Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - bestfancle

#1
Men's soccer / Re: 2018 Season - National Perspective
November 04, 2018, 09:58:21 PM
Quote from: mondomike on November 04, 2018, 09:51:26 PM
Can some explain when the actual schedule will be posted, and how the first  round locations are chosen for this relative newbie?

Thanks!


Yes, the tournament will be drawn tomorrow during a live show at 1 PM ET. Locations are chosen typically based off of regional rankings. They do a great projection on d3soccer.com, it will probably be updated soon with part 2.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-men/article/2018-11-03/college-soccer-diii-mens-tournament-selections-be-revealed
#2
Men's soccer / Re: 2018 Great Lakes Region
October 18, 2018, 09:04:21 AM
That Ruple for BW pulled a rabbit out of his hat again. They could have even stole the game from JCU, but I figured as soon as it went to overtime, JCU had it locked up.
#3
Men's soccer / Re: 2018 Great Lakes Region
August 31, 2018, 08:09:55 AM
It would be harsh not to mention Case Western Reserve. The team returns 7 starters and should be a challenge for all of the NCAC and OAC teams they face this year. https://athletics.case.edu/sports/msoc/2018-19/releases/20180827g6as86

They open up with Marietta and Mount Union, who they should handle.
#4
Men's soccer / Re: 2018 Great Lakes Region
August 31, 2018, 08:03:27 AM
Quote from: ncac_dad on August 30, 2018, 07:24:39 PM
On another note. Although, focused on the NCAC, the OAC teams were outstanding last year.

Any thoughts, if their teams will have repeat performances this season?

Overall, I do not think the OAC will be as strong as last season, although their top teams could do just as well.

I expect a drop off for JCU. Their defense comes back pretty strong, but they lost their three best players going forward. A draw against Kenyon today would be a great result for them. I expect them to beat Denison on Sunday.

Otterbein seems to be the team to watch in the OAC. The 2nd year coach, Jason Griffiths, did an amazing job in his first season. I've never seen a coach be able to impact a program so quickly, and Otterbein thrives off of set pieces. They return most of their players.

I feel that ONU is primed to come back this year as well, just from the pure fact that Coach Ridenour can't be held down for long. Both their forwards are returning, along with many mids. They may struggle defensively at the start of the season, but ONU is notorious for rigorous film study unlike any other team in the OAC.

I don't expect much out of Capital, but they proved me wrong last year, so who knows. Marietta should be middle of the road as well. BW will be better than expected, but would be lucky to make it to an OAC semi-final. Heidleburg and Mount are young. Wilmington and Muskingum will be bottom dwellers per usual.
#6
Men's soccer / Re: Good Soccer Books
March 26, 2018, 09:34:42 AM
I Think Therefore I Play, by Pirlo is an awesome easy read. Great beach book, finished in about two days.
#7
It seems as if Kyle Martino is now in the running for president as well. I remember him fondly from his couple years at the Crew.

He's more popular as an analyst for NBC sports coverage of the Prem.

I like him a lot, he wants to increase commitment to the game, especially from a parent's perspective. He also wants the USSF to be more transparent (but most are running on this promise).

I need to see a little more... but I like him.
#9
Men's soccer / Re: 2017 Great Lakes Region
November 29, 2017, 06:18:02 PM
Attached are the award winners for the Great Lakes. Also interesting to note that Griffiths from Otterbein, was Great Lakes Men's coach of the year! Well Done!

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/web/Awards/Recipients/2017_United_Soccer_Coaches_NCAA_Division_III_Men_s_All-Great_Lakes_Region_Teams.aspx

JCU got it's two studs in, Kenyon had about four. Otterbein did well too. Even BW had its stud, Danny Ruple, make 3rd team as a sophomore.
#10
Men's soccer / Re: The Big Dance
November 21, 2017, 08:53:52 AM
Quote from: truenorth on November 21, 2017, 08:30:00 AM
Quote from: Falconer on November 20, 2017, 03:16:56 PM
We talked about mile speed a few months ago somewhere, and I mentioned that my own athletic background was HS & collegiate track & XC. I'm not going to talk about my own times here, except that no Falcon player as a collegian (obviously) has ever gone as fast as I did as a 16-year old HS runner nearly fifty years ago. I affirm there is an enormous difference between running 4:45 and running even 4:30, let alone 4:15 in the mile. Enormous. If anyone in NCAA soccer can run 4:15, then they are almost certainly also running track. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, I would just love to see it. As some might recall, we discussed the Williams player who is a high level decathlete, but his 1500 time (not mile) doesn't translate even to 4:30 for the mile, let alone 4:15. He was the best candidate anyone produced at that time.

I'm an aging runner and Nordic skier and I completely agree with this assessment.  It's highly improbable any soccer player, no matter how athletically talented, would come into preseason and run a 4:15 mile.  That's more akin to the raw talent that a Kenyan or Ethiopian 16 year old might possess who puts on running shoes for the first time.

As you say, there's a huge difference between 4:45 and 4:30 for a runner who is fit and specifically trained, and an even huger difference between 4:30 and 4:15.  A 4:15 coming out of high school puts you onto the radar of many top D1 running programs, particularly if you come from a state with underdeveloped talent (Maine vs. California as an example).

To add to this (myself being a 5:15 runner, on a good day), I had a teammate who ran at UCLA before transferring to my school because he really just wanted to play soccer and be closer to home. He said he ran a 4:13 his freshman year at UCLA, but when he transferred and decided to play soccer he said there was no way he could keep that pace. Due to training and the obvious changes between division 1 and division 3 athletics. He ran like a 4:35 and blew away everyone else on the team, but still wasn't at his true track form.
#11
Men's soccer / Re: 2017 Great Lakes Region
November 14, 2017, 06:49:01 PM
Quote from: firstplaceloser on November 14, 2017, 05:33:42 PM
the entire “hand-ball” debate is a very touchy subject. I have assessors that telll me 70% of handballs are mistakenly called. by rule the player must have INTENT in order to call it. even when I ref now I have parents screaming handball EVERY chance they get. and of course they don’t know the actual rule. I could go on for days about parents. I even had one go ballistic bc I didn’t call offsides on a CORNER KICK! but most hand balls are not supposed to be called but it’s hard when you have parents and coaches complaining nonstop. i’m huge on letting them play until they get chippy and dirty.

Not to get nit-picky, but this is probably my biggest pet peeve in soccer, and it's a common mistake at every level. The call is "offside", not "offsides".
#12
Men's soccer / Re: The Big Dance
November 13, 2017, 11:36:40 AM
Watched Calvin games on Friday and Saturday, I was very impressed. I think the winner of Calvin/Chicago will go on to win the whole thing.
#13
Men's soccer / Re: 2017 Great Lakes Region
November 13, 2017, 08:26:19 AM
Tough loss for JCU Saturday night, you can't knock JCU's effort in the 2-0 loss to Calvin.

I was extremely impressed with both teams, some of the best tactical soccer I have seen live at the division 3 level. Both teams were so strategic and had long periods of possession. JCU's Marinaro had a pretty good chance to go up 1-0, but couldn't convert. I believe Calvin was the better team and probably deserved to win 1-0, but I wouldn't have been surprised to see this game head to OT or for JCU to sneak out a win.

Calvin was so good, both their CB and #9 are gifted players, and were incredible to watch.

Overall great showing by the OAC in my opinion. JCU really took it to OWU, then lost to one of the best teams in the country in a close one. Capital sneaks into the playoffs and wins its first game in 2OT, then loses to another great team in Chicago. Otterbein is still going playing their "brand" of soccer that allowed them to win the OAC tournament. Not the prettiest play, but it works for them. Great coaching coming out of Griffiths and his group.

JCU has to rebuild going into next year. Losing its 3 firepower players on offense will be tough, but they return Parente who will be the main offensive weapon next year. JCU also returns the best Goalie in the conference IMO, and freshman of the year Turintin who is obviously a D-1 player. He may be the captain of the squad next year as a sophomore. I expect two St. Ignatius High School kids to fill the gaps in the defense (if anyone is familiar with Iggy, they are typically the best team in the state each year). One player played significant minutes last year but spent this season studying abroad (plans to play a 5th year). The other player is a freshman on the team right now, who has played spot minutes this year.

Otterbein and Capital should only get better and I don't expect Ohio Northern to stay down for long. They also have a player, who might be the best defender in the conference, Dakota Swisher, who studied abroad this semester and will return next year as a 5th year senior to anchor the defense.
#14
Men's soccer / Re: 2017 Great Lakes Region
November 11, 2017, 06:31:02 PM
I am getting the otterbein feed, no commentary.
#15
Men's soccer / Re: 2017 Great Lakes Region
November 11, 2017, 12:05:56 PM
Got the chance to see the JCU game last night and watched the Calvin game as well.

JCU looked the best I've ever seen them, so maybe losing to Capital was a good thing. Marinaro, after an already impressive season, completely dominated the game. Even to a point where it looked like he was playing defensive mid and just distributing the ball like a point guard. He had two assists and the Penalty (which he basically created). JCU's other seniors were impressive as well, both Lombardo and Browsky were clinical. The goal they gave up was an incredible strike from OWU, and they have a lot to look forward to in upcoming years.

Calvin was extremely impressive as well, for as good as JCU played, they have to be even better defensively. Offensively, JCU should be able to keep up, but if they aren't tight at the back, it could go south. Should be an excellent match.