Big Dance 2022 - Let's Go!

[Gregory Sager]

North Park had no issues with taking down Rose-Hulman in sleety, windy Ada, OH today, 3-1, as the Engineers goal really came too late to matter. I was only able to watch a little of it, since I was calling a women's basketball game at NPU at the same time the soccer game was going on in the Eastern time zone. But at one timeout in the basketball game, having read all of my ad copy for the half, I clicked on the soccer livestream for about fifteen seconds and was treated to the second Vikings goal, a beaut set up by Noel Holm and finished by Isak Flo.

For a while I thought that the opponent NPU was likely to face tomorrow would be Mount Aloysius rather than Ohio Northern, as the Mounties put up a fair bid to manufacture a huge upset over the home team of the pod. Ohio Northern led most of the second half afer a 58th-minute goal, but the Mounties never wavered from their classic inferior-team strategy, sitting back deep and keeping the ball out of the middle of the pitch on a day in which the wind was knocking down airborne crosses, countering when the opportunity was there but resisting the urge to send up extra men to consolidate if the counter petered out. But, running out of time, they did wisely push up after earning a corner in the waning minutes, and were rewarded with a leveler at 83:29. Two overtimes later, they were right where they wanted to be -- in a shootout after a 1-1 draw, and their goalkeeper made the first save to start off that shootout. But their fortunes dried up as the shootout went on, so instead it'll be NPU vs. ONU, Part Two tomorrow afternoon.

[blue_jays]

UChicago looked rough tonight, and the injuries they suffered won't help things either. Also, it was very cold and the reffing was abysmal. 8 cards in a game of average physicality. What a joke.
Willamette was dominant in their game with lots of speed and technical ability.
If the Maroons don't up their game tomorrow night, Willamette will beat them.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Any of the YC in Chicago game for dissent or misconduct?

[PaulNewman]

Obviously a day full of outstanding match-ups....

Great opportunity individually and in congregate for NY State teams....SLU-Amherst, Vassar-Bowdoin, Oneonta-Tufts.  NY snaring two out of three would be impressive.

Williams has the opportunity of a lifetime...and chance to do something that will yield more than talking about draws.

Two outstanding kind of under the radar games....UWEC-GAC and St Olaf-N Central...all looking to see which one will get a shot presumably at Chicago down the road.

Tremendous opportunity for almost the entire Stevens quad, especially now that Midd, a team that so many of us picked to emerge, is out.  Stevens will have a tough one today with fellow Jersey squad Rowan but there's nobody in the quad that they might think they can't beat.  So I give Stevens a decent chance, but also think the opportunity to get to a final 4 is sitting right there for F&M, Cortland, JHU, JCU, Rowan, and I guess CNU.  F&M, JHU, and JCU in particular have been trying to break through for a while now.

[Ejay]

So I give Stevens a decent chance, but also think the opportunity to get to a final 4 is sitting right there for F&M, Cortland, JHU, JCU, Rowan, and I guess CNU.

So you're saying the Final 4 is sitting right there for 7 of the 8 teams?  That's quite the observation

[PaulNewman]

So I give Stevens a decent chance, but also think the opportunity to get to a final 4 is sitting right there for F&M, Cortland, JHU, JCU, Rowan, and I guess CNU.

So you're saying the Final 4 is sitting right there for 7 of the 8 teams?  That's quite the observation

I did start out by saying "Tremendous opportunity for almost the entire Stevens quad...."

Was about chances, not predictions....and that 7 doesn't include my (and many others') prediction of Midd.

A slew of good to very good teams but imo no great ones.

[blooter442]

"Scoooooore Bowdoin" is hardly the most elegant way to announce a goal.

[d4_Pace]

Tufts just played one of their best halves of the season... and trail 1-0. Such is this crazy sport. Hopefully they can cut out a few more clear cut chances and put one away in the second half.  The RCB for Oneonta is very impressive. Really composed on the ball and has made a few key interceptions.

[PaulNewman]

Tufts just played one of their best halves of the season... and trail 1-0. Such is this crazy sport. Hopefully they can cut out a few more clear cut chances and put one away in the second half.  The RCB for Oneonta is very impressive. Really composed on the ball and has made a few key interceptions.

The parts I've seen Oneonta is doing a great giving Tufts no space or good looks in the final 3rd.  That said, I would guess Oneonta will need at least one more.

[Hopkins92]

So I give Stevens a decent chance, but also think the opportunity to get to a final 4 is sitting right there for F&M, Cortland, JHU, JCU, Rowan, and I guess CNU.

So you're saying the Final 4 is sitting right there for 7 of the 8 teams?  That's quite the observation

I did start out by saying "Tremendous opportunity for almost the entire Stevens quad...."

Was about chances, not predictions....and that 7 doesn't include my (and many others') prediction of Midd.

A slew of good to very good teams but imo no great ones.

Yep, it's why I thought this was the second hardest region. Lots of parity, but a higher level.

[paclassic89]

What a goal for Oneonta's 2nd! 

[Hopkins92]

Pretty annoying they can't stagger these games a  little bit more today. 6 games kick off at 3pm. You could start a few at 2 and 4 and even throw in a few :30 start times.

I know this only effects this nerdy pocket of the world, but still...

[paclassic89]

Agreed!  I started watching the Amherst game until that wasn't close.  Switched to Oneonta and now I'm on the Vassar/Bowdoin game.  Vassar just tied it up. 1-1

[Hopkins Walk-On]

Iffy call on the Vassar penalty. Weather looks terrible in Brunswick.

[Hopkins92]

What a goal for Oneonta's 2nd!

Starts with the clever header-heel flick, then 4 sharp passes and a one-touch finish.

That was clinical. Thanks for calling it out!