New England Soccer Discussion

[amh63]

ECSU.....nothing to say about a 6-0 game outcome I see.  Your posts here have been enjoyable for me...educational really.    I have posted that I do not understand the game...it's many nuances ... how one individual can often change a team game.  Very fustrating for me to watch...therefore..remain a poor student.

[ECSUalum]

Amh63,
Poor Salem State... everybody is beating on them this year.  It was a good game for the freshman Warriors to get some playing time, and obviously they did  very well!!
I think Coach DeVito will have a pretty good team in 2015-6 and 2016-7 if all these Fr. and So. players pan out.  I really like sophomore forwards Konnor Scarponi and Tyler Jones, both leading scorers this year.  Greg Walton our keeper is pretty solid and we have a very good defense.  Number 1 this year is to get the young players some experience in the college game and hope for bigger things next 2 years!!

BTW, looking forward to another NCAA tourney appearance from the Lord Jeffs this year. The team is just starting to rock and roll   Hope everyone stays healthy!!

[ECSUalum]

Cancer survivor Jon DeCasanova scores his first goal this year and since 2011 to lead ECSU over U of Southern Maine 4-0
http://gowarriorathletics.com/sports/msoc/2014-15/releases/20141011d6edhf

[Off Pitch]

Some observations about the Oct 14 NSCAA New England rankings:

#1 Brandeis - the Judges have played and beaten the #s 4, 5, 6, and 7 teams in New England. They have earned #1.

#2 Amherst - defeated #8, tied #s 5 and 9.

#3 Coast Guard - Defeated #7.  Still must play Wheaton and WPI, but seems overrated based on soft schedule to date.

#4 Wheaton - Defeated #6 and 7, lost to #1.  This is a dangerous team with a lot of talent and should be ranked #3.

#5 Tufts - lost to #1 and tied #s 2 and 9

#6 WPI - lost to #s 1 and 4

#7 Babson - defeated #8, lost to #s 1, 3 and 4 as well as nationally ranked #4 (Oneonta).  All 4 losses have been to nationally ranked teams.

#8 Williams - defeated #9, lost to #s 2 and 7.  This ranking seems about right.

#9 Middlebury - Tied #s 2 and 5, lost to #8

#10 Nichols - has not played any of the currently ranked teams

Brandeis and Babson have played the toughest schedules which should help for potential NCAA selection.  Babson does not have a huge margin for error and will likely have to beat WPI and possibly Bowdoin to be comfortable.  Tufts also looks well positioned with a probable win over Williams Saturday.  Brandeis last year (and also this year) swept New England competition and then seems to stumble in conference which leads me to believe that the UAA may for the moment be stronger than the NESCAC and NEWMAC.

Coast Guard and Nichols have not really been sufficiently tested, but this weekend's Coast Guard vs. WPI game should tell us more about each team.  Neither team has much offensive firepower, so I think WPI takes that one 1-0 if either can find the net.  Either Nichols or Gordon, but not both, gets into the NCAA tournament due to weak scheduling.

[ECSUalum]

from gowarriorathletics.com:
ECSU defeats Rhode Island College 2-0, but gets mugged in the process, losing two key players to injury.  Having been issued 12 yellow cards through its first 13 matches, Rhode Island accumulated two more in a span of less than three minutes in the first half. One minute later, RIC head coach John Mello was given a red-card ejection. Eastern lost sophomore scoring leader Tyler Jones and  starting sophomore midfielder Nicholas Warren – second on the team in assists – to injuries in the first half, neither of whom returned. Jones left the match in the 17th minute, and Warren followed five minutes later.
Rhode Island College players need to be disciplined, however I think Mello encourages these actions. As well, the referee for this game was A JOKE!!! On the other hand ECSU has the best record in the LEC with respect to fouls, yellow and red cards. This RIC style of play is frankly pathetic !!!!!!!!
This mugging may cost the Warriors a LE Conference title, if Jones and Warren are out for an extended period.    

[Mr.Right]

RIC coach is known to be an absolute nightmare. What led up to him getting the red?

[ECSUalum]

RIC coach is known to be an absolute nightmare. What led up to him getting the red?

Not sure, however he probably made a poor choice of words to the ref based on some play on the field he did not agree with

[Off Pitch]

Regional rankings for 10/22:

1.  Brandeis - consensus best team in New England
2.  Coast Guard - will likely slide with ECSU tie and projected loss at Wheaton Saturday
3.  Tufts
4.  Amherst
5.  Wheaton
6.  Babson - must beat WPI and ECSU to rise
7.  Wesleyan - Trinity and Middlebury games this week put this ranking in jeopardy
8.  Gordon - this may be near their ceiling given the soft schedule
9.  Middlebury - must beat Wesleyan to partially offset loss to Castleton St.
10.  Williams - Middlebury and Wesleyan are best wins so also hurt by Middlebury loss
11.  WPI - must beat Babson to stick

Brandeis, Amherst, Tufts and Wheaton will be a solid top 4 with positions 5-11 up for grabs with some key games this weekend.

[Off Pitch]

Looking forward to the 10/29 rankings...

1. Brandeis - entrenched at #1, no games this week
2. Tufts - moves to #2 with win vs. Hamilton
3. Amherst - might they take Mt St Mary's lightly, should win and move up to #3
4. Wheaton - key NEWMAC game vs. Coast Guard.  Solidifies position in top 4 with win.
5. Coast Guard - could surprise naysayers with win vs Wheaton and stay at #2.  will slide to #5 with expected 2-1 loss
6. Babson - tough weekend vs WPI and ECSU.  SOS, already among the best in region, will improve.  Could climb with 2 wins or drop out entirely with 2 losses.  Prediction:  1-0 win over WPI, 0-0 tie to ECSU
7. Wesleyan - holds on to #7 with win at Middlebury, loss would drop them to 10 or 11
8. Gordon - holds position with win over Salve Regina
9. Williams - beats Bates and moves up 1 spot as Middlebury drops
10. Middlebury
11. WPI with win or tie vs Babson, OR ECSU with win vs Babson, OR Trinity with win vs. Conn

[ECSUalum]

UMass Dartmouth outplayed Eastern today and deserved the win 1-0.  The Warriors played like the young team that they are today
So, that is basically it for winning the conference and home field advantage, which is not an advantage this year, so maybe that a good thing. They better play a LOT better in the LEC tourney than today, or it will be a short season!!!

[Off Pitch]

Looking forward to the 10/29 rankings ...

1. Brandeis - entrenched at #1, no games this week
2. Tufts - moves to #2 with win vs. Hamilton
3. Amherst - might they take Mt St Mary's lightly, should win and move up to #3
4. Wheaton - key NEWMAC game vs. Coast Guard.  Solidifies position in top 4 with win.
5. Coast Guard - could surprise naysayers with win vs Wheaton and stay at #2.  will slide to #5 with expected 2-1 loss
6. Babson - tough weekend vs WPI and ECSU.  SOS, already among the best in region, will improve.  Could climb with 2 wins or drop out entirely with 2 losses.  Prediction:  1-0 win over WPI, 0-0 tie to ECSU
7. Wesleyan - holds on to #7 with win at Middlebury, loss would drop them to 10 or 11
8. Gordon - holds position with win over Salve Regina
9. Williams - beats Bates and moves up 1 spot as Middlebury drops
10. Middlebury
11. WPI with win or tie vs Babson, OR ECSU with win vs Babson, OR Trinity with win vs. Conn

After the weekend, here are the rankings that will be released 10/29 (based on a spreadsheet updating last week's NE data sheet):

1. Brandies
2. Tufts
3. Coast Guard- won't hold the #2 spot with two ties
4. Amherst - win vs Mount St Mary would have moved them to #3
5. Wheaton - tied Coast Guard, can't make case for moving past them

2-5 are very closely bunched and all should be in relatively good shape for an at-large selection (if necessary)

6-11 will likely have to finish with a bang to have a shot.  I susptect we may not be happy with the number of teams selected from New England this year.

6. WPI - probably needs to beat MIT and make NEWMAC finals
7. Babson - needs to beat Lasell, Emerson, and make NEWMAC finals
8. Gordon - needs to beat Roger Williams and make CCC finals
9. Middlebury - needs to beat Plymouth St. and make NESCAC finals
10. Wesleyan - needs to beat Conn College and make NESCAC finals
11. Williams - needs to beat Hamilton and make NESCAC finals

It may be a tad difficult for Middlebury, Wesleyan and Williams to ALL make the NESCAC final.  At best, one of these teams may move into position to compete for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.  NEWMAC may be in a better position to get 3 in.

The only other teams within reach of the top 11 are UMass-Boston and New England College.  Neither has a prayer of receiving an at large bid.  Bowdoin, Western New England and Nichols are the next tier down.

[Off Pitch]

After the weekend, here are the rankings that will be released 10/29 (based on a spreadsheet updating last week's NE data sheet):

1. Brandies
2. Tufts
3. Coast Guard- won't hold the #2 spot with two ties
4. Amherst - win vs Mount St Mary would have moved them to #3
5. Wheaton - tied Coast Guard, can't make case for moving past them

2-5 are very closely bunched and all should be in relatively good shape for an at-large selection (if necessary)

6-11 will likely have to finish with a bang to have a shot.  I susptect we may not be happy with the number of teams selected from New England this year.

6. WPI - probably needs to beat MIT and make NEWMAC finals
7. Babson - needs to beat Lasell, Emerson, and make NEWMAC finals
8. Gordon - needs to beat Roger Williams and make CCC finals
9. Middlebury - needs to beat Plymouth St. and make NESCAC finals
10. Wesleyan - needs to beat Conn College and make NESCAC finals
11. Williams - needs to beat Hamilton and make NESCAC finals

It may be a tad difficult for Middlebury, Wesleyan and Williams to ALL make the NESCAC final.  At best, one of these teams may move into position to compete for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.  NEWMAC may be in a better position to get 3 in.

[ECSUalum]

ECSU's mens soccer season continues to crash and burn, as they trail lowly Plymouth St 1-0 with 20 min left!  Absolutely dead from an offensive standpoint the last 4 games.  Unless they can score to tie, its lights out for this season . I guess they can chalk it up to experience for this year .  On to basketball in two weeks

[ECSUalum]

ECSU squeaks into LEC tourney with 1-1 tie with Plymouth.

BTW, The broadcast from ECSU on Sidestream video was ridiculous today, freezing every couple of minutes especially during second half, made it impossible to watch.  Maybe EZ Stream should be revisited!!

[Off Pitch]

After the weekend, here are the rankings that will be released 10/29 (based on a spreadsheet updating last week's NE data sheet):

1. Brandies
2. Tufts
3. Coast Guard- won't hold the #2 spot with two ties
4. Amherst - win vs Mount St Mary would have moved them to #3
5. Wheaton - tied Coast Guard, can't make case for moving past them

2-5 are very closely bunched and all should be in relatively good shape for an at-large selection (if necessary)

6-11 will likely have to finish with a bang to have a shot.  I susptect we may not be happy with the number of teams selected from New England this year.

6. WPI - probably needs to beat MIT and make NEWMAC finals
7. Babson - needs to beat Lasell, Emerson, and make NEWMAC finals
8. Gordon - needs to beat Roger Williams and make CCC finals
9. Middlebury - needs to beat Plymouth St. and make NESCAC finals
10. Wesleyan - needs to beat Conn College and make NESCAC finals
11. Williams - needs to beat Hamilton and make NESCAC finals
It may be a tad difficult for Middlebury, Wesleyan and Williams to ALL make the NESCAC final.  At best, one of these teams may move into position to compete for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.  NEWMAC may be in a better position to get 3 in.