Random Game Notes – 9.5.2026

Here are some of the games I watched and took notes on. Best team I watched today goes to Connecticut College. How they handled Amherst, which was really unimpressive, took a top performance. Anyhow, enjoy. Not sure I will be doing games tomorrow as I will be … on the beach. Hey, when you live in Jersey … Be Jersey.

SC.

Men’s Games	Video Source	Score	Notes
Wesleyan @ Springfield	Nescac Sports Network	3-2 Wesleyan.	15 minutes in, and Wesleyan seems to be controlling the play. Pressure leads to a long throw opportunity that allows chaos to reign, and Wesleyan forward manages to put to the left of the Springfield for the go ahead goal. 1-0 Wesleyan. Wesleyan is smelling blood in the water, and is actively going after a second. And wow. Springfield ties it up on a free kick from 25 out. Bent around the wall to tie it up 1-1. Quirte the banger. Springfield is feeling it now. Wesleyan trying to get it going but Springfield is doing a good defensive job managing them. And holy smokes. On a counter Springfield gets 1 on 1 with the Keeper and the Springfield forward slots the ball to the left of the keeper for the go ahead goal. 2-1 Wesleyan. And only a couple minuted later, Springfield commits an innocuous fould 45 yards out. Bates Keeper is caught cheating far post at the six. Wesleyan players sees this and drives a shot at goal, totally cathcing the keeper asleep. 2-2 just before half. Great heads up play and goal. Halftime. Much of the same. Still 2-2. With 15 to go, Wesleyan finally gets a go ahead goal on a corner. Comes across, Keeper makes a great save on an initial header, on the rebound a Wesleyan player heads it back into the goal. 3-2 Wesleyan. Springfield is throwing caution to the wind in these final minutes. Wesleyan is slow walking everything. Wesleyan… in a tight match… manage to best Springfiel 3-2
Cortland @ St. Joseph’s University, Long Island	Goldne Eagles Live Stream	2-0 Ccortland	Just have it up, and keeping an eye on it. Cortland clearly the better, but couldn’t find the back of the net until late in the half. Kind of reminds me of how Williams women won with a late goal.
Bates @ Williams	Nescac Sports Network	3-2 Williams	Williams back to its ways, definitely favoring going down the right side. Bates is trying to work the ball in the first f minutes, looking to catch Williams off balance. When they cant break through, Willams press causes havoc for Bates. This seem where they are vulnerable. Of course, Williams looks for the long throws, the corners. Surprisingly, or not, Williams has only gone down the wing. Will say, Bates is trying to piece it together. 15 in and Bates is having a moment. Good control on the ball, see some of the Williams goal, getting corners and free kicks. Now need to reward themselves. Bates with the best opportunity on a cross for a header that just went wide of the post. Williams looks shaky defensively and I think Bates can get one of these. And of course, it takes 30 minutes to get the right set piece. Ball floated in from midfield. Bates Keeper gets caught in no mans land, and William player skims the ball off his head for the go ahead goal. Soccer is a cruel mistress. Williams is now going for a second forcing the Bates Keeper to show hi metal. Made a couple of great saves And why set pieces are so key…. Bates! get one about 35 yeard out on the left side of the box. Ball floated in to the back stick and bends in. Not sure if anyone touch it but, but the delivery of the ball and the Bates players coming adter the ball, froze the Keeper in place. 1-1. 10 minutes left in the half. If Bates can get to half, not a bad … I actually think Bates is the better. Halftime. Williams a few minute in gets a goa ahead goal. Off a throw in that is played short where as the Bates defense adjust the ball is floated in and headed in. Not a single defender withing 5 yards of anyone. 2-1 Williams. Just a tough way to start out the second for Bates. And at the 30 minute mark, Bates ties it up on a shot that was deflected and sailed over the Williams keeper. 2-2! And off the kickoff, Bates can’t get the ball out, lands at a Williams players feet who hits a bomb from 25 yards out for the go ahead. Bates had tied the game 20 seconds earlier. 3-2 Williams. Think Bates are struggling from tired legs. Lost a lot of energy trying to find an equalizer and Williams defensively is making it hard for Bates, especially in the final third. Williams still leading with 6 left. 3 minutes left…..1:30 left. And Williams runs out the clock for the win. 3-2 Williams..
Greensboro @ Guilford	Flo Sports	3-0 Greensboro	Greensboro is definitely the better. The pressure is pretty suffocating for Guilford. Ten minutes in Greensboro give an exhibition as to why some teams really shouldn’t play out of the box. Standard setup. Keeper with the ball, two defenders on the six. Keeper plays the ball to man on his right. Defender has the ball and looks like he is going for a long pass, as he is ready to do so, the Greensboro foward presses. Defender kicks the ball, into the forward…. and the rebound goes into the goal. I mean. Enough for me to end here. 1-0 Greensboro. And Greensboro goes ahead on an open header. 2-0 Think I am done with this game. Just saw it is now 3-0.
Scranton @ Muhlenberg	Centennial Digital Network	3-0 Scranton	Muhlenberg in their cool light greys. Scranton in black. Sctanton going with a bit of a high press. Muhlenberg is trying to play out, but just seems a bit tight. Game is being played in the Muhlenberg half. And 5 minutes, Scranton gets a throw in. Play a long throw into the box, where a Scranton player heads it back post for the go ahead goal. 1-0 Scranton. Was looking for a forceful response but seems they are caught forcing it a bit. Scranton is absorbing the attack. Muhlenberg also has quite the long throw in. The Mules are stretching the field a bit, but Scranton is defensively very organized. Not giving up much ground. And they are trying to catch Muhlenberg on the break where they can especially down their left side. Halftime with Scranton still leading 1-0. Halftime. Much of the same in the second half until 12 minute in. Foul called at midfield for Scranton. Float the ball to the 18 where it is headed down to an open Scranton forward who buries it for the second goal of the day. 2-0 Scranton. Like in the firs thalf, Muhlenberg doesnt seem to have the answers. Muhlenberg just pretty average. No confidence in their step. 10 minutes left. And game over. Scranton gets a third ona foul outside the box. Another bomb of a set piece. Around the wall, and under the Keeper. Not a great look for the Mules today. This one is baked.
Hiram @ Mount Union	Flo Sports	1-1	Raiders start out looking to control the tempo of the game, controlling the ball. Hiram is applying some pressure, but Mount is able to deal with it. AS the clock ticks, Mount is forcing Hiram back in their own end. Verygood possession from the Raiders. Hiram doing a lot of running. Anytime they get possession, Mount Union recovers pretty quickly. And 15 minutes in, through ball down the middle and in a one on one, the big Raider up top slots the ball to the right of the Hiram keeper. Keeeper couldn’t do anything. Mount continue to move the ball trying to break Hiram. They are doing well enough to make it difficult for the raiders to make something happen. Game largely played in Hirams half. On one their forays forward, on a long throw in, Hiram gets on the end of it, and tie up the game. Think that was their first opportunity on frame and they got the equalizer. 1-1 at Halftime. Second half started. Think Mount is trying to force too much. Needs to be a bit more patient with the ball. Let Hiram run. 30 left in the half. Hiram has grown more comfortable as the game has ticked on. Mount struggling to get on the attack. Hiram taking advantage of mistakes. 6 left and Raiders still trying to get a goal.
Conn @ Amherst	Nescac Sports Network	3-1 Conn	Right out of the gate, Amherst is all about pressing. Conn still able to work the ball out of the back, which they do so well. Amherst has come out … physical. Not afraid to get into real tough tackles. There will be cards.Granted this seems to be an Amherst ref since he is letting everything go. Well, already seen two tackles that should be a yellow. And now a third, that the ref, 10 minutes in, gives a yellow to an Amherst defender for SPA. Conn, 10 minutes in, looks very good on the ball. Amherst doing a lot odd chasing. Lot of tough tackles, as is to be expected. Saw two that could be yellows, but let play on, but a tackle from behind got a yellow for Amherst for Stopping a Promising Attack. I think Amherst should have two more yellows…. 14 left in the half with both teams trying to impose their game on the other. And what would be 2026 without some antics from the Amherst bench? 11 left in the first half. Halftime 0-0. Back to what one can expect of this game. Amherst is dialed in as they usually are the first 20 or so minutes at the beginning of each half. Conn is a littel careless with the ball, not having the patience and trying to force it forward. Last 15 minutes have been for the most part in Conn’s half. Tackles are flying, and Conn just got a foul outside the box by the end line. Yellow card to boot. Two man wall and it is hit on the ground near post about 4 yards out, and it finds the foot of a Conn player running near post and it gets knocked in back post. 1-0 Conn. 27 minutes left in the half. Plenty of game to go. Amherst play the second to worst play in soccer. They tap the ball and launch it into the corner with three players running to recover it. The worst play is kicking it out of bounds and then trying to lock in the team that has the throw. Sure to get chippy-er….Seriously, there is something to the myth of the “Amherst Ref.” What is being allowed is just incomprhensible to me. With 22 left, Amherst had corner and in the melee managed to hit the cross bar. Closest to getting a goal for tje entire game. Give credit to Conn for a very organized defense. Really not letting Amherst have any opportunitiies by capitalizing on mistakes. And Conn’s efforts have paid off, an were able to get the second goal. Recovered ball in midfield, the ball is slotted to a runner to the left of the goal. He takes a touch.. Max White… and hits the ball far post that goes under the keepers hands. 2-0 Conn. 18 minutes left. Amherst reaction is to do more of the same. And now with 6 minutes left, Conn gets a PK. Again, quick break by Conn, poor defensive organization lets a Conn forward get into the box one on one with the Keeper, and is taken down from behind. And a deserved yellow for the foul. Good double jeopordy call. No need for a red since they are getting the PK. Apparently the defender got a second yellow so Amherst plays with 9 men for the last 7 minutes. 3-0 Conn. Conn is now killing the clock. There is a bunch of fighting going on, but they turned the turned the camera away so no idea whats happening. Apparently Conn player received a red. 3 minutes left. And on a long throw in, Amherst heads the ball in for a goal of honor. 3-1 Conn. And game over. My assessment for this Amherst team? They have all the attributes of past teams, but they lack the soccer. So when they play a team that can square up physically, AND has soccer, well, this is the result.
North Central @ MSOE	Hudl	1-0 North Central	MSOE in white. North Central in red. MSOE is pinning NC back in its half. Making it difficult for them to get out of their half. Tough video angle to watch the game. Little more than field level. Looks like NCC is slowly coming into its own, with MSOE trying to break NC down. Looks like NC gets a PK for a hand ball. Only reason I know is I heard people yelling for it. NC almost makes the save, but is unable to keep it out of the net. 1-0 North Central. Pulling the plug on this one. The camera angle makes it tough to watch and follow.
Trinity @ Tufts	Nescac Sports Network	2-0 Tufts	TTrinity in dark blue and Tufts in light blue tope with white shorts. Little choppy. Not a lot of soccer, but it’s only 8 minutes in.Tufts has more ideas getting forward while Trinity is looking to get behind the Tufts defense. They don’t have an interest of being patient. Not sure it get them there. And Tufts takes the lead 14 in. Ball goes out to the right wing to put the ball across back post, where a Tufts forward, unmarked, taps it in. 1-0 Tufts. What’s interesting is that Trinity started with the ball, but a bad pass in the back as they tried to get out of their defensive third was picked off, which led to the pass and cross. Someone, someday, I hope I can have someone tell me about Trinity and why they are they way they are. Wonderful school, great facilities. Fight relegation to DIV every year. And after the gao, they look like they are falling apart. Tufts has a flurry of chances in front of the goal. If they do’t wake up, Trinity has a long 75 minutes to go in this game. Trinity holding it’s own right now, or Tufts is comfortable right now. Really have the ability to get forward without much resistance. They turn over the ball to easily, giving the Jumpos a runway in front of them to go on the attack. I don’t think Tufts loses this game. But do think they need to sort out how they get to goal and be dangerous. And as I type, Tufts gets another on a corner. Open header for the second goal. 2-0 Tufts. Expect the national champion to dispatch a team like Trinity, in the first half. Will say, in spite of it, Trinity is trying to get forward. Had a number of real positive counterattacks but lacking anyone on the end of that killer pass. Tufts is coasting at this point. Not really exerting themselves. 9 minutes left. Giving Trinity credit for trying to break through the Tufts defense. Most of the success is coming down their left side, but they don’t have someone who can punch in a cross. Meanwhile I think Tufts is wondering what they will have to eat after the game. 3 minutes left. I am out
Brockport State @ Rochester	Flo Sports	1-0 Rochester	Rochester in white and Brockport in green. Brockport is holding on to the ball, although they end up losing it in silly ways. Rochester taking it’s opportunities with the ball to move the ball into the final third and try to pressure the Brockport defense. Wow. Brockport is carrying good portions of the game…. then on a Rochester attack, a Rochester foward dribbles in the box and goes down. The referee calls it for a PK. If I were Brockport, I would be arguing this one until the end of the game then argue it in the parking lot. Terrible call. 1-0 Rochester. UR is feeling good right now, and Brockport is a bit rattled. Need to settle down and move on. There are 23 minutes left in the half, so plenty of time for Brockport to get a goal. Well this is getting a little spicy. And the referee’s have lost all control. Both AR’s are on the field and the center is not taking control. So bad. Not sure he know what is happening around him. And he gives a yellow to the Brockport bench. 15 minutes left in the half. And now a Rochester player just runs through the back of a Brockport player. Ref pulls out another yellow. Lot of contact, lot of pushy shovey going on. And wait, Brockport just tied it up and then called back for a supposedly the ball went out before it was cross… i don’t know. Looks awfully close to me. Halftime. Back at it. Brockport is trying to sort a way to break through to tie it up. They are pushing forward and Rochester is catching them pushed up, giving them some space to get a couple of good looks to goal. 15 minutes left still 1-0. Brockport is letting themselves down by being careless with the ball. Just giving it away too easily, especially at this point in the game. 1-0 Final for UR,
Women’s Games	Video Source	Score	Notes
Bates @ Williams		1-0 Williams	Williams dominating the game. Matter of time before they score. Keep peppering the goal but no luck. Bates is organized defensively and certainly a bit lucky. Williams having no luck in front of gaol. Halftime. 0-0. Which is a bit of a surprise to me. Second half starts much in the same way. Takes Williams until the 82nd minute to get the go ahead goal! 1-0 Williams. And it looks like it will stay that way.