Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

[llama]

I would expect a sellout as it's their biggest two games so far of the year.

Lots of empty seats tonight. The seats may have all been "sold" but they were not all filled. Did the weather keep UC fans home tonight?

Don't get me wrong - great crowd and 100 times better than anything Hobart would generate at "The Cooler". I just figured the place would be packed?

 

[Pioneers#1]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

I'll make my one and only comment of the night.

I'll cut to the chase. Hobart was the better team out of the gate and all night in my opinion.

I'm being fair I think when I say they were the faster team, quicker on the puck and had better stick handling skills all night.

Utica looked sluggish out of the gate, they couldn't "Fly" along the boards and go around defensemen all night long and get those in close scoring opportunities as they usually do to beat teams, and had a hard time keeping the puck in Hobart's zone. Defense was alright for the Pioneers but they relied on their goaltending and defense to save them all night long. Such a close game. I really thought we had it when they took the lead 3-2.

Gotta give credit where credit is due and Hobart definitely deserves a lot of credit for battling back and being so quick out there. Not many teams can do what they did with the time allotted in front of a crowd as intense & loud as the crowd at the Aud tonight.

It's a must win Sunday afternoon.. Do or die time. If they win, We've got a good shot at the NCAA Tournament still (as long as we win twice against Manhattanville & Nazareth) & If not, I find it very hard to believe that the already biased against Utica voters will give Utica a bid over Hobart or with Hobart as a second bid to the EcacWest over another team from another conference. Remember, Hobart is the front running team from our division to steal the bid from Utica.


I just hope a we're able to split and salvage this weekend.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Ouch!!!

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Not exactly my take in any aspect, but thanks for the first-hand account. (There are just too few of those on this thread. Keep on posting them, please.)

First of all, what a hockey game! It was a tooth-and-nail contest after the so-so 1st, during which Hobart carried the last 12 minutes, and Utica the first 8. After that stanza, both teams came out flying on every shift. I'd have to call the game a stalemate, territorially.

Man-up time favored HC by 6 minutes for the game, and that was the difference. When HC scored 6X4 with 8 seconds left, the dagger was already in my heart, 'cause I thought that UC was just too gassed from penalty-killing to hold on through OT.

(BTW, did you happen to see the 2 roughing calls on UC late in the 3rd? Very curious to see that particular call in the midst of offensive-zone rushes; that pretty-much never happens.) Whatever; a lot of college refs are abysmal...

I agree with you: give the credit to Hobart. They converted their chances, and they skate a very deep and hard-working team. They're a pleasure to watch, and the best team I've seen in The Aud this season... (Including Utica, albeit by a narrow margin.)

UC definitely isn't out of the picture. A win on SB Sunday makes everything OK again, but even losing that game isn't a complete catastrophe... They have a great shot at home-ice in the W yet, and there are 3 possible quality wins still ahead for the taking right now.

Wish I didn't have to work on Sunday!

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

Lots of empty seats tonight. The seats may have all been "sold" but they were not all filled. Did the weather keep UC fans home tonight?

There are always 300-400 empty seats at every "sellout", aside from the side-show that is the TBT. (The two seats next to us are paid-for for the season and haven't once been occupied in '12-'13, for example.)

It really makes The Aud look ridiculous to announce a capacity-crowd over the PA, while everyone there sees seat-backs masquerading as fans, and people being turned-away at the door.

UC whoring-out to TicketBastard was probably a good decision in terms of money, but has lessened the experience of seeing a game there.

 

[Ozz]

I find it very hard to believe that the already biased against Utica voters will give Utica a bid over Hobart.

Luckily for Utica, the 'voters' don't hand out bids to the NCAA tournament...

 

[sshablak]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

Great game last night...I agree that penalties did them in, especially getting scored on with eight seconds left on the six on four. When UC scored the short handed go ahead goal with fifty nine seconds left I thought it was over and a great win. One of the penalties a UC player "punched" a guy in a scrum by the goal, post whistle.

St Norberts was upset also. Sunday's game is huge(r) now.

 

[jconnor]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

After watching Hobart play EC both games, there was no doubt that they are the best "All Around" team I've seen this year. What ever "excuses" there may be, overall, they seemed to have it all together in both games. I'm putting my money on them
Just wondering, why is the second game on Sunday and not Saturday? Seems odd to me but I'm sure there's a (logical)reason.

 

[Pioneers#1]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

Luckily for Utica, the 'voters' don't hand out bids to the NCAA tournament...

No, I think you misunderstood me there. I mean the NCAA committee voters that give the bids to teams in March.

 

[Pioneers#1]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

After watching Hobart play EC both games, there was no doubt that they are the best "All Around" team I've seen this year. What ever "excuses" there may be, overall, they seemed to have it all together in both games. I'm putting my money on them
Just wondering, why is the second game on Sunday and not Saturday? Seems odd to me but I'm sure there's a (logical)reason.

No argument, they are the best EcacWest team I've seen all year play and probably the best team (Yes, even over Oswego) I've seen play all year long.

I was at the Utica/Cortland State game however earlier in January and as much as Utica didn't look their best last night, the Cortland State 5-0 slaughter was the worst this team looked all season long, last night wasn't even close, trust me.

The game is on Sunday because originally the Aud had another one of those cheerleading competition's going on or something and so they scheduled the game for Sunday instead, however I've heard the event has thus been cancelled. So the Aud is actually vacant tonight. But they've kept the game at 3pm Sunday to not confuse the already confused fans that won't be there Sunday, from not coming.

 

[NUProf]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

No argument, they are the best EcacWest team I've seen all year play and probably the best team (Yes, even over Oswego) I've seen play all year long.

I was at the Utica/Cortland State game however earlier in January and as much as Utica didn't look their best last night, the Cortland State 5-0 slaughter was the worst this team looked all season long, last night wasn't even close, trust me.

The game is on Sunday because originally the Aud had another one of those cheerleading competition's going on or something and so they scheduled the game for Sunday instead, however I've heard the event has thus been cancelled. So the Aud is actually vacant tonight. But they've kept the game at 3pm Sunday to not confuse the already confused fans that won't be there Sunday, from not coming.

Another argument in favor of EC not moving downtown...

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

No, I think you misunderstood me there. I mean the NCAA committee voters that give the bids to teams in March.

You do realize the committee does have guidelines they have to use correct? I know its been discussed a hundred or so times, but just making sure. This isn't a "gut feeling" list they come up with. This isn't a "get behind closed doors and pick teams at random just so we can ****** (insert team here) with an evil laugh" as some want to make it seem. The whole "smoke filled room" m has more to deal with the NCAA not releasing their first "secret" ranking (which still doesn't make sense), and their reasoning for seedings (weighing one criteria over another). Most people who sit down and crunch the criteria numbers normally come up with the right field, its the seeding that normally gets mixed up. Keep in mind tho, if the committee uses head to head this year more so then winning % for one team, they have to use that SAME theory to the WHOLE field. Normally SOS is weighed more so then anything else (which normally helps ECAC W teams). Its happened a few times where the teams were ranked and the 6th ranked team had a 4-1 criteria win over the 5th ranked team, but the 5th ranked team had a much much strong SOS, thus the higher ranking. In short too, just because Utica has a 2-0 head to head win over Oswego, if the committee weighed common opponents higher (which Oswego currently wins) winning % it would come down to ranked teams (part of me thinks Utica would still win) but if not and Oswego wins criteria 4-1, that 2-0 common oppenets could be squat. This isn't DI with 30+ regular season games, plus A LOT more cross over mettings, so you can't strictly go by numbers as some would love to see. DIII has to many weak teams, you have to have some sort of objectivity. I've always been against a pure numbers selection for DIII hockey and always will until we no longer have such weak leagues/teams. No the committee doesn't always "get it right" with what "we" (us fans) think should have happened and some team always gets screwed, we know that and have known that for years.

If Utica drops the game Sunday, every game after becomes a playoff game. If they win, they could still afford to lose another game and still be in the drivers seat. Amherst beating Bowdoin was a huge help there over Bowdoin, SNC losing again could really limit the "wests" Pool C bids. They will probably need UWEC to win out and lose in the playoffs to get two bids (IMO). The NCHA still has a 2 game series for their first round, so a team could still get another loss and advance. In short, Utica is still in decent shape, no life support yet. But if they lose another 2 games, and other teams keep winning it could get very interesting.

 

[snc1]

You do realize the committee does have guidelines they have to use correct? I know its been discussed a hundred or so times, but just making sure. This isn't a "gut feeling" list they come up with. This isn't a "get behind closed doors and pick teams at random just so we can ****** (insert team here) with an evil laugh" as some want to make it seem. The whole "smoke filled room" m has more to deal with the NCAA not releasing their first "secret" ranking (which still doesn't make sense), and their reasoning for seedings (weighing one criteria over another). Most people who sit down and crunch the criteria numbers normally come up with the right field, its the seeding that normally gets mixed up. Keep in mind tho, if the committee uses head to head this year more so then winning % for one team, they have to use that SAME theory to the WHOLE field. Normally SOS is weighed more so then anything else (which normally helps ECAC W teams). Its happened a few times where the teams were ranked and the 6th ranked team had a 4-1 criteria win over the 5th ranked team, but the 5th ranked team had a much much strong SOS, thus the higher ranking. In short too, just because Utica has a 2-0 head to head win over Oswego, if the committee weighed common opponents higher (which Oswego currently wins) winning % it would come down to ranked teams (part of me thinks Utica would still win) but if not and Oswego wins criteria 4-1, that 2-0 common oppenets could be squat. This isn't DI with 30+ regular season games, plus A LOT more cross over mettings, so you can't strictly go by numbers as some would love to see. DIII has to many weak teams, you have to have some sort of objectivity. I've always been against a pure numbers selection for DIII hockey and always will until we no longer have such weak leagues/teams. No the committee doesn't always "get it right" with what "we" (us fans) think should have happened and some team always gets screwed, we know that and have known that for years.

If Utica drops the game Sunday, every game after becomes a playoff game. If they win, they could still afford to lose another game and still be in the drivers seat. Amherst beating Bowdoin was a huge help there over Bowdoin, SNC losing again could really limit the "wests" Pool C bids. They will probably need UWEC to win out and lose in the playoffs to get two bids (IMO). The NCHA still has a 2 game series for their first round, so a team could still get another loss and advance. In short, Utica is still in decent shape, no life support yet. But if they lose another 2 games, and other teams keep winning it could get very interesting.

With SNC losing last night that helps out a lot of east teams. We're looking at an 8-3 split if things play out as they are now. Only way its a 7-4 is if SNC upsets UWEC for the Peters cup.

 

[sshablak]

Re: Ouch!!!

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Great post PSU. I agree. Hobart is the best team I have seen this year(based on only one game though). If UC loses Sunday it's nailbiting time. I have a Q for you. If UC loses Sunday and wins out but loses again in the maybe say ECAC West Finals, how much weight do the Conference playoffs carry ? Except for autobids, is the field pretty much projected after the last regular season game...or no ?

 

[sshablak]

Re: Ouch!!!

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SNC1...Would that be an upset ? Not so sure ?

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Great post PSU. I agree. Hobart is the best team I have seen this year(based on only one game though). If UC loses Sunday it's nailbiting time. I have a Q for you. If UC loses Sunday and wins out but loses again in the maybe say ECAC West Finals, how much weight do the Conference playoffs carry ? Except for autobids, is the field pretty much projected after the last regular season game...or no ?

Conference finals are the same as a Tuesday game in December. Im not sure if the "last 10 games" is still a secondary criteria but it holds little merit if so. However the best bet if your goingto lose, is to lose to an unranked team late in the season and if you can really help it to someone who isn't a common opponent with someone who's on the bubble with you....

Part II

No the final call is made once ALL games are completed. Regular and post season. Some conferences don't finish till "Selection Sunday" so its late Sunday/early Monday. Most of the time it leaks outs....at least the teams....

 

[Bennycheck]

Re: Ouch!!!

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Great game. Could have gone either way. Can somebody help me here. Did UC already call a timeout before they scored the go ahead goal? In all the excitement at the end I can't remember. If not, I think it was a huge mistake. They should have called one when they went ahead with a minuet to go. I agree with everyone else that Hobart is the best team UC has played at the AUD all season. Now they have to beat them on Sunday or the year ends like far to many have in the programs history. I still think they'll do it and go on to get a bid. 8 seconds, that blows.

 

[sshablak]

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Not sure Benny...you sure you don't remember because of "bubbleitis" like myself ?

 

[jconnor]

Re: Ouch!!!

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WOW! A loss to Hobart and now all this talk as if the season is over. No matter what happens from here on out, UC has "made their case". Remember, winning the Reg. season means home ice advantage during playoffs,and bragging rights, but NOTHING else, just ask Elmira, M'Ville, and RIT ( in the days) all have been in that position, loosing in the playoffs after winning the Reg. season. If UC looses in the Conference finals, even the Semis, I'm sure they'll still have a "good" shot at an NCAA bid. Just a few years ago, M'ville beat EC in the Conference Finals, EC got a bid, M'ville did not. Relax and enjoy the few remaining games left, before you know it, that silly game where they run around a diamond will be played.

 

[1Dukester]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

Oswego beat Hobart in Hobart. I think the voters have had a pretty good sense of where teams really stand.

 

[joecct]

Re: Utica College Pioneers 2012-13 Season

I have Oswego's. SoS below 0.500, which is usually a death sentence on a Pool C bid. Ditto for Bowdoin.