Coming Off One Big Win, Looking For Another

With pouring rain and blasting winds, it would have not been a surprise to anyone if our game with Hamilton ended up being a high-scoring affair. And while the 4-3 scoreline did not surprise me, it was shocking how much of a roller-coaster the match ended up being. We have had a tendency to give up goals early, so when a 3rd-minute cross from Ben Scaglione skipped through the Hamilton defense to Brian Bianchetti, it was a pleasant change to have an early lead. Scags then found Jon Hootnick for his second assist of the game, and when Matt Belli tallied in the 60th minute it appeared we were cruising towards an easy win. Less than fifteen minutes later the game was tied as Hamilton pounded three goals home, two in the span of one minute followed by a fantastic free kick from Frank Campagnano. But before the feeling of “oh god, not again,” had finished running through my head, our starting freshman midfielder Ross Macklin saved the day. Macklin sent a curling shot off the post into the net, an amazing shot that ranks up with the best collegiate goals I have seen over the last four years. The 4-3 victory is probably our best win of the season in the eyes of selection committees, and puts us in the running for an ECAC bid (one more win will make us eligible to be selected). It also means our Liberty League playoff hopes are not completely dead either.

The good news is that we are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, though we do need all of the Liberty League games to go our way tomorrow. If we can win tomorrow against undefeated Hobart, we’ll root for Hamilton to beat RPI, St. Lawrence to beat Skidmore, and Clarkson to beat Union. This will get us into a tie for the final playoff spot, and although the tie-breakers are complicated, I interpret them to mean that we would get the spot if these results go through. And while it seems a lot to ask for an 0-6 Clarkson to beat Union, we can’t forget two years ago when an 0-6 Clarkson team pounded us 6-2 on the final day of the Liberty League season. This is proof that they won’t take a game lightly even if they are eliminated from playoff contention, and with star forward Scott Desmond I believe they can get a result at home against a solid Union squad. Score checks will be for after the game though, our only focus until 3 PM tomorrow must be to defeat Hobart. Anyone back on campus should come by the fields at 1 PM for the game.