Amherst 0 Williams 0

Definitely not a game for the purists, but that really couldn't have been a surprise, but in this particular part of Massachusetts this game is a big deal.  I had the sound down for all but the last 20 minutes or so as I was watching Crystal Palace also draw and it appeared the Mammoths had more of the ball in the Williams area, without really testing the keeper properly (I have a gripe with save statistics, but can leave that for another time) but equally, the Ephs, whilst dangerous on the break, were largely well handled by the White Shirt defence.

I did manage to get to see a rather poor incident involving one of the Amherst subs on a Williams player who had come across to the bench.  Oh actually, it was a Williams sub pushing over an Amherst player, but that probably doesn't fit with the narrative in here.  I'll hold off on allegations about the Williams culture under Coach Siebert, for the moment at least.  There looked to be a good-sized crowd in attendance and there will always be passion.  Things boiled over a few times, but at the end I saw a decent spirit from both sides.

4 points in conference play, plus an overall undefeated record is an impressive start for what is a very young Amherst group.  I suspect the trip to Vermont next week, may be the better gauge of where the 2025 Mammoths really are at, but I have liked what I have seen so far.

Foul Count: Amherst 18 Williams 16

Quote from: Newenglander on September 07, 2025, 12:15:21 AM

Quote from: EnmoreCat on September 06, 2025, 09:29:55 PMThat "very serious note" appears to hopefully have been delivered tongue in cheek according to my highly sensitive ears, but I am regularly wrong too.  Oh and the foul count was 21-13 Conn's way.  Perhaps it was the Camels getting in first...

I think the telling stat in regard to antics is 7 cards(one red) to 2 for Amherst including one for bench behavior......

That's the great thing about statistics, interpretation.

That "very serious note" appears to hopefully have been delivered tongue in cheek according to my highly sensitive ears, but I am regularly wrong too.  Oh and the foul count was 21-13 Conn's way.  Perhaps it was the Camels getting in first...

Amherst is introducing a large freshman class, nine in total after graduating thirteen seniors, including seven who started in the National Tournament final (with most of the others also being regular starters), of whom four were All-NESCAC selections.  I'd suggest that is quite a lot to seamlessly replace. What all this does do is create an opportunity for players to step up and take on responsibility.  That doesn't happen overnight and I would say that playing, Conn, Williams, Midd & Babson in four of the next six games is a pretty steep curve for this group. I watched the Suffolk game and my thought was that it will take time for things to gel.  But expectations are always high in western MA and I know that Coach Serpone will be fast-tracking this year's Mammoths.  My best guess is that the second half of the season will display the fruits of that process.  In any event, like all those with the Amherst shade of purple in their hearts, I hope that all rivals underestimate us. 

Quote from: y_jack_lok on August 21, 2025, 01:25:09 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on August 20, 2025, 08:05:44 PMWonder if they'll be changing their nickname from the Marlins to the Hatches.

Clever. But, I did wonder if there would be a change, since the Batten Marlins...well, just sounds odd. Maybe Barracudas.

I'm going for, "The Burghers" or "The Cakes":

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenberg_cake

Quote from: Ron Boerger on July 28, 2025, 06:47:21 PMSouthwestern (TX) successfully closed their seven-year long "Thrive:  The Campaign for Southwestern University" initiative on July 23, raising $160M against a $150M goal.  Among the items funded by the campaign is a multi-sports complex, opening in Fall 2026, where football and other unspecified sports will be contested.  Funds were also raised for a new welcome center, a major renovation to the 1908 Mood-Bridwell Hall along with other facility upgrades, student life initiatives, and general academic excellence including endowed chairs and improved equipment.

Not sure if things have changed since, but I watched a soccer game there against Trinity in 2018 and on a very warm Texan day, everyone was huddled in front of the announcer's booth looking for shade.  It was brutal, so perhaps some funding might go towards some shade cloth.

I saw a similar thing for D2 which had Alderson-Broaddus, which has closed.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on July 15, 2025, 04:06:42 PMFloSports = cordyceps

I had to look this up and am glad I did!

I'm happy with the current #1. 

I've never watched Johns Hopkins play and understand they are a successful programme, but watching this interview it's pretty clear that there's a mad scientist lurking! I'm curious to know how players process what seems like a significant and possibly quite complex information download.  I know he does get intelligent players to work with, maybe that makes it easier. 

I signed up very briefly last Fall to watch Amherst play at WPI and my experience led me to send this email to WPI Athletics:

"My son plays for Amherst MSOC (it won't be hard to work out who he is) and I watched the game between them and WPI today.  I understand that college athletics programmes need to maximize revenue streams, but charging $14.99 to watch a game where there is no commentator and the camera isn't always able to keep up, is quite cheeky.  If you are going to charge, at least make it a worthwhile product."

Still awaiting a response.

I wasn't familiar with Knox and did some basic research.  By D3 standards (and I am aware there are other examples of this) they have a big international presence on their roster.  I counted as many as 25!

Quote from: Hopkins92 on May 27, 2025, 03:29:20 PMI'm not making a judgment on this, because I know the board is very apolitical, but...

The current administration is placing a hold on all new student visas for an unspecified period. This will hurt every university that relies on international students.

Obvious ripple effects relevant to this board.

Very glad my son has now graduated, as an aside, that was a fun few days and very different to what happens in Australia.  My daughter is set for a Master's degree next year, but everything that has happened, particularly for Harvard, is really complicating that choice.  I think she's much more likely to go-to the UK for it now, which is a shame, as I think the US programs are great and the overall experience a superior one. 

Amherst announced theirs and I will say that I was unfamiliar with a few on the schedule, but will quickly catch up.  It will be quite different without EnmoreKitten taking the field, but at least it means no more 2/3am wake ups to watch on a Sunday morning. 

Quote from: Kuiper on April 25, 2025, 03:21:47 PMI think I didn't post this in the fall when it came out, but I thought it was pretty cool to read that Capital University will be hosting the Men's and Women's soccer national championship games at historic Crew stadium in 2026

https://athletics.capital.edu/news/2024/10/2/general-capital-selected-as-host-institution-for-2026-mens-and-womens-soccer-ncaa-division-iii-national-championships.aspx

Las Vegas might have been cool for the players and families last year, but it didn't allow for many others to travel and watch the games and UNLV's soccer stadium is pretty underwhelming for spectators.  Plus, the fact that it's not a DIII institution gave it an odd feel.  It's nice to have a DIII school taking ownership of the event, while still giving it a major league facility.  Only downside to the facility is that the stadium might be too cavernous even if one of Ohio's many strong soccer programs qualifies for the Final Four.  The other potential downside is weather that time of year, although I don't know if it's that much different from Salem, VA.

QuoteCapital University has been selected as the host institution for the 2026 Men's and Women's Soccer NCAA Division III National Championships to be held at Historic Crew Stadium. Capital will serve as hosts alongside the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.

"Capital University is excited to have been selected alongside our partners at the Greater Columbus Sports Commission as the hosts of the DIII Men's and Women's Soccer National Championships in 2026," said Dr. Darrell Bailey Sr., Director of Athletics at Capital. "We were very proud to host the Division III Women's Basketball Championship in 2024, and we look forward to serving as the host institution again very soon. Our athletic department strives for excellence on and off the field of competition, and this is another great opportunity to put our campus, department, and facilities on display on a national level."

This will mark the first time that Columbus has served as the host city for the Division III men's and women's soccer championships.

I managed to make it to UNLV Kuiper! However, I completely get your point and in my case, I think it's quite unlikely I would get to Las Vegas again and in truth, whilst I loved watching what I did get to see, it definitely wasn't the best place to watch at.  I mentioned at the time that I thought Roanoke was a quite iconic place to not just watch at, but to visit also.  A quick peek at Capital suggests it looks like an impressive field, albeit one with too many lines, but also Columbus looks a pretty cool place.

As an aside, I was thinking about what D3 field would be a suitable one for a Final Four.  I haven't been to lots, but based on where I have actually attended, other than Roanoke, that perhaps Babson is one that would tick all the boxes.  But, I know there are many more that would easily do the job too.