courtside

This is incorrect. My strong recommendation is that you read both the NCAA Soccer rules, as well the International Football Association Board rules. (IFAB). NCAA soccer has aligned their rules with IFAB. In particular, I suggest you study Law 12 of IFAB. Intent does matter both on handballs in the box, as well with kicks to the head. It also matters if a player is unintentionally reckless. Handballs are defined as below the armpit line. An emphasis is on whether or not the player intentionally, or unintentionally extends his arm away from his body to make himself bigger. If the arm is in a natural position close to the body, it is not a handball. Shoulder is also not a handball. Obviously intentionally touching the ball is a handball. Intent, recklessness, and result of action, all matter in kicks to the head, to define red card vs yellow card vs no card at all. This is also covered in Law 12. Akron’s broadcast team is Chad Welker who does play by play, and Josh Kay, analyst. I have been able to go back to watch the plays. Josh, the mellow sounding analyst, was spot on for both plays. I am referring to the kick to Theo’s head which resulted in a red card. And I am referring to the KP shot that was called for a hand ball PK, which Q scored. So, if you don’t like reading, and you prefer to watch or listen, Josh had very good, fair takes and interpretations on both plays, especially considering it’s a home broadcast. Focus on him instead of Chad. These can also help. https://www.footballrules.com/offences-sanctions/handball/ https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/handball-football-rules-changes-fifa-uefa-hand-ball-soccer/tdnqkct6nzocrbfvscrxvtzl

it’s common for soccer polls/rankings to not take place during the NCAA Tournament. There is a several week gap, between the beginning of the NCAA Tourney, and after it is completed. Then there is a final poll. United Soccer Coaches does this for example. The founder of College Soccer News, Bob Bradner, unexpectedly passed away in April of 2024. It did not exist in 2024. In June of 2025, it returned this Fall in a new format, with the guys from Tobbin90, (Charlotte) Jorge Gonzales and Brian Mauer.

It’s not. Yes charter was flown. Additional people fly on the planes besides the team. Seat capacity was 30. It’s also common for some players to not make the travel squad for certain games. Some are whole team, some are not.

Tonight is the National Championship game between Florida State, and Stanford. Florida State is seeking its 5th NCAA National Title, all within the past 12 seasons. They have been to 15 College Cup Final Fours, all within the past 23 seasons. Stanford is seeking its 4th NCAA National Title. This is their 13th College Cup Final Four. 12 of those, have been within the past 18 seasons. These are also 2 of the top 6 offensive teams in college soccer. Stanford’s 96 goals are the most since Stanford of 2019. The cold weather will challenge some of that. But these are two teams that can score goals. St. Louis connection. Stanford starts 2 true Freshman from St. Louis. Lily Freer, and Caroline Birkel. They were teammates on back to back ECNL Scott Gallagher National Championship teams at U16 and U17. SLU’s Audrey Smith, Ava Rademeyer, and Blakely Hockett, played on those teams. Freer mostly played the 6, a central defensive midfield for Gallagher. She starts at outside back for Stanford, more often right back .Birkel is their starting goalkeeper. Freer played 1 year (Freshman) of high school soccer at Alton. Birkel did not play high school soccer at MICDS. Birkel has been a many year, many age group USYNT goalkeeper. Freer less so but I expect that to change moving forward. Florida State has players from 13 states, and 4 countries. Stanford has players from 9 states. All of their players are from the U.S., and, 18 of their players are from California.

Do they follow college soccer? SLU Women defeated Georgetown in the 2023 NCAA Tourney. They are two of the best non football four programs nationally. Georgetown’s Men’s program won the 2019 National Championship. Brian Wiese and Kevin Kalish are friends. Similar schools and programs. I guarantee you Dan Helfrich knows and respects SLU soccer. Sasho too. SLU and Georgetown would play more often, but Georgetown doesn’t travel as much as some other programs. Xavi O’Neil is from the DMV.

25% of SLU’s rotation players played for St. Louis City Academy. One of those only played 8 games due to injury. Then it drops to 20%. A few more will play next year.

94% of the SLU Men’s Basketball team is from other states and countries. 20% of the team is from a different country. 90% of the staff is from a different state. 70% of the SLU Men’s Soccer team is from somewhere other than St. Louis, including 6 countries. 87% of the players who played for SLU were not from St. Louis. Just under 25% are transfers. SLU fans are from, and live in, many different states and countries. …………………. NC State has a 2 year Head Coach, Marc Hubbard. He is from New Hampshire. He played college ball at Colgate. He coached more than 20 years at multiple schools in his home state. Canadian players were driving distance. 76% of NC State’s roster is from North America, mostly the U.S. NC State made the Sweet 16 team for the first time in 30 years last year. And, they made the College Cup Final Four team in just the second season with a new head coach. Part of how and why, are the 32 new players combined the past two seasons. Several, players, he already knew. Many are older and experienced players. 9 upperclassmen to graduate transfers this year. That is the same number as his last year at New Hampshire.

Congratulations to Jim Conlon and the Wash U Bears Women’s Soccer team for winning their 2nd straight D3 National Championship, 2-1 over Emory. It’s their 3rd national title win this past decade. The last time Wash U lost a game was December 2nd, 2023. The last time Wash U did not play in the D3 National Title game was 2022 when they lost in PK’s in the Elite 8. Sustained excellence.

SLU is adding College of Charleston transfer Caroline Fowlkes, to its 2026 recruiting class. Caroline is a redshirt Sophomore from The Woodlands, Texas. (Houston). She had an injury her first season. Caroline, is a versatile player, who has played both forward and outside back. She helped lead the Cougars to 19 wins over the past two seasons. Caroline has 2 years of eligibility remaining. Caroline started 14 of 17 games for College of Charleston this season. And, she played in 20 games last season. Caroline also has experience playing against NCAA Teams such as South Carolina (twice), and Wake Forest. She played well in those games. Caroline helped her team offensively with 5 goals last year, and, she had 4 assists this year from a defensive position. A physical and pace playing outside back, Caroline is able to defend wide and inside, as well as get down the flank offensively. Caroline played 13 years of club soccer with the Houston Dash in Girls Academy. She played high school soccer at Tomball High School, where she had 24 goals and 14 assists as a First Team All Region player. She was named the MVP of Texas Region 15-6A. Caroline’s sister Alexis, is also a soccer player. She recently completed her Senior season at Houston. Alexis played in 52 games as a midfielder for Texas Tech and Houston.

Yes. Here you go: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-men/d1/2025

When I do a pregame scout, I like to see how it compares to what transpired in the game. So I did that here too with what I said to you before the game. Just compare numbered items from the two posts. When I get a chance some time, I will compare the other scout to the actual game as well. ………………….. 1 Wind wasn’t as big of a factor as it can be at Akron. Neutral for the game. The field gets watered down before the game in freezing weather for a variety of reasons. A) Hard ground slows down ground passes. It helps move the ball more quickly and reliably. B It helps with ice or slick spots, and it helps to not get cleats caught in a frozen ground. Wind was so bad last game for Akron it was a huge advantage or disadvantage each half. That wasn’t the case for this game. 2 SLU had same lineup and same formation as last game. That told me SLU wanted to defend first. No surprises from Akron personnel or formation. This matches up Carlos with Akron’s best player #18, Stefan Dobrijevic, a matchup SLU chose. SLU overloaded the opposite side with more defenders because they trust Carlos and they use a (usually a pace) defensive midfielder to help. Barnett. Coughlan subs in as a more physical traditional defender. Later both were subbed out for an extra attacker. Dobrijevic avoided Carlos, who gave him little in the game. And Dobrijevic smartly cut inside at midfield where he is also comfortable. He made a perfect diagonal pass ober the top of SLU’s defense on Akron’s first goal. Communication issue for SLU between Andrew and JC. Barnett had a soft close out. And Quentin needed to shade more to his left. 5 defenders for 3 players, 1 of whom isn’t a threat, while another splits the weak side D unmarked. 1-0. Nice ball reversal build uo from left back to wing to diagonal cutter. 3 You have to play both sides of the field and centrally within a game. But SLU did a lot on the weaker side in the game. #3 who is a great defender, received a yellow card which helped SLU because he couldn’t be quite as physical as he likes for the next 57 minutes. It’s a small thing, but it matters. Drawing fouls and cards, like drawing a PK. #22 received the red card. That’s two of their 3 best defenders right there either out or playing with a yellow card. #22 also controls central midfield play. Akron was opportunistic on offense. SLU struggled early with off the ball pace runs from #23 who I discussed in my other post. But adjustments were made. Akron is a good team. They were going to make some plays too. Also remember we discussed Theo being physical and excellent in the air 50/50 balls and aerial duels. He positioned himself defensively for the header clear which drew the kick to the face and red card. 4 SLU and Akron played the formations and personnel that I thought they would play. That hurt SLU offensively in the first half when they were trailing because it its 1 leas offensive player, and a few of them had to sit a while before entering the game. SLU kept its formation when it was 1-0 until close to half time. Once it became 2-0, SLU made half time adjustments. New formation. New personnel. Two more attacking players, 1 less defensive player, and they moved DiMaria to defense as a hybrid player that can join the attack. So it is 1-2 extra offensive players in a different formation which spreads the field with 2 opposite wings, 2 paired together up top forwards, and an offensive minded defensive midfielder behind them. When Akron went down a player, they played a 4-4-1. Some other teams play a 5-3-1. It basically means they have 1 less attacking player. With a lead, Akron took out Dobrijevic. Then later in the game, he had to exit for a defender to keep Akron in the game. He isn’t a great defender. So, SLU was able to get #18 and #13 on the bench for 45 minutes of the game. That is significant. 5 SLU was too reactionary and flat footed defensively early first half. It was much better 2nd half. Too much ball watching, too flat footed. Not good enough close outs on passes. SLU got caught on a set play pick on the corner goal. It’s happened a few times. (at least 3) They need to consider switching on screens in the final four especially a couple of players. SLU defended well centrally except a few diagonal balls in space over the top. Got burned a few times. SLU was good reversing the ball, making the defense move side to side and back at a faster pace. It earned SLU a few goals. Wide service, winning corners, as well as short interior combination play passing centrally, while reversing both sides. It’s a lot for Akron to defend. 6 Franca’s physical presence and pace up top bothers other teams defensively. He’s a load. He is elite aerially for his size. SLU was able to get some combination play between Carlos and KP, dangerous. Earned a PK goal. Andrew wide on the weak side defense was able to use his signature move getting to the end line and passing to Tanner for the winning goal. KP, Xavi, Tanner, Theo, and Andrew are SLU’s attacking players. All of them played. KP played 2 positions. Xavi was limited with an ankle. 7 Tanner made a play, Xavi was limited. Everyone else was fine. Andrew was effective wide. 8 SLU reversed the ball constantly in the 2nd half. Changed formations. Spread them out. use the width. But close down from the outside when the defense is tired, and when the defense is out of position often. Just before SLU scored its first goal, Xavi won a corner for SLU after SLU had 17 yes seventeen consecutive passes where 9, yes NINE different Billikens touched the ball out of 11. SLU scored again. Build up was left, it wasn’t there, so then middle it wasn’t there, then back, then right side. All of that was quickly with pace. Repeatedly reverse the ball Carlos and KP, over and over again. 2v2 overlap run in tight spaces. KP shoots it far post, hand ball PK. It was going in far post without the hand ball play and call. Quentin is SLU’s best PK taker. He waits a long time to read the keeper.and his shots are perfectly placed but with power. 2-2. Andrew won a corner left side. Set play signaled in from SLU’s bench, with Jack to play it quickly short because Akron only had 1 defender expecting a longer cross corner and it wasn’t even a defender. Easy for Andrew on the give and go. Once Andrew was in alone, Akron’s defenders lost man d focus and Tanner, a savvy forward slipped between Akron’s two best defenders near post as they overplayed 2 top of the box open SLU players. Andrew went near post instead with his pass 3-2. SLU scored when Carlos made a long run down the right side. he played it wide to KP. KP beat 2 of Akron’s 3 best defenders and his end line cross to a wide open Xavi was going to either be a tap in Xavi goal back post, or it was going to go in off of the defender which happened. 1-1 These are 2 attackers that were brought in to give SLU pace and offensive danger wide. KP had a strong game. Xavi made those few key plays in his limited minutes. 9 Subs. SLU’s first half subs were all position subs. Same position but different style of player st that position. 2nd half, SLU added the extra attacker minus a defender which meant 2 more attackers and 2 less defenders in the changed formation. SLU had a wrinkle when they subbed Jaeger briefly on the wing for Xavi. That was sacrificing offense for defense. Xavi wasn’t 100%. It was recognized, Andrew needed a little more rest. So it was a small 12 minute thing. But who made the play to help win the game, Andrew. Then Gershon, a versatile defender with pace subbed in for Andrew after the goal to add a wide pace defender in the final minutes. KP gave SLU a lot today. ……………………… In the final notes section: It took a minute but SLU was able to limit the variety of the Akron attack. Remember it was set piece corners (1 goal), SLU was focused on #18, #13, But #23 their versatile central attacking mid, gave SLU trouble with his weak side pace and speed runs off of the ball. SLU was able to isolate defenders wide in the 2nd half, KP and Carlos right side, Andrew and Tanner left side. Theo took up space, and defenders, in the middle of the 18 yard box, which opened up the wide edges of the box for others. ………………. Hand ball in the box is about a) intent b) and body positioning. The crack down is on players using their arms to make themselves bigger to block shots. Hand/arm:elbow/shoulder. On the flip side, accidental hand balls are less called as a PK. You can no longer just drill the ball at someone’s hand or arm with intent on drawing a PK if the defender is in a natural defending position. It’s subjective. Many refs are more stingy with fouls called in the box for PK’s. Not that it matters but I am very stingy giving out PK’s. The foul or hand ball on the play has to prevent a goal or prevent a great chance for me. ……………….

Akron scout This is Akron’s 4th Elite 8 in the past 11 seasons. They made the Final Four all of the previous 3. Unlike some of their other offense first teams, this team has been built on defense with a complimentary, opportunistic offense. Akron has 13 shutouts this season defensively. They are a top 5 defense. SLU is top 10. Akron’s best player last year was the 7th pick in the MLS draft by St. Louis. Emil Jääskeläinen. Stud 21 goal scorer. Akron is not as explosive offensively. But their front 3 is still very good. SLU was 100% a no show in the first meeting. It was SLU’s only bad performance of the season, and it was bad in all phases. This is a different game at a different time. SLU was playing 4 games in 11 days with injuries and different personnel. Akron plays a pretty straight forward 4-2-3-1. (Looks like a 4-1-4-1 when they pressure) This is another game vs another two time league goalkeeper of the year. Mitch Budler. Very solid in all phases, few mistakes. Back 4 of Kossehasse, Palva, Reilly, Kamdem. Reilly is a rock solid high level left center back. Kamden is a high level left back. Akron is a little more vulnerable on its right side, SLU’s left attacking side will see the ball often. 2 Defensive midfielders, Dreas and Morck. Dreas is the better defender/distributor, and he will stay back while Morck will at times push up higher when press defending or on counters. Stefan Dobrjevic is their start left wing. He’s injured, shoulder. Big question is if he plays and how effective will he be in the game. If he is healthy, he’s a lot to handle. He may not play and he may not he 100%. It’s a big deal for the game. I think he’ll play. Dobrijevic is a total package attacking player. 6’2 size. Pace. Skill and flare on the ball. Can create for others or score himself. He will switch sides occasionally and he will play up top but usually only when forward Remi Agunbiade is subbed out later half. He is good up top too. Ignancio Aloen may wplay for Dobrijevic if he can’t play. Solid but nowhere near Stefan’s level of a threat. They would instead play through O’ Rourke’s side. Agunbiade their lone forward is very good, dangerous. He plays alone up top. He’s more effective as a space player than as a target. Akron will look to slot combination play through balls to him behind the SLU’s back line. He will also find the ball on set pieces. O’Rourke on the right wing is a very solid, hard working player. Jack Roman is their central attacking midfielder. He will move to the wing when Sullivan check into the game at his spot. (CAM) Akron will have a short bench of a couple of subs. Mostly midfielders. Akron builds wide often, using width and spacing. Lots of wide service 1v1 winning many corners (among the most nationally) and set pieces. You can’t give them the middle diagonal runs in addition to their wide build. Make them stay wide. Lock down short interior central combination play in the final 3rd. SLU was bad at this the first game and SLU turned it over way too much. Again, personnel and formation will be different for SLU. But if you let them, they will torch central defenders in space in and near the 18 with wing cutters and Remi cleaning up the 18. Akron is very organized defensively. Very good aerially. Have to be strong the challenge with 50/50 balls and aerial duels middle of the field. SLU will have to play over their midfield and in front of their back 4 at times. Akron will sometimes press high and sometimes not within a game. It’s the 4 attacking players and a defensive midfielder. Have to defend set pieces. Akron is better offensively and more dangerous when they press high and play faster. They don’f always do it. It forces quick SLU back line decisions. SLU has played the same formation with the same personnel the last few games. Unique version of 4-4-2. No right wing. overload the left side. Carlos plays 2 positions at the same time. No one covers more ground. Carlos vs Dobrijevic with help from the right side diagonal run defending of either Barnett or Coughlan. Schramm on the other side. By doing that and keeping 2 forwards paired together, it allows DiMaria to stay in the game. Jack moved to a hybrid defensive attacking midfielder in order to stay on the field. 6/8/10. Left side shaded. This keeps Tanner and Franca paired, or KP paired with one of them when needed. It was also previously Delkus. Jack will sometimes be the 3rd of 3 across during high pressure for SLU. Then he drops central mid shading left. Have to make Akron’s excellent defense move side to side with pace. Reverse the ball diagonally to isolate wide defenders, especially their right side. SLU has also used Henry as a defensive left wing, especially with a lead. He is a left back. Game circumstances will dictate some of that. But SLU will look for Theo and Tanner to combine or 2 forwards to combine and get a lead.

Nick Zimmerman is the new Head Coach at Florida. 1 year Mississippi State Head Coach. 6 year Mississippi State assistant coach. He received the Mississippi State Head Coaching position after his boss, James Armstrong left for the Auburn Head Coaching position. (Armstrong was a previous assistant there). 4 year D2 assistant prior. Played at James Madison, from Tampa. 4 NCAA Tourneys. 2 Sweet 16’s. 1 Regular Season SEC Championship, mostly as an assistant. Mississippi State, Auburn, and Florida all recruit St. Louis. And, SLU competes with them regularly for players in other regions too. The recent Mississippi State, SEC Defensive Player of The Year, is from St. Louis. Rylie Combs. St. Louisan Alivia Buxton also plays there. SLU would have hosted Mississippi State in the NCAA 2nd round in 2022, had SLU defeated Memphis in round 1. ……………… Recent years: Mississippi to Oklahoma Mississippi State to Auburn Mississippi State to Florida Other football four to SEC: Minnesota to Missouri USC to Georgia UCLA to Texas. ………………. Football four inter or intra conference HC change examples. Big Ten has had 2, neither are recent. ACC has had 1. Tennessee to Florida State Big 12 has had 0. ……………….. https://floridagators.com/news/2025/12/5/nick-zimmerman-is-gators-soccer-coach

I have some tips. I also post a separate more detailed scout. These are sincere tips. They are things I would look for myself. Some are very quick, small things before the game even begins. Oh, and don’f worry about the previous matchup. Different game. Different circumstances. I can explain that later. Have rosters handy of both teams if you don’t know names and numbers. It will make following the game easier. 1) Weather. In particular wind. Wind matters most. Cold means quality is reduced. And you have to hit the ball twice as hard as usual to get it to where you want it to go. Nothing soft. 2) Who is available? Who is not? limited minutes availability, etc…example: Akron has a stud left wing number 18. He fell on his shoulder last game 15 minutes into the game He sat the rest of the game. They didn’t need him. As much as you can follow player movement more than following the ball. Go back and forth between the two. (Like any sport) Also focus on 13 and 24 offensively for Akron. If 18 doesn’t play, focus on the other two and the other side of the field, but I expect him to play. 3) Akron’s best defenders are 3, 27, 22. Numbers 3 and 27 play next to each other on the left side of Akron’s defense. Will SLU intentionally play up its own left side more often to avoid them? I would. Akron is normally an explosive offensive team in past years. This year they are rock solid defense first but opportunistic on offense. 4) Formations matter to me because they tell you what a team wants to do. And when they change during a game, it tells you something is or isn’t working and why. To keep it simple, look at the beginning of the game, is SLU playing an attacking wing player in front of #2 Carlos Leatherman? Same right side, directly in front of him? Or is Carlos playing 2 positions at the same time? SLU has been doing the latter because Carlos is that good. Doing that allows Jack DiMaria to stay in the game as a hybrid defensive/offensive midfielder shaded on the left side. And it allows SLU to pair 2 forwards together up top, #18 and #9 Anderson. 5) Is SLU’s defense turning the ball over in the middle of the field on its own end? Are they more willing to play the ball over the Akron midfield, and in front of Akron’s back 4 players, or are they too stubborn? Success is doing that combined with building centrally on the ground. Variety. Is SLU’s defense not allowing the short, ground, pass inside its 18 yard box to wide cutters? Is SLU anticipating those passes or are they flatfooted? Defense is aggression. It’s taking it to the other team’s offense. I am looking for that. 6) Is #18 Franca for SLU getting enough touches? He needs to touch the ball periodically to stay interested in the game. If he is physically battling defenders for 50/50 balls, aerial duels, etc….that is a good sign. He will play in combination at times with #9 Tanner and later in the half, #7 KP. 7) How are Tanner and Xavi moving while playing? Both are playing with minor injuries. Can Xavi and KP and Andrew be effective wide on the wings offensively? 8 Is SLU reversing the ball? This means you spread wide, get good spacing, you play a few ground passes before diagonally playing the ball to the other side of the field over the top, or you are able to do it on the ground more laterally. In order to defeat Akron, you have to make their good defense move side to side and backwards. Side to side and backwards. The faster you can do it the better. Have to speed up their defense. Akron’s offense is better when it plays faster too. That means their attacking players will press very high into the shorts of SLU’s back line defenders, not letting them have time. Most teams, these two included alternate strategies within a game. 9) Subs. Is it a straight up position sub or is it more strategic such as an offensive player for a defensive player or vice versa. Either team. I don’t expect a lot of subs in the game. A handful. 10) Set pieces. Akron draws more corners than most teams nationally because it builds wide often. Is SLU properly defending and clearing corners. Are they limiting fouls on their own end? 2nd clear, 3rd clear? Is SLU winning enough of their own set pieces on the other end. ………………………. Keep 2 rosters handy. Look for 18, 13, 24 on offense for Akron. It’s bad if Akron is allowed to dribble the middle of the field, and slot ground passes through the central defense. Limit them to wide build ups only. Defend set pieces. Keep it simple. Clear first. possession second. Make a play on offense. That can be drawing a foul or corner. That can mean forcing quick turnover and go the other way in transition, it can mean isolate attackers 1v1 with defenders without help. It is literally making 1 or 2 difference making plays in a game. And it is 90 plus minutes of not budging on defense. Is SLU getting deep into Akron’s corners with its wings? Is Franca getting touches combing with Tanner? Is SLU the aggressor especially defensively? Are they matching the pace, energy, physicality of Akron? Are they a step ahead or a step behind? Watching #2 Carlos for SLU play 2 positions at once is pretty insane, if SLU continues with what has worked the past few games. Defending set pieces is man to man, goal side, meaning the defender is closer to the goal. Do not leave your man. Do not let your man get ahead of you. It’s like boxing out for a rebound. Box out first, get the ball 2nd. What adjustments are being made during the game? Half time? Late? That is dictated by the results during the game. Soccer is like chess. Sometimes moves are aggressive, sometimes defensive, sometimes neutral, but the pieces always move. And your opponent is doing similar. ……………………. The first game had different players, different injuries, different formations, 4 games in 11 days, different time. Mid season game vs a deep playoff game. ……………………. I don’t usually post while I am at games. Once in a while maybe an adjustment suggestion. So we’ll see what happens after the game. ……………………..

There’s a watch party at Grand Dining Hall.