In terms of soccer conferences is it the general consensus that it's the NESCAC as a clear #1 and all other conferences behind?  What conference would be next?  Thanks.

This is a super interesting thread.  I believe another huge contributing factor in the levels discussion is simply how much time is dedicated to improvement and how much of a priority soccer is once at school.  I'm aware that at some D3 schools players consistently miss practice (with coaches approval), at times weekly, to attend class.  The compromise comes at the expense of soccer, not the class.  It may be frowned upon by the coach but it is completely accepted.  Also, once the season ends the focus/workouts are much less intentional, organized and developmental.  The time spent competing and getting better is less and the priority is less.  What I also find interesting is how much "fit to system" plays into the levels discussion.  My sons team has numerous, legit players with D1 offers (he plays D3) and D1 talent, size, etc. that because of fit to system really don't get much time.

This might seem a bit "off topic" but I'm wondering what the impact of the new OT rule will have on the season.  And - from my lens I tend to agree with the poster who mentioned Chicago and Messiah as two titans...and all others in a different class.  Maybe Amherst, maybe Conn being in the upper echelon but it seems like there's a lot more parity this year and fewer dominant teams.  Really seems completely wide open through first 2-weeks of the season.

Can't thank you all enough for the incredible write ups of games and feedback on teams.  Wondering if it makes any sense to start a thread where people can post links to players and teams they think are worthy of all our attention?  I try to catch as many games as I can but would love a central resource to check out players that are having great years, links to great match-ups, etc.  Not sure if it's possible but what the heck...

I'm in although I don't know if my contribution would be worth it. 

This is my first time really getting engaged in the NCAA D3 soccer tourney and have a thought - it seems that since these are very regional events that some schools do have an advantage in that they play at home in the first couple rounds...and it seems the comp is also not that spread out.  Is that the case?

Love the site, don't feel intimidated at all.  Really appreciate the insiders perspective from those that played and love the historical perspective from those that have incredible memories.  I was a D3 athlete (hoops at Tufts) and I've got great friends and great memories.  Now that my son is playing D3 soccer he realizes what I've been telling him for years...the rivalries are intense, the times with your teammates are amazing...and the talent is real.

That's the thing about D3 sports that I don't think folks understand.  The talent level has just exploded.

That said...it does seem like there's a group of teams that are always good...and not too many newcomers recently.

I'm curious if that's going to change.  Messiah, Tufts, Amherst, Calvin...I'd like to see more programs get consistently competitive. 

What I'm also curious to learn is how deep some of these leagues are.  NESCAC and UAA seem really deep.  Hopkins/F&M league a little less so.  With talent increasing across the country will new leagues emerge as really deep? 

The more games I watch the more I'm noticing the disparity of goalkeeping play.  From everything I've seen this year I believe the two best goalkeepers I've seen are the NYU and Ohio Northern keepers. 

Who are the GK's we should keep an eye on?  With how physical the game is being played as the season goes along and with how scarce goals are between top teams GK's will have a huge say in who wins the title.

Thanks for your perspectives...I'll be sure to check them out if I haven't seen them already.

An interesting note.  In the NYU/Carnegie Mellon game there was a clear red card that should have been handed out right off the bat.  CMU striker gets past goalie, goalie takes him down from behind.  Gets a yellow, not a red.  PK awarded and CMU scored...but NYU should have been playing with 10 men basically the whole game.  There were a ton of injuries in this game as well, a fight at the end, then the goalie getting a red card after the game winner was scored in 2OT for going after the CMU bench.  Total mess.  NYU the deserving side (they're legit) and the goalie is terrific.  But the refereeing was a full blown mess...and literally, kids dropping like flies during the game.

An observation on a team that I feel possesses the physicality and very strong goal keeper play to make a run and get after the top teams in D3.  NYU is big, feisty and skilled...and I believe they have one of the best GK's I've seen this year.  Going through the UAA schedule here at the end is going to round them into form.  A team to keep an eye on for sure.

Tufts was a bit ahead of the curve streaming games.  They have a service called JumboCast that streams games.  I've watched a ton of Tufts hoops as well.  My Tufts basketball coach who I have an excellent relationship with "partnered up" with the soccer program (players would work the clock, etc.) and from the moment he was hired told me to pay attention to Josh (knowing my connection to Tufts and my son playing soccer).  That got me started watching their games.  I am not qualified to offer too deep of an opinion on Shapiro.  The folks on this site with real soccer knowledge would probably laugh.  And the points made earlier about his age, etc. are really good ones.  I happen to be a big fan.  I know what I don't know and I want to stay in my lane.  I do have an opinion however.  Regardless of win or lose, what I noticed from watching the Tufts team is players understand their role and most likely fit the role.  Wingers were fast, able to take on defenders 1v1 really well, etc. and many, many more times in a game than the opponent would be organized in the offensive third with a coordinated set of runs creating space for the person on the ball and options to pass to to goal.  Again, not very technical but my best recollection. 

Why wait until he's done it to predict it.  I've watched a ton of soccer and his teams look different.  Granted, your frame of reference is so much more rich and informed than mine.  That said, I stand by my viewpoint. 

Big game for Gettysburg.  Huge litmus test to see if they're for real this year. 

While on the subject of Shapiro.  Is anyone else of the opinion (like I am) that the guy is going to have a huge career?  My prediction - finds his way to MLS and/or the national team.  I played hoops at Tufts in the 90's and my son was recruited by Shapiro but didn't go (at Carnegie Mellon).  But I watched a ton of Tufts soccer and haven't seen a coach organize a team offensively as good as him...not even close.

Once all the votes are collected how do you calculate the points each team gets?  Thank you.