2021 Game Notes

[SimpleCoach]

Swarthmore v Franklin & Marshall
Franklin & Marshall
Bias? – Multiple times for each.
Link – Franklin and Marshall College on the CC Digital Network (centennialconference.tv)

   F&M just thrives in chaos.  If I were a coach playing against F&M, my first order of priority would be possession on the ground, anywhere on the field, and never necessarily looking to get the ball forward, just make them run for a good 10 minutes.  That's what they want to do anyhow.  I am not a coach.
   Swarthmore is trying to knock it around but loses it when it is trying to get forward.  They need to be a bit more patient.
   F&M just presses and bangs the ball forward into dangerous positions.  Swarthmore is just defending for dear life.  They have given up 5 corners in as many minutes.
   F&M really is about getting the ball up to F&M#20.  He can be dangerous.
   Strikes me that F&M is playing a game of numbers.  If we can get 20 balls into the middle in front of the goal, at least one should go in ...
   For Swarthmore its not the build up play that is dangerous for them, it's the ball that gets sent out as they are defending and F&M recovering it and driving the ball back in.  That's where they can get hurt.
   Swarthmore sitting so deep, it keeps inviting F&M to keep pressing.  Invariably when Swarthmore do get the ball to their forwards, they have to slow it up to allow everyone to catch up with the play.  This allows F&M to set up defensively. 
   And why we love soccer.  Swarthmore with a free kick for 40 yards out.  Ball is played into the box and headed out to Swarthmore#6 who hits the ball one time.  Ball hits off an F&M defender and bounces to Swarthmore# who looks to be offside.  Turns and strikes the ball, keeper gets behind the ball but comes off him into the net.  Appears the AR raised his flag for off, but the center ref overruled him.  Would also say that the F&M Keeper didn't handle the shot well.  That should have never gone in.  Swarthmore 1, Franklin & Marshall 0
   Think F&M #22 has ideas when he gets the ball but not enough traffic coming through him.
   Again, with subs, F&M doesn't change despite being down a goal.  They just double down on being a hammer.  I know this is their bread and butter ...
   Halftime.  Am done.  Find F&M to be a bore.  Think Swarthmore is a bit more technical but needs to figure out how to keep the ball from longer stretches.
   More games to come.

[SimpleCoach]

Johns Hopkins v Ursinus
Ursinus
Bias? – Bias?  What bias?
Link - Ursinus College on the CC Digital Network (centennialconference.tv)

   Johns Hopkins has clearly owned the ball.  In the first 10 minutes, I think they have made a record 82 passes.  Only Messiah made more passes in that time frame, 83 passes, against NYU.  And have to say it was the most inconsequential passing I have watched this season.
   In the first five minutes, Ursinus only made 4 passes, and in that time they got a corner and long throw into the box.
   Johns Hopkins seems to be going down the left this time around, not the right.  Maybe that have read my previous game notes?
   And why we love this game.  Ursinus with a free kick just beyond midfield plays it short to Ursinus#33 who puts it across into the box.  JHU#22 should have gone with Ursinus#33 but doesn't. JHU defender goes up for the ball but doesn't get to it, and the JHU keeper comes out for it, but gets caught out and doesn't get the ball.  The ball drops to Ursinus#14 who taps it in for the go ahead.  Johns Hopkins 0, Ursinus 1.
   Ursinus has done as little as possible with the ball but took advantage of defensive and keeper errors.
   This has been a game of Johns Hopkins own making.  They possess the ball in their own end very well but really seem to lack ideas going forward.  Don't think JHU#18, the right wing, has touch the ball yet.
   JHU outside backs/outside mids turn the ball back every time they are under pressure.
   This is not a case of Ursinus playing great.  They are disciplined when they don't have the ball, and they don't dive in.
   Meanwhile, JHUs offensive tactic seems to be ... force it through a dense back line.
   Weather had gotten ugly.  Not sure who that helps/hurts.
   Sometimes you do indeed need to go back, to get forward.  This is not the case for Johns Hopkins.  They are going back to going back.  Ursinus is clearly not biting on getting stretched. 
    And halftime.  Not sure I have much more to say than I already have. 

[SimpleCoach]

Messiah v Eastern
Eastern
Bias? – Am told this was a great game, and it was.  Watched the whole thing.
Link – Eastern University (team1sports.com)

   Messiah starts doing what it does, looks to keep possession. 
   Eastern is showing itself to be a little feisty.  Really forcing Messiah to play into tight spaces.
   Once Messiah crosses midfield, Eastern seems to man mark and take away passing options.
   Reamrkable thing about Messiah isn't their possession, its where that possession takes places.  Their defensive posture starts with possessing the ball in the other team's half, which they do with close to 55% of their possession.  No other team does this nearly as effectively.  And they did this with 83 passes in the first ten minutes of the game, 44 of which were in Eastern's half.
   Eastern can't get a hold of the ball comfortably.  Messiah doesn't let them even start.
   The other thing about Messiah is that share the ball with each other so much, players make runs for the ball because they know that they could receive the ball.
   Controversy.  Lovely served in ball that is headed by Messiah#15, Eastern Keeper makes the save to his right, bobbles it off the post, then gets it.  Doesn't look like it crossed the line but the Referee calls it a goal.  Messiah 1, Eastern 0
   Eastern#2 really is the player who got beat on that.  Messiah #15 let him step right in front of him, six yards out giving him the free header.  Goal or not, that's poor defense.  And Eastern#3 knows it and calls him out.
   The Eastern Keeper made a shoelace save that could have easily been a goal.  Excellent on his part.
   And you go from possibly going down 2-0, to coming back down field and tying it up.  Messiah#7 is stripped of the ball deep in his half after he tried to take a touch to the outside with a man on his back.  He could have easily dropped it back to Messiah#8.  Eastern#19 goes with the ball and slots it back and into the middle to Eastern#10 who reaches to hit the ball from 22 yards out and hits it opposite post.  Messiah Keeper the Mullet looks like he shifter over far too much and is on his line.  He should be out at least 3 yards off his line and maybe more central.  Ball stays on the ground and hits the back of the net to Messiah Keeper the Mullet's left.  Messiah 1, Eastern 1
   This is where Messiah hurts itself, skilled players think they can always be skillful and get away with it. 
   Messiah#23 is a catalyst on attack.  I would figure out a way to neutralize him.
   Halftime.  Messiah 1, Eastern 1
   Second half starts where it left off.  Messiah deep in Eastern's half, looking for that perfect pass that gets the to goal.  Eastern maintains its discipline and doesn't allow for many spaces to take advantage of.
   Messiah#22 is a fantastic center back.  Think he may be one of the best I have seen.
   Eastern going into what seems like a gale force wind and has a tough time getting it forward.
   Eastern's plan is to get on the attack quick and push it with tempo, otherwise defend.
   Will say this is one of the best games I have watched.  Messiah on the one hand with dominance on the ball, on the other with Eastern doing a fantastic job defensively, but also leaving open the quick counterattack that can be dangerous.
   Eastern being opportunistic on it's attacks, earns a free kick by the sideline 25 yards from the end line.  Floats the ball in and Eastern#12 gets up in between two Messiah players and heads it far post.  Nothing the diving Messiah Keeper the Mullet could do to save that.  Messiah 1, Eastern 2.
   10 minutes left in the second half.  Great Caesar's Ghost!
   Eastern Keeper is certainly coming up big with key saves at key moments in the game.  Just made a save on a header that could have been the equalizer. 
   And with 3 and half left, Messiah levels on a cross from Messiah#10 to the big bald man up top, Messiah#21 who is at the back post, heads it back into the middle and another player heads it into the net from the six.  Messiah 2, Eastern 2.
   And we are going into OT.
   Have to say, think the tying goal may have deflated Eastern a bit. 
   In OT, the Eastern Keeper made a one handed save to his right on a Messiah header.  Spectacular.  Had my vote for Man of the Match.
   And on a long-range shot, he made another upper corner save to his right.  Love watching an inspired goalkeeper.
   On to the second OT.  Eastern in here is because of their Keeper who has probably made 5 great saves that should have been goals.  And dare I say he saved the first goal that should have been allowed.
   And like that, Messiah sentences it 2 minutes into the second OT.  Another corner that is cleared.  Ball ultimately lands at Messiah's feet who hits a shot.  It looks like Messiah#13(?)deflects the ball and the Eastern Keeper makes a point blank save, but on the rebound, puts it in.
   Fantastic game.  Eastern showed a lot of poise and discipline through out knowing that Messiah would have the ball a lot.  Messiah kept working until it found the goal.

[Hopkins92]

So, I watched both of these games kind of simultaneously. It helped that they were offset so during one team's HT I could flip over.

The contrast in the quality and overall belief in both teams was stark. Even when Eastern went up 2-1, it still felt like Messiah was very dangerous and goal would be with the run of play. Hopkins, by contrast, just seemed to lack cohesiveness in the final 3rd (sorry to be redundant in places on this board) but they never really threatened, other than hoping for a scramble to pop to someone in the box.

(Also, found the Eastern stream pretty charming, as that guy was clearly working with students to man the substitution horn, clock, keeping track of subs and adjusting camera angles all while calling the game.)

[SimpleCoach]

So, I watched both of these games kind of simultaneously. It helped that they were offset so during one team's HT I could flip over.

The contrast in the quality and overall belief in both teams was stark. Even when Eastern went up 2-1, it still felt like Messiah was very dangerous and goal would be with the run of play. Hopkins, by contrast, just seemed to lack cohesiveness in the final 3rd (sorry to be redundant in places on this board) but they never really threatened, other than hoping for a scramble to pop to someone in the box.

(Also, found the Eastern stream pretty charming, as that guy was clearly working with students to man the substitution horn, clock, keeping track of subs and adjusting camera angles all while calling the game.)

Agreed on all counts.  Messiah is never out of a game because they can find the open man in the blink of any eye.  I don't know if it is the games I am watching or what, but I keep expecting more for Johns Hopkins.

Finally, really enjoyed the Eastern announcer.  He was definitely wearing multiple hats.

[OldMCGuy]

"Finally, really enjoyed the Eastern announcer.  He was definitely wearing multiple hats."
"(Also, found the Eastern stream pretty charming, as that guy was clearly working with students to man the substitution horn, clock, keeping track of subs and adjusting camera angles all while calling the game.)"

And he did all that in the middle of a thunderstorm.  Well done...from an old MC Guy

[SimpleCoach]

St. Olaf v Bethel
Bethel
Bias? – I know neither team
Link – Men's Soccer vs. St. Olaf College - Bethel University Athletics

   @PaulNewman mentioned he thought St. Olaf should be in the top 10, and I hadn't seen them play, so found this game from September 15th.
   St. Olaf keeper is suspect.  Not sure off his line, and also slow with the ball at his feet.
   Little choppy in terms of play.  Neither team controlling the ball well although if I had to bet, Bethel has a slight edge.
   I haven't watched either so not sure what is normal play for either team.
   St. Olaf has some big guys down the center of the field
   Lots of lost balls trying to connect long for St. Olaf.  Would say they should get a hold of the ball for a little but don't show much patience for that.
   St. Olaf#7 is a big dude.
   And like that St. Olaf scores.  Win a header on a keeper clearance.  Lands to St. Olaf#10, who sends it out wide to St. Olaf#2(?).  He beats his man to the line, then megs the center back who came in support.  He slots the ball to the across the six and St. Olaf#10, who followed up on his pass, scores.
   Goal came against the run of play but bother the outside back Bethel#4 and the center back for Bethel really need to defend better.
   Bethel defends better man on man.  No real organization defensively.  St. Olaf is better organized and recover better on defense.
   Everybody wants to spring the forwards with a great ball.  End up being cleared out by the defenders.
   Players for both teams taking far too many touches to get a flow going.
   Bethel is struggling to get out of their half and St. Olaf is getting closer and closer to goal.
   And St. Olaf strikes again.  St. Olaf#15 makes a run down the line.  His defender and the outside back hover to the ball letting him go.  St. Olaf#21 takes a touch then slots it into the space for St. Olaf#15 to run onto the ball, cut it into the middle, then strike it into the back of the net from 10 out.  Woeful defending by Bethel#3, Bethel#4. And Bether#14 who was late to step in to challenge on the shot.
   And halftime.  St. Olaf is clearly superior but probably could be ahead by more if they weren't so wasteful in possession.  They are physical and do compete for balls.  Can see why they are ranked in the region.

[PaulNewman]

SC, I didn't initially see your reference to 9/15.  Was that the only one with video available?  I ran my mouth about St Olaf without having seen them play a minute this year!  My impressions are based on secondary and tertiary sources and my proprietary algorithmic device.  Anyway, I would guess the draw with Chicago or outing this past weekend with Gustavus might be better for evaluating.

The Oles are led by Coach Travis Wall, maybe the greatest player in OWU history...and you're probably familiar with him as you seem like you are an Ohio guy.

[SimpleCoach]

SC, I didn't initially see your reference to 9/15.  Was that the only one with video available?  I ran my mouth about St Olaf without having seen them play a minute this year!  My impressions are based on secondary and tertiary sources and my proprietary algorithmic device.  Anyway, I would guess the draw with Chicago or outing this past weekend with Gustavus might be better for evaluating.

The Oles are led by Coach Travis Wall, maybe the greatest player in OWU history...and you're probably familiar with him as you seem like you are an Ohio guy.

@PaulNewman.  Yeah, seemed to be the only game I could find.  I will watch them again this weekend.

[SimpleCoach]

Hope v Alma
Alma
Bias? – None.  First time watching one.
Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjry6yRcWDU

   Windy Michigan day.
   Another team that when someone heads the ball all you hear is "SECOND!"
   Alma has to endure 3 consecutive corners at the very start of the game.
   Alma creeping back deeper and deeper defensively and resorting to long balls. 
   Hope has been playing in Alma's half since the start.
   Hope with the first real chance of the game with a nicely placed ball into space between two defenders and a well-timed run by the forward.  Went mano a mano with the keeper and the Alma keeper won.
   And remarkably Alma goes ahead in their first real chance at goal.  Nice switch by the center mid who finds his winger Alma#23 isolated 1 on 1.  Does a step over and takes it to the line and crosses it far post where Alma#4 heads it into the  back of the net from six yards out.
   Definitely against the run of play, Alma catches Hope.  The man back post looked wide open.  Where was the defender? 
   Alma is pressing now, with a little more urgency.  Plenty of time on the clock.
   And like that we are even.  Hope, going down the left side again, puts the ball across on the ground.  Keeper makes the save on the initial shot but leaves the rebound to be drilled into the back of the net.
   Clearly, Hope is liking going down the left side nearly as much as Johns Hopkins does on the right.
   32 minutes left in the half.
   Hope moving the ball much better than they had been.  As if the goal has calmed them down.
   I like Hope#7 in the midfield.
   Defensively Hope seems to fall into disorganization quite easily.  Think Alma could take advantage of it.
   Alma sitting very deep trying to defend Hope who is just doing a very good job holding the ball and shifting the point of attack.
   I like the way Hope plays, but think they need a more active front line if they want to score more goals.  Seems a bit predictable.  If I am the coach for any team playing against them, I would double up on my right.
   Halftime.  Think that's it for me.  Think Hope is talented and their regional ranking is justified.

[fishercats]

big MIAA game tonight if you have time to watch - Kalamazoo at Calvin https://vimeo.com/event/804816

[fishercats]

I also watched a bit of this game. Hope had big advantage in shots (22v4) and corners (9v1), but simply can't put the ball in the net. Hope is skilled and well coached, but hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard all season.

For the first goal, Alma basically caught the Hope defense sleeping. No reason a player should be that wide open on the back post. Even on the counterstrike, the play took a couple of seconds to develop.

Hope had two scrappy goals inside the 6 yd box.

Funny moment - at the end of the game, they announced a crowd of over 800. Then a hot mic caught the press box staff say "800...my ass".

Hope v Alma
Alma
Bias? – None.  First time watching one.
Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjry6yRcWDU

   Windy Michigan day.
   Another team that when someone heads the ball all you hear is "SECOND!"
   Alma has to endure 3 consecutive corners at the very start of the game.
   Alma creeping back deeper and deeper defensively and resorting to long balls. 
   Hope has been playing in Alma's half since the start.
   Hope with the first real chance of the game with a nicely placed ball into space between two defenders and a well-timed run by the forward.  Went mano a mano with the keeper and the Alma keeper won.
   And remarkably Alma goes ahead in their first real chance at goal.  Nice switch by the center mid who finds his winger Alma#23 isolated 1 on 1.  Does a step over and takes it to the line and crosses it far post where Alma#4 heads it into the  back of the net from six yards out.
   Definitely against the run of play, Alma catches Hope.  The man back post looked wide open.  Where was the defender? 
   Alma is pressing now, with a little more urgency.  Plenty of time on the clock.
   And like that we are even.  Hope, going down the left side again, puts the ball across on the ground.  Keeper makes the save on the initial shot but leaves the rebound to be drilled into the back of the net.
   Clearly, Hope is liking going down the left side nearly as much as Johns Hopkins does on the right.
   32 minutes left in the half.
   Hope moving the ball much better than they had been.  As if the goal has calmed them down.
   I like Hope#7 in the midfield.
   Defensively Hope seems to fall into disorganization quite easily.  Think Alma could take advantage of it.
   Alma sitting very deep trying to defend Hope who is just doing a very good job holding the ball and shifting the point of attack.
   I like the way Hope plays, but think they need a more active front line if they want to score more goals.  Seems a bit predictable.  If I am the coach for any team playing against them, I would double up on my right.
   Halftime.  Think that's it for me.  Think Hope is talented and their regional ranking is justified.

[SimpleCoach]

I like the way Hope plays, I just think they don't have the ideas about what to do when they get in the final third.  Seems to break down.  But they dominated the game as far as I was concerned.  The Alma goal was the first time they really got to Hope's 18 and they made the most of it.

I also watched a bit of this game. Hope had big advantage in shots (22v4) and corners (9v1), but simply can't put the ball in the net. Hope is skilled and well coached, but hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard all season.

For the first goal, Alma basically caught the Hope defense sleeping. No reason a player should be that wide open on the back post. Even on the counterstrike, the play took a couple of seconds to develop.

Hope had two scrappy goals inside the 6 yd box.

[SimpleCoach]

Montclair v RPI
RPI
Bias? – Watched both a few times.
Link – Men's Soccer LIVE! - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics (rpiathletics.com)

   MSU#CantSee center forward is very dangerous when he can get the ball on his left.
   Can't see Montclair numbers because they are wearing gray uniforms with red numbers.
   RPI controls the ball better, Montclair likes to get forward as quickly as possible.  Once in RPIs half, Montclair does a good job of moving the ball.
   Both teams have good of possession.
   RPI with the first real chance at goal with a glancing header that went off the far post and bounce out to a Montclair defender who cleared the ball.
   Unfortunately, hard to tell numbers for both teams.  Love the wide high up camera view, and the commentator is great.  Just hard to make out the numbers.
   One thing that RPI is doing better than Montclair is off the ball runs.  RPI is getting ahead of where a play is out by making a number of runs that become options for the ball handler.
   I like RPI#LongHairKidintheMiddle.  He is really dissecting the game.  He should get the ball a lot.  And Montclair should mark him tight.
   Montclair just complains a lot.  MSU#Murphy is leading the charge arguing over calls.
   RPI#2 is deceptively quick and is able to stop Montclair counters.
   Montclair is getting countered very effectively by RPI. 
   RPI can be dangerous when they get the ball to a player between the Montclair defensive and midfield line.  Not compact and there is plenty of space.  Also, Montclair midfielders don't get back that quickly.
   RPI will score on a cross, and someone heads it in.  You heard it here first.
   RPI does have to be careful defensively because MSU#CantSee center forward can punish you on a mistake.
   Montclair is getting forward a bit and getting to RPIs box but can't get that last pass to land somewhere they can be dangerous.
   This is a game between two good teams, both trying to do what they do best.  Think they are still trying to figure out the other teams weaknesses.
   Halftime Montclair 0, RPI 0.

[SimpleCoach]

Wheaton V Rutgers Newark
Newark
Bias? – The camera angle is making this unwatchable.
Link – Men's Soccer vs Wheaton - YouTube

   Sorry, I can't watch.  Recording from field level.
   Wheaton 0, Rutgers Newark 1
   12 minutes