Big Dance

[BendIt007]

Kenyon ties it up 1- 1 against Rochester ... on a free kick with 16 left.  Pressuring the last 10 minutes....

[blooter442]

Kenyon, who has been knocking on the door seemingly ever since Rochester took the lead in the first half, finally breaks through to equalize. Drilled free kick went through the wall, goalie didn't seem to have much of a chance. 1-1 with about 15 left in Gambier. Momentum would appear to be with the Lords, but they know of the threat on the counter.

[ncac_dad]

Gutsy, gutsy performance by OWU.  Go beat Hope at Hope and then take out a superb Chicago squad.  OWU had stretches where they could not get or hold the ball.  Chicago is fast and constantly got to balls or turned OWU over quickly.  Gomez often looked like the only OWU player who could hold the ball and make a play.  Tremendous game from Gomez.  Played his heart out.  The OWU backline was very solid as well.  I feel like I've seen Chicago get a lead and then try to milk the game instead of pushing for a couple more goals.  They allowed OWU to hang around and OWU made them pay.  Interesting to watch the OWU coaches too.  Every time they scored there was no celebration and Martin immediately was huddling with I assume his top assistant planning strategy.  Wow.  Huge win for the Battling Bishops and now they will want more....one of the few teams outside of Tufts that knows how to play Calvin if that happens.

OWU has played well these first two tournament games. I was a little surprised at the initial strategy against Chicago, however, adjustments were made in the 2nd half. The adjustments worked. Yes, Hector went into beast mode. OWU finally played a consistent back line for the first time all season in both matches. It made a difference.

Agree that they know how to play Calvin tough. Appreciate the recognition from a Kenyon guy  !

I know for sure ... OWU wants more!!

[Mr.Right]

Tufts CB Paoletta not in the lineup today. The veteran Tanner Jameson takes his place. Will he start at CB?

[Mr.Right]

Last time Tufts saw such a big opposing GK was against St.Joe's a couple years ago.

[blooter442]

Kenyon wins it in the first OT on a PK. Looked away so didn't see the call but the penalty was emphatic. Admirable effort by Rochester, who led for a large part of the game, but I think Kenyon was just a bit better.

[Falconer]

Messiah wins, 4-1, after dominating play n the second half. My sense is, Oneonta just ran out of gas early on, as the Falcons won more than their share of the 50-50 balls and were far more dangerous than Oneonta most of the way. Despite my rooting interest, it was a disappointing second half after a magnificent first half of top notch soccer.

Unfortunately this could prove to be a Pyrrhic victory. At least four Messiah starters went off injured, including SO Luke Groothoff, whole was severely tripped by the keeper on his way to a certain goal that became a PK the Falcons earned for the final goal. The only FR names AA last fall, Groothoff is an irreplaceable piece of the Falcon juggernaut, on both ends. fOY Lefever and starting DM Reid Ruark (who scored the third goal on a corner), also went down, and a fourth player whom I never identified b/c the camera never showed him.

Falcon fans can only hope that LG didn't reinjure his kneecap and will return hale and healthy next week—likewise the other men, or their season might end as it did last fall, with irreplaceable starters gone at the worst possible moment.

Otherwise, the Falcons showed themselves to be one of the top four teams in the nation, IMO. They are playing tremendously well, peaking at just the right time to take on Amherst or anyone else—provides they are full strength.

The last 15 minutes were very chippy. Should have been more cards shown, perhaps even a red. The official had it mostly under control, but I suppose the Oneonta players had so reasons to worry about being carded. Nothing you can do about it, but the Falcon season might have ended here this afternoon.

[ncac_dad]

Kenyon wins it in the first OT on a PK. Looked away so didn't see the call but the penalty was emphatic. Admirable effort by Rochester, who led for a large part of the game, but I think Kenyon was just a bit better.

Rochester hand ball in the box.

[FelixCloudy]

Gettysburg . . . for me one of the surprises of the tournament by winning 5-0 yesterday against Oglethorpe and now up 2-0 on W&L.

W&L beats Getty 3-2.  Kudos to the Generals, they showed a ton of grit after being down 2-0 in the first half and giving up an own goal.

[PaulNewman]

Don't know why I do this to myself! 

Good showing for the NCAC.  Gomez yesterday and little Scotty Upton today as Upton was all over the field.  Penas had some good moments too, as did Carson and Gaese.  Rochester is tough as nails, extremely well-coached and very hard to break down.  And Kenyon surviving their usual errors, with a bad unforced error to give up a throw that resulted in UR goal and then even in OT giving up two or three free kicks and a couple of corners before Muther rampaged down the right side into the box.  I didn't see what happened clearly as I thought Kenyon had just earned a corner. 

[BendIt007]

Hopkins threatening ... great save by Conn's Marcucci... 20 minutes in.  0-0.  Pretty open game with Hopkins most of the control.

[blooter442]

WPI 1-0 up on Tufts...first half...WPI will be content to pack it in but Tufts will come at the Engineers in waves...long way to go yet.

[blooter442]

^ As I say this I see WPI more than capable of creating chances on the counter.

[Mr.Right]

WPI did everything they needed to do and more in the 1st Half. They lead 1-0 and have not given up to many dangerous chances. Tufts again is possessing well but not progressing FAST enough. They must keep moving the ball on the ground but IMO they must move and go faster. Cb Jameson an CB Raphael both with 2 bad giveaways that could have been problematic. WPI GK is a big boy but looks real slow. Get him down....will 2nd Half be more of the same? OR does Tufts just dominate 2nd Half with wave after wave of chances? Honestly, WPI looks very comfortable right now.

[BendIt007]

Hopkins and Conn game has evened up in last 15 minutes.... Butera has rocket shot saved in last four minutes... and half ended 0-0.