Quote from: Freddyfud on December 01, 2023, 01:32:20 PM
Here is a view from Coach Singleton about playing in their backyard:

https://roanoke.com/sports/college/soccer/washington-and-lee-salem-ncaa-division-iii-mens-soccer-semifinals/article_309421ba-8fa8-11ee-a02b-c771f80ba680.html

I didn't realize W&L was constrained by a lack of graduate programs.  It seems as if the 2 seniors they lost were able to stay for a 5th year they would be much better than they already are. 

I know they have one of the best law programs in the country.  I guess I see "university" and incorrectly assume those constraints for 5th years don't apply (or maybe it helps them if an athlete is interested in pursuing a J.D.?)  I'd be curious as to general insight on how this works in practice.  But then again that 5th year of eligibility is expiring so maybe it will be moot.

Thanks for shaing.  Good luck to all teams

Quote from: PaulNewman on December 01, 2023, 12:05:50 PM
So, Tufts and Messiah STILL aren't gonna play (women).

I would have assumed someone with your experience on the MEN's D3 board would know that there is a WOMEN's D3 board. oh my word!!!!

HAHAHAHA

Quote from: camosfan on November 30, 2023, 06:27:34 PM
Some content idea, next year do a from the final 4 location!

SC you will have to travel to Las Vegas if you are going to do on site for the Final 4.  I hear the weather is nicer in Las Vegas that time of year.  You and Jackie won't need winter coats. 

Quote from: College Soccer Observer on November 30, 2023, 11:50:33 AM
Also, in order to be eligible for an award, the coach must be a member of the United Soccer Coaches.  I wonder if the interim coach was not a member, and therefore could not nominate anyone.

I know that that is true you must be a member.  He probably was able to join during the season.  It is a shame especially if the player was not one that could not be control during the TX Lutheran game. 

Thanks Kuiper..it is always good to get to know the teams as they move through the tournament.

Calvin 5-0 winner over Greenville will face the Gustie who won 3-1 over the host team Wartburg.  Should be a good second round game.

Quote from: SimpleCoach on November 10, 2023, 12:03:33 PM

Quote from: Ejay on November 10, 2023, 11:39:13 AM
It's official - Skip Roderick has retired after 39 years at the helm of Elizabethtown.

https://news.etown.edu/index.php/2023/11/10/elizabethtown-college-mens-soccer-coach-skip-roderick-announces-retirement/

Although it's been years since their heyday, I'm sure there are plenty of coaches who would love the opportunity to revive this once great program.

The one interview I wish I could have done....

SC.

Skip is a great guy and hard to coach against.  He will be missed by many and it will seem strange not seeing him on the sidelines at E-town.  Best wishes to skip!

In the MAC finals today Stevens Ducks and Messiah Falcons have sealed 2 AQ's for the NCAA's

Well it is definitely good they discover those insight into the program before they commit to the team and the coaching staff.  During the recruiting process we have also found it beneficial when we have been at a game to talk to the the parents of some of the players to hear what they feel about the program.  It is sometime good information and others not so much.  Probably depends on if their son is playing or not.

Someone will have to replace region V next season due to the closing

Cabrini University to be sold
D3sports
https://www.d3sports.com › notables › 2023/06 › cabr...
Jun 23, 2023 — Cabrini University is being sold to Villanova University and will cease operating as a separate entity after the 2023-24 academic year and ...

How do they get on the committee is it elected of nominated?

Quote from: PaulNewman on November 03, 2023, 12:24:43 AM

Quote from: Coach Jeff on November 02, 2023, 11:28:29 PM

Quote from: PaulNewman on November 02, 2023, 10:54:09 PM
Congratulations to the four OAC teams who played tonight.  The intensity of both OAC semis was outstanding with both going 110 minutes and to PKs.  All four walk away with a "ranked" draw fwiw.  The defending up and down and all over the fields over 110 minutes is what impressed me the most.   All of those very talented teams being held scoreless is phenomenal.  Otterbein and ONU move on but JCU and Mt Union were just as good.  In all seriousness, the OAC has got something going with their top 5-6 schools, and tonight's semis imo were as good as you will see from any conference in the country.

Wondering your thoughts on JCU and Mt Union are the both dancing, one or are they both on the bubble???  At my son HS game was unable to catch any of the games.

Just my gut reaction, personal opinion...I think JCU is pretty safe and Mt Union may be on the bubble.  Biggest concern is whether 7 teams could get in Region 7 which I think would be unprecedented (but it's also the first time I've seen all of them deserving).  Everything is so close in Region 7 it's really hard to say...and hard to say who else might drop...and that's before considering Denison who may enter the final rankings.  All that said, and without looking at numbers this late, compare Mt Union with Carleton, Lynchburg, LVC, etc.

My thoughts PN was the same for JCU and Mt. Union.  IMO I just think Mt. Union's early season schedule is going to be what keeps them on the bubble.

I enjoyed reading Cat, Mom and Sierra's posts and it got me thinking about this topic.  I hope this make sense to you all.

A little background information, I have been able to be around the D3 soccer world for a while.  Not only playing for four years, I also had the opportunity to coach for 7 years.  During this time I got to know a lot of great coaches, some of which I still keep in contact with on a regular basis.  We would often run across each other at all the tournaments and have very good conversations about what type of players we were looking for.  9 times out of 10 it was more about the player's character then his soccer ability.  Of course what caught our attention was the skills they displayed in their games (also reactions to the game play and or the refs).  These reactions would often make or break the communication from the coaches.  The coaches I know also have stated that these young men need to be an active participant in the recruiting process. Meaning that the players need to show an interest in the program and the team from their end as well.  Coach Wagner wants his player to be invested from the start which he means early in the recruiting process.  I definitely could tell if a player was interested or not early on in the recruiting stage.  One of the questions our coaching staff would ask them early on was what were the other colleges/universities they were looking at as a potential place obtain their higher education and play?  This question helped us see if the recruit was interested.  For instance if they said the schools they were interested in playing at were PSU, Naval Academy, Bloomsburg University and our school.  The follow up question would be so how is Coach Cook's conversation going or when was the last time you spoke to Coach O'Donohue or Coach Basset.  Just to see if they were being recruited at the D1 or D2 schools.  Sometimes they would be able to answer but on occasion they would ask who are they.  It told us a lot about the player's character and if it was just a place would like to play. If they knew the coach at the other schools we knew they were in contact with them and it was just not a dream school.

I also have been on the other side of the recruiting process since I have 3 boys who have played at the collegiate level, currently playing or being recruited.  During these years my sons and I have come in contact with some other great D3 men's soccer coaches.  Coach Singleton is one of those coaches.  His team played my son's team in a game and the atomosphere he has created at W & L is apparent to the opposing teams.  I emailed him a day or 2 after the game and thanked him for his teams effort and fair play.  I was not expecting a return email since his team was in the middle of the season and he responded with a lengthy email explaining how it has taken time to create it but in so many words he was thankful that it was noticed by others.  A lot of the programs around the country have stated the importance of the team culture and players buying into the programs core values especially more apparent to use at the D3 level then others.  IMO i believe it has to with the fact that there are no athletic scholarships at the D3 level when there is money attached to a player it is easier to say you do it this way or you don't play (maybe).  My sons and I have also taken notice to the other teams on the campus that we have visited or they have attended.  What we have observed some of the other teams culture are very similar to the soccer programs, where others are totally different.  We have attributed this to the universities overall culture. 

I could name lots of coaches but i think it is not important to name them all.  What we all are looking for in a coach, is a coach that will help us turn our boy's into young successful men outside the game of soccer.  That is ultimately what is important to us as parents.  Make sure your son's ask them questions that will lead them into giving as much information about the program's culture and the team values and not just the facts that we know all coaches give.  Of course they all want to win and teach the game we all love, but where will our sons be when the game is a past memory.  I want my sons' to experience memories and bonds with teammates and coaches that will last a life time.

I too have enjoyed watching SC's interviews and I actually requested he do an interview with one of the coaches from a potential university that my son was interested in attending and he did it.  Thanks SC well done! Sorry it was such a long post.

Quote from: PaulNewman on November 02, 2023, 10:54:09 PM
Congratulations to the four OAC teams who played tonight.  The intensity of both OAC semis was outstanding with both going 110 minutes and to PKs.  All four walk away with a "ranked" draw fwiw.  The defending up and down and all over the fields over 110 minutes is what impressed me the most.   All of those very talented teams being held scoreless is phenomenal.  Otterbein and ONU move on but JCU and Mt Union were just as good.  In all seriousness, the OAC has got something going with their top 5-6 schools, and tonight's semis imo were as good as you will see from any conference in the country.

Wondering your thoughts on JCU and Mt Union are the both dancing, one or are they both on the bubble???  At my son HS game was unable to catch any of the games.

Wondering if Mount Union will be on the bubble or did they have enough quality wins to make the NCAA's.  Thoughts

MAC Playoffs Nov 1 and finals Nov 4

Freedom

(1) Lebanon Valley v DeSales (4)
(2) Stevens v Misericordia (3)

Commonwealth

(1) Messiah v Stevenson (4)
(2) Alvernia v Widener (3)