Week 6 Flybys

[Christan Shirk]

October 6, 2011
Week 6 Flybys, midweek edition
Snapshots of the D-III soccer landscape as we flyby
countless matches, high-profile and off-the-beaten
path alike, on a quick transcontinental trip.
By Christan Shirk

In what may or may not become a regular feature, we will run down a whole host of results from across the nation, "flybys" if you will, with brief comments that hopefully are informative, insightful, and interesting.  The intent is to give snapshots of the enitre D-III soccer landscape, covering important high profile matches but also going off the beaten path as much as possible as we criss-cross the country.

Tuesday, October 4

No. 3 Ohio Wesleyan 6, Oberlin 3 – Nine goals!  It’s important to point out that Ohio Wesleyan (10-1-0 / 2-0-0) was up 6-0 before conceding any goals in this NCAC tilt.  Still probably didn’t please the Bishops’ coaching staff to give up the goals regardless the score or who was on the field at the time.  FYI: Oberlin (4-8-0 / 1-2-0) responded with their first score just 13 seconds after OWU’s final tally, the sixth shortest time between goals by opposing teams in recorded Division III history.

No. 10 Hobart 1, Ithaca 0 (OT) – On paper it was a east region mismatch that should have seen Hobart reach double-digit wins without too much fuss.  Ithaca was winless out of conference and just 2-4-1 overall but they made the Statesmen sweat it out, holding them scoreless and forcing overtime.  Hobart (10-1-0) had the upper hand, but that didn’t translate into many more quality looks at goal.  That changed in overtime with two goal-bound efforts inside of 1:40, the second the winner.
 
No. 12 Gustavus Adolphus 7, Crown 0 – Unlike Hobart, Gustavus Adolphus (10-1-1) were on cruise control in notching their tenth win of the season, as Crown offered little resistance (27 shots allowed, 16 corners conceded) and no bite (0 total shots).  Words like “thrashed”, “helpless”, and “shellacking” composed a brutally frank assessment on the Crown athletics website.

MORE . . .

[Christan Shirk]

October 8, 2011
Week 6 Flybys, weekend edition
Snapshots of the D-III soccer landscape as we flyby
countless matches, high-profile and off-the-beaten
path alike, on a quick transcontinental trip.
By Christan Shirk

In what may or may not become a regular feature, we will run down a whole host of results from across the nation, "flybys" if you will, with brief comments that hopefully are informative, insightful, and interesting.  The intent is to give snapshots of the enitre D-III soccer landscape, covering important high profile matches but also going off the beaten path as much as possible as we criss-cross the country.

Friday, October 7

New Paltz State 1, No. 19 Plattsburgh State 0 – For the past three years New Paltz has been an inconsistent .500 team, but one who regularly raises its game and frustrates bigger name opponents.  For instance, taking Williams and Stevens to overtime last year and this year dealing Stevens an opening weekend loss.  Add ranked Plattsburgh to the list of victims.  Though undefeated coming in, the Cardinals had played a soft non-conference slate and had already twice tied teams in the bottom-half of the SUNYAC standings.  The stage was set for Hawks to end a 22-year winless streak against their much more heralded opponents.  The sides played each other even until New Paltz (6-6-1 / 2-2-1) broke the deadlock with a 72nd minute goal, their first in the series since 2004.  From there until the end it was all Plattsburgh (9-1-2 / 1-1-2) as they chased the equalizer, putting 4 of 6 shots on frame in the final 18 minutes in the losing cause. The loss leaves Plattsburgh in seventh and outside a SUNYAC playoff spot, but with plenty of time to still move up.  New Paltz sits in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

No. 5 Trinity (Texas) 10, Rhodes 3 – If Trinity was as efficient as Rhodes (2-6-2 / 1-1-1), this SCAC tussle would have ended 15-3, but as it was, Trinity (8-0-2 / 3-0-0) only barely hit double digits on a mere 10 for 31 shooting.  It was Rhodes that registered a .667 SOG pct. and a 0.500 shot pct., marking the first time all season that an opponent bettered Trinity on both counts. MORE . . .