Big Dance

[Mr.Right]

I am a bit surprised Serpone did not rest any of his backs in the 2nd Half. It is unusual to be subbing your backline but his backs are all 6'2 or bigger and big guys take longer to regenerate especially on a back to back.

[Mr.Right]

Mr. Right, when will you provide the breakdown on how to defeat Tufts? 
Waxed on at length about what Centre should do vs. Mammoths. So far, it looks like a moot point.
How should Calvin go about their attempt to beat the Jumbos?

No need as I have explained for the past 2-3 years the best way to break down Tufts(frankly the only way)...Tufts drops immediately into a 4-5-1 when they lose the ball which is incredibly hard to break down because they hunt the ball as good as anyone on defense. The only way to break them down is to play FAST and to feet BEFORE they can set up in their 4-5-1. You gotta ping quick passes together moving up the field and catch them quickly otherwise you are playing right into their hands. If you cannot do that than your other option is your flank players must stay as wide as possible and you must be pumping in service with about 4-5 guys crashing the net. The great news tonight is Calvin is quite good at moving the ball up the field with precision and quickness AND know how to finish.

[Jump4Joy]

Once upon a time, I never thought I'd say it, but ... plus K, Mr. Right.

[Medicated Pete]

anyone got the stream going for the Calvin v Tufts match?
keeps showing Amherst match 

[Mr.Right]

hit LS instead of V

[Mr.Right]

Paoletta must be done for the season because Tufts has Tanner Jameson starting at CB again tonight. That is the only change but Calvin would be wise to press the crap out of him when the ball is at his feet. he is exceptional in the air but highly questionable under pressure with the ball and will cough it up if pressured.

[Mr.Right]

Jameson did take full control in the huddle before the game to get the boys ready...good leader as well

[Medicated Pete]

These announcers.....

[hiyasoccer]

What a half... couple of golazos from Tufts. 3rd goal spectacular. Defending from Calvin has been surprisingly lacking given their rep (my first time watching them).

I don't think this is the best midfield Tufts has had offensively, but I love what they do defensively. Fantastic effort and shape breaking up counters, forcing the ball wide, supporting the wingbacks. Then charge forward to support attacks/counters of their own.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

These announcers.....

Thanks for tuning in!

[lastguyoffthebench]

Mr. Right, when will you provide the breakdown on how to defeat Tufts? 
Waxed on at length about what Centre should do vs. Mammoths. So far, it looks like a moot point.
How should Calvin go about their attempt to beat the Jumbos?

No need as I have explained for the past 2-3 years the best way to break down Tufts(frankly the only way)...Tufts drops immediately into a 4-5-1 when they lose the ball which is incredibly hard to break down because they hunt the ball as good as anyone on defense. The only way to break them down is to play FAST and to feet BEFORE they can set up in their 4-5-1. You gotta ping quick passes together moving up the field and catch them quickly otherwise you are playing right into their hands. If you cannot do that than your other option is your flank players must stay as wide as possible and you must be pumping in service with about 4-5 guys crashing the net. The great news tonight is Calvin is quite good at moving the ball up the field with precision and quickness AND know how to finish.

Sometimes, it's rare... but they get too narrow in poss of the ball.  SqueeZe and win in middle third.  Quick counter with flank players on the touch line, with pace... and serve a ball in the box.  If you get lucky you may win a second ball or intercept a bad pass... if not, better sprint back because Tufts is already finding mid or bypassing to their target. 

Anyways, Tufts wins the final 2-1

[irapthor]

These announcers.....

Thanks for the feedback

[Timmy Two Wheels]

What a tournament its been... it couldn't be more clear that these are the two best teams in the country. Shoutout to Mr. Right for saying that Calvin '[has] enough' to beat Tufts... yikes. Lets hope he didn't bet the kitchen sink on that one.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for. Here are Timmy Two Wheel's hypothetical Greensboro, North Carolina sports book NCAA Division 3 National Championship betting lines.

TUF vs AMH - (Pickem... AMH +110, Tufts +110 / O/U 2.5)

Prop Bets:

1) Yellow Cards - O/U 2.5
2) Giammattei goals - O/U 1.25
3) Number of times Coach Serpone runs down the sideline to yell at the 4th official - O/U 16.5
4) Number of different Tufts players that see the field - O/U 19.5
5) Serpone calories burned during the starting lineups - O/U 500.1
6) Tufts wears their 'bumblebee' jerseys - +250
7) Number of pre-game hot takes from Mr. Right ... O/U 3.5


I'll be taking the over on Yellow Cards and the Serpone Parlay. Tufts bumblebee jerseys probably isn't a bad bet either. 

Ain't nothing like D3 soccer in December.

[PaulNewman]

Amherst versus Tufts for [another] national championship.....the only silver lining I can grab hold of is that one of them is gonna lose.

Great final match-up and maybe one of the best in years....huge programs and of course both NESCACs; equal foes; neither intimidated, surprised or inexperienced with respect to what the other can and will throw at them; physicality, size, speed, and talent; dreaded rivals; star coaches...

I am sure the main reason I'm not a fan of either is that they are just too good.  I think what Amherst has done with 13 (?) straight Sweet 16s or better, a national title, and now another final almost matches what Tufts has accomplished since 2014. 

I would have thought I'd be cheering for Amherst.  For at least several years I was a skeptic regarding the critics of the Amherst style/behavior, but I've caved.  5 yellows yesterday and what seemed like 10 or more intentional studs up tackles.  And that pre-game pacing by Serpone?  Wow.  I'm not sure whether to be disgusted or worried.  Don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that from a coach in any sport at any level, unless maybe a crazed parent coach of his kid's U8 or U10 town team.  And then you listen to him at a press conference and it's like how can this be the same guy....obviously very smart, very articulate, and at least a talented thespian at appearing gracious and super-complimentary of his opponents and of course his team.  His sideline behavior looks compulsive, but he also has heard the critics long ago and he's smart enough and insightful enough to know how he must come across, and he either doesn't care, is strategic, or truly can't help himself. 

And Tufts strikes me as just a little (or a lot) too smug and entitled when it comes to these national title runs (and national titles).  Just a phenomenal streak of success that seemingly came out of nowhere.  I hope Shapiro does go to BC or Harvard because just not sure how much more Jumbo happiness I can absorb.

As for the game...I'm taking Tufts.  Going back and forth on 2-1, 3-2 and 3-1, but I'm gonna guess 3-1.  Why?  Tufts is one of the only teams in the country (at least outside the NESCAC) that will have zero fear of Amherst  and will need no time to adjust.  Tufts will not care if Amherst jacks up the physicality and may even relish the Mammoths getting chippy.  Tufts is not going to be punked, and I actually think that is a game Amherst will lose if they  are counting on how sky-high they can get because Tufts is bigger (and maybe badder) than them.  Tufts also will know better than anyone how to attempt stopping Giammattei, and they will remember letting him loose in OT last time.  I favor Tufts because you have no idea where their goals are going to come from....and that's because they have a ton of guys who are dangerous and can score.  Much harder to defend.  The wild cards are Amherst's frosh sensation and Lind.  The latter almost pulled off a gorgeous back-heel goal but apparently Tufts has a special place in their heart for Lind, so we'll see.  Tufts is so good missing Paoletta has barely been mentioned (except for Mr.Right noting that he's out).

And then there's the flip throw. 

Should be a good one....I'll be miserable either way....about like a UNC-Duke national bball final for me.

[Goknights2017]

These announcers.....

I thought they did fine. Keep in mind they were on air for like 12 straight hours. Not sure many people would sign up to do that. Thanks to them for being willing to roast their voices for several hours. Also, your Karma shows just how much people really value your opinion.

On a separate note, Congrats to Coach Souders and the entire Knights soccer program on another very successful season. This team/program lost 9 seniors and had to replace several All-Americans, yet still made it back to the final four. The Seniors on this team compiled an 88-8-2 record in their time at Calvin. Well done! Hoping the national title is in the near future. (For the record I did not compile these stats. I found them on various Calvin social media posts but thought they should be shared here.)