CCIW

[Gregory Sager]

Exactly. Reserves is soccerese for "junior varsity".

[OldNed]

Exactly. Reserves is soccerese for "junior varsity".

Thanks - that's what I figured, but I wanted to be sure.  How many D3 schools have reserve teams?

[Gregory Sager]

Good question. Unfortunately, the answer I have is, "No idea."

Many, if not most, of NPU's reserve contests are against junior colleges rather than against fellow D3 reserve squads. As a Chicago-based school, North Park is fortunate to be in an area that has a plethora of junior colleges. There are a couple of benefits to playing them rather than other D3 reserve squads. Soccerwise, the juco programs in Chicago and the inner-ring suburbs almost entirely consist of young men from working-class immigrant families, mostly Mexican but with a few players from African or Polish or other Latino immigrant families sprinkled in there as well. In other words, they're all kids from soccer-crazy communities who started learning how to control a soccer ball as soon as they first learned to walk, and who are the products of highly-active youth soccer leagues set up within their ethnic communities. Their skill level and their speed tends to be very high, which makes those teams useful opponents for a D3 reserve squad. The second benefit is that, as juco students, they represent a potential pool of recruits for North Park.

[WUPHF]

Let's not tell Steven Miller, but it is true about the Chicago area community colleges.

For example, the current roster of Truman College: http://citycollegesofchicagoathletics.com/sports/2017/7/27/TCMSOCROST2017.aspx?id=100&;

[gustiefan04]

At least in the Midwest, I think its fairly common for D3 schools to have reserve or JV teams. Most MIAC and IIAC schools have them. I know that other CCIW schools do as well, like Auggie and Carthage for example. I believe there are some NACC schools with reserve squads too.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

At least in the Midwest, I think its fairly common for D3 schools to have reserve or JV teams. Most MIAC and IIAC schools have them. I know that other CCIW schools do as well, like Auggie and Carthage for example. I believe there are some NACC schools with reserve squads too.

To my knowledge, separate "reserve" or JV squads are quite uncommon in the Northeast.  What is more likely is that the varsity roster would be ~35 (instead of 23-25), and the bottom 15 or so who seldom, if ever, see the field in varsity games would have the opportunity to play competitive games against reserves from other schools (or JVs, CCs, etc.) as a means of developing those players for the future (or proving that they deserve actual playing time in varsity games).  [Many or all of theses players likely do not travel to away games.]  The large rosters also insure that there will always be a good turnout at practice (when classes, labs, injuries, etc. interfere with full attendance).

[Gregory Sager]

I think that you're misinterpreting what gustiefan04 and I have said, 1970s NESCAC Player. The programs in the midwestern states don't have separate reserve rosters. They each have one unified roster, from which the bottom portion of the depth chart plays in reserve games.

[Ejay]

Let's not tell Steven Miller, but it is true about the Chicago area community colleges.

For example, the current roster of Truman College: http://citycollegesofchicagoathletics.com/sports/2017/7/27/TCMSOCROST2017.aspx?id=100&

What I found most interesting (and completely irrelevant)... only 3 players on a roster of 25 were 6'0 or taller, and two were keepers. As a point of comparison, U Chicago has 8 (no keepers) and North Park had 18 last year.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

I think that you're misinterpreting what gustiefan04 and I have said, 1970s NESCAC Player. The programs in the midwestern states don't have separate reserve rosters. They each have one unified roster, from which the bottom portion of the depth chart plays in reserve games.

If you read my last post, I'm agreeing that the northeast is the same.  Programs don't have separate reserve rosters.  Bottom of depth chart plays in reserve games.

[Gregory Sager]

That wasn't really clear in your last post. Glad you've cleared it up.

[Gregory Sager]

Preseason poll is out:

1. North Park	62	(7)
2. Carthage	55	(2)
3. Wheaton	48
4. Illinois Wesleyan	45
5. North Central	36
6. Elmhurst	31
7. Millikin	24
8. Carroll	12
9. Augustana	11

[Gotberg]

Preseason poll is out:

1. North Park	62	(7)
2. Carthage	55	(2)
3. Wheaton	48
4. Illinois Wesleyan	45
5. North Central	36
6. Elmhurst	31
7. Millikin	24
8. Carroll	12
9. Augustana	11

Given NP's success last year and number of returnees, I'm surprised the vote wasn't unanimous (deserving or not)

[Gregory Sager]

It can't be unanimous, because John Born can't put NPU #1. Coaches only rank the other eight teams.

John obviously slotted Carthage #1 on his ballot. Somebody other than John and CC head coach Steve Domin slotted Carthage in the top spot as well.

[Gotberg]

It can't be unanimous, because John Born can't put NPU #1. Coaches only rank the other eight teams.

John obviously slotted Carthage #1 on his ballot. Somebody other than John and CC head coach Steve Domin slotted Carthage in the top spot as well.

Based on the voting approach, getting 8 votes would be my definition of unanimous.

[Gregory Sager]

I'm curious as to who picked Carthage over North Park.