All -

From my home to yours, wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuckah or whatever it is you do with your family this time of year.  Thanks for all and looking forward to 2027!

Many Blessings.

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Quote from: blue_jays on December 08, 2025, 09:54:29 AM

Quote from: Coach.myers on December 07, 2025, 09:03:25 PMNESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

Apparently you don't watch enough soccer. University of Chicago put together one of the greatest seasons in D3 history in 2022 en route to an undefeated title where they beat a NESCAC team in the final 2-0. UChicago has been possession oriented and technical since Mike Babst arrived in 2013 and brought the program to new heights.

I would also add St. Olaf to that list in 2023 ...

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I think I was watching a different Division III.  Clearly, I am not watching ... or valuing the same players.... even with the crazy rules I place on my Top XI.

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Quote from: Kuiper on December 05, 2025, 06:08:47 PM

Quote from: Hopkins92 on December 05, 2025, 05:54:44 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on December 05, 2025, 05:07:42 PMFantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

100% agree.  Goalkeepers are being taught to one-hand punch the ball these days because you can theoretically direct it better and it's more flexible since you can pull out easier if traffic changes and you're about to punch a player in the head.  The problem is that goalkeepers didn't grow up doing much boxing training and a one-handed punch when your feet aren't on the ground and legs stabilized is not that easy to manage.  It's also difficult to get the proper power since you need some hip rotation to properly punch if you aren't rushing out and throwing your body at the ball like a missile (in which case you might as well two-handed punch to increase your surface area for making contact). It's also one more decision to make when you're going 100 mph and decision making is a much more difficult part of being a goalkeeper than shot-stopping, which is generally positioning and muscle memory reaction. 

I think the day when they started treating goalkeepers as field players, in general, we lost the plot.

Notice how keepers are reactive about everything... coming out to block a shot.... parrying every shot.... I was brought up to shut up and get the ball.  Now its... don't be scored on.

I don't like it.  Maybe need to do a video on this....

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Quote from: Hopkins92 on December 05, 2025, 05:54:44 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on December 05, 2025, 05:07:42 PMFantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

I've been live streaming.... and ranted on this.  Keepers too passive.  They should get off the line and clear the ball out.....

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Quote from: Hopkins92 on November 24, 2025, 01:32:47 PMOnce again, the argument to give these lads a days rest rears its head. I think I'd be less annoyed with this set up if programs spent a couple of weekends in late September or October running a few Sat/Sun weekends to understand what it actually looks like in practice.

As it stands, some of the most important games of the year take place with at least one of the sides exhausted, usually both. I don't like attrition playing such an outsized role.

I am left wondering what sort of impact did having to play OT the day before and going to PKS had on Augsburg.... all because of a keeper error.....

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Quote from: Kuiper on November 22, 2025, 02:56:45 PMFINAL:  Augsburg 2 - Cortland 2 (Augsburg wins in PKs)

Augsburg's keeper makes up for his gaffe to allow the tying goal to score by saving the final PK to advance.

I ask.  Does the Cortland keeper step off his line resulting in the retake of a penalty he saved, or is it too close to call?

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Quote from: Kuiper on November 22, 2025, 02:05:02 PM

Quote from: WUPHF on November 22, 2025, 01:56:37 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on November 22, 2025, 01:06:28 PMHALF:  Augsburg 0 - Cortland 0

Augsburg is pressuring and out-shooting Cortland 7-1, but Cortland is not breaking yet.  Ott, Cortland's GK, has three saves in the first half.

UPDATE:  Cortland 1 - Augsburg 0

Cortland scores on a breakaway down the left wing that is crossed in on the ground and shut one time with the left foot by Josh Carroll for the goal about 4 minutes into the second half.

Augsburg scored and then scored again to take the lead. 2-1 in St. Louis thanks to to Carver Tierney goals.

2-2 now on another Carroll goal in the 82nd minute

Cortland can thank the Augsburg keeper for the PK.  Dumbest thing Keepers do.... leads to a dumb decision...

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So it begins....Realize games are still be played, but had to kick of the interviews with my go to coach.

Coach Bergin, Marietta College.

More to come, am sure.

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Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on November 16, 2025, 12:36:49 PMI had my worst week of the season and possibly in 3 years and SimpleCoach still did worse?

I have no comeback to this.  I hate everyone.

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Quote from: Ejay on November 16, 2025, 11:12:08 AMI'm just gonna leave this here for a bit before announcing all results...

WEEK 11

EJay	55
SimpleCoach	5

FINAL

EJay	330
SimpleCoach	305

I am now convinced more than ever that we need the FBI to investigate this racket.

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Quote from: Hopkins92 on November 16, 2025, 03:52:34 PMIt is bright, sunny and quite windy on most of the mid-atlantic region today.

Looking at the feed out of Carlisle, you'd think there was an impending monsoon. Somebody hit a weird button and the filter makes it look gloomy. Hard to see, frankly.

Anyways, 1-0 Dickinson midway through the first half.

Looks like some dystopian nightmare movie.... Book of Eli like....  although the brown grass isn't helping anyone....

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Quote from: Ejay on November 11, 2025, 12:20:12 PMWe're recording the show today. But to answer your question, a win in OT counts as a win.  A draw would be PKs.

And here it is.  Fear my game picking abilities...

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Quote from: Ejay on November 10, 2025, 05:47:29 PMFinal Week is this weekend. I'll have the matchups available soon. In the meantime, thought I'd take a walk down memory lane...

2022 TOP 5
Enmorecat	240
OffPitch	240
jfreds	230
Hopkins92	220
Camosfan	215
Coach Jeff	210
2023 TOP 5
FCGrizzliesGrad	370
Az Soccer	365
EnmoreCat	330
Ejay	320
CrossIt4Fun	320
2024 TOP 5
Urbana#17	445
Hopkins Walk-On	405
CrossIt4Fun	395
NJay	395
cruyff18	390
2025 TOP 5 (to date)
FCGrizzliesGrad	395
NJay	370
paclassic89	355
Rcjh2345	350
2Short&2Slow	335
fromNCwithluv	335
Go SCOTS!	335
Urbana#17	335

This is where I dazzle everyone with my picks and come charging from behind....

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Quote from: kansas hokie on November 10, 2025, 02:03:13 PMGreat stuff here from the St. Olaf coach...going off on the NCAA selection.

https://x.com/justin_oliver11/status/1987929210199867637?s=46&t=0FevKR5xEJQBlFEq3_7kag

Unfortunately, until the randomize the the drawing, this is what you get.

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