NCAA TOURNAMENT 2024

[Dustin_Patrón]

Re the Williams game. They seemed like they were playing for penalties. As much as people hate on Amherst for the way they play, the same could really be said of Williams. More trash talking and fouling than most other teams. It seems like a NESCAC thing.

part of the game, mom

Not really.  Glad to see it wasn't successful today.

Physicality, fouling, trash talk... characterize NESCAC soccer however you'd like, but today NESCAC soccer was successful, Mom.

NESCAC schools represented 8 of the initial 64 teams (12.5%)
They now account for 3 of the remaining 8 teams (37.5%)

The numbers don't lie, enough whining.

[Bucket]

Quite literally seconds later... the Beavers are on top off a set piece goal.

Awful goalkeeping might I add. Looked like Satpathy (dressed in his winter tights and neck warmer) just punched the ball directly into the goal straight off the corner. He may have been screened by the Babson attacker but still should've done better here.

This weather seems to be affecting the Trinity boys quite negatively.

It was quite obvious the weather was in their heads when they went and got on their bus at halftime, barely making it back on the field in time for the start of the second half.

[dacac]

🐫 🐫

[SierraFD3soccer]

I'll say it! WTF Kenyon?? FYI you can take PKs with your eyes open.

Man.

[Hopkins92]

Scroll back, my guy... I had the same general sentiment. That was weird for such a classy, skillful team.

[SimpleCoach]

First time watching Trinity this year and I couldn't be more underwhelmed by their performance. The Trinity Bantams could compete with them in this second half.

Cap tipped to Babson, they left the neck warmers at home and came with a game plan, stuck to it and it's paying off. Trinity showing no fight. This ones a wrap.

Unrelated but shoutout to David Saward adding some great color commentary on this Midd broadcast. He should do the final 4.

Minor detail.... the relegation bound Trinity Bantams could NOT compete against Trinity TX.

I would add that I think this referee is awful.

SC.

Do you mean that the Trinity Badtams should not have been the 9th NESCAC team in the Tournament or should they be relegated to the Little East Conf or maybe Landmark??? At least in the Landmark, we would not have see any of their games.

I was thinking more like Division IV...

SC.

[EnmoreCat]

UW-Superior 2   Amherst 3 (Amherst progress in Operating Thetan Time)

When I started doing my intensive due diligence for the Mammoths' visit to the great state of Wisconsin, I did discover that Arnold Schwarzenegger is an alum of UWS.  It also triggered a childhood memory for me that the first cat my family owned, not in Enmore I hasten to add, but in Wembley, Western Australia, was called Superior.  I think the venue, Eau Claire, is one of the prettiest names for a town I have heard, inside a country that is replete with such things.  I was hoping to discover that Eau Claire perhaps provides sanctuary to an endangered species of purple possums, but what I instead learnt was that it styles itself as the world's horseradish capital.

I thought Amherst was pretty good value for the 1-0 lead at half-time and then, when it went to 2-0, I even allowed myself the luxury of thinking maybe this will be a bit more straightforward.  Of course, things are never that easy and a mazy run from one of the UWS players led to a penalty and at the risk of stating the obvious, the momentum swung.  Their equalizer was well taken and at that stage, the game was starting to have the feel of the National Tournament semi final against W&L, where the Generals suddenly took over the game.  The chronology is a bit of a blur after that, but Amherst actually attacked the game and when one of the yellowjackets got sent off, it's fair to say that whatever momentum was working their way had suddenly disappeared.  I haven't read what anyone else has had to say yet , assuming people were watching it, but it did feel like there were a number of key moments that perhaps could have gone the Mammoths' way, of which this was definitely one, but others didn't, but this is the game.  I understand that people may not like The Billiard Table That Is Hitchcock Field, but at least there is no ambiguity about lines, Simpson Field is really not easy to follow.

I know there are many people who love golden goal in operating thetan time, I am not sure I am one of them, but will say that it is a very good way to win a game.  UWS were content to let Amherst have the ball and try and break them down and the strategy appeared to be successful until there were just sixty six seconds to go,  I'm pretty sure it was a freshman inspired move, a pinpoint cross from the left was met with a lovely header from another freshmen that Kuiper clearly knows way too much about and that was that.   

All credit to UW-Superior, they showed considerable resolve to come back from 2-0 down and could move the ball with some style.  It's interesting seeing a state school with so many internationals, I presume that is a little unusual, but however it has happened, Coach Mooney there has done a pretty good job.

As for the Mammoths, it felt more stressful to me than it should have been, but in many ways, that has been the story of this season.  But just as UWS can be congratulated for coming back from 2-0 down, the manner in which the white shirts fought back is a definite tonic for those with purple in their hearts and keeps spirits high for an elite eight game tomorrow.

Foul Count: UW-Superior 19 Amherst 25

[PaulNewman]

And just like that...it's all over.

Congrats to the Camels.  Yes, the PKs were horrible and as soon as PKs go wrong you can second guess everything.  I wouldn't start with Martinez because he's too cheeky.  Then you miss one and you're already down.  Then your two best players miss back to back, the two who scored the Owls' two goals, and once the first two missed it all was pretty much academic.  Give some credit to Conn.  They seem to have figured out pens...until eventually they won't, but Silvester played some good and subtle head games.  Kenyon looked like they were mostly hanging on in the two OTs....either fatigue or disheartened by going up 2-1 with 13 to go when their star striker who has been missing scored miraculously but also re-injured himself in the process.  Kid played about 35 minutes in two games in the last 5-6 weeks and scored two huge goals in those 35 minutes.  Anyway, once he was out that also was deflating, and especially after allowing Conn to scorr on a Jaren free kick from 45 yards.  Both goals by Conn were very saveable and should not have happened.  The second one might have involved the sun glare but I think everyone including Jaren were thinking that was a cross.  Conn did a great job limiting Buchwalter's playmaking.  Anyway, Kenyon had enough chances, both in the 1st half and late, and Dujakovich might have scored again with under 10 seconds in regulation if he had just calmed himself for half a second.  Lazarus also had one earlier I think before Kenyon took the lead where he probably should have scored.

Congratulations to Denison as well.  Tremendous result for that program, and sort of like Babson, they are still somehow under the radar.  I would guess the Big Red like the dynamics of playing Conn and getting a little revenge from last year since they would have had to beat Kenyon three times in one season...which they definitely could have done and of course Duratovic would not have been able to play.  I think I might slightly favor Denison against Conn.

Not sure yet (and now I really don't care) but might root for Denison for the first time in my life.  What a story that would be for Denison to make the F4.

Overall, a very good showing for the NCAC.

[PaulNewman]

Congrats to W&L as well.  I don't think the Generals have been any better the past 4-5 years than Kenyon or Hopkins or probably a couple of other programs, and yet they may be on the cusp of THREE Final Fours in the past FOUR years.  Fwiw, and I didn't watch every minute, I thought W&L equaled and probably exceeded the Williams physicality, and I mean that in a complimentrary way.  They seemed almost determined to not lose because of physicality.

[D3Navy]

First time watching Trinity this year and I couldn't be more underwhelmed by their performance. The Trinity Bantams could compete with them in this second half.

Cap tipped to Babson, they left the neck warmers at home and came with a game plan, stuck to it and it's paying off. Trinity showing no fight. This ones a wrap.

Unrelated but shoutout to David Saward adding some great color commentary on this Midd broadcast. He should do the final 4.

First time watching.  Enough said.

[Kuiper]

UW-Superior 2   Amherst 3 (Amherst progress in Operating Thetan Time)



I know there are many people who love golden goal in operating thetan time, I am not sure I am one of them, but will say that it is a very good way to win a game.  UWS were content to let Amherst have the ball and try and break them down and the strategy appeared to be successful until there were just sixty six seconds to go,  I'm pretty sure it was a freshman inspired move, a pinpoint cross from the left was met with a lovely header from another freshmen that Kuiper clearly knows way too much about and that was that.   

The kid was California Southern Section and Open Division Player of the year, as well as Orange County player of the year, and he played for a well-known club in the area.  Kind of hard to miss him if you followed club/HS soccer in Southern California (literally - not many 6'5" kids out on the pitch)!  Knowing your GK is actually more niche because he wasn't as heralded coming out of HS and it took him longer to make an impact for the Mammoths.

Congrats to Amherst!

[PaulNewman]

Conn equalized in the 1st half 2:46 after Kenyon scored, and in 2nd half equalized again 2:54 after the Owls went up 2-1.  Storybook ending to nightmare.  Cannot give up deep offensive throw-ins, corners, and free kicks repeatedly.  For the modern D3 game at least, you almost have to intentionally recruit 2-3 guys who can play so they're on the field but who also can make the long throw.  The best ones are dangerous pretty far up the sideline.  Tomorrow will be one long throw after another.

The Trinity piling on surprises me and I admit I didn't see much of the match.  Now folks seeming invested in the weather definitely being a factor is also being compounded by the suggestions that Trinity is somehow soft.  Getting on the bus at halftime?  There should be locker rooms in an athletic building for halftime.  I don't get the bravado and grandstanding around that and turning weather into a character issue.  But OK, if that's the take then why complain so much when folks say Trinity gets the short end of the stick with travel year in and year out?  It shouldn't matter at all, or it absolutely matters.  Like make up your minds.  And Trinity couldn't beat the other Trinity but somehow dominated the 1st half and should have been up 1-2 goals. 

[jknezek]

Re the Williams game. They seemed like they were playing for penalties. As much as people hate on Amherst for the way they play, the same could really be said of Williams. More trash talking and fouling than most other teams. It seems like a NESCAC thing.

part of the game, mom

Not really.  Glad to see it wasn't successful today.

Physicality, fouling, trash talk... characterize NESCAC soccer however you'd like, but today NESCAC soccer was successful, Mom.

NESCAC schools represented 8 of the initial 64 teams (12.5%)
They now account for 3 of the remaining 8 teams (37.5%)

The numbers don't lie, enough whining.

Ha. Numbers don't lie, but there's a lot of ways of interpreting them.

The NESCAC were seeds 1,2,4,5,6, 16, 24, and 30. All 8 should have made the second round and did (top half of the seeds). Right on schedule.

6 should have made the Sweet 16, only 5 did.

5 should make the elite 8, only 3 did. Not great.

3 should make the Final Four and both Finals teams should be NESCAC schools.

Anything else is underperformance again.

They could pretty much meet expectations, I'm a little doubtful but it's possible.

But again, no one said the top 4 or 5 NESCAC teams shouldn't be in. Of course they should. It's teams 6, 7, and 8 that some have problems with. Hamilton, Bowdoin and Wesleyan certainly did no better than expected, so I think it's still very much an open case whether the NESCAC should have had 8 in the field.

Pointing out that the chalk is beating the cheese is not exceptional, it's expected, and it's hardly a case closing argument. If anything, having the 2, 6, and 16 seeds underperform is not the best look.

[eaglesoccerdad]

Tough end to the career of all the seniors & 5th years (including my guy) but super proud of them.

9 grad and 8 seniors, wow. I'm sure some seniors might be back, but that is lot of players to lose. Great run.

Thanks. The seniors are also done - used all 4 years of eligibility.

[EnmoreCat]

Re the Williams game. They seemed like they were playing for penalties. As much as people hate on Amherst for the way they play, the same could really be said of Williams. More trash talking and fouling than most other teams. It seems like a NESCAC thing.

part of the game, mom

Not really.  Glad to see it wasn't successful today.

Physicality, fouling, trash talk... characterize NESCAC soccer however you'd like, but today NESCAC soccer was successful, Mom.

NESCAC schools represented 8 of the initial 64 teams (12.5%)
They now account for 3 of the remaining 8 teams (37.5%)

The numbers don't lie, enough whining.

Ha. Numbers don't lie, but there's a lot of ways of interpreting them.

The NESCAC were seeds 1,2,4,5,6, 16, 24, and 30. All 8 should have made the second round and did (top half of the seeds). Right on schedule.

6 should have made the Sweet 16, only 5 did.

5 should make the elite 8, only 3 did. Not great.

3 should make the Final Four and both Finals teams should be NESCAC schools.

Anything else is underperformance again.

They could pretty much meet expectations, I'm a little doubtful but it's possible.

But again, no one said the top 4 or 5 NESCAC teams shouldn't be in. Of course they should. It's teams 6, 7, and 8 that some have problems with. Hamilton, Bowdoin and Wesleyan certainly did no better than expected, so I think it's still very much an open case whether the NESCAC should have had 8 in the field.

Pointing out that the chalk is beating the cheese is not exceptional, it's expected, and it's hardly a case closing argument. If anything, having the 2, 6, and 16 seeds underperform is not the best look.

I get your points jknezek, but you also have NESCAC's sixth ranked team making the elite eight, which probably speaks to how tight the conference is.  I previously mentioned Conn is easily the best sixth ranked team in the whole of D3 and have easily justified their inclusion.