NESCAC

[nescac1]

Since Williams and Amherst have identical conference records and results, if both win Wednesday, hosting rights for the tourney would indeed come down to a coin toss.  Is that the first time in NESCAC tourney history that a coin toss would decide the top seed?  Of course, both still have to take care of business this week ...

[LaPaz]

Wed Pred:

Williams v Midd- 1-0 Midd plain and simple is just not as good this year. They always struggled with Bates but to lose so many home games this year is a disappointment. They lost a huge class from last year so this is not al suprising. Really a tie does them nothing so I cannot imagine they will sit back completely in this game. williams again outfouled RPI by 3 to 1 and if that happens in this one than Midd could get a goal or 2. This game is to important for Williams to lose but they might have heavy legs with their 3rd game in 5 days.

Conn v Amherst- 0-1 Conn has been Amherst's issue the past few years. To much on the line here but on that field and Conn's stingy Defense I guess anything is possible. A win for Conn could jump them to 6th possibly but not seeing that happeneing here.

Tufts v Bowdoin- 0-0 Game with biggest consequences. This game could be a replay on the 27th for the semi's. Both teams have faint chances still at an at-large if they win 3 or 4 in a row. For now the focus is on the home field for saturday. I am picturing a tight game with quality chances but no goals.

Trinity v Wes- 0-2 Trinity really fading fast. However, just when you count them out they pull an upset. Not here as Wes still has lots of work to do. They have their home seed but with such a senior laden team I think they want more. they want an at-large and again 3 to 4 wins might do it.

Bates v Colby- 3-4 Last game of the year and for some last game of careers. I am picturing goals and not alot of defense in this one. I think Colby the better team even if they havent gotten a goal yet.

[amh63]

On a damp playing field, Amherst finish the regular season with a 3-0 win over Conn. College in CT.  Spencer Noon scored the first goal in each half.  It was 2-0 at the half.  Amherst kept constant pressure on the Camels and a 4th goal by Amherst was called back.....possible off-side in the scramble in front of the goal?

[Jump4Joy]

Congrats to Amherst and Williams on their undefeated seasons in NESCAC and overall.
Unfortunately, for Amherst, Williams won the coin toss today, so if the Ephs win their quarterfinal match Saturday, they'll be hosting the semis and finals next weekend.

[LaPaz]

Quarters:

Williams v Conn- 2-0 While Conn has improved and they are injury free I still do not think they can get out of Williamstown with a win. They could play 5-4-1 and clog the middle and hope for the best. They did beat Wesleyan at Wes, which is hard to do. Rumor has it they have a very good frosh class coming in next year.. Williams advances and continues its great run.

Amherst v Midd- 3-0 No idea where #4 Sucre has been but it doesnt matter, they are facing one of the worst Midd teams I have seen. #5 Portman is a good player and #9 Alvan can be dangerous but there backline and goalkeeping is awful. #16 Knisley is only decent player back there. I give them no chance in this game.

Wes v Trinity- 2-0 Tough to beat a team twice in 4 days. Tough but not impossible, Trinity's slide continues as winning at Wes will not happen. Wes is just a senior laden team and have more punch than Trinity up front and in back.

Tufts v Bowdoin- 0-1 This is the one re-match where I could see a different result. While I wouldnt lay any money on it, it is definitly possible for Bowdoin to come down here and win this game.

[JustAFan]

Tufts will probably be without 3 starters today due to injury (Volpe, Santos and Miele).  The Jumbos will need their bench to step up again vs. Bowdoin.

[amh63]

Amherst wins against Midd. at home on a wet field.  Amherst was ahead 4-0 with less than 6 minutes to go.  The game was physical in the first half and it was 1-0 at the half with Amherst putting the pressure on the Panthers.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

LaPaz, I believe Sucre sustained a serious ankle injury (broken?) against Trinity about three weeks ago.  Was in a boot/cast and on crutches when Colby played them.

[Jump4Joy]

OK. Asking this question on the men's and women's thread:
What happens when Williamstown is hit with 2-3 inches of rain this week? Those fields are notorious for flooding, being next to a river and on the flood plain. Amherst hosts?

[sumfun]

Amherst fields are at the bottom of a hill and not sure that they drain that much better, but they do have the turf field that they play field hockey on lacrosse on as an option.

[amh63]

Sumfun....nice to hear from you.  I responded a bit on the women's soccer board to Jump4 joy's question.  Her question applies to both the women and men's games....and the other games to be played.  Amherst, IMO, is in a good position to host based on its records.
Without trying to dismiss your thoughts, I did take a few fluid dynamic courses at MIT and the "drainage" situation of a field rest primarily on whether the water drains well and if there is a lower level that it can drain to.  First water does not drain well if there is clay underneath and there is no lower level to drain into.  At Amherst, the two soccer fields are indeed below higher grounds...but there is a lower level for the water to drain to.  I was at the football game in Middletown.  The grass area by the visitor stands were very wet even on a sunny day after the rains the day before.  The problem was poor drainage.  Wes. had built a fine new venue at one end of the field with a courtyard.  It had edged the lower courtyard level with a stone edge facing the playing field......without any drainage holes!  The higher playing field had wet spots due to poor drainage at one end of the field.
With regards to the turf field....it may not suffice for the two semifinal games each for both men's and women's contests.
Oh yes, with regards to the fields at Williams, they were not playable after Irene last year.  Hope the storm will not be bad at Williamstown and things work out for all.  NESCAC officials have the call to make.

[Jump4Joy]

For sure, it's NESCAC's call. Here's a repost from the women's thread:
Because they are scheduled to host the men's and the women's tourneys, if Williams uses turf, they'll probably have to split between their own and the field at MCLA. Will NESCAC split the site of either tourney, allowing Williams to have their home field for the men and the women, thus creating a special schedule, or will the league insist on one site for each individual tourney as is tradition? If both semis have to be played at the same site (one could argue that playing at two different fields could give an unfair advantage to one team--i.e. Williams men play at home against Tufts, but Wesleyan plays at MCLA against Amherst), then who has to move off campus--the men or the women?

In the event of flooding, it seems like the easiest and fairest thing to do is move the whole shebang to Amherst! 

[Jump4Joy]

Here are the NCAA's final regional New England rankings. This is the one that counts for seeding and hosting sites for NCAAs. Looks like Williams barely eclipses Amherst for the #1 spot, seemingly due to in-region results against ranked teams. That's one way non-conference play can have an impact! These rankings are also key to determine at-large bids after conference champions receive the automatics. Do Tufts and Wesleyan have a shot?
1.   Williams      13-0-2      13-0-2            
2.   Amherst      13-0-2      13-0-2            
3.   Brandeis      14-2-1      15-2-1            
4.   Babson      13-3-2      13-3-2            
5.   ECSU              15-1-1      15-1-1            
6.   MIT              11-4-1      11-4-1            
7.   Tufts                9-3-3      9-3-3            
8.   Wesleyan (CT)     9-3-3      9-3-3            
9.   Roger Williams   15-4-0      15-4-0            
10.   Coast Guard   11-5-1      11-5-1            
11.   Bowdoin        8-5-2      8-5-2

[LaPaz]

Both Wes and Tufts need to win one more game aganist one of those 2 ranked teams and I could see the winner getting in. However, I see a Williams v Amherst final and depending on how many pool C bids are left with teams around the country who get upset...aka a womens MIDD team

[amh63]

Amherst beats Wes. 1-0 at Williams.....will meet Williams in the conf. final on Sunday.