Quote from: Kuiper on December 10, 2024, 04:52:05 PMI know some longer-time coaches still do, but are active players aware of it?  I know they used to be, but I'm just not sure if they are anymore and you (and other parents of current players) probably have some insight on that.

My son is a Bowdoin grad and some of his friends who still play soccer there read the board.

As a Green Bay Packers shareholder, I can say that I am very pleased with the team's ownership.

Dickinson is going to terrorize the Centennial next year. In addition to the four already mentioned, I've been impressed by Westin Fryberger, Daniel Spataro, and Luke Finkielstein. Fryberger and Spataro are first years, Finkielstein is a junior.

One area that could perhaps use some improvement is goalkeeping. During the regular season game between Dickinson and Hopkins this year, Gavin Marr (another first year) played the second half and was markedly better than the starter.

The Red Devils have a very skewed age structure on their team - lots of excellent juniors and first years, far fewer seniors and sophomores.

Quote from: Bucket on November 23, 2024, 08:18:44 PMAlas, sides must now be drawn, and I officially notified Little Bucket, a freshman at Dickinson, that I'll be cheering for W&L tomorrow. I know his Aunt Sarah, a Red Devil alumna, will join him in fandom.

With Hopkins eliminated, I can now join my wife, a Red Devil alumna, and my daughter, a Red Devil sophomore, in rooting for Dickinson, although I expect W&L to win.

Quote from: gocamels on November 17, 2024, 05:14:16 PMAfter handling Franklin and Marshall, lets head to Mary Washington (another two-name school that will end next weekend with less wins than names).

GO CAMELS

Fewer

Quote from: Garden12 on November 17, 2024, 07:55:25 PMIs it possible that the Hopkins style of play just doesn't work in the tournament? Their endless possession just doesnt seem to consistently create chances against teams that are solid defensively. Maybe they sometimes make a small run but I could never see them winning the 6/6 needed to win a tournament.

Maybe. That has been a concern for Hopkins fans (or at least this one) for some time. This year's team seemed capable of playing a number of styles, however. As I noted earlier, they have demonstrated an ability to absorb a lot of pressure and then play more directly (Centennial Conference semi-final v. Dickinson). I thought they had the upper hand in the second half of today's game and in the two overtimes after nearly getting run off the field in the first half.

That said, they are never going to be volume shooters. They spend a lot of time and effort (maybe too much) trying to get good shots instead of ripping it from 20 yds on occasion. Jason Pan's game winner yesterday was a notable exception to the rule.

JHU and W&L going to OT. As I expected, Hopkins looked much better in the second half. Still, the goal Hopkins scored was a bit of a fluke. Long ball that W&L keeper booted forward, only for it to hit off of his defender. Hopkins player managed to launch the rebound toward goal and it just snuck inside the post.

Quote from: Another Mom on November 17, 2024, 03:55:27 PMNo commentary on the W&L Hopkins game?

W&L is dominating. Lots of pressure on Hopkins. Hopkins not having their best CB has hurt as it means their best player, Francis Meyer, is playing center back rather than CDM.

Hopkins has given up lots of pressure in the first half before and come back (see the Dickinson game in the Centennial Conference tournament) but this will be a tough hill to climb in the second half.

Hopkins looks to be missing Mikkel Andersen, their all-CC center back. He limped off the field yesterday and didn't start today.

Is Nathan Donovan for UWEC hurt? I don't see him listed on the game report.

Quote from: Hopkins Walk-On on October 30, 2024, 03:28:22 PMLen Yamabe from Swarthmore was one of the better players I saw this year. He gave Hopkins fits.

Wanted to add that Yamabe made first-team CC as well. The Centennial looks to be very competitive in coming years. As I noted earlier, Dickinson is loaded with a ton of young talent but, in addition to Yamabe, Swarthmore also had three juniors selected as honorable mention for the conference team. Muhlenberg had three non-seniors selected.

Recent conference powerhouses Hopkins and F&M, which both had a bunch of seniors/grad students this year, will face some serious challengers.

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 13, 2024, 11:13:00 PM

Quote from: jball on November 13, 2024, 10:23:57 PM

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 13, 2024, 09:17:30 PM

Quote from: Hopkins Walk-On on November 13, 2024, 06:25:19 PMMeyer from Hopkins is Centennial Conference DPOY. Iwowo from Dickinson is OPOY. Dewamena from Dickinson is ROY. Red Devils coaching staff is coaching staff of the year.

Selection for players of the year and all-conference teams are all reasonable and I don't disagree with any of them but I think Appleby and staff deserved the coaching award. In my mind, they were the prime movers behind the changes that enabled the Jays to win the conference regular season and tournament titles after a somewhat rocky start.

Agree all the up to coaching staff. While Hop had a good season, Dickinson has been a doormat for many years and has never won the award since 2008. Hop not so much and you just highlighted two players who played D1! A lot easier path for Hop than team who has had no success for several years.  Who did you expect to get to the NCAAs?

Meyer did not play d1

My bad, he is one of 6 grad students on the team of which 3 were D1.

Notably, Andersen was also the only grad transfer starting by the end of the season. He has played every minute of every game for the last six games. Three of the "grad" students (Meyer, Falzarano, and Dunphy) played their entire careers at Hopkins and are using their COVID year.

I understand why the Dickinson staff was recognized and they have elevated the program well above its previous level but when I look at how Dickinson and Hopkins finished the season and their results in head-to-head play, I think Appleby and staff outcoached the Devils.

Looking forward to next year, Dickinson is going to be a handful. Their best [first and second team all-conference] players (Iwowo, Jarden, Dwamena, and Omoniwa) will all be back. Hopkins will lose all of their best players [Meyer, Andersen, Sangpachatanaruk, Falzarano]. F&M's best are also all seniors [Kaliebe, Anderko, Green].

Meyer from Hopkins is Centennial Conference DPOY. Iwowo from Dickinson is OPOY. Dewamena from Dickinson is ROY. Red Devils coaching staff is coaching staff of the year.

Selection for players of the year and all-conference teams are all reasonable and I don't disagree with any of them but I think Appleby and staff deserved the coaching award. In my mind, they were the prime movers behind the changes that enabled the Jays to win the conference regular season and tournament titles after a somewhat rocky start.

The Hopkins PK style was developed by Coach Appleby after the 2022 PK debacles and players are instructed in how to do it and practice it. Meyer has been the designated PK taker in games but he did not come up with it. He's just the best at it.

I am not sure how deep the pool of kickers is that can employ that style and hope I don't have to find out.

0-0 at halftime between Hopkins and Muhlenberg. Hopkins has dominated possession but has had only a few decent scoring chances. Muhlenberg is playing sound defense and keeping at least 4 men back. They seem to be hoping to capitalize on an error by the Hopkins backline.

Second half should be more interesting.