UAA 2019

[blooter442]

Brandeis equalizes with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation against Case, who had scored directly from a corner in the first half. Looked like the wind caught it, although it did loop over Irwin so questions will be asked. Brandeis' equalizer came from a set piece of its own. Many had predicted current form to roll on but Case is up for this one and quite frankly should be further ahead based on the number of opportunities they've had. Now the Judges look like the team with the momentum. Crazy old game, this.

[Buck O.]

Emory was a deserving winner over WashU, winning 1-0 on a goal in the 85th minute.  Emory was the better team for the first 55 minutes or so, creating almost all of the scoring opportunities (although not a lot of them) and having a first half goal called back for offside.  WashU had the advantage over the last 35 minutes or so, and narrowly missed a couple of shots, but Emory's Matthew Tanzer was able to bring the ball up the left flank, and he played in a cross into the box to Alejandro Gomez for the winner.

[blooter442]

Case has a penalty denied and then Brandeis has a header by Panarra, the goalscorer, hacked off the line. Wasn't the best header but beat the goalkeeper and was kicked away by the man on the post. I think both teams might take a draw, although neither team can afford many more with 2 and 3 ties, respectively.

Update: 1-1 is the final. Both teams will feel they could have won it, with Case having a number of chances at 1-0 and Brandeis turning up its levels after the equalizer and carrying the play through both OT periods (outshot Case 6-1 through the two OTs). Given they were on the back foot for most of the game I think the Judges will be happier with that result, even considering Case's opening UAA weekend pummeling, although both teams may feel it's an opportunity missed to some degree.

Looking forward, the Chicago-UR game could be HUGE in terms of the UAA race. The league looks as wide open as it's ever been, although you have to look first to Chicago given its dominant opening weekend win.

[WUPHF]

Chicago defeats Rochester 2-0 to set up the following standings.

Chicago 2-0, 6-1-4
New York University 2-0, 5-4-1
Brandeis 1-0-1, 6-2-4
Washington U. 1-1, 6-3-1
Emory 1-1, 7-4-1
Case Western Reserve 0-1-1, 5-4-3
Rochester 0-2, 7-4
Carnegie Mellon 0-2, 4-6-1

I know we all had NYU tied with Chicago in first place (kidding).

Looking ahead...
-NYU and Brandeis host Washington University and Chicago next weekend so big weekend.
-Chicago will then host their final three UAA matches including Washington University.
-Brandeis will then travel to Emory and Rochester before hosting NYU.
-Emory will travel to Case and Carnegie Mellon before hosting Brandeis, NYU and Rochester.

Also, I think I took this round of picks, but I need to check again.

[MaturinNYC]

Chicago leaves Rochester with a 2-0 win today to go 2-0 in the league. A fairly physical battle with both teams struggling to produce any decent shots on frame, until Chicago got on the board in the 30th minute, putting away a rebound that started as a shot 25 yards out and came off the UR keeper and into the feet of a Chicago forward. The 1st half saw Chicago with most of the ball, while the 2nd half saw Rochester with most of the ball and a hard push for the equalizer, creating the best chance of the game for them early after the restart that just went wide of the post. In a battle between two of last year's Final Four teams, Chicago withstood the 20 min Rochester pressure and made the better use of their set pieces, including the game-sealing 2nd goal on a free kick just outside of the box with 10 to go.

Chicago and NYU now sit atop the standings after 2 games. Rochester is 0-2, but based on what i've seen it's hard to see that trend continue.

[SideNetting]

Big weekend. Should be fun to follow. After my picks from last week, I don't know if I'm worthy of the pixels. But here we go anyway.

Friday
Em 2:1 CW (continuing the hard season for Case), Chi 1:0 Br (Can't pick against Chicago until they lose) R 3:0 CM (Rochester flexing after a tough Chicago loss) WU 0:2 NYU (Mostly to set up a top v top game on Sunday with Chicago)

Sunday
Chicago 0:NYU 1 (The story at the end of the year will be NYUs defense) R 2:1 CW (Case starts thinking about next year) WU 1:1 Br (even steven) Em 2:1 CM (Solidifying CM in the bottom tier)

[d3commenter]

Big weekend. Should be fun to follow. After my picks from last week, I don't know if I'm worthy of the pixels. But here we go anyway.

Friday
Em 2:1 CW (continuing the hard season for Case), Chi 1:0 Br (Can't pick against Chicago until they lose) R 3:0 CM (Rochester flexing after a tough Chicago loss) WU 0:2 NYU (Mostly to set up a top v top game on Sunday with Chicago)

Sunday
Chicago 0:NYU 1 (The story at the end of the year will be NYUs defense) R 2:1 CW (Case starts thinking about next year) WU 1:1 Br (even steven) Em 2:1 CM (Solidifying CM in the bottom tier)

Can't pick against Chicago until they lose and in same comment pick them to lose to NYU???

[blooter442]

Can't pick against Chicago until they lose and in same comment pick them to lose to NYU???

To be fair to the poster, they fully acknowledged that they may not be "worth the pixels." That said, I thought your observation was humorous and valid (would not bank on 'Deis beating Chicago, myself, but that's why they play the games).

As for NYU's defense being the story (5-4-1) — they started 0-4 but have pulled it together since (drawing their fifth game and winning the last five in succession). There is certainly UAA precedent for having a "meh" out-of-conference record only to perform well in-conference (I have cited Chicago 2014 numerous times).  The one thing I would say about that, though, is that their good run (5-0-1 in the last six) has been built on a shaky foundation (0-4 in the first four) and sometimes a bad result following a good run built on a shaky foundation results in a big drop in confidence and, in turn, more bad results. Chicago had an indifferent start but they were tying, not losing, games, so I think they are a bit stronger and more confident.

All this is not to say that NYU isn't capable of beating Chicago, but if anyone is going to be noted for their defense at year's end I think it will be the latter. Any shortcomings the Maroons have had offensively — they, too, took a little while to get going and have four ties to their name — has been offset by their defense.

[Buck O.]

Given how well my picks fared last week, I probably shouldn't do this, but here goes.  As always, all ratings per Massey:

Friday

#8 Chicago @ #45 Brandeis:  Chicago is pretty clearly the best team in the league.  Who's #2 is much tougher to answer, but I'm currently leaning towards thinking that it's Deis.  That win over Babson looks better very day.  If Chicago's going to stub its toe, this is the most likely time for it to happen.  Considering that these teams are tied for the league lead in ties, it seems appropriate to forecast a 1-1 tie.

#42 WashU @ #124 NYU: Yes, NYU's tied for the conference lead.  They also played Case and CMU, which are the other two sub-100 teams in the conference.  And, FWIW, they were outshot in both games (16-9 vs. Case, 13-8 vs. CMU). And they've won five in a row, but the best team they've beaten is #93 Stevens.  Meanwhile, WashU has put up a superior record against the #24 schedule in the country; NYU's, by comparison, is #114.  WashU, 1-0.

#60 Rochester @ #178 CMU: Before the season, I thought that CMU was the likely last-place finisher in the league, and their results thus far have borne out that forecast.  (Allegheny has now fallen outside the top 300.  Double ick.)  While Rochester has four losses, they've all been by narrow margins to top-50 teams; I think that #60 rating sells the Yellowjackets a little short.  I don't see them blowing anyone out, but I don't see them losing to CMU, either, even in Steel City. Rochester 1, CMU 0.

#41 Emory @ #113 Case:  For the reasons I've given previously, I'm not buying the idea that Emory is #41.   I think they should be somewhere between #80 and #100.  And while this Case team has significantly underperformed expectations, let's remember that this team had a lot of success last year.  I'll take Case, 2-1.

Sunday

#8 Chicago @ #124 NYU:  I see the Maroons taking this one pretty easily, 3-0.

#42 WashU @ #45 Brandeis: The game of the week, and one that should go a long way toward deciding who finishes #2 in this league.  Blooter and I should place a bet on this one, but, while I certainly think WashU has a good chance, my head tells me that Deis should be favored.  I'll take Deis, 1-0, while hoping to be wrong.

#60 Rochester @ #113 Case: Rochester 1, Case 1.

#41 Emory @ #178 CMU:  Emory 2, CMU 1.

[WUPHF]

Tonight in the UAA...

Chicago over Brandeis, 1-0
Carnegie Mellon over Rochester, 2-0
Case Western Reserve and Emory tied, 2-2
NYU over Washington University, 1-0

The UAA has just four games left and if Chicago gets the win and the one-game lead over NYU, they should win another league championship with Case Western Reserve, Carnegie Mellon and Washington University left on the schedule.

[Domino1195]

CWRU gives up another goal in the last 10 minutes of the game. To be fair their go-ahead goal was either deflected by a defender or a howler by the keeper - not a good day for camera operators yesterday (follow the ball dammit!) - but the draw was deserved by both sides.

[blooter442]

Saw a bit of the Brandeis Chicago game last night. Generally competitive game with both teams definitely "at it," although Chicago looks a little bit more poised. The Brandeis backs got caught in transition on the goal, and whoever the covering defender was could not back in time to clear it off the line before it crossed, the goal was actually given by the linesman. Chicago still created generally the better chances. Brandeis looks most vulnerable in transition and on set pieces. Big contrast to last year where shaky goalkeeping cost them big, this year Irwin has been really solid between the pipes. Not sure there was a lot he could've done about the goal.  I saw Gordon Field from about 30,000 feet this morning – flying to DC for a conference – and hopefully that yields a better result tomorrow. That said, Buck knows I rate WashU and the Bears will be formidable opponents for a team that needs a big UAA win.

Elsewhere, have to say it is staggering that NYU is 3-0 in conference and Rochester is 0-3. The Yellowjackets would appear to be in big Pool C trouble, something that has only happened to them twice in the last 10 years – 2011 in 2015.  Wouldn't have put money on that. Still not totally sold on the Violets yet but if they can spring a big result tomorrow I'll tip my cap to them.

[Buck O.]

And Deis scores twice in the first five minutes.  Not a great start for WashU.

[blooter442]

Figured any Brandeis win today would've been by one goal. Big surprise to see more than that, although getting two in the first 10 minutes certainly set the Judges on a pretty good trajectory, especially at home.

NYU hung with Chicago for 106 minutes before succumbing in the second overtime. That's a big win for the Maroons and probably wraps up the UAA title for them. Heartbreaker for the Violets. The big question is how they will respond.

Rochester got it stuttering UAA campaign going with a (literal) last second winner at Case. Will be interesting to see if they can kick on. Apple (or was it the bench?) got a yellow card along with the goal — I can 100% understand going over the top in the circumstances. Anecdotally, though, he seems to get a lot of yellows as a coach, but the Yellowjackets won't care a bit.

Pretty surprising to see Carnegie at .500 but they themselves did some good with a win over Emory.  Goes to show there are no gimmes in the UAA.

[WUPHF]

The latest standings.

Chicago, 4-0, 8-1-4
New York University, 3-1, 6-5-1
Brandeis, 2-1-1, 8-3-4
Carnegie Mellon, 2-2, 6-6-1
Emory, 1-2-1, 7-5-2
Rochester, 1-3, 8-5
Washington U., 1-3, 6-5-1
Case Western Reserve, 0-2-2, 5-5-4

Chicago hosts the next three while NYU is on the road for the next two.