So much for this regional ranking stuff. Dickinson and Hopkins host and Messiah travels to Rowan. Interesting?? or just goofy. I am not sure I would have wanted to explain that on the selection broadcast. Oh well.
The Messiah men are hosting 1st/2nd Round as this is an even year. Assuming they advance to Sectionals, the women host Sectionals in even years and the men would be away.
Yep. That is a pre-arranged system by the NCAA to avoid schools hosting multiple post-season soccer events. The NCAA clearly doesn't want this situation as the guidelines are clearly stated in the handbook.
Definitely no love for the Falcons. Not only do they have to travel, they are playing the later game. Having a perfect season thus far doesn't seem to have earned them any advantage.
Apparently Messiah and Manhattanville play at 11AM.. the first game on Saturday.
While I have heard of the odd year/even year rule I can't find it. Does someone have that link?
Obviously there will be a different final four this year as TCNJ and Messiah are in the same section.
Any thoughts on which section looks the toughest?
The trip to South Jersey aside this old Messiah fan is always excited to see NCAA Tournament soccer. Have fun everyone. Go Falcons!!!!
Quote from: 2xfaux on November 09, 2010, 02:37:55 PM
While I have heard of the odd year/even year rule I can't find it. Does someone have that link?
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/soccer/2010/10_3_w_soccer.pdf (http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/soccer/2010/10_3_w_soccer.pdf)
Look to the bottom of page 8 in the handbook (or page 5 if you arrow down the pdf page).
Thanks DIIIdad, I will check it out. I have to tell you I just filled in my bracket picks and sadly I have Augie losing to Wheaton in the second round(tough draw for Augie). The good news is I have no idea in these first couple of rounds, however I have picked the eventual winner correctly in two of the last three years :). Good luck. Go Augie..
Quote from: jellybelly on November 08, 2010, 10:29:56 PM
Definitely no love for the Falcons. Not only do they have to travel, they are playing the later game. Having a perfect season thus far doesn't seem to have earned them any advantage.
They practically got a first-round bye, though.
True, true. :D And the game was changed from the original 1:30 slot to the 11:00am slot.
I have no complaints. It looks like it is going to be great weather for soccer this weekend.
Let the games begin!
Quote from: 2xfaux on November 09, 2010, 04:32:40 PM
Thanks DIIIdad, I will check it out. I have to tell you I just filled in my bracket picks and sadly I have Augie losing to Wheaton in the second round(tough draw for Augie). The good news is I have no idea in these first couple of rounds, however I have picked the eventual winner correctly in two of the last three years :). Good luck. Go Augie..
Wheaton will be tough for anyone to beat, though they are beatable. Although Augie did lose to them 4-1 earlier in the conference season, it was a 2-1 game until very late. Augie only gave up 9 goals all year, with 4 of them coming in that game against Wheaton. Three of the goals were off of corners, and the fourth was a restart from just inside the corner spot. That defensive lapse was definitely an anomaly for a very strong defensive team. The bigger problem for Augie is the lack of scoring. If they advance, I see a lot of OT games going to PK's.
Hopefully the ladies aren't even thinking about Wheaton right now. Carleton is a good team on a roll, going 13-0-2 in their last 15 games.
Taking any team lightly in the tournament is a big mistake. Manhattanville was 17-2-1 last year with virtually the same roster and same schedule. Obviously this year has been a disappointing one for the Valiants but they made the tournament and I am certain they will play their hearts out against Messiah. I can't imagine that coach Frey will not make sure the Falcons understand that.
To be perfectly candid. Anytime a team outscores their opposition 99-2 over the course of a season, they don't need a ton of help in the seeding. In getting sent to Rowan (Big grass field- not far away) Messiah got a decent draw. While Manhattanville is better than their record (NOT the worst team in the tournament by a long stretch, but they did lose a couple key players from 2009). Neither they nor Rowan- were not going to be able to process what Messiah was going to do.
I am sure that everyone in the Messiah Women's Soccer program would rather be home for the second weekend, where they could wind up facing the winner of Hopkins and TCNJ (a pair of TURF teams) on grass. Look for similar results the next two weekends.
I think that Hopkins would give them a challenge. Assuming a FF round, a HSU/Messiah match would be perhaps the best women's final ever - although 07 was an exciting final as well.
You Wheaton guys are trying to make us fat and complacent. I have you figured out!!! :D A very, very long way to San Antonio.
Hmmmm. Manipulation...
Wheaton guys?
Jim is a Wheaton guy.
Yeah, my long-ago degree granting institution...
That potential match up looks closer, although I watched parts of the William Smith match against Oneonta and they do look good - nice flow through the midfield.
Otterbein is very stingy on defense and not slow. Hardin-Simmons will have to work for it - and the Otterbein keeper is strong.
Messiah will really have to work for this one.
"There's something you don't see every day, Chauncey. What's that, Edgar?" I doubt the writers of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" (the greatest TV show of all time) had this in mind but it certainly is apropos......the Messiah women's soccer team on the ropes. Great game plan and almost perfect execution by Johns Hopkins but the Falcons managed to hang on for the win. Great job Hopkins.
Long live "Rocky and Bullwinkle".
Go Falcons!!!!
The Messiah radio guys claimed it was the closest women's match they had seen in years. One of them commented that it was a few years since a Messiah women's fan had to keep an eye on the clock. It would have been a nicer season for Hopkins had they at least won that first match earlier in the season, but they certainly had the opportunity to have made their way to the Final Four.
Hopkins soccer has sure done well in the past few seasons - both men and women.
I agree that it was a very good game.... a nail biter for all the fans. JHU appeared to be bigger than Messiah overall and played hard. It was a fast-paced game and both teams left it all on the field. It's hard to imagine that there will be a more exciting game in Texas.
Hardin-Simmons will be as big or bigger than Johns Hopkins, although not as fast. William-Smith is smaller but as fast, and plenty of ball-control. Otterbein is the sleeper - tough defense and solid all around.
But Hopkins probably has as much skill as anyone in San Antonio. Too bad they couldn't be there.
Quote from: Jim Matson on November 28, 2010, 06:14:32 PM
Hardin-Simmons will be as big or bigger than Johns Hopkins, although not as fast. William-Smith is smaller but as fast, and plenty of ball-control. Otterbein is the sleeper - tough defense and solid all around.
But Hopkins probably has as much skill as anyone in San Antonio. Too bad they couldn't be there.
Heartily agree with your last paragraph. However JHU had the opportunity to be there...and for my liking they slipped up in some other games this season where they just shouldn't have.
Good point. Maybe with a stronger spot in the bracket, they would seen Messiah in Texas.
No chance of that. The NCAA was not going to move them around for competitive balance. I think the bracket was poorly done in a lot of spots, but that is part of being bound by financial constraints in the region.
Looks like the size advantage of Hardin-Simmons made the difference on the set plays early. What a match!
You have that right, Jim. Congratulations to HSU on a well deserved win. The Falcons never quit but the two early goals were too much to overcome. The Messiah seniors certainly didn't want to go out this way but you have to imagine that, as time and new challenges in their lives take some of the sting out of this loss, they will look back and think 96-2-3 ain't too shabby.
Go Falcons!!!
Especially when you consider that their two losses were limited to the 2007 title match (Wheaton 1, Messiah 0), and the 2010 title match (HSU 2, Messiah 1).
I think the 2007 title match was the only time I've seen these gals not score a goal.
What an unbelievable career record(96-2-3) the Messiah seniors have had. Does anyone know if this is a Division III record? I'm thinking it would have to be considering that they had a record 75 game or so non loss streak that was just ended on Saturday night.
Quote from: Jim Matson link=topic=7081.msg1272562#msg1272562 date=1291694766
I think the 2007 title match was the only time I've seen these gals not score a goal.
/quote]
Actually they tied 0-0 with Hopkins and Gettysburg in 2008. Despite those results and the losses to HSU and Wheaton it looks like Coach Frey's job is safe..for now. :D
Thanks to d3.com, all the great D3 soccer players and fans for making this so much fun and special thanks to Jim Matson for your great work. Our family is moving on to new adventures but we will always be D3 soccer fans.
Happy Holidays
Thanks, and good luck!