2023 NCAA Tournament

[Nsno9]

Couple of scrappy goals in the GAC - Wartburg match leaves it even halfway through the first half. GAC scored very early but Wartburg have taken advantage of set-pieces and second chances to leave it knotted up.

[PaulNewman]

No clue how the second half will go but happily surprised and pleased with how Denison is showing tonight.  Overcame a fluky start and played head to head with Conn imo and probably outplayed Conn that half (although Pilson did nearly get one for Conn).

I'm also recalling Kuiper talking about highly rated GKs who might lack NCAA experience.  Denison GK is the top keeper in the NCAC...very good player.  Could tell he's feeling some nerves even with that punchout late in the half.

Silvester of course won a PK shootout for Conn to win a national title.

[Kuiper]

No clue how the second half will go but happily surprised and pleased with how Denison is showing tonight.  Overcame a fluky start and played head to head with Conn imo and probably outplayed Conn that half (although Pilson did nearly get one for Conn).

I'm also recalling Kuiper talking about highly rated GKs who might lack NCAA experience.  Denison GK is the top keeper in the NCAC...very good player.  Could tell he's feeling some nerves even with that punchout late in the half.

Silvester of course won a PK shootout for Conn to win a national title.

One thing that occurred to me that can happen to GKs without being visible to observers is that sometimes they do intend to collect a ball like that - perhaps because they would prefer the ball in their hands since it gives them the option to throw, punt, or drop kick it from anywhere in the box or even set it down and pass it from the ground outside the box -- but a coach or defender yells at them right as they are going for the ball and tells them to let it go.  It is generally a bad idea to yell at the GK in that situation.  You introduce indecision into the movement and the GK, who might have been sure he was going to get it, withdraws one hand, but not the other completely and flubs it.  So, if we give him the benefit of the doubt, it might have been something like that.  Still, the more experienced the keeper in that moment, the better they are able to tune that stuff out. 

[Freddyfud]

Enjoying the broadcast from Lancaster this evening for both games.  Commentator is refreshingly not annoying and the camera is also spot on.  Of course the highlights are a nice touch too.

[Nsno9]

Wow, Denison should've won it there at the end. Just not enough composure from Krueger there in a 1v1 situation, looked like the touch let him down at the crucial moment.

[EnmoreCat]

Denison 1 Connecticut College 3

I missed the middle 60 minutes as I was attending a local council event discussing proposed street changes in downtown Enmore, but did see the overtime.  The parts of the game I did see felt pretty even and has already been pointed out, Denison had a very good chance right at the end of normal time, which would have sent the Camels packing.  My feeling was that the two penalties Conn were awarded looked on the soft side, but I hasten to add the camera angle wasn't ideal for evaluation and there also wasn't a great amount of protest from Denison, so perhaps they were fair.  Conn march on and the next game against F&M already has the hallmarks of a pretty attractive second round affair.  Is there any special name for the final 32?

I liked the commentator for this game and also the replays, which was a nice touch.  Unfortunately, the camera angle wasn't quite right for the goalmouth action during live play, but it was definitely a lot better than not being able to watch at all.

I'm not technologically minded (partially because I am busy working on my Luther-like 32 bullet points to nail to the door of an unsuspecting hotel room somewhere in Worcester) but if anyone had the time and ability to put together highlights packages of each round, they would get maximum karma from me and a few others I am sure.

[Coach Jeff]

Calvin 5-0 winner over Greenville will face the Gustie who won 3-1 over the host team Wartburg.  Should be a good second round game.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Enjoying the broadcast from Lancaster this evening for both games.  Commentator is refreshingly not annoying and the camera is also spot on.  Of course the highlights are a nice touch too.

Yeah, he has gotten better. Used to sound like a football announcer and feel pressure to fill. Also impressed with how many facts he brought up with the second game. Also all schools just leave the second game silent. That was a nice touch. Camera and reply has also gotten really better.

[PaulNewman]

Even with replays I could not see the first PK given to Conn well enough to have an opinion.  That of course was the huge one.  Denison could have won it but on balance probably didn't do enough to earn a win albeit performing quite well.  They will be back and Bianco will keep the talent level on an upwards trajectory.

I think Conn misses Jaren and maybe #9 too.  Jaren has now missed the better part of two seasons.  Very unfortunate because very talented and fun to watch.

I never pick against Calvin in this kind of spot, but do not sleep on GAC.  The Gusties are very good and tenacious.  Should be a great battle.

[SierraFD3soccer]

The first PK was legit, definitely a foul.  The second looked late especially since he took the shot already, but the GK gave up a rebound so that is why it was called in that the shot taker could have possibly reached the rebound if he was not taken down.

[Jump4Joy]

Back to the hosting question: Did anyone every figure out why neither Amherst team is hosting this weekend?

[Freddyfud]

SUNY Poly and Amherst coaches going at it following the second goal.  Apparently the Amherst goal scorer was not happy with the SUNY bench and promptly shushed them up close after the goal.  Sporting of the Amherst coach to pull him off after he was booked.  Edit: or maybe he needed to protect him from accumulation.

Pace of the game is rather slow with neither team keeping possession very long.

[Another Mom]

W&L over West Conn 2-0. Score really should have been higher.. Unfortunately #7 looks like he's out for the,rest of the tournament.

ETA, a few follow up comments -- West Conn had 2 red cards. Also, SOS means something; they were a weak team.

[stlawus]

SUNY Poly and Amherst coaches going at it following the second goal.  Apparently the Amherst goal scorer was not happy with the SUNY bench and promptly shushed them up close after the goal.  Sporting of the Amherst coach to pull him off after he was booked.  Edit: or maybe he needed to protect him from accumulation.

Pace of the game is rather slow with neither team keeping possession very long.

Little more than that, he ran right up to the touch line about a foot away from the players and did it along the whole bench.  It's always something with this team every single year.   

[BTXCru18]

I know I'm just being picky... but is it too much to ask of the NCAA to have links for the stats and stream on the match pages?