2021 NCAA Tournament

[blooter442]

I also found the Tufts announcers to be a breath of fresh air. Did a way better job than I ever could have at that age, particularly at staying impartial. I liked the Messiah guys last week, but they were both definitely homers, although they did give credit to Kenyon where it was due. The Tufts guys, though, at least seemed to try to greet Camels goals with enthusiasm, and as Hopkins pointed out that's pretty rare even at professional levels for an in-house TV crew.

[PaulNewman]

Congrats to Conn Coll and W&L and all their fans.  Very happy for you.

Crazy game in Medford, and impressed that Conn came back twice in the first half.  Most teams don't recover from big mistakes and giving up early goals against Tufts.  Definitely felt they were back in it when they leveled at 1-1 but doubted they could win after going down 2-1.  That goal just before the half was big and really changed the dynamic.  I thought Burk made a huge mistake subbing some of his key defenders at 4-2 or 5-2.  Even at 5-2 there was a ton of time and while things looked grim for Tufts you just knew they would fight to the end.  Went out like a champion.  They are such a physical, deep, talented team, and I doubt they would have lost in Greensboro.  They make all D3 teams look like....well, D3.  What a massive win for the Conn Coll program, and I bet more than a few of us were sure they were gonna lose 6-5.  I expect Conn and W&L to be a very even game, and both will be coming in sky-high.  If I had to pick today I'd probably guess Conn wins in OT.

I thought W&L looked in control from the jump and getting a goal first and early was obviously helpful.  Messiah had a lot of possession and certainly amped up the pressure in the last 25-30 minutes but never felt they were going to win that game.  W&L rose to the occasion and ultimately handled going through most of the season at #1.  I remember just 2-3 weeks ago talking about whether the loss to Randolph might be good for them.  Who knows, but just huge for the W&L program as well.

Great to have some new blood at the Final 4.  Don't know if this will make any sense but imo Amherst is the weakest of the four teams left but the favorite to win.  That said, definitely wide open and won't be surprised by any of the four taking the title.  And I thought Amherst did give a big boost to their awful reputation from what I could see.  I mean, Gabe Gitler, pipe down.  You may be a GG but you're no GG.  I do wonder if the real GG will be ready in a couple of weeks.  He went out early in the 2nd and again about 10 minutes after coming back in with probably almost 30 minutes left and he must be hurt, and Okrogheye also went out and never returned with what looked like a hamstring.  Disappointed that Middlebury didn't get through.  Really, really good team and I felt deserved a little better, but again gave up a goal right before the half.

[Hopkins92]

I was, admittedly, more focused on the Tufts-Camels game, but I don't know if I agree that W&L had control of that game. Just about everytime I tuned-in during the second half I saw Messiah guys lining up their defender, taking them on and setting up increasingly dangerous chances. The PK was correct for the Generals, but seriously unfortunate in terms of Messiah's comeback bid. And even with that, the game should've been 3-2 with 10 minutes left. And as was mentioned during the game, McDonald was terrorizing the General's backline for at least the last 15-20 minutes.

With that said, hoo boy... finish your chances in these games and you absolutely control your destiny. This was a very different version of the W&L team that we all called out after the Randolph match. More decisive with the ball at their feet, and their danger players showed up today, big time. Didn't see much of that at all in the October matches.

[PaulNewman]

I was, admittedly, more focused on the Tufts-Camels game, but I don't know if I agree that W&L had control of that game. Just about everytime I tuned-in during the second half I saw Messiah guys lining up their defender, taking them on and setting up increasingly dangerous chances. The PK was correct for the Generals, but seriously unfortunate in terms of Messiah's comeback bid. And even with that, the game should've been 3-2 with 10 minutes left. And as was mentioned during the game, McDonald was terrorizing the General's backline for at least the last 15-20 minutes.

With that said, hoo boy... finish your chances in these games and you absolutely control your destiny. This was a very different version of the W&L team that we all called out after the Randolph match. More decisive with the ball at their feet, and their danger players showed up today, big time. Didn't see much of that at all in the October matches.

Yeah, maybe I used the wrong words.  I never felt like W&L was gonna lose and the Conn game got to a point where I thought Conn probably was gonna lose.   Now admittedly I watched more of the 1st half when W&L had more of the play and I also was only half-watching the 2nd half because once the Conn-Tufts game was 5-3 I DID think Conn would not hold on.  I mean W&L was up 3-0 with 10 minutes left.  Could have gotten to 3-2 but didn't whereas Conn-Tufts did get to 5-4, so W&L never had less than a 2 goal lead most of 2nd half.  And I wonder if part of the reason McDonald didn't shoot when everyone thinks he should have was because he was playing on the right instead of his usual left...which of course doesn't putting on the right wasn't a smart move strategically overall.

[jknezek]

I don't think I'd say the Generals controlled the game, but I think they were comfortable with the role they were playing. They definitely had stretches with control, the first 10-15 minutes of each half come to mind, but Messiah definitely had more possession. However, until the last 15 minutes, once the Generals were up 3-0 and trying to ride out the game, Messiah didn't have too many good opportunities. Possession wide, sure. Possession 30-40 yards out, yes. But possession in critical areas with space? Not much until the end.

The Generals looked dangerous 1 on 1 a lot. They consistently beat their defenders and found space to create a few chances.

The last 10 minutes definitely got squirrelly. Macdonald made 4 or 5 great runs and should have at least tried to finish the one.

[Hopkins92]

Thanks gents, good insight. Like I said, I was only spot-checking the game so I'll pipe down.  :-)

What a fun afternoon of soccer!

Once we take a breath, it's going to be fun looking at these match-ups in Greensboro.

[CC United]

Tufts v. Connecticut College. I consider myself a neutral but have enjoyed watching Tufts over the years and think Shapiro was a great coach and great recruiter for the program. I don't post much, but I was in town and at the game so here are my thoughts.  Both teams seemed to line up in 3-4-3 or some variation thereof. Both teams have athletic players who are technical. Evenly matched player for player,  but I would give the edge to Tufts.  Not including the last 15 minutes when they were holding on for dear life, Connecticut College played the ball at their feet and had great movement on and off the ball.  For some reason, Tufts primarily played vertically bypassing the midfield.  In the second half I counted 23 long balls from the Tufts defensive line.  Some of these balls put Connecticut College under pressure but it was not pretty and most of the passes just resulted in Conn regaining possession.  I didn't keep count of long balls in the first half but it was the same approach. In recent years, Tufts has been a team that can and does play with the ball at their feet with the ability to go long to keep opponents honest, but not today.  Maybe the Tufts coach had determined that playing vertically was the best approach,  but I think it deprived Tufts the opportunity to dominate and control the pace of the game. Tufts just kept giving the ball back to Conn.  In the first half Conn Defender Number 24 misjudged a long ball and stopped it with his hand and was clearly intentional. The crowd was crying for a red but I think the ref got it right because while  the Tufts forward had a goal scoring opportunity it was not a clear goal scoring opportunity.  The Tufts player would have had a lot of work to do to bring the ball down and score as Conn defenders were closing in on him.  In the second half a Conn midfielder dragged a Tufts man down to prevent a fast break. It was a professional foul that deserved the yellow but not the red car the crowd was screaming for.  The last 20 minutes were exciting. It felt like the 5th and tying goal was going to come, but Tufts ran out of time. I was happy to see Tufts fight to the end. Connecticut College deserved the win and have as good of a chance as anyone to win it all.

[PaulNewman]

You have to see Tufts in person to appreciate just how big, strong, and fast they are.  Aroh and Clivio are huge men...and Clivio has at least 2 years left.  They look like a D1 team.  Conn was the right opponent to knock Tufts out because they have played them so many times in past two (three) years...and compared to 2019 I think Conn believed they could win.  Bu I don't think anyone for either side expected the wild one they played today.

[Brother Flounder]

I also found the Tufts announcers to be a breath of fresh air. Did a way better job than I ever could have at that age, particularly at staying impartial. I liked the Messiah guys last week, but they were both definitely homers, although they did give credit to Kenyon where it was due. The Tufts guys, though, at least seemed to try to greet Camels goals with enthusiasm, and as Hopkins pointed out that's pretty rare even at professional levels for an in-house TV crew.

I have to agree...I very rarely like the announcers in these games, as they are volunteers, but these lads were good. What a game... Congrats to the Camels...

[Another Mom]

One thing no one has talked about is W&L's Adrian Zimmerman breaking the record for most goals scored in an ncaa d3 tournament. He's up to 10 so far, having scored "only" 6 all season. What a time to catch fire!

(And no, he is not my son  )

[PaulNewman]

One thing no one has talked about is W&L's Adrian Zimmerman breaking the record for most goals scored in an ncaa d3 tournament. He's up to 10 so far, having scored "only" 6 all season. What a time to catch fire!

(And no, he is not my son  )

Thanks for sharing that info.  I wanted to ask but seemed impolite (the part about your son).

A handful of years ago, there was a guy, actually a super sub who iirc hadn't really played all year and scored in a series of games consecutively to propel his team I think to the Final 4.  St Thomas maybe?

And congrats on W&L.  Good luck in Greensboro!

[PaulNewman]

Yup...Tony Kuplic....

From a 2016 St Thomas game recap...from game St Thomas trailed 2-0 to Redlands maybe in Elite 8 and Kuplic got the GW in OT....

Super Sub

Kuplic could be viewed as an unlikely hero. The 6-foot-3 senior was cut from the team as a freshman but decided to give soccer one more try this fall. He made the team during open tryouts but never started or scored and played in only eight games during the regular season.

Then in an opening-round playoff game Nov. 12 against St. Scholastica, he scored the tying goal with 2:49 remaining in regulation and headed in the game winner with 1:57 left in the second overtime. The next day, he scored the second goal in the Tommies' 2-0 win over Luther.

He has taken just eight career shots on goal, with five finding the back of the net for goals.

[NEsoccerfan]

One thing no one has talked about is W&L's Adrian Zimmerman breaking the record for most goals scored in an ncaa d3 tournament. He's up to 10 so far, having scored "only" 6 all season. What a time to catch fire!

(And no, he is not my son  )

Wow. That's 10 goals in 4 games v. high-level competition and 10 out of the team's 14 goals during that stretch. Very impressive.

[Hopkins92]

Congrats to bzhag098 - As far as I can tell, that's the only entry in the nearly 70 entries to have picked all of the Final Four in their brackets. (Interesting, because that bracket had a LOT wrong, until they absolutely nailed it over this last weekend.)

[d4_Pace]

Well obviously disappointed with yesterday's result but super proud of the Tufts team for their effort this year and yesterday. All year they have had to battle through adversity and still put together one of the best seasons in program history winning the NESCAC title and only dropping two games all year. Incredibly proud of the effort yesterday. Coming back from 5-2 down to make it a game speaks to a level of character that will serve them well long after they finish playing.  And finally i'm proud for how they handled defeat, especially at the hands of a NESCAC rival... something other programs weren't able to pull off yesterday. 

Congratulations to Conn, Coach Burke has taken the program to a new level and they deserve their trip to the final four.

Go Generals and Maroon.