NESCAC

[jumpshot]

I have often stated my respect for Panther Pride and Bucket's comments ...today's competition
provided a refreshing game played with skill and energy by both sides without the amHerst-like rock throwing. Midd's back line impressive ...as were the quick counter attacks by both Midd and the EPHS
Lots of good play in the air. Midd will usually have good teams due to their carrying 35 players versus 28 by the EPHS. Let's also use first years and sophomores as a proxy for recruits ...9 of each for Midd for a total of 18 versus 5 and 8 for a total of 13 for the EPHS. EPHS and amHerst long ago agreed to have no more than 44 "tips", although amHerst has more in effect due to fewer men's and women's teams. Midd and others in NESCAC not governed by a "tip" limit. Finally, my preference is for the EPHS' natural grass surface versus artificial field at Midd. Similar differences between the women's soccer teams. Each school is certainly free to make their own choices ...just pointing out a few differences.

[Earl2]

Williams has talent, which makes their style of play all the more baffling. The coaching staff seems to have decided that passing is an unnecessary complication of soccer. Why string together three passes when you can simply launch the ball 40 yards and hope for the best? Full-grown kickball, with the occasional football throw-in for good measure. Maybe they'll nick a few wins in the tournament, but watching a team with that much talent play so little actual football is quite the achievement in itself.


[/quote]

They (Ephs) are not alone in this approach. Clearly it is intentional because they have the talent and coaching to play differently. It is hard to argue with their results. When I watched the Williams vs Tufts game it made me think and wonder about the emphasis that is placed by the MLS academies and some top tier club programs on playing out of the backfield. Only to have some of the top programs in the NESCAC play kick ball and win. It is entertaining and maddening at the same time. I saw the Ephs goalie (who is elite by the way) literally boot the ball nearly to the opposing goal.(smile) He doesn't have to because he can play with his feet as well.

[Hopkins92]

It's the same approach taken by many at the higher end high school level. It is decreasingly prevalent at the elite club level at those ages.

The answer is fairly simple: You dramatically decrease the risk that comes with playing out of the back when you just lump it forward every time. As you guys said (pretty much), it ain't pretty, but it's effective.

When the entire goal of the enterprise is to win (as opposed to jogo bonito and development), Route 1 football is the style of choice.

Many of us that have been lamenting this "winning is everything" approach to youth soccer are pleased that this mentality is starting to evaporate as coaches and clubs see that feeding their players into MLS Academies or the equivalent is leveling up in priority to "just win baby."

[nescacfootyfan]

Mr. Hopkins 92 - The "it reduces risk" argument is a pretty lazy way to analyze soccer. Georgetown does it at D1, Conn. consistently builds out of the back at D3, and Midd. and Tufts do it too, just less consistently. So maybe stop confusing a lack of ambition with tactical pragmatism. Obviously, kicking the ball as far away from your own goal as possible reduces immediate risk. That's not some profound tactical insight. The question is whether you can coach a team to progress the ball under pressure without panicking and giving up possession. Some D3 coaches clearly can. Others seem content to dress up kickball as a philosophy because their results give them cover(sometimes). Winning games doesn't automatically mean you understand the game, and calling something "effective" doesn't make it sophisticated

[Kuiper]

Did Middlebury change its GK at halftime today against Williams because of an injury?  Seems like a tough spot to bring in a soph GK whose only action in his college career was in an 8-0 victory over Maine Maritime three weeks ago where he did not have to make a single save.

[Bucket]

Huge win for Williams, one of their biggest regular-season wins in years with the 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Middlebury. Kellen Grace was certainly the man of the match for Williams as he scored off a corner that somehow evaded the defenders and goalie and bounced in, and then delivered a gorgeous long pass to Ruehlmann, who really turned on the jets for a breakaway goal which ended up being the game-winner. Considering that Midd had only given up three goals in the entire season, I suspect the GK would love another shot at both of those plays (especially the breakaway goal), but these things happen.  Speaking of which, Midd made it interesting on a PK on a what I'd say was bad luck for the defender in the box, a bit of unfortunate timing on a bang-bang play.   

With this huge NPI boost of a win, Williams should be a lock to host a pod at the NCAA tourney regardless of what happens in the NESCAC tourney (I think Midd was already a lock). 

The one dark cloud for the Ephs was that two of their best players, offensive engine Alex Bethencourt (who will surely be all-conference this year) and all-conference defender Chase Caires, did not play.  Hopefully both are OK for the post-season.   

Worth noting that it was the back-up keeper who was scored upon twice. I don't say this to take away from the great effort by the Ephs on both plays, especially the corner. (I think the experienced Brody plays differently on the second goal, if not the first, as well.) Just noting that Leon Brody's GAA won't change.

Both teams sat out key players (the aforementioned Bethancourt and Caires for Williams and starters Dylan Payne and Ari Klayman for Midd), perhaps with an eye toward this weekend and/or further postseason play.

Fun, hard fought, clean (just 1 card) match—yet one that also felt a lot like a friendly before a big tournament.

Post season starts in a few days. Good luck to all.