Re: NCAA tournament

by DoubleDipper Sat Nov 26, 2022 9:00 pm

VERY impressive work on the part of both goal keepers tonight, but that one punch out followed by the spectacular goal by Pierre, was the one mistake that cost WMU the game.

Hats off to the entire team, not just for tonight, but for the entire season that now stands at 15-2-3 with no losses at home.

Next up: at Pitt or #1 Kentucky.

by SoreKnees Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:07 pm

10-man Pitt over Kentucky 2-1 at Kentucky. Both look beatable. Pitt has a higher RPI than UP. Does that mean it will be there?

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:37 pm

SoreKnees wrote:10-man Pitt over Kentucky 2-1 at Kentucky. Both look beatable. Pitt has a higher RPI than UP. Does that mean it will be there?

Yes, the Pilots will be at the Panthers.

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:42 pm

SoreKnees wrote:10-man Pitt over Kentucky 2-1 at Kentucky. Both look beatable. Pitt has a higher RPI than UP. Does that mean it will be there?

UP will play at Pitt on Saturday December 3 at 10am PST.

It will likely be on ESPN+.

Also on December 3, all times Pacific:

Crieghton at #7 Duke 10am
Vermont at #3 Syracuse 11am
#13 Indiana at #12 UNCG (North Carolina Greensboro) 3pm

The winner of the Pitt/UP game will play the winner of the Indian/UNCG game, and the winner of Vermont/Syracuse will play the winner of Crieghton/Duke in Cary, NC on Friday December 9, with the final to be played on Monday December 12.

by DoubleDipper Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:03 pm

Elite 8 RPIs:
1 - Syracuse
6 - Duke
11 - UNCG
15 - Vermont
20 - Indiana
22 - Pitt
30 - Creighton
31 - Portland

by eProf Tue Nov 29, 2022 11:32 am

Forecast for Pittsburgh at game time is 57F, with possible showers. Pretty good for that part of the country on December 3rd.

by Geezaldinho Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:47 pm

It looks like a nice venue, if a bit small from a fan perspective.
The Pitt pitch is regulation size Astroturf installed in 2019.
It had a FIFA Pro rating when it was installed, but I checked the FIFA website and there is no certification for it presently on file, so either they didn’t get it recertified or the FIFA elves who update the website are napping.

It will be interesting watching the Pilots and the USMNT play Netherlands at the same time.

by DoubleDipper Tue Nov 29, 2022 2:27 pm

Geezaldinho wrote:The Pitt pitch is regulation size Astroturf installed in 2019.

Curious, have the Pilots played on turf this season besides the practice pitch? scratch

I've "run" around the bases on the Astroturf at Joe Etzel field drunken

but have never played a sport on turf.

Is there a noticeable difference between turf and grass when both are dry?

It seems we hear a lot of complaints about turf not giving way resulting in more side load on the knee and more injuries.

by SoreKnees Tue Nov 29, 2022 2:54 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
Curious, have the Pilots played on turf this season besides the practice pitch?

I've "run" around the bases on the Astroturf at Joe Etzel field but have never played a sport on turf.

Is there a noticeable difference between turf and grass when both are dry?

It seems we hear a lot of complaints about turf not giving way resulting in more side load on the knee and more injuries.

I haven't been on plastic "turf" since I quit refereeing in 2015, so there may be new technologies. At that time, artificial surfaces were faster than real grass. Teams that were not accustomed to playing on them tended to make passes that scooted past their intended targets. However, of course, they don't get muddy in Oregon (or Pennsylvania) weather, which is why nearly all public and high-school fields in Portland are plastic.

Given the sensitivity of our sport to imperfections in the surface, it is the only alternative for fields on which pointy-ball is played in wet weather.

by A_Fan Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:20 pm

Luckily the Pilots have a turf field to practice on.

by Geezaldinho Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:39 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
Geezaldinho wrote:The Pitt pitch is regulation size Astroturf installed in 2019.
Curious, have the Pilots played on turf this season besides the practice pitch?

I've "run" around the bases on the Astroturf at Joe Etzel field but have never played a sport on turf.

Is there a noticeable difference between turf and grass when both are dry?

It seems we hear a lot of complaints about turf not giving way resulting in more side load on the knee and more injuries.

In order:

We played at least twice on Turf this year. USF and Pacific have Turf pitches. ( we won both) other turf pitches around the country we have or probably will play on are at Cal Poly, Seattle U, Seton Hall, St John’s, and many venues that are in city centers.

None of them hold current FIFA rating, except one D1 women’s program (wait for it……
The PSU Vikings play at Hillsboro stadium, which does have a FIFA Pro rating currently.)

I should mention there are currently only 9 FIFA Pro pitches in the country currently. Two of those certifications are due to expire in the next month or so. Providence will have to be recertified in May 2023. Some of those other pitches are Segra, Gillette, Mercedes Benz, Dillon stadium in Hartford, Crew stadium. and some Club soccer pitches.
In addition, there are 7 FIFA pitches that meet the lesser rec standard.

Many practice fields are certified when installed to ensure a quality installation and never recertified ( see Pru field).

I can’t speak to their performance dry. Both grass and Turf pitches are supposed to be watered down before the game and at the half for safety reasons to avoid catching cleats, and some insurance companies insist on it. If you have watched UP or Timbers and Thorns matches you know that to be true. At Providence Park they even water the pitch if it’s raining or snowing.

There do seem to be slightly more injuries on Turf, but the increase isn’t necessarily what you imagine. Some rec grade injuries are upper body injuries rather than leg related from hard Turf. and the tracking doesn’t always distinguish between crappy rec fields and the cushy fifa pro pitches with foam underlayment like at Providence, Hillsboro, or Pitt.
Even having a pair of cleats designed for Turf seems to help.

And be aware that Turf designed for pointy football is usually harder and faster. Great for wide receivers, but not for anyone else. Soccer played on those pitches isn’t very pretty.

by DoubleDipper Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:59 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
UP will play at Pitt on Saturday December 3 at 10am PST.
It will likely be on ESPN+.

Yes, the game will be streamed on ESPN+

You can follow the stats here: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=437468

by DoubleDipper Thu Dec 01, 2022 3:24 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:UP will play at Pitt on Saturday December 3 at 10am PST.
Yes, the game will be streamed on ESPN+

I am told there will be a watch party at the Pilot House.

by DoubleDipper Thu Dec 01, 2022 11:24 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
DoubleDipper wrote:UP will play at Pitt on Saturday December 3 at 10am PST.
Yes, the game will be streamed on ESPN+
I am told there will be a watch party at the Pilot House.

by Sound Voltex Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:24 pm

https://pittnews.com/article/177665/sports/preview-pitt-mens-soccer-gears-up-for-elite-eight-matchup-against-portland/

Prediction: The Panthers advance to the College Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Pilots

This game favors the Panthers in almost every way. Pitt has the home-field advantage, which is huge against a cross-country opponent. The Panthers are also a more tested team than the Pilots. Pitt faced nine ranked teams in the regular season, compared to only three for the Pilots.

Even in the tournament, the Panthers faced tougher opponents. Pitt handed Kentucky their first loss this season, while the Pilots scraped by against lesser opponents. The Panthers will fall back on their experience to earn the win.

by DoubleDipper Fri Dec 02, 2022 1:44 pm

I forwarded the 2-0 prediction to the team.

Locker room wall fodder…

by Geezaldinho Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:03 pm

Sound Voltex wrote:https://pittnews.com/article/177665/sports/preview-pitt-mens-soccer-gears-up-for-elite-eight-matchup-against-portland/

Prediction: The Panthers advance to the College Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Pilots

This game favors the Panthers in almost every way. Pitt has the home-field advantage, which is huge against a cross-country opponent. The Panthers are also a more tested team than the Pilots. Pitt faced nine ranked teams in the regular season, compared to only three for the Pilots.

Even in the tournament, the Panthers faced tougher opponents. Pitt handed Kentucky their first loss this season, while the Pilots scraped by against lesser opponents. The Panthers will fall back on their experience to earn the win.

Well, of the teams Pitt played in the top 25 RPI, they tied four, lost two, and won one.

Playing teams in the 26-50 RPI range, they won one and lost two.

Best wins, 23 Georgetown and 35 UNC. Worst loss 36 Marshall.

by SoreKnees Sat Dec 03, 2022 1:36 pm

Bummer of a result. Many players on both sides deserved to win, notably Tasouris on the Pilots side. Ultimately, our midfield was never able to get control of the match and poor finishing from Pitt and great goalkeeping from George kept it close.

by Sound Voltex Sat Dec 03, 2022 7:54 pm

Carlin-Voigt said the wind, and adjusting to the speed of the ball on the turf, were both a factor in his team not passing the ball to its normal precision. The coach also said his side struggled to consistently pressure Pitt players who had the ball. He also noted that seven or eight starters have flu symptoms and didn't train the day before the match.

"We did not play our typical football which was due to a lot of different factors," Carlin-Voigt said. "But take nothing away from Pitt. That's a good team. They're a team I think could go win the national championship. But I'm also really proud of our guys and the season we've had it was a historical year in so many ways."

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/565228-452904-portland-pilots-fall-in-ot-in-mens-soccer-quarterfinals-pwoff
https://archive.ph/CrsqS

by SoreKnees Sun Dec 04, 2022 8:01 am

All reasonable excuses, but the Pilots were totally overrun in midfield most of the game. In my opinion, they really could have used a bigger player in a holding midfield role, someone calm on the ball who could consistently hold the ball up and move it forward to an open player. They have such a player in Jake Arteaga, who would have been perfect as the anchor man at the base of the midfield, but due to injuries and lack of defensive depth, he was needed as a center back.

by StudentPilot Sun Dec 04, 2022 9:57 am

If I'm honest, I was disappointed in Coach Nick coming up with excuses besides Pitt just be a better squad, plain and simple.

The Pilots were outplayed, and without George in goal, the score could have been lopsided.

George now moves on...is there anyone currently on the team or coming in who can come close to filling his shoes?

by DoubleDipper Mon Dec 05, 2022 9:59 am

If you still care, the NCAA Semifinals are set:

Friday, December 9 in Cary, NC

Syracuse vs. Creighton at 3pm PT - ESPNU
Indiana vs. Pittsburgh at 5:30pm PT - ESPNU

by DoubleDipper Fri Dec 09, 2022 10:02 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:If you still care, the NCAA Semifinals are set:

Syracuse vs. Creighton at 3pm PT - ESPNU
Indiana vs. Pittsburgh at 5:30pm PT - ESPNU

It was not World Cup stuff, but the 3-2 Syracuse win over Creighton was still fun to watch and very competitive.

Indiana beat Pitt 2-0, and it really wasn't that great a game to watch on TV, and apparently not in person either, because it appeared there were no more than 50 people still in the stands at 10:30pm ET.

Monday at 3:00PT on ESPNU:

13 Indiana vs. 3 Syracuse

by DoubleDipper Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:57 pm

It was a game worthy of a Championship!

Indiana and Syracuse traded goals in regular time to send the game all the way through double-OT to the PK shootout tied at 2-2.

Even the first phase of PKs was tied at the end, 4-4, before Syracuse finally won the match when the Orange goalkeeper blocked the 8th attempt by a Hoosier, and then the Syracuse captain stepped in for the winning PK.

Who said a program can't achieve greatness quickly? Syracuse didn't even make it the NCAA Tournament last season...but now they are NCAA D1 Champions for the first time.

by SoreKnees Tue Dec 13, 2022 8:54 am

DoubleDipper wrote:Who said a program can't achieve greatness quickly? Syracuse didn't even make it the NCAA Tournament last season...but now they are NCAA D1 Champions for the first time.

Do you know how many of their players were international "mercenaries"? It seems to me that it's not too hard to build a good team quickly these days with all the transfers and international short-term recruits. OSU did it.