A few quick thoughts on last night's NYU/WashU tilt...
NYU was the better team last night, and perhaps every night...the Violets are physical, they have skill, and they were quicker than WashU. That was readily apparent when WashU's methodical passing game approach to its offense was more often scrapped in favor of the long-pass launches from the backs. NYU effectively suffocated WashU's intent to move the ball skillfully upfield.
As a result of all that, WashU fell into the trap of hoping that the officials would help them level the playing field. Lots of on-field complaining, and perhaps for good reason. But, that gets in the way of trying to find a way on the field to be more creative...or to at least get in the penalty area with regularity to where you might get a penalty called on the vigorous Violets.
And the officiating crew was clearly not up to the challenge of legislating a match in which both teams like the rough-and-tumble and the chirping from players that sometimes goes with that. I feel for the crew, because that was a very difficult match to officiate. My biggest issue was the frequent stoppages of play, so the lead official could scold players like he was a father or a teacher trying to plead and implore them to change their behavior. That resulted in a scheduled 90-minute match to go well past two hours--without overtime. At some point, the lead official needed to stop scolding and issue more yellow cards. That would've eventually caused a 1 + 1 = red card situation or two that would have gotten the players' attention and desired behavior modification, IMHO.
NYU was the better team last night, and perhaps every night...the Violets are physical, they have skill, and they were quicker than WashU. That was readily apparent when WashU's methodical passing game approach to its offense was more often scrapped in favor of the long-pass launches from the backs. NYU effectively suffocated WashU's intent to move the ball skillfully upfield.
As a result of all that, WashU fell into the trap of hoping that the officials would help them level the playing field. Lots of on-field complaining, and perhaps for good reason. But, that gets in the way of trying to find a way on the field to be more creative...or to at least get in the penalty area with regularity to where you might get a penalty called on the vigorous Violets.
And the officiating crew was clearly not up to the challenge of legislating a match in which both teams like the rough-and-tumble and the chirping from players that sometimes goes with that. I feel for the crew, because that was a very difficult match to officiate. My biggest issue was the frequent stoppages of play, so the lead official could scold players like he was a father or a teacher trying to plead and implore them to change their behavior. That resulted in a scheduled 90-minute match to go well past two hours--without overtime. At some point, the lead official needed to stop scolding and issue more yellow cards. That would've eventually caused a 1 + 1 = red card situation or two that would have gotten the players' attention and desired behavior modification, IMHO.