With Spingfield (8-3 NEWMAC) winning tonight and MIT (9-2 NEWMAC) losing, the game between the two teams in Springfield this Saturday will be for a share of the regular season NEWMAC crown. However, if there is a tie, there are several tiebreaking scenarios that could lead to MIT or Springfield being awarded the right to host the NEWMAC tourney February 28-29. Below is the list of scenarios that could play out next weekend, and who would host in each case. In general, MIT controls their own destiny, but Springfield needs help from other teams to host.
Scenario 1:
MIT beats Springfield
Result: MIT is 10-2 and Springfield is 8-4. MIT hosts.
Scenario 2:
Springfield beats MIT
WPI beats Clark
Result: MIT and Springfield are tied at 9-3. The head-to-head between the two is also tied at 1-1. The next tiebreaker is record against the 3rd ranked team in the conference, which in this case would be WPI at 7-5. Since MIT is 2-0 against WPI and Springfield split with them (1-1), MIT would hold this tiebreaker. MIT hosts.
Scenario 3:
Springfield beats MIT
Clark beats WPI
Wheaton beats CGA
Result: MIT and Springfield are tied at 9-3. The head-to-head between the two is also tied at 1-1. The next tiebreaker is record against the 3rd ranked team in the conference. However, in this case, Wheaton and WPI would be 6-6 in conference, tied for 3rd place. Since ties are broken top to bottom, the tiebreaker would go to the team with the best combined record against WPI and Wheaton. MIT would be 2-0 vs. WPI and 0-2 vs. Wheaton, while Springfield would be 1-1 against WPI and 2-0 against Wheaton. Therefore, in this case, Springfield would win the tiebreaker 3-1, vs. 2-2 for MIT. Springfield hosts.
In summary, MIT will host if they beat Springfield on Saturday, or if WPI or CGA win. Springfield needs all three games to go their way on Saturday to host the NEWMAC tourney.
