D3 Conference styles?

[Flying Weasel]

You make a lot of good points, Ishmael55.  But while it's true that size, strength, and speed is often the emphasis in the collegiate game and that the style will more often than not lean toward long ball even if the coach's desire and goal is otherwise, it's also true that there are some programs and coaches who year after year are able to buck that trend.  If a player does want to play in a more possession-oriented, ball on the deck, build the attack out of the back and through the midfield style, there are some schools a player can pursue in which they can almost be gauranteed that that's the style that will predominate.  Now, such schools/coaches are in the minority and there's all sorts of reasons why the school may not be a good fit for the player and/or the coach may not be interested in the player.  Academics, extra-curriculars, geography, worldview/religious/faith orientation, student body size, etc. (all the non-soccer/sports stuff) should typically be given higher consideration, but I do not think that consideration of style of play should be automatically thrown out entirely.

[Nutmeg]

You make a lot of good points, Ishmael55.  But while it's true that size, strength, and speed is often the emphasis in the collegiate game and that the style will more often than not lean toward long ball even if the coach's desire and goal is otherwise, it's also true that there are some programs and coaches who year after year are able to buck that trend.  If a player does want to play in a more possession-oriented, ball on the deck, build the attack out of the back and through the midfield style, there are some schools a player can pursue in which they can almost be gauranteed that that's the style that will predominate.  Now, such schools/coaches are in the minority and there's all sorts of reasons why the school may not be a good fit for the player and/or the coach may not be interested in the player.  Academics, extra-curriculars, geography, worldview/religious/faith orientation, student body size, etc. (all the non-soccer/sports stuff) should typically be given higher consideration, but I do not think that consideration of style of play should be automatically thrown out entirely

I have to agree with weasel here. There are some programs that play good soccer, as I mentioned above, and the NESCAC has a couple of those teams.  Regarding the NESCAC, and a good education, I wonder what the average salary of grads compares to the average salary of mls rookies....

[Nutmeg]

By the way, where is neckswivel or swivelneck?

[D3soccerwatcher]

Many on this string seem to be saying you have to choose academics OR great soccer...but you really can't have both.  Pointing to NESCAC to prove their point.  This is the tyranny of the OR.

I prefer the genius of the AND.  I contend that you can have top academics AND great soccer in D3. 

Some of the best schools that exemplify top academics AND play great soccer include...
Franklin & Marshall College (Centennial)
Wheaton College (CCIW)
Kenyon (NCAC)

Others schools the have great academics AND work to play a good style of soccer include...
Swarthmore (Centennial)
Haverford (Centennial)
Washington & Lee (ODAC)
Dickinson (Centennial)
Grove City College (PAC)