Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) A lot of games on tap this weekend that should influence the post season. (Note: rankings are a program's highest ranking from either NSCAA, SoccerTimes.com or Soccer America.) THURSDAY Cal State Northridge (7-1-1) @ No. 12 San Diego (10-2) Toreros need to rebound from a bad trip east last weekend while CSN needs a scalp of a big program to show the selection committee it’s for real. FRIDAY Washington (3-3-3) @ No. 1 Stanford (9-1) Huskies just need some Ws if they have any hope of squeaking into the tournament while Stanford needs to start Pac 10 play off on the right foot. Tulsa (7-4) @ No. 10 Bradley (10-0-2) Golden Hurricanes need to show win over Stanford wasn’t a fluke while Bradley needs a win over a good opponent to improve its strength of schedule. No. 18 Oregon State (9-1) @ No. 15 California (7-2-1) Two programs on the rise need a win over a good opponent, particularly one in the conference. SATURDAY No. 9 South Carolina (7-2-1) @ No. 2 Wake Forest (8-0-2) After 2 straight losses, Cocks need a win while Deacons look to keep themselves out of the L column. No. 6 Maryland (10-2) @ No. 7 Connecticut (9-2) Neither team “needs” this win but it could earn either team a seed in the post-season. Holy Cross (7-1-1) @ No. 11 American (10-3) If AU wins the conference, Patriot League likely gets one bid so Holy Cross needs a W here. American, meanwhile, looks to bounce back from mid-week loss at Princeton. No. 20 Notre Dame (5-3-3) @ No. 15 Boston College (7-2) After a couple of tough results last week, the Irish could use a win against a ranked team while BC needs to beat another good team to show they’re for real. No. 22 North Carolina (8-4) @ Virginia Commonwealth (6-3) A win for the Rams will make a strong statement to the selection committee while UNC needs to get some Ws if they want to get a first round bye. Seton Hall (6-4-2) @ Pittsburgh (7-3-1) Both teams need a win over a decent side to get back into the polls and help their post-season chances. SUNDAY No. 18 Oregon State (9-1) @ No. 1 Stanford (9-1) Another chance for the Beavers to announce their arrival, another game Stanford needs to win to get a high seeding. No. 21 Virginia (6-4) @ No. 4 Clemson (8-1-1) Plain and simple, Uva needs this game more than Clemson because they need to show they can beat a good team. The Tigers need to win this game if they want to win the ACC regular season. Nice side bar is Westfield (13 goals) vs. Eskandarian (14 goals) in 2 of the country’s hottest scorers. No. 5 Southern Methodist (9-1-1) @ No. 10 Bradley (10-0-2) Both teams have nice records but neither has beaten any one of real consequence. No. 12 San Diego (10-2) @ No. 8 Loyola-Marymount (10-0-2) Winner of this game is the front-runner for the WCC title and the automatic bid. Washington (3-3-3) @ No. 15 California (7-2-1) Another chance for Yoo-Dub to get back on track and for Cal to get another good win. Ohio State (8-3) @ No. 21 Penn State (7-6) Buckeyes look to keep the momentum they’ve build after a slow start while PSU can’t afford many more losses if they want to make the NCAAs. Santa Clara (5-3-1) @ Portland (7-4-1) Both teams began the season ranked but are now out of the polls and a loss could really hurt the loser’s post-season chances. As always, comments and additions are encouraged.
Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) and this is big not only for the fact that it's a conference match, but this could be a semi- or final in the Big Ten tourny, which is also being held at PSU
Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) After the death of Gray Griffin last night, it's hard to think of any kind of game as "big", but life does go on. And at the risk of being presumptive, I suspect Gray would have wanted his memory to be honored by playing the game, talking about the game, celebrating the game and helping grow the game. With a nod to Gray in heaven, here goes... Cardinal wins 2-0. Here's the link. http://gostanford.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101102aaa.html Basically, Yoo-Dub needs to turn it around ASAP or there'll be no post-season. Braves win 2-1. After upsetting Stanford, the Golden Hurricanes have been more like Golden Showers. http://www.bubraves.com/press/200210112.html Cal wins 5 (FIVE!)- 0. Welcome to the Big Time, OSU! http://calbears.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101102aaa.html Also: SMU whupped Eastern Illinois, 4-0. http://www.smumustangs.com/news/02-03/021011socm.asp Indiana spanked Wisconsin 5-1. http://www.iuhoosiers.com/menssoccer/news/02-03/msc10-11-02.html Creighton squeaked by Western Kentucky 2-1 in OT. http://www.fansonly.com/schools/wky/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101102aaa.html And, Wisconsin-Milwaukee beat Akron 3-1. http://uwmpanthers.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101102aac.html
Re: Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) Before I learned about Griffin, I was going to highlight two players for their excellence in this game: Stanford's Chad Marshall and Washington's C.J. Klaas. I'm not sure whether they knew it at the time, but both of their performances honored the memory of their fellow U-20 pool member. Having lost a couple of youth teammates myself, I remember the feelings of grief -- my sympathy to those who are experiencing that now.
Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) Wake beats USC 1-0 http://wakeforestsports.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101102aaa.html
Holy Cross 3 AU 2 in 2OT. It was a penalty kick that finished it - AU keeper Michael Behonick saved it, but the rebound fell right to the shooter, and he tapped it in. Great game. AU played poor for about 70 minutes, then got two late goals to force overtime. HC went into a shell, which isn't a great idea against this AU team. Since HC has already beaten Lehigh, it is very likely to win the Patriot regular season, ensuring it will host the post-season tournament. RS
Re: Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) Wow, Wake just continues to kick as$ and take names. Meanwhile, the Cocks, with 3 straight losses, seem lost since Ricky Quest left the team.
Big win for Holy Cross, particularly on the road. Even if they don't get the auto bid, this really helps their chances of an at-large. AU, meanwhile, needs to right the ship after 2 straight losses.
Re: Re: Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) I've seen Wake four times now and they seem stronger every time I see them. I've seen the GCs three times. I don't think the GCs are missing Quest--they're playing well and have lost some close games to very good teams. (Except for maybe the loss to Davidson.) If you want an important game for next weekend you can put South Carolina/Rutgers near the top of the list. Both of these teams desperately need a quality win to get back on track. After seeing St John's last weekend I'm really sorry I missed the Wake/St John's game. I've seen 25 games this fall and these two are without a doubt the class of the field. The Johnies were a total pleasure to watch--incredible speed of play.
Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) UConn 2, Maryland 0 http://umterps.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101202aaa.html Notre Dame 1, Boston College 0 http://bceagles.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101202aaa.html VCU 1, North Carolina 0 http://tarheelblue.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101202aaa.html Seton Hall 1, Pittsburgh 0 http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/msoccer/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=8691 Also: UC Santa Barbara 2, Cal State Fullerton 1 http://ucsbgauchos.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101202aaa.html Gauchos bounce back from their only loss of the year. Coastal Carolina 2, UNC Asheville 1 http://www.coastal.edu/athletics/?f=soccerm/stories/msoc10-12a-02&m=soccerm/soccermmenu Coastal stays unbeaten. Saint Louis 2, Cinncinnati http://slubillikens.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101202aaa.html Bills may be the hottest team in the country right now. Syracuse 2, Rutgers 1 http://suathletics.com/News/Soccer/msoccer/2002/10/12/rutgerstory.asp?path=msoccer Not a good win for the Knights, who have slid onto the proverbial bubble.
UNC What's the deal with the Heels? Anyone see the game? Haven't heard from too many UNC fans lately...
Re: UNC talk when they're winning, they only talk when they are winning, talk when they are wiiiiiiiiiinning, they only talk when they are winning...
Re: UNC They are definitely underachieving because this team does not lack for talent. Testo, Stokes, Pause, Storey, Crawford and perhaps Ford Williams are all players who will get long looks from MLS. They also have depth and while they lost some key players last year, they should be able to make up for their loss. Maybe not to the level they reached last year but they should definitely be better than they are. I've never been an Elmar fan and I've heard that a lot of the strings the past couple of years had been pulled by Oliver Weiss. While I tip my hat to Bolowich for winning it all last year, I can't help thinking that UNC won despite Elmar, not because of him. Who knows, but I also can't help thinking that the players aren't responding to him and that he misses his assitants from last year more than some of us realize.
Re: Big games this weekend (10/10-10/13) Loyola-Marymount 3, San Diego 2 http://lmulions.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101302aaa.html LMU has now beaten USD and UCLA so they're undefeated record should not be looked down upon. Cal 2, Washington 1 http://calbears.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101302aaa.html Cal rumbles on while the Huskies are in real trouble in terms of the post season.