a great look, although I guess that's what happens when you put two NJAC teams with history this year on the field in a Sweet 16 game. All told it appeared to be a game that was closer than the scoreline indicated. Fala was pretty isolated up top but he did create some decent chances for himself. He is a heck of a player.

[Flying Weasel]

Did Cortland have any injuries?

The most notable absence for Cortland today was sophomore defender Brandon Gracias who started 8 games this season and only did not appear in 3 games prior to today: two in early September and in the 1st round, but did play against E-town in the 2nd round.  Otherwise, every other player with 5 or more starts this year played today and all their other typical first players off the bench down the stretch played today.  I can't speak with any certainty or knowledge about injuries for Cortland, but it doesn't appear that was an issue for them at all today.

but is there any chance that Cortland was just outplaying them for a few minutes?

Sure, Cortland was playing better for much of the first half.  Their pressure when Messiah tried to pass out of the back and denial of passing lanes to the flanks was effective for much of the opening stanza.  Messiah wasn't accurate with their passes and while Messiah would have hoped that other players would have been able to fill Ruiz Plaza's role, it seemed to me that things were often breaking down where he would normally be pulling the strings.  Would his presence have made the difference or would he have struggled as well?  We can only speculate about that.

And in attack, Cortland attacked well at times and put Messiah under pressure a lot in the first half.  Their goal, which I missed, was by all accounts (the Rochester commentators and Messiah fans I have spoken to) a very well-worked combination play to set up their leading scorer to notch his 19th of the season. 

Then Cortland decided to set up very deep and conservatively early in the second half, content to absorb pressure and just clear balls to no one and invite Messiah to come at them again and again.  That gradually gave the impetus over to Messiah who, with all that ball possession, finally started to find their rhythm that they never found in the 1st half.  Messiah does struggle to break down and score on teams when they hunker down and crowd the defensive third, so there would have been more merit in doing what Cortland did if Messiah had been finding success and banging on the door with Cortland playing them straight up.  But that wasn't the case.  Not sure why Cortland messed with what was working for them.  As a Messiah fan, I'll take it, but is was a head scratcher for me.

Maybe sooner or later Messiah would have figured it out today or maybe at some point Nick West would have had one of his POY moments even if Cortland hadn't changed tactics.  We'll never know.  Keeping Messiah, specifically Nick West, off the score sheet for 90 minutes is a tall order no matter what your approach is, but I think Cortland hurt there chances be stepping off the gas and just trying to defend their lead with so much time left on the clock and Messiah not looking very threatening.

[PaulNewman]

Just curious if anyone can place this play and what happened.  I assume it is a save near the end of the 2nd OT.  See picture on Kenyon website with the recap.....ball looking like it is going to cross the line after what I presume was a header and CWRU's GK hand reaching out for it.  I don't recall another corner after that, but not sure what happened or if that is where I thought Kenyon had ended it.

https://athletics.kenyon.edu/news/2018/11/16/mens-soccer-spartans-advance-by-lords-in-penalty-kicks.aspx

In the dark recesses of the internet I uncovered Kenyon's 85 seconds post-game press conference.  Brown referred to difficult conditions.  No idea what he was talking about.  Any ideas?  The weather?  Wind that commentators never mentioned during the game?  Field conditions?  CWRU crowd support?

Calvin coach in his post-game said something about his team having to adjust to the football lines.  Wondered if that was an indirect jab at Calvin not hosting.  Calvin has played on that field before and also at JCU for 2 NCAA games last year which also has football lines.

I will be very interested to see what happens if Montclair pulls their antics versus Tufts.  Do not think that will work with Tufts.

[blooter442]

As a Messiah fan, I'll take it, but is was a head scratcher for me.

Sounds like a team not as confident as it should be in its own abilities. They perhaps felt that the best way to overcome the seemingly-impending Messiah offensive pressure onslaught -- particularly that which they create when they are down -- was to try to soak it up without realizing that Messiah was performing below its best. You could argue that by Cortland being 1-0 up it should have been obvious that Messiah wasn't at its best, but I think perhaps being in the game you may not be evaluating how the other team is "doing" as much as focusing on your own. All told, I would guess that they thought -- regardless of how Messiah was doing -- that Messiah is going to attack so they should retreat. Obviously, it did not work.

[PaulNewman]

This is cute....clicked on a recap and got this...

PrestoSports has taken a 30 second timeout. Please use this chance to grab a cold beverage or a tasty snack. Your website will be back up in a moment.

I didn't suspect that Cortland had a bunch of injuries.

Here's the bottom line.  Some of us, including NEsoccerfan, really like Messiah and enjoy how they play, how they carry themselves, etc, etc.
But are we supposed to feel bad for them too???  After 12 titles?  When Messiah's second string 11 would be a top 15-20 team?  When each week yet another player is declared the best at his position in the entire country?  Even with injuries, did Messiah have a significant talent advantage or not?  Considering that they are still putting generational all-time players out on the field one would think so.

And let me clarify.  I DO feel bad for the individual players who are injured and unable to play.  For all of them on all teams, especially star players in their senior years.

[Flying Weasel]

Simple question: Did anyone ask you to feel sorry for Messiah?

[Flying Weasel]

We get it Messiah fans: you have the toughest road to the final 4, your best players are injured, the weather has cost you a home game, and playing on turf hurts you. All teams have to play with some level of adversity.

Sheesh!  You clearly do not get it.

No Falcon fan has claimed we have the toughest road to the Final Four.  I personally don't think any sectional is significantly tougher or easier than the others.

No one has claimed all our best players are out injured--Nick West is playing, Luke Groothoff is playing, etc., etc.  Talking about the affect of players missing due to injury is a natural thing to do.  It's not making excuses to discuss the reasons for a team to be underperforming as Messiah clearly was in the first half and suggest that the absence of a player as central to what Messiah does as is the case with Ruiz Plaza might be a significant contributing factor.

No Falcon fan has lodged a complaint about the change of venue (OK, I did because it meant I couldn't be at the game). 

I personally don't think turf hurts us as much as some other fans because I've seen us play awfully well on turf including in last year's Sectional.  And I'm not convinced our problems today were due to the turf.

"It might indeed be the case that Messiah will have the toughest road to the Final Four, as has been suggested." - Falconer

"Quite possibly, Ruiz Plaza is the most skillful handler in the tournament--and now he's not in the tournament." - Falconer

"The change of location may cost Messiah its 12th championship." - Not from a Messiah fan, but adding to the echo chamber.

"Turf field also not our best surface." - Rudy

YOU clearly don't get it hahahhahaha.

I love watching Messiah. They are one of my top 3 favorite teams. Great coach and great players. As far as you fans though...

OK, I'll bite.  So let me get this straight.

"It might indeed be the case that Messiah will have the toughest road to the Final Four" = "we have the toughest road the the FInal Four"

"Ruiz Plaza [singular] is the most skillful handler in the tournament--and now he's not in the tournament"  =  "our best players [plural] are injured"

non-Messiah fan making speculative comment not previous voiced by anyone  =  adding to the echo chamber

NEsoccerfan is correct, all teams have to play with some level of adversity.  Is there some unwritten message board rule that I am unaware of that prohibits fans from mentioning the adversity their team is going to face and how that might affect their chances?

And what is a Messiah fan allowed to say about Cortland today that won't be cause for criticism?  If a Messiah fan says that Cortland played well, outplaying the Falcons for stretches, he's just trying to build up Cortland to seem like world-beaters to make Messiah's eventual victory and advancement seem all the more impressive.  Ohh the arrogance!!!  But if a Messiah fan says that the Falcons were having an off-day and/or the injuries really affected them and/or ___fill-in the blank___, then he's not giving Cortland their due credit and doesn't think anyone can ever outplay Messiah.  Ohh the arrogance!!!

It might help if we make some rules.  Like . . . (1) You can only mention your team's injuries if your team is the underdog.  (2) You can only mention the potential affect of the playing surface if your are not the top seed. And so on and so forth.  Or, maybe it'd be easier to have just this one rule: If you are a Messiah fan, you are restricted to saying that Messiah gets dozens of great players who despite the talent advantage is just a good but not great team who gets preferential treatment and easy paths to the final and is immune to the affects of injuries and playing conditions.

OK . . . I'm having a little fun with this because of how ridiculous I find much of this to be--yes, I genuinely do not understand what is so unacceptable about most of the things that you guys are reacting to. But, whatever.  It just seems like maybe we could all afford to cut each other a lot more slack and let fans be partisan (that is what a fan is, right?) and have their biased opinions and be cheerleaders and what not.  And I think it'd be more helpful to be more direct with our reactions instead of generalizing and stereotyping.  If you disagree with something I write or how I come across, then by all means direct your reaction to me not "Messiah fans".  Don't blame all Messiah fans, 99.9% of whom have never once logged into this message board, for something I write on here--they don't deserve that and I'm quite willing to take sole ownership and responsibility for my own words.  Just some suggestions for what they are worth.

[PaulNewman]

Simple questions....so what do YOU think the pushback and what you seem to think are very unfair distortions and exaggerations are all about? 

And why the need to defend and unravel the silliness of the criticism at every turn?

You are way overplaying the "Messiah fans are placed in impossible binds" deal.

[blooter442]

The big guy Magruder held off the Calvin D and banged one top shelf. 1-0 Case.

[blooter442]

Calvin gets one just before half on a PK, allegedly handball? 1-1.

[blooter442]

Calvin takes the lead on a stunning goal, McCaw crosses from the left for Witte who chested the ball down for Olson to blooter on the half-volley top right for 2-1.

[blooter442]

Calvin up 3-1 now after a shot by Albrecht from 25 yards. Thought the goalkeeper should have done better at his near post.

[blooter442]

And Calvin is the first team in the Final 4...a potential semifinal with Messiah awaits.