2019 Great Lakes Region

PaulNewman · October 30, 2019, 06:06:00 PM

The fork is in Wooster....tough stretch for the Scots. Oberlin not totally done if they can beat Wabash on the last day, and if DePauw can't get a win over Wabash or Kenyon. An opening for Denison if they can win two, although a DePauw win tonight versus Wabash would finish Denison I think because of head to head.

In my experience following along the NCAA regional rankings treat winning pct, SoS and RvR as pretty much co-equals with a nod to head to heads. OWU should be in good shape with a chance to win the NCAC AQ and/or assuming they stay ahead of ONU, and assuming there aren't any shock winners of the NCAC and/or OAC tourneys. An 8th blemish wouldn't be great but the SoS and RvR should see them into the NCAA tournament. I think Kenyon is OK too, as the teams the Lords needed to be ranked were ranked again this week, so Kenyon won't lose those ranked wins for next week's rankings.

Keys for Kenyon (and pretty much what I've said all year)....

1) Stop giving up free kicks from 25-45 yards out, or conversely, learn how to defend them. Any film review will clue in future opponents that free kicks from distance have been an achilles heel in terms of giving up goals.

2) Stop playing teammates into trouble areas that leave them open to counters where the Lords have lost their shape....the same player played teammates into bad spots (up against a sideline with no space) three times in a row in the 1st half against Oberlin giving the Yeoman their only half-chances of the half, and then the Oberlin goal (a beauty btw) came off a similar bad/loose giveaway in the 2nd half.

3) Understanding the importance of game management and seeing games out. If you're up 2-0 don't act like you're down 1-0 allowing the team to get stretched and vulnerable to counters and an increased need to foul in bad spots.

4) Stop playing loosey-goosey in the back especially with soft and/or dangerous passes back and forth with the GK, especially in slick conditions.

5) Be hyper-aware that just one or two bad errors and/or what I would call low IQ play can make the difference in post-season matches.

Nardiello-Smith obviously is injured as he still has not returned and Penas did not play today.

P.S. I will add that even though Kenyon often drives me crazy with very tough to take errors, Coach Brown deserves a ton of credit. He's playing 25+ kids regularly, there have been injuries, and he really hasn't had a set line-up. They should be better next year, but that said, Kenyon yet again is sitting at 14-1-2. He hasn't won the big one yet but his resurrection of the program and the Kenyon run since 2013 really are remarkable and the job he has done during that span has to rank among the top handful of coaches in the country over that stretch.

midwest · October 30, 2019, 06:20:53 PM

I looked on NCAC site and couldn't find the answer to how ties are resolved to determine top finishers in conference. Head-to-head first? Goal differential? Presumably Wabash is playing to win so they could finish 2nd -- if they use head-to-head -- and host OWU next week. Not raining in Central Indiana tonight, so Depauw-Wabash should turn less on the weather than last weekend's games.

As Denison supporters, we are hoping Wabash continues its winning ways. Denison dug an unnecessarily deep hole for itself, with losses to Depauw and W'berg, though in fairness, the starting GK has been out for almost 2 weeks and the senior GK who started the last several games has not played much in 4 years until now. A tough spot for someone to step into withe post-conference play on the line.

PaulNewman · October 30, 2019, 06:31:54 PM

The DePauw-Wabash game should be a good one. Beyond the historical rivalry (and the whole Monen Bell football thing), both will be highly motivated. DePauw would love to secure a win without relying on a win in Gambier, and Wabash would love to finish as high as possible and force OWU to travel. However, OWU would be highly favored regardless of where another Wabash-OWU game is played. The best outcome for Wabash would be a win tonight and DePauw knocking Kenyon out of first place on Saturday. Of course even in that scenario Wabash would still need to win at Oberlin (likely but certainly not guaranteed).

PaulNewman · October 30, 2019, 06:50:53 PM

Also curious about extent of boost to SoS of OWU and ONU having Calvin in their mix. Would be interesting to calculate SoS for a handful of teams dropping the best and worst opponent records.

PaulNewman · October 30, 2019, 06:57:12 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=67&v=xW74vxcnskw

Game is televised on Fox Sports Midwest

P.S. I will always love DePauw a little because of Brad Stevens.

Domino1195 · October 30, 2019, 07:03:03 PM

Quote from: PaulNewman on October 30, 2019, 06:06:00 PM
The fork is in Wooster....tough stretch for the Scots.

Rain was a factor but their GK was way off today. Chipped twice - poor position and feet with roots deeper than an oak. When Wooster trimmed their deficit to 2-1 all the momentum went their way. Then two chip shots made it 4-1. The field players deserved better.

midwest · October 30, 2019, 10:37:22 PM

And that is Denison's season. All that's left is Senior day vs. Wooster. After holding teams like Capital to scoreless draw and JCU to 1 goal in September, finds a way to lose to Wittenberg, Hiram and Depauw in last 2 weeks. Rough season.

Soccer is a sport · November 01, 2019, 11:31:55 AM

I wish Daltronix was still wreaking havoc in the NCAC

Domino1195 · November 02, 2019, 04:51:56 PM

Wow - for the early games! Oberlin pulls out a must-need win against Wabash, surely thinking they'd jump DePauw for 4th - and then DePauw scores in the final minute to win at Kenyon. OWU wins tonight and they finish first in the NCAC. I thought Oberlin had a chance at home today, but really didn't see DePauw's result.

Otterbein and Cap go to OT with Bein winning early in OT 2-1. Cap bias admitted, but the CR assigned to this game, from WVA, who used laminated paper cards, was so far out of his league (and State, competence level - you name it). Cap outplays Bein all first half and this joke awards a PK on a chested ball at the top of the 18 - claimed it hit the Cap player's arm. Cap player went to HS with my son and was distraught after the game - ball never hit his arm - ref guessed.

Second half more of the same Cap dominance. OT goal comes after a hard foul ( not called, player already on a yellow - should have had a second yellow for a very hard foul in the second half). Ball is crossed and players fall to the ground near back post - ball pushed into the goal by an Otterbein player's arm. My son was behind the goal and saw the play.

Be careful about bitching about officiating - I know. But this game deserved better officiating and the Ohio assignor should be ashamed of his choices today. Good news for Cap is they are playing very well - second game without the starting keeper - backup played great today.

PaulNewman · November 02, 2019, 04:59:21 PM

Quote from: Domino1195 on November 02, 2019, 04:51:56 PM
Wow - for the early games! Oberlin pulls out a must-need win against Wabash, surely thinking they'd jump DePauw for 4th - and then DePauw scores in the final minute to win at Kenyon. OWU wins tonight and they finish first in the NCAC. I thought Oberlin had a chance at home today, but really didn't see DePauw's result.

Otterbein and Cap go to OT with Bein winning early in OT 2-1. Cap bias admitted, but the CR assigned to this game, from WVA, who used laminated paper cards, was so far out of his league (and State, competence level - you name it). Cap outplays Bein all first half and this joke awards a PK on a chested ball at the top of the 18 - claimed it hit the Cap player's arm. Cap player went to HS with my son and was distraught after the game - ball never hit his arm - ref guessed.

Second half more of the same Cap dominance. OT goal comes after a hard foul ( not called, player already on a yellow - should have had a second yellow for a very hard foul in the second half). Ball is crossed and players fall to the ground near back post - ball pushed into the goal by an Otterbein player's arm. My son was behind the goal and saw the play.

Be careful about bitching about officiating - I know. But this game deserved better officiating and the Ohio assignor should be ashamed of his choices today. Good news for Cap is they are playing very well - second game without the starting keeper - backup played great today.

And....that was the women's game.

PaulNewman · November 02, 2019, 05:11:06 PM

Lords 4-0....20 min left.

Congrats to Oberlin.

Domino1195 · November 02, 2019, 05:34:54 PM

THAT makes sense.

Domino1195 · November 06, 2019, 10:53:06 AM

Full slate of GL games today - two yesterday in the OAC:

MTU @ Cap - as even as you can get. 2-2 through OT, MTU wins on the 6th kick from the mark. After JCU, the OAC truly was a toss-up this year, with 8 teams having a legitimate chance to qualify for the conference tournament. Cap lost another starter midway through the first half - went to the hospital for x-rays - not sure what happened on the play. Playing with their back-up keeper for the third consecutive game, who did very well given his limited experience this year. MTU is the only OAC team to take a point from JCU - their senior leadership is evident in their poise and consistency. Might snow on Thursday night at JCU . . .
Marietta @ ONU - Marietta with a slight surprise winning at ONU 2-0. I thought Marietta to be much better than their record - a lot like Denison where they hung in, every game, but managed to fall short. Lost at Otterbein first time, 0-0 until after the 70th minute - statistically even with Bein. Would not be surprised to see Marietta get the win.

Depending on results OAC may only get one bid this year. JCU is pretty much a lock; if they get the automatic qualifier that may be it. Bein and MTU with an outside shot - see what the regional ranking tell us today.

A shout out to the Capital seniors though - tough way to end their 4 years. But they won a conference title and earned two trips to the NCAA tournament - first time since 2009 - and gained the university's first two wins in program history. On their death beds they will have that going for them, which is nice . . .

ChrisJS · November 06, 2019, 11:18:15 AM

It's Marietta at JCU and MTU at Bein.

Domino1195 · November 06, 2019, 11:49:41 AM

I thought that's what it should have been but the OAC site had the pairings listed, initially, that the winner of 4v5 was at JCU. Might have been based on an "assumption" that the higher seeds would have won yesterday, which happened in neither game. That does change things a lot as I believe MTU or Bein may have a chance at Pool C - Bein with a stronger SOS would have the better chance as of today.