Paul Newman's NCOY picks...

1) Brandon Bianco
2) Jon Anderson
3) Lumumba Shabazz
4) Jason Kilby
5) Reuben Burk

Wild Cards...Casey Holm (UWEC), Paul McGinlay, Brent Ridenour (Franciscan), Francesco Cardillo (Buffalo State)

Addendum:  Jorge Chapoy (Dickinson)....and someone may have to drop out of my top 5

In the women's bracket a dominant game from the Wash U Bears this evening.  Strong strong possession game from the Bears and goals from three freshmen at the start of the second half.  CNU had a whisper of a chance to get back into the game late when a 1v1 opportunity was blown offside.  With that chance snuffed the Bears rolled to a 3-0 win. 

Quote from: PaulNewman on December 06, 2024, 07:01:59 PMWomen's D1 F4 features FOUR ACC squads.  Stanford (new ACC member) didn't even make the ACC tournament (and the announcers noted that winning the ACC tourney might be tougher than winning national title).  Stanford joined by Wake Forest (leading the Cardinals 1-0 under four min left), UNC, and Duke.  Three of the four obviously very local in Cary, NC where it is a "feels colder" 35 degrees.

Wake just made first national final in their history.  Picked preseason to finish 9th in the ACC.

Yea "feels colder" 35 degrees because my thermometer reads 26 right now.  The bright side is the forecast calls for clear skies and no precipitation until Monday when the temps get back to normal.

Northerners and MidWesterners feel free to laugh.  But I will never forget the first winter I moved here from up north and a freak snow storm arrived mid day with about an inch of snow.  It was Armageddon. I've never seen so many rear wheel drivers getting nowhere while panicking to pick up kids from early closed schools.  I turned to a work colleague and asked him where were all the plows.  His response was there is probably only one DOT plow and it would be somewhere in Charlotte. Oh and power lines here?  All above ground.

The men's college cup is next Friday here in Cary. I may try to go if I can evade work and it is no longer a "feels cold" 35 degrees. 

Perhaps the NCAA should consider a College Cup venue with warmer weather.  Like Las Vegas?

The pitch in Vegas versus the pitch in Cary is like the difference between the picture of the toy on the side of the cereal box and the actual toy inside the box. 

Taken in combination with the ESPN+ broadcast versus whatever the hell this is it really reflects how little the NCAA values DIII soccer.

Quote from: Little Giant 89 on December 06, 2024, 07:46:42 PMIn the women's bracket a dominant game from the Wash U Bears this evening.  Strong strong possession game from the Bears and goals from three freshmen at the start of the second half.  CNU had a whisper of a chance to get back into the game late when a 1v1 opportunity was blown offside.  With that chance snuffed the Bears rolled to a 3-0 win. 

Been watching Wash U all season.  They are unstoppable.

And I thought CNU who I think is the second best team in the country, didn't stand a chance.

SC.

A little bit of Philadelphia press about the national championship game today

A Trio of Penn Fusion Alums Playing for National Championship with Connecticut College

QuoteScoffone, a senior forward from Thornton, Pa. who graduated from Bayard Rustin High School, has led the Camels in goals this season with 10 and has 25 goals to his name for his career. He drew the foul that set up the game-winning free kick in the Camels 1-0 win over Washington and Lee in the semifinal. Jaran, a Downingtown West grad, has started every game this season and has three goals and three assists.

Scoffone and Jaran were teammates on Penn Fusion's 2002 ECNL team.

Gavin Mpiana, a native of South Africa, played for Penn Fusion's 2004 ECNL team and graduated from the Hill School. He's made 40 appearances for the Camels over his first two seasons and has 4 goals and an assist this year.

QuoteAmherst's lone championship came in 2015. One local connection on this year's team is Wilmington, Del. native Joseph Raymond. The reserve forward is the son of Ursuline Academy grad and former Stanford and WNBA center Valerie Whiting, a 2007 inductee into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.

A New London view (behind a paywall)

https://www.theday.com/sports/20241203/conn-college-heading-to-final-four-hoping-for-another-title/

A Massachusetts view

https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-College-battles-Connecticut-College-in-D3-national-championship-58341997

QuoteAlthough Amherst has lost its last three trips to the national championship bout, Mammoths head coach Justin Serpone said his team doesn't talk about previous seasons – even if it's for motivational purposes. They're only focused on what's in front of them, and right now, the Camels are the only thing separating Amherst and a second national title in the last 10 years.

"We're just focused on the next game, the one in front of us," Serpone said. "And that sounds like some sort of coach talk, but it's not. The only way to win single elimination tournaments is by focusing on what's in front of you. Climb the stair that's in front of you."

D3 football opening round is all on ESPN+ at least soccer is free to watch.

Paul Newman's very obvious keys to the championship match....

If I'm Amherst, leave no doubt.  Come out flying and use physical superiority all over the pitch to overwhelm the Camels and force them to submit and tap out due to camel dehydration.  Shellshock the Camels with two goals in first 25 minutes and a third 5 minutes into 2nd half.

If I'm the Camels, survive the initial Mammoths onslaught over first 15-20 minutes and ideally nick a goal in 1st half.  The longer this game stays ultra-tight, advantage to Camels imo although Amherst has won a lot of tightly contested matches.

Can Amherst bury the Camels?  I think there is a real chance...but thus far Amherst has not blown out anyone.

Program best decade on the line lol!

When is opening day for 2025???

And PLEASE....decide this one in regular time or OT.

As has been noted, the color commentator talks WAY.TOO.MUCH.

Quote from: Hopkins92 on December 07, 2024, 03:30:12 PMAs has been noted, the color commentator talks WAY.TOO.MUCH.

But where is our favorite Gettysburg "Voice of D3 Final 4" soccer announcer??

That Novak from England is a heckuva of a player.  Never loses a ball or a challenge and almost always does something positive with the ball too.  Same with Murphy.  The Haberman kid for Conn is gonna be one of the best players in the country the next couple of years.

Reminiscent of the W&L game.  Strong 10-12 minutes for Conn to start, and then pretty much all Amherst after that with Conn getting just enough occasional chances to think they will get one.

That Novak from England is a heckuva of a player.  Never loses a ball or a challenge and almost always does something positive with the ball too.  Same with Murphy.  The Haberman kid for Conn is gonna be one of the best players in the country the next couple of years.

Reminiscent of the W&L game.  Strong 10-12 minutes for Conn to start, and then pretty much all Amherst after that with Conn getting just enough occasional chances to think they will get one.

Quote from: Hopkins92 on December 07, 2024, 03:30:12 PMAs has been noted, the color commentator talks WAY.TOO.MUCH.

For me it's especially her fawning non-stop over every single player on the pitch and subs too...like all of them are Michael Jordan-level talented.

We should set up bingo cards with all the cliques. Always less is more. Totally takes away from the fun of watching. 

These cannot be the best 2 teams in the country. I guess it gets result but some of the worst style of play stuff I've seen just lumping it long to nobody. Very limited technical ability on display outside of Amherst's striker and right winger.