NCAA TOURNAMENT 2024

[Kuiper]

So, in the first year of the NPI, teams ranked 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 18 comprise the Great 8.  Not bad, although not precisely how you might have expected it if NPI was a predictive ranking (it's not, in part because it does not take into account home-away or margin of victory).  If you are looking for a predictive factor, it is probably that each advancing team, except two, hosted, did not have to travel far, or played on a neutral site.  Of the two exceptions, Amherst beat the team that was the lowest NPI ranked team left in the tournament by several orders of magnitude (Wisconsin-Superior was ranked #72, with the next lowest Buffalo State at #33), leaving Denison's victory over Mary Washington as the biggest upset, but it was also the least disruptive of the long travel (no time zone difference or flight) and a relatively small spread under the NPI rankings (3 v. 14).

The implication is that Amherst beating Eau Claire away today would be a bigger deal than any of the other games, although tons of other factors like injuries (Nathan Donovan) and past results (Babson losing to Middlebury away earlier this season) would probably be more relevant than either NPI or travel distance/hassle.

[Hopkins Walk-On]

Alas, sides must now be drawn, and I officially notified Little Bucket, a freshman at Dickinson, that I'll be cheering for W&L tomorrow. I know his Aunt Sarah, a Red Devil alumna, will join him in fandom.

With Hopkins eliminated, I can now join my wife, a Red Devil alumna, and my daughter, a Red Devil sophomore, in rooting for Dickinson, although I expect W&L to win.

[SoccerFan2025]

• Quote from: Bucket on 11/23/2024, 8:18:44 PMThe Camels have the pk mojo, for sure. Was not surprised in the least, though still greatly disappointed, to hear the announcer relay that a bench warning had been given to the Camels when one Conn player ran halfway onto the field to taunt a Kenyon player who had just missed a pk. 

[/li][/list]
Quote from: Bucket on 11/23/2024, 8:18:44 PMMore tomorrow. Can't wait.[/list]
Sad state for this team.  Definitely shows poor sportsmanship.  PKs are terrible way to win and a worse way to lose.  Every PK kicker deserves respect.  Sounds like this Conn player was not even selected by his team to represen them in taking a PK?

[Hopkins92]

No one has commented on the Dickinson Buffalo State game yesterday. I watched some of the 1st half -- Dickinson is a really strong team. From what I saw they dominated the game. W&L will have their work cut out for them!

I popped in a few comments. The only caveat I'd throw out is Buffalo State was really punching up. They played a very gritty game, but the 2-0 score line is more than far.

I expect a very even game today.

[Hopkins92]

Yeah, I didn't want to make too big a deal of the Conn players, but:

* - First kick taker absolutely said something off-color to the goalie after he made his shot to the Kenyon goalie.
* - After the Conn GK saved his first shot, he came off the ground talking sh*t to the kicker.
* - After the second miss, CC player came off the bench to taunt the kicker to get the bench warning.

This stuff isn't "part of the game." It's really obnoxious and unsportsmanlike behavior.

Guys missing PKs in the third round of the NCAA is going to sit with those kids for the rest of their lives. Rubbing it in and trash talking in that moment is pretty low.

[SierraFD3soccer]

No one has commented on the Dickinson Buffalo State game yesterday. I watched some of the 1st half -- Dickinson is a really strong team. From what I saw they dominated the game. W&L will have their work cut out for them!

Trust me, nobody wants to talk about Dickinson other than them hosting this weekend. They have no fans (or maybe only persons who lurk) on this board. They are a team on tear, much like W&L. Despite their record, every board expert, including myself, did not think they would be here. They were supposed to fade once they started Cent. Conf games which arguably they did a bit. They got beat pretty definitely by JHU twice to include in the semis. Thus dismissed again as a team that was fine, but nothing to look at. A team now made the NCAAs and again not supposed to be here. They could be the Washington College this year.

What we don't talk about is their ability to score and score and score. That is probably the biggest difference from everyone on the board has not talked about. They aren't waiting till pks to win. They are not struggling in that category. Notice I said "they," because come from several players unlike some who rely one, maybe two. That is big difference between WC and Dickinson.

As to the W&L, they beat its arch rival 2-0. They dominated Lynchburg at Lynchburg. So this team may be the one W&L does not want to meet right now. Obviously, we will see.

[camosfan]

Sa w a few Dickinson games, the offense is potentially explosive, W&L I have not seen much of this year but remember them from last year playing Tufts, they have some good talents, tend to be patient.

[paclassic89]

Yeah, I didn't want to make too big a deal of the Conn players, but:

* - First kick taker absolutely said something off-color to the goalie after he made his shot to the Kenyon goalie.
* - After the Conn GK saved his first shot, he came off the ground talking sh*t to the kicker.
* - After the second miss, CC player came off the bench to taunt the kicker to get the bench warning.

This stuff isn't "part of the game." It's really obnoxious and unsportsmanlike behavior.

Guys missing PKs in the third round of the NCAA is going to sit with those kids for the rest of their lives. Rubbing it in and trash talking in that moment is pretty low.

Yep, and the antics weren't just limited to CC.  Williams was engaging in similar behavior.  I've also seen it with Centennial, NJAC, SUNYAC teams etc.  It seems to have gotten worse over the years.  Not to be one of those "back in my day" posters, but I don't remember the PK antics being as prevalent when I played.  Players stepped up and tried to make PKs and keepers tried to make saves (minimal amount of dumb run ups, not as much trash talking or attempted "mind games" towards opponents)

And this behavior 100% starts at the top w/ the coaching staff.  Not to beat a dead horse re: NESCAC vs other conferences, but I've watched Messiah games for close to 2 decades and I can probably count on one hand the number of unsportsmanlike incidents from them.  Some teams match that in one season...

[SierraFD3soccer]

Sa w a few Dickinson games, the offense is potentially explosive, W&L I have not seen much of this year but remember them from last year playing Tufts, they have some good talents, tend to be patient.

Very true, problem for playing an offensive team is being patient. Plus playing on Dickinson's grass which is uneven and possible wind, ball is going to popcorn. Not a lot of smooth passes on the ground in Carlisle.  Dickinson has some finishers.

[Freddyfud]

Yeah, I didn't want to make too big a deal of the Conn players, but:

* - First kick taker absolutely said something off-color to the goalie after he made his shot to the Kenyon goalie.
* - After the Conn GK saved his first shot, he came off the ground talking sh*t to the kicker.
* - After the second miss, CC player came off the bench to taunt the kicker to get the bench warning.

This stuff isn't "part of the game." It's really obnoxious and unsportsmanlike behavior.

Guys missing PKs in the third round of the NCAA is going to sit with those kids for the rest of their lives. Rubbing it in and trash talking in that moment is pretty low.

Yep, and the antics weren't just limited to CC.  Williams was engaging in similar behavior.  I've also seen it with Centennial, NJAC, SUNYAC teams etc.  It seems to have gotten worse over the years.  Not to be one of those "back in my day" posters, but I don't remember the PK antics being as prevalent when I played.  Players stepped up and tried to make PKs and keepers tried to make saves (minimal amount of dumb run ups, not as much trash talking or attempted "mind games" towards opponents)

And this behavior 100% starts at the top w/ the coaching staff.  Not to beat a dead horse re: NESCAC vs other conferences, but I've watched Messiah games for close to 2 decades and I can probably count on one hand the number of unsportsmanlike incidents from them.  Some teams match that in one season...

Some play for themselves.  Others play for love and respect for the game.  It is easy to spot the difference.

[NEsoccerfan]

Ironically, watching the pre-game sportsmanship commercial montages 

[jknezek]

I don't remember the kickers being as obnoxious, but there was a time in the 80s and 90s when the goalies were taught to be absolute jerks pre-kick until the rules changed. Standing on the ball pretending to shake hands, taunting, making motions. There was  time at goalie camp devoted to "getting in the taker's head" and it got really bad. Thankfully the rules changed and most of those antics stopped pre-kick.

I think the rules should change again. Unsportsmanlike conduct by the goalie means a miss kick is retaken, by the kicker means a made kick is retaken.  Just like coming off the line early or fake kicks.

[mngopher]

As a North region guy lost in all of this NESCAC love-hate I just want to point out that one of the biggest stories of the tournament really is that the 4th leading goalscorer of ALL TIME in D3 soccer (Nathan Donovan from UWEC) hasn't played a minute in this tournament and is done for the season. Yet, his team is in the final 8. If he played for a team further east this would be discussed more, but we in the north generally are stuffed into the same sectional and largely ignored. It's ok, we are used to it.

[Hopkins92]

I don't remember the kickers being as obnoxious, but there was a time in the 80s and 90s when the goalies were taught to be absolute jerks pre-kick until the rules changed. Standing on the ball pretending to shake hands, taunting, making motions. There was  time at goalie camp devoted to "getting in the taker's head" and it got really bad. Thankfully the rules changed and most of those antics stopped pre-kick.

I think the rules should change again. Unsportsmanlike conduct by the goalie means a miss kick is retaken, by the kicker means a made kick is retaken.  Just like coming off the line early or fake kicks.

LOVE this idea. And this is coming from a goalie that let everyone know when I stopped a PK. I just didn't direct it at the kicker, more towards my teammates.

[jknezek]

W&L up 2-1 at the half. A very deserved score line but both Dickinson's goal and W&Ls second were... Not the prettiest. Field looks awful. Every pass on the ground is an adventure.

Fairly clean game but no doubt W&L was the better team in the first half. 2 goals and a couple other half chances. Dickinson scored on one of two moments they looked threatening in the box.

Overall, W&L is just smothering Dickinson before they can get to the offensive third and putting a lot of pressure on them with a press. Normally I'd say it's hard to do both those things at the same time, but W&L has made it look easy so far.

All to play for in the second half with only a one goal lead.