This forum is really dead compared to the men's forum but, what the heck, I'll post this anyway.
Being in the Chicago area I've got to see some Chicagoland teams play as well as other regional teams. Yesterday I watched a good bit of the Wheaton at Illinois Wesleyan match. I had watched Wheaton beat U of Chicago game earlier in the week, 2-1, and was pretty impressed with both sides. UC played more possession and went through the midfield while Wheaton was much more direct in their style and tried to link up with their strong forwards. My impression is that if a team can play possession even better than what UC did that they will beat Wheaton. Unfortunately, Wheaton seems to make teams play to their style. That was my impression of them in past years and it still is. They also put up a lot of shots though many of them are of low quality.
In the Wheaton @ IWU game, there was more of the direct style that Wheaton plays. When I had seen IWU play earlier in the year I noticed that they seemed to play more of a possession game than what they played under Dave Barrett (now at Fairfield U in CT). Barrett seemed to really like the direct style that I equate to "bootball." What isn't a possession style is that IWU's keeper will still boot the ball into the midfield into a 50/50 that IWU usually loses. Far too many teams do this instead of playing the ball out of the back. IWU will also do that on kickoffs. Wheaton also plays a lot of bootball and that is their weakness. Against Wheaton, IWU seemed to revert back to their old style. IWU's midfield gave up the ball far too often and IWU's chances were not finished. The defense was under far too much pressure. The final score ended up being 1-0, Wheaton, and Wheaton outshot IWU 15 (5 SOG) to 4 (2 SOG).
Both of these sides can be good and have the potential to make deep runs in the tournament. Both teams are also very young so the future looks good for them. As I mentioned earlier, IWU seems to play more possession than what I have seen them play in prior years but that was not evident yesterday. It starts with IWU's kickoffs. They will, as most teams do, play it back at the start. And then, instead of passing it around and trying to get an attack going and looking for high quality possession and passes, they will boot the ball up to their attacking 1/3 before an IWU player is there. The result is that they give up possession immediately. Wheaton is guilty of the same thing. It's bad soccer and I hate watching any team do it. I can't understand it. It would be the same as a basketball player passing it from his team's backcourt to his team's frontcourt & to the other team. What basketball team does that? Not a single one so why does it happen in soccer? IWU's keeper, as I mentioned before and what I've seen in the past, never plays goal kicks out of the back. They're randomly kicked down the field into a 50/50 that the team doesn't fight hard enough to win and doesn't make a lot of effort to win back. Those two things are two of my biggest peeves when watching soccer and IWU is guilty of both of them. But to be fair, a lot of teams are guilty of it.
Wheaton also continues to put up a lot of random shots and doesn't utilize the midfield enough. When I had seen them play Chicago the forwards seemed to be working for high quality shots but that was not evident vs IWU. There was just a lot of kickball and chaos. The game was very unsettling to watch due to neither team keeping the ball on the ground and stringing passes together. IWU would have had a much better chance to win if they had played possession and kept Wheaton from their direct style. As I said, both teams have the potential to make deep runs but both must also play much better than they did yesterday. I would have also liked to have seen both sides get the outside backs involved in the attack but that didn't happen. IWU couldn't do it because the midfield and forwards couldn't hold possession and getting up the field nearly impossible. Wheaton didn't do it because it seems that the backs of Wheaton are primarily utilized to boot the ball in the attacking 1/3. It really would be frustrating to be a midfielder in that system. Anyway, good luck to both teams moving forward.
I would like to see this forum become a little more active and hear of what is going on with other teams. Bigsoccer has a D3 thread but there isn't a lot of contribution there either.
The editing software of this forum SUCKS. I posted this thread with the wrong title and couldn't edit the title or delete the tread. Moderator, if you read this please delete the thread that I locked. Thank you. If anyone knows how to edit posts in this forum, let me know.
This forum is really dead compared to the men's forum but, what the heck, I'll post this anyway.
Being in the Chicago area I've got to see some Chicagoland teams play as well as other regional teams. Yesterday I watched a good bit of the Wheaton at Illinois Wesleyan match. I had watched Wheaton beat U of Chicago game earlier in the week, 2-1, and was pretty impressed with both sides. UC played more possession and went through the midfield while Wheaton was much more direct in their style and tried to link up with their strong forwards. My impression is that if a team can play possession even better than what UC did that they will beat Wheaton. Unfortunately, Wheaton seems to make teams play to their style. That was my impression of them in past years and it still is. They also put up a lot of shots though many of them are of low quality.
In the Wheaton @ IWU game, there was more of the direct style that Wheaton plays. When I had seen IWU play earlier in the year I noticed that they seemed to play more of a possession game than what they played under Dave Barrett (now at Fairfield U in CT). Barrett seemed to really like the direct style that I equate to "bootball." What isn't a possession style is that IWU's keeper will still boot the ball into the midfield into a 50/50 that IWU usually loses. Far too many teams do this instead of playing the ball out of the back. IWU will also do that on kickoffs. Wheaton also plays a lot of bootball and that is their weakness. Against Wheaton, IWU seemed to revert back to their old style. IWU's midfield gave up the ball far too often and IWU's chances were not finished. The defense was under far too much pressure. The final score ended up being 1-0, Wheaton, and Wheaton outshot IWU 15 (5 SOG) to 4 (2 SOG).
Both of these sides can be good and have the potential to make deep runs in the tournament. Both teams are also very young so the future looks good for them. As I mentioned earlier, IWU seems to play more possession than what I have seen them play in prior years but that was not evident yesterday. It starts with IWU's kickoffs. They will, as most teams do, play it back at the start. And then, instead of passing it around and trying to get an attack going and looking for high quality possession and passes, they will boot the ball up to their attacking 1/3 before an IWU player is there. The result is that they give up possession immediately. Wheaton is guilty of the same thing. It's bad soccer and I hate watching any team do it. I can't understand it. It would be the same as a basketball player passing it from his team's backcourt to his team's frontcourt & to the other team. What basketball team does that? Not a single one so why does it happen in soccer? IWU's keeper, as I mentioned before and what I've seen in the past, never plays goal kicks out of the back. They're randomly kicked down the field into a 50/50 that the team doesn't fight hard enough to win and doesn't make a lot of effort to win back. Those two things are two of my biggest peeves when watching soccer and IWU is guilty of both of them. But to be fair, a lot of teams are guilty of it.
Wheaton also continues to put up a lot of random shots and doesn't utilize the midfield enough. When I had seen them play Chicago the forwards seemed to be working for high quality shots but that was not evident vs IWU. There was just a lot of kickball and chaos. The game was very unsettling to watch due to neither team keeping the ball on the ground and stringing passes together. IWU would have had a much better chance to win if they had played possession and kept Wheaton from their direct style. As I said, both teams have the potential to make deep runs but both must also play much better than they did yesterday. I would have also liked to have seen both sides get the outside backs involved in the attack but that didn't happen. IWU couldn't do it because the midfield and forwards couldn't hold possession and getting up the field nearly impossible. Wheaton didn't do it because it seems that the backs of Wheaton are primarily utilized to boot the ball in the attacking 1/3. It really would be frustrating to be a midfielder in that system. Anyway, good luck to both teams moving forward.
I would like to see this forum become a little more active and hear of what is going on with other teams. Bigsoccer has a D3 thread but there isn't a lot of contribution there either.
Well, here we are a week and a half into October and it is just crickets.
I have managed to see 6 of the most recent Top 25 in person and I think a total of 14 on video. I had hoped to finally see Wash U. play this past weekend but Rochester wanted $10.95 to watch the video and I am fairly certain my wife of almost 50 years would have taken the credit card bill to her attorney and I would be living in my truck soon so I declined.
I have seen some really great play by many of these teams but have yet to see someone put together 90 minutes of domination or even consistency . I understand that there are ebbs and flows in a soccer game but at some point you need to bear down and end it.
Case in point.. this weekend's game Williams v MIT. Two very good teams, but had Williams come into the second half with a match for MIT's energy they might have come away with a win instead of the draw. Yea, yea easy for an old man to say, it's hard work I know that.
I saw CNU play VWU last night and they look real.
Wash U. please tell me how to see the Bears without risking divorce!!
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 09, 2018, 03:14:00 PM
Wash U. please tell me how to see the Bears without risking divorce!!
The next 6 games are all free live streams including 4 games against ranked teams. #LetsGoWashU
Thanks. Some toasted ravioli and a Wash U. game will make me happy.
I managed to see the Wash U. v CMU game. The first half (much like my attempt at toasted ravioli) was not very good but the second half effort made Wash U. look like a deserving #1. I am looking forward to the Wheaton game this weekend. It should be a good one. I have decided to leave the deep fat frying of pasta to the pros.
Have not got to see as many games this year in person or in video. All of the usual suspects are in the top 10. I saw UT-Dallas tied Hardin-Simmons and stayed undefeated. I know they recruit the Chicago area and would be interested on hearing anything on them.
I am going to pick my sleeper for the tournament in CNU, if you can call a team ranked in the top 20 a sleeper. Their season was tore up by weather conditions and I don't have an accurate read on their season, but in limited watching they looked a constant threat on offense.
I can't figure out the CCIW, Wheaton keeps winning, but seems to have trouble finishing. IWU is solid, but teams like North Central keep disappointing as they are in the heart of prime soccer area in the western suburbs of Chicago and still are not making a breakthrough in to being a contender.
UAA is always brutal, I need to watch a Wash U. game, as it sounds like they have been the most consistent top 10 team all season. I watched video of Emory and they just look like they get sloppy at times with passing and concentration. I have not seen enough, but U. of Chicago does not seem yet to have matched the quality of last year's team.
Trinity (TX)'s Chelsea Cole just put together a hat trick 12:09 into this afternoon's match with Schreiner ... taking all of 91 seconds between the first and third goals.
Edit: Not to be outdone, Halleanne Dure added four goals (three off assists from Cole).
Vassar beat #7 William Smith 1-0 on the road today, handing the Herons their first Liberty League loss in six seasons. WS had won 54 consecutive conference matches and was 65-0-1 against LL opponents (66 if you count an NCAA win over Ithaca when IC was in the E8) since 9/28/12. It's also the first conference L for the Herons at home in 15 years (10/24/03 to Union).
Congrats to the Brewers.
This is a HUGELY, MASSIVELY HUGE weekend for the UAA women. 4-0-0 Washington University hosts 3-1-0 Brandeis on Friday while 4-0-0 Chicago hosts 3-0-1 NYU. Both of those games are at 3:00 pm. Then, Brandeis heads to St. Louis and NYU heads to Chicago for Sunday games at 1:30 pm.
Amazing weekend for the UAA and then Wash U plays Chicago next weekend. It is hard to imagine that there won't be at least two UAA teams in Greensboro.
SCIAC All Conference and playoff preview.
https://www.thesciac.org/sports/wsoc/2018-19/releases/20181029tnxa9i
Congratulations to the WashU Bears for ending the regular season with a 17-0 record! They dealt with injuries over the past two weekends and rose to the occasion to win the UAA championship a game early and to defeat Chicago 2-0 yesterday. All the best to the Bears as they enter the NCAA Tournament!
Did Hopkins really lose 5-1 to Swat?
Why did MSOE have to forfeit?
NACC Women
► Tournament awards automatic berth (AQ) only; 2018 conference champion based on regular season.
► Teams will be re-bracketed after first round games so that lowest remaining seed will face the #1 seed.
First Round - Sat., Oct. 27 (at higher seeds)
#3 MSOE 2, #6 Marian 1 Marian wins by forfeit
#4 Concordia (Wis.) 1, #5 Concordia-Chicago 0
Semifinals - Tue., Oct. 30 (at higher seeds)
#1 Dominican 4, #4 Concordia (Wis.) 1
#3 MSOE 2, #2 Illinois Tech 1 Illinois Tech wins by forfeit
#2 Illinois Tech 4, #6 Marian 3
Final - Sat., Nov. 3 (at higher seed)
#1 Dominican 1, #2 Illinois Tech 0 (OT)
AQ: Dominican
Quote from: Knowenough2bdangerous on November 05, 2018, 08:35:56 AM
Why did MSOE have to forfeit?
MSOE had to forfeit the final 3 games for using an ineligible player. The player in question was not a full-time student.
Statement from Brian Miller, Director of Athletics:
"Our women's soccer team fielded a player that was not a full-time student for the final three games of the season, including its two NACC Tournament matches. Since the information was brought to light, we have worked with the NACC office to rectify the situation which, unfortunately, involves the forfeiture of matches and the conclusion of the season.
"While we take full responsibility for this incident as a department, I would like to commend head coach Rolf Zersen for his swift actions when the circumstances came to light. He approached a difficult decision with the ethical certainty that makes him such an effective role model for our student-athletes. I would also like to share my admiration for our women's soccer team, which handled the news and fallout with dignity and grace."http://www.go-raiders.com/sports/wsoc/2018-19/releases/20181101o54rg1
2018 Bracket
https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-women/d3/2018
Williams seems to have the easiest path to Greensboro. A bit of a gift to an at large team but they are the defending champs. Wash U. has a tougher road but I expect they will be there. The Midd. and Messiah pods seem much tougher. I wouldn't be surprised to see CNU and Hopkins (did they really lose 1-5 to Swat) show up as well. It should be interesting.
Quote from: 2xfaux on November 06, 2018, 06:12:54 PM
Williams seems to have the easiest path to Greensboro. A bit of a gift to an at large team but they are the defending champs. Wash U. has a tougher road but I expect they will be there. The Midd. and Messiah pods seem much tougher. I wouldn't be surprised to see CNU and Hopkins (did they really lose 1-5 to Swat) show up as well. It should be interesting.
Well, Williams doesn't have an easier path because they are defending champs. That isn't how it works.
Geography and such has more of an affect. Sometimes it is impossible to keep good teams from running into each other while the committee has more options in places like the Northeast where there are more teams and options in a tighter area.
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 26, 2018, 02:30:10 PM
Amazing weekend for the UAA and then Wash U plays Chicago next weekend. It is hard to imagine that there won't be at least two UAA teams in Greensboro.
Agree 100% but totally surprised CWRU didn't make the tournament. They can compete with the best. Their dynasty had to end at some point.
Quote from: JimLahey on November 07, 2018, 03:12:59 PM
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 26, 2018, 02:30:10 PM
Amazing weekend for the UAA and then Wash U plays Chicago next weekend. It is hard to imagine that there won't be at least two UAA teams in Greensboro.
Agree 100% but totally surprised CWRU didn't make the tournament. They can compete with the best. Their dynasty had to end at some point.
I'm assuming you mean Carnegie Mellon? Case hasn't had a winning season since 2014. If there's been a UAA dynasty, it's definitely WashU whose dominated in recent years.
I have only seen them play once this season, but Carnegie Mellon looked so much better than a .500 team.
upset of the 1st Round had to be Grove City over Chicago. Bad day for the UAA going 2-4 with the only wins being Wash U thrashing overmatched local opponent Westminster and Emory needing a golden goal to beat Penn State Berks of the lowly NEAC.
Wow, Chicago had a 29-6 advantage on shots, a 14-4 advantage on shots on goal, a 2-13 advantage on saves and a 11-0 advantage on corner kicks. Hearbreaking for sure.
Certainly a tough weekend for the UAA with only Wash U making it through. The Chicago game is hard to figure but I think the "heartbreak/gut punch" of the weekend has to go to Hopkins, losing to Les Mis with 67 seconds left in regulation. Great job by Les Mis but ...ouch.
Welcoming the next round(Williams, Amherst, TCNJ and William Smith) of NCAAs to the rain and snow of Geneva this weekend. I am not sure if William Smith is in the NCAAs or the NESCAC tournament after the Tufts game?? Good luck to all, the winner gets to play in balmy North Carolina.
It's going to be another brutal weather weekend for pretty much everyone, especially those in Midds and Geneva. Looks like everyone will avoid the snow however. St Louis expected 3-5 inches today but clearing for tomorrow evenings games.
It will be a tall order for the young Wheaton team to get past Centre. Recently, the Thunder have been slightly challenged in scoring against the tougher teams - concerning given the Colonels have only given up 4 goals all year and not in the last 2 months. I'm hoping Wheaton can score first, then who knows?
Good luck to all the teams and travel safe.
Francis Field at WashU was covered with a thick blanket of snow Thursday morning...but, an all-hands-on-deck snow-clearing day for the WashU Department of Athletics removed the snow after five hours. No worries for the Friday afternoon/evening Sweet 16 doubleheader at 5:00 & 7:30.
WashU vs. Wisconsin-LaCrosse at 5:00 CST Friday
Centre vs. Wheaton at 7:30
Go to washubears.com and click on the Live Broadcasts link to select your desired broadcast. Both Sweet 16 games and the Elite 8 game Saturday at 6 pm will feature live play-by-play broadcasts.
Still confused why CWRU didn't make it. they could be anyone of these teams
Quote from: JimLahey on November 16, 2018, 01:34:03 PM
Still confused why CWRU didn't make it. they could be anyone of these teams
Because CWRU is a sub .500 team
Quote from: JimLahey on November 16, 2018, 01:34:03 PM
Still confused why CWRU didn't make it. they could be anyone of these teams
And if you meant CMU again, they were an 8-8-1 team that finished 1-6 in the UAA. No chance at postseason. Don't understand your point.
Apparently there are some big soccer games over the next couple of days. Some interesting things could happen. If Wash U. makes it through unscathed they would be the first unbeaten and untied winner since Wheaton in 2007. If Williams wins it all they would be the first back to back champions since Messiah in 2011-2012 and would join TCNJ as three time champs. Perhaps, Middlebury or CNU will become first time winners. And maybe, just maybe Donald Trump will make it through the G20 Summit without making me cringe?? We shall see. It should be interesting.
Williams women win another National Championship with character, grit, and joy!
As I posted earlier this year, possibly the most consistently impressive program of any sport in NESCAC in developing young people for life.
Is it time yet to start talking about job openings: open now and hot seat?
Quote from: Knowenough2bdangerous on December 10, 2018, 03:07:12 PM
Is it time yet to start talking about job openings: open now and hot seat?
Feel free to chat about it here: http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=8746.30
:)