2023 Men’s Final Four Team Notes

Washington College v. St. Olaf

Why I Like Washington College –  

• 14-2-6
• Didn’t have them on my radar after going 1-0-5 before their first conference game.  Kind of wrote them off.
  • Especially against teams I thought they should have beaten.  York, Stockton, Moravian, PSU Abington
• The they went 10-1 before the Centennial Conference Tournament.
• Don’t score a lot, but let in even less.  A goal every game and concede 1 ever 2.
• 7 players with 2 or more goals.  30 total goals.
  • Ben Strine (7), Katim Njie (5), Shepherd Koffie (4), Harrison Malone (3), Chris Comber (3), Tucker Sprano and Tshazi Kamau (2)

Where they are vulnerable

• I think they are vulnerable down the wings.  They place a premium on defending the center…. Which if you watched my “where do goals come from”, know that the center is where the goals are.  Question is do they defend well enough against a team that doesn’t mind challenging in the middle?
• Low goal production.  No major threat in front of goal.

Key Players

Anthony Pinto, Senior Goalkeeper.  Underrated and one of the best.

Ben Strine, Senior Midfielder.  Leader.  Where goes Ben Strine, so does Washington.

Why I like St. Olaf

• 18-3-3
• Played a tough out of conference schedule that I thought was too much for them.  U Chicago, Knox, OWU, and Kenyon.  Went 1-3.
• Followed by going 12-2 for rest of regular season.  In playoffs, took down WI Superior, Carleton, WI Eau Claire, and U Chicago.
• If anything the showed resilience.
• Have scored a massive 72 goals this season. 3 goals a game, while only conceding 1 a game.
• One of the best midfields in D3.

Where they are vulnerable

• If they can’t break down the middle of Washington’s defense, and stick around on the score board, it’s trouble for the Oles.

Key Players

• Shea Bechtel, Junior Forward. Second leading scorer with 9 goals…. And team leading 12 assists.
• Senior Midfielder, All MIAC Offensive Player of the Year Victor Gaulmin.  Leading scorer, with 16 goals

Not sure Washington has the defensive strength to hold of Gaulmin, Bechtel, and Hakeem Morgan.  Think this game goes 2-0 to St. Olaf.

Although this could go to PKs.

Amherst v. Washington & Lee

Why I Like Amherst –

• Very disappointed in their post-game celebrations and lack of accountability for their sideline antics.
• Talented team, always tough to play.
• Very good at chaos in the box.

Where they are vulnerable –

• Their antics get in the way.  If W&L knows not to get sucked in to their gamesmanship and sideline histrionics.

Key Players

• Senior Forward Ada Okorogheye, NESCAC Player of the Year
• Junior Midfielder Ignacio Cubeddu.  Midfield engine.

Why I like Washington & Lee

• 15-4-5
• Well balanced in attack and organized defensively.
• Started slow, but got into a rhythm.  They really came into their own during NCAAs taking down Western Conn, SUNY Oneonta, Tufts and then Colorado College on PKs.
• Love the ball and controlling temp of the game.

Where they are vulnerable

• Can they deal with the oppressive pressure that Amherst can bring.
• They need to score early to settle into a game they like to play.
• Amherst antics.

Key Players

• Junior forward Weyimi Agbeyegbe.  13 goals, 6 assists.
• GK Will Joseph.  21 goals allowed. .89 GAA.

There is the way I would like to see this game go and what will happen.  And what will happen is that Amherst will get a throw in that will be sent into the box.  A W&L defender poised to head will be tackled in the box without a foul being called.  The ball will then hit off a couple of defenders… to which Amherst will go into a tizzy about their being  a PK.  And as the keeper makes a sprawling dive and gets possession of the ball, it will be kicked out of his hands for the go ahead goal.    They will then celebrate in front of the W&L bench as if they had scored the greatest goal in soccer history.