Big Dance

[blooter442]

North Park with a few very good chances in the 2 overtimes.  Gustavus surviving by the skin of their teeth.  Game is going to PKs.

Brutal ending for Gustavus but NPU was the better team on the day. No saves on any kicks round 1-4 and then the Gustavus shooter (shooting second in the fifth round) put it right down the middle which the GK saved. A bit confounding he would go there given the 'keepers were getting nowhere near the kicks into the corner.

[Buck O.]

And the F&M announcers pure class after even with MSU antics.

Easy to root against, aren't they?  IIRC, during the first weekend of last year's tournament, the mic was positioned in a location where it picked up a lot of the chatter among the MSU supporters.  It was like an episode of Jersey Shore.

[mr_b]

North Park with a few very good chances in the 2 overtimes.  Gustavus surviving by the skin of their teeth.  Game is going to PKs.

Brutal ending for Gustavus but NPU was the better team on the day. No saves on any kicks round 1-4 and then the Gustavus shooter (shooting second in the fifth round) put it right down the middle which the GK saved. A bit confounding he would go there given the 'keepers were getting nowhere near the kicks into the corner.

I agree -- Gustavus battled North Park tooth and nail and scored the equalizer at the 88:00 mark to send it to OT.  It came down to the final PK, which the NP keeper blocked with his feet rather than his hands.   

[Caz Bombers]

sectional hosts -

seems easy to assume Amherst will host Rowan, RPI and Messiah.
Kenyon would probably host Montclair State, C-M-S and Centre; MSU and CMS both have to fly anyway.
Conn, Swat, Tufts, W&L - actually gonna predict Swarthmore to host so they don't have to put W&L on a plane.
Luther to Calvin comes in just under 500 miles, but didn't we just see their field turn into mud? North Park should host them and OWU.

[blooter442]

Easy to root against, aren't they?  IIRC, during the first weekend of last year's tournament, the mic was positioned in a location where it picked up a lot of the chatter among the MSU supporters.  It was like an episode of Jersey Shore.

I'm pretty sure PaulNewman made a comment last year that watching MSU was like a Jersey Shore episode where a soccer game broke out.

Hey, fair enough on knocking out F&M, but I still remember them being 4-0 down to Tufts inside 35 minutes in last year's Elite 8. One of the worst defensive displays I've ever seen, and on a huge stage. Just looked like a team with absolutely no composure. Skill will get you far but you have to be able to keep your heads in these situations. They'll have to be better prepared for the Lords.

[susanc]

I just left the North Park vs Gustavus game. Was disappointed at the amount of embellishment and whining by NP.  They attempted a dive in the box and the initial call of a foul and PK was changed after the AR explained to center official. North Park is such a good team. They don't need to flop.

[GoThunder1]

Susan,

I watched the game online and it was clear that it wasn't a flop. He simply tripped over his own feet. The center got the call wrong, the AR got it right and in the end - the right call was made. Your observation on it being a "flop" was incorrect.

[Falconer]

Easy to root against, aren't they?  IIRC, during the first weekend of last year's tournament, the mic was positioned in a location where it picked up a lot of the chatter among the MSU supporters.  It was like an episode of Jersey Shore.

I'm pretty sure PaulNewman made a comment last year that watching MSU was like a Jersey Shore episode where a soccer game broke out.

Hey, fair enough on knocking out F&M, but I still remember them being 4-0 down to Tufts inside 35 minutes in last year's Elite 8. One of the worst defensive displays I've ever seen, and on a huge stage. Just looked like a team with absolutely no composure. Skill will get you far but you have to be able to keep your heads in these situations. They'll have to be better prepared for the Lords.

And, two years ago Kirby Robbins and his friends blew MSU out in Grantham, and then they got blown out by CNU  in the tournament. As you say, Biooter, defense ain't necessarily their forte. However, they have some athletes, they can be physical (sometimes too much so, to their detriment), and they usually have some guys who can shoot. If they bring their A-game, you'd better bring yours, or you're going home.

Given how often Messiah has played them in recent years, quite possibly I have seen them play more than anyone else here except the NJAC people. I don't have much experience with their fan base, since only a few usually come to Grantham, but I have considerable experience with NJAC fans in general. Obviously there are many individual exceptions, but a lot of those fans love to see the ugly game, replete with muggings and other stuff better suited to hockey, as has been noted. Keep that $&@+ in Jersey, if you ask me. The conference as a a whole has a certain reputation, well earned IMO—too bad, honestly, since it also produces some really good teams, including the RU-C team that gave a great Falcon team all they could handle a few years ago. Wish they would just play futbol.

[mr_b]

Susan,

I watched the game online and it was clear that it wasn't a flop. He simply tripped over his own feet. The center got the call wrong, the AR got it right and in the end - the right call was made. Your observation on it being a "flop" was incorrect.

I agree that it was not a flop.  He just overran and fell.  The ref conferred with the linesman, and they got the call right.  The complaining might have been over the subsequent possession, which went to the Gustavus GK.

[rudy]

Hoping that rudy can provide a report in the Falcon injured list. His son played a terrific game today, repeatedly shutting down much bigger players and sometimes making them look silly by taking the ball from their feet or jumping in front if passes. As I said, Oneonta was much bigger but Messiah was more athletic.

After Ruark went out with what looked like an ankle injury, his son moved from LB to DMF and ran the show like he's done it his whole life.

That was his position in high school.  He was very good at it.

As far as I know right now nobody has injuries keeping them from playing next week.  But not 100% sure. I know Ben came back.in to play. Reid did not. They probably have to evaluate after a day or two.   They were pretty quick to get on the bus and head home. Look forward to a game in MA next week!!

[blooter442]

And, two years ago Kirby Robbins and his friends blew MSU out in Grantham, and then they got blown out by CNU  in the tournament. As you say, Biooter, defense ain't necessarily their forte. However, they have some athletes, they can be physical (sometimes too much so, to their detriment), and they usually have some guys who can shoot. If they bring their A-game, you'd better bring yours, or you're going home.

Given how often Messiah has played them in recent years, quite possibly I have seen them play more than anyone else here except the NJAC people. I don't have much experience with their fan base, since only a few usually come to Grantham, but I have considerable experience with NJAC fans in general. Obviously there are many individual exceptions, but a lot of those fans love to see the ugly game, replete with muggings and other stuff better suited to hockey, as has been noted. Keep that $&@+ in Jersey, if you ask me. The conference as a a whole has a certain reputation, well earned IMO—too bad, honestly, since it also produces some really good teams, including the RU-C team that gave a great Falcon team all they could handle a few years ago. Wish they would just play futbol.

Oh yeah, they definitely can cause problems on their day, and if you catch them on a good day there aren't many teams that can handle that. But with the importance of defense at this point in the season, you have to be able to stay disciplined in the big moments, and that means being ready from the first whistle. It's a new year, for sure, and so maybe I shouldn't keep harping on that showing last year — I think seeing it in-person probably played a role — but I was just struck at seemingly how unprepared they were for that game: they came out in a 3-5-2 which Tufts exploited masterfully, didn't wake up until 20 minutes in, and by that point they were already 3-0 down.

Now watch them go through to the Final 4!

[Caz Bombers]

sectional hosts -

seems easy to assume Amherst will host Rowan, RPI and Messiah.
Kenyon would probably host Montclair State, C-M-S and Centre; MSU and CMS both have to fly anyway.
Conn, Swat, Tufts, W&L - actually gonna predict Swarthmore to host so they don't have to put W&L on a plane.
Luther to Calvin comes in just under 500 miles, but didn't we just see their field turn into mud? North Park should host them and OWU.

4 for 4 on my picks, how bout that haha

[d4_Pace]

That is ridiculous. The lowest seed in the pod shouldn't get to host just to avoid 1 flight. Home field advantage should be earned not given based on something as random as location.

[jknezek]

That is ridiculous. The lowest seed in the pod shouldn't get to host just to avoid 1 flight. Home field advantage should be earned not given based on something as random as location.

We all agree. If you've got the money to cough up to fix it go ahead and volunteer. Been this way for a long time, not going to change.

[PaulNewman]

That is ridiculous. The lowest seed in the pod shouldn't get to host just to avoid 1 flight. Home field advantage should be earned not given based on something as random as location.

We all agree. If you've got the money to cough up to fix it go ahead and volunteer. Been this way for a long time, not going to change.

Sometimes you benefit, sometimes you don't.  2016.  Will never know if that made just enough of a difference.  Tufts was the next to lowest seed in the pod.