In 2014, all non-conference matches must be vs. ACC, AAC, B1G, Big East or PAC12 opponents. Period.
The MAC drags us down enough as it is. No more College of Charleston and San Diego State.
I saw those guys scouting the match last night. They look a grim lot.
Just two years ago, they upset us by forcing a scoreless draw and then advancing on PKs.
IU were not the best side last year. Far from it.
Hoosiers were the hot team at the right time, which is preferable to being the best team.
Hopefully, Zips can be the hot team this year.
Contrary to what I have previously posted in a different thread, look at the 6 teams from Conference USA within the top 70 RPI. I think a bonus kicks in for beating a top 70 opponent.
I was wrong about Conference USA. Zips MSOC would be better off there. The MAC s.. is really not good.
Zips are currently ranked #18 in the official RPI.
http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2013MSOrpi1.html
We really needed to have beaten Michigan State.
I hope everyone realizes that most MSOC conference championships are hosted on a set rotation of members' sites. Perhaps there are other conferences that do things in similar fashion, but I cannot think of another MSOC conference in which the regular season front- runner always hosts the conference tournament.
Why is that?
My deduction is that most MAC MSOC programs do not really want to host the conference tournament. Most do not have the proper facilities. Does Western Michigan even have field lights? And it costs money to organize and administrate a tournament. The undeniable fact is that MSOC does not generate revenue. Breaking even is the best case scenario.
The conclusion is that MAC officials are more than happy for Akron to host the tournament every year. They were cringing at the possibility of WMU hosting this year.
The MAC is not a MSOC conference by any stretch of the imagination. It is truly amazing that this conference generated a (nearly back to back) National Champion.