That is quite an accumulation of stories pertaining to CMS athletic teams over the past half dozen years.  When this happens on multiple occasions within various men's and women's teams, it certainly begs some questions of the athletic administration and their management of the issue.

Hazing is an interesting topic, because it seems to fall toward the extreme end of a spectrum of athlete misbehaviors and misadventures.  Is it like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's reference to pornography:  "I know it when I see it"?  Clearly, any behaviors involving violence, bullying, and/or sexual degradation rise to the level of hazing and should be penalized and legislated against.

But what about excessive drinking...which happens within most athletic teams at any level and at any location?  One of my sons played soccer at an Ivy, and the other at a NESCAC.  They each described a similar "rite of passage" from their freshman year...where they participated in drinking games that were overseen by upperclassmen.  In each case, none of the athletes were forced to drink and could opt out, but many of them chose to drink.  Each of my sons thought it was a fun experience, which middle-aged me wouldn't have agreed with.

And even if there isn't an organized activity around drinking games, it is common for athletes from a team, or from multiple teams, to get together and drink excessively...both in season and out of season.  So, how and where does one draw the line?

The NESCAC coaches recommended Madden and fellow First Team All American Clivio to Portland Hearts of Pine - the new USL team based in Maine. The two of them were on trial at the club back in January. What a pairing that would have been!
[/quote]

I realize this is straying from the core NESCAC thread, but as a season ticket holder to the Portland Hearts of Pine...I can tell you this has been an absolute phenomenon during their first season.  Every game has been sold out and they have the highest average attendance in a league that extends from Spokane to SoCal to Chattanooga and little old Portland, Maine.  Each game is like a feel good party with food trucks, beverages for people of all ages, and an amazingly friendly and communal vibe.

Quote from: blooter442 on November 01, 2025, 03:27:48 PMThe Middlebury late show came to Brunswick, as the Panthers pilfered a 2-1 win over Bowdoin. Saw the first half on video, second in-person. The hosts appeared to have more possession and it was one-way traffic on the stat line, and Bowdoin had a massive chance for 2-0 that was deflected out for a corner, but the Panthers pulled an equalizer out of nowhere with about 20 to go on a 1-v-1, before a brilliant free-kick from the #10 won it with less than 10 remaining. Despite the bluster of our new friend, most Midd fans I heard sounded pretty grateful to be level — albeit they had one big header chance right after Bowdoin's opener — but the winner was beautifully hit over the wall and into the left corner. Both teams had some dangerous balls across the box that went untouched, and the Polar Bears had a big opportunity for 2-2.

I appreciate nescac fan246's bravado, but I find myself completely agreeing with blooter's assessment.  I was there in person for most of the game.  Bowdoin's attack certainly looked more composed and dangerous than Midd's, but a 1-2 loss is sometimes the way the proverbial ball bounces.  The winning free kick was indeed a beauty.  I was there with my son and his wife (both Bowdoin alums) and their three children.  Their two youngest are 6 month old identical twin girls.  We had a delightful conversation with a pair of Middlebury parents who have 17 year old identical twin girls.  It's fun to make these connections.

Quote from: Bucket on October 28, 2025, 09:13:32 PM

Quote from: northman on October 28, 2025, 09:00:39 PMThanks.  Makes sense.  And now we have a Midd fan suggesting that Midd will romp easily to the national title...

LOL. Are you referring to me? As the only Midd fan who has posted today, I'm assuming so.

Curious as to how you interpreted my post as a suggestion that Midd will romp easily to a national title.

To recap:

• I stated that Midd had an emphatic win at Williams today
• I stated this locked the Panthers into the 6th seed against an opponent tbd
• I stated that those who calculate NPI numbers predict the win gets Middlebury into the tournament.
• I stated that a win or two in conference tourney would only solidify a tournament berth.
• I stated nothing further.

Bucket, I was not referring to your post.  I had seen an earlier post...which has either disappeared or appeared in another thread...where a Middlebury fan referred to two Middlebury players by name and their convincing recent wins over Bates and Williams.  That poster seemed to be quite bullish on Middlebury's momentum moving forward through the NCAA tournament.  My apologies for any misunderstanding.

As for nescacfan246 welcoming me to "the CAC", I've been following the NESCAC in a variety of sports since my younger son started playing soccer in the NESCAC in the fall of 2007.  So, I reckon I've seen a few things in that time...  :-)

Thanks.  Makes sense.  And now we have a Midd fan suggesting that Midd will romp easily to the national title...

Thanks for the game summary, Blooter.  I wasn't able to get there or watch online as I had other things going on this evening.  For what it's worth, the stat line seemed to favor Bowdoin.  Was that reflective in the ebb and flow of the game?

I'm admittedly from a previous generation, but I was on a D1 team that won a national championship in another sport.  My prevailing feeling was one of gratitude, not arrogance.  From my perspective, it's fine to feel pride in an athletic accomplishment...individual and/or team...but arrogance is another matter.

With regard to academic rigor, I'll cite the US News rankings, which of course always spark a controversy.  Amherst is ranked near the top, Midd and W&L are right next to each other, and Conn is another level behind.  That said, each school has its own approach toward the parameters for recruiting "student athletes".

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges?_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc

And, BTW, Vassar would be a good academic and geographic fit.  That said, adding Hamilton was awkward from a travel standpoint, but it did expand the conference schedule across most team sports to an even 10 teams.  11 opponents would be an awkward number.

That's a great list, PN.  Let's see if anyone bites...

I agree with your take, PN.  The NESCAC is a D3 conference in every respect.  Typically...smaller private liberal arts colleges that are academically rigorous...and strike a great balance between academics and athletics.  Isn't that what the majority of D3 schools are all about?

What I have said about the NESCAC in the past, and will reiterate, is that the conference is amazingly competitive across a number of sports...and it also benefits from being in a compact geographic area (Hamilton notwithstanding).  It's easy for supporters to get to every away game if they're so inclined.

Yes, welcome aboard PolarBearMom.  I'm a former Polar Bear dad who now lives in Brunswick and follows the team.

On paper, Bowdoin should be highly competitive in the NESCAC this year.  They did indeed lose all-NESCAC players in midfielder Juantorena and center back Jack Selig...but everyone else is back.  As you indicated, Tyler Huck is a highly intelligent and skilled player, and a difference maker.  One of the keys will be whether or not Rueda Duran gets into the scoring groove he discovered last year.  He hasn't found the net yet in five games.

The game at Bates tomorrow evening should be fun.  Bates's new coach is Ben Brewster, who played next to my son on Bowdoin's back line when they went to the Final Four back in 2010.  Ben is a great young man and has some solid coaching experience, having recently served as associate head coach at D1 UMass.

It's shaping up to be a fun and highly competitive NESCAC season.  Middlebury, Tufts, Amherst and Conn are obvious favorites.  But Bowdoin, and even Williams, will be very much in the picture for the top four in the conference.

Regarding Amherst vs. Conn, I think I may have a more balanced perspective relative to the previous two posters.  I watched the end of the first half and most of the second half.  In the first half, I was impressed with Conn's team play on and off the ball.  That said, they were never much of a threat in the final third during the entirety of the game I watched.

I actually thought Amherst played a higher quality possession game than they've been known for in past years.  But they definitely relied on the individual brilliance of Nuhu to score the decider.

I'm thinking that both teams likely deserve their national rankings...but the Camels will need to find a bigger threat in attack to get to where they want to be this season.

I just returned from watching the Bowdoin vs. Colby game.  What a new phenomenon at Bowdoin...night games under the lights.  There was a huge crowd and a lot of energy on the sidelines for an early season game.  Colby was surprisingly up 1-0 when I arrived.  I heard that someone hit a low shot under the Bowdoin keeper early in the game.  Bowdoin then equalized before the half.  Colby then regained the lead on a free kick that eluded the Bowdoin keeper...completely against the run of play of the previous 20 minutes or so.  Bowdoin equalized with about 20 minutes to go, and scored the winner with 5 minutes to go to walk off with a 3-2 win.

My quick assessment:  Colby was opportunistic in scoring their two goals.  And they were doing some weird things trying to play the ball out of the back on goal kicks.  It almost backfired on them several times.  I think they'll need to reevaluate that tactic when they're facing the iron of the NESCAC.  Bowdoin looked energetic and dangerous on the attack against a low block.  But I think their keeper Alex Ainsworth...who had a very good season as a sophomore last year...was a bit shaky and will need to solidify his game if Bowdoin are going to be competitive with the Amhersts, Tufts, Conns, and Middleburys of the world.

Nicely done, SC!  I appreciate your dedication and insightfulness.