Games of the week

[SKUD]

My picks for the week matches 1 per day. 

10/2 none
10/3 Amherst at Conn college
10/4 Oneonta at Cortland
10/5 none
10/6 Whitewater at Eau Claire (cheese curd Darby)
10/7 Widener at Messiah
10/8 Amherst at Bowdoin

Big week for Amherst!

What are yours?

[camosfan]

Nice thread! I think the Tufts v Babson contest on 10/3 has post season implications?

[SimpleCoach]

Jackie made our picks this time.

Game.. or Games of the Week.  The Midweek Edition for 10.2.2023

[Kuiper]

Here are some alternatives:

Monday 10/2

Suffolk @ Boston College

If there's nothing else around, might as well watch one of these D3 v. D1 options.  BC is winless in the last 6 (3 losses and 3 ties) and has been shut out in all but one of those games.  Suffolk is 7-2-1 and has won 5 straight.

Tuesday 10/3

Tufts @ Babson

I'll go with the inter-regional with regional rankings implications over a conference game between teams that will both make the conference playoffs.

Wednesday 10/4

Occidental @ Chapman

Replay of last year's SCIAC finals won by Chapman on a bicycle kick in the final seconds of double OT.

Thursday 10/5

There are some ASC games if you want to scout Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, or Concordia (each of whom could make the NCAA Tournament as an AQ), but they are each playing weaker conference opponents.

Friday 10/6

Southwestern @ St. Thomas

A chance for St. Thomas to get back into the saddle after losing to Colorado College, but Southwestern is 5-1-3 with the only loss against Trinity.

Saturday 10/7

Muhlenberg @ Franklin & Marshall

The Mules are 7-1-1 and unbeaten in the last 8.  F&M seems to be back on track after a three game lull of ties against Haverford and Swarthmore and a loss to Kean.

If you want an alternative further west, try Hope @ Calvin.  Although inconsistent this year, Hope did beat Chicago and may have ambitions of beating rival Calvin for the first time since 2010.

Sunday 10/8

Texas Lutheran @ St. Thomas

Texas Lutheran comes in flying high at 11-0 after beating Trinity.  This is the battle for supremacy in the SCAC and a chance to watch Jack Manke and Cole Sixkiller, both of whom have received mention in the National Perspectives thread.

If you don't want to watch St. Thomas a second time (or they lose the first game), then watch Willamette @ Pacific Lutheran.  Those are the two traditional heavyweights in the NWC and may still be the two title contenders if Whitworth can't stay consistent

[Coach Jeff]

Here are some alternatives:

Monday 10/2

Suffolk @ Boston College

If there's nothing else around, might as well watch one of these D3 v. D1 options.  BC is winless in the last 6 (3 losses and 3 ties) and has been shut out in all but one of those games.  Suffolk is 7-2-1 and has won 5 straight.

Tuesday 10/3

10/7 I would add Widener at Messiah as a game to watch

Tufts @ Babson

I'll go with the inter-regional with regional rankings implications over a conference game between teams that will both make the conference playoffs.

Wednesday 10/4

Occidental @ Chapman

Replay of last year's SCIAC finals won by Chapman on a bicycle kick in the final seconds of double OT.

Thursday 10/5

There are some ASC games if you want to scout Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, or Concordia (each of whom could make the NCAA Tournament as an AQ), but they are each playing weaker conference opponents.

Friday 10/6

Southwestern @ St. Thomas

A chance for St. Thomas to get back into the saddle after losing to Colorado College, but Southwestern is 5-1-3 with the only loss against Trinity.

Saturday 10/7

Muhlenberg @ Franklin & Marshall

The Mules are 7-1-1 and unbeaten in the last 8.  F&M seems to be back on track after a three game lull of ties against Haverford and Swarthmore and a loss to Kean.

If you want an alternative further west, try Hope @ Calvin.  Although inconsistent this year, Hope did beat Chicago and may have ambitions of beating rival Calvin for the first time since 2010.

Sunday 10/8

Texas Lutheran @ St. Thomas

Texas Lutheran comes in flying high at 11-0 after beating Trinity.  This is the battle for supremacy in the SCAC and a chance to watch Jack Manke and Cole Sixkiller, both of whom have received mention in the National Perspectives thread.

If you don't want to watch St. Thomas a second time (or they lose the first game), then watch Willamette @ Pacific Lutheran.  Those are the two traditional heavyweights in the NWC and may still be the two title contenders if Whitworth can't stay consistent

I would add Saturday 10/7 Widener at Messiah (homecoming)

[Kuiper]

Here are some alternatives:

Monday 10/2

Suffolk @ Boston College

If there's nothing else around, might as well watch one of these D3 v. D1 options.  BC is winless in the last 6 (3 losses and 3 ties) and has been shut out in all but one of those games.  Suffolk is 7-2-1 and has won 5 straight.

Tuesday 10/3

10/7 I would add Widener at Messiah as a game to watch

Tufts @ Babson

I'll go with the inter-regional with regional rankings implications over a conference game between teams that will both make the conference playoffs.

Wednesday 10/4

Occidental @ Chapman

Replay of last year's SCIAC finals won by Chapman on a bicycle kick in the final seconds of double OT.

Thursday 10/5

There are some ASC games if you want to scout Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, or Concordia (each of whom could make the NCAA Tournament as an AQ), but they are each playing weaker conference opponents.

Friday 10/6

Southwestern @ St. Thomas

A chance for St. Thomas to get back into the saddle after losing to Colorado College, but Southwestern is 5-1-3 with the only loss against Trinity.

Saturday 10/7

Muhlenberg @ Franklin & Marshall

The Mules are 7-1-1 and unbeaten in the last 8.  F&M seems to be back on track after a three game lull of ties against Haverford and Swarthmore and a loss to Kean.

If you want an alternative further west, try Hope @ Calvin.  Although inconsistent this year, Hope did beat Chicago and may have ambitions of beating rival Calvin for the first time since 2010.

Sunday 10/8

Texas Lutheran @ St. Thomas

Texas Lutheran comes in flying high at 11-0 after beating Trinity.  This is the battle for supremacy in the SCAC and a chance to watch Jack Manke and Cole Sixkiller, both of whom have received mention in the National Perspectives thread.

If you don't want to watch St. Thomas a second time (or they lose the first game), then watch Willamette @ Pacific Lutheran.  Those are the two traditional heavyweights in the NWC and may still be the two title contenders if Whitworth can't stay consistent

I would add Saturday 10/7 Widener at Messiah (homecoming)

I agree that's a good one, but I was just offering alternatives to the fine ones suggested by SKUD in his original post, which already included the Widener-Messiah game.

[SKUD]

keep it light and try to only pick one game per day.

10/09 Pratt @ Medgar Evers The Toilet Darby
10/10 U W-Whitewater @ UW-Plateville The Cheese Curd Darby (both yet to lose)
10/11 North Central IL @ North Park The North Darby
10/12 Me Ft Kent @ Me Presque Isle The 6 hours past, I ain't going there Darby
10/13 Oglethorpe @ Rhodes The Hatfields and McCoys Darby
10/14 Hopkins @ F&M The Way too overhyped Darby. Not even a top 5 game of the day. And if you are saying that is blasphemy go check yourself
10/15 Nescac Triple Superduper Darby Day with some dirty Jersey infused. Mid@Conn, Willi@Tufts (this is the tie Darby) as one coach recently subbed in the 87th min to kill clock.  Amherst @ Montclair insert joke here _______

[camosfan]

There were two game this past weekend that were decided after the 88 the minute, EPL  coaches  sub with two minutes to go in extra time!

[SierraFD3soccer]

10/14 Hopkins @ F&M The Way too overhyped Darby. Not even a top 5 game of the day. And if you are saying that is blasphemy go check yourself
10/15 Nescac Triple Superduper Darby Day with some dirty Jersey infused. Mid@Conn, Willi@Tufts (this is the tie Darby) as one coach recently subbed in the 87th min to kill clock.  Amherst @ Montclair insert joke here _______

Fair enough as to Hopkins v. F&M as to a national perspective.

I am sure that Hop will back what I say next. For both teams, this game is huge. Locally, it is a rivalry game for both teams historically and plenty of implications for this season/conference. A third loss for JHU could make so that the only way it makes the NCAAs is through winning the Cent. Conf. So a lot of pressure on JHU.  For F&M, if it wants to maintain its regional ranking and be on pace to make it to its 10th straight NCAAs.  Also, F&M only has a one point lead over JHU and two points behind league leader, Wash. College. F&M has won over JHU the last two years.  Two years ago 2-0 and considered an upset of sorts which F&M needed to make it into the Cent. Conf. playoffs.  Last year, F&M gave JHU its only loss in regular time with a tough goal. Both times, F&M came into the games with very good game plans. Last year with the 1-0 win, F&M played a very different style to what it had played in previous matches. Plenty of banter on the boards concerning that game. Many might say that, over the last 15 years, Appleby and Wagner are the best two coaches in the Cent. Conf.

Historically, since 2000, they've met 29 times (minus the COVID year of course). Of these, only three times were they decided by more than a goal (twice by 2 and once by 3). 12 times they went to OT - during one period they went to OT 5 straight times. 15 times a team won by a goal. There are other teams that had stretches against F&M, but only JHU and F&M have gone back and forth regularly over the years.

F&M marks this game on its schedule, and, for some Hopkins soccer fans, they may do the same. Will the Dips dip or Hop hop??

[SKUD]

There were two game this past weekend that were decided after the 88 the minute, EPL  coaches  sub with two minutes to go in extra time!

Agree and wish Dezo was packing soccer size b@//s to have that type of mentality.

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, I mean... What Sierra said. I've been away so maybe I missed someone trying to hype F&M v Hop as a national game, but that doesn't really even factor into it for me. It's absolutely a big game regionally, which, frankly IS what actually matters at the end of the day. One of these two teams is going to be needing and at large bid, this game is a major factor in that. Period.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Thanks Hop!

No insignificant games left for many.

[PaulNewman]

I thought that comment had to be a joke, but maybe not.

As a neutral I view JHU vs F&M as very much a national game, and very much on par with Calvin vs Chicago, OWU vs Kenyon, Cortland vs Oneonta, GAC vs St Olaf, Christopher Newport vs W&L or Lynchburg, Tufts vs Amherst, Bowdoin vs Middlebury, etc, etc

And yes, the game is as important for getting a ranked win (or not) in the Pool C race as winning the conference regular season. 

[SKUD]

It was a joke and still is; can't wait to see the kickball team from Amish country vs the inner city bore-fest.

[SierraFD3soccer]

It was a joke and still is; can't wait to see the kickball team from Amish country vs the inner city bore-fest.

I get it now and that is a pretty accurate assessment from last year's game.  F&M may play kickball again against JHU. That was the coach's strategy for that game last year and it worked out. If you watched other games, F&M definitely played differently.

This year, I think he might be a little different year as F&M has shown a lot more goal scoring ability than last year and maybe JHU is not as organized as in previous years. F&M may be more offensively minded and less disrupting (not worried about connecting many passes and take adv of any mistakes while playing very good defense). Last year F&M averaged 1.45 goals per game (13-2-5) and this year 2.62 (10-1-2). That is pretty big jump offensively for F&M.

Who knows, but JHU might get out of its normal game plan and play kickball. Both coaches are pretty good strategists. I would say that both teams' soccer IQs are pretty high.