The Liberty League

[Saint of Old]

Vassar is in due to fewer conference losses (1) compared to Union (3).

Vassar had (4) league ties, and only lost to SLU.
Union has nothing to hang it s head about. A great year, they should really be looked at as a Pool C team, but that wont happen.

Vassar meanwhile keeps going. They have heart (equalized at Union with 15 mins left to keep their season alive).
This team has arrived in the LL elite.

[Firsttouch]

What are some thoughts on who is winning the Liberty League this year? St Lawrence going to run away with it? Who is going to get POY for the League?

[Saint of Old]

Liberty League MVP: Aaron Castello.
The kid always makes the big save and has luck on his side. Ingredients of a special Goal Keeper.

Vassar at SLU:

St. Lawrence the 2010 LL Tourney and regular season champs are an established National threat. This season the team worked to form a personality after losing some special players to graduation and injuries. A 13-2-2 record and regular season crown does not guarantee a selection to the dance, but this team stands the best chance at an atlarge should the Tournament title goes South (geographically).

Vassar are 2011 Champions and 2012  finalists. This program has made a habit of beating league foes in the past few seasons and have  joined SLU and RPI as Elite teams in the league. This seasons march to the Tourney was extremely difficult. The only loss came at home to St. Lawrence, but 4 ties against league foes meant bearly edging out a good Union squad.
Vassar knows only a Tourney Championship will result in an invite t o the dance. The upper class men also know that in 2011 they got by a previously perfect St. Lawrence squad in the semi-final of the tourney en route to their first league crown.

SLU 2-1
SLU 2-1 at Home

[Firsttouch]

I agree with your prediction about slu winning.  But Costello will get defensive poy and bednarski will get mvp.... Senior captain with a young team and is the work horse of that team plus hes been a 1st all league and region since 2011

[Saint of Old]

I do love Bender.
The only player in the history of the program to start all regular season games over a 4 year stretch.
This means that the kid, stayed fit and in form for four straight years. He played 3 years next to  Demello, so he learned well how to be a star. He would deserve the award for sure.

I think there is true  greatness in Castello.
He will only improve.

[deutschfan]

First let me say Saint that your predictions have been very accurate and I think you are right about the SLU-Vassar game, however, having watched the video of the first game this could be a great rematch.  Despite the 3-0 score Vassar missed a goal by inches on a tap-in in the first 10, could have put SLU down a man when a forward was pulled down on a break, and finally Vassar missed a goal on a break-through in the second half by inches again.  Last two SLU goals were when Vassar played 3 defenders and their goalie was out with injury.  Breaking it down:  Mental: Advantage SLU not only due to home field but also Vassar has a monkey on their back not having scored against SLU since 2010.  Goalie: Advantage SLU--Costello's numbers don't lie although Grimme has come up huge in big games including the last playoff game between these two.  Defense:  Push--SLU strong but Vassar has been able through experimentation find the best group to replace last year's starters.  Midfield: Big advantage SLU:  Bender is great both shooting and distributing, and the midfielders around him are good to excellent.  Vassar has an excellent defensive midfielder who scores alot of goals on set pieces but Vassar generally does not generate alot of offense from its attacking mids.  Forward:  Push.  Vassar has one of the top forwards in the league but they could use a second consistent scoring threat. SLU has a number of forwards who can put the ball in the net, including from off the bench, and who complement their attacking midfielders.  Overall--Advantage SLU.  If Vassar scores first, and the monkey jumps off their back, it is a whole different ball game. 

[Christan Shirk]

. . . , but if you can't make the conference tourney an NCAA bid is out of the question.

I almost thought that there was an example of a team missing their conference playoffs and yet getting an at-large berth, but I can't find it.  More likely, it wasn't inconceivable but didn't happen.  And I'm thinking of 2007 Swarthmore who was the odd man out (6th place at 5-3-1) in a very, very strong and deep Centennial Conference that ended up getting four teams in the NCAA tournament (AQ + 3 at-large berths) that year.  Swarthmore was 14-3-3 overall and 11-3-3 "in-region".  Their SOS wasn't the best back then as their non-conference schedule wasn't the greatest, and that may have hurt them as much as not making the conference playoffs.

[Saint of Old]

SLU through to the LL tournament Final 1-0  over Vassar.
Not likely that Vassar will get an atlarge, but the program keeps building on its solid reputation.

The winner of tonight RPI v. Skidmore will be forced to travel North.

0-0
RPI 4-2 PKs

Tough to pick a winner in this game, both teams are evenly matched.
Skidmore will have vengeance on their minds after losing 3-2 OT heartbreaker while giving up a 2 goal lead when the two teams met earlier this season.
With both Brockport and Oneanta losing today, both Skidmore and RPI Know that they must play in the final in order to have any chance at a Pool C bid and a ticket to the big dance.
Skidmore  has the better attack, but RPI has the slightly better team. This one may go down as a classic.

[deutschfan]

With Skidmore's win tonight RPI likely out, and if St. Lawrence wins Saturday, good chance only one LL team in the Dance.  Costello comes up big again this afternoon.  First minute, one on one with the leading goal scorer in the league, and he gets last second deflection.  If Vassar scores first the monkey may have disappeared but Vassar will have to wait til next year to get a couple more cracks at SLU.

[Saint of Old]

Vassar will have blood in their eyes next season, as will Union and Hobart.
This league is only gonna get better.
Skidmore's ascendency means that there are always 7 teams fighting for 4 playoff spots.
Every wknd is big.

Aaron is playing big, he will need to continue his solid play if the Saints are to make a deep run this season.

[LaPaz]

I watched the RPI v Skidmore video. Skidmore was the better team and had on the night better offensive weapons. McEachen did a great job recruiting this group. Beek is the real deal and is a cagey skilled fast player. The kid Brockwell from Arizona looks like a natural finisher. They do seem suspect in other areas and def have weaknesses but on the night looked very sharp against an uninterested RPI team. They looked as flat as can be with maybe one or two scoring chances all night. A HUGE HUGE thumbs up to that RPI.tv production. I have never seen a D3 soccer game produced and shown like that. 3 different camera angles, instant replay, etc. I guess I would expect nothing less from engineers.

[Saint of Old]

RPI has been sick with their broadcasts for a few seasons now.
I agree, the best I have ever seen, almost like NBCSN!

RPI must have a good season next year to be as elite as thier broadcasts.
They have proven themselves a good and consistent team, and a couple more strong seasons will cement that status.
They are well coached, and despite losing 3/4 of the backline had a good season.
Next year the Liberty league only gets tougher after it seemed every team took a step back from last year. Some bigtime studs left the league in '12.
Jansen/Mello et al.

'13 solidified the pecking order moreso than redefining it (with Skidmore taking the biggest step).

All four teams in the Tourney:
Vassar, RPI, Skidmore, SLU proved themselves to be the best teams in the conference.

[Saint of Old]

St. Lawrence wins the double as Saint Bender stars.

SLU wrapped up an impressive Liberty League season with a 3-1w in over a determined Skidmore.
Skidmore has signaled their intent to challenge for a  league title and has a young team and bright future.
SLU is still SLU. Total football.

Bednarsky scored a wonder goal followed by a historic celebration to seal the League Tournament title as a  Freshman '10, and scored a wonder goal with a HISTORIC celebration to capture the Tournament title his Senior year. Tough to not see the kid's name on an all-time St. Lawrence starting 11.

Now the real season begins however.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Saint, as much as I root for this league, SLU has proven in the last 6 years to be a cut below the elite teams, even when hosting NCAA tourney games.  Maybe they'll go a bit further this year.

[deutschfan]

Any other Liberty League teams get in?