NCAA Tournament 2025

[rdanie03]

I'm the resident Ole here, but I think Tufts advances. I'll say 3-1 Tufts over the Oles. First half ends 1-1 after the Oles get another early one, but this time they can't hold in the 2nd half. Tufts gets a winner early in the 2nd and tacks on another with the Oles pressing late.

I'm not falling for the reverse psychology trick!

My gut says Trinity over Emory today, but the eventual winner I think will come from the Tufts-St. Olaf match.

Looking at NESCAC teams, I think Conn and Wesleyan (in particular) and Tufts all have a several of their studs back again next year. I  thought I had read/heard that Antic would take another year but IDK.

Bates had 2 freshmen and a Sophomore earn All-Conference honors. They could be a team to watch in the next year or two. Not sure what will happen in 2026 with Amherst, Midd or Williams.

I know that Antic has another year of eligibility, but I would imagine that if they win Sunday, he'll walk off a champion. With a loss, idk what he would do.

[Hopkins92]

Fantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

[Hopkins92]

I think Emory wins. I wouldn't say they got lucky against Dickinson, but... As I posted, they kind of stole that game.

Don't get me wrong, very good team. It just looks like Trinity is a notch above.

And I think the cold weather is wash. Atlanta isn't exactly Pittsburgh (or Columbus).

[Kuiper]

Ref very heavy-handed against Tufts

Ref has been fine.

I didn't watch the entire game, so I can't reasonably comment on overall quality, but this astounds me:

7 cards on Tufts? They had 21 all season.

St Olaf's had 3 cards, so it's not like the official was card happy with all. Seems like Tufts partisans have a point.

To be fair, two of Tufts' cards were for dissent.  I don't know whether they were warranted, but I don't think we could call them "bad" or "harsh" calls based on watching the livestream since we don't know what was said.  So, I would look at it as more like 5-3 yellow cards, which isn't quite as slanted. 

[SimpleCoach]

Fantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

I've been live streaming.... and ranted on this.  Keepers too passive.  They should get off the line and clear the ball out.....

SC.

[Kuiper]

Fantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

100% agree.  Goalkeepers are being taught to one-hand punch the ball these days because you can theoretically direct it better and it's more flexible since you can pull out easier if traffic changes and you're about to punch a player in the head.  The problem is that goalkeepers didn't grow up doing much boxing training and a one-handed punch when your feet aren't on the ground and legs stabilized is not that easy to manage.  It's also difficult to get the proper power since you need some hip rotation to properly punch if you aren't rushing out and throwing your body at the ball like a missile (in which case you might as well two-handed punch to increase your surface area for making contact). It's also one more decision to make when you're going 100 mph and decision making is a much more difficult part of being a goalkeeper than shot-stopping, which is generally positioning and muscle memory reaction. 

[SimpleCoach]

Fantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

100% agree.  Goalkeepers are being taught to one-hand punch the ball these days because you can theoretically direct it better and it's more flexible since you can pull out easier if traffic changes and you're about to punch a player in the head.  The problem is that goalkeepers didn't grow up doing much boxing training and a one-handed punch when your feet aren't on the ground and legs stabilized is not that easy to manage.  It's also difficult to get the proper power since you need some hip rotation to properly punch if you aren't rushing out and throwing your body at the ball like a missile (in which case you might as well two-handed punch to increase your surface area for making contact). It's also one more decision to make when you're going 100 mph and decision making is a much more difficult part of being a goalkeeper than shot-stopping, which is generally positioning and muscle memory reaction. 

I think the day when they started treating goalkeepers as field players, in general, we lost the plot.

Notice how keepers are reactive about everything... coming out to block a shot.... parrying every shot.... I was brought up to shut up and get the ball.  Now its... don't be scored on.

I don't like it.  Maybe need to do a video on this....

SC/.

[Kuiper]

Max Salinas going out early with an injury is rough for Trinity.  He's a big part of their possession game.  With Perryman substituting for him, someone else will have to play midfield. If it's Knutsen, that changes their attack.

[Bucket]

Ref very heavy-handed against Tufts

Ref has been fine.

I didn't watch the entire game, so I can't reasonably comment on overall quality, but this astounds me:

7 cards on Tufts? They had 21 all season.

St Olaf's had 3 cards, so it's not like the official was card happy with all. Seems like Tufts partisans have a point.

To be fair, two of Tufts' cards were for dissent.  I don't know whether they were warranted, but I don't think we could call them "bad" or "harsh" calls based on watching the livestream since we don't know what was said.  So, I would look at it as more like 5-3 yellow cards, which isn't quite as slanted. 

Fair point. Thank you.

[Kuiper]

HALF:  Emory 0 - Trinity 0

Emory did a great job of pressuring and disrupting Trinity's possession game both in midfield and out of the back.  If Cubeddu had his shooting boots on, Emory would have the lead at half.

Emory led in shots 8-1 (2-0 SOG)
Emory had 3 corners to 0 for Trinity

The question is if Emory, a team that doesn't rely on subs much, can keep up the pressure in the second half.

[Kuiper]

Halpern's save was elite there.  You can see why he was a DI player at Villanova before transferring.  Trinity scores that goal all season long on a delivery from Theiss.

[Hopkins92]

Fantastic save by Antic, making up for a really poor punch of the ball

Interesting that the St. Olaf keeper is coming up for every corner.

*pulls out soap box, climbs up*

Once again, the trend in goalkeeping coaching away from correctly punching the ball rears its head. BACK IN MY DAY, that is a very clear, two-handed punch out to the sideline that is well clear of the 30-yard line. He came out without conviction and with not a ton of traffic (he wasn't getting bumped when he hit the ball, goalies are used to that level of traffic) and limp-wristedly flapped at the ball.

It was a nice recovery, but that almost put this game into OT.

100% agree.  Goalkeepers are being taught to one-hand punch the ball these days because you can theoretically direct it better and it's more flexible since you can pull out easier if traffic changes and you're about to punch a player in the head.  The problem is that goalkeepers didn't grow up doing much boxing training and a one-handed punch when your feet aren't on the ground and legs stabilized is not that easy to manage.  It's also difficult to get the proper power since you need some hip rotation to properly punch if you aren't rushing out and throwing your body at the ball like a missile (in which case you might as well two-handed punch to increase your surface area for making contact). It's also one more decision to make when you're going 100 mph and decision making is a much more difficult part of being a goalkeeper than shot-stopping, which is generally positioning and muscle memory reaction. 

I think the day when they started treating goalkeepers as field players, in general, we lost the plot.

Notice how keepers are reactive about everything... coming out to block a shot.... parrying every shot.... I was brought up to shut up and get the ball.  Now its... don't be scored on.

I don't like it.  Maybe need to do a video on this....

SC/.

I'm ready, coach!

[Kuiper]

Speaking of punches, Trinity's Schell just delivered a nice punch on that cross, although I'm not sure whether it was one or two hands.

[Kuiper]

PK for Trinity!  Urquidi was so smooth and deceptive in the box on that play. 

VAR overturned!  Corner instead. A game-changing call for sure

[CarefreeTX]

PK for Trinity!  Urquidi was so smooth and deceptive in the box on that play.

VAR overturned!  Corner instead. A game-changing call for sure

50/50 on pen or not, but definitely not a clear enough error to overturn the on field decision