2019 Great Lakes Region

[ncac_dad]

OWU 2-1 over Hanover.

[Domino1195]

It appears he has not played in any games.

I know - even some of the regular OWU fans were commenting last week about his absence. Key player to not have played at all this year.

OWU takes care of Hanover 2-1 today. The Hanover goal on a PK - really hard to see the foul given the distance/non-zoom use of the camera. Hanover plays well enough but with the mistakes they make on defense I can't see them being a factor in the Heartland race.  RHIT first - Transylvania and Hanover battle for second. 

Absolute travesty of the day - so far - PSU-B being gifted a PK with 1:22 left in regulation. Ball launched into the area from midfield cleared easily by a Mt. Aloysius defender - behind him by a couple yards two players collide - never was the ball involved. Ridiculous homer call.

Third PSU-B game I've seen this year. Solid group of connected players, very similar to Mt. Union. Fitting that they will play each other next week.

[Domino1195]

Lightning delay at Otterbein - heavy storm coming through - could see a delay of 30-60 minutes.

[ncac_dad]

It appears he has not played in any games.

I know - even some of the regular OWU fans were commenting last week about his absence. Key player to not have played at all this year.

OWU takes care of Hanover 2-1 today. The Hanover goal on a PK - really hard to see the foul given the distance/non-zoom use of the camera. Hanover plays well enough but with the mistakes they make on defense I can't see them being a factor in the Heartland race.  RHIT first - Transylvania and Hanover battle for second. 

Absolute travesty of the day - so far - PSU-B being gifted a PK with 1:22 left in regulation. Ball launched into the area from midfield cleared easily by a Mt. Aloysius defender - behind him by a couple yards two players collide - never was the ball involved. Ridiculous homer call.

Third PSU-B game I've seen this year. Solid group of connected players, very similar to Mt. Union. Fitting that they will play each other next week.

One day they will stop experimenting with their defense early in the season. That seems to be the norm in recent years.

OWU got the win. It is hard to tell who played better. OWU was more efficient with goals vs. shots compared to their other games. The freshman Harr (#25) is speedy up top.

Otherwise, Capital is up next. We will see which version of either team shows up for that matchup. It could go either way this season.

Kenyon, is rolling along. Steam rolling along. Will they repeat NCAC? Looking like it thus far.

[PaulNewman]

Wow.  That coach at Otterbein has done an incredible job there.  I think he played at Univ of Kentucky.  Beat Brockport 1-0 and quietly has a nice little resume.

[Domino1195]

Wow.  That coach at Otterbein has done an incredible job there.  I think he played at Univ of Kentucky.  Beat Brockport 1-0 and quietly has a nice little resume.

Had Hoffman (GK) not been the nets it would have been at least 3 for Brockport. He returned to the team after the Hanover loss - 3 straight clean-sheets since. Their defense is not as strong as the 2017 team so he does deserve a lot of the credit.

After a 90 minute weather delay the game started - ended around 10:30. Brockport plays at Capital at 3 today - got to wonder how this quick turn-around will impact them.

[Domino1195]

Thanks to the aforementioned weather delay I watched the first half of ONU-RHIT. ONU - same as it ever was. Not driving down to the byline and crossing hard on the ground - at least according to what I've seen - but a side that possesses and shares the ball among all 10 field players. They swing it and have great awareness of the open spaces on the field. 

Compare that last night to RHIT - they are technically competent but made one poor decision after another last night.  Playing the ball right back into pressure, playing a forward pass to a teammate surrounded by 3 Polar Bears  , getting trapped against the touchline and refusing to play the ball back to an open teammate. It was 2-0 at half - not sure what adjustments RHIT made in the second, but the damage was done.

Mt. Union continues doing what it does best - maybe the most consistent winning team in the GL. Consistency in style of play, of scoring just enough to win and not giving up goals.

And Case seems to have their MO down. You have to wonder whether their performance will be strong enough to make them a contender in the UAA. Not sure they are top 3 material - outside of Chicago as #1 the #2 spot looks wide open. At least they're playing teams with winning records and scraping out wins/draws. Next Sat at home against Otterbein . . .

[Domino1195]

Some thoughts on GL games today.  Three potential 0-0 games to start.

• PSU @ Mt. Union: PSU with their first true road game of the year (2 early games at neutral sites).  Mt. Union with a much tougher schedule - 4 games won by a score of 1-0. Have only concede 3 goals this year.  Outside of another generous PK I can't see PSU scoring, but Mt. Union doesn't light it up either.  If SOS means anything in this game - Mt. Union should win.
• Capital @ OWU: one of those mirror games.  Solid defenses, both teams concede a PK last game, both teams took Case into OT 0-0. Tempted to go to this one with 80 minutes left to catch the scoreless OT.  Gorgeous fall day in central Ohio - Cap not a great grass team, OWU's field a disaster this year.
• Denison @ Otterbein: Denison with its third straight game against a strong GL opponent, dropping the last two 1-0 to JCU and Mt. Union.  Otterbein 3-0 with the return of senior GK - all clean-sheets.  Got 0-0 written all over it.

Marietta has under-performed of late and Case loves OT.  Playing tonight on Marietta's navy blue field - if Marietta solves their defensive lapses they could nick a result here.
Grove City at Baldwin Wallace - I'm thinking high scoring game of the day?  Especially compared to the games listed above.

[ChrisJS]

Marietta takes down Case 2-1 in last minute. They are better than their results to date suggest.

[jcudad]

I am sure JCU would have been thrilled before the start of the season to know they would be 8 -1-1 after the first 10 games.  Their schedule is about as difficult as possible, but today I watched them play the best team (by far) they have played to date.  Messiah is king in D3 and had they been full strength at the beginning of the season I can't see them having a defeat.  Nothing against the teams that beat them, but my son was recruited by Ithaca and we watched a couple of games and there is no way that team is on the same level as Messiah.   They took advantage of their depth in the heat  ( believe 20 players saw the field) and regardless who was on the field the play was basically the same.   The first half was a dead heat with Messiah getting a gift on a poor pass to the goalie for a 1-0 lead.  In the second half Messiah dominated the last 20 minutes. The game was far closer than 3-0, but Rochester, Kenyon, Case, and Carnegie Mellon were nowhere near the team I watched today.    A great start for JCU, but now Ohio Wesleyan comes to town.  Go Blue Steaks.

[Falconer]

I am sure JCU would have been thrilled before the start of the season to know they would be 8 -1-1 after the first 10 games.  Their schedule is about as difficult as possible, but today I watched them play the best team (by far) they have played to date.  Messiah is king in D3 and had they been full strength at the beginning of the season I can't see them having a defeat.  Nothing against the teams that beat them, but my son was recruited by Ithaca and we watched a couple of games and there is no way that team is on the same level as Messiah.   They took advantage of their depth in the heat  ( believe 20 players saw the field) and regardless who was on the field the play was basically the same.   The first half was a dead heat with Messiah getting a gift on a poor pass to the goalie for a 1-0 lead.  In the second half Messiah dominated the last 20 minutes. The game was far closer than 3-0, but Rochester, Kenyon, Case, and Carnegie Mellon were nowhere near the team I watched today.    A great start for JCU, but now Ohio Wesleyan comes to town.  Go Blue Steaks.

jcudad, your comments are classy. Kudos to you. I appreciate your analysis of what you saw this afternoon, in light of what you've seen in other JCU games so far. A little while ago on the Mid-Atlantic thread I voiced a similar view of where Messiah is now, with most of their key players back in the lineup and getting back into the flow. I knew what I saw, but your opinion is worth more than mine, since JCU has played so many really good teams lately--none of which I've seen yet. The Falcons looked good, but not really good, in several early games, and they lost (quite properly) to other good teams that had more veteran starters ready to go. Especially on the offensive end, Messiah didn't look like Messiah, though they were making some bad plays on the defensive end, too--and they still are, though they are improving there also.

You're right that the game was closer than the score, despite the Streaks failing to have a SOG. JCU is unquestionably a tournament team, one way or another, and nothing would make me happier than seeing another game with Messiah in November. Last week, quite honestly, I thought JCU will be there but the Falcons might not be there. I now think both teams are a lock for the tournament--barring another major injury or two to the Falcons. That's been their Achilles heel the past two seasons. Best of luck to you and your son, jcudad.

[southsidejet]

I am sure JCU would have been thrilled before the start of the season to know they would be 8 -1-1 after the first 10 games.  Their schedule is about as difficult as possible, but today I watched them play the best team (by far) they have played to date.  Messiah is king in D3 and had they been full strength at the beginning of the season I can't see them having a defeat.  Nothing against the teams that beat them, but my son was recruited by Ithaca and we watched a couple of games and there is no way that team is on the same level as Messiah.   They took advantage of their depth in the heat  ( believe 20 players saw the field) and regardless who was on the field the play was basically the same.   The first half was a dead heat with Messiah getting a gift on a poor pass to the goalie for a 1-0 lead.  In the second half Messiah dominated the last 20 minutes. The game was far closer than 3-0, but Rochester, Kenyon, Case, and Carnegie Mellon were nowhere near the team I watched today.    A great start for JCU, but now Ohio Wesleyan comes to town.  Go Blue Steaks.

I also felt these teams are a little closer than the final score would indicate. Mistakes, as often happens, were the cause of the first 2 goals and Messiah just did not make such mistakes and that was the key. Messiah held the possession advantage and looked the sharper of the two teams, but also did not have to travel and were playing on a surface they are more familiar with (grass). It looked like JCU had some nice spurts of good play after falling behind 0-2 and were somewhat dangerous later in the game so I don't feel that Messiah was as dominant as you indicated in the final 20 minutes but definitely played with the strength of knowing they had a nice lead. They are a solid side for sure and will be a tough draw for anyone later on. In any case, 8-1-1 is indeed a great start and hopefully the JCU squad will learn some things about themselves from this experience and be better prepared to compete at this level come November.

[southsidejet]

Whoops... that should have been 7-1-1. I do not have a crystal ball, and was not making a prediction about Wednesday's game. 

[Domino1195]

And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through

Mistakes happen - more to teams that have fundamental short comings in skill, poor implementation of tactics and/or decision making.  Come tournament time there will be several 1-0 games where "a mistake" will be blamed for the loss.  Always troubles me that in a 90 minutes game the "mistake" becomes so glaring that it seems to negate the other 89 minutes and 55 seconds.  Of course, the other side of a mistake is a team - or a player - who has a great game, who exhibits great skill . . .

AMCC:  PSU-B played a great game against Mt. Union.  They forced a turnover by a player, who IMO will be a first team Ohio player at a minimum.  That mistake was compounded by the two central defenders both going for the player with the ball, leaving a streaking PSU-B player alone for the pass and uncontested shot for the first goal.  I can't see them losing - unless they make a mistake.  Away at Franciscan and Medaille are the two most likely chances to lose.  With their SOS they have left themselves no wiggle room - must win the conference tournament: although - what if they win out and lose the conference championship? 19-1, with a current SOS of 255, future SOS of 321.

PrAC: a disaster pre-conference schedule with Westminster (Massey 233 - everyone else deep down the list) the only team with a winning record.  I predict someone will win this conference 

Heartland: as with the PrAC only one team with a winning record - RHIT. But Hanover's schedule - currently 47 (Massey) may have prepared them better for conference play. And of the likely challengers for the conference title - RHIT and Transylvania - Hanover has both of these games at home.  Hanover lost in 2018 and 2017 in the HCAC championship game, in PK shoot-outs, to Transy and RHIT respectively.  Maybe it's their turn.

NCAC: Watched the Kenyon-Wilmington game - gift of a PK for their first goal, but they concede a tying goal on a "mistake".  Get the go-ahead goal - then Wilmington misses a rebound from 6 yds with 5 minutes to go.  Kenyon clearly the better skilled team but not convincing in this win.  Attended OWU vs Capital and Case - we get to see them away against JCU tomorrow.  As with most years its shaping up to be these two for 1 & 2 and then the battle for spots 3 & 4 for the conference tourney.  DePauw, Denison and Wooster the likely candidates - not totally ready to rule out Wabash or Oberlin for that matter.  But I do think there will be more tight games this season and Denison's SOS to date is just behind that of Kenyon's (OWU's in the top 25). Having seen them play several times I believe 3rd is the lowest they finish and Depauw finishes 4th.

OAC: there are consistent performances - good and bad, and inconsistent performances.  The three teams that should finish 1-3 are JCU, ONU and Mt. Union - not necessarily in this order.  JCU and ONU have shown more ability to score as well as defend - they are the likely two team to receive the tournament byes. Mt. Union is a defensive machine and they will continue to win tight games. Many seniors and juniors on this side.  Would be shocked if any of these teams went undefeated and would not be surprised if the conference champion only has 7 wins.

The return of GK Hoffman to Oterbein changed their season dramatically.  Finally concedes 2 against Case this weekend - no fault of his (first Case goal was just a beautiful soccer play.  Not spectacular, but from the transition from their defensive end to the magisterial ( ) assist on the goal - just a great soccer goal from Case). The team has a consistent will-to-win, although technically they are prone to mistakes.  They could finish higher but I feel 4th is right for them.

Now for the consistently inconsistent teams: Capital and Marietta are talented teams whose records belie their ability. Should they continue with their current inconsistencies they could finish 5th and 6th - higher - or out of the conference tournament.  Capital cannot score and current injuries have revealed some issues with bench depth. As it is October - the month for scary movies - watch their second half against Hanover . . .  Other than the Anderson loss Marietta has had a good start.  If they cut back on their defensive mistakes they are in the top 6.

7th and 8th: Wilmington has been fairly consistent but hasn't played a great schedule.  They give Kenyon a decent battle and then follow that up with a 1-1 draw against Anderson.  They have not beaten a team with a winning record - 305 SOS.  They will win a few games - maybe 4-5 or 5-4 for the season. Baldwin Wallace scores, but concedes. Ruple is an all-American scoring machine - either this year or next (or both). Only one win against a winning team - 329 ranked Pitt-Bradford. The two goals against PSU-B were penalties - and not from imminent scoring threats. Same W-L prediction as Wilmington.

9 and 10: Muskingum has had a fine start to the year, but that SOS of 400 will catch up to them.  Berg doesn't appear to be in the running this year. 

[midwest]

Anyone at the OWU-John Carroll match tonight? Online scores are not updating and the end of the video cuts off, it looks like OWU scores in the last seconds. or maybe the feed just ends?