NESCAC

[lastguyoffthebench]

There is absolutely no way NESCAC gets 5 teams in.     Amherst and Tufts seem to be locks...  Williams, Middlebury, Wesleyan will be battling for that 3rd spot (with the potential for a 4).

I agree that Tufts should be ranked.  What are you thoughts on how NCAA would rank?  I think the first three are clear, then some separation with lots of shuffling to come.

1) Amherst
2) Brandies
3) Tufts
-------------------------------
4) Wheaton MA (tied Wesleyan, loss to Brandeis, beat Babson)
5) Middlebury (tied Wheaton, Amherst, and Tufts, but loss to Williams.  Slightly stronger SOS, better win %)
6) Williams (beat Middlebury and Wesleyan, but lost to Babson... have stronger SOS)
7) Babson (losses to Oneonta St, Brandeis, Coast Guard, Wheaton... Higher SOS than Coast Guard)
8) Wesleyan
9) Coast Guard
10 WPI
11 Gordon

     

[Mr.Right]

I didn't say they would get 5 teams but have the potential to. Also, Tufts is not a lock because they have 3 draws. They still have work to do.

New England usually get 7 to 8 teams in because of the number of teams in the region.

[Mr.Right]

This weekend is HUGE for regional rankings but if it was done today I think it would look like this-

1. Brandeis
2. Amherst
3. Wheaton
4. Tufts
5. Coast Guard
6. Babson
7. Williams
8. Midd
9. WPI
10. ECONN
11. Bowdoin

[PaulNewman]

Mr.Right, it is very odd because you started this thread and then proceeded in a quite manicky fashion to reel off a bunch of posts in a row.  You also said you wanted the new thread because the other was so biased, and then you went on to take swipes at Amherst and Kenyon.  Some of your statements were wild.  I actually don't think Williams does have more academy players than Kenyon, and Kenyon already demonstrated last year that they can go toe-to-toe with Messiah.  The teams are virtually the same except Messiah is missing last year's National POY or National Off POY.

[Mr.Right]

Best Fields in Nescac:

4 legitimate grass fields with solid dimensions-

Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin and Hamilton

3 grass fields with narrow dimensions and average grass-

Colby, Tufts ans Bates

1 crap turf field-

Midd

2 absolute disgraces-
Conn- an improvement from their last field in the middle of campus but still bad grass and women's field dimensions.
Wes- same field that was used in the 1950's. horrible grass with actual mini ditches.

[Mr.Right]

Mr.Right, it is very odd because you started this thread and then proceeded in a quite manicky fashion to reel off a bunch of posts in a row.  You also said you wanted the new thread because the other was so biased, and then you went on to take swipes at Amherst and Kenyon.  Some of your statements were wild.  I actually don't think Williams does have more academy players than Kenyon, and Kenyon already demonstrated last year that they can go toe-to-toe with Messiah.  The teams are virtually the same except Messiah is missing last year's National POY or National Off POY.

Kenyon has a couple MA kids from Silver Lake RHS, a couple Berkshire school kids who wanted Williams and a few other Nescac's but the schools were not interested and an Andover kid that also Nescac schools passed on. After watching Kenyon last night they are NOT the best team in D3 and would struggle to crack the top 4 in Nescac.

[PaulNewman]

OK, Mr.Right, go ahead and pop off another 15 posts. 

BTW, there's exactly one unbeaten, untied team in the entire country right now.

[Mr.Right]

If you are so sure about the academy kid ratio between Kenyon and Williams please present your research and prove it to me. Personally I do not really care but anyway I would like to know the facts

[Mr.Right]

OK, Mr.Right, go ahead and pop off another 15 posts. 

BTW, there's exactly one unbeaten, untied team in the entire country right now.

I seem to have hit a nerve. I apologize for that. You should start a Kenyon thread

[Mr.Right]

Also I did not know there was a rule about multiple posts and I am not forcing you to read my posts. If you are offended in anyway I do apologize but I allowed to have an opinion

[PaulNewman]

Lol.  You did say this is the UNBIASED thread, correct?

BTW, I defended Williams in the other discussion, pointing out as you did that it is rather silly to question Williams' recruiting right after they went to 2 straight final fours.  That said, wouldn't you say that Williams could use those Berkshire kids?  And where were your facts and research when you popped off that Williams has more academy kids?  And do you know for a fact what schools all of these kids applied to?  Do you know which kids made All-State, All-New England, etc and what clubs they played for and how highly those club teams were ranked? 

[Mr.Right]

Honestly it is not important to me. I do know for a fact that those Berkshire school kids wanted a couple NESCAC's badly. Williams was not the only school to pass on them and no I do not feel Williams would rather have them. Again I have no agenda and am pretty fair. I really do not want to get in a back and forth about this. Academy players are not the end all be all. They are designed to attract affluent kids except for MLS academy teams who get the best players no matter if you can pay or not. Example: Charlie Romero a great Williams striker never played club soccer because he played multiple sports in high school.

[All NESCAC]

After a very demanding work week plan to get back on the previews and roundups this weekend, though will skip Trinity game tonight.  Did watch Bates v Curry live Monday, 4-0 win for Bates.  Peabo Knoth had one of his quieter games and right winger Nate Merchant was their best player.  Three of the four goals netted by freshman for a team that may soon be dubbed the "Baby Bobcats."

Think the league really started to take shape after weekend and we now have three tiers barring a major run of form somewhere one way or the other.

TIER 1

Home teams for tournament locking in.  Amherst, Tufts, a resurgent Williams and Wesleyan looking like the top four.  I continue to believe Tufts may just win this whole thing.

TIER 2

Middlebury and a red hot Bowdoin starting look very safe bets for playoff spots, and seem to playing well in addition to that.

TIER 3

A five team league, of which the top two will make the tournament.  One game (three points) separates this league top to bottom.  This could make for some fun viewing over the next 3 games.

Current standings are;
Conn College 7pts
Bates 6pts
Trinity 5pts
Colby 4pts
Hamilton 4pts

Crunch games left here are Hamilton @ Colby (this weekend), a game that could leave the loser down and out.  Also Conn @ Trinity (10/25) and Colby @ Bates 10/29.

Tie breaker is head to head I believe so status there is;
Conn have edge over Hamilton
Bates have edge over Conn and Trinity
Trinity have edge over Colby
Colby have no edge but yet to play Hamilton and Bates
Hamilton have edge over Bates.

Good luck to the Bantams tonight.

In an effort to provide an "unbiased NESCAC" site (and equal time) I do agree with MENESCACFAN's above stratification Tiers.  Big games this coming weekend which will have an impact in all the Tiers, and yet all the teams still hold their own destinies--win out or win 2 and tie the third and you've got your spot.  the parity in the league this year (or maybe its the lack of a dominate team) tells me I wouldn't be surprised to see some upsets this coming weekend.   

[MENESCACFAN]

Got to agree All-NESCAC.  Have to say, I am going to find that bottom tier by far the most interesting viewing until the playoffs come around.  When the two "league" winners will likely be dispatched by Tufts and Amherst.

[Mr.Right]

Tufts- I truly am a fan of Tufts and the way they play. They deserve to be in the top 25 and could crack the top 20 with a win over Williams.  They might have the most talented team ON PAPER in the conference but that does not mean they will win it all. Greenwood might be the 2nd best goalie in the league (behind Bull). Sam Williams and Peter Lee Kramer have to be the best center back combo in the league. They are physical and athletic and very dangerous on set pieces in the air. Patel is an average wing back and to be honest I am not familiar with the other wing back. I believe he is a frosh but am curious to why Connor Schaible if healthy is not starting there as I always liked him as one of the better wing backs in the league. In midfield I have been wondering all season as to why Kento Nakamura is not getting significant playing time. I felt the past 3 years he was one of their most skilled players(2nd to Santos). Now that is one player I bet some other Nescac teams would love to have playing for them. Pinheiro is a skilled midfielder who strikes a great ball and certainly is a threat to score from set pieces. We all know Santos' exceptional speed and 1v1 play. Hoppenot can drift in and out of games but has a nose for the goal that is exciting to watch. Hoppenot has been a Williams' killer in the past. I think in he might have 3 or 4 goals against Williams. Tufts has considerable depth off the bench. Kayne and Majumder are very dangerous threats to score. Majumder is a physical force up top and plays well with his back to goal. He has quick feet for a big guy. If he had struck the ball better against Brandeis and scored on that half break away I believe Tufts would have won that game.