Thoughts on the NCAA tournament teams from the NESCAC:

Williams:
"Thumbs up" to Williams coach for changing style/tactics in the last game vs. Amherst.  They got everyone behind the ball, tried to counter quickly when they got it, and got some help from Lady Luck and got to another Final Four.  From the sounds of comments on this board this is not something that Williams likes to do but they knew they needed to do to advance and it worked out for them. That's good coaching.

Amherst:
Great season by Amherst. 56 Goals. 3 Goals Against. The best goal differential in NESCAC history (previous was +45 by the 2002 Williams team).  Undefeated season with back to back NESCAc championships something to be proud of. Many good players returning including 3 of their 4 backs and terrific freshman goalkeeper. 

Wesleyan:
Great team with a terrific senior class could have made made a tournament run (IMO) but PK's got in the way.  Is it just me or shouldn't OT be a bit longer before getting to PK's?  I watched some of the Wesleyan game and thought they were much better than Haverford. 

Tufts:
Another team that got unlucky in the NCAA's. Stats said they outplayed Vassar but game up a PK in OT.  Future is bright for the Jumbos!

As a side note, i expect improvement from all 3 Maine teams next season.  Bates, Colby and Bowdoin will all be better and helped by the experience of 2012. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

Deuce, I went back and checked because Bates hasn't made the playoffs in a bit and Amherst hasn't played in the NESCAC playoffs since Serpone has been the coach.  Maybe you are getting the teams confused that your cousin played for? Or maybe you're just vindictive???

All I know is when the Amherst coach played Colby this year he stabbed seven people, stole eight thousand dollars from the concession stand and then after they won 1-0, spit on the referees and scorekeepers.  What silliness. 

LaPaz, as for me being an idiot...I'd much rather have my son or any of his teammates play at Colby than to play at a place that has fans like you. All of my interactions with Williams people have been favorable up until this point.   I started on this board because I liked reading about the soccer in the league.  Now I just read you berate people that share different opinions from yourself.

Whether or not you care to admit it, Colby has outplayed Williams two times in a row.  Last year we outshot them 8-7 AT WILLIAMS, after a lousy PK call early in the game.  Oh, and in that game there was an awful foul by one of the Williams plays that could have broken a leg that resulted in a red card.   

LaPaz, once again you're the NUTJOB here. 

Please do all of us a favor and not only stop talking about the Jeffs but please stop talking about the other ten NESCAC teams as well.  No one respects you or your opinions.  One little dig at Williams and you show your true colors.  For what it's worth I thought Colby outplayed Williams for good stretches of the game this season.  We had the ball 60%-65% of the time.  Williams took their chances well and countered effectively but certainly not what they were cracked up to be. 

Glad to see Andrew Meisel recognized as first team All-NESCAC.  I still think he should have been considered for POY honors!

LaPaz, thank you for welcoming me to the "real world" but I am quite aware of what my values are and what it looks like to cross a line. 

My real world is one in which I have run a successful business, had my share of success, was lucky enough to marry a beautiful women and have healthy, happy children of which I am very proud.  At no point is criticizing DIII soccer players and coaches in a public forum part of my "real world".

I'd guess that you are either a Williams coach, parent or player who doesn't deal all that well with losing. Sure, you try and mask your overall sentiment with slight Williams criticism (or purposely misspelling the names of the Williams players) but your overall agenda is to discredit Middlebury, Amherst, Bowdoin and whatever other NESCAC school is winning at the moment.  I think that most readers of this thread are smart enough to recognize that. 

Regardless, I will say a prayer for you and I hope that you come to terms with whatever inner anger/issues that you might have.   

I will continue to marvel at the quality of NESCAC soccer and I wish Wesleyan, Amherst, Williams and Tufts the very best in the NCAA tournament.  The opportunity to study and play soccer at any of the 11 schools in the NESCAC is something special, to be able to do it in postseason play surely will create lifelong memories.  Good luck to all!

First time poster and Colby supporter. 

I felt compelled to post because I've been following DIII soccer for the past four years and I am disappointed by the way LaPaz has  ruined the discussion with consistently negative observations/feelings about almost every game and team.  The fact remains that these are DIII student-athletes that made the choice not to play DI sports, are not on scholarship and deserve our admiration and support, not constant scrutiny.  What is "classless" is to attack other people (players, coaches, teams) on internet message boards.

LaPaz, have you noticed that there was once a time that others make weekly picks along with you and it was a fun process? You have taken the fun out of it.  You seem to have a running discussion with yourself about how bad Bates is (not true), how the Middlebury coach seems "disinterested" (coming off best run in Middlebury soccer history 07-09), how Amherst plays poor soccer (have you watched them?!), and how the Tufts goalkeeper struggles (made some GREAT saves on Saturday).  Oh, and complaining about everyone's non conference schedule other than Williams even though on the NCAA website they are ranked  #7 in the NESCAC for Strength of Schedule behind (Amherst, Wesleyan, Conn College, Bates,Tufts and Colby).

It's disheartening because this thread should be a place where we celebrate NESCAC soccer, not constantly attack it. 

When this NESCAC thread was on D3kicks.com, LaPaz identified himself once as a Williams Alum and another time as a Williams parent (which is it, or both?).  Certainly not a neutral observer.   

As for Amherst. Let me congratulate them on a fine year.  They were clearly the best team in the league, and I thought they were the best team I've seen in my time following the league. I wish them the best and hope that they (along with Williams, Tufts and hopefully Wesleyan) represent the NESCAC well in the NCAA tournament.

Let me finish by saying that I hope that Andrew Meisel gets consideration for NESCAC Player of the Year.  He has had a terrific career and been a fine leader for the Mules.  Things didn't go their way this season but the future is bright in Waterville!

I hope others agree with the sentiment I shared above.  Thanks.