UAA Soccer

[VASoccerDad]

Some rudimentary thoughts on the UAA bracket draw...

Brandeis (NPI 26) vs Stevens (NPI 90)- Stevens is always a tough out and Brandeis hasn't exactly set the world on fire, but I'm picking Brandeis followed by a matchup vs Tufts in the 2nd round.

Chicago (8) vs DePauw (39)- this could be a tough one for Chicago...DePauw is really coming on with some strong wins late in the season, but I'm sticking with Chicago with a second round matchup vs WashU.

WashU (10) vs Wisconsin-Whitewater (27)- I know next to nothing about the Wisconsin teams other than there are a lot of them and most of them are good. WashU in this one...

Emory (5) vs Maryville (103)- all Emory in this one. Their second round opponent could be a tough ODAC team (Hampden Sydney) or Otterbein- a 23 v 53 NPI matchup. As a Virginian, I'm not sold on HS so I'm going with Otterbein in an NPI upset. Of course they will lose to Emory in the 2nd round...

So all 4 UAA teams will advance to the second round, with 2 of the 4 advancing to the sweet 16 (winner of UChicago/WashU and Emory). Unfortunately I think Brandeis loses to Tufts and the loser of UChicago/WashU is obviously out.

Really too bad that Chicago and WashU have to play in the 2nd round.

[kansas hokie]

It's hard for me to see all 4 UAA teams making it out of first round, just don't know which one gets upset.

Chicago and Wash U got the toughest matchups...then Brandeis...then Emory.

Good luck to the UAA teams!

[VASoccerDad]

It's hard for me to see all 4 UAA teams making it out of first round, just don't know which one gets upset.

Chicago and Wash U got the toughest matchups...then Brandeis...then Emory.

Good luck to the UAA teams!

Agreed! I don't think any of the UAA teams were dominant throughout the season, they all had ups and downs. From top to bottom, the UAA was actually very competitive. While results and overall records may not show that, the actual games were very competitive. NYU even won a couple and CWRU, while finishing at the bottom, had multiple very close 1-0 defeats and several ties.

As far as upsets go, I'm thinking maybe Chicago vs DePauw as the most likely, but then again, I already said I know nothing about the Wisconsin teams, so maybe WashU?

[kansas hokie]

Wash U gets not only the highest ranked opponent...a legit #2 seed in most any pod, someone on level with Dickinson who is hosting as a 1 seed...and it's at their home field. That has to be the toughest first round match up.

Emory meanwhile gets a team they beat 7-1 and both have a long drive to get there. It won't be 7-1 in NCAA but they have to be thankful for this draw compared to what Chicago and Wash U received.

[blooter442]

First time that Brandeis is back in the tournament since a run of six years of 2012-2017 that featured two Final 4s, an Elite 8, and three Sweet 16s. At times in the first half of the season they were looking like a top 10 team with wins over Babson and Wesleyan and a draw with Emory, before some less impressive UAA results towards the end of the year. Given that I think it will be tough to get out of the first weekend with a pod that includes Tufts. Crazier things have happened (Neumann vs. Messiah, 2011), but I figure Tufts will avenge the 2017 Elite 8 defeat. First Brandeis would have to get past Stevens, who appear to be fairly similar in terms of record (9-3-5 vs. 9-3-6), in the late game tomorrow.

[SKUD]

I would be surprised if they get out of day 1.

[Ejay]

I would be surprised if they get out of day 1.

Brandeis? Have you watched Stevens at all this season? They have not been very good.