Big Dance

[blooter442]

Kenyon-Rochester tomorrow, aka the PaulNewman Bowl (kind of). Will definitely tune in for that.

[PaulNewman]

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.

[d4_Pace]

Gomez was a stud. Chicago had no answer for him on the counter and he torched them all night. I don't know much about Luther or Superior but I think OWU has a good shot of making it back to the elite 8 for the first time in 5 years.

[Gregory Sager]

No one will be disappointed other than the fact that the game has to be played on turf, which is never as good as natural grass for soccer.

Yes, you keep saying that ... and yet your school's own pitch stands in stark testament to the fact that you're wrong.

Not wrong.

Yes, wrong. Zuidema Field was a mess yesterday. That proves that your "never as good as natural grass for soccer" assertion is mistaken. Heck, your own alma mater disagrees with you, which is why it moved today's game to Grand Rapids Christian's turf pitch.

Watch a game on good grass and a game on turf. The ability of the players to control the ball and play a better game on grass is evident.

Not necessarily. On a state-of-the-art surface such as Field Turf, which practically duplicates grass conditions right down to the friction rate of grass blades, there is arguably no difference at all in terms of high-end playability and aesthetics. The difference lies in the manageability and resistance to adverse conditions of Field Turf.

This year the weather caught them out.

And that happens more often than you think -- in Grand Rapids and in other northern towns susceptible to early frosts and big snowfalls, as well as anyplace that's plagued with heavy rains over a protracted period during the season.

If you want a playable surface in every season, sure turf is better. But if you want a surface that is better for the game and is only insufficient when weather wreaks havoc then grass is the best option.

Argue aesthetics all you like (just how familiar are you with Field Turf, anyway?). But college soccer is a sport played in adverse seasonal conditions; for much of the country, in fact, those adverse conditions loom large at the end of the season when it's the most crucial to have good field conditions. And that makes a big difference in terms of what is the "best option". Calvin was proof positive of that this weekend. A grass pitch is fragile; even a top-notch grounds crew can't save a pitch that's been worked over something fierce by Mother Nature (which, in Grand Rapids, happens pretty regularly at this time of year; GR's average first snowfall is annually right around the time of the MIAA tournament, with the first frost typically several days before that. And, since GR is in lake-effect snow country, a first snowfall can often be a big snowfall.)

The North Side of Chicago was hit with an unseasonably heavy snowstorm earlier this week, and a deep freeze with wind chills below zero followed right on the heels of it. NPU's baseball team spent all of Wednesday afternoon clearing Hedstrand Field of snow. The first thing that I did when I arrived at the Holmgren Athletic Complex two hours before the first game at NPU today was to walk out onto the pitch and get a feel for the condition of the Field Turf surface. As I expected, it was immaculate -- no spongy spots, no hard spots, perfectly dry, continuously identical feel from one endline to the other, felt to the feet just the way that it did at the end of August during the scrimmages. And it played perfectly today, just as it will tomorrow.

[Gregory Sager]

The winner today that impressed me was UW-Superior. This makes two seasons in a row in which the Yellowjackets have won their first-round match in the tourney. For a school that comes out of a red-headed-stepchild league that typically earns no respect in any sport, the UMAC, that's an accomplishment worth noting.

Kudos as well to Salve Regina for forcing a scoreless draw with Rowan, although the Profs ended up advancing on PKs. Didn't see that coming.

[Domino1195]

Good showing by GL teams so far. Missed my prediction on JCU but I did say they can completely outplay opponents and not finish - 29 shots, 16 on goal - 2 goals. Hanover hung in against UR - whatever chances they created in the 18 were stuffed by the defenders. UR missed two grade A chances  - wide open header on a corner about 5-10 minutes into the second half and a breakaway that was courageously saved by the Hanover keeper - but the UR forward took an extra dribble instead of taking the shot. He paid the price a bit . . . Nice aerial somersault after colliding with the GK.

Center got a golaso - worth seeing - 22-25 yards out laser into upper 90. K'Zoo had their chances - 90 seconds left - K'Zoo player has open look from 12-15 yards out - crushes the crossbar.

Kenyon came out to play from the first whistle. They forced two turnovers early and got up 2-0. As the game wore on PSU-B lost hope and the third goal shattered what small chance they had to get back in it.

Both games at Kenyon featured a LOT of slipping and sloppy footing - it won't be better today.  UR's starting right back went down twice with leg cramps or strained muscles - I'd bet I doesn't play today. The two replacements UR used were not as effective. And UR's backs had several dicey moments - slipping and miss-hitting the ball.  Kenyon May be one of the hottest teams in the tournament right now.

The strong east-to-west wind is gone today - temps in low 40's - brilliant sunshine. Defending the eastern goal a challenge staring directly into the sun. Kenyon wins this 2-0 at a minimum - but noting how easy it will be for defenders to slip and make a mistake. Knowing that - woe be the team that keeps the ball in the middle and doesn't attack down the flanks. Kenyon did that so well yesterday.

Didn't see if there were any RC yesterday but I will boldly predict one in the JCU-Centre game today.  Centre out-fouled K'Zoo 22-11, JCU, with their 10 fouls yesterday reached 300 fouls committed for the year. If JCU can put the ball in the net they should win 2-0. Their defense held W&J to zero shots on goal yesterday and they will keep Centre to very few chances. It's a matter of offensive effectiveness as to how many they score today.

[NokeAlum15]

Congrats to Swarthmore on advancing.  Can't say that I enjoyed the antics of their GK during PKs.  Talking sh*t to every Noke PK taker as they approached and then taunting them after his two saves.  Be better than that.

Makes me want to root for the Captains today.


Good luck to the remaining schools!

[PaulNewman]

Shout out to the Trinity broadcast crew.  I didn't watch much of the two games at Trinity after the two CMS PKs, but the video is always high quality, they had two excellent broadcasters who are very knowledgeable, they had replays, and perhaps most impressively had interviews with players from all the teams that were shown at half-time.  There are some other very good productions around the country but Trinity is definitely in the very top tier.

[PaulNewman]

To continue with a fan's fantasy about how the tourney could work differently.  Instead of 16 sites, choose 8 sites with two pods each.  The two pods could be the ones that go together in the draw (upper or lower portion of a quadrant) or there could be mixing of pods or a combination of both as needed to meet NCAA and travel needs.  All teams would know at the start of the year where the various sites for that year are so there would be no jockeying or arguing about who got "home field."  Of course the sites could be chosen more like they are now with the "deserving" angle accounted for. 

As a fan I would vote for non-football lines versus football lines as more important than grass versus turf, but there could always be exceptions based on need.

Some sites that immediately come to mind that could be used even if the "host school" doesn't make the tournament would be Trinity, Roanoke or Lynchburg, Hope, Montclair's facility, Oneonta, whatever the best site/field there is in New England, Carnegie Mellon, maybe F&M or Messiah, etc, etc.

[rudy]

To continue with a fan's fantasy about how the tourney could work differently.  Instead of 16 sites, choose 8 sites with two pods each.  The two pods could be the ones that go together in the draw (upper or lower portion of a quadrant) or there could be mixing of pods or a combination of both as needed to meet NCAA and travel needs.  All teams would know at the start of the year where the various sites for that year are so there would be no jockeying or arguing about who got "home field."  Of course the sites could be chosen more like they are now with the "deserving" angle accounted for. 

As a fan I would vote for non-football lines versus football lines as more important than grass versus turf, but there could always be exceptions based on need.

Some sites that immediately come to mind that could be used even if the "host school" doesn't make the tournament would be Trinity, Roanoke or Lynchburg, Hope, Montclair's facility, Oneonta, whatever the best site/field there is in New England, Carnegie Mellon, maybe F&M or Messiah, etc, etc.

Oneonta has a great facility. First time here. Soccer field is turf ...good turf for this time of year games. Warm athletic center just steps from the field.   Nice stands..looks to be a good perch for video but I haven't watched the video stream . Nice fan base supporting the team. Should be a nice game today win or lose for both teams

[Welcome2TheNJAC]

Anyone else having issues streaming Mary Wash games?

[Ejay]

Gettysburg up 2-0 on W&L in the first half.  Kinda surprising as W&L seems to be having the better of the run of play.  Goal #1 was an own-goal.

[Mr.Right]

Oneonta gets one back...2-1 Messiah 5 min till halftime...great D3 2nd rd game

[Flying Weasel]

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.

[Falconer]

Oneonta gets one back...2-1 Messiah 5 min till halftime...great D3 2nd rd game

This is, simply put, a Final Four level game being played in Oneonta right now. Drop whatever else you’re watching, and come watch this one when the second half kicks off around 2:05. Both teams are very highly skilled. Oneonta has an obvious size advantage, while Messiah is a bit more athletic overall. Both teams have been extremely dangerous. The score could easily be 3-2 or even tied at 3: I call this an even game, and I have the feeling more scores are coming. Great soccer to watch!

Oneonta’s Witman Hernandez, who is second in the nation in goals, scored the lone Oneonta tally in a scramble close in, and has been the most dangerous man on the field most of the afternoon. He reminds me of the great Matt Bills, Messiah’s target early this century: you mess with him only at your own peril. I hope he doesn’t score another, but he’s certainly capable of it and so are several of his teammates. Messiah’s keeper has played brilliantly and is so far the difference in this game, while his teammates have gotten him a brace before Oneonta got one back.

Unfortunately the camera has failed to show Messiah’s attacking third several times, so we entirely missed the second goal and what was apparently an injury to conference ROY Levefre, who disappeared from the agame fairly early on some sort of injury timeout. Anyone at the game who can report the details?