Claremont-Mudd-Scripps v Middlebury Sweet 16 Match Up

Looks cold and blustery in Vermont. Certainly not the place that That Dr. Dre and 2Pac sang about.

And apparently, a minute into the game…. the stream is down….

Stream is back and there at 6 minutes left in the first half and it is still 0-0.

CMS does well and pressing the ball and double teaming where possible. Middlebury trying to find a way to break through, but a lot of bodies to get through. They are applying a lot of pressure on the CMS backs. And on a very quick counter, CMW had an pretty open goal that the forward miss hit and hit to the Middlebury Keeper.

And halftime, 0-0.

Start of the second half and Middlebury is really getting forward. Think the wind is playing with CMS a bit. But they are bending and Middlebury hasn’t had an easy time of getting a goal. Middlebury is doing a great job of not giving CMS and space to move the ball. Even when they try to build out of the back, CMS is not finding anyone,

32 left in the second and they did have a nice counter on a Middlebury give away, but the Keeper made an easy save. This is where I think CMS is trying to get going. Be patient and catch Middlebury off guard. Otherwise, they really around finding it easy even getting to midfield. And in that same vein, CMS just had another great opportunity that was sent just wide of the goal. This is where Middlebury needs to be careful.

Middlebury just cant get that last pass to connect and as a result, with 25 minutes left, I think CMS is growing into the game. At least getting a but more offensive minded.

15 minutes left and getting the sense that Middlebury is getting a little frustrated. CMS is doing a good job in possession and Middlebury doesn’t have an answer for it. Will also add that the CMS defenders are having a great game. Either in one on one defending or just reading the play to cut off a pass, they are making really making it hard on Middlebury.

Will also add…. not sure the Referee has any control over the game. Needs to reign it in a bit.

And Middlebury gets the go ahead goal.

Bad touch by a CMS defender, and UMW wins it back. Ball taken down the line and whipped into the middle where it awkwardly goes off a forward and ball trickles in. Not the most glamorous, but definitely effective. 6 remaining in the game.

Middlebury 1, Claremont Mudd Scripps 0

Time is running out and CMS is trying to push forward. Middlebury is happy to slow the game down to bleed the clock. And absolutely brutal senseless tackle by a Middlebury defender at midfield. He got a yellow but I think you could argue a red.

Nonetheless play resumes and CMS is just sending the ball up. This game is over. Probably fair result as CMS took 3/4 of the game to find a rhythm getting forward and if anything Middlebury played much in their half.

Middlebury will face the winner of Trinity v. Babson.

Out.

SC