Big Dance 2022 - Let's Go!

[Gregory Sager]

Ducks get level on a 78th minute freebie from 25 yards out.

[Gregory Sager]

They're going to overtime in the Garden State. The last five minutes of regulation was great end-to-end soccer, with both JHU and SIT having prime opportunities to put the game on ice.

[NEsoccerfan]

Congratulations to Williams.  I thought they outplayed Kenyon especially in the sense that Ephs did what they wanted to do and Kenyon didn't do what Owls wanted to do.  I knew was going to be a very difficult game but did not think there was any way Kenyon wouldn't finally pull one of these out.  Brutal, brutal, brutal.  I've watched the Kenyon no-goal that was waved off for offsides just a few minutes before Williams scored and I don't see it or maybe just don't understand it....all Kenyon players looked clearly onside when cross coming in left Thesing's foot, then Diffley spills the ball, Kenyon puts it in.  Then with five minutes left multiple Kenyon players simultaneously called for a handball in the box that wasn't called so don't know if there was anything there or not.  Williams goal comes off restart from over Williams side of the field by GK, Kenyon clears couple of time but Williams able to loft back in, I think Boardman gets a head on it, and Wang pushes the ball in with the side of his foot and ball trickles in reminiscient of Tufts in 2016.  Kenyon CB got beat but got just enough pressure on Wang that Pedreschi could have stayed in net and would have collected easily but that's what happens in these games.  Still, though, amazing performance by the Williams defense even though I still don't understand how Owls couldn't break them down.  Kenyon still had enough chances to win but just didn't get it done.   The constant set pieces/deep throws even from 50-60 yards out was tough to watch but kept enough pressure on Kenyon defense to keep them very occupied.

Sorry, Paul. I was definitely cheering for you guys. Good on you not to make excuses and give credit where it's due.

[BigSoccerFan]

They got it just about right and maybe they could have left 1 out going by the criteria.  Doing an "in hindsight" exercise is moronic.  They don't pick teams by watching games.  They have a set of statistics and criteria to go by.

Just a question.  No need to get all protective  and angry

[northman]

They got it just about right and maybe they could have left 1 out going by the criteria.  Doing an "in hindsight" exercise is moronic.  They don't pick teams by watching games.  They have a set of statistics and criteria to go by.

Just a question.  No need to get all protective  and angry

I'm not interpreting that as protective and angry.  I think PAclassic89 was just stating the facts.  Plus, do you change your own opinion now that we all realize Williams is through to the Final Four?

[Yankeesoccerdad]

Northman, you got me. I enjoyed reading about your 2010 memories storming Pickard field.

Tough loss for Bowdoin today. It was a great season and a huge step forward. Two seasons ago (2019), Bowdoin had one NESCAC win (Trinity) and didn't make the NESCAC playoffs. The team built on that last season and took another big step this year. It has been a great experience for our son and for us as parents. (I suspect almost all D3 soccer parents feel the same).

Hats off to Mary Washington—they had a great weekend and know how to play. They deserved their two big wins. Their team was unfazed by the Amherst antics yesterday and by the wind and cold today.

You are right—Assistant Coach Banadda has been great and definitely a positive influence on the program.

Our ride is over for this year but we enjoyed it. It has also been great interacting with folks here on the board. Good luck to the survivors!

[Gregory Sager]

Yet another game goes to PKs, as the Stevens and Johns Hopkins coaches choose up their five apiece to settle the last remaining Salem berth.

[northman]

Northman, you got me. I enjoyed reading about your 2010 memories storming Pickard field.

Tough loss for Bowdoin today. It was a great season and a huge step forward. Two seasons ago (2019), Bowdoin had one NESCAC win (Trinity) and didn't make the NESCAC playoffs. The team built on that last season and took another big step this year. It has been a great experience for our son and for us as parents. (I suspect almost all D3 soccer parents feel the same).

Hats off to Mary Washington—they had a great weekend and know how to play. They deserved their two big wins. Their team was unfazed by the Amherst antics yesterday and by the wind and cold today.

You are right—Assistant Coach Banadda has been great and definitely a positive influence on the program.

Our ride is over for this year but we enjoyed it. It has also been great interacting with folks here on the board. Good luck to the survivors!

Great to hear your story, Yankeesoccerdad.  Was your son recruited post arrival of Banadda, or before?  At any rate, Bowdoin certainly had their chances today.  My older son, who played D1 for Brown, has been following Bowdoin and felt that Bowdoin switched off after they allowed the PK.  I tend to agree with that.  But all credit to Mary Washingon...they shouldn't be worried about anyone in the Final Four!

[Gregory Sager]

Stevens advances in six PK rounds, 5-4. JHU missed the goal completely in its last two shots.

[Kuiper]

Stevens beats Johns Hopkins on PKs.  I think that's the first shootout during the tournament where it was really the shooters missing the goal entirely rather than the GKs saving that determined the outcome.  Pretty unusual to have three kicks that didn't even get on target.

[Yankeesoccerdad]

[quote author=northman link=topic=9362.msg2063799#msg2063799 date=1668984090
Great to hear your story, Yankeesoccerdad.  Was your son recruited post arrival of Banadda, or before?  At any rate, Bowdoin certainly had their chances today.  My older son, who played D1 for Brown, has been following Bowdoin and felt that Bowdoin switched off after they allowed the PK.  I tend to agree with that.  But all credit to Mary Washingon...they shouldn't be worried about anyone in the Final Four!
[/quote]

Our son was recruited before.

Your assessment is right. The foul that led to the PK was a soft foul. But the ref was calling soft fouls all day and the players need to adjust. The PK definitely shifted momentum.

[Hopkins92]

The last guy that missed for Hop was pulled out of the top 5 for a reason. Great player, but PKs are in his head right now.

Full credit to the Mighty Ducks. That is a very scrappy, skillful, physical (in a good way) team. Bruno Andino, who I've dubbed the best Jersey name on a Jersey school team (though a few other names jumped out at me today -- Vespucci and Musacchia for example) is a true game winning goal machine. Not that he won the game with today's free kick, but it's the clutch nature of the goals.

Very proud of Hopkins and they should be proud of this run. Hoping they learn the lesson that you don't start trying to kill the game off with 20 minutes left to play. Dude was dribbling to the corner with almost 16 minutes left. That mentality starts to just beg the other team to storm the castle. And, again, full credit to Stevens, they sure took the invitation seriously.

15-2-7 (I guess officially 15-1-8)... Elite 8... Not too shabby.

I'll be rooting for the Mighty Ducks down in Salem. I believe they play Chicago, should be a fascinating match.

[blue_jays]

Chicago gets the result and doesn't celebrate whatsoever...

I noticed that too. Part of it is they are probably exhausted, cold, and want to get inside, but part of it may be the feeling that when you've been to the Final Four last year and lost, you have unfinished business.[/b]

The second part definitely. Also today's weather was much more tolerable than yesterday and they had fresher legs than GAC.

[DucksFan02]

Was at the Stevens/Hopkins game. Incredible game, hats off to Hopkins! Class opponents and people. Ducks keep rolling!!!!
Andino, Masur, Mussaccia especially playing at the highest level in D3!!

See y'all in VA!

[Domino1195]

Congratulations to Williams.  I thought they outplayed Kenyon especially in the sense that Ephs did what they wanted to do and Kenyon didn't do what Owls wanted to do.  I knew was going to be a very difficult game but did not think there was any way Kenyon wouldn't finally pull one of these out.  Brutal, brutal, brutal.  I've watched the Kenyon no-goal that was waved off for offsides just a few minutes before Williams scored and I don't see it or maybe just don't understand it....all Kenyon players looked clearly onside when cross coming in left Thesing's foot, then Diffley spills the ball, Kenyon puts it in.  Then with five minutes left multiple Kenyon players simultaneously called for a handball in the box that wasn't called so don't know if there was anything there or not.  Williams goal comes off restart from over Williams side of the field by GK, Kenyon clears couple of time but Williams able to loft back in, I think Boardman gets a head on it, and Wang pushes the ball in with the side of his foot and ball trickles in reminiscient of Tufts in 2016.  Kenyon CB got beat but got just enough pressure on Wang that Pedreschi could have stayed in net and would have collected easily but that's what happens in these games.  Still, though, amazing performance by the Williams defense even though I still don't understand how Owls couldn't break them down.  Kenyon still had enough chances to win but just didn't get it done.   The constant set pieces/deep throws even from 50-60 yards out was tough to watch but kept enough pressure on Kenyon defense to keep them very occupied.

Neither the CR nor AR1 gave a signal for OS. I rewatched the sequence a couple times and the flag never went up. I believe the call was a foul for interfering with the keeper. FWIW.