2021 NCAA Tournament

[PaulNewman]

Probably the best game I have watched all year. 

Kenyon hits the post with around 5 seconds left and Messiah get it away. Lady luck was with the Falcons – who bent but did not break – today.

Can anyone provide a link to rewatch the Kenyon Messiah game (if it exists)?

Yup...you can stream it right out of my brain.

I looked myself and couldn't find it on Messiah site.  Never could find the 2013 version either.

[Falconer]

Didn't hear the PBP, but that's b/c I was there in person. I echo what the commentators said--Kenyon is the best team Messiah has played in some time. They out-possessed the Falcons (a rare thing in itself), matched the Falcons' overall speed (also rare), and have comparably high level skills (uncommon but not as rare). They did indeed have some back luck. I agree with PN that the save late in the game by Falcon keeper Jared Pavlovich was incredible--I knew the game was over when the shot was taken, but somehow he got a hand on it. The Kenyon keeper, on the other hand, wasn't really tested--a testament to the ten men in front of him. So, I can't fairly say that the Falcons had/have an advantage at keeper, but I am prepared to believe it could be true. Pavlovich is probably the best Falcon keeper in at least a decade, perhaps even since Dustin Shambaugh, who single-handedly kept Williams from beating Messiah in the tournament in Williamstown back in 2006. So, while that save was hardly expected, it's part of the game the Falcons have this year.

I say this last part with some reluctance, because it could be seen as a bit of sour grapes, except for the outcome of the game. Despite the fact that the PK was called (and probably deserved, but I didn't have a completely clear line of sight), the official allowed far more hard physical play, some of it (IMO) actually dirty, on the part of Kenyon. That's one of the reasons Messiah didn't look up to par. It's one thing fairly to match or exceed the Falcons' excellence (which Kenyon did, unquestionably); it's another however to get away with serious fouling, all game long. Kenyon is bigger, man for man, than Messiah. That doesn't mean that officials need to give Falcons a break. But, it does mean that it's unfair not to call fouls that are unquestionably influencing the game and in effect favoring the bigger team. This happens often to the Falcons; it's something they just have to live with, as they did today. In my long experience as a fan, however, it gets progressively less likely in later rounds of the tournament, where the officiating is almost always a whole lot better than it was today. Some of the non-calls were ridiculous, but not funny. One of the most egregious: when the Kenyon keeper came up into the attack in the final couple of minutes, a Falcon breaking toward the empty goal was taken down from behind. Only a yellow was shown. I'm sorry, that's a straight red. It wasn't even close.

Well, more objective observers here are invited to comment on this piece of bitching.

I still think Kenyon deserved to win this one, despite the officiating. But, so did the Falcons: as Blooter said, they got it done when they had to, on both ends. Both teams IMO played better than anyone else I've seen all year--including the UAA and NESCAC games I've watched online. Not even close. This was a national finals level game that simply shouldn't have happened in the second round. Shame on someone, somewhere, for letting that happen to either of these two excellent teams.

[Christan Shirk]

I have to admit, I didn't expect the W&L/CNU - Messiah/Hanover sectional to be at Hanover... CNU gets to fly I'd assume at 670 miles. I can't imagine W&L or Messiah didn't put in to host, but who knows?

Don't believe everything you read on the internet!!!!!

Mistake on the part of yours truly with the spreadsheets that generate the webpages with the brackets.  The mistake doesn't manifest itself until now which is why it wasn't caught sooner.  The team in Hanover's place in the bracket in 2019 (Kenyon) hosted the sectional back in 2019 and that relationship wasn't cleared.

[Falconer]

Tufts avoids the upset of the tournament after *13* rounds of PKs...Stevens actually had a chance to put it away at one point, but Lauta came up with a huge save to keep them in it.

Way back in 2003, after a scoreless tie with #10 Salisbury in the second round, the Falcons lost 7-6 in PKs. I've never seen one go as long as that one today. Thought Stevens actually had it won, but Lauta came up big.

Brandt swore afterwards that he'd never lose another shootout. Henceforth, one of the Falcon keepers was always schooled on how to read the shooter. So, when Stevens and Messiah went to PKs in the national final in 2008, backup keeper Nick Blossie came in for the shootout and stoned all 3 of Stevens' shooters, while his teammates made theirs for a 3-0 win. He was then named the tournament MVP, even though he never stepped onto the field until the shootout. Congratulations to Tufts for surviving.

[jknezek]

I have to admit, I didn't expect the W&L/CNU - Messiah/Hanover sectional to be at Hanover... CNU gets to fly I'd assume at 670 miles. I can't imagine W&L or Messiah didn't put in to host, but who knows?

Don't believe everything you read on the internet!!!!!

Mistake on the part of yours truly with the spreadsheets that generate the webpages with the brackets.  The mistake doesn't manifest itself until now which is why it wasn't caught sooner.  The team in Hanover's place in the bracket in 2019 (Kenyon) hosted the sectional back in 2019 and that relationship wasn't cleared.

Ah.  That clears it up. I wondered about that.  Thanks!

[blooter442]

The one thing I will say about Kenyon is that — while there was definitely some inspired goalkeeping — even Martinez's equalizer was a rebound of a blocked shot. The Lords had a ton of possession into the final third but their decision-making often let them down, trying to score the perfect goal instead of putting it on frame. Of course, the Messiah goalkeeper played unbelievable and perhaps that was partially responsible for them trying to walk it in rather than shoot on sight, but I felt like they could have tested him more. Just my 2 cents.

[Gregory Sager]

WashU goes down to defeat, losing 3-1 to NPU.  I'm sure that Mr. Sager will post a complete write-up later, but the turning point was early in the second half, as NP got two early goals followed by Nolan Wolf being sent off due to a second yellow, taking the Bears down to 10 men.  Wolfie got jobbed, but NPU was the better team on the day and deserved the victory.

I think that the second yellow on Wolf could've gone either way; I could understand why the ref called it, although if I was in the middle of the pitch wearing the funny-colored shirt I probably would've kept the card in my pocket. Either way, I don't think it made a difference. As you said, NPU was the better team today. When the Vikings are on, their first touches are things of beauty -- they orient the ball with poise and purpose and set themselves up so well.

I said several times on the air today that I don't think that anybody in D3 played better soccer over the past two or three weeks than did Wash U, and I meant it. The back line of the Bears and GK Matt Martin are tremendous. Beating the Bears was a big step forward for NPU. This was likely the last game North Park will play at home this season, and the Vikings seniors walked off the ersatz grass at Hedstrand for the last time after a game with a great memory, as well as some nice momentum heading into Friday's game against typically ignored but super-tough St. Olaf.

Wash U gave up only nine goals in 17 games this year ... and five of those nine were to North Park.

[PaulNewman]

The Messiah announcers actually said Kenyon wasn't that big...that Messiah matched up well size-wise as they suggested Kenyon was much bigger in 2013.

Fouls Kenyon 10 Messiah 17

Shots Kenyon 18 (8)  Messiah 7 (2)

Corners Kenyon 8   Messiah 3

A red on the Kenyon GK under 2 minutes would have meant less than nothing (unless we'd gone to OT).  And it wasn't violent or over-aggressive.  Also don't think he was the last man back but not sure what the rule is on that.

The Messiah GK was superb...saved a header flicked in 1st half that's easy to forget that looked like would get over his head and into back of net.  The save just the minute before Messiah scored the winner almost certainly saved the game for Messiah.  Would love to see that again.  And the header hitting the crossbar and going straight down was fortuitous for the Falcons as well.  If you didn't know that was Messiah and just watched the run of play you'd think Kenyon won 3-0, 4-0, 4-1.

[thesoccerguy17]

Welp...obviously gutted...but also obviously extremely proud of how Kenyon performed.  You don't hear the Messiah PbP guys often say that's the best team they've seen in years and that Kenyon deserved to win.  They were starting to decompensate as the game wore on as they complained about the ref who gave them a PK, but overall they held it together and gave Kenyon their due.  Lords gave Messiah a PK against the run of play (when I didn't see any need, like make them score), just kept coming and coming, probably dominated possession at least 70/30, and could have had at least 3-4 goals.  Don't know how that header didnit go in, and that save at the right post by Messiah GK is now maybe best save I've seen...as was very hard shot to just inside the post through traffic and not even sure how Messiah GK saw it.  Anf then hitting post inside last 15 secs.  Several other very close calls.  Anyway, always knew it was gonna be tough to advance but really hard when your team clearly did enough.  But I give Messiah credit.  They hunkered down and found a way even when put in a position they almost never face even on the very rare occasions when they lose.

And the tournament rolls on.  Unfortunately this game by Kenyon probably did enough to have me stick around another year!   And now Messiah is gonna play Hanover!

Agree with this take minus the refereeing was at best questionable and one-sided at worst in this game. Rightful for Messiah announcers to complain. Multiple instances of Keyon going directly at the player from behind with no chance of getting the ball or coming in studs first and I believe the referee only showed two yellows (#4 and the keeper at the end). Respect to Kenyon for playing hard it definitely threw Messiah on their heels and kept them from getting any type of rhythm throughout the game. The referees at the tournament level just have to be better at game management and not just letting them "play on" because it's a tough game.

[SimpleCoach]

The one thing I will say about Kenyon is that — while there was definitely some inspired goalkeeping — even Martinez's equalizer was a rebound of a blocked shot. The Lords had a ton of possession into the final third but their decision-making often let them down, trying to score the perfect goal instead of putting it on frame. Of course, the Messiah goalkeeper played unbelievable and perhaps that was partially responsible for them trying to walk it in rather than shoot on sight, but I felt like they could have tested him more. Just my 2 cents.

Keeper the Mullet was outstanding in my book.  He is so sure with the ball that I am sure the men in front of him don't worry about dropped balls etc. that you see with other keepers.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

T

A red on the Kenyon GK under 2 minutes would have meant less than nothing (unless we'd gone to OT).  And it wasn't violent or over-aggressive.  Also don't think he was the last man back but not sure what the rule is on that.

The RC would've been for DOGSO. The Messiah player was looking at an open goal with the keeper behind him but defenders in front of him. It looked like an obvious goal scoring opportunity to me as the goal was open. However, I've never seen a keeper tackle a player-in-possession from behind at midfield before. That was a first for me and probably everyone who saw it, including the ref. And given how that ref was calling the game, he wasn't going to give a red for such a novel event, even if a RC was warranted.

[SimpleCoach]

A red on the Kenyon GK under 2 minutes would have meant less than nothing (unless we'd gone to OT).  And it wasn't violent or over-aggressive.  Also don't think he was the last man back but not sure what the rule is on that.

Well, when a Keeper comes out of the box, he is like any other player.  What I saw was a "professional" foul that was deserving of a yellow.  Kenyon#5 ... not too sure on the number ... was back holding since the Keeper had come up.  So by the law, all he did was drag down the Messiah player, not maliciously, just with the intent of not letting him go further.  By that standard, yellow card.

[PaulNewman]

Welp...obviously gutted...but also obviously extremely proud of how Kenyon performed.  You don't hear the Messiah PbP guys often say that's the best team they've seen in years and that Kenyon deserved to win.  They were starting to decompensate as the game wore on as they complained about the ref who gave them a PK, but overall they held it together and gave Kenyon their due.  Lords gave Messiah a PK against the run of play (when I didn't see any need, like make them score), just kept coming and coming, probably dominated possession at least 70/30, and could have had at least 3-4 goals.  Don't know how that header didnit go in, and that save at the right post by Messiah GK is now maybe best save I've seen...as was very hard shot to just inside the post through traffic and not even sure how Messiah GK saw it.  Anf then hitting post inside last 15 secs.  Several other very close calls.  Anyway, always knew it was gonna be tough to advance but really hard when your team clearly did enough.  But I give Messiah credit.  They hunkered down and found a way even when put in a position they almost never face even on the very rare occasions when they lose.

And the tournament rolls on.  Unfortunately this game by Kenyon probably did enough to have me stick around another year!   And now Messiah is gonna play Hanover!

Agree with this take minus the refereeing was at best questionable and one-sided at worst in this game. Rightful for Messiah announcers to complain. Multiple instances of Keyon going directly at the player from behind with no chance of getting the ball or coming in studs first and I believe the referee only showed two yellows (#4 and the keeper at the end). Respect to Kenyon for playing hard it definitely threw Messiah on their heels and kept them from getting any type of rhythm throughout the game. The referees at the tournament level just have to be better at game management and not just letting them "play on" because it's a tough game.

Yeah, it doesn't matter as Messiah moves on.  But I'll push back just a little with you and my friend Falconer (who I actually do consider a friend here).  I don't recall any Messiah players rolling around on the ground after fouls or alleged fouls or getting injured.  Martinez (who was fantastic and has 3 years left) did have a reckless challenge and got appropriately carded.  The ref late in 1st half had an opportunity for a make-up PK call and didn't give it.  Messiah led fouls 17 to 10.  I don't think Kenyon had a home court ref advantage for sure.  Kenyon was aggressive and closed space hard.  They would have two guys trap any Messiah player who got the ball, and as the announcers said Kenyon looked more like Messiah than Messiah because of the massive difference in possession.  They also quoted friends of the Messiah program calling/texting in saying they thought Messiah was playing its mirror-image.  So any suggestion that Kenyon was dirty takes away from the overall picture of how Kenyon played on the field and strung together pass after pass while having a massive possession advantage.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Welp...obviously gutted...but also obviously extremely proud of how Kenyon performed.  You don't hear the Messiah PbP guys often say that's the best team they've seen in years and that Kenyon deserved to win.  They were starting to decompensate as the game wore on as they complained about the ref who gave them a PK, but overall they held it together and gave Kenyon their due.  Lords gave Messiah a PK against the run of play (when I didn't see any need, like make them score), just kept coming and coming, probably dominated possession at least 70/30, and could have had at least 3-4 goals.  Don't know how that header didnit go in, and that save at the right post by Messiah GK is now maybe best save I've seen...as was very hard shot to just inside the post through traffic and not even sure how Messiah GK saw it.  Anf then hitting post inside last 15 secs.  Several other very close calls.  Anyway, always knew it was gonna be tough to advance but really hard when your team clearly did enough.  But I give Messiah credit.  They hunkered down and found a way even when put in a position they almost never face even on the very rare occasions when they lose.

And the tournament rolls on.  Unfortunately this game by Kenyon probably did enough to have me stick around another year!   And now Messiah is gonna play Hanover!

Agree with this take minus the refereeing was at best questionable and one-sided at worst in this game. Rightful for Messiah announcers to complain. Multiple instances of Keyon going directly at the player from behind with no chance of getting the ball or coming in studs first and I believe the referee only showed two yellows (#4 and the keeper at the end). Respect to Kenyon for playing hard it definitely threw Messiah on their heels and kept them from getting any type of rhythm throughout the game. The referees at the tournament level just have to be better at game management and not just letting them "play on" because it's a tough game.

Yeah, it doesn't matter as Messiah moves on.  But I'll push back just a little with you and my friend Falconer (who I actually do consider a friend here).  I don't recall any Messiah players rolling around on the ground after fouls or alleged fouls or getting injured.  Martinez (who was fantastic and has 3 years left) did have a reckless challenge and got appropriately carded.  The ref late in 1st half had an opportunity for a make-up PK call and didn't give it.  Messiah led fouls 17 to 10.  I don't think Kenyon had a home court ref advantage for sure.  Kenyon was aggressive and closed space hard.  They would have two guys trap any Messiah player who got the ball, and as the announcers said Kenyon looked more like Messiah than Messiah because of the massive difference in possession.  They also quoted friends of the Messiah program calling/texting in saying they thought Messiah was playing its mirror-image.  So any suggestion that Kenyon was dirty takes away from the overall picture of how Kenyon played on the field and strung together pass after pass while having a massive possession advantage.

"Make up call" - are you saying the PK wasn't an obvious foul? And that refs engage in makeup calls for PK's? If they do, they're terrible refs.

One of the reasons Kenyon lost 2-1 is because one of their players made a huge mental mistake in the box and gave away a needless PK by fouling a guy in possession with his back to goal. It's on him for his indiscipline. You're right, Messiah didn't earn that goal; Kenyon gifted to them, not the ref.

[PaulNewman]

The Messiah announcers expressed concern about whether a play in the Messiah box would trigger a make-up call.  Poor wording, perhaps, because they certainly agreed with the actual PK call.  And yes, Kenyon gifted that to Messiah well against the run of play and with no real need that I could see.  I would love to see it again, because I couldn't tell exactly what happened, but I never said or meant to imply that it was not a deserved PK.

There was a mention of Messiah possibly getting LG back at some point.  They need him...not for Hanover, but maybe for the Elite 8 and certainly for the Final 4.