Great Lakes Region Navigation Channel

[PaulNewman]

I have no idea what to make of Otterbein @ OWU not being played this week and possibly cancelled.  That was a big game for both teams and I wonder what the story is and who benefitted most by not playing.  Can a team decline to play or res-schedule if they have a turf field available? Like insisting it's our grass field or bust?

From a purely legal perspective, I would be shocked if a contractual agreement to play a non-conference game has a same-season specific performance clause when a game is postponed because of an Act of God situation.  At most, the parties would be obligated to use their best efforts to reschedule, but that may include for a future season.  Even if one party cancelled in breach of the contract (i.e., because of something in their control), it seems more likely that there is a clause of the contract requiring that the cancelling school reimburse the other school for any costs incurred, rather than being required to find another open date on the calendar before the end of the season. 

From a less legal and more practical perspective, coaches and ADs are repeat players and they don't want to get sideways with another school in their region, both because they want to preserve their relationship with that school and they don't want to develop a bad reputation with other schools who might think twice about scheduling them in the future.  So, most try to be accommodating if possible.  If they aren't rescheduling, chances are the school saying no has a plausible enough reason that the other team doesn't feel like pressing the matter further.  They just will be less likely to schedule that team in the future.

Thanks.  I per usual way over-complicated it.  Really just wanted to know why JCU-Denison made up the game the next night and Otterbein-OWU didn't.  Neither had another game yesterday or today so not clear why they didn't play last night and wondered if either thought it was to their advantage not to play.

[Domino1195]

I will guess the availability of officials had something to do with rescheduling the next day. Thursday is HS play - almost no college games on Thursdays in Ohio. Incidentally, the CR last night (Denison) was Eric Tattersall - he did the D3 final last year. Been working his way up with PRO too - saw him at a Crew game as the 4th official couple weeks ago

[PaulNewman]

I'm not gonna nitpick anything with Kenyon today.  4-0 over a very good CWRU team that they could see again down the road.  And Muther got 10-15 minutes each half which is good news.  The field looked fantastic and now we know why Kenyon has so few home games.  Coach Brown is a fanatic about that field and win or lose the players are out there for a good 45 minutes after the game to repair divots all over the pitch.  He wants that field in good shape come November.

[SimpleCoach]

I'm not gonna nitpick anything with Kenyon today.  4-0 over a very good CWRU team that they could see again down the road.  And Muther got 10-15 minutes each half which is good news.  The field looked fantastic and now we know why Kenyon has so few home games.  Coach Brown is a fanatic about that field and win or lose the players are out there for a good 45 minutes after the game to repair divots all over the pitch.  He wants that field in good shape come November.

@PaulNewman - Is Muther hurt or recovering from an injury?  Realized he has only played 2 games this season.

SC.

[PaulNewman]

SC, I've got no direct intel, but missing first couple of games, playing limited minutes for a couple, then out again for several, and back yesterday for limited minutes strongly suggests recovering from an injury to me.  Sounds very consistent with a hamstring injury, right?  They seem to also have one of their more talented freshmen out with injury (started for Muther at right back for the season opener but I don't think has played at all since the second game) and a a couple of sophs who also would likely get playing time have been out.

[Domino1195]

Storms moving through western Ohio - one large thunderstorm in Lima headed to Ada. I'd bet there will be at least an hour delay in the ONU/CMU game. 7 minutes played.

What did I say about JCU and playing a full 90 minute game a day ago? They didn't.
Set pieces are killing teams in the middle/bottom of their respective leagues. Of course the Calvin winner off a throw; all 4 goals in the Hanover/Capital game - although the leveler from Cap with 17 seconds left may help that young squad come league play next Sat. Still have OWU on Wednesday , who finally got into the win column vs Trine.

Nice rebound by Denison to win at Wilmington 2-1, especially considering they played nearly 30 minutes a man down and got the game winner with 10 men. Looked at the RC several times - have no idea what the foul/call was warranting the card. Can only assume language or VC based on the video.  First Denison goal: set piece naturally. Wilmington's goal came off a careless TO at midfield and a long pass to one of Wilmington's mist dangerous scorers. Didn't see the play much as the Wilmington camera coverage was late getting to the action - as it was with Denison's winning goal. But Denison plays to the final whistle - getting the winner with about 10 minutes left. DePauw's loss at Wittenberg certainly surprised me, but I think Denison is a clear #2 in the NCAC.

[D3Dad]

Denison red card was for language

[Domino1195]

Some conference play has begun - PAC - Heartland begins today.  Grove city off to a 2-0 start - the thumping of Franciscan 6-0 away caught my attention. Only three, four teams vying for the AQ - Franciscan's last three results have them heading in the wrong direction. Geneva and Bethany looking like contenders.

Juiciest match tonight is Denison at Otterbein. As things stand, Bein's pre conference schedule looks weaker than it might have before the season - so they need a signature win tonight. I expected Otterbein to be a top 3-4 team in the OAC and they're going to need to get to the conference tournament final for a chance at an at-large bid.  JCU at PSU-B: PSU-B has had good results against decent GL competition so far. They have no chance for an at-large bid and will most likely get the AQ from the AMCC.

The enigmas that are OWU and Capital square off in Delaware tonight - I have no idea what to expect.

ONU/CMU Sunday: somewhere Jose Mourinho is smiling. While CMU doesn't exactly employ a low block, they are a defensive oriented side that seeks quick counters. I'm not sure what this style will do in UAA play , but as they did at JCU: they will frustrate the opposition and look for that one opportunity for a goal.

[D3Dad]

Otterbein dominated my Big Red and really stifled our offense without our starting striker who was out on a red card .  Hoping the spanking lights fire into Denison for conference play .  Looking forward to Kenyon vs OWU on Tuesday

[PaulNewman]

I am NOT looking forward to Kenyon @ OWU on Roy Rike Field at the Dr. Jay Martin Soccer complex at night in front of 1000+ fans.  I never do look forward to it and probably never will.  Would much rather be playing Messiah, Chicago, Calvin, or Tufts Tuesday night.

[SimpleCoach]

I am NOT looking forward to Kenyon @ OWU on Roy Rike Field at the Dr. Jay Martin Soccer complex at night in front of 1000+ fans.  I never do look forward to it and probably never will.  Would much rather be playing Messiah, Chicago, Calvin, or Tufts Tuesday night.

Is that kind of like .... playing Stoke on a Tuesday, in the cold rain??

SC.

[PaulNewman]

I am NOT looking forward to Kenyon @ OWU on Roy Rike Field at the Dr. Jay Martin Soccer complex at night in front of 1000+ fans.  I never do look forward to it and probably never will.  Would much rather be playing Messiah, Chicago, Calvin, or Tufts Tuesday night.

Is that kind of like .... playing Stoke on a Tuesday, in the cold rain??

SC.

If by Stoke you mean Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, then yes. 

[SimpleCoach]

I am NOT looking forward to Kenyon @ OWU on Roy Rike Field at the Dr. Jay Martin Soccer complex at night in front of 1000+ fans.  I never do look forward to it and probably never will.  Would much rather be playing Messiah, Chicago, Calvin, or Tufts Tuesday night.

Is that kind of like .... playing Stoke on a Tuesday, in the cold rain??

SC.

If by Stoke you mean Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, then yes.

Yes.  Of course.  The draining of blood from ones veins is a bit more impactful than.... cold rain.

SC.

[PaulNewman]

Actually in my memories of the film there always is a cold rain in Transylvania. 

And in my ongoing segment of TMI, both of my parents were from Eastern KY coal mining towns (aka Appalachia)...and they met at....Transylvania (Transy).

[Shamrock]

"But can they do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke?"