a shootout win doesn't count as a win but gives them another game to play... which they would again have to not lose to keep their .500 record.
Xavier follows their rout of Rhode Island by beating UMass 5-0. That's two wins over the A10's New England schools by a combined 11-0. Gino De Paoli and James Queree each had a brace and Luke Spencer scored his 13th to go with 2 assists. Xavier finishes the regular season 13-1-4 and 6-1-2.
They threw in something. It's disappointing that this program hasn't been able to build on their Final Four run of 2007. Meanwhile in the A10, SLU finishes up with a 4-0 win over Butler. A goal and an assist each from Robbie Kristo and Bryce Kingsley. Here's how the top of the A10 ended. Charlotte (13-2-2) - 7-1-1 Saint Louis (13-4-0) - 7-2-0 VCU (10-2-5) - 6-1-2 Xavier (13-1-4) - 6-1-2. Temple - (10-5-3) - 6-1-2 Dayton (11-5-1) - 5-3-1 The top of this conference has REALLY improved the last couple of years.
Big result in the WCC as Portland upends San Diego and their winning streak, 2-1. Steve Evans' 14th of the year was the game-winner. Portland improves to 7-9-1 and 5-5-0 in the West Coast. Of more importance, USD is now 10-7-0 and 8-2-0 in the WCC. Second place Santa Clara, which was idle today, 7-2-1 in the conference and the two teams finish up with each other next Sunday. (Friday, SCU plays Loyola Marymount and USD plays 3rd place Saint Mary's, which still could be in the hunt. They're currently in a scoreless tie with San Francisco.)
UCLA kicks off with Cal later tonight and the Bruins can clinch the first automatic bid of the year with a win. UCLA (12-2-2) is 7-1-1 in the Pac-12; 2nd place Washington (11-4-3) is 6-1-2 and only has one conference game remaining. Meanwhile, Cal (8-6-2) needs at least a tie to keep their at-large hopes alive.
San Francisco ties St. Mary's (9-3-5) 1-1, a result that puts the Gaels post-season hopes on life support. St. Mary's is in third place in the WCC at 5-2-3. The only scenario where they have a shot is to beat LMU and San Diego next weekend, thus giving them 24 points, and hope Santa Clara beats San Diego but loses to, or ties, LMU. That would give both SMC and San Diego 24 points and Santa Clara 22 or 23 points. I don't know what tie-breakers are in the WCC after head-to-head, but if the above scenario played out SMC and USD would have split the head to head and would need the more advanced tie-breakers.
Should be some good soccer to watch in the A-10 Tourney at Charlotte beginning Thursday. These are the teams (1v8; 2v7; 3v6;4v5): 2012 A-10 MEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDS 1. Charlotte (13-2-3/7-1-1) – 22 points 2. Saint Louis (13-4-0/7-2-0) – 21 points 3. Xavier (13-1-4/6-1-2) – 20 points 4. VCU (10-2-5/6-1-2) – 20 points 5. Temple (10-5-3/6-1-2) – 20 points 6. Dayton (11-5-1/5-3-1) – 16 points 7. La Salle (10-6-3/4-4-1) – 13 points 8. Duquesne (7-11-1/4-4-1) – 13 points
Standings right now: San Diego=24 points, Santa Clara= 22 points, St. Mary’s= 18 points St. Mary’s can’t win. The best they can do is 24 points. If Santa Clara beats USD, SCU will have at least 25 points, while if USD ties or beats Santa Clara, USD will have at least 25 points.
South Carolina 1 Kentucky 0 C-USA finishes up in this order: 1. SMU 2. Tulsa 3. UCF 4. Memphis 5. Kentucky 6. UAB 7. Marshall 8. South Carolina 9. FIU Conf tourney opens Wed: Memphis vs Kentucky UCF vs UAB
And the Quinnipiac Bobcats win their first ever Division 1 North Eastern Conference (NEC) title with an impressive 8-1-1 Conference league play record, and this afternoon a 3X0 pounding of second place Fairleigh Dickinson. http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/releases/20121104y2fjyy Top 4 of the NEC - Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth, Saint Francis all proceed to NEC Tournament which kicks off November 9th, with the winner heading on to the NCAA Tournament.
In America East quarterfinals: Stony Brook comes from 2 goals down with under 20 mins to play to beat Binghamton 5-4. New Hampshire beats Albany in PK's 5-4. New Hampshire sends 5 defenders and a mid to the penalty stripe. Next up, Wednesday semi finals. New Hampshire @ Vermont Stony Brook @ UMBC
Cal ties 1-1 at UCLA in 2 OT's. Alec Sundley scored for Cal and Reed Willians scored the tying goal for UCLA. Cal's Ryan Neil hit the crossbar in the closing seconds of the 2nd OT and then they blew the whistle....