ODAC

kansas hokie · November 05, 2025, 10:33:23 PM

Yes they can feel better...this win plus a loss to Lynchburg would put them around NPI of 56.8 which is above the group of Edgewood, Amherst, and VA Wesleyan whose season is over and their scores won't move as much. Think this win puts W&L in, ODAC will get 4 in - Lynchburg hosts as 1 seed in pod and very likely top 8 national seed; Hampden Sydney hosts as #2 seed, W&L wins final then it hosts as #1/#2 seed, VA Wesleyan travels as #2/3 seed. Great year for ODAC.

Another Mom · November 05, 2025, 10:46:50 PM

Thanks both of you!

jknezek · November 06, 2025, 10:30:39 AM

A strong jump for W&L in NPI. Sitting at 27. A tie with Lynchburg should be more than enough, a loss is probably still enough, especially since Lynchburg pushed up. A win could push the Generals into the low 20s. ODAC will likely have at least 3, Va. Wes is questionable.

jknezek · November 10, 2025, 12:08:53 PM

So I'm not making any predictions for this W&L team, but looking at the bracket, it could be a lot worse. Denison is a good team, had a good year, but not the worst opponent, especially with both teams on the road. Dickinson, as pod host, is certainly worthy and they ran JHU off the field in the conference final so they could be peaking, but W&L is familiar with them from last year. And W&L's defense is the team strength, against Dickinson's strength on offense. If W&L makes it to round 2, that's not the worst opponent either, though far from an easy one. Beating Dickinson would definitely be a significant upset.

Lynchburg's pod should be all chalk in the first round. Lynchburg should not struggle with Transy, and CNU should be fine against Berry, even though Berry won the SAA. Berry did tie Lynchburg in game 2, but 14 shots to 2, and none on target for Berry, tell a story. CNU is a tough opponent for Lynchburg if it comes to pass. They have some big scalps this year, including a Dickinson tie, a W&L tie, and wins over Trinity and Va Wes.

The Squids get Otterbein. If H-SC can punch in a few goals, they should be OK, but Emory, who should beat Maryville, something they've already done 7-1 earlier this season, will be a very tough out.

Overall, the three ODAC schools should have a solid chance of making the second round. W&L will need to score. H-SC will need to not fall behind. Lynchburg should just have to be Lynchburg.

Another Mom · November 10, 2025, 01:36:29 PM

My take from watching the three ODAC teams: Hampden Sydney is the weakest, W&L will be ok if they can score (and hopefully have their Centerback back), and Lynchburg is one tough team. I would think they could go far.

kansas hokie · November 10, 2025, 02:05:39 PM

Sorry for being off on the VA Wesleyan prediction. really tough for them to miss out by .05 in NPI. I know you were rooting hard for them to get in.

SierraFD3soccer · November 10, 2025, 02:15:37 PM

I would not look over Denison. It may one of W&L's hardest 1st round opponents in a few years. NPI wise Denison is a few places below W&L after its loss to DePauw in the final. They've only lost two games which were both to DePauw while tying 3. They have average 2.37 goals per game while only allowing 12. Last year they lost to Conn College 2-1 in the quarters after beating #1 Mary Wash in 2OT. Conn College obv beat W&L 1-0. So should be a pretty equally matched game and both are travelling about the same distance to Carlisle.

As to Dickinson, it is pretty much the same team as last year with its goal scorers returning. They have have struggled at times scoring goals this year, but scored 6 very nice goals as well as 1 pk in over two playoff games.

What has been overlooked is that Dickinson has only given up 8 goals this year over 20 games (.4 per game). Last year they gave up 26 goals. So a substantial improvement in defense. One could say that Dickinson is pretty well balanced this year.

Is W&L the same as last year? Obv. tbd this year. Would be a big upset. Definitely going to need offense. Don't really see a 0-0 or 1-1 going into pks.

IMO opinion, W&L has a tough weekend. They can do it, just needs to score goals.

jknezek · November 10, 2025, 02:17:36 PM

I'm not knocking Denison, but it's not a bad matchup. Given W&L's start to the season, they should be thankful they made the tournament. Denison won't be an easy out, but it's definitely do-able. Honestly, I expected it to be a lot worse.

SierraFD3soccer · November 10, 2025, 02:19:59 PM

Got it.

jknezek · November 16, 2025, 10:21:42 AM

Well... W&L was doomed by what plagued them all year against good teams, an inability to put the ball in the net. They were consistent start to finish this year!

Good season boys. Congrats on the ODAC finals and tourney bid. Can't complain, they worked hard but were just a team with a killer flaw.