2021 Game Notes

[SimpleCoach]

Wilmington v Ohio Northern
Ohio Northern
Bias? – Watched each multiple times.

   Wow.  Watching Wilmington because they seem to have a new sense of self and have been winning games.  I like ONU because historically they have been good.  And 2.30 into the game, Wilmington gets a set piece from a foul.  Ball is played in and comes out, in the air to Wilmington#0? who hits it from 25 out.  ONU Keeper who I like is casually walking out and is 3 yards out when the ball is struck, so clearly not expecting anything ... Doesn't react until the ball is coming at him goes over him into the back of the net.  What a bomb of a goal.  Wilmington 1, Ohio Northern 0.
   ONU is comfortable with holding possession in the back but doesn't seem to have mobility up top so that when they do cross midfield, they have options.  Wilmington is doing well staying compact and waiting for their opportunity.  They are OK with ONU keeping possession in the back.  It's harmless to them.
   One ref must not have made it since it's the dreaded Two-Man system.
   Wilmington has been the better on attack than ONU.  A lot of turnovers for ONU are all self-inflicted.  Don't seem to have the energy and the urgency to their passing.
   Just based on what I am watching and having seen John Carroll, Otterbein, Mount Union, ONU, and Wilmington, I think the OAC may be a battle of two.  Wilmington and Otterbein.  John Carroll and ONU seem to be lacking something.
   Am a fan of the ONU keeper but can't say this is his best game.
   ONU can't seem to get forward easily.  Lack of movement by their forwards, lack of ideas, and Wilmington really being compact doesn't help.
   Wilmington looks as though they will get another.  Two dynamic forwards and a pretty good midfielder (Sorry, cant see the numbers too well.) making hay out of ONU's back line.
   Halftime.  Wilmington 1, Ohio Northern 0.  ONU was a bit of a disappointment.  Expected more out of them.  Wilmington continues to impress.

[Ejay]

Hey SC - in the future it would be great if you put the link to the games you're reporting on. I'd like to check some out at times. Thanks!

[SimpleCoach]

Hey SC - in the future it would be great if you put the link to the games you're reporting on. I'd like to check some out at times. Thanks!

@Ejay, will do.  Never thought of that,  but will going forward.  Thanks for the suggestion.

[SimpleCoach]

Gettysburg v Salisbury
On the battlefield near McPherson Ridge and Barlow Knoll
Bias? – Watched both a few times.
Link - https://www.centennialconference.tv/gettysburgbullets/?B=284492

   2.5 minutes in, with most of the play in Salisbury's end, they break.  Gettysburg310 powers his way through two defenders and beats the center back who tried to poke the ball away.  Takes a touch and from 22 away, he hits a shot that is blocked by Salisbury#8(?), but the ball drops to Gettysburh#9 and hits it past the keeper from 7 yards away.  Gettysburg 1, Salisbury 0.
   Tough hole for Salisbury to be in, especially on the road. 
   Gettysburg was clearly taking it to them from the start.
   Gettysburg is very organized and setup to defend very quickly.  Gettysburg#3 is very deliberate in making sure he is in the right spot on both sides of the ball.
   Salisbury trying to get something forward.
   Gettysburg#16 needs to be watched if you are defending against him.  He moves about in the space and can turn quickly and make something happen.
   Salisbury is defending deeper and deeper.  Letting Gettysburg to move the ball around the back, closer to midfield.  And when they go on attack, they let themselves down with that poor passing. 
   Salisbury have some speed that they could use, thinking Salisbury#19, if they could get him the ball.
   Salisbury#9 is a liability.  Let him get the ball and press him.  He will cough it up.
   Gettysburg#13 is a sold center back.  Reads the game well.  Gettysburg#10 deals with the ball very well and dictates the play well when he gets the ball.  I would be giving it to him more.
   Salisbury starting to get closer to the Gettysburg keeper.    Helps that they are pressing a bit higher up the field and not dropping back so deep.
   Halftime.  Gettysburg up by a goal.

[Buck O.]

Emory v Washington University
Washington U
Bias? – My wife leaves Emory boards all over the house and know an accomplished artist at one.

   Emory owns the ball.
   Washington U just can't get a hold of the ball. 
   Emory is solid and organized.  Most of the play and Emory possession is in WashU's half.
   Emory being very patient with the ball to start.  Have no rush on trying to get the ball forward.
   When WashU gets the ball, they move it ok in the back, but have difficulty trying to do something with it beyond midfield.
   I am impressed with Emory.  More so than in previous games that I have watched.  Can they translate their possession into opportunities in front of goal?
   Can't read numbers.  Video is too distant to read them.
   An observation that just dawned on me.  I am not sure I have seen a team mark man to man.  Think they pick up players as necessary, but no one seems to track players anymore.  Wouldn't even call this a theory yet.
   Maybe because of the view of the field, but I think if I were a coach playing with 3 up top, I would go man to man on the three backs that most teams.  The fourth back I would have my outside mid cover, then the CDM I would push my CAM on to.  I wonder what would happen then.
   Team water break.  The game is clearly not being played in Northwestern PA.
   What beautiful place to play.
   WashU with its first real opportunity on goal but went just wide.
   Game seems to be between the 18s with each trying to break the other defensive posture. 
   Any goals will have to come from crosses into the box.  Not that there is a ton of room, but for both teams, the easiest way to goal is to get it wide and long and whip it into the box.  Of course set plays.
   17 minutes left in the half.
   Not sure if it is the heat, but bit of a slow game.  That and don't think either team wants to make a mistake.
   WashU is solid defensively, with two very solid center backs.
   Halftime.  Looks like a bit of a chess match, with one side opting for the French Defense, and the other opting for the Scandinavian Defense.

I watched bits and pieces of this game, but I thought there was a significant difference between the halves.  In the first half, my observations were consistent with yours, as WashU could barely get the ball past the center line, and when they were able to do so, they'd lose it within the next few touches.  They never launched anything that I would actually describe as an attack.  The second half was quite different.  The Bears were much more dangerous and seemed to have more chances than Emory, although not overwhelmingly so.  I missed the overtimes, as the Red Sox were on by then.

And it sure would be nice if whoever is manning that camera would zoom in a little so that the jersey numbers were legible!  Jay Murry, if you read this....

[SimpleCoach]

I watched bits and pieces of this game, but I thought there was a significant difference between the halves.  In the first half, my observations were consistent with yours, as WashU could barely get the ball past the center line, and when they were able to do so, they'd lose it within the next few touches.  They never launched anything that I would actually describe as an attack.  The second half was quite different.  The Bears were much more dangerous and seemed to have more chances than Emory, although not overwhelmingly so.  I missed the overtimes, as the Red Sox were on by then.

And it sure would be nice if whoever is manning that camera would zoom in a little so that the jersey numbers were legible!  Jay Murry, if you read this....

Don't doubt it.  I just watch so many games that if I have to choose what I watch.  Only watch full games when I am asked to.  And yes, while I was watching it felt like I was a mile away.... squinting to make out the shape on the backs of the shirts ....

[Hopkins92]

I watched a decent chunk of this game's second half. Agree with Buck O.'s assessment.

I'm also chuckling about the "from a mile away" streaming angle. I found myself being distracted by looking at the cool architecture and other things going on off the field. Beautiful campus. Lousy camera angle. (Though, to be fair, the unwatchable streams are the ones that are tight to the field and way too low. Camera is whipping around like crazy and it rarely zooms in when play is on the far side, which makes it impossible to really follow. I see that angle and I'm moving on.

[SimpleCoach]

I prefer to be a mile away rather than field level and 2 feet away.  And like you @Hopkins92, I will move on if it's so close.  Don't want the headache that invariably comes if I watch too long....

Talk about triple platinum plated first world problems!

[Another Mom]

I shout at the screen if the camera is in too tight AND doesn't follow the ball. Drives me nuts, especially as this usually happens at the end of a field  -- in other words when one team might have a chance to score.

[Gregory Sager]

I watched a decent chunk of this game's second half. Agree with Buck O.'s assessment.

I'm also chuckling about the "from a mile away" streaming angle. I found myself being distracted by looking at the cool architecture and other things going on off the field. Beautiful campus. Lousy camera angle. (Though, to be fair, the unwatchable streams are the ones that are tight to the field and way too low. Camera is whipping around like crazy and it rarely zooms in when play is on the far side, which makes it impossible to really follow. I see that angle and I'm moving on.

Word of advice, then: Don't check out an Illinois Wesleyan home game. You'll save yourself the mental equivalent of whiplash.

The one saving grace of a low-angle, tight-to-field camera is that the camera mic picks up sideline chatter, if you're into that sort of thing. A lot of times it's just inane clichés of encouragement or protests of calls/non-calls by bench players, but sometimes you'll actually hear a coach shouting out tactical instructions to his team -- a nice sort of insider bonus that you typically don't hear in sports broadcasts.

[Gregory Sager]

I shout at the screen if the camera is in too tight AND doesn't follow the ball. Drives me nuts, especially as this usually happens at the end of a field  -- in other words when one team might have a chance to score.

That happens in every D3 sport, and it's the bane of watching D3 livestreams. Too many camera operator jobs are given out to student workers who just can't wait for a stoppage in play to look at their phones.

[SimpleCoach]

Connecticut v Bowdoin
Bowdoin
Bias? – Watched one multiple time and I am a fan of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.

   Bowdoin is really pushing to get the ball forward quick.  Connecticut is more methodical.
   Bowdon takes the lead ten minutes in.  Ball floated behind the defense to Bowdoin#5 who slots the ball past the Connecticut Keeper who had come off his line and was caught a bit late.  Connecticut 0, Bowdoin 1.
   Bowdoin #5 is a talented midfielder.  Bowdoin#21 is a great holding striker.  Big and strong Connecticut struggle to get the ball from him.
   Bowdoin is doing well both sides of the ball.  Getting into attack, but also defending in numbers. Conn really hasn't had a good look to goal.
   Conn not connecting up top.  Do a good job getting past midfield but that last stretch.
   Connecticut Keeper is good on distribution but his judgement off the line is suspect.
   Connecticut is starting to get closer to goal.  Conn#18 does well to spray the ball on attack.  Why he has so much time I don't know.
   Bowdoin starting to lose more balls in the attack.  Not holding it up as much.
   Conn seems to like, or at least being more effective down the right wing.  I could see a goal coming from there.
   Error by Bowdoin#10 leads to a goal for Connecticut.  Inside the box, he shielded the ball from Conn#4 waiting for it to go past the end line.  It slowed and Conn#4 poked it to Conn#25 who passes to Conn#8 at the top of the box.  He drills a low ball, and rebounds into the back of the net.  Connecticut 1, Bowdoin 1.
   Bowdoin now seems a bit rattled. Just heard on the audio that they are saying Connecticut's goal is going up as an own goal.
   Connecticut is pinning Bowdoin back more and more.  When they switch the ball quickly, Conn opens up the Bowdoin defense. 
   Bowdoin back line seems organized, not sure the midfield support is as effective for them.
   Conn#13 is a handful on the right.  He started the play that led to Conn's goal.  Quick feet, and does well to trip up the defender when he goes one on one with them.
   Bowdoin is most dangerous when they can switch the ball quickly  to the right wing.  Seems to be a ton of space that can be take advantage of by Bowdoin#19.
   Correction, Connecticut Keeper is very suspect off his line.  I would keep challenging him for the ball in the air.
   And halftime. Connecticut 1, Bowdoin 1.  Connecticut is the better, but Bowdoin is being effective when it gets out quick.

[jaybird44]

Buck O., thank you for your input regarding our camera shot.  I will take a closer look before i get started with my PBP and ask the camera operator to zoom in a little bit tighter.  I think we might be able to zoom in to where half the field is in the shot, and then pan slowly left or right as needed to follow the ball.

We are in a transition phase following the departure of Chris Mitchell last year.  He quite simply was the top SID at all levels, for my money.  Without going into great detail, he was the engine that made our network run smoothly and aesthetically pleasing; and he did the work of three people.  It is taking us a while to adjust and return to our level of excellence.

Bear with us...pun intended.

[Another Mom]

Not really sure what thread to talk about W&L on; they are up 4-0 at the half. The EMU announcer wins "most colorful commentary", which I like!

[SimpleCoach]

Ohio Northern v John Carroll
John Carroll
Bias? – Multiple times watching both.
Link - https://boxcast.tv/view/mens-soccer-vs-onu-728407

   Weather is a factor.  Looks like an absolute downpour.
   Both teams trying to possess the ball to some success.
   Both teams have had a great opportunity denied by the goalkeepers.  Ohio Northern had a great shot denied, and John Carroll had a header tipped over the bar.
   I'd say both keepers are two of the best I have watched this season.
   And the first to strike is Ohio Northern!  Corner kick for ONU.  One player checks to the ball drawing out a defender, 3 ONU players inside the six, and one hovering at the 12.  Ball is sent inside the 6 for ONU#21 to head it in to the back of the net.  Ohio Northern 1, John Carroll 0.
   This goal leads me to a larger point on modern keepers.  First off there were a total of 11 players inside the 6.  I think goalkeepers today are taught to stay on their line.  This would have been a ball that I would expect the keeper to come out and make a play on, instead of the ONU player having a free header.
   ONU is now feeling it, and JCU still in a little shock.
   JCU struggling to connect in midfield.  When they have the ball in the back, don't seem to have the confidence to play it short, instead opt for something over the top.
   This isn't just an ONU and JCU thing.  Just something I noticed.  Playing "out of the back" is not difficult.  And think most teams do work it around the horn, but getting the ball into the midfield is where most teams have no idea.  And am starting to think it's because of a couple of things.  First off, when it does get into the midfield they tend to take too many touches.  Second, this is where ideas getting forward come to die.  I think teams don't focus on how to get the ball up top, or create opportunities for goal, so midfielders don't know what to do.  And then finally, I think the midfield and forward line is where positions go out the window and players just go wherever they want.
   See John Carroll getting a goal as they are starting to get dangerous.  Just had one great shot cleared off the line.
   And halftime.  Despite the goal, think it's pretty even, both taking shots at each other.  Second half will be interesting but am out.  More games ....