2021 Game Notes

[Ommadawn]

That is an awfully attractive backdrop for a soccer game.

Don't think I've ever seen a backdrop for a soccer game that compares to Washington & Lee's, though.

I haven't been to W&L (yet, although I've seen it on the stream), but of D3 venues I've been to in person, I rate WUSTL, Williams, and SUNY Oneonta highly on backdrop attractiveness.

[PaulNewman]

Aside from backdrop, in terms of really nice soccer facilities, I have to think Hope is in the top 5-6.  Trinity (TX) looks solid.  Centre has an impressive new set-up, and DePauw and Wabash look pretty cool.  As a viewer, I've been impressed with Lynchburg, Roanoke, and I think Kzoo.  Lights for any non-football lined soccer field are sweet.  I'm gonna guess that Colorado College has both a nice field and a phenomenal view, and I imagine a couple of California and Washington state schools are competitive.  I get that football lines are understandable, but that doesn't mean a viewer or spectator is gonna like it (ever).  Already dreading seeing the CWRU football lines tomorrow, just as I do when thinking about tuning into to John Carroll matches.

[SimpleCoach]

Calvin College v. Emory
Emory
Bias? – Second time watching both teams.

   Emory gets the ball up top and defends from there.  Makes it harder for Calvin to string anything together.  Calvin seems to like to move the ball but is not decisive enough.  10 minutes in.
   Emory can move the ball in large part because Calvin seems so passive defensively.  Letting Emory take control.
   #23 from Calvin is a player.
   When they do get to move it, Calvin can be very effective.  Game is playing for Emory's benefit.
   As the magic 15 minutes passes, Calvin is settling in and keeping some of the ball.  Still force it at times, but they are starting to get it.
   Calvin works well off the ball.  Reminds me of Williams.
   Ugh internet issues.
   Picking up in the second half, still tied at 0-0.  37 minutes left.
   Emory defends back with 8. 
   Calvin seems to be moving the ball with greater ease and keeps Emory packed back.
   Emory is caught winning the ball, but with no real options.  Calvin is being stretched side to side and loses it counterattack because they are spread so thin and deep.
   Calvin is going at the outside back, specifically at the Emory right back who is struggling with #7.
   Calvin keeper is ginormous.
   Emory on counters only has two maybe three are up top but are defended by four.  By the time the others join in the attack, Calvin is settled in defensively.
   Calvin always has four players looking for short passes around the ball.  A winger occupying the outside back, then an outside back deep but out the far side waiting for the long switch.
   Only issue I see with Clavin is while they can move the ball in the middle, don't think the forwards do enough to be able to get the ball.  Think they need to start testing the back line with runs and through balls.
   Calvin does have to be careful.  They are one bad touch away from being countered by some quick Emory forwards.
   Emory is trying to work the ball up through the midfield.  Think they realized long balls up top are going nowhere.  Stand a better chance trying to catch them off balance.
   20 minutes remaining.
   Emory has had a couple of looks to goal because of unforced Calvin errors.
   Think both teams are starting to fatigue.
   Would say at this point, 16 minutes left in the 2nd half, Calvin has been the better.
   So, watched Emory for two 5 minute stretches and the results are as follows –
o   First 5 minutes
   27 Passes; 7 led to turnovers.
   25% of passes defined as bad.
   3:1 ratio, give or take
o   Second 5 minutes
   30 passes; 8 led to turnovers
   25% of passes defined as bad
   3:1 ratio.
o   Anecdotally, I would say that Calvin has been the better, even if it struggles on getting dangerous.
   On that note, think I am going to watch another game.

[SimpleCoach]

Westminster v Ohio Northern
Westminster
Bias? – Think its my second game for each.

   Beautiful field/stadium at Westminster
   Westminster started with energy, but ONU took control of the ball.
   Westminster is very wasteful when they get the ball.  While ONU has an active midfield that controls the ball very well.
   Westminster is stretched between the backline and midfielders who are defending and those up top that keeping the ball and getting on the attack is more about luck than it is about skill.
   ONU makes good use of space and runs off the ball.
   On one counter, it looked like they were running a counter attacking drill.
   ONU has a tough back line that doesn't yield an inch.  Really comfortable on the ball and not afraid to knock it back if there doesn't seem to be anything going on.
   Westminster drops back deeper and deeper.  Can here the Keeper yelling "Get Out!"  He is not wrong but its not that easy.
   ONU is effective at always having a deep midfielder as the outlet if things are too tight up top.  Think a lot of teams could learn from them.
   Don't get me wrong, Westminster still can be dangerous if they can release a forward on a counter.  Creates a bit of problems for ONU.  But it has to develop quickly or it becomes difficult to get to goal.
   I am 20 minutes deep into this first half and I am going to say this is ONUs game to lose.
   And like that a designed dead ball outside the box on the side, ONU takes it and passes it on the ground to a couple of forwards running near post.  Causes confusion and ball bounces to another ONU forward, who buries it.  Westminster 0, Ohio Northern 1.
   And my passing stats for ONU –
   Watched two 5 minute stretches and the results are as follows –
o   First 5 minutes for ONU
   24 Passes; 4 led to turnovers.
   16% of passes defined as bad.
   6:1 ratio, give or take
o   Second 5 minutes for ONU
   25 passes; 1 led to turnovers
   4% of passes defined as bad
   25:1 ratio.
o   I aggregated the two stretches and came to a 10:1 good/bad ratio.
o   And the First 5 minutes for Westminster
   13 Passes; 6 led to turnovers.
   46% of passes defined as bad.
   2:1 ratio, give or take
o   Second 5 minutes for Westminster
   12 passes; 2 led to turnovers
   16% of passes defined as bad
   6:1 ratio.
o   I aggregated the two stretches and came to a 3:1 good/bad ratio.
   And the difference in the ratios was very evident on the field.
   On that note, am out.

[SimpleCoach]

Watched a Top 75 Team and a Top 125 Team that are playing each other today, at the home field of the Top 75 Team.

Chose this game cause my son will be in attendance.

So, the home team looked as follows -

Over a 10 minute period -
   44 passes; 14 led to turnovers
   32% of passes defined as bad
   3:1 ratio.

So, the away team looked as follows -

Over a 10 minute period -
   29 passes; 12 led to turnovers
   41% of passes defined as bad
   2:1 ratio.

With that, giving advantage to the home team, a better pass ratio, and giving something for the rankings, am guessing the home team will  win by 3.  Lets call a score of 4 to 1.

This is a mental exercise for me.  And in soccer anything can happen.  Just starting to experiment with comparative passing statistics as game outcome determinants.  Which, knowing the amount of variables in a game, probably is not determinant, but hey, just having fun here.  Will post the teams and the score after the game.

[Centennial1]

This is an interesting way of looking at the quality of teams. D3 has such a wide range of capabilities: I think that your statistical predictor will work very well for the best teams in D3, and perhaps less well for the weaker ones. Watching parts of many early-season matches, it seems there are about 10 teams in D3 that are capable of passing the ball through the midfield and holding significan possession into the offensive third. Those teams can rely on that skill and organization to win matches through controlled play. Messiah is the perfect example. When they move the ball around, it's almost never more than two touches: they have the skill to trap and pass, and the organization to move off the ball. They are the best I've seen at it (and no, I'm not a Falcons fanboy: I have traditionally rolled my eyes at how the Falconians are so in love with their team, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it).

The types of teams that might mess up your model are the teams that can roll the ball around the back, disturbing the shape of the opponent's midfield and then lump it into the box, where they rely on size, courage and athleticism of a striker or two to smash the ball home. It's very effective D3 soccer, but doesn't pad the passing percentage stats. There are a bunch of very effective teams that play bombs-in-the-box.  Even some recent national title winners.

Here's hoping that the passing and posession teams are playing in the final weekend of the season.

[SimpleCoach]

This is an interesting way of looking at the quality of teams. D3 has such a wide range of capabilities: I think that your statistical predictor will work very well for the best teams in D3, and perhaps less well for the weaker ones. Watching parts of many early-season matches, it seems there are about 10 teams in D3 that are capable of passing the ball through the midfield and holding significan possession into the offensive third. Those teams can rely on that skill and organization to win matches through controlled play. Messiah is the perfect example. When they move the ball around, it's almost never more than two touches: they have the skill to trap and pass, and the organization to move off the ball. They are the best I've seen at it (and no, I'm not a Falcons fanboy: I have traditionally rolled my eyes at how the Falconians are so in love with their team, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it).

The types of teams that might mess up your model are the teams that can roll the ball around the back, disturbing the shape of the opponent's midfield and then lump it into the box, where they rely on size, courage and athleticism of a striker or two to smash the ball home. It's very effective D3 soccer, but doesn't pad the passing percentage stats. There are a bunch of very effective teams that play bombs-in-the-box.  Even some recent national title winners.

Here's hoping that the passing and posession teams are playing in the final weekend of the season.

Thanks @Centennial1.  Just trying to look at things that differentiate teams.  Passing seemed like an obvious/easy one.  And frankly, I am not counting all passes in an entire game.  So can't even say it is scientific.  Will say the difference by what I would call the teams in the Top 10 and say the top 50, is startling.  Even the teams that run and gun it and are ranked highly have a better pass ratio than teams that just kick and hope.  So just by being bigger, stronger and faster isn't enough.

The bottom end is tricky.  But I am just trying to learn what makes Messiah better than TCNJ.   And what are some of the things that differentiate the two.  Would be easy to say quality of player or coaching, but to show it statistically is a bit harder to do.  And passing seems to be something not a lot of folks pay attention to as a metric of success. 

Soccer is soccer, so I am sure there will be instances where passing gets you nowhere, but in average is it a better indicator the higher your passing ratio?  In my limited sample so far, the answer is yes.

[Another Mom]

You are going to have all of us counting passes this weekend-- or at least I will be! It's an interesting experiment.

[SimpleCoach]

You are going to have all of us counting passes this weekend-- or at least I will be! It's an interesting experiment.

[SimpleCoach]

Watched a Top 75 Team and a Top 125 Team that are playing each other today, at the home field of the Top 75 Team.

Chose this game cause my son will be in attendance.

So, the home team looked as follows -

Over a 10 minute period -
   44 passes; 14 led to turnovers
   32% of passes defined as bad
   3:1 ratio.

So, the away team looked as follows -

Over a 10 minute period -
   29 passes; 12 led to turnovers
   41% of passes defined as bad
   2:1 ratio.

With that, giving advantage to the home team, a better pass ratio, and giving something for the rankings, am guessing the home team will  win by 3.  Lets call a score of 4 to 1.

This is a mental exercise for me.  And in soccer anything can happen.  Just starting to experiment with comparative passing statistics as game outcome determinants.  Which, knowing the amount of variables in a game, probably is not determinant, but hey, just having fun here.  Will post the teams and the score after the game.

So gave the benefit of the doubt to the home team.  Thinking that when pass ratios are pretty similar, it can go either way, in spite of being at home.  Just watched the second half that just ended.  Catholic 1, Stevenson 3.

My game notes...

So, the home team looked as follows -

Catholic v Stevenson
Catholic – Carlini Field
Bias? – I've been told I am anti-Catholic, and

   2nd half.  Catholic 1, Stevenson 0
   To start the second, Catholic is being patient passing it around the back, waiting for Stevenson to leave gaps in the middle, which they do oblige with. 
   Catholic doesn't get further than 30/35 yards out.
   Catholic commits a foul on Stevenson half.  Keeper takes the free kick and puts it 10/12 yards out. 2 Catholic defenders on the ball covering one forward.  One man jumps for it, ball skims off the top and goes into the back of the net.  Catholic 1, Stevenson 1.  40 left in the half.
   No reason why the keeper shouldn't have come for that ball.  Think he started too deep.
   Really not good defending.
   Think Stevenson tries to play more than Catholic.  Catholic is better at forcing it up top, Stevenson just can't connect up top. 
   Catholic tries to double up far out wide when they put the ball across.
   And now Catholic called for a PK.  Looked kind of iffy.  But how did they put that play together?  Ball starts at near side where a Stevenson player wins a tackle that he shouldn't have.  Ball goes to one of his players ten yards away.  He has no one around him.  #15 takes a touch toward goes and passes it between two Catholic players, the center back and probably a midfielder running back.  Player receiving the ball, takes a bad touch and a Catholic player doesn't react quick enough to get the to the ball.  $15 tackles hard and the ball goes back to the outside back on the far side who one times a ball on the ground to their big center forward who has the central defender on his back, but no support.  Poor defending, he wins the ball and touches it into space in the box, where the Catholic defender reaches for the ball and the forward goes down.  Ref calls the PK.  4 passes that got through 6 Catholic defenders to a point of danger.
   And now to watch the PK.  Keeper goes to his right, ball casually hit into the goal to his left.  Catholic 1, Stevenson 2.  35 minutes left in the half.
   Catholic is frustrated.  Plenty of time on the clock.  And no one likes the referee.
   Fun listening to the crowd commentary on the video.
   I think Stevenson could get another one before Catholic does.  So long as Stevenson keeps the play in front of them and doesn't make any defensive mistakes ... which is not a guarantee right now.  18 left in the second half.
   Stevenson keeper is bleeding the clock wherever he can. 
   That said, Catholic can be dangerous on corners.  They have some trees competing for the high balls.
   Ok, on a team of hammers, all looking for nails, the only player on Catholic that can seem to play is #7.
   And like that, a complete break down by Catholic.  Keeper receives the ball on a back pass.  There are two Stevenson forwards in the area with an winger stepping into the space of where the play is developing.  Center back receives the ball from the keeper and moves it into the kill zone being set up for them.  He takes four touches and one of the forwards and winger close in on him.  And the forward comes across from the back blind, he tries to pass the ball to a center mid about 10 yards away.... Instead of giving it to the outside back who has no pressure on him.  The ball bounces to the winger, who takes a touch around the defender who lost the ball, dives in.  Then slots the ball leaving the Catholic center mid, the center back, and the outside back, now out of the play.  The center forward who won the ball makes a run behind where the winger slots the ball.  The back on the far side steps in to close down the space ... leaving the far side empty... for the winger to receive the ball and go one on one with the keeper.  A poor pass/decision leading to a turnover, and two passes later, to a wide open forward with only the keeper to beat.  Catholic 1, Stevenson 3.
   I think the keeper could have made it a bit more challenging.  And then the player who gets subbed is the outside back.  13 left in the game.
   Game over.
   I predicted this game to be 4-1 in favor of Catholic, turns out 3-1 for Stevenson.

[SimpleCoach]

So, took a look at Messiah against Salisbury, and what they do is pretty amazing. 

Over a 10 minute period -
   73 passes; 9 led to turnovers
   12% of passes defined as bad
   8:1 ratio.

The first 5 minutes they had an 11:1 ratio with a total of 34 passes with only 3 of those leading to turnovers.  Waiting for a competitive game to watch them again ... since this one seemed a bit lop sided.

Will also add that the most passes I have counted in a ten minute stretch 74 passes ... for two teams combined!  ONU v Westminster.  For a single team, the high was 57 for Emory.

Again, whatever it means or how it leads to results, Messiah is really in a class by itself ... at least that I have seen so far.

[Falconer]

So, took a look at Messiah against Salisbury, and what they do is pretty amazing. 

Over a 10 minute period -
   73 passes; 9 led to turnovers
   12% of passes defined as bad
   8:1 ratio.

The first 5 minutes they had an 11:1 ratio with a total of 34 passes with only 3 of those leading to turnovers.  Waiting for a competitive game to watch them again ... since this one seemed a bit lop sided.

Will also add that the most passes I have counted in a ten minute stretch 74 passes ... for two teams combined!  ONU v Westminster.  For a single team, the high was 57 for Emory.

Again, whatever it means or how it leads to results, Messiah is really in a class by itself ... at least that I have seen so far.

It's interesting to hear this assessment from someone who's (apparently) very qualified to have an opinion and also not (apparently) a "Falconian," as it has been put. I am of course a Falconer, but no expert on soccer as soccer. I have however watched the Falcons for longer than anyone else here, as far as I know. I am hesitant to say this with too much confidence, since they have not yet played a very high level opponent this season. What I have seen so far, however, is consistent with SimpleCoach's observations. I would not say that this year's team is among the most talented in Falcon history. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if none of the players earns AA status; perhaps I will have a different opinion a month from now. But, I would say that their ability to play the beautiful game might be as high as I can ever recall seeing, keeping in mind what I said about SOS so far. If wouldn't surprise me, if in the end they can outpossess any opponent they might face. That doesn't translate into scoring; they don't seem to have a Bills or a DMac or a Wood or a West anywhere on the roster. This group will share the scoring very widely, and they might not score as much as some recent Falcon teams. But, they are amazing right now in their ability to get the ball into open spaces and put feet on it. I don't recall seeing a Falcon team actually better at that. If I can affirm that again in November, they will have a chance to win it all.

[SimpleCoach]

Washington College v Franklin & Marshall
Washington
Bias? – Watched both teams.  I like the hashtag #GooseNation.

   F&M has a better sense of the ball but is coming up short against a disciplined Washington team.  Washington is smart doesn't over commit to pressing, and I think this has F&M a but confused as to what they should do.  Causes F&M a number of errant passes.
   F&M thrives when teams come at them all over the field.  If I were the Washington I might even droop back to midfield and force F&M to come to us.  Fill in the spaces, and force them to be good.  And if they just start launching it, compete in the air.  But alas, I am not said coach.
   Washington is getting to the end line and whipping in balls.  F&M has some strong center backs so they are dealing with them.  But they should watch out since they are mistake away
   F&M looks off so far.  First touches are killing them.  28 minutes in.
   If Washington can get on the end of one of the plays they are stringing together, I think we have a game.  Right now, can't discount F&M regardless with how they are playing.
   F&M is sitting deep and only have one man up top.  Makes it hard to make anything happen.
   And one a decent play stringing some passes together, Washington ends up going one on one with the F&M keeper.  As the keeper comes out, player tries to go around, and is tripped.  PK.
   Keeper goes to his left, but ball is well struck to the left.  Washington 1, F&M 0 22 minutes left in the half.
   Am going to do my passing analysis on these two teams.  Lots of missed passes.
   Washington needs to stay disciplined defensively.  Offensively I can see them getting a second before F&M gets its first.
   And like that, Washington is up 2-0.  Great give and go splitting two defenders and shot is hit low far post for the second.  17 left in the half.
   Think Washington is make good use of space and running off the ball.  F&M is struggling with the movement off the ball.
   From previous F&M games I have watched, that's the rub.  They like to press and run around after everything.  Most teams try to match them, and they can't.  The best antidote is to help them work on fitness as best they can.
   I can see #GooseNation getting another one before the half.
   F&M is so wasteful with ball, kind of surprised by it.
   So – Over a 10 minute period for Washington -
o   33 passes; 9 led to turnovers
o   27% of passes defined as bad
o   4:1 ratio.
   And – Over a 10 minute period for F&M -
o   45 passes; 12 led to turnovers
o   27% of passes defined as bad
o   4:1 ratio.
   Observations on the stats.   I thought from an efficiency standpoint, F&M moved the ball much better.  Come to find out, they just made more passes.  They have been as effective with the ball as Washington.  Hence my thought that they were wasteful.  Interesting how vulnerable teams are if a quarter of their passes lead to turnovers?  Maybe I should track those that lead to goals?
   Halftime.  Washington 2, F&M 0
   Am done.  Want to watch one more game...

[SimpleCoach]

So, took a look at Messiah against Salisbury, and what they do is pretty amazing. 

Over a 10 minute period -
   73 passes; 9 led to turnovers
   12% of passes defined as bad
   8:1 ratio.

The first 5 minutes they had an 11:1 ratio with a total of 34 passes with only 3 of those leading to turnovers.  Waiting for a competitive game to watch them again ... since this one seemed a bit lop sided.

Will also add that the most passes I have counted in a ten minute stretch 74 passes ... for two teams combined!  ONU v Westminster.  For a single team, the high was 57 for Emory.

Again, whatever it means or how it leads to results, Messiah is really in a class by itself ... at least that I have seen so far.

It's interesting to hear this assessment from someone who's (apparently) very qualified to have an opinion and also not (apparently) a "Falconian," as it has been put. I am of course a Falconer, but no expert on soccer as soccer. I have however watched the Falcons for longer than anyone else here, as far as I know. I am hesitant to say this with too much confidence, since they have not yet played a very high level opponent this season. What I have seen so far, however, is consistent with SimpleCoach's observations. I would not say that this year's team is among the most talented in Falcon history. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if none of the players earns AA status; perhaps I will have a different opinion a month from now. But, I would say that their ability to play the beautiful game might be as high as I can ever recall seeing, keeping in mind what I said about SOS so far. If wouldn't surprise me, if in the end they can outpossess any opponent they might face. That doesn't translate into scoring; they don't seem to have a Bills or a DMac or a Wood or a West anywhere on the roster. This group will share the scoring very widely, and they might not score as much as some recent Falcon teams. But, they are amazing right now in their ability to get the ball into open spaces and put feet on it. I don't recall seeing a Falcon team actually better at that. If I can affirm that again in November, they will have a chance to win it all.

@Falconer, thanks for the kind comment.  Not sure I am "qualified" but I stayed at a Holiday Inn!

I fully recognize that passing in of itself doesn't get you anywhere.  Think it was @Centennial1 who mentioned that a lot of teams pass it around the horn in the back which could definitely skew the number favorably to them, making a team look like they had much more possession than they did if they were farther of the field.  Totally get that.  Where my thinking is going is this - If you are a team like Messiah that has a 10:1 pass ratio, the likelihood that the turnover will lead to a goal will be much lower than say a team that has a 4:1 ratio.  Aside from the fact that their turnovers are less frequent, intuitively you are getting the ball higher ... strictly because ultimately soccer is a game of goals, not of passes.  That's why I am trying to acknowledge or at least understand teams that are long ball teams.  Am discovering that even the good teams that look to get the ball up as quickly as possible, also seem to have a good pass ratio.  Maybe not 10:1, but 6/7:1.  That is still much  better than most.

The Messiah game I watched I thought their vulnerability was that I could see them getting caught up in the black hole that is passing for passing sake, and looking for the perfect pass to score.  That's a triple platinum plated problem to have.  I would rather be in that position than after every 2 passes I turn it over.  And I have watched a couple of teams who are like this.   Obviously where the passes happen is a big deal, but if you do it well enough, the opposing team invariably sits deeper and deeper cause its harder to defend against ball movement, and when they do win the ball, they are so far back that it's very difficult to mount a counter cause they are so deep.  And if they have a low pass ratio, well, they won't have many opportunities to score because they stand a greater chance of losing the ball.  Again, not hard fast rules, but gives a glimpse.

You know, I learned to play the game where the most precious item on the field was the ball.  How do you win it and keep it for yourself.  And when you do that, how do you reward yourself with a goal.  I think a lot of coaches, or should I say teams think the most precious thing on the field is a goal.  As such, they recruit, or so it seems, players that can seemingly be effective at scoring goals and then obviously ones that can defend.  What happens?  Invariably you end up with teams that have midfielders who are for all intents and purposes are withdrawn forwards.  So you are attacking with say 6 or 8 players.  But none of them have the brain to "create" a goal.  All they do is count on creating the turnover in the other team to exploit.  This at times makes the most creative players the center backs, because they are tasked with getting the ball forward.  The gap between the defenders and the midfield in those cases is where a good team with a high ratio, can just run rampant on.  And this comes from watching probably over 50 games at all levels.  This is the spot that Messiah (Among others) kills other teams.

Defensively, the low ratio teams chase, because their thinking is to get the ball to score.  I have yet to watch a team be able to sustain a high press for longer than 30 minutes in a game.  And I would say this plays into the hands of a high ratio team because the purpose of what they are trying to do is to pull you apart to create space to exploit.  If I was a low ratio team against a high ratio team, my goal would not be to press, but to stay compact and close down passing lanes in my half of the field.  I would let them own the ball anywhere else, but would make it difficult to find their attacking players, and when they did I would be tight enough to challenge the ball before they received it.  Then I would hope that I can get lucky for a goal because over time the high ratio team would be committed so far up that they couldn't effectively deal with a counter.  Now, this would be fraught with challenges, and certainly a mistake would kill, but say going head to head against Messiah, like Salisbury seemed to try and do... well you might as well take the loss before the game.

Funny, but this is all theory and will go out the window once the ball starts rolling, but I think what I am liking about watching D3 is that the differences between teams are pronounced so that it is easier to see the game at times.  Don't get me wrong, the quality has largely improved from my days on the field, and teams are more tactically aware.  It helps me ask all sorts of questions about what I know about the game, how to piece teams together, what kinds of players I would start looking at if I were a head coach ...

Ok.  I just rambled on a Sunday morning, so I think I should talk to a therapist.  This is not something a normal person does.

Hope to catch another game or two today.  We will see.  Might be a better idea to just enjoy some sunshine...

[SimpleCoach]

Ohio Wesleyan v John Carroll
OWU – The Jay Martin Soccer Temple
Bias? – I played JCU on a grass field and tried to take Jay Martin's wedge he used to carry during games.

   Watched this the day after the actual game. 
   Video issues.  Seemingly the 2nd half.  0-0
   John Carroll can move the ball.  Sometimes hold the ball too long, but otherwise they try to keep it fluid.  Trying to get into the attack.
   Doesn't strike me as their best game, but OWU has so many weapons, that they can turn it on a dime.
   An lo' and behold.  Off a throw in into the near side of the box, OWU forward works to control it.  He is in the middle of five defenders, only one marking an OWU player.  That other OWU player keeps moving.  John Carroll player vacates a space to go press the player with the ball.  That empty space is now filled with the OWU player who was once marked and get the ball.  Takes a touch and hits the ball between two John Carrol defenders who are near post at the six and 12.  There is another at the 6 middle of goal, and another defender marking an OWU forward.  The forward steps to the ball and one times it and buries it in the net.  Ohio Wesleyan 1, John Carroll 0.  Goal scorer is the only OWU player at the top of the six.  There are four John Carroll defenders in the same area.
   John Carroll still trying but OWU is so organized defensively that it becomes too compact to get through.  Only real threats are from set plays (corners) and long-range shots. 35 minutes left.
   JCU is now being wasteful.  Think the goal hurt them mentally.  OWU is knocking on the door.
   I know I have mentioned this in previous game reviews of OWU, but their positional discipline is impressive.  No player is left one on one without the appropriate support.  Even more importantly is that on both sides of the ball, there is a level of accountability and confidence your teammate will do the job they are expected to do.  28 minutes left.
   I do think JCU is a very good team.  By no means is this an easy game for OWU.  With being behind, JCU is just struggling to get themselves in a position to be dangerous.  If they attack too quickly, they don't have any numbers up top.  If they keep possession and slow roll it, OWU becomes almost impenetrable.
   OWU will score before JCU does.   Although fewer looks to goal, they are far more dangerous.  13 minutes left.
   Again, JCU wins the ball in the back.  Instead of looking short, they launch it and it is won by OWU.  OWU head the ball back and JCU head it to an OWU midfielder.  JCU is all disjointed at this point.  Forward receives the ball with a defender at his back at about the 18.  Another forward is making a run into the box with no one on him.  Pass sends him out wide, and he drops it back.  Player receiving drops it to the a8 to player running on who one time a ball to the far post.  Ohio Wesleyan 2, John Carroll 0.
   With 11 minutes left, this is over.  Don't see JCU being able to mount a comeback.
   Am out.