ODAC

[jknezek]

Game week for me. Since I refuse to pay for Flo, my ability to watch W&L games is basically gone. But this week one of my son's and I are going to the games at Covenant. Hoping to see the offense get a little more lively. 2-1 is a better start than the last two years, but really need to find someone who can put the ball in the net.

[Another Mom]

Where's @jknezek with the live report of the W&L games??

I watched most of the Covenant game, though missed the goal in the 3rd minute. The team looked good. Improved on its first few games.

[jknezek]

Well we enjoyed both games. Both wins. I'll be very surprised if either of those opponents makes the tournament. Lynchburg blew them out, W&L grinded them out.

The goals have to come from somewhere. If you are playing offense by committee you are limited. The offense needs a focal point, a secondary when that one is off the field, and then a committee for third is fine. But someone has to be the sharp end of the stick, the killer in front of goal, and I just didn't see it.

Saw some potential in the freshman, but it's hard to be selfish in your first games, it's hard to be selfish when you aren't the leader. And the focus needs to be a little selfish, and it needs to be ok for him to be selfish in that final third.

The defense looks good despite Maryville's two goals. One came with what I believe was an atypical player grouping right after halftime that was very shaky, and the second was a nice breakaway against the run of play with a minute to go. When the preferred group was on the field, they were solid.

But you can't grind out a season like the game against Covenant. You have to find some offense. We found some in the first half against a completely overmatched Maryville, but they adjusted better at halftime than we did and the offense sputtered. One shot off the post late was really it in the second half despite holding most of the possession for the last 30 minutes.

They look a lot like last year. I think they will take Lynchburg to the wire in the ODAC, but without goals it's going to be hard to be confident in any game.

One thing I didn't like was a lot of jawing at each other at times. It was definitely worse with certain player groupings. One thing I did like was composure on the ball all over the field. Over 180 minutes there were only a few bad giveaways, only a few truly dangerous passes. Most of the play was confident, and I loved the tenacity of most of the players. Lose the ball, chase it down, seems to be the team's ethos.

There is a good team here, but I'm afraid it's still missing a major piece.

[CollegeSoccerFan]

There seems to be a clear separation of groupings in this years league.

Lynchburg, W&L, and HSC seem to have separated themselves.

A group of about 6-7 schools that are all very close and will probably yo-yo around each other the rest of the way.

Then 2-3 schools who are bringing up the rear.

[jknezek]

There seems to be a clear separation of groupings in this years league.

Lynchburg, W&L, and HSC seem to have separated themselves.

A group of about 6-7 schools that are all very close and will probably yo-yo around each other the rest of the way.

Then 2-3 schools who are bringing up the rear.

That's pretty typical for the ODAC. 3 or 4 teams that can make the tournament with usually 1 or 2 that clearly should, then a big group of ok teams, and then whoever is terrible.

W&L did not look good against EMU. Have to see if they can play better, but I also didn't expect Lynchburg to tie R-MC. It's a long season and it's hard to play well for all of them. Given soccer's scoring vagaries, it's tough to win them all even when you are dominant, as it appears Lynchburg was over R-MC.

W&L at H-SC Wednesday will be a big one for both teams. The Squids have played a pretty easy schedule, except for Batten, as is their custom. W&L is more battle tested. Will have to see who shows up for both.

Lychburg gets Batten and then H-SC, so they have a few key games to bounce back. I suspect they will without too much trouble.

[CollegeSoccerFan]

There seems to be a clear separation of groupings in this years league.

Lynchburg, W&L, and HSC seem to have separated themselves.

A group of about 6-7 schools that are all very close and will probably yo-yo around each other the rest of the way.

Then 2-3 schools who are bringing up the rear.

That's pretty typical for the ODAC. 3 or 4 teams that can make the tournament with usually 1 or 2 that clearly should, then a big group of ok teams, and then whoever is terrible.

W&L did not look good against EMU. Have to see if they can play better, but I also didn't expect Lynchburg to tie R-MC. It's a long season and it's hard to play well for all of them. Given soccer's scoring vagaries, it's tough to win them all even when you are dominant, as it appears Lynchburg was over R-MC.

W&L at H-SC Wednesday will be a big one for both teams. The Squids have played a pretty easy schedule, except for Batten, as is their custom. W&L is more battle tested. Will have to see who shows up for both.

Lychburg gets Batten and then H-SC, so they have a few key games to bounce back. I suspect they will without too much trouble.

Great assessment. Having said all that W&L is on a 6 game win streak. And while many have said they haven't looked convincing, they keep winning which counts for something. HSC a good test indeed (for both schools).

[generalsfan10]

W&L handling H-SC 3-0 with a few brilliant goals. Nice to see them scoring from open play.