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Nice 2-1 overtime win for the men's soccer team over IUPUI Friday night.

After giving up a goal in the first half on a defensive lapse despite controlling possession most of the first half, the Crusader men scored a late goal with 7 minutes to go in the 2nd half and the winner with less than 4 minutes to go in the 2nd overtime. It was a very exciting win and showed how relentless this Valpo men's soccer team is.

I now believe that they actually don't lose.


This story is from the IUPUI website.

http://www.iupuijags.com/news/2013/9/13/MSOC_0913130626.aspx (http://www.iupuijags.com/news/2013/9/13/MSOC_0913130626.aspx)

The host Crusaders pulled even on a goal from Todd Vervynckt in the 82nd minute and stole the win with a Nick Suker goal in the 106th minute, moving the Jaguars' losing skid to four straight.

Valpo enjoyed a 22-11 shot advantage while the Jaguars were whistled for 25 fouls and drew just 13 whistles. 


EDIT: Valpo athletics website story:

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12918/crusaders-defeat-jaguars-in-dramatic-fashion/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12918/crusaders-defeat-jaguars-in-dramatic-fashion/)


Crusaders Defeat Jaguars in Dramatic Fashion

"First off, it was an exciting game – we had a really great crowd for our first home game of the season, we want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and giving us support at home.  The environment was electric and you could see how our guys were able to feed off of that positive energy," said head coach Mike Avery.  "I think the fans definitely got their money's worth tonight."

Selfishly, arriving at half time (as Zev Taublieb's junior high coach stepped out of his cab from the South Shore station! we hung out), I was happy to get some extra soccer, after the first 90.

I heard some murmuring that the first goal was an own goal, but maybe not.  Valpo certainly dominated possession in the 2nd half.  IUPUI did have a forward that made some dangerous-looking runs forward.  But, mostly, Valpo looked pretty well in control.  If a little muddled and congested in the final third (Zev's old coach suggested they should take advantage of the full width of the field, nad broaden that attack). 

Valpo deserved to win.  So, good to see them get it.  Definitely exciting for them to equalize in time, and then win it with just a couple of minutes to go (isn't that what we normally call the 107th minute?).  It was a good game - a fun 45+10+10, for sure.  (Lots of fans lefter after 90... did they announce maybe a little too late that the game wasn't over?)

The crowd was pretty good - at least pretty good side.  I bet having the team benches on the ARC side makes the environment feel more "electric" for the bench, at least.  There was a pretty good, if not huge, student supporter section chanting and singing, drumming, etc.   For some reason, they started on the opposite side of the field.  (In past seasons, they mostly hung out behind the opponents' goal.) They thankfully came over to the ARC side for OT.  Father Kevin was in the stands, doing his bit to lead the cheering (from his seat, not from out front - but I definitely appreciated the effort! and it bore some fruit).

Too bad, as they announced after the win, that we won't see them until next month!

But, a solid start to the season.  Can't go wrong with undefeated.  Even if it include three draws. 

I've not checked the regional rankings this year, but perhaps Valpo will make an appearance?

Quote from: agibson on September 14, 2013, 03:23:41 PMI've not checked the regional rankings this year, but perhaps Valpo will make an appearance?

Interesting to see both Butler and Bradley picking up some votes in that national rankings.

http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/college (http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/college)

Michigan State is no more receiving votes.  (0-0 draw with Butler in an exhibition earlier this seaon, incidentally.)

Ah, there we are!  #10 in the regional polling already last week
http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2142/NCAADivisionI/men/GreatLakes/Poll2 (http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2142/NCAADivisionI/men/GreatLakes/Poll2)
Tied with Michigan State.  I don't think I saw that in the weekly notes this week?  Maybe they were written before the poll was released.

Milwaukee's #7, with UWGB receiving votes.  I suppose Milwaukee's probably not _too_ far out of receiving votes nationally.  A great win over #12 Marquette, and 3-0-1 overall, having just knocked off Depaul in OT.

It looks like Michigan State wasn't all that entrenched in the polling, at least not the NSCAA coaches' poll.  They popped in after the season started, and have now disappeared.  Still, certainly a fine win.

Milwaukee's now receiving votes nationally in both polls
http://www.soccertimes.com/ncaa/top25/men.htm (http://www.soccertimes.com/ncaa/top25/men.htm)
http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2229/NCAADivisionI/men/National/Poll3 (http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2229/NCAADivisionI/men/National/Poll3)

We hang in regionally at #10
http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2222/NCAADivisionI/men/GreatLakes/Poll3 (http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2222/NCAADivisionI/men/GreatLakes/Poll3)
Michigan State now having moved beyond this on the strength of their away win at Marquette (who's now merely receiving votes, and only in one national poll).

Off to Tulsa next!  T15/18 nationally!  Our toughest game yet, perhaps?

Massey has us rated higher than any previous rating seasons as well:

http://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8361&s=200981 (http://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=8361&s=200981)

Interesting!  A complete national ranking.  It's a computer ranking, I guess?

Glancing quickly, is their soccer methodology similar to what I assume is primarily a football methodology?  They use game scores including margins?

Are the rankings any "good"? 

I notice they have Michigan State still at 25, a good notch above Tulsa, for example.  The opposite of what the human polls have currently (Tulsa in the top 25 - indeed 15/18, and a head above Michigan State).

Looks like Tulsa completely shelled them in the second half.  Valpo went down one in the first half, but it looked more or less competitive (going only by the stats).  Not so in the second half.  Looked like Valpo was completely on their heels, and got pretty well schooled.

Hopefully Western Illinois tomorrow is a chance to recover.

Final score was 4-0 Tulsa.


http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12939/crusader-men-suffer-first-loss-at-12-tulsa/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12939/crusader-men-suffer-first-loss-at-12-tulsa/)

We were definitely second best on the night; Tulsa is ranked #12 in the country and looked every bit that good tonight so you have to congratulate them," said head coach Mike Avery.  "To be fair, I thought it was a performance by us that left a little bit to be desired."

"I think we could look at a lot of different reasons why we had this result tonight – we had some tough travel yesterday, the numbers of road games we've been playing, and all those things," said Avery.  "But at the end of the day what really happened was that we ran into the really tough Tulsa team and they made us pay for every mistake that we made.  That was really the story of the game; we were doing fine in the game and we made one error and they capitalized.  They capitalized on our mistakes and that's what good teams are able to do."

Wow!  VU scores two in the 9th minute! 

The first off a corner.  Not sure if it bounced around in the box a bit, or if there was a header and then a deflection, or what.  Taublieb taking the corner got an assist, and so did Iwunze, while Graham gets credit for the goal.  Yannick Iwunze seems big and athletic, so one can well imagine him helping pull the ball down out of the air.

37 seconds later we get Nick Suker scoring, "breakaway off WIU turnover".  I guess it's not a running clock, so maybe they stopped it at the first goal and restarted it at the kickoff.  But, still, they must have turned over their first or second pass?  How long does it take to sprint down field?  Presumably there were defenders?

I've not looked at WIU at all.  They started 1-5.  So, maybe this is a game we should have won.  But, quite remarkable to see anybody (let alone a VU team) score two goals at that spacing, and that early in the game.

Remarkable start!

Western Illinois scores in the 2nd minute of the 2nd half off a corner kick.

Valpo 2
WIU   1


EDIT: Charles Barden scores for Valpo on assist from Zev Taublieb in 61st minute.

Valpo  3
WIU    1


2ND EDIT: Eric Bloom scores for WIU on assist by Tyler Chavez in 68th minute.

Valpo   3
WIU     2

3RD EDIT: Charles Barden scores on assist by Nick Suker in 75th minute.

Valpo   4
WIU     2

4TH EDIT: Jordan Aidoud scores on assist by Charles Barden in 86th minute.

Valpo   5
WIU     2

FINAL

They made a game of it, but Valpo wins 3-2.

I think 5-2 was the correct final.

Quote from: chef on September 23, 2013, 10:19:57 AM
I think 5-2 was the correct final.

Ah, interesting!  That's a little more consonant with 2-0 in the 9th minute.  My 3-2 came from the live stats.  Could have been my error, or some technical glitch perhaps.

Sounds like a pretty wild match
http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12946/crusaders-score-five-in-win-over-leathernecks/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/12946/crusaders-score-five-in-win-over-leathernecks/)

The win over Western was impressive in that Western was the defending champ in the Summit, returned the defensive player of the year and was picked second in the conference for the current year.

Things start to get serious this weekend, for conference play.  Valpo goes to Wright State to play tomorrow evening.  Just a seven game conference schedule (we're still playing Loyola, but they're no longer in the conference, which I'd temporarily forgotten!).

Wright State's 1-4-1, but against some, though probably not exclusively, relatively tough opponents.  (I don't know the scene so well... maybe losing to Northern Kentucky in Dayton is a bad loss?).

Could be a good chance to pick up a win on the road.  Probably the only chance we have to stay above unbeaten Milwaukee on the conference table, for at least a little while longer (Milwaukee goes to winless Detroit this weekend).

Apparently the game's on HLN Live.  6 PM central time, I think.  I wonder if Wright State's production will be any more polished than Valpo's.

if this is to become the "discuss soccer this season" thread, could it be retitled to reflect it as such?

i don't know if such things are possible, but 'twould be helpful.

You want more threads? We could do more threads!

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 26, 2013, 01:28:24 PM
if this is to become the "discuss soccer this season" thread, could it be retitled to reflect it as such?

i don't know if such things are possible, but 'twould be helpful.

I was totally surprised but yes the originator of the thread can change the thread title. Of course that doesn't change the titles on any other posters replies in this thread.

Quote from: historyman on September 26, 2013, 10:04:58 PM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on September 26, 2013, 01:28:24 PM
if this is to become the "discuss soccer this season" thread, could it be retitled to reflect it as such?

i don't know if such things are possible, but 'twould be helpful.

I was totally surprised but yes the originator of the thread can change the thread title. Of course that doesn't change the titles on any other posters replies in this thread.

..but will from this point on  :)

you guys are great.  thx.

Big weekend for VUMSO -- Horizon match with WSU and @ #19 Dayton.  WSU is 1-4-1 but it could be a trap game as the team might be looking ahead to the match with Dayton.

While Dayton is 7-0 and nationally ranked here's who they beat:

T Kentucky 0-0 (exhibition game for UK - 2-4 so far)
W Eastern Ill. 2-1 (exhibition)
W IPFW 4-2
W Northern Kentucky 5-0 (Beat WSU and Loyola, tied UK in exhibition and IPFW)
W Lipscomb 2-0
W Western Ill 2-0
W Detroit 1-0
W Ohio State 3-1 (OSU having a down year - WSU tied OSU 0-0)
W IUPUI 2-0
They play Loyola Chicago (newly of the Missouri Valley Conference   ::) ) today

Dayton is beatable.  Go Crusaders

Wright State knocks off Valpo 2-0.

I really think WSU plays a tougher schedule and really plays tough defense. Once they took the lead the Raiders shut down Valpo's stubborn offense.

I also think Valpo may be tiring from a lot of travel. The Crusaders didn't seem fresh at all.

Going to be a tough one on the road at Dayton today.  Hopefully they can keep their spirits up.  It's back on the road to... Green Bay?... after that.

Quote
at about the same time as Valpo hosts league-leading Milwaukee.

This was quite a game.  From what I saw of the first half (missed the goal, watching from home while eating dinner with the family; muted), and what I saw in person in the second half, Valpo probably earned a draw.  But, Valpo lost 1-0.  I've still not heard how the goal went down.

The game was pretty chippy at times.  Valpo picked up a late red card for a "run across the field and shove you with two hands for pushing my teammate after the whistle".  The push got Milwaukee a yellow.  And got all of us in the stands to sit and watch for what felt like five minutes as the ref broke things up, consulted linesmen, came over and made sure the fourth official (is that who it was?) got the card assignments correct, had the Milwaukee coach shout at him for restarting the game by giving the ball to our goalie, etc, etc. 

Could easily have been 0-0 from what I saw, or probably 1-1 or even 1-0 Valpo.

A reasonable attempt at defending the home field against a visitor who's now ranked in the top 25 nationally.

Rained out last night, more or less.  An inch of rain yesterday, an inch or three more today.  Some players told me, this morning, that they were ready to go.  But, apparently there was lightning in the area.

After a promising-looking start to the season, the Crusaders have a somewhat dismal looking 3-6-5 record overall, and are still looking for their first league win.  They have a chance on the road at Cleveland State coming up, and then cellar-dweller Detroit visits to finish up the regular season.

The Crusaders could really use a pair of wins, which would give them a reasonable shot at making the Horizon League Tourney.   But, it'll be a tall order, and they'll need some help even at that.

Yeah, it looks like it has been a disappointing conference season, after a good start to the non-conference schedule.  Hopefully they can pull out wins in these last two, to sneak into the tourney.  It isn't like we have been losing badly, so if we get in, we have a shot!

Green Bay did their part earlier today, preserving UIC's clean sweep of the league.  We need to root for a chalky evening as well: if Valpo (1-3-2 in the league, 4-7-5 overall) can complete the Horizon League sweep of Detroit (0-6-0, 3-10-4) then we're into the playoffs.

Let's go Valpo!

Unfortunately... it looks like HLN video, which was advertised in the weekly notes, may not be available after all.  We may have to resort to Live Stats.  Not sure if I'll be able to make it to Brown Field, even for this season's habitual second half... Good luck Valpo!

Looks a little crazy...

Detroit red card in the 35th minute.
Detroit yellow in the same minute.

Valpo _and_ Detroit yellows in the 42nd.

Detroit yellows in the 44th and 45th minute.

Chippy, I guess?  A lot at stake for Valpo, perhaps.  And pride at stake for Detroit?

And... a goal for the good guys in the 44th minute!  Jess Ortiz, a senior, on senior night!

It is streaming on WVUR, apparently.   I wish they'd mentioned that in the game notes!

They don't seem particularly committed to play by play, but it's much better than live stats only.   And, actually, more professional (apart from the lack of a consistent play by play) than the zany antics that sometimes passed for commentary on the HLN feed.

3 yellows and a red? ...in the same half?

just so we're clear, that first sentence is about soccer, in case anyone thinks i'm the kind of person who would retell WWII jokes.

Hmmm.. I'd said four yellows and a red.  For Detroit.  In the first half.  But, now it looks like one of those was on Valpo - a Valpo yellow in the 35th minute to go with the Detroit red.

Not sure if that was my mistake, or if the Live Stats changed it after I typed...

Ten minutes left - Detroit's not going away, but the good guys are hanging on.  Sounds like we had a good chance a minute ago, but couldn't put the game away.

Good job Valpo!  You never know what can happen in the tourney!

Valpo does it!  To the playoffs!

Milwaukee took Cleveland State apart (or is taking them apart?), 5-0.  So Valpo goes... to Oakland on Tuesday.  Where we tied 1-1 in early Septmber, just before our win over Michigan State.  Hopefully we're still feeling good Michigan vibes. Beating Detroit, and coming close to overtime at Michigan just recently.

We could have a chance at this!

 :thumbsup:

With Oakland on eastern time it'll be an early kick Tuesday, 6 PM.  I don't suppose we can expect WVUR to send a crew on the road... HLN is likely only or the single-site semis and finals.  Live stats only?

Nothing in the match report about all the cards...

Splash page on Oakland's site for their "quarterfinal" soccer game with Valpo says "Catch the action live on the Horizon League Network"

Also, WVUR will already be on the road that day with women's basketball at Illinois. So it looks like HLN and live stats for sure.

Quote from: agibson on November 10, 2013, 09:01:34 AM
With Oakland on eastern time it'll be an early kick Tuesday, 6 PM.  I don't suppose we can expect WVUR to send a crew on the road... HLN is likely only or the single-site semis and finals.  Live stats only?

Nothing in the match report about all the cards...

Check The Oakland website. You never know.

Sounds like the plan is HLN.  (And Oakland's game notes are substantially sketchier than ours!)

Please pardon a question that is probably off base if not outright dumb, but it seems like most years we take down a big time out-of-conference opponent or two in the early going, but then struggle mightily against lesser teams in the supposedly-weaker HL.  Why is this?

Paul

I love this team and greatly respect the coach and the program.  I just don't think we can attract the scorers that others can -- facilities again, plus schools at our level that don't have football have a better chance of attacting scorers to a place where soccer is #1 in the fall.  Mike does a fantastic job of getting great kids and he is a defensive guru.  The D is why they stay close or win in just about every game, regardless of whether they score one or a couple or not. 

The 30 year plan povides for a soccer spacific stadium by the new field house  If he stays around long enough, Mike would leverage that big time.  My son played club soccer for Ed Kelly, the HSC at Boston College (formerly of the Big East, now the ACC).  BC was middle to top 5 over a string of years in the Big East when they played games on the turf of Alumni Stadium (40K capacity for FB).  When he got a soccer-specific complex, Ed's teams rose immediately to regular NCAA participant and national rankinhg.  Could happen at VU too.

Problem is that other teams do a lot of the same thing, plus no other HL team has the football competition to deal with.  Yeah, I know, we don't have a very good FB team.  But any football team draws better than soccer in terms of followers.

Quote from: agibson on November 11, 2013, 05:34:25 PM
Sounds like the plan is HLN.  (And Oakland's game notes are substantially sketchier than ours!)

Video.  Check.

Audio?  Is it just me?  No audio?  I suppose that assumes you have a play-by-play and/or color guy around...

The camera does pan over to the scoreboard every now and then...

I turned it on just in time to see Oakland celebrating their tying goal :(

That does mean that VU scored early, on the road! :)

Tied up going into the half.

60:43... and we have sound!  Not sure what the story is.  No explanation given.  Still tied 1-1.

That was a terrible second goal for Oakland.  Our defender headed it back towards our own goal right to an Oakland forward's head to take the lead 2-1....that was terrible

We lose 2-1 on that goal.  What a bad way to lose, essentially gifting it to them like that

First San Diego football, now Cleveland State soccer:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland State men's soccer team has withdrawn from the 2013 Horizon League Championship after learning it used an ineligible player in Tuesday's first round win over Wright State.

"The NCAA soccer playing rules require a player who accumulates five yellow cards to sit out the next game," CSU Director of Athletics John Parry said. "We inadvertently failed to follow that protocol. I apologize to all Horizon League members who have been affected by this in the past and future."

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/csu-mens-soccer-withdraws-from-league-championship (http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/csu-mens-soccer-withdraws-from-league-championship)

(http://petermiller.info/webimages/yellowcardpage.jpg)

That is such crap that UIC now advances to the championship game immediately, rather than having WSU play UIC for that right.  If they have to forfeit the game, the team that was harmed by that illegal player usage should have taken their place.  Now UIC has an advantage in the championship, in having even more rested players.

Perhaps this soccer recruit has been mentioned somewhere else, but in this mornings Journal Gazette it was announced that Northeast Indiana Area signings include:
Soccer
Chris Clemens, Angola (Valparaiso)
Morgan Cole, Homestead (Cal State-Bakersfield)
Katie Hamlin, DeKalb (Spring Arbor)
Natalie Lebamoff, Bishop Dwenger (Louisiana-Lafayette)
Madison VanWye, DeKalb (Wingate)

Interesting!  I saw that the women's team put out an announcement, but haven't noticed anything from the men.

I didn't realize there was an Angola, Indiana.  I was trying to piece together how a fellow with the name of Chris Clemens arrived by way of southwest Africa.

Quote from: agibson on February 21, 2014, 11:51:50 AM
Interesting!  I saw that the women's team put out an announcement, but haven't noticed anything from the men.

I didn't realize there was an Angola, Indiana.  I was trying to piece together how a fellow with the name of Chris Clemens arrived by way of southwest Africa.

Indiana, where our cities are named after countries so people think we're from a more exotic locale!

Quote from: Kyle321n on February 21, 2014, 02:06:57 PM

Quote from: agibson on February 21, 2014, 11:51:50 AMInteresting!  I saw that the women's team put out an announcement, but haven't noticed anything from the men. I didn't realize there was an Angola, Indiana.  I was trying to piece together how a fellow with the name of Chris Clemens arrived by way of southwest Africa.

Indiana, where our cities are named after countries so people think we're from a more exotic locale!

Yes, most Hoosiers are from normal sounding towns like Greensburg, Whitestown, Wheatfield, Greenfield, Portage, South Bend, Greenwood, Whiteland, Greencastle, Franklin, Washington, Columbus, Jeffersonville, Portland, Blackford, Bloomington, Bedford, Anderson, Clarksville, Madison, Brownstown, Rushville, Shelbyville, Boonville, Greendale, Tell City, Frankfort, Bluffton, Hartford City, New Castle, Plainfield, Danville, Fortville, Princeton, Oakland City, Westville, Scottsburg, Hanover, Bremen, Goshen, Berne, Edinburgh, Vincennes, Milan, Paris Crossing, Trafalgar, Munster, Versailles, Warsaw and Valparaiso.

Quote from: historyman on February 21, 2014, 04:21:40 PM

Quote from: Kyle321n on February 21, 2014, 02:06:57 PM

Quote from: agibson on February 21, 2014, 11:51:50 AMInteresting!  I saw that the women's team put out an announcement, but haven't noticed anything from the men. I didn't realize there was an Angola, Indiana.  I was trying to piece together how a fellow with the name of Chris Clemens arrived by way of southwest Africa.

Indiana, where our cities are named after countries so people think we're from a more exotic locale!

Yes, most Hoosiers are from normal sounding towns like Greensburg, Whitestown, Wheatfield, Greenfield, Portage, South Bend, Greenwood, Whiteland, Greencastle, Franklin, Washington, Columbus, Jeffersonville, Portland, Blackford, Bloomington, Bedford, Anderson, Clarksville, Madison, Brownstown, Rushville, Shelbyville, Boonville, Greendale, Tell City, Frankfort, Bluffton, Hartford City, New Castle, Plainfield, Danville, Fortville, Princeton, Oakland City, Westville, Scottsburg, Hanover, Bremen, Goshen, Berne, Edinburgh, Vincennes, Milan, Paris Crossing, Trafalgar, Munster, Versailles, Warsaw and Valparaiso.

What time is the last train to Clarksville? I'll meet you at the station, gotta be there by 4:30.  :lol:

Quote from: valporun on February 22, 2014, 05:38:27 PMWhat time is the last train to Clarksville? I'll meet you at the station, gotta be there by 4:30. 

Oh, no. No.

No.

Stole your thunder?

Quote from: valporun on February 24, 2014, 08:37:18 PMStole your thunder?

And I don't know if I'm ever coming back.

I notice Zobeck got released from Dallas.  A keeper returning from loan, and another joining the senior team having come through the youth system.  They could have loaned him out, perhaps.  But just released him instead.

We'll see where he lands!  Hopefully at least in the NASL?

I see Antonijevic has re-signed with Ft. Lauderdale.  Good news!

Quote from: agibson on March 07, 2014, 12:13:52 PM
I see Antonijevic has re-signed with Ft. Lauderdale.  Good news!

I believe this was covered in February.

http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=1749.0 (http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=1749.0)

I had that deja vu feeling and then noticed I had read the thread just a few days ago.

Since FC Dallas' coach 'retired,' that pretty much ended the hopes for Zobeck, as he was a big supporter of a 4th GK, and of Zobeck.

Looks Zobeck's on trial with the Cosmos (NASL), and getting some substitute minutes (two out of three games?) on their pre-season junket in the UAE.

Good luck to him!

Definitely a historic name.  I am sure that he will be picked up full-time by someone, and hopefully somewhere he can play to showcase his abilities.

A quote from Mike Avery's year end communication:

Despite losing seven seniors, and very important players, the group took that confidence into it's winter training and spring competition. We finished our spring slate of games over the weekend and can look back on those exhibition games with pride in our progress and excitement about the next fall. We displayed some new-found toughness in the back and up the spine of the team defensively, and we kept the ball beautifully as we were able to attack in numbers with balance, width and team shape. In the seven matches we finished 6-1 (our lone defeat coming in a very evenly played 1-0 game in South Bend against defending national champion Notre Dame) and while establishing an expectation of positive results is an important outcome, playing with purpose and maintaining high performance standards day in and day out is probably even of greater importance during this spring phase of our.

Mike is continually looking to build. Last year they had 14 of 18 games away from home,with top 25 and BCS teams all over the schedule - that was not a season for the feint of heart.  Hopefully, the combination of an even more competitive team and a favorable schedule, the MSO program will improve by a leap.

Quote from: VULB#62 on April 14, 2014, 09:10:17 PM
A quote from Mike Avery's year end communication:

Despite losing seven seniors, and very important players, the group took that confidence into it's winter training and spring competition. We finished our spring slate of games over the weekend and can look back on those exhibition games with pride in our progress and excitement about the next fall. We displayed some new-found toughness in the back and up the spine of the team defensively, and we kept the ball beautifully as we were able to attack in numbers with balance, width and team shape. In the seven matches we finished 6-1 (our lone defeat coming in a very evenly played 1-0 game in South Bend against defending national champion Notre Dame) and while establishing an expectation of positive results is an important outcome, playing with purpose and maintaining high performance standards day in and day out is probably even of greater importance during this spring phase of our.

Mike is continually looking to build. Last year they had 14 of 18 games away from home,with top 25 and BCS teams all over the schedule - that was not a season for the feint of heart.  Hopefully, the combination of an even more competitive team and a favorable schedule, the MSO program will improve by a leap.

And with style in the written word that would make Apostle proud!!

Quote from: vu72 on April 14, 2014, 09:37:05 PMAnd with style in the written word that would make Apostle proud!!

#62 or Mike? :)

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on April 14, 2014, 09:43:32 PM

Quote from: vu72 on April 14, 2014, 09:37:05 PMAnd with style in the written word that would make Apostle proud!!

#62 or Mike? :)

Well, ok, both!

You have to love the Avery duo :)

Wow, this guy sounds like a great transfer pick-up!  We haven't had too many true scorers, and he sounds like just what we need to keep improving.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/13756/crusaders-add-gweh-to-newcomers-for-2014/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/13756/crusaders-add-gweh-to-newcomers-for-2014/)

Quote from: valpotx on June 07, 2014, 12:19:02 AM
Wow, this guy sounds like a great transfer pick-up!  We haven't had too many true scorers, and he sounds like just what we need to keep improving.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/13756/crusaders-add-gweh-to-newcomers-for-2014/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2013-14/13756/crusaders-add-gweh-to-newcomers-for-2014/)

Interesting!  It's hard to know how goal scoring success translates to the "next" level.  But, some encouraging signs.  Was he _the_ player of the year in some MN ranking?  Continuing to score at the " US Soccer Development Academy" level sounds encouraging - I assume that's a pretty high level?

5'6" - so a little guy.  But, hey this is soccer.  (Even if Messi does have an inch on him.)

It'll be interesting to see the complexion of the attack next season.

Here's the player of the year info.  So, for ESPN (not sure how much HS or even college soccer they do?) he was _the_ player of the year in MN.

http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/player-of-the-year/tag/_/name/matthew-gweh (http://espn.go.com/blog/high-school/player-of-the-year/tag/_/name/matthew-gweh)

He's an already D-I - proven player.  Played plenty of minutes for D-I Highpoint (Big South Conference with 2014 high profile OOC games against Pitt and VaTech [ACC] and Appalachian State).  They were 8-8-3 in 2013.  He played in 15 games, started 4, and had 610 minutes of playing time.  He had 4 assists -- team 4th best.  He must have to sit out this season I'm thinking, but the write-up doesn't really touch on that aspect of his soccer resume.  One thing I did notice is that his minutes near the end of the season began to drop.  Could have a been for a number of reasons from  injury to doghouse.

I believe that only football and basketball have the rule in place regarding sitting out 1 year upon transfer.  I know that baseball and softball can transfer and play right away (i.e. Brittany Duncan to Louisville this season).

That would be nice.  I think he will thrive in Mike's MSO family environment. 

Soap Box:  My son, as a junior, was recruited by Bobby Clark (when he was at Dartmouth back in the late 90's) who is now the current Notre Dame Director of Soccer (his concept is to oversee the entire UND program -- not just be the MSO coach), and that was quite an experience for the player as well as his family.  Wish my Matt would have gone there, but Bobby left Dartmouth for the New Zealand National Team between Matt's Jr and Sr season and the new guy changed everything.  Dartmouth has not equaled what Bobby had done since, and Bobby has gone on to place Stanford and now UND on the national stage using the same formula.  It's a total soccer experience: it's a community, soccer family, service, and (BTW) competition concept that makes the last guy on the roster as important to the program as the top scorer.  Mike is a branch of Bobby's coaching tree and we are so lucky to be the beneficiaries.  Matthew Gwey may not have enjoyed his Highpoint experience (my guess), but he'll love playing whatever minutes he gets at Valpo and he'll come away smiling.

From the NCAA's 4-4 Tranfer rules guidelines (meaning transferring from a 4-year school to another 4-year school):

If this is your first transfer...

If you have never transferred before from a four-year school, you might be able to use the one-time transfer exception to play
right away at a Division I or II school.

To use this exception, you must:

1. Be playing a sport other than baseball in Division I, basketball in Division I, men's ice hockey in Division I or football in Division I.
Note: In football you may be eligible to use this exception if:
a. You transfer from a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) school to a Football Championship Subdivision
(formerly Division I-AA) school and have at least two seasons of competition remaining; or
b. You transfer from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) school that offers athletics scholarships to a
Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) that does not offer athletics scholarships.

Important Note: If you do not qualify for this exception due to any of the conditions in Subsection 1 above, you may
be able to use the exception if you were not recruited by your first four-year school AND have never received an athletics
scholarship.

2. Be in good academic standing and making progress toward your degree;

3. Have been considered academically eligible if you had stayed in your first school; and

4. Have a written release agreement from your first school saying that it does not object to your receiving an exception to
the transfer residence requirement. If the release is denied, you may be entitled to a hearing conducted by an institutional
entity or committee outside of the athletics department (e.g., the office of student affairs; office of the dean of students; or
a committee composed of the faculty athletics representative, student-athletes and nonathletics faculty/staff members).
Further, in Division I, if your request for a written release is not provided within seven business days of the previous institution
receiving the request, the release shall be granted by default and the previous institution shall provide a written release to
you.

This rule surprises me in regards to baseball, as we had 2-3 guys transfer into the program when I was in school, and they played right away.  Maybe they didn't have scholarships at their other schools (they were starters at Butler and Creighton), or maybe the rule changed since that time.

According to Mike Avery, "... He's an awesome kid, 3.8 student, who happens to be a freakish athlete and a good player."   Originally recruited to Highpoint by one of Mikes current assistants, he wasn't comfortable there and chose to transfer.  Valpo had a little leverage at that point. The 2014 season should see a lot more scoring to go along with a traditionally stingy defense.

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Great schedule! Can't wait to see us face off against Michigan State again.

This should be an interesting year.  Every year (of late), we seem to be bringing in big time talent, but somehow fail in the results column.  We did make one championship game and lost.  We have had some individual game success (MSU last year) but soccer is not about one game where the ball bounces your way.  Can we compete for a Horizon League title with these players and coach?  Just askin...

I would say that we have the perfect coach.  He gets our program to compete so well against top teams, but the HL has so much parity, that we tend to lose quite a few 1 goal games.  This guy from Liberia seems like someone that can give us a top notch goal-scoring threat, which is very rare for us

Avery is a great coach on and off the field.  He has done a great job including alumni and has made a family environment with current players in the program and former players.  This will be the first year without a "jv" or "scout team" in the program.  Let's don't forget the results on the field that Avery has produced.  He has won a HL league championship and has had better season records than previous coach. 

Quote from: oklahomamick on July 09, 2014, 10:00:44 PMAvery is a great coach

I never said he wasn't a great person and also understand that it is a "package" deal.  We have let great people go before--Paul Twenge and Keith Freeman, to name two.

For the record, Mike's team finished 6th out of 8 last year and he has won one regular season title and zero NCAA appearances. He is entering his 8th year at Valpo.

But he usually gets the team to a winning record against quality competition.  Having played for Twenge, I liked him (even with some of our personal difficulties), but he only had 2 seasons with an overall winning record in 19 seasons, finishing near the bottom of conference in all but 3-4 seasons. 

Quote from: vu72 on July 09, 2014, 11:36:53 PMWe have let great people go before--Paul Twenge and Keith Freeman, to name two.

Quote from: valpotx on July 10, 2014, 12:22:12 AMHaving played for Twenge, I liked him (even with some of our personal difficulties), but he only had 2 seasons with an overall winning record in 19 seasons, finishing near the bottom of conference in all but 3-4 seasons. 

This is what I remember as well.  Not sure Twenge, record-wise, was one of the great people let go by Valpo.  As for baseball, Ferchen had some winning teams, but it appeared he wanted to be closer to home. 

Quote from: oklahomamick on July 09, 2014, 10:00:44 PMThis will be the first year without a "jv" or "scout team" in the program.  Let's don't forget the results on the field that Avery has produced.

Interesting!  Too much work for too little benefit? 

One of our physics majors played on the JV team for a couple of seasons, while another was varsity.

Quote from: okinawatyphoon on July 08, 2014, 07:21:57 PM
Great schedule! Can't wait to see us face off against Michigan State again.

Alas, only one home matinee this year.  And I'll be out of town.

Dayton at home should be interesting.  And, in general, nice to see a couple of more home games this season.

[tweet]491935044328361985[/tweet]

Watch the YouTube video about the MSO OneValpo campaign. It was spurred on by some racial epithets said to some of the Valpo soccer players last season.  Mike has a cool approach to all of this.  It's worth the few minutes and shows you why he's a valuable member of the athletic department.


http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13798/onevalpo/#.U-FLYlYXKgE (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13798/onevalpo/#.U-FLYlYXKgE)

Quote from: VULB#62 on August 05, 2014, 04:28:37 PMIt was spurred on by some racial epithets said to some of the Valpo soccer players last season.

on campus?  by opposing teams?

Quote from: VULB#62 on August 05, 2014, 04:28:37 PM
Watch the YouTube video about the MSO OneValpo campaign. It was spurred on by some racial epithets said to some of the Valpo soccer players last season.  Mike has a cool approach to all of this.  It's worth the few minutes and shows you why he's a valuable member of the athletic department.


http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13798/onevalpo/#.U-FLYlYXKgE (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13798/onevalpo/#.U-FLYlYXKgE)

That was flat out awesome!  To me, that type of approach makes Valpo someplace very special.  It is simply the quality of the people.

Amen, vu72.  What a great piece of p r for the University.

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on August 05, 2014, 05:38:45 PM

Quote from: VULB#62 on August 05, 2014, 04:28:37 PMIt was spurred on by some racial epithets said to some of the Valpo soccer players last season.

on campus?  by opposing teams?

Opposing players on the pitch as far as I could figure out.  Could also have been opposing fans, but I suspect it was opponents' trash talk.  Really trash.

I think that it is cool that we are Jamaica West, with 5-6 players from there on our soccer team!  I am sure that it makes Vashil feel more at home too :)

Quote from: valpotx on August 06, 2014, 01:47:35 AM
I think that it is cool that we are Jamaica West, with 5-6 players from there on our soccer team!  I am sure that it makes Vashil feel more at home too :)

I talked to Vashil about this recently. He said 5 of the 6 soccer players are all from the Kingston area which makes them all city kids as opposed to the country kids and resort area kids. Jamaica is for sure a soccer country because it was an English colony for a long time. Vashil's first love was English football. Only Keano Williams, a new freshman, is from Lucea, which is the opposite side of the island, closer to Montego Bay. And Vashil says that Keano is quickly learning about the culture of the city boys who come from the Kingston area.

So officially Kingston is on the south and east side of the island and Lucea is the north and west side of the island. Therefore the city/Kingston area is really Jamaica South.

Quote from: bbtds on August 06, 2014, 05:02:08 AM

Quote from: valpotx on August 06, 2014, 01:47:35 AM
I think that it is cool that we are Jamaica West, with 5-6 players from there on our soccer team!  I am sure that it makes Vashil feel more at home too :)

I talked to Vashil about this recently. He said 5 of the 6 soccer players are all from the Kingston area which makes them all city kids as opposed to the country kids and resort area kids. Jamaica is for sure a soccer country because it was an English colony for a long time. Vashil's first love was English football. Only Keano Williams, a new freshman, is from Lucea, which is the opposite side of the island, closer to Montego Bay. And Vashil says that Keano is quickly learning about the culture of the city boys who come from the Kingston area.

So officially Kingston is on the south and east side of the island and Lucea is the north and west side of the island. Therefore the city/Kingston area is really Jamaica South.

And Valpo is Jamaica w  -  a  -  a  -  a  -  a  -  y Northwest.  In early June, I vacationed just outside of Lucea. It is a small coastal town.  It really is small (5,700 population) -- even compared to Montego Bay, Jamaica's second largest city (96K population) only 22 miles to the east.  On a tour, I asked our guide what was the favorite sport of Jamaicans, expecting to hear cricket, like many of the English-connected Caribbean, or maybe track and field.  Without hesitation she said it was football (soccer).

I watched about two-thirds of the men's exhibition against Lake Forest. The format was different and consisted of three periods (two of 40 minutes and a third of 20 minutes). The team looked very good, dominating play and keeping the ball on the offensive end. There was a lot of substitution, which was probably good because the weather was hot and very humid. When I left, Valpo was leading 3-1.

I don't think you will see updates because the men's team doesn't seem to like official reports about its exhibition games for some reason. For the record, however, here is my photo of the first goal of the year for Valpo:

(http://i62.tinypic.com/21ex0df.jpg)

There are no white lines on the track!!!!

See the NCAA blew their opportunity!

Back on July 31 in the track construction string I boldly predicted that BBTDs would "ABSOLUTELY" be there to inspect the lines.  Way to be on top of that job BBTDS!!!! :dance:

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[tweet]510209232009170946[/tweet]

Quote from: valpopal on September 11, 2014, 06:34:30 PM
[tweet]510209232009170946[/tweet]

Wow!  Great job by the Men's Soccor team!

It's been awhile since we defeated a top 10 team and I'm sure valpotx will remind us that while at Valpo his baseball team beat then number 1 Notre Dame!  Congrats to the soccer team who should, after beating Butler and MSU, start receiving votes! Another struggle for our friend Brandon!!

This is BIG!

But part of it is due to Mike's commitment to facing the best opposition in order to prepare for the HL schedule and hopefully going deep into the NCAA playoffs.  All their high profile games are on the road.  Everyone should watch his interview with Aaron on Valpo All-Access where he explains his approach.

Valpo Coaches Show: Mike Avery 9|11|14 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8hk6Q-l_-Y#ws)

I know it is not fair to compare programs, but it appears Mike has a different approach to scheduling than the MBB program at this point, and, acknowledged, 18 soccer games compared to a 30 game schedule is different, but I'm beginning to have more respect for the way Oakland goes after big opponents whenever they can get them.

I hope that this leads to a solid conference season this year!  We seem to play really well against top competition under Avery, and outside of that one regular season championship a few years ago, need to carry that momentum to conference.  Yes, you have to love this victory, and we should be ranked much higher come the next polls.

Vu72, have to love a victory against #1 ;)

It is not often we get to celebrate a win versus a top-10 team, so I thought I'd put the final score of the game against Michigan State on the record with an image that includes goal scorer Omar Lawrence #18:


(http://i60.tinypic.com/rbxpj4.jpg)

After this win, Valpo has climbed to #36 in the Massey ratings (from 94)!

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=csoc&sub=NCAA (http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=csoc&sub=NCAA) I

Quote from: covufan on September 12, 2014, 12:26:36 PM
After this win, Valpo has climbed to #36 in the Massey ratings (from 94)!

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=csoc&sub=NCAA (http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=csoc&sub=NCAA) I

Interesting that we can move alittle higher with a win at Northwestern (#32) and of more interest that at #36 we still aren't the highest in the Horizon (UIC at #19).  Tough league!!

And UWM at #31

The HL, and even the Summit, generally have good men's soccer programs.  Each has traditionally had at least one top 25 team every season for awhile now.  The Midwest has good soccer, with Indiana usually being one of the top teams.

I've heard that Saint Louis U has one of the oldest successful programs in the United States. It started out in the catholic high schools (Irish and Italian, the Germans had not embraced football/soccer in the US yet) of St Louis and also the old East Coast towns. If anyone remembers the movie about the 1950 US World Cup team the players were Italians and one German-Harry Keough from St Louis and some East Coast guys--Keough was the head coach that brought SLU an immediate co-NCAA championship.

Upon his retirement as a player, he became coach of Florissant Valley Community College. In 1967, St. Louis University hired him away from Florissant. In his first year with the Billikens, Keough took his team to an NCAA co-championship. He then took his team to four additional championships during his tenure (1969, 1970, 1972, and 1973). When he retired from coaching in 1982, he had compiled a 213-50-23 record with SLU.

I happened to be checking out the HL site and looked at the scores for this past week.  Besides HL MSO teams losing to nationally ranked squads in some close scores, one result jumped out at me.  UWGB 8 - Viterbo 0.  What is a Viterbo you ask?  A Viterbo is an NAIA Catholic university in LaCrosse, WI with 2279 students.

So, I checked the box score.  Green Bay's Audi Jepson scored 5 goals.  He scored 3 in the first half  leading the Phoenix to a 5-0 lead at the break.  He then scored two more in the second half, the last coming in the 80th minute. Jepson played 81 of the 90 minutes.  GB used just 5 substitutes all game, only one of whom managed 51 minutes, the rest were 24', 15' 41' and 13.  Viterbo used 21 players, only 2 of whom played the entire 90 minutes.  The V-Hawks managed 3 shots all game,  GB 21. 

I don't know the details, but at least from the box score, in my mind, this calls into question several things:

>> Why is this even on a D-I team's schedule? Why wasn't this an exhibition?  This was a slaughter, that as the 'winning' coach, I would be embarrassed to even own up to. The UWGB coach knew coming into the game that the V-Hawks had scored exactly 2 goals and had given up 21 in 6 games.

>> Why was Jepson even on the field in the second half?  He had a hat trick by halftime.  Time to get reserves some experience.

>> Why were the starters on for so long?  In games like this the only thing that is learned is how to be a bully.  They might as well have been playing against air, so despite a player's quote on the UWGB site that it was a "confidence game," how do you build confidence when the opponent is not skilled enough to compete with you?  I can picture the final two goals (Jepson's was the last one at 80:32 BTW ) and the derisive laughter of the Green Bay players as they returned to the center circle after each score.  I can picture it, because I've seen it at the youth club level and it is not a pretty sight.

I'm having trouble respecting UWGB athletics about now.  It started with the Wardle fiasco and now this.

AMEN!   to your thoughts, #62.

The men's team is banged up coming out of the two tightly scheduled games with Butler and MSU this past week (no details available) and now faces Northwestern late Wednesday night (9:30 PM KO)

NU is now 2-1-2 after dropping a match today at Ohio State 2-0.  I watched the first 30 minutes on the BTN and they are formidable.  Lots of speed and good ball control.

Our Crusaders will have their hands full.

We are now 4th in the Regional rankings, and received 6 votes in the National poll! 

http://valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13893/crusaders-gain-highest-ever-regional-ranking-receive-national-votes/#.VBiYnvldUXg (http://valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13893/crusaders-gain-highest-ever-regional-ranking-receive-national-votes/#.VBiYnvldUXg)

Tie or win keeps them in the top ten in the GL region.  After playing at NC State and MSU, the venue should not be intimidating to these kids. Butler Bowl is also tough on visiting soccer teams.  Mike will prepare them well. 

Lost 0-1   >:(

For the second time this season Jordan James scored the winning goal in double-overtime. Last time it was against Butler. Tonight, it was an exciting close to a tough game against Western Illinois, as the team came back from being behind 1-0 at the end of the first period to win 2-1.


(http://i61.tinypic.com/1051ljt.jpg)

Again, a sign that the Marketing program is getting students out, in that we had 650+ at the game!

Great Horizon League video interview with Omar Lawrence Interview: Omar Lawrence on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/106532902)

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The big difference so far this year, has been our play in close games.  In seasons past, we would either draw, or lose by 1 goal in these types of games that we are now winning.  Hopefully we can keep this up in conference!!!

Based on the HL website,

Both the VU @ Belmont and the Dayton @ Valpo MSO matches will be streamed on the HL Network.

Valpo wins 2-1 at Belmont!  I know that Vu72 put this in the Volleyball thread, but thought that I would post it here as well!  We are now 5-1-2 (1-0)

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How awesome!  I believe that this is our first national ranking (top 25) in any sport, since we were there after the 1997-1998 season in Men's Basketball?  On top of that, our RPI is #9!

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13938/crusaders-battle-with-dayton-resume-league-action-with-trip-to-uic/#.VCl22vldUXg (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/13938/crusaders-battle-with-dayton-resume-league-action-with-trip-to-uic/#.VCl22vldUXg)

VERY tough game tonight against Dayton. 

In Mike's Soccer news letter, he talked about eluding the "bear trap" at Belmont and then went on to mention that the team was banged up going onto Belmont, got the result anyway, and came out of the game even more banged up going into Dayton.  He also explained why they play OOC Dayton on Monday and then almost immediately turn around to face regionally ranked UIC in conference play on Wednesday.  Had to do with the league scheduling Belmont for Valpo this past Friday.  Mike had the opportunity to cancel Dayton, but he and the team chose to move the date one day rather than lose a quality opponent at home.  It's all about his "we'll play anyone, anywhere, anytime" philosophy of building the program.

The Flyers are 4-3-1 on the year and beat Ohio State, 1-0, on Saturday. Brian Richards leads Dayton with three goals, while Amass Amankona and Rafael Gamboa top the team with three assists apiece. Chris Froschauer has started all eight games and posted five shutouts with a .61 GAA.  It's gonna be a defensive struggle.

Monday's match will be streamed live at HorizonLeague.com through the Horizon League Network.

Men's Soccer Dayton at Valpo

LIVE VIDEO: http://www.horizonleague.org/live/11684 (http://www.horizonleague.org/live/11684)

7:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. CDT

Quote from: bbtds on September 29, 2014, 03:40:50 PM
Men's Soccer Dayton at Valpo

LIVE VIDEO: http://www.horizonleague.org/live/11684 (http://www.horizonleague.org/live/11684)

7:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. CDT

OK, I'll bite.  What does a Marist football helmut have to do with a Dayton/Valpo soccer game??  :crazy:

Quote from: vu72 on September 29, 2014, 03:53:57 PM


OK, I'll bite.  What does a Marist football helmut have to do with a Dayton/Valpo soccer game??  :crazy:

Actually just saw how big that is. It will be changed. It said OUTSMART-logo.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/roster/2014-15/7501/jacob-gandarilla/#.VCnokGddXh4 (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/roster/2014-15/7501/jacob-gandarilla/#.VCnokGddXh4)

Gandarilla (Gahn-dah-ree-ah) is really itching for a goal!!!

If he does score we ought to CLAP really loud! (just can't help it)

DRIBBLE-DRIBBLE-DRIBBLE


(//)

Howell, freshman, another Kingston area mon. Jaimaca a goal??

1-0 VALPO!!!!!!!


(http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130911/sports/images/TuffyAndersonB20130910RM.jpg)



Gotta beat UIC!!!

Quote from: bbtds on September 29, 2014, 06:46:49 PM
Howell, freshman, another Kingston area mon. Jaimaca a goal??

1-0 VALPO!!!!!!!


(http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130911/sports/images/TuffyAndersonB20130910RM.jpg)



Gotta beat UIC!!!

Great post bbtds!

Our side is pressing Dayton and controlling time of possession.  Dayton has not demonstrated any capability to put together a coordinated attack -- credit the VU D.  Dayton ZERO shots.  Maybe it's a good thing we got them coming off the 1-0 win at Ohio State.  Can't let up like we did at Belmont and concede a goal.  That lesson should be fresh in the kids' minds.

The mike in the press box is on.  "Porta-potty" hello!   "Helluva first half!" oops!

Gotta admit that the Brown Field venue looks much much better what with the new track than the way it was last year at this time.

Unfortunately Dayton has scored twice off the vaunted Valpo D and it's 2-1 Flyers with 5 minutes to play

GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

OT!

The mike is still on..  "Holy $h!!!!#"    Jeeze!

Incredible!  Now, the finish it off!! :thewave:

Wow! My processor went down after my last post. Incredible and unprecedented come back!

Bit of a sloppy finish, but a tie is a tie!  :thumbsup:

Ends 2-2.

A draw is better than a loss.

(http://content5.videojug.com/0f/0f29b32e-aeb2-fedb-8342-ff0008ca4ddf/how-to-draw-a-mouth.WidePlayer.jpg?v2)



(http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/health_checks/is_weight_loss_surgery_for_you_healthcheck/493x335_is_weight_loss_surgery_for_you_healthcheck.jpg)

Indeed.   Next practice:  set piece defense.

The latest (9/30) NSCAA Coaches poll has Valpo receiving national recognition with 13 votes for their national top 25.  This is the authority poll most go by, but it's nice that TopDrawer Soccer had us in the top 25.  Last week we did not receive any NSCAA votes but were rated #5 in the Great Lakes region.  This week we moved up to #4 in the region.  As noted previously, RPI is #9 in the country as of 9/29.

Here are a couple of photos I took at the Dayton game that feature the two players who scored for Valpo, Howell and Suker:

(http://i60.tinypic.com/m98z60.jpg)

(http://i62.tinypic.com/9axwyf.jpg)

Great shots -- the backgrounds make them pop.

(http://i62.tinypic.com/9axwyf.jpg)

The look of a footballer having scored the drawing goal.  ;)

Mike Avery on this week's coach's show:

Valpo Coaches Show: Mike Avery 10|1|14 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBSJyVA91K8#ws)

UIC will be a tough one tonight.

Lost 1-0 at UIC.  Had a great opportunity to draw with a penalty kick by Zev around the 63rd minute, but their GK stopped the shot.  UIC had to play with 10 after that point, as the PK was due to a red card as well.  Too bad, a missed opportunity against a quality conference opponent.

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I had wondered why Gweh wasn't playing this season, outside of one game.  The dude was a HS All-American, and it didn't make sense to me.  Glad to see that he is ready to help us for the stretch run, as he scored a ton of goals in HS!

A great comeback victory tonight against Wright State. The Crusaders were down 2-0 in the second half and scored 5 straight goals. Jordan Aidoud contributed 2 goals and an assist.

(http://i62.tinypic.com/2rdx54y.jpg)

Looks like a tight race among the top 5-6 teams so far!

Sitting here with family in Valpo. I saw the 2nd half of the soccer game while trying to watch fireworks at the same time. Valpo got some favorable calls on a break away when the WSU goalkeeper took our striker down. I could see some refs just giving the yellow card on that play. Although I couldn't really argue that a red card was not warranted. The free kick though was awesome as Valpo scored it's second goal.

The penalty given the Valpo side on what I believe was a free kick towards the goal was also a call that could have gone as a no call. Again I couldn't really argue against the penalty that was given that Valpo converted for it's first goal.

From there it was both teams pushing for a winning goal and Valpo being able to score on the back up Raider goalkeeper on plays that left the Raider D very vulnerable.

In reality this match could have gone either way if WSU had gotten one of those two calls to go their way.

Wright State's goalkeeper was already on one yellow card from earlier in the half, so even if the referee had deemed the second offense just yellow card worthy, he would have been sent off anyway.

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Now we just need the main poll to recognize us, as we will have hit all polls!

Tough loss, especially considering that we had a chance to tie with that late penalty kick miss:

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/14003/22-valpo-falls-to-detroit-at-home/#.VD9SkXnQOUk (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news/2014-15/14003/22-valpo-falls-to-detroit-at-home/#.VD9SkXnQOUk)

Men's soccer with another win as well, 1-0 over CSU!

http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/boxscore/2014-15/4466/at-cleveland-state-10-18-2014/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/boxscore/2014-15/4466/at-cleveland-state-10-18-2014/)

Soccer loses to last place Green Bay tonight.  This after losing mid-week to IPFW.  Need to get it together or we will miss even being in the conference tournament.  What is going on??   :'(

The GB game was won, until a SR scored for them with 30 seconds left in regulation to tie, only to beat us 10 minutes into OT.  Too bad, as that would have clinched a conference tournament spot for us.

I was at the game (windy and 40 degrees that made it feel like the north pole). The tieing goal in the 90th minute came off of a flicked-on header that was a one in a million score that came off a desperation serve from 30 yards out.  Up to that point our guys pretty much had the run of play and controlled the pace.  GB had few chances and was pushed out of their game. The OT golden goal was more of a defensive breakdown as GB brought the ball down the left side and crossed into the box for the score.  The defender had a opportunity to just send the ball out of bounds but tried a tackle that was evaded and that resulted in the cross further down the field.  Killer with only 10 seconds left.  Mike was really POed - and he is generally very composed win or lose.

The FW game was essentially a OOC game that Avery used to rest his front liners.  One curious thing is that we've missed on at least 2 PKs and that should not happen at the D-I level IMO.

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Key HLMSO Tourney game for our side tonight @ Cleveland State.

Valpo MSO goes down in Cleveland after 2 OT and 7 penalty rounds. Count was 4-3 for Cleveland State on penalties.

Very disappointing.  Another very promising season gone.   :(

Yes, very unfortunate.  What seemed like a great season in being ranked for the first time, ends in a 5th place finish in conference, and another 1 and done in the tourney.  I still very much support Coach Avery, but hope that since we have a lot coming back next season, that he can translate our talent into an NCAA bid or two.  It seems that we play ranked teams very well, but falter in our own conference each season.

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That's over the _senior_ international team from the Cayman Islands, mind you.

OK - there's a certain possibility that's like beating American Samoa.  (I'm just reading Montague's Thirty-One Nil - a great read so far!)  But, still, it sounds impressive!

OK, looks like Cayman Islands are #205 in the FIFA rankings.  Between Somalia and Djibouti (what a place to be!). 

Jamaica's senior team is #79, the US has fallen to #31.

It looks like the Cayman Islands haven't played an official international match since... 2011?  Where the highlight was drawing the Dominican Republic?  Their last win almost five years ago against Anguilla?

OK - maybe I should be careful about expressing pride.  But, still, a senior men's international team!

Yes, yes, Cayman islands population 56,000.  Less than Porter County.

Still!  It seems like they do consider football/soccer one of their sports.

Quote from: agibson on March 09, 2015, 11:09:15 AMYes, yes, Cayman islands population 56,000.  Less than Porter County.

I've been offered jobs both places.  Having lived in the latter, I sometimes wish I'd taken the former ;)

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on March 09, 2015, 03:24:10 PM

Quote from: agibson on March 09, 2015, 11:09:15 AMYes, yes, Cayman islands population 56,000.  Less than Porter County.

I've been offered jobs both places.  Having lived in the latter, I sometimes wish I'd taken the former ;)

As they might say in Jamaica when enthusiastically replying: Oh Cay-mon.

Quote from: agibson on March 09, 2015, 11:07:26 AMOK - maybe I should be careful about expressing pride.  But, still, a senior men's international team!

OK, yes, it's only the Caymans, but there still has to be some skill on the pitch at least if it's their national squad I would imagine.  A few years ago I met a former player who played on the Haitian National Team and a former player who played on the Nicaraguan National Team and while both Haiti and Nicaragua aren't exactly top flight talent squads from a FIFA standpoint, you could tell that these guys had some quality skills and talent nonetheless.

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There's another thread for him over here
http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2122.0 (http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2122.0)
too.  I figured pros perhaps deserve their own thread ;)

But great news for the VUMSO program in general, for sure.

@valpoathletics or a similar account tweeted out a photo of them practicing in the snow yesterday.

Here it is
[tweet]580156206230188032[/tweet]

I've been sitting on this question for a few weeks, but have to now throw it out there: has anyone heard talk of Coach Avery moving to another job? My son is a 2016 commit, and we are very excited - but nervous. The college advisor for his academy team told us there was talk of another program coming hard for him.  That was a few weeks ago. We received an email from a ACC coaching staff this morning asking if we planned to reopen our search if a coaching change at Valpo was made. I emailed Coach but his response was a pretty standard professional and polite non-answer: He loves Valpo, family is happy, thinks the best team in his time is on campus - rumors happen every year, if there's anything to know he would let us know first. But, he didn't say he wasn't considering another job. I don't want to read too much into this, just really don't want to have to reopen the search. My wife is a VU Law grad, we live in the area and love the program.  My son, though, only wants Valpo if Coach Avery is the coach.  I know commitments are verbal and coaching changes happen, I just hope this is rumor and nothing more.

My assumption is that the Avery's are a package deal somewhere, unless it is a school close enough to Valpo where they could live in-between the two schools (Notre Dame).

Quote from: valpotx on June 04, 2015, 10:58:06 PM
My assumption is that the Avery's are a package deal somewhere, unless it is a school close enough to Valpo where they could live in-between the two schools (Notre Dame).

I certainly don't have any information on this, but, as valpotx suggests, it could be a program close enough to commute.  Those schools might include Purdue and Northwestern as well or even IU.

Quote from: valpotx on June 04, 2015, 10:58:06 PM
My assumption is that the Avery's are a package deal somewhere, unless it is a school close enough to Valpo where they could live in-between the two schools (Notre Dame).

Yes, and since the season of coaching changes for both Volleyball and Men's soccer have already passed, I'd say they are good for this upcoming season.  Come December we should know of either Avery is being recruited to another program. 

Per my son's club coach last night, High Point in NC chasing Valpo coach.  Decision to be made middle of next week. No word if interest is mutual just that the job is his if he wants it. I guess we just wait and see. I hope those on here are right and a move like this doesn't fit the bill.

Announced June 9th, High Point just lost Dustin Fonder to Campbell (both in the Big South).  HPU just opened the Wicher Athetic Center that serves men's and women's soccer and lacrosse.  Impressive facility with chair back seating for soccer and lacrosse.  It's a FCS school though and a horizontal move and I would think that Mike would only make a vertical move  (B1G, Big XII) at this stage in his career.

Longish reply typed, thought twice about, and instead a query sent to the compliance office. 

You guys may have to continue to represent, without me!

Quote from: agibson on March 09, 2015, 11:07:26 AM
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Following their Cayman success, a big big congrats to Nico Campbell and Ramone Howell for being selected to represent Jamaica in Caribbean Olympic Qualifying - they open Wednesday against Santa Lucia. News has been a little hard to come by - I found a roster, but had to put together positions on my own.  Seems like Nico has a good shot at the start, but it's a little hard to tell.  Ramone might be facing some stiffer competition - but great to be named to the team, in any case.

Oddly enough I see that Curacao, in their group, withdrew - now it's best of three teams round robin, and then the top team from the group needs one more win to qualify for broader CONCACAF Olympic qualifying competition.  (And that last step is what would tend to interfere with the VUMSO season - but i guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.)

Update: hear now it's an assistant from Valpo being considered for HPU job.

Quote from: agibson on June 20, 2015, 01:06:35 PMOddly enough I see that Curacao, in their group, withdrew - now it's best of three teams round robin

I wonder what this does to the chances of legitimately finding the best team, of getting a fair outcome.  Seems like it can't help.

Two wins and you're good to go, of course.  But, otherwise, it seems there's a real chance of two teams tied on 4 points, or all three tied on 3 points.

Goal differential could be big.  Might be time for Nico to shine!  Not just the win, but the clean sheet could be important.

Quote from: Manny on June 20, 2015, 02:46:17 PM
Update: hear now it's an assistant from Valpo being considered for HPU job.

That would probably be Kelly Altman who was an assistant at HPU in 2012 and then came to Valpo.

Quote from: Manny on June 20, 2015, 02:46:17 PM
Update: hear now it's an assistant from Valpo being considered for HPU job.

There would have been 0% chance that Avery would have left Valpo for a job at High Point.

I suspect news will be hard to come from re the Caribbean U23 Qualifiers.  I've pieced together a few bits and bobs, I'll try to throw them up if there's time.

For recent news, I see
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20150623/under-23s-eye-historic-olympic-berth (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20150623/under-23s-eye-historic-olympic-berth)
which notes that they're departing today for their island hop, and that Jamaica's never qualified for the Olympics (still a long row to hoe from here), and does the list 20 (19?) traveling players.   But without positions or clubs - I pieced that together somewhere.

Also nice to get a mention in the local paper
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/recreation/sports-digest-vu-s-campbell-howell-part-of-jamaican-u/article_eac540bb-e3ca-5de1-b659-ae3d1cdd9150.html (http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/recreation/sports-digest-vu-s-campbell-howell-part-of-jamaican-u/article_eac540bb-e3ca-5de1-b659-ae3d1cdd9150.html)

and in Valpo Life (is that the chamber of commerce?)
http://www.valpolife.com/sports/college-pro/54149-campbell-howell-join-up-with-jamaican-u23-squad-for-olympic-qualifying (http://www.valpolife.com/sports/college-pro/54149-campbell-howell-join-up-with-jamaican-u23-squad-for-olympic-qualifying)

As I mentioned, Curacao's dropped out, so two games to prove themselves.  It starts tomorrow!

I might add that the Oakland Jamaican player is _not_ on the list (and, if they've made cuts in the last week or so, he wasn't on the longer list recently called in to Jamaica, either). 

A few training and travel details up at
http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/v1/?p=12076 (http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/v1/?p=12076)
and nice to see something re the U23 team from the Olympics - it's been close to radio silence.

Gold Cup rosters are due today, and while I don't yet see Jamaica's, I did take a peek at their 35-man provisional (today's 23 has to be selected from that).  It looks like there are 6 U23-aged players on it, but only four of them are on the U23 qualifying roster for the competition kicking off tomorrow.  One looks to be possible competition for Ramone Howell, namely Omar Holness a MF who has been captain of Jamaican youth teams, spent some time with the senior team, etc.  So, no surprise if he's higher on the depth chart.  I don't even know where he plays in midfield.  None of the other three look like position-wise competition for our guys, assuming Jamaica uses Ramone as a midfielder.

(The US' 23-man Gold Cup roster _is_ out.  A very experience side!  A sharp contrast from the young sides they've bene taking to friendlies.  And that had two of the best US friendly victories ever in recent victories at the Netherlands and at Germany.)

A couple of nice pieces in the Jamaican Observer today
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Unpleasant-first-day-for-U-23-Boyz-in-Dom-Rep_19152516 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Unpleasant-first-day-for-U-23-Boyz-in-Dom-Rep_19152516)
(sounds like the stories you hear from US qualifying in CONCACAF, but with an extra dose Caribbean style, and probably writ large)
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Boyz-bubbly-going-into-opening-contest-against-St-Lucia_19152586 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Boyz-bubbly-going-into-opening-contest-against-St-Lucia_19152586)

I -think- that's Nico wearing #1 at
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/assets/11915901/GOALIES.jpg (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/assets/11915901/GOALIES.jpg)
which would suggest he's getting the start, which from what I could quickly guess from the roster, seemed to be at least plausible.

Game kicks off in three hours.  The real question - will we know the result today, or will it take longer for the news to break?

It is nice to see them getting some press.  Maybe it shouldn't be surprising, nor new.  I was getting a bit lazy in my old age and relying on Google News.  Which, a little to my surprise, seems to have no Jamaican or even Caribbean option.  But, not too hard to go to the local papers directly.

Hopefully it helps their coverage that the senior team is now eliminated from the Copa America.  (Flash forward four years... maybe eight... timing's not quite right but dream with me.  Nico Campbell in goal facing off against Messi!) They seem to have kept it respectable with three 1-0 losses: Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.  Mexico, the other guest from CONCACAF did a bit better agains probably weaker competition with two draws and a loss. Tough to navigate, for both, with the Gold Cup about to get started back in CONCACAF.

A piece yesterday as well
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Under-23-Boyz-confident-of-success-in-Dominican-Republic_19152332 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Under-23-Boyz-confident-of-success-in-Dominican-Republic_19152332)
and similarly from another Jamaica paper
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20150623/under-23s-eye-historic-olympic-berth (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20150623/under-23s-eye-historic-olympic-berth)

and a more complete writeup than I'd seen previously of the earlier game (March) against the Cayman senior team (a little underwhelming?)
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Late-flourish-sets-stage-for-U-23-Boyz-win---over-Cayman_18540388 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Late-flourish-sets-stage-for-U-23-Boyz-win---over-Cayman_18540388)

Can't help it: one more organ.  The Star's article yesterday was same old, same old.  But, their piece before the Cayman game amuses me in that Nico got the Chilean spelling of Valparaiso (but Ramone, somehow, took the Indiana spelling)
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150307/sports/sports14.html (http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150307/sports/sports14.html)
and an interesting phrase or two in their March post-game piece
http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150313/sports/sports3.html (http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20150313/sports/sports3.html)

Quote from: agibson on June 24, 2015, 12:01:14 PM
A couple of nice pieces in the Jamaican Observer today
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Unpleasant-first-day-for-U-23-Boyz-in-Dom-Rep_19152516 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Unpleasant-first-day-for-U-23-Boyz-in-Dom-Rep_19152516)
(sounds like the stories you hear from US qualifying in CONCACAF, but with an extra dose Caribbean style, and probably writ large)

Three thoughts: Could also be a function of the Jamaican federation budget.  Betcha, the federation does not have an advanceman who goes to the locations way ahead, inspects them, and then books in person. Hearing the other complaints, I'll also bet that they are saving money by staying at a 1 -2 star facility. Finally, being that I vacation a lot in the Caribbean, I have been a witness to and personally experienced Caribbean Time and 'No Problem mon." It's just the way it is.

Yeah, that all sounds about right.  The players include some pros: some Jamaican, some MLS or MLS aspirants, a couple of Europeans.  But, I bet the whole affair is pretty low budget.  The population of Jamaica's, what, a couple million? 

Quote from: VULB#62 on June 24, 2015, 01:35:17 PMI have been a witness to and personally experienced Caribbean Time and 'No Problem mon." It's just the way it is.

Ironic that it's "locals", from my perspective at least, fallen victim to it!  Or, in this case, Jamaicans visiting the Dominican Republic.  A language barrier too, I suppose.

If this were the senior teams, I certainly wouldn't exclude gamesmanship.  Not sure if that extends to the U23's, or if someone like a hotel would have any reason to participate.

The Jamaica game's probably over by now.  And now the meta-game begins.  How long until we know the score?  It's like #lastMan in reverse.  #firstMan.

@AntiguaFA gets the points for most-active on twitter.  Live tweeting the whole of the game _before_ their game.  (Cuba 2, Guyana 0).

Sounds like both Trinidad and Suriname, scheduled to play today, had big visa problems.  I guess the tournament was moved earlier on the calendar, with only about eight weeks notice.  Maybe they could work out a postponement?  Trinidad and Tobago only had five of their original players with visas, but it sounds like they may have found seven replacement players who happened to have visas.  So, I wonder if Suriname might even forfeit... A shame.

So, yeah.  No live tweet?  No instantaneous result?  First world problems, to be sure.

I'd not heard about the US visa problems.  Apparently not a SNAFU, but a bit extraordinary

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/UPDATE--US-issuing-visas-again (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/UPDATE--US-issuing-visas-again)

Very poor timing for this tournament.

-Maybe- a one-off, but the US is famously hard to get to.  You wonder if the Caribbean Football Union will think twice about using Puerto Rico as a host again.  (Haiti's hosting?!) There was a time, during the post-9/11 visa crackdowns, when the whole particle physics community was basically asking "Is it fair, is it ethical, to host a conference in the US?"

6-1 for the good guys.  And, apart from the goalscorers (neither of our guys), that's all I've got.  Player's family broke the news on twitter, with players later confirming.  Hopefully some press coverage in the morning.

That goal differential should help if it ends up a two-way or even three-way tie.

Two days from now Dominican Republic (somehow the Jamaicans seem to say Dominica Republic) takes on St. Lucia, and two days after that the Jamaicans can finish the job.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/U-23-Boyz-off-to-winning-start-in-Dom-Rep (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/U-23-Boyz-off-to-winning-start-in-Dom-Rep)
has the box score, essentially.

Nico with the start!  Ramone unused on the bench.

Quote from: agibson on June 24, 2015, 04:59:36 PMSounds like both Trinidad and Suriname, scheduled to play today, had big visa problems.  I guess the tournament was moved earlier on the calendar, with only about eight weeks notice.  Maybe they could work out a postponement?  Trinidad and Tobago only had five of their original players with visas, but it sounds like they may have found seven replacement players who happened to have visas.  So, I wonder if Suriname might even forfeit... A shame.

They withdrew from the competition :(

Quote from: agibson on June 24, 2015, 11:01:22 PM
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/U-23-Boyz-off-to-winning-start-in-Dom-Rep (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/U-23-Boyz-off-to-winning-start-in-Dom-Rep)
has the box score, essentially.

Nico with the start!  Ramone unused on the bench.

And a better article up at
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Seaton-s-brace-propels-Young-Boyz-past-St-Lucia-6-1_19152762 (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/football/news/Seaton-s-brace-propels-Young-Boyz-past-St-Lucia-6-1_19152762)
and some other continued reporting (another article has a player profile).

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, official news is pretty hard to come by.  I now can't tell if Suriname is still playing in the tournament, or not.  Game 4 days seem to have been postponed by a day, Trinidad was told Suriname was out, and then that, no, they should play (with the 11 or 12 who had managed to get through immigration, etc.).  Seems like mass confusion - hopefully it's at least a _little_ clearer to the competitors.  Or, that at least their coaches are insulating them well.

There was a live tweet of yesterday's game against the Dominican Republic.  In Spanish.  I guess when you're the host county you've got the local internet situation figured out.

Jamaica won 4-0! Clean sheet for Nico!  Nico went 90 in goal again.  And, Ramone went unused on the bench again.

The CFU (Caribbean) semi-finals are in mid-August, with the winners going on to the finals, of course, but also qualifying for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in October.

Jamaica's drawn Cuba, whose toughest test in group play seems to have come against Antigua and Barbuda, whom they beat 3-2. Jamaica's a step above Cuba in the FIFA senior men's rankings, but, hard to know how much that matters - by that count Trinidad and Tobago should have showed better in the group stages.

The semifinals would seem to conflict directly with the VUMSO pre-season.  Don't know if Jamaica will name a new roster, or use the same.  And, I'm pretty curious how the level of competition compares to e.g. Horizon League play.  Presumably it's a step up? Maybe two steps?  With Jamaica, at least, having a bunch of lower-level pros including a player or two who have had cups of coffee in the EPL, played some games in Sweden, in the MLS, etc.

Maybe a chance for Jacob Peterson to get some serious training, anticipating Nico's absence in October if they qualify for CONCACAF, when surely games would be missed.  And, surely you always need at least two game-ready keepers.  Mike Avery's generally seemed to give the backup keeper a game here and there, maybe more so than would happen in the pros.  Or, perhaps it's Dan Rosenfeld, native of Mexico, as a freshman?

WOW! The Reggae Boys bounced the USA out of the Gold Cup!  Wonder what impact that has on our two U-23 players going forward.  Congrats Jamaica, but man that is  :( for the USA.