Great Lakes Region Navigation Channel

[midwest]

Denison beats Kenyon 3-1 to win NCAC -- I didn't watch so don't know much other than that.

[D-Three Fan]

ONU beat Otterbein 3-1.

[paclassic89]

Denison 3 shots, 3 goals.   Efficient!

[TableMax]

PN- Your 24/7/365 analysis to D3 Soccer is as good as it gets.  But don't think other "moronic" (per PAClassic) observers don't have another opinion that might not be similar to your humble opinion.  You giving your opinion. As I am.  The fact 2 NCAC teams hold the 1st and 2nd spots in the "Rankings" is comedy to me as I watch not all but most of the games. The OAC is the better and deeper conference this year.  Being ranked higher in the weeks leading up to the finish means allot..

[TableMax]

And who is handing out my Karma ranking..?    LOL

[Rcjh2245]

Region VII looking good today with selections. Rough 1st round draw for some but absolutely anything could happen.

[TableMax]

Rooting for all the Region 7 teams that get to play with their teammates another match and beyond. I get to research who they playing.  I don't watch too many games from other far away conferences.  Nothing like the tournament to settle it on the field..

[PaulNewman]

Impressive haul of bids for Region VII with only one deserving team left out from the entire rest of the region, so hard to complain although that provides zero solace for Mt Union players, coaches, and fans.

Let's take a quick look at what's ahead...

First, a minor complaint (kind of a poor man's Texas/Region 10 situation) where in one sub-quadrant only one of three Region VII teams can go beyond the Sweet 16 (JCU, Kenyon, Otterbein).

CWRU  -- Welp, CWRU is the ultimate stealth team...or put another way, a generic version of a really good medication that works just as well as the brand label but nobody can remember the generic name.  The Spartans have an excellent player named Vatne but otherwise I can't name a single player without cheating.  CWRU appears to have a "pick 'em" game with Hobart, and maybe Hobart is the "CWRU of the Liberty League," as despite reading every LL thread post I still know almost nothing about Hobart except some SLU folks think the Statesmen are pretty good.  Then, with an advance, CWRU would get the pleasure of facing Cortland on the Cortland pitch...with Cortland being touted as one of the hottest and most formidable teams in the field.  Upset Cortland, which I think CWRU could do, then you could be looking at Middlebury, at Middlebury or Amherst, or Hopkins or Babson.  And then Amherst, who I think would be challenged by CWRU who has played very good, very high profile teams.  In a word, I could see CWRU winning a single game against any of the above mentioned but cannot see them winning four in a row against that gauntlet.

Denison -- Congratulations on another incredible run through OWU and Kenyon...but that said, pack light.  To bring back a popular meme, I'll eat a hat if Denison gets past Conn College...but please, an edible hat.  If Denison can prevail the there's absolutely no reason not to pick the Big Red against F&M on Tylus.  And if they dispose of Conn and F&M, then Mary Washington won't seem any more difficult than Mary Baldwin...or why not be greedy and hope for yet another win over JCU or Kenyon for Denison's first trip to the Final Four.

John Carroll -- Trap game with St Mary's and then a date with one of the top 5 and maybe top 2 teams in the country in Mary Washington.  If the Blue Streaks can pull off the upset, which at one point in the season would have seemed doable and close to a 50/50 deal, then JCU would be looking at Kenyon, Otterbein or Wash College.  If Denison continues on a miraculous run then the Big Red could be waiting in the Elite 8...in another revenge match as the Big Red scored twice in a minute to beat JCU at JCU.  At any rate, a very difficult draw for the previously presumed best team in Region VII.  An early exit, even to Mary Washington, will be a huge disappointment.

Kenyon -- Oh Kenyon, oh Kenyon.  Here we go again.  Dominican is going to be very competitive and hungry...and the Owls will be in trouble if the Stars can get to the 2nd half even or with a 1-0 lead.  If Kenyon survives the 1st round then they certainly could get knocked out by Washington Coll or Otterbein.  If the Owls can survive the weekend there's a good chance they'd be traveling to Fredricksburg or Lancaster.  When you get to the 2nd weekend irrationality starts to seep in and grandiosity gets loose out the front door...and so IF the Owls can get to Mary Washington I think they'll get the upset.  If they reached that stage and faced JCU I'd have to go with JCU because OAC nation would experience too much enjoyment to deprive them of that moment.  In the Elite 8?  Already mentioned Conn, Denison, and F&M.  Also on the other side are merely Montclair and Christopher Newport.

Ohio Northern --  Arguably the hottest team in Region VII the Polar Bears got shipped to Lynchburg to play the "Denison of the ODAC."  Very, very even matchup on paper with the Hornets.  If ONU wins then they can breathe a sigh of relief in anticipation of Baruch....I mean Messiah.  That's probably not a great matchup for ONU as Messiah would not be a good matchup for literally anyone in the tournament.  But ONU is good enough to have a puncher's chance.  From there reaching the Final Four should be a piece of cake...with only Emory or Colorado Coll/Oglethorpe and then Tufts, W&L, Rochester, or Oneonta standing in the way.

Ohio Wesleyan -- I was a little surprised to see OWU maintain the #2 slot in Region VII, and it's been underscored already that the margins between #1 and #8 were paper thin.  The Battling Bishops saved themselves with an outstanding SoS to fend off the back to back losses to Denison which resulted in five ranked losses.  Jay Martin and the OWU brand don't accept losing...ever...and there could be no better miracle ointment than progressing past the 1st weekend...which almost certainly means getting past Chicago.  The jury is out on whether SC is correct about Chicago or if the Maroons have been treading water until this tournament.  Old friend and foe Calvin could be waiting (or maybe GAC or Wartburg) and that only gets you to the Elite 8 where St Olaf or North Central could be waiting in a corner booth.

Otterbein -- Another stealthy-type squad, except for Isaac and Isaac, Incorporated.  Otterbein apparently was the last Region VII to get a Pool C but imo the Cardinals have as good a chance to get to the 2nd weekend as any of the other Region VII teams.  The first game with Washington College should be one of the best 1st round tilts.  Otterbein then would be more than happy to face Dominican but the Cardinals also would relish an opportunity to add salt to the Owls' OAC wounds in Gambier.  Is it possible JCU could be next?  Yes, possible, but let's assume form holds and it's Mary Washington.  Hard to see Otterbein winning that one.

To recap, despite getting seven, Region VII could have the entire cadre out by the end of the first weekend.  Denison will be a big underdog in the 1st round.  Lynchburg should be a slight favorite over ONU at home.  Otterbein at best is 50/50 with Washington Coll, and then the winner of that I would say is 50/50 against Kenyon (or favored over Dominican).  CWRU is probably a slight favorite over Hobart but will be the underdog against Cortland.  OWU in the 2nd round will be an underdog to Chicago.  JCU would be an underdog to Mary Washington.  As I've said all along, a lot of good to very good teams, but none great and none that look like Final Four material or even the Elite 8.  That said, it only takes a huge win against a favorite to put a team in a great position for a deep run.  Hoping that at least two or three can get to the Sweet 16 and take their chances from there.

[Rcjh2245]

Pessimism with a sprinkle of optimism, aka false hope. Enjoyed the read even so. Can't wait to see which R VII team(s), if any, come out the other side of the w/e.

[PaulNewman]

ONE Region VII team advances past the 1st weekend.....Ohio Northern.  Congrats, Polar Bears!

The other six showed well but not quite well enough.  Two tie and fall in PKs.  One loses on a 90th min Chicago goal.  Denison had the game on a foot against Conn but couldn't convert.  JCU took Mary Wash to the wire and lost on a last minute goal.

[TableMax]

ONE Region 7 Team through..But 5-2 on the first day, 6-6 overall against some great teams and conferences. Great games to watch no doubt. Had 3-4 games on at once. The OAC showed well vs. the 1st and 2nd Ranked teams in D3 mens soccer on the road..

[Rcjh2245]

What a day. Dujakovich household melancholy with Kenyon/OWU losses but happy to see ONU's result against Messiah, who also couldn't seem to make it thru the first weekend of NCAA post season, notwithstanding a #1 ranking for most of the reg season. Let's go Polar Bears!!

[PaulNewman]

Whether friend or foe of John Carroll, this is an epic read....just make sure your morning coffee is not within reach.

https://jcusports.com/news/2023/11/12/journey-ends-in-second-round-of-ncaa-tournament-for-mens-soccer.aspx

[TableMax]

ONU Colorado College game a toss up...Interesting CC has only 1-2 kids on roster from Colorado..822 million dolla endowment..  They can afford to travel..-  I'm rooting for the OAC and ONU and Region 7..

[Kuiper]

ONU Colorado College game a toss up...Interesting CC has only 1-2 kids on roster from Colorado..822 million dolla endowment..  They can afford to travel..-  I'm rooting for the OAC and ONU and Region 7..

The NCAA pays for the team that is farther than 500 miles away and has to fly to the game site, so the number of local kids or the size of the endowment doesn't really matter (not that who is paying has anything to do whether the players are tired who have to do it).   If endowment mattered, Chicago (~$10 billion), Amherst (~$3.2 billion), and Tufts (~$2.4 billion) would definitely NOT be hosting games this weekend.