Go WEST young man (and NORTH)

[Kuiper]

SCIAC action tonight

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps broke a 1-1 tie in the 73rd minute to beat Cal Tech 2-1 and go 4-1-1 in conference (4-3-4 overall).  Despite an inability to put the ball in the back of the net on their shots -- they outshot Cal Tech 26-4 -- CMS continues to get results and are back in their familiar spot at the top of the table because of the other results tonight.

In the biggest shocker of the night, Whittier beat Redlands 2-1.  Whittier, which came into the game 0-4 in conference and 1-5-1 overall, came back from being down 1-0 at half to tie it up early in the second half on a corner kick.  Redlands wasted a lot of opportunities in the first half while out-shooting Whittier 15-3.  That came back to haunt them as Whittier dialed up a long range shot to the top right corner in the 89th minute to secure the win.  Redlands is now 2-3-1 in conference and 2-4-3 overall.  They are currently two spots out of the playoffs.  While it's too early to close the book on Redlands this year, they have dug themselves a serious hole.

In the second biggest shocker of the night, and on another late-game winner, Pomona-Pitzer beat Cal Lutheran 1-0 to hand the Kingsmen their first conference loss of the season and displace them from the top of the standings.  The game was fairly even both statistically and otherwise.  Pomona tends to like to play the ball on the ground, keep possession and make good passes into the final third, but in the first half and much of the second half the ball was in the air far too often to suit their game.  They scored the goal, though, on a well worked shot with about 10 minutes to go that the Cal Lutheran GK parried into the path of an onrushing striker who did what you're supposed to and pushed the ball to the opposite corner of the net. This is Pomona's 3rd win in a row, following a 4 game losing streak, so it's not clear yet whether Pomona is streaky or has just started to put everything together.

[Kuiper]

In the last game for SCIAC over the weekend, Oxy beat La Verne 3-0 to move into a tie with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for first place in the conference. La Verne held serve in the first half, which ended 0-0.  In the second half, a goal off a corner kick for Oxy in the 62d minute started to unlock the game and they tacked on two PKs later in the game. I was impressed with freshman Vicente Navarro for Oxy, who was playing the 6 as a deep-lying playmaker and he pulled the strings on a lot of nice incisive, line-busting plays rather than just operating as a ball circulator from that position. He had one cross field lofted ball that was inch-perfect for a first time finish for a goal that was unfortunately called back for offside.  He also disrupted a lot of La Verne attacks in a smart way, edging his hip in front of the attacker to force him in the direction he wanted him to go rather than the bungling rugby style you see from many 6's (and, frankly, that I saw from several of his Oxy teammates who are not at his level).

In the Northwest Conference, a two game weekend leaves Willamette up top with Pacific Lutheran close by them in second.  Willamette beat Whitworth 2-1 on Saturday and Whitman 3-2 on Sunday.  The first game was a better effort from what I watched.  After falling behind 1-0 early on a breakaway against the run of play, Willamette scored a beautiful right-footed strike from the left side of the box to the right corner of the net.  That was the shot that showed me Willamette has some skill, because most of the rest of that game and the Whitman game were less than convincing.  I didn't watch the whole Whitman game because it was hurting my eyeballs, so maybe I just saw the worst parts, but there were periods where I honestly felt like I was watching a JV game in high school or even an older age group rec soccer game.  It was a bad combination of poor passes, awkward challenges, wild kicks, etc from both teams that are the product of not enough skill to dribble or pivot out of challenges and not enough athletic ability to press without running into and over each other. 

In the other notable game, Pacific Lutheran beat Pacific 4-2.  That's not really a particularly impressive result (2 goals is the most 0-8-2 Pacific has scored all season) and it's hard for me to believe Pac Lutheran lost to Whitman 2-1 a few games ago.  So, at the moment I'm not quite convinced they are back.  Nevertheless, they are 9-2 overall and 4-2 in conference, with some rematches awaiting, so Pac Lutheran could still end up back in the NCAA's with the auto bid from the conference or even without it if they keep getting results.

[PaulNewman]

Sort of random but two lines I loved from the very good Trinity (TX) announcer in game versus the Southwestern Pirates...

After a shanked Southwestern GK punt...."Horrible kick that landed in the backyard of the house across from the field"

And after a Trinity 2nd half goal to put the Tigers up 3-1...."After 20 minutes in choppy waters the Pirate ship has sunk"

[Kuiper]

Here are United Soccer Coaches' regional rankings for Region X as of Sept 27.  Cal Lutheran and Chapman tied on Wednesday and Occidental beat Cal Tech, so those results wouldn't affect these rankings.  Mary-Hardin-Baylor did tie LeTourneau Thursday, though, which could hurt them in the next poll.  St. Thomas plays at Colorado College this afternoon.  So does Pac Lutheran against George Fox, but that can't help them and can only hurt them if they don't get the full three points or underwhelm.

Region X - Poll 3 - September 27, 2022
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Willamette University    1    7-0-2
2    University of Saint Thomas (Texas)    2    7-0-1
3    Pacific Lutheran University    3    6-2-0
4    California Lutheran University    NR    4-1-2
5    Occidental College    8    4-2-1
6    University of Mary Hardin-Baylor    NR    4-1-1
7    Chapman University    NR    4-1-2
8    Colorado College    6    4-2-2

Some movement in the Region X rankings for Oct 4 from United Soccer Coaches.  Cal Lutheran drops out after tying Chapman 0-0 and losing to Pomona-Pitzer 1-0.  Occidental moves from 5th to 4th after beating Cal Tech 2-1 and La Verne 3-0.  Colorado College moves up 1 after tying St. Thomas 1-1 and beating Centenary 3-0.  University of the Ozarks enters the poll with a decent record (8-1-2), but nothing that would count as a good win I think and their one loss on 9/23 is to Belhaven (3-5-3), which would count as a bad loss.  Seems like they were just trying to find an 8th team there and wanted someone from a different region/conference of the West.

Region X - Poll 4 - October 4, 2022
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Willamette University    1    8-0-2
2    University of Saint Thomas (Texas)    2    7-0-2
3    Pacific Lutheran University    3    8-2-0
4    Occidental College    5    7-2-1
5    University of Mary Hardin-Baylor    6    5-1-2
6    Chapman University    7    4-1-4
7    Colorado College    8    5-2-3
8    University of the Ozarks    NR    7-1-2

[Kuiper]

In a result that may only interest me, UC Santa Cruz, which was 1-6-3 coming into the game, beat Fresno Pacific, which was 2-6 coming into the game, 3-0.  Why is that interesting?  UCSC is D3, obviously, but Fresno Pacific is D2.  We often wonder whether a top D3 team could compete in D1 and at what level, but few ask about D2 (some even speculate that D2 is harder) or ask how we might compare teams at different levels that are both lower down in the rankings.  For those lesser asked questions, here's a data point.  Fresno did force UCSC' keeper to make 6 saves, and had more possession, but UCSC has scored less than a goal a game this season, so it's not like they just got one lucky bounce and held on for dear life. 

[Gregory Sager]

In a result that may only interest me, UC Santa Cruz, which was 1-6-3 coming into the game, beat Fresno Pacific, which was 2-6 coming into the game, 3-0.  Why is that interesting?  UCSC is D3, obviously, but Fresno Pacific is D2.  We often wonder whether a top D3 team could compete in D1 and at what level, but few ask about D2 (some even speculate that D2 is harder) or ask how we might compare teams at different levels that are both lower down in the rankings.  For those lesser asked questions, here's a data point.  Fresno did force UCSC' keeper to make 6 saves, and had more possession, but UCSC has scored less than a goal a game this season, so it's not like they just got one lucky bounce and held on for dear life.

My first question concerning a D2 is the same question I always ask of an NAIA program: Are they giving out scholarships, and, if so, how many and how much? While it's much more likely that a D2 will be giving out scholarship money, and more of it, than an NAIA program, it's not a given. Based upon what I've read on wiki regarding the athletic alumni of the Sunbirds, my guess is that Fresno Pacific did give out scholies as an NAIA school, which means it more than likely still does as a D2 school. So, even if the Sunbirds are having an off year, nevertheless there are probably scholie players on that Sunbirds team that the Banana Slugs just beat. So ... good win for UCSC, a team for whom I have a soft spot -- and not just because of their wonderful mascot. You talk about the West Coast teams being on an island as far as D3 geography goes ... well, UCSC is on an island within that island. There isn't another D3 school within hundreds of miles of the UCSC campus.

[Kuiper]

In a result that may only interest me, UC Santa Cruz, which was 1-6-3 coming into the game, beat Fresno Pacific, which was 2-6 coming into the game, 3-0.  Why is that interesting?  UCSC is D3, obviously, but Fresno Pacific is D2.  We often wonder whether a top D3 team could compete in D1 and at what level, but few ask about D2 (some even speculate that D2 is harder) or ask how we might compare teams at different levels that are both lower down in the rankings.  For those lesser asked questions, here's a data point.  Fresno did force UCSC' keeper to make 6 saves, and had more possession, but UCSC has scored less than a goal a game this season, so it's not like they just got one lucky bounce and held on for dear life.

My first question concerning a D2 is the same question I always ask of an NAIA program: Are they giving out scholarships, and, if so, how many and how much? While it's much more likely that a D2 will be giving out scholarship money, and more of it, than an NAIA program, it's not a given. Based upon what I've read on wiki regarding the athletic alumni of the Sunbirds, my guess is that Fresno Pacific did give out scholies as an NAIA school, which means it more than likely still does as a D2 school. So, even if the Sunbirds are having an off year, nevertheless there are probably scholie players on that Sunbirds team that the Banana Slugs just beat. So ... good win for UCSC, a team for whom I have a soft spot -- and not just because of their wonderful mascot. You talk about the West Coast teams being on an island as far as D3 geography goes ... well, UCSC is on an island within that island. There isn't another D3 school within hundreds of miles of the UCSC campus.

As to UCSC's Banana Slugs, they make up for being geographically isolated by effectively operating as a de facto affiliate member of SCIAC.  They make the 400 mile trip to Redlands tonight and La Verne Sunday in the second and third of 7 games against SCIAC opponents - 2 in Santa Cruz and the other 5 by traveling down to SoCal.  The only SCIAC teams they miss this year are Cal Tech and Occidental.  They then play a couple of games against Northwest Conference opponents by making a trip up there (Willamette and George Fox this year) and the rest of their games are NAIA or DII local opponents until they play in the Coast-to-Coast conference tournament in Maryland this year.  I give them a lot of credit for sticking it out in D3 and not joining its UC sibling UC Merced in NAIA.

[Kuiper]

Willamette continued its run through the Northwest Conference, beating Linfield 4-1 to go 9-0-2 overall and 7-0 in conference.  At first glance, this is a pretty good result.  Linfield came into the game with a 3-2-1 conference record and they beat Whitman a few games ago.  Upon closer examination, however, the result is slightly less impressive.  Linfield picked up a red card in the 13th minute, but still was only down 1-0 at halftime.  Moreover, one of the three goals Linfield gave up in the second half was an unfortunate own goal where the Linfield GK made the save, but the rebound deflected off of a defender and the GK into the goal.  Linfield scored their one goal on a long-range shot in the 76th minute.  So, nothing that would lessen Willamette's spot in the rankings, but not so impressive that they should move up significantly on the strength of this result either.

Similar kind of win for Pacific Lutheran, which downed Lewis & Clark 5-1.  As those who have been reading my West/North reports know (and that may be presumptuous to think that anyone actually reads these!), Lewis & Clark is a brand new men's soccer program and the team is basically a collection of sophomores who were on the L&C club team last year and the few recruits the women's coaches who are running the team as interim coaches found in the spring.  They are not officially in the Northwest Conference this year, but operating as an affiliate and some of their games against conference members have been classified as scrimmages.  Lews & Clark's one recorded win thus far was a scrimmage against a local community college.  So, Pac Lutheran emptied their bench.  Nevertheless, some of the Lutes regular starters or first line bench players were in this game from the beginning and/or played decent minutes and yet Pac Lutheran was only up 1-0 at half and Lewis & Clark actually tied the game up 1-1 in the 63rd minute before the deluge started for Pac Lutheran.  So, like with Willamette, a good win, but one that was expected (and good on them for scheduling the game and giving lots of bench players playing time).

In the SCAC, St. Thomas tied Texas Lutheran 2-2 after losing to Southwestern 1-0 on Friday.  St. Thomas was up 2-1 and gave up a late tying goal in the 86th minute.  Not sure St. Thomas can retain their #18 spot in the rankings after this evening.  Texas Lutheran is a decent team though (6-3-3 coming into this case, and 2-1 in conference), but they lost to St. Thomas 2-1 the first time the two teams faced each other.  With Southwestern beating St. Thomas on Friday and Centenary 2-0 today, they jump up to second in the SCAC behind Trinity, which beat Austin 3-1 today.  St. Thomas, which has the best overall record in the conference at 7-1-3, is in 7th in the conference with a 0-1-2 record.

[Coach Jeff]

Kuiper thanks for enlightening me about Lewis and Clark College.  I was watching a game the other day and It appeared that the center ref was a player with a color vest on and the linesmen did not have flags. 

I do agree with Williamette winning but not as convincing as it looked.

Where would you place Pacific Lutheran in the top 25.

What are your thoughts on Trinity TX?

[Kuiper]

Kuiper thanks for enlightening me about Lewis and Clark College.  I was watching a game the other day and It appeared that the center ref was a player with a color vest on and the linesmen did not have flags. 

I do agree with Williamette winning but not as convincing as it looked.

Where would you place Pacific Lutheran in the top 25.

What are your thoughts on Trinity TX?

Pacific Lutheran is 11-2 and they've beaten Colorado College, Claremont-McKenna-Scripps and Cal Lutheran in non-conference play.  Those are all pretty good teams that are in contention for winning their respective conferences, even if none of them are likely to be in contention for national rankings.  They played Northwest Conference leader Willamette tough, losing 2-1, and their only "bad" loss was to Whitman, a very up and down team.  I think Pacific Lutheran at least deserves some votes and maybe should sneak into the rankings somewhere in the 20s.  They won't have an opportunity to really convince any voters (except in regionally-focused sense like in the USC rankings), though, until they play Willamette again at the end of the month.

Trinity TX is the definition of streaky.  They have won 5 in a row, but before that they were winless for five games in a stretch where they tied two and lost three in a row.  Since four of their latest wins have come in conference, they sit on top of the SCAC at 4-0 and there is a decent chance they will win the conference.  I think they are a team starting to put it together, beating some of the conference's better teams recently in Texas Lutheran and Southwestern, rather than a team just feasting on the bottom of the teams in their conference.  The big wildcard is their sophomore forward Michael Meese, a D1 transfer from William & Mary last year and SCAC offensive player of the year in 2021, who scored three goals in Trinity's first five games (including a win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) and hasn't played since.  I'm assuming he's injured, but I don't know the story there.  They've adjusted after a rough patch, although Meese is still the second leading scorer despite missing the last six games.  If there was a chance they got him back this season and in-form, that would greatly increase their ability to make noise come tournament time. 

[Kuiper]

Here are United Soccer Coaches' regional rankings for Region X as of Sept 27.  Cal Lutheran and Chapman tied on Wednesday and Occidental beat Cal Tech, so those results wouldn't affect these rankings.  Mary-Hardin-Baylor did tie LeTourneau Thursday, though, which could hurt them in the next poll.  St. Thomas plays at Colorado College this afternoon.  So does Pac Lutheran against George Fox, but that can't help them and can only hurt them if they don't get the full three points or underwhelm.

Region X - Poll 3 - September 27, 2022
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Willamette University    1    7-0-2
2    University of Saint Thomas (Texas)    2    7-0-1
3    Pacific Lutheran University    3    6-2-0
4    California Lutheran University    NR    4-1-2
5    Occidental College    8    4-2-1
6    University of Mary Hardin-Baylor    NR    4-1-1
7    Chapman University    NR    4-1-2
8    Colorado College    6    4-2-2

Some movement in the Region X rankings for Oct 4 from United Soccer Coaches.  Cal Lutheran drops out after tying Chapman 0-0 and losing to Pomona-Pitzer 1-0.  Occidental moves from 5th to 4th after beating Cal Tech 2-1 and La Verne 3-0.  Colorado College moves up 1 after tying St. Thomas 1-1 and beating Centenary 3-0.  University of the Ozarks enters the poll with a decent record (8-1-2), but nothing that would count as a good win I think and their one loss on 9/23 is to Belhaven (3-5-3), which would count as a bad loss.  Seems like they were just trying to find an 8th team there and wanted someone from a different region/conference of the West.

Region X - Poll 4 - October 4, 2022
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Willamette University    1    8-0-2
2    University of Saint Thomas (Texas)    2    7-0-2
3    Pacific Lutheran University    3    8-2-0
4    Occidental College    5    7-2-1
5    University of Mary Hardin-Baylor    6    5-1-2
6    Chapman University    7    4-1-4
7    Colorado College    8    5-2-3
8    University of the Ozarks    NR    7-1-2

Region X - Poll 5 - October 11, 2022
Rank    School    Prev    W-L-T
1    Willamette University    1    9-0-2
2    Pacific Lutheran University    3    10-2-0
3    Occidental College    4    8-2-1
4    Chapman University    6    6-1-4
5    University of Saint Thomas (Texas)    2    7-1-3
6    University of Mary Hardin-Baylor    5    7-1-2
7    University of the Ozarks    8    8-1-3
8    Colorado College    7    5-2-3

St. Thomas drops from 2d to 5th.  I'm not sure why they are still in the top 8 at all after ties to Colorado College and Texas Lutheran and a loss to Southwestern in the last three games.

[PaulNewman]

Hey @D3Navy and @Ron Boerger....any info on Meese and whether he will be back at all?

[PaulNewman]

Upset brewing in Minneapolis around 79th min...Augsburg 1 GAC 0

[PaulNewman]

OMG.  GAC equalizes with 7.5 seconds left.  Another draw.

[Coach Jeff]

Does the draw help GAC or Augsburg?  This is becoming an interesting topic.