Big Dance 2022 - Let's Go!

[Falconer]

Congratulations to MW on a great game, courageously done while a man down before Amherst's over-the-top playing got them a red also. 21 fouls to 8, 4 YCs to 1. I'm very pleased that the officials had the balls to call fouls on that field. MW wins the shootout, helping to keep the world safer for democracy. 

[Saint of Old]

Congratulations to MW on a great game, courageously done while a man down before Amherst's over-the-top playing got them a red also. 21 fouls to 8, 4 YCs to 1. I'm very pleased that the officials had the balls to call fouls on that field. MW wins the shootout, helping to keep the world safer for democracy. 

Last 2 teams to knock out Amherst won the whole thing, just saying.

[Kuiper]

UMW advances on PKs, 4-3.

I didn't hear it announced, but Amherst seemed to change its keeper for the shootout from White to Max Landa (a kid from La Canada Flintridge HS in Los Angeles).  That continues the trend of using backup GKs on PK shootouts.  He did save one, but it wasn't enough. 

[Kuiper]

Final in Chicago as U of C beat St. Thomas 4-1.  Cinderella gets sent home from the ball, but St. Thomas will be a force next year with Aleman and Castro returning (and maybe Salako if he uses a Covid year).

Chicago is just so clinical.  They punished St. Thomas' mistakes, which is what strong teams do, and they were patient in waiting for them.

[EnmoreCat]

Mary Washington 2 Amherst 2 MW progress

Prior to the Tournament starting I was feeling some jealousy for the likes of Conn and previous winners.  They have done it, that can't ever be taken away, they have complete certainty about what they have achieved.  The game had a frenetic start, the referee turned down what looked to me a very good penalty shout inside the first minute and MW went down the other end and scored.  MW was playing the better and I am comfortable in saying that my underestimation skills don't need much in the way of honing.  Despite their ranking, I didn't expect they would be so good.  Skilful, fast play with some intricate passing, hard not to appreciate.  The Mammoths did get back into it eventually and 2-1 at half time was a definite lifeline. 

Very early in the second half, an Amherst shot hit the post and from a momentum point of view that would have been a pretty nice way to start, but it didn't take too long for the Mammoths to equalize and most (me included) probably thought that Amherst would roll on.  Again, super underestimation skills as the Eagles whilst getting pushed back still played their game and to me, looked pretty confident.  With 4 minutes to go, MW got a penalty and the much maligned Amherst keeper made a fine save to keep the season alive.

In extra time, Amherst had a couple of very good opportunities to score, but didn't and there was also some last ditch Mammoths defending as MW showed they were equally dangerous on the break.

There is a randomness around penalties, but in this particular shootout the clear observation was that MW took theirs clinically and deserved to progress and on the whole of the game, that seemed just about fair to me too.

Ultimately, Amherst lost just one game all season, to Tufts and whilst getting knocked out in the round of 16 will probably be considered a disappointment and underachievement by most, winning the NESCAC Conference was still an outstanding outcome for a group that had lost a seriously talented group of seniors.  The 2022 group has my extreme Ammiration and as always, I look forward to whatever comes next.  I am already thinking about what games I might get to see next year, it will come around soon enough. 

For MW, congratulations, I still have a lot to learn about D3 soccer, but I'd like to think I know the game in general and they definitely won't be in the elite 8 to make up the numbers, they are right up to their ears in this. 

[Maine Soccer Fan]

MW played their game today and should've had 4+ goals. They certainly deserved to win even if it took PK's for them to advance. This was the first time I had seen them and left impressed.

Amherst were big and imposing this year but never seemed to really have what was needed to go deep in the tournament. Just not much offensive punch against quality teams. Final 16 was about their ceiling this year.

[jumpshot]

amherst's loss today at home couldn't happen to a more appropriate coach ....

[Another Mom]

No comments on Kenyon/W&L game?? It's fun to watch this game. Scoreless at the half.

[jknezek]

Interesting first half of Kenyon hosting W&L. The first 10 minutes were all Kenyon, with one really good chance that W&L's keeper made a great save and a couple other half chances. It looked grim for the Generals in those first 10, but after that I think W&L settled in to the game and it became much more even. Over the next 20-25 it looked like W&L had the better of play by a bit and a few half chances and then forced Kenyon's keeper into an equally good save as the one W&L's keeper had to make. Late in the half Kenyon had another great opportunity that may have found net if it hadn't bounced off their own player as the game reverted over the last 10-15 or so to pretty much a 50/50 back and forth.

As the regular season stats show, both these teams are potent and any attack could result in a goal, but so far the defenses have held. It looked like the wind was mostly across the field, but definitely shading more toward blowing in Kenyon's face in the first half, so they should have what advantage there is of the wind in the second. I think the sun may also be more in W&L's face in the second half, but it's not as easy to read shadows on tv.

It's a nice looking field and it's been an up and down game that somehow remains 0-0. I'll be shocked if the score ends regulation that way. Both teams have had their chances.

[FBALLISLIFE]

No comments on Kenyon/W&L game?? It's fun to watch this game. Scoreless at the half.

The field and win is the difference maker early. W&L can't play it's game of long diagonals with this tiny field, and Kenyon can't solve the center backs with their low crosses. We are in for an exciting second half.

[jknezek]

I'll also say it has been a nice game of soccer. Kenyon is listed as 10 fouls to W&L's 5, but I haven't seen but 1 or 2 I think have been heavy touches from either side and I was flat out surprised the stats show Kenyon with that many fouls as I haven't really noticed. There has been some very pretty link up play by both teams, some nice one on one play, some pretty switches even given the wind.

I was watching as much off the ball runs as the camera let me see and I was very impressed with W&L's Agbeyegbi. His off the ball movement has been impressive. He took a shot about mid-first half that I think would have been better laid off to the right wing who had a clear movement on goal, but the shot he took was a solid look from 20 yards out as well and didn't miss by too much.

Kenyon seems to have some serious speed out wide. I don't know the players but there is one blonde haired midfielder who was camera side in the first half who just blew past some Generals multiple times and I saw it in some other spots as well.

The defenses have generally done a great job of cutting off the through balls, and I think the first team to slide one past will be a goal. Overall, a very worthy first half of a sweet 16 game. Two very good teams.

[Kuiper]

Kenyon strikes for a second time in 5 minutes with a patient and well-worked counter attack goal after a W&L free kick at the top of the box went right into the wall.

Kenyon up 2-0.

[jknezek]

W&L drags one back on some nice attacking movement. 2-1 Kenyon.

Slow starts for W&L in both halves could be the killer but with these offenses if this game stays this open more goals will come.

[Kuiper]

Kenyon strikes for a second time in 5 minutes with a patient and well-worked counter attack goal after a W&L free kick at the top of the box went right into the wall.

Kenyon up 2-0.

W&L scores on a beautiful passing sequence inside the box and it's 2-1.

[jknezek]

W&L keeper  gets caught in possession 30 yards out in no man's land. Kenyon may have been able to salt the game away there but didn't capitalize.