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[DH]

Denison has a stranglehold on the NCAC race and it's hard to see many hurdles for the Big Red until at least the NCAC tourney. 

DePauw will have a big say as to who wins the reg season. DePauw plays OWU and Denison. Playing OWU at home, I think DePauw has a great chance. Ultimately, it'll probably go down to the final game between OWU and Denison.

[PaulNewman]

Coach Wall, I know it's getting late, and I know it's tough dealing with the absence of one of the top strikers in D3. The back to back losses were obviously concerning....but just as concerning have been the hard to fathom performances against Hiram and Wabash.  It's certainly no disgrace to get out of Crawfordsville with a 1-0 win, but this result comes after Denison and OWU handled Wabash 4-0 and 8-0 respectively.  Yes, Kenyon dominated play on the field but the dearth of scoring (and good chances) seems problematic.  I've watched mop up duty time in two games this year...and based on that miniscule sample size I'd recommend giving some real run to #12 and #33.  The latter impressed me in a match a few weeks ago, and the former impressed me (a lot) both times.  To be clear I know absolutely nothing about either one of them beyond seeing them on the field late in a couple of blowouts for a total of 25-35 minutes. Lastly, you have a few frosh who are gonna be good but not all of those are 80 minutes good (yet). And I'm not referring to #17 who has become more and more essential by the game.

Since I'm offering free coaching advice, I'd move Dujakovich around a little more (especially if Duratovic isn't able to make any sustained return this season).  I get why he would be out on the wing, but sometimes you need more strength, speed, playmaking, and talent in the offensive center mid area. Great, great player who has had an excellent Kenyon career.

[Kuiper]

Region VII - Poll 8 - October 29, 2024
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Denison University    1    10-1-4
2    Kenyon College    3    11-2-3
3    Ohio Northern University    2    11-3-3
4    University of Mount Union    4    12-4-1
5    John Carroll University    5    12-3-2
6    Ohio Wesleyan University    8    10-3-2
7    Geneva College    7    12-0-4
8    Carnegie Mellon University    NR    7-4-4

[PaulNewman]

Re-posting from national thread...

Welp, I waited to see if someone would step up on this, but, alas, I will do my best as a bitter rival/hater.

First, congrats to Denison on a great season for a surging program.  We now will see how the Big Red respond as the hunted rather than the hunter.  Denison has the perfect set-up on Saturday evening....a home match on their brand new, sparkling pitch, an end of of the regular season tilt against historical behemoth, Ohio Wesleyan, and a regular season NCAC title on the line for two teams unbeaten and once-tied in the conference.  Certainly these squads have higher ambitions than a regular season conference title, but it's been a minute since either held up a banner for the regular season.  There is of course seeding to chase for the bigger tournament and there is a good chance these two squads will meet again next weekend (and possibly again in 2-3 weeks).  It is also the last regular season match for the legendary Jay Martin.  Dr. Martin surely would like to win his last NCAC campaign and also a NCAC tourney towards an ultimate storybook ending with a Final 4 run.  And surely Martin's players will want to see him off as a champion.  No doubt he would have liked to pick up a couple more national titles along the way, but OWU holds the record for NCAA tourney appearances (by a lot), won the NCAC virtually every single year for about 30 or more years, and captured two national titles in 1998 and 2011 (the latter featuring national POY and current rival coach, Travis Wall).  Definitely an interesting tilt for OWU nation and its legions of loyal and dedicated player alums.  Bianco and Wall are both beloved, I presume, but I would guess the heartstrings are getting pulled hard in Martin's direction.  The significance of this match goes well beyond any real or imagined impact on the rest of the season.  This is an event.  I also would guess that Wall will be there, ostensibly for scouting purposes, but more so to pay his respects (and it doesn't hurt that Granville is about a half-hour drive on rural, dead-deer-laced roads in Ohio's Amish country).

I expect Bianco (and Denison) to honor Dr. Martin by really going for a win and an outright NCAC title.  I think Denison will play well.  That said, my gut tells me OWU will pull this one out, or at least earn a draw.  Remember they very easily could play again the following Saturday night on the pitch of whoever wins this weekend.  Speaking of NCAC seeding, in prior years these teams might have had at least a slight interest in avoiding Kenyon in a semi, but they've both already beaten Kenyon this year and I'm sure are quite confident about taking on the Owls again.  The winner will get DePauw (I think), and I wouldn't be shocked if that is the upset in NCAC tourney land.

Speaking of my Owls, I am less confident going into this part of the season than I have been since 2012.  I lean pessimistic by nature, but Kenyon has not been playing well.  Last night they had only one goal (that came late) and started diving for steals when Oberlin had the ball deep in their own third.  The lunges (and misses) for the ball led to big openings for the Yeomen and of course they scored with a little over two minutes left.  The Owls miraculously scored when with 4.4 seconds left the GK put a ball into the box that was headed forward and somehow put into the back of the net at literally 89:599.  Supposedly the ball crossed the line with 01. left.  Oberlin bitterly disputed the goal to no avail.  At any rate, you can't be struggling with Hiram and Oberlin, especially heading into tourney season.  In part there are too many injuries to too many players, but there also seems to a lack of rythym perhaps as a function of trying to figure out who is going to play and where. If they get some of the key players back (like Duratovic) then I will more hopeful, and if in form I would like our chances versus both Denison and OWU away from home with a chance to turn the tables on these programs that have won NCAC finals in Gambier.

Right now the big event is the game on Saturday night.  Would be huge for Denison to come out on top over Kenyon and OWU.  But, again, I think this is mostly about Jay Martin.

Tip of the cap to Dr. Martin.  I'll never forgive you for 2014.

[PaulNewman]

PREVIOUS NCAC REGULAR-SEASON LEADERS
Year Champion(s) (Record) Runner-Up (Record) OWU
1984 Ohio Wesleyan (5-0-1) Denison (4-1-1) —
1985 Denison (6-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (5-1-0) —
1986 Ohio Wesleyan (6-0-0) Wooster (5-1-0) —
1987 Ohio Wesleyan (6-0-0) Oberlin (4-2-0) —
1988 Ohio Wesleyan (5-0-1) Wooster (4-1-1) —
1989 Wooster (8-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (6-2-0) —
1990 Kenyon (8-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-0) —
1991 Ohio Wesleyan (8-0-0) Kenyon (6-2-0) —
1992 OWU, Kenyon (7-1-0) Wooster (6-2-0) —
1993 Kenyon (6-0-2), Witt (7-1) Ohio Wesleyan (6-1-1) —
1994 Ohio Wesleyan (8-0-0) Kenyon (7-1-0) —
1995 Ohio Wesleyan (7-0-1) Kenyon (6-1-1) —
1996 Kenyon (7-0-1) Wittenberg (7-1-0) —
1997 Kenyon (8-0-0) OWU, Wittenberg (6-2-0) —
1998 Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-0) Denison (6-2-0) —
1999 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) Allegheny (6-1-2) —
2000 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) Earlham (6-2-1) —
2001 Ohio Wesleyan (8-1-0) Denison (7-2-0) —
2002 Wooster (7-0-2) Allegheny (7-2-0) T4th (5-3-1)
2003 Denison, Wooster (8-1) Ohio Wesleyan (7-2-0) —
2004 OWU, Wooster (8-1-0) Denison (7-2-0) —
2005 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) Oberlin (6-2-1) —
2006 Ohio Wesleyan (7-0-2) Denison (7-1-1) —
2007 Kenyon (7-1-1) Ohio Wesleyan (7-2-0) —
2008 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) Hiram, Wittenberg (6-3-0) —
2009 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) Denison (6-1-2) —
2010 Ohio Wesleyan (7-0-1) Kenyon (6-1-1) —
2011 Ohio Wesleyan (9-0-0) DePauw (8-1-0) —
2012 Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-1) DePauw (6-1-2) —
2013 Ohio Wesleyan (7-0-2) Kenyon (6-0-3) —
2014 Ohio Wesleyan (8-0-1) Kenyon (7-1-1) —
2015 Kenyon (8-1-0) Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-1) —
2016 Kenyon (8-1-0) Oberlin (7-2-0) 5th (5-2-2)
2017 Kenyon (9-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-1) —
2018 Kenyon (8-0-1) Ohio Wesleyan (6-1-2) —
2019 Kenyon (7-0-2) Ohio Wesleyan (7-1-1) —
2020 season canceled
2021 Kenyon (9-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (8-1-0) —
2022 Kenyon (7-0-1) Ohio Wesleyan (6-0-2) —
2023 Kenyon (8-0-0) Ohio Wesleyan (6-2-0) —

[PaulNewman]

n's Soccer
BISHOP SOCCER YEAR-BY-YEAR
Year Coach W L T Pct GF GA League
1913 Frederick Dixon 1 1 0 .500 2 2
1914 Frederick Dixon 3 0 1 .875 15 5
1915 Frederick Dixon 1 0 3 .625 8 6
1916 Frederick Dixon 2 1 0 .667 8 5
Dixon (4 years) 7 2 4 .692
1955 Dick Gordin 3 4 1 .438 21 16
1956 Dick Gordin 0 7 1 .063 7 36
Gordin (2 years) 3 11 2 .250
1957 Fred Myers 5 4 1 .550 23 22
1958 Fred Myers 0 10 0 .000 11 41
1959 Fred Myers 3 6 1 .350 24 27
1960 Fred Myers 4 5 1 .450 24 20
1961 Fred Myers 6 3 1 .650 27 23
1962 Fred Myers 4 4 2 .500 23 16
1963* Fred Myers 10 1 1 .875 48 24
1964* Fred Myers 9 3 0 .750 58 33
1965* Fred Myers 6 6 0 .500 36 30
1966* Fred Myers 7 3 1 .682 37 23
1967 Fred Myers 4 5 2 .455 26 21
1968 Fred Myers 6 4 0 .600 25 16
1969 Fred Myers 5 5 0 .500 27 18 3-4-0
1970* Fred Myers 8 5 0 .615 24 17 7-1-0
1971* Fred Myers 9 1 3 .808 41 14 8-0-1
1972 Fred Myers 9 2 0 .818 32 12 8-1-0
1973 Fred Myers 8 4 2 .643 33 20 7-1-1
1974 Fred Myers 8 4 1 .654 41 20 7-3-0
1975* Fred Myers 13 4 2 .737 50 23 5-0-0
1976* Fred Myers 9 3 3 .700 31 13 5-0-0
Myers (20 years) 133 82 21 .608 50-10-2
1977 Jay Martin 7 4 3 .607 29 14 5-0-0
1978* Jay Martin 11 5 2 .667 42 19 3-1-1
1979* Jay Martin 16 3 2 .810 51 13 4-0-1
1980* Jay Martin 16 4 1 .786 53 15 4-1-0
1981* Jay Martin 17 4 4 .760 65 23 5-0-0
1982* Jay Martin 17 2 3 .841 49 10 5-0-0
1983* Jay Martin 16 5 1 .750 54 20 5-1-0
1984* Jay Martin 15 4 1 .775 69 17 5-0-1
1985* Jay Martin 15 4 1 .775 61 17 5-1-0
1986* Jay Martin 20 3 0 .870 70 14 6-0-0
1987* Jay Martin 19 4 0 .826 68 16 6-0-0
1988* Jay Martin 17 1 3 .881 71 17 5-0-1
1989* Jay Martin 19 2 1 .886 70 11 6-2-0
1990* Jay Martin 20 4 1 .820 74 19 7-1-0
1991* Jay Martin 22 2 0 .917 59 10 8-0-0
1992* Jay Martin 20 4 0 .833 77 23 7-1-0
1993* Jay Martin 18 2 1 .881 75 15 6-1-1
1994* Jay Martin 20 0 1 .976 80 11 8-0-0
1995* Jay Martin 17 2 3 .841 53 13 7-0-1
1996 Jay Martin 13 4 2 .737 43 14 6-1-1
1997* Jay Martin 16 8 0 .667 44 24 6-2-0
1998* Jay Martin 18 6 0 .750 59 23 7-1-0
1999* Jay Martin 18 3 1 .841 59 11 9-0-0
2000* Jay Martin 23 1 0 .958 80 14 9-0-0
2001* Jay Martin 19 6 1 .750 57 19 8-1-0
2002* Jay Martin 18 4 1 .804 48 16 5-3-1
2003* Jay Martin 17 4 1 .795 54 16 7-2-0
2004 Jay Martin 16 2 2 .850 50 17 8-1-0
2005* Jay Martin 20 1 0 .952 57 14 9-0-0
2006* Jay Martin 15 1 6 .818 38 7 7-0-2
2007* Jay Martin 15 5 2 .727 38 17 7-2-0
2008* Jay Martin 18 5 1 .771 57 22 9-0-0
2009* Jay Martin 18 2 2 .864 57 6 9-0-0
2010* Jay Martin 19 2 2 .870 52 11 7-0-1
2011* Jay Martin 23 2 0 .920 77 23 9-0-0
2012* Jay Martin 13 3 5 .738 40 16 7-1-1
2013* Jay Martin 19 1 3 .891 63 17 7-0-2
2014* Jay Martin 17 5 4 .731 54 28 8-0-1
2015* Jay Martin 16 5 2 .739 63 23 7-1-1
2016* Jay Martin 10 5 3 .639 27 15 5-2-2
2017* Jay Martin 12 7 2 .619 39 28 7-1-1
2018 Jay Martin 13 4 2 .737 37 15 6-1-2
2019 Jay Martin 15 5 4 .708 45 12 7-1-1
2020 Jay Martin season canceled
2021 Jay Martin 15 3 2 .800 38 12 8-1-0
2022 Jay Martin 11 5 4 .650 28 12 6-0-2
2023 Jay Martin 13 6 1 .675 36 19 6-2-0
Martin (47 years) 762 164 81 .797 303-32-24
TOTALS (73 years) 905 259 108 .759

[PaulNewman]

DIVISION III
1975 NATIONAL 3RD PLACE/Midwest-Far West Reg. Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 6, Wheaton (Ill.) 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, MacMurray 0
N- Babson 5, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Johns Hopkins 0
1976 Midwest-Far West Regional
H- Wheaton (Ill.) 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1 (OT)
1978 Midwest-Far West Regional Runner-Up
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Wheaton (Ill.) 2
A- Washington (Mo.) 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1979 Midwest-Far West Regional
A- Washington (Mo.) 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1980 Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Bethany 1
H- Calvin 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1981 NATIONAL 4TH PLACE/Great Lakes Regional Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 4, Calvin 2
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Bethany 2
N- Scranton 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1 (OT)
N- Brandeis 4, OHIO WESLEYAN 2
1982 Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 4, Hope 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 0, Bethany 0*
1983 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Denison 1+
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Hope 0
H- Scranton 4, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
1984 Great Lakes Regional
H- Washington (Mo.) 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0 (OT)
1985 Great Lakes Regional
N- Washington (Mo.) 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1986 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Kalamazoo 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Wheaton (Ill.) 0
H- Messiah 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1987 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Calvin 1
H- Washington (Mo.) 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1988 Great Lakes Regional
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Kalamazoo 2*
1989 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, DePauw 1 (OT)
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Wheaton (Ill.) 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 0, Elizabethtown 0
1990 NATIONAL RUNNER-UP/Great Lakes Reg. Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Kalamazoo 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Kenyon 0
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Elizabethtown 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Wheaton (Ill.) 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Glassboro State 1*
1991 NATIONAL SEMIFINALIST/Great Lakes Reg. Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Wittenberg 0 (4 OT)
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Calvin 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Bethany 0
A- Cal-San Diego 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
1992 NATIONAL RUNNER-UP/Great Lakes Reg. Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Wittenberg 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Kenyon 2
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Methodist 1 (OT)
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 5, Colorado College 0
A- Kean 3, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
1993 Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, DePauw 0 (OT)
A- Kenyon 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
1994 Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, DePauw 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Hope 2*
1995 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Kenyon 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Hiram 0 (OT)
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Chapman 1*
1997 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Hope 0
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Kenyon 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Alma 0
A- Wheaton (Ill.) 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1 (OT)
1998 NATIONAL CHAMPION/Great Lakes Regional Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 5, Alma 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Otterbein 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Trinity (Texas) 1
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Williams 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Greensboro 1 (OT)
1999 Mid-Atlantic Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 4, Bethany 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Gettysburg 1
A- Messiah 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2000 Quarterfinalist/Great Lakes Regional Champion
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, DePauw 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Wilmington 0
H- Linfield 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0 (4 OT)
2001 NATIONAL SEMIFINALIST/Great Lakes Reg. Champion
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Otterbein 0
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Chicago 1
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Kalamazoo 2 (OT)
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Greensboro 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 0, Richard Stockton 0* (2 OT)
2002 Great Lakes Regional Runner-Up
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Pitt-Greensburg 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Otterbein 1*
2003 Great Lakes Regional
H- John Carroll 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2005 Second Round
H- Calvin 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
2006 NATIONAL SEMIFINALIST
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Hope 1+
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Ohio Northern 0
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 0, Case Reserve 0+ (2 OT)
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Dominican (Ill.) 0
N- Wheaton (Ill.) 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2007 First Round
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Transylvania 1*
2008 Sectional Semifinalist
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Susquehanna 0 (2 OT)
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Carnegie Mellon 0
N- Trinity (Texas) 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
2009 Second Round
H- Transylvania 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2010 Quarterfinalist
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Catholic 1
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Kenyon 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Johns Hopkins 0
H- Lynchburg 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2011 NATIONAL CHAMPION
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Washington (Mo.) 0
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Ohio Northern 2
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Hope 1
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 4, Montclair State 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Calvin 1
2012 First Round
N- Centre 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1 (2 OT)
2013 Second Round
H- Rose-Hulman 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2014 NATIONAL SEMIFINALIST
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Penn State-Behrend 2
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Calvin 1+
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Kenyon 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Christopher Newport 2+
N- Tufts 3, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2015 Second Round
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Milwaukee Engineering 1
H- Calvin 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
2016 First Round
A- Carnegie Mellon 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
2017 First Round
A- John Carroll 3, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
2019 Third Round
A- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Hope 0
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 3, Chicago 1
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 0, Luther 0*
2021 Second Round
H- OHIO WESLEYAN 1, Knox 0
H- Calvin 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2022 Second Round
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Penn State-Harrisburg 1 (2 OT)
A- Mary Washington 1, OHIO WESLEYAN 0
2023 Second Round
N- OHIO WESLEYAN 2, Rose-Hulman 0
A- Chicago 2, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
+advanced on penalty kicks
*eliminated on penalty kicks


TOP TEN NCAA DIVISION III
TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Rank Team NCAA Appearances*
1. Ohio Wesleyan 44
2. Wheaton (Ill.) 36
3. Messiah 33
4. Rowan 30
5. Babson 29
6. Elizabethtown 26
7. Trinity (Texas) 25
8. St. Lawrence 24
9. Washington (Mo.) 24
10. Cortland (N.Y.) State 22
bold face denotes teams which competed in
the 2023 NCAA Division III tournament.
Note: NCAA Division III tournament play began
in 1974. Prior to that, Ohio Wesleyan competed in
the NCAA's College Division.

[DH]

@PaulNewman - The irony is Kenyon is ranked ahead of both OWU and Denison in the NPI. Kenyon has many quality wins in its non-conference schedule. I understand Kenyon has some injuries that they're dealing with, but it sounds like those players are back or are very close. Moving forward, I think Kenyon still has the potential to make some noise in the NCAA tourney. Their non-conference wins show they can compete against anyone.

As far as Oberlin is concerned, they kept it close against Denison and OWU as well. In fact, I think they lost to OWU when the ball hit a divot and bounced over the keeper's head in the last minute for an OWU goal.

I think Depauw can surprise folks in the conference tournament. They're a tough team and has ties playing at North Park, at Hope, and at Denison. And all of their losses were by one and against good  teams.

[PaulNewman]

DH, I would love to wholeheartedly embrace your take. And perhaps you have more favorable news on the injury front than I do (which is very possible since I know virtually nothing). The Kenyon group in recent games is imo some distance from the group that made the early season run. Also easy to forget how close those matches were, as they easily could have lost the Hopkins and F&M games. The frosh are certainly more seasoned now but missing an AA as well as several other starters/key subs is a lot to overcome.  I just don't see them creating a lot of dangerous chances and I'm frustrated that most of the goals they've conceded have occurred because they get overcommitted deep in the opponent's final third and have insufficient numbers for the ensuing breakout. There's also no reason especially with a lead to be pressing and lunging for steals when the other team is 90 yards from goal, helping the opponent to create chances that otherwise would not occur.  Unfortunately (and surprisingly) I'm also not sold on the lineups Wall has been putting out there, and I wish they had another few games to figure out where adjustments should be made. I see the same players repeatedly giving the ball away and being advertised as more dangerous than I've observed so far. I do at this juncture prefer the underdog role, so I'll hang all of my hats on that.

Sounds like you are a DePauw supporter. Any color on the game with OWU?

[PaulNewman]

I wasn't sure before about DePauw having the 4th seed for NCAC tourney sewed up or not...and they do not...although a win today will put the Tigers through.

DePauw is sitting on 11 points and Monen Bell rival, Wabash, is on the Tiger doorstep with 10 points.

As fate would have it, both Hoosier state schools travel to the Buckeye state.  They could ride on the same bus!  DePauw heads to Wooster and Wabash visits Oberlin.  Will Oberlin show up for the final day and embrace a potential spoiler role?  DePauw cannot count on a draw versus Wooster, as a Wabash win would sideline the Tigers into next season. 

In looking at the NCAC standings I noticed that Denison has gone through conference play only allowing one goal (and the are GF 38/GA 6 overall).  Of course they haven't played OWU yet, but still.

Also should correct my note above as the main event match is taking place at 3:30.  I had assumed Denison (and OWU) would have favored a night game.

ADDENDUM:  I have received a flurry of calls from Little Giant and Tiger Nations correcting me on the ultimate prize in the Rte US-231 derby....MONON BELL, not Monen Bell...

[Little Giant 89]

You might need to provide security on that shared bus ride.

Let's Go Wabash!

[PaulNewman]

Wow.  DePauw draws with Wooster 0-0, and gets bailed out by Oberlin smashing Wabash 5-1.  The Little Giants have had some lopsided losses.

And looks like ONU came from behind twice to edge JCU 3-2.

[PaulNewman]

Thursday, November 7 - Semifinals
Game 1 - No. 4 DePauw at No. 1 Ohio Wesleyan, 7:00 p.m.
Game 2 - No. 3 Kenyon at No. 2 Denison, 7:00 p.m.

I was wondering how the tiebreakers would fall with both teams ending with identical records and I believe both having 1 goal against in-conference.  Denison has been the best team and was the more threatening team today, so the consequences of the draw feel a little harsh or at least unfortunate.  This is not to say OWU won't have trouble with DePauw, but Denison and Kenyon imo are the two best teams and OWU would only have to play one of them.  OWU is very much alive but this team doesn't look as strong as past editions.  There is less great possession and combo play than the OWU squads in the late 2000s and first half plus of the 2010s.  Probably fair to say something similar about Kenyon, and Denison of the three has been the ascending program.  At any rate, looks like they just keep Guerra and Jaggar up top with pretty average midfield play (by their standards), and Guerra in particular was almost invisible.  Ugly game and not sure the ref was up to it.  I'll add that the refs in at least a couple of the NESCAC matches today allowed a lot as they weren't even calling fouls on plays that usually would draw a yellow.

[DH]

I completely agree that Denison looked like the stronger team on Saturday. OWU was very fortunate to walk away with a draw. However, curious to know why you feel Denison and Kenyon are the two stronger teams in the conference. When you compare OWU and Denison against common opponents, including all in conference, OWU has a definite advantage. Head-to-head against Kenyon, OWU won 3-0. I will say Kenyon by far has the best non-conference showing. All in all, it's hard for me to tell which of the three is best.

To answer your earlier question, no, I don't really follow Depauw. I have a couple good friends who are parents on the team. The team I follow is a UAA team, whose season in all likelihood has come to an end. However, I live in the midwest and have ties not only to the UAA team, but also, OAC and NCAC teams.

[PaulNewman]

I completely agree that Denison looked like the stronger team on Saturday. OWU was very fortunate to walk away with a draw. However, curious to know why you feel Denison and Kenyon are the two stronger teams in the conference. When you compare OWU and Denison against common opponents, including all in conference, OWU has a definite advantage. Head-to-head against Kenyon, OWU won 3-0. I will say Kenyon by far has the best non-conference showing. All in all, it's hard for me to tell which of the three is best.

To answer your earlier question, no, I don't really follow Depauw. I have a couple good friends who are parents on the team. The team I follow is a UAA team, whose season in all likelihood has come to an end. However, I live in the midwest and have ties not only to the UAA team, but also, OAC and NCAC teams.

Fair question.  Just my opinion based on a decade plus of watching these teams, and I readily concede I haven't closely tracked these teams, their rosters, who is injured and who isn't, etc, so (not that this means a thing) my confidence level on my opinion is moderate.  I'm also a psychologist by trade and as you may already know I tend to over-psychologize.  That said, I do strongly believe (just as in politics) that psychology and vibe do play major roles, especially at the margins when talking about relatively even teams. 

I am relying heavily in my assessment of Denison and OWU on what I just saw.  Denison was the more dominant team.  OWU could have won 1-0 or 2-1 but that would have been well against the run of play.  Yes, OWU beat Kenyon 3-0 but scorelines are not always the best barometer.  OWU got their first goal very much against the run of play, then there was a PK, and next iirc an own goal.  Imo Kenyon might be (slightly) the most talented, but it's close with Denison and I could be wrong.  The Kist boys, Kreuger, McIntosh, a couple of the defenders, and the GK are excellent.  Denison definitely edges on talent if Kenyon has 3-4 starters out including Duratovic.  And if not the most talented Denison imo is the most balanced, toughest to break down, and (to borrow politics again) the most pathways to victory/advancing.  As I said in another post imo the talent level at OWU has dropped just a smidge....doesn't mean they aren't still a top-tier program but they are not the very obviously dominant program they used to be.  Kenyon imo is the biggest wildcard of the three teams with the most potential variability....think highest ceiling but also lowest floor.

Speaking of psychology I will say this.  I think OWU DOES have the psychological edge.  Denison DID have it but now the Big Red have to adjust to a bit of role reversal, being the favorite instead of the underdog. If Denison wins the next two games then imo they are a real Final 4 threat and would have a very good chance to host both NCAA weekends.  OWU has a legendary coach in his last season.  I think that may play a very large role.  So imo OWU now has the biggest psychological edge.  I still remember vividly when I was 15 in 1975 my beloved UK Wildcats made the national final.  Either right before the F4 or literally in between the national semi and the final John Wooden announced his retirement.  There was no way UCLA was gonna lose that game.  Of course they might have won regardless.  I think it was 92-85 in favor of the Bruins.  Jack "Goose" Givens was a frosh on that UK team and had to wait until 1978 to get a title against future big nemesis, the despicable Duke Blue Devils.

I don't know if this will sound contradictory or not, because I do think Denison is in the best form (but currently holding the worst psychology).  I put the odds of these three teams winning the NCAC tourney at...OWU 60%, Kenyon 45%, and Denison 35%.  Now watch DePauw take it.

If you watched OWU versus Denison with the audio on I wonder if you caught the announcer declaring 2-3 times that Kenyon had completely dropped out of the rankings.  Looks like the latest NPI has Kenyon at 10, OWU at 17, and Denison at 19.  I don't recall the Owls ever dropping out of the coach's poll either, although imo way too much is made of polls.