Mason-Sycamore

[cross464]

Now that FAVC is settled, any predictions on Mason-Sycamore game?

[the og]

this is without a doubt the biggest game of the season. two of the top teams in the city going at it for arguably the top conference in SWO. sycamore came out and got the job done at fairfield and mason has been playing very well. should be a good game and i honestly have no idea how it's going to turn out.

[lefty05]

from having playing both of them i would have to say sycamore is going to take this not just because we tied mason but because sycamore is bigger and faster at alomost every position... plus lavigne (sorry if i spelled it wrong) will hold the middle better than patterson.. its going to be a big and fun game to watch.

[lotr10]

from having playing both of them i would have to say sycamore is going to take this not just because we tied mason but because sycamore is bigger and faster at alomost every position... plus lavigne (sorry if i spelled it wrong) will hold the middle better than patterson.. its going to be a big and fun game to watch.

I agree. Watching both teams this week, I was impressed with both of them but Sycamore is very physical to go along with their speed and skills. They look like a team built to go deep into the playoffs.

[the og]

I'm not sure if Lavigne will exactly hold the middle better than Patterson. Lavigne has an advantage because he is much bigger and more physical than Patterson, but in my opinion Patterson is more technical and skilled than Lavigne. Regardless, I think this is the most exciting part of the game. The two best players in the city going at it one on one for the GMC. Should be good.

[backtip]

Sycamore has three players in the GMC top ten for points, while Mason has 1. Slight edge to Sycamore.

[american football]

What about goalkeeping, defense and midfield play.

Rankings for league points is over rated


Sycamore has three players in the GMC top ten for points, while Mason has 1. Slight edge to Sycamore.

[backtip]

yeah, i agree. sycamore also has home-field, so all added up, i see either a tie (more likely) or a one-point sycamore win (less likely). should be an outstanding game.

[eplfan87]

when and where is this game?

[backtip]

Tuesday, 7 pm Sycamore HS

[okguys]

home field advantage is huge for sycamore

[Hugesoccerfan]

home field advantage is huge for sycamore

Normally, I might agree with you, but for two reasons this year I don't put that much importance on that. One, Mason travels well. At the Milford game, they almost had as many fans as Milford at Milford (but then again that was a Saturday). Second, with Mason's construction at their home field, it has taken away their speed on the outside somewhat (in case you haven't been there, the field is about 10 yards less wide this season due to construction next the field. The outside space will help Mason on their speed. It will be important, but offset somewhat.

[sycamoreaves08]

Second, with Mason's construction at their home field, it has taken away their speed on the outside somewhat (in case you haven't been there, the field is about 10 yards less wide this season due to construction next the field. The outside space will help Mason on their speed.

I'm not sure if you've been to our field, but there is no outside space.

Also someone mentioned before about:

"What about goalkeeping, defense and midfield play.

Rankings for league points is over rated"

I agree ranking for points is overrated, because you can score 6 goals against glen este and it doesn't mean anything. But look at goalkeeping - Refai has 10 shutouts and Benson 2 for 12 shutouts in 14 games. Defense has also allowed 3 goals all year, 2 in one game. Mason has only allowed 6 all year, with 7 shutouts. Midfield play is an opinion, and of course I'm a little biased, but I have seen Lavigne and Patterson play. They cancel each other out in the middle, so it's going to come down to that 2nd mid to step up and take control. Either way, it's going to be the biggest game in the city for the last few years. I see the game coming down to the last 10 minutes, someone putting away a late goal to win the GMC outright.

[ghsoccer15]

I'm not sure if you've been to our field, but there is no outside space.

Also someone mentioned before about:

"What about goalkeeping, defense and midfield play.

Rankings for league points is over rated"

I agree ranking for points is overrated, because you can score 6 goals against glen este and it doesn't mean anything. But look at goalkeeping - Refai has 10 shutouts and Benson 2 for 12 shutouts in 14 games. Defense has also allowed 3 goals all year, 2 in one game. Mason has only allowed 6 all year, with 7 shutouts. Midfield play is an opinion, and of course I'm a little biased, but I have seen Lavigne and Patterson play. They cancel each other out in the middle, so it's going to come down to that 2nd mid to step up and take control. Either way, it's going to be the biggest game in the city for the last few years. I see the game coming down to the last 10 minutes, someone putting away a late goal to win the GMC outright.

I agree with you. I feel that Mckinley is a very strong midfielder as well as Grant on the outside so Mason has other forms to attack in the MF other than Patterson. Also Cook is a very tough defender to get past. Saw him play acouple games and he handled some of the best strikers in the city and I think he can lead that defense which has proven to be very good all year. So I will pick Mason 1-0 over sycamore but it should be a great game.

[Hugesoccerfan]

[QUOTE=sycamoreaves08;3312970]I'm not sure if you've been to our field, but there is no outside space.


I wasn't referring to the field space AROUND the field, I was referring to they actually cut down the field size this year at Mason. They made the lines five yards narrower on each side. Instead of 60 yards wide, it is only 50 yards. I have seen Mason at home and away this year. They have more speed away because they are playing on a NORMAL field, not one ignorantly cut off by the administration, because they want to get ready for lacrosse season.

[the og]

Sycamore's field is not what you would call a "normal field". It is very small and the ground is somewhat bumpy. It won't be a huge problem for Mason but it is definately a slight advantage to Sycamore.

[Schweinsteiger09]

This is gonna be a great game, and it would be a shame if the press doesnt cover this because tommorow night is going to be full of emotion, its senior night for sycamore and mason looks at itself as the underdog and they will come out to play, no doubt about it. As for the bumpyness of the field, thats probably going to play a major factor in the game. Its going to slow down the game so much, which puts mason at a disadvantage. If the game was at mason i would say mason would have the advantage because they depend on speed of play more than just physical play. All ive heard of sycamore is about lavigne what about other standout players?

[Schweinsteiger09]

Also with these two offenses i would serious doubt if the team who wins gets a shutout. Both teams will probably score at least once, but from then on its gonna boil down who plays the hardest and smartest defense.

Also if they tie what happens? Co-champions? It would be great if the GMC would let them go into overtime and pks and all that. Being Co-champions would make it less special.

[okguys]

it's football field width about 2 yards extra on each side its hilarious

[sycamoreaves08]

[QUOTE=Hugesoccerfan;3313529
I wasn't referring to the field space AROUND the field, I was referring to they actually cut down the field size this year at Mason. They made the lines five yards narrower on each side. Instead of 60 yards wide, it is only 50 yards. I have seen Mason at home and away this year. They have more speed away because they are playing on a NORMAL field, not one ignorantly cut off by the administration, because they want to get ready for lacrosse season.[/QUOTE]

I know what you were referring to, and that was what I was as well. Our field is by far the smallest in width in the GMC, maybe the city. So even with Mason's field being shrunk, it is still bigger in width than Sycamore's. I have been to Mason this year and seen the construction, and I think you guys still got us in width. And there's nothing worse than ignorant administration.

I agree about the press coverage, there hasn't been a game of this magnitude this late in the year for a few years now. I know a lot of people have been talking about this for a week now, I hope the game lives up to the hype. Should be a good one.

One more thing that might give a slight advantage to Sycamore:

SENIOR NIGHT

[the og]

I dont know if this whole senior night thing really helps the other team. It was Milford's senior day when Mason tied them, and it was Fairfield's senior night when Sycamore beat them.

[msnsoccer05]

senior night is in no way a factor...if anything it is a negative one...it makes teams come out flat and a players focus is not totally on the game in my opinion.

[MKAsoccer08]

i see Mason winning this game 2-0, both goals off the right foot of soon-to-be-named league player of the year Patterson. They will overcome Sycamore's small field and bad grass, as their leader scores 2 second half goals for the league crown. Patterson will then decommit from UC and sign with Barcelona effective tomorrow.

[bcball]

So...who has the score and the low down on the game?

[american football]

If this is the game of the year and the title on the line, why no information yet?











So...who has the score and the low down on the game?

[msnsoccer05]

the score was 1-0 sycamore...pretty evenly matched game.

[sycamoreaves08]

Game was evenly matched, Sycamore scored with 10 min left and held off Mason who was throwing everything they had at them. Crowd was nuts, biggest I've seen. Patterson will still go to UC and sit behind the real league MVP Lavigne. Patterson's the worst teammate I've ever seen, always bitching at his players and the ref.

[the og]

Evenly matched game. I was kind of disappointed considering how good this game could have been. It didn't get very exciting until the last 15 minutes. Sycamore scored with about 10 minutes left and then Mason was forced to throw everything at them. And the Ryan Lavigne/Zach Patterson match up did not live up to what I had hoped it would be. Both will get Co-Player of the Year for GMC and probably City, and I think both deserve it. Also, someone might want to mention Sycamore's fans on the Student Sections thread, they had the best crowd I've seen all year. Ground was horrible as expected, reffing was horrible as always is. Congratulations Sycamore on winning the GMC.

[Hugesoccerfan]

I don't think the criticism of Patterson is fair. Lavigne had a better game and completely set up the only goal of the game, but Patterson also was hurt early in the first half by a hack (perhaps that led to some of his frustration with the refs). He is hard on his teammates at times, I will agree, but most competitive players are. Unfairly so? Maybe at times, (and he does need to keep his cool), but he still made Mason a much better team last night. Sycamore is very very good and deserved the win. What impressed me too was Max Reihman in midfield (not a "starter" but played practically the whole game). He was not intimidated at all by Patterson. For a sophomore, that is pretty impressive. Other midfielders for Sycamore more than held their own. Jordan Grant was held to having little impact, perhaps from the narrow field a bit, but Sycamore has some very fast outside talent as well. To Mason's credit, they weren't even supposed to be in the discussion this year for the GMC according to most. So hats off to the Comets as well. If this is a "down" year, next year should be sensational. With only four of five back from varsity last year, they have had an extremely successful season. Very good game, great crowd - both sides had great numbers there, especially for a Tuesday night. These teams could meet up again in the playoffs. One more thing, if I am reading the brackets correctly, Sycamore and Beavercreek are in the same bracket (assuming they get thru). THAT would be a great game.

[Gr8one]

I thought Sycamore controlled all but a small part of the game. It was a great win for Sycamore-Congratulations Aves!!!!

[the og]

I agree that Patterson's injury earlier in the game probably affected his play through the second half, but I also agree that his attitude on the field was painful to watch. Sometimes the balls that he played were not the best and he would end up screaming at his own players. I also didn't mention Sycamores defense. Both sides defense played well but Sycamores I think won the game for them. I can't remember one save that their goalkeeper had to make. On the other hand, it was Mason's lack of defending near the end that cost them the game. After Lavigne dribbled through the whole Mason midfield, he passed it right to a wide open player at the top of the six. The first shot was blocked by Sparks but the rebound was picked up by ANOTHER wide open player who put it in for the goal.

[soccerdad]

Put a body on them.Who in there right mind let's a key player take over or win a game.I don't get it.I guess if your a weaker team and don't have anybody, but mason?Good luck to both teams.

[Sycamoreforward994]

I dont think mason is a weaker team, Lavigne is one of our key players because he is good enough to break open a tight game. Mason's defence didn't lose the game, it was a case of a great player making a great play. Mason was the best team we have played this year. No offence to Milford. The difference maker is Mason has a player in Patterson, who is a real scoring threat against our defence. Good game Mason, maybe we will see you guys again in the regional finals

[the og]

I disagree. Again I'm not taking anything away from Lavigne, I've already said that I think he is one of the best players in the city. But after he owned Mason's midfield he layed the ball off to the middle of the penalty box where there were TWO wide open players. If those players were marked or someone had challenged for the ball that was played in, that goal could easily have been prevented.

[CPTNSHWAY]

One might argue the reason these two players were wide open is because lavigne beat multiple defenders which caused defenders to slide over and cover for their teammates leaving players unmarked.

[the og]

One defender from Mason got sucked in leaving his man open while Mason's left midfielder on that side did not drop back. When the play was happening everyone could see that no one was getting back to mark up. And by the way for those who were arguing on here on wether Lavigne or Patterson should get POTY for the GMC, Patterson finished with 25 points while Lavigne and Ritz(Fairfield) finished behind him with 24.

[Hugesoccerfan]

I dont think mason is a weaker team, Lavigne is one of our key players because he is good enough to break open a tight game. Mason's defence didn't lose the game, it was a case of a great player making a great play. Mason was the best team we have played this year. No offence to Milford. The difference maker is Mason has a player in Patterson, who is a real scoring threat against our defence. Good game Mason, maybe we will see you guys again in the regional finals

You saved me from writing this. I agree 100% with everything you said. Mason's D wasn't weak. That's like taking away a GREAT run from Lavigne. The D for Mason is good, he (Lavigne) just beat three really good players. I mean really, he gets by a midfielder, then gets by a defender. What are the other defenders supposed to do? Really? Let him go one on one with the goalie then by staying marked on their men? That is just stupid. You have to come off your man (which leaves two unmarked-unless the first guys that got beat can scramble back and pick them up, but they were still picking up their jocks at that point). You gamble you can take him off ball and if you don't, you lose -- and they couldn't on that play. It's that simple.

[the og]

Don't worry this is my last post on this subject. Ryan Lavigne made a GREAT play. But Mason's left midfielder did not get back and mark his man, who ended up scoring the goal. That's a fact, he stood there outside the 18 yard box and watched his man score and that goal was preventable.