NESCAC

[WilltheMan]

Tufts often gets less respect....they were doubted all the way to their national championship last fall...and proved everybody wrong, making an incredible run against many powerhouses....one hit wonder or not, those boys will never forget it and will forever be history makers for Tufts, bringing home the first national championship....all I can say is let the doubters continue to doubt....it just may provide the fuel for another exceptional year in a very tough division....

One thing is for sure, even with the loss of Santos Tufts will have one of the best midfield combination in the conference and country....

It seems to me that the now sophomores will have the biggest impact on the league.  Look at Conrad as an example from last year.  Just seems like freshman don't get the run as they adjust to both the physical play and all else that comes along with being a freshman.  You kind of know what you get from the uppers but it's really the sophomores who will cause surprises.  Conrad was a recruited as huge athletic center back, look at him now.  I think Tufts, Wesleyan and Trinity all had deep classes last year.  I wouldn't be surprised if the latter outplay expectations.  Lastly I know 4 D1 recruits that walked away from offers and are planning on playing in NESCAC next year.  There have to be others I don't know about and that's the fun of it,  you really can't tell until you see a few games.

I love the writeups from local news and experts

For example: :http://www.iberkshires.com/story/47352/Williams-College-Men-s-Soccer-Season-Outlook.html

...anyone who watched Williams last year-- was 80% of that preview completely wrong?   Just an observation.  Williams will be better just from graduating some of the underachievers.

My Top 4 (so close almost not worth putting in order)
1)Middlebury (Returning talent insane)
2)Tufts (How could you put them lower?)
3)Amherst (Serpone just reloads)
4)Wesleyan....(Wheelers men have a lot of skill and a good coach)

Pickum Williams/Bowdoin  then the rest are a total toss up.  I watch an awful lot of NE soccer.  Saw all teams at least three times last year.

[Brother Flounder]

Tufts often gets less respect....they were doubted all the way to their national championship last fall...and proved everybody wrong, making an incredible run against many powerhouses....one hit wonder or not, those boys will never forget it and will forever be history makers for Tufts, bringing home the first national championship....all I can say is let the doubters continue to doubt....it just may provide the fuel for another exceptional year in a very tough division....

One thing is for sure, even with the loss of Santos Tufts will have one of the best midfield combination in the conference and country....

It seems to me that the now sophomores will have the biggest impact on the league.  Look at Conrad as an example from last year.  Just seems like freshman don't get the run as they adjust to both the physical play and all else that comes along with being a freshman.  You kind of know what you get from the uppers but it's really the sophomores who will cause surprises.  Conrad was a recruited as huge athletic center back, look at him now.  I think Tufts, Wesleyan and Trinity all had deep classes last year.  I wouldn't be surprised if the latter outplay expectations.  Lastly I know 4 D1 recruits that walked away from offers and are planning on playing in NESCAC next year.  There have to be others I don't know about and that's the fun of it,  you really can't tell until you see a few games.

I love the writeups from local news and experts

For example: :http://www.iberkshires.com/story/47352/Williams-College-Men-s-Soccer-Season-Outlook.html

...anyone who watched Williams last year-- was 80% of that preview completely wrong?   Just an observation.  Williams will be better just from graduating some of the underachievers.

My Top 4 (so close almost not worth putting in order)
1)Middlebury (Returning talent insane)
2)Tufts (How could you put them lower?)
3)Amherst (Serpone just reloads)
4)Wesleyan....(Wheelers men have a lot of skill and a good coach)

Pickum Williams/Bowdoin  then the rest are a total toss up.  I watch an awful lot of NE soccer.  Saw all teams at least three times last year.

My Top 4 (so close almost not worth putting in order) Agreed!!!
1)Middlebury (Returning talent insane) Yes, great talent..had some trouble scoring last year in key games. Could win it!
2)Tufts (How could you put them lower?) Agreed.  The midfield works extremely well, starting with Kayne in the attacking middle, then Brown on the outside, and Pineiro playing a hybrid attacking defensive middle.  Don't know who will replace Santos.......
3)Amherst (Serpone just reloads)... Yes.
4)Wesleyan....(Wheelers men have a lot of skill and a good coach) I feel that Wesleyan is just a tad out of the top 3.

Williams will upset the foregoing apple cart if Rashid can play like he did as a freshman.

[Mr.Right]

With Nescac Schedules officially released my thoughts on the 5 non-conference games are mixed...

B+ goes to Tufts and Williams...Williams sticks with RPI,Skidmore,Babson,Endicott and drops Westfield St for SUNY Oneonta..That is pretty challenging. Looks like Sullivan favors more mid-week games than Russo who favored the Sat / Sun games. Sullivan will learn that Nescac teams usually do not get motivated for mid-week away games.Tufts has Brandies and picks up an away game at Keene St at night which is no picnic. The Gordon game does nothing for me. Also they keep Plymouth St and Endicott..

Amherst picks up WPI and keeps there usual 5 road games to help boost their SOS for road wins..I like the strategy except the road games are unimpressive at best..WPI gets picked up for Drew...To me that is an easier win but a night mid-week turf game after a battle with Williams could be problematic.

Colby impresses with a game with Wheaton MA after their Tufts match. The other 4 Maine games are geographically convenient but SOS weak.

Conn and Bowdoin disappoint with weaker schedules than usual even if Bowdoin keeps Babson.

I am most surprised by Wesleyan. Wheeler usually has the best schedule. He drops Wheaton MA and Roger Williams for John Jay and at Haverford..Interesting choice but certainly not tougher than Williams and Tufts schedules. This might have resulted from Wesleyan out of conference losses hurting their 2013 and 2014 NCAA chances.

Midd and Bates get an F...Midd drops Southern Vt for Green Mountain..This is just so BAD and this is your Top team in Nescac for some of these posters..Give me a break.

Bates well is just not even worth talking about...Flaherty likes to pad a couple wins to his resume to give the clueless AD a reason to keep him.

Trinity at least keeps Wheaton

Hamilton usually play SUNY Oneonta.

[NESCACsoccerguy]

I hear that Nico Pascual-Leone (Amherst) and Zach Grady (Williams) are both playing for the Western Mass Pioneers in the PDL? Surely these are the two most talented attacking players Western Mass have ever had, and they will lead the Pioneers to a superb season. Last season Western Mass finished third in the Eastern Conference with 8 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws. Thoughts on where these two NESCAC studs will take this team?

[Off Pitch]

I hear that Nico Pascual-Leone (Amherst) and Zach Grady (Williams) are both playing for the Western Mass Pioneers in the PDL? Surely these are the two most talented attacking players Western Mass have ever had, and they will lead the Pioneers to a superb season. Last season Western Mass finished third in the Eastern Conference with 8 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws. Thoughts on where these two NESCAC studs will take this team?

Well, they are 1-2-1 in the first four games of their 15 game schedule and have scored only two goals in those four games.  Grady has played 177 minutes and has not scored.  Pascual-Leone, on the other hand, has played only 41 minutes but has scored a goal.   Third place in the five team Eastern Conference is a realistic expectation.

[Flying Weasel]

B+ goes to Tufts and Williams...Williams sticks with RPI,Skidmore,Babson,Endicott and drops Westfield St for SUNY Oneonta..That is pretty challenging.

Given the toughness of the NESCAC slate, I think filling four of five non-conference dates with RPI, Skidmore, Babson, and Oneonta St. is very solid, so props to Williams even if RPI and Skidmore are scheduled primarily due to proximity.  Oneonta St-Williams is a great "measuring stick" game for both schools to add to their schedule and is a pretty short trip, relatively speaking.  Would seem to be a good non-conference game for the two schools to maintain year-in-year-out.

Looks like Sullivan favors more mid-week games than Russo who favored the Sat / Sun games. Sullivan will learn that Nescac teams usually do not get motivated for mid-week away games.

Why is that (that NESCAC teams usually don't get motivated for midweek games)?

Hamilton usually play SUNY Oneonta.

Last year was the first time the two teams had ever played each other, if I'm not mistaken.

[PaulNewman]

Is following the PDL and caring who wins a serious thing?  For college kids it's just a good way to prep for the fall season.

And I would bet you those are NOT the two most talented players who have ever played for the Western Mass Pioneers....and probably not even a close call.

[lastguyoffthebench]

PDL is a solid league with plenty of D1 talent looking to get to the next level.    They could very well be the best attackers Western Mass has ever had, but that division is typically weaker than others.  NPL will be in the running for player of the year with Hollingsworth, Andryk from MSOE, Williams from Oneonta St, and Mike Ryan from Rutgers-Camden.

The Mid-Atlantic division has the powerhouse of Reading AC (most alumni for MLS: just in the last two seasons, I think 10+ players have been drafted and are on active rosters).  Jersey Express made the final in 2014, and OC Nor'easters made the final 4 in 2013.  Factor in the Red Bulls U-23, and DC United U-23 it shapes up to be a very deep division.  In 2013, OC Noreasters lost to Unions starting XI at PPL Park in injury time of the 3rd round of the Open Cup (game can be seen on youtube).

Also, you can catch some good games on live stream in the PDL if you have nothing better to do.   Michigan Bucks is always competitive. 


In other soccer news... how did Thailand's mens team not beat Norway in the WC over the weekend?

[Brother Flounder]

PDL is a solid league with plenty of D1 talent looking to get to the next level.    They could very well be the best attackers Western Mass has ever had, but that division is typically weaker than others.  NPL will be in the running for player of the year with Hollingsworth, Andryk from MSOE, Williams from Oneonta St, and Mike Ryan from Rutgers-Camden.


I like to favor players who play harder schedules and have good all around games, that is being playmakers who play great defense....who may be considered underdogs given that their stats may not be off the charts.  Hollingsworth, though not an underdog, fits that category (if he stays healthy).  Kayne from Tufts also fits that category, who, based on conversations with people knowledgeable about Tufts, was an integral part to Tufts NCAA Championship run.  Aside from being playmakers, both play stellar defense.  I am not sure about Andryk's all around game.  The goalie from Tufts, Greenwood, should get some consideration.  Rashid, from Williams, if healthy (he has had injuries every year), could be a dark horse. Williams is good.

[Flying Weasel]

The goalie from Tufts, Greenwood, should get some consideration. 

I meant to ask this last fall after the Final Four, but with Scott Greenwood's name coming up again I will finally ask the question.  Why is Greenwood considered to be so good? 

I ask because his save percentage in 2014 was only .797 which ranked just 113th in men's Division III.  In fact, before the NCAA tournament, his save percentage was a mere .743 which wasn't even ranked in the top 200.  Now, I know that stats don't tell the whole story, so what's the rest of the story?  Are some judging him purely on some top displays in the tournament?  Was he fighting any injuries during the regular season that need to be taken into consideration?  OK, he plays in the tough NESCAC which might produce less impressive stats, but on the other hand the NESCAC hasn't exactly been this high-scoring top-attacking conference in recents times.  And in any case, there's a big difference between a tough schedule resulting in a .875 save pct. instead of a save pct. over .900, and a sub .800 save pct. that doesn't even rank in the top 100.  While I saw him make some nice saves in the tournament, every time somehow sang his praises and threw his name out their for end-of-year honors, I just couldn't reconcile that with his statistics which were average at best across all of D-III. 

So help me understand why Greenwood is considered so good?  Honestly, this isn't a dig at him.  It's a genuine curiousity on my part.

[Brother Flounder]

The goalie from Tufts, Greenwood, should get some consideration. 

I meant to ask this last fall after the Final Four, but with Scott Greenwood's name coming up again I will finally ask the question.  Why is Greenwood considered to be so good? 

I ask because his save percentage in 2014 was only .797 which ranked just 113th in men's Division III.  In fact, before the NCAA tournament, his save percentage was a mere .743 which wasn't even ranked in the top 200.  Now, I know that stats don't tell the whole story, so what's the rest of the story?  Are some judging him purely on some top displays in the tournament?  Was he fighting any injuries during the regular season that need to be taken into consideration?  OK, he plays in the tough NESCAC which might produce less impressive stats, but on the other hand the NESCAC hasn't exactly been this high-scoring top-attacking conference in recents times.  And in any case, there's a big difference between a tough schedule resulting in a .875 save pct. instead of a save pct. over .900, and a sub .800 save pct. that doesn't even rank in the top 100.  While I saw him make some nice saves in the tournament, every time somehow sang his praises and threw his name out their for end-of-year honors, I just couldn't reconcile that with his statistics which were average at best across all of D-III. 

So help me understand why Greenwood is considered so good?  Honestly, this isn't a dig at him.  It's a genuine curiousity on my part.

Here is my take on what I have seen... It's his presence and confidence and big saves in pressure situations.  I note your take on save percentage and it is something that could be looked at...but it doesn't tell what saves were relatively easy or hard so I am not sure it is an accurate measure.....I guess the same could be said for GAA since a team with a great set of defenders and midfielders can help keep that stat down....

[PaulNewman]

And supposedly Tufts had fantastic defenders and midfielders....

[PaulNewman]

I hear that Nico Pascual-Leone (Amherst) and Zach Grady (Williams) are both playing for the Western Mass Pioneers in the PDL? Surely these are the two most talented attacking players Western Mass have ever had, and they will lead the Pioneers to a superb season. Last season Western Mass finished third in the Eastern Conference with 8 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws. Thoughts on where these two NESCAC studs will take this team?

Well, they are 1-2-1 in the first four games of their 15 game schedule and have scored only two goals in those four games.  Grady has played 177 minutes and has not scored.  Pascual-Leone, on the other hand, has played only 41 minutes but has scored a goal.   Third place in the five team Eastern Conference is a realistic expectation.

So based on those stats so far I wouldn't say they rank as "all time greats" in Pioneers history.  The Pioneers by the way have been around for a long time and play in a historic stadium in soccer-savvy and soccer-rich Ludlow, Mass.

And let's remember that Grady wasn't even a starter at Williams until his senior year and might well not have started that year either if Rashid had been healthy.

[PaulNewman]

Greenwood is athletic with very good instincts and capable of spectacular saves.  He is on the smallish side for a GK.  To be honest, I'm shocked about the stats posted by Flying Weasel.

[NEPitch62]

With respect to all posters here, I'd like to address the questions around Scott Greenwood.  As a NESCAC fan, I've seen Greenwood on a number of occasions and I have to say that he was the missing link to Shapiro's plan for making that incredible run in the tournament.  His athleticism on the field is unmatched and his vocal command of the (very strong) Tufts back line prevents shots from even making their way to the net.  His GAA was very strong (20th nationally) which I believe to be the ultimate stat for a goalkeeper.  He had a couple of soft games (Bowdoin at the end of the NESCAC season) but in the end, he is everything Coach Shapiro could ask for in a keeper - and a national champion and most outstanding defensive player of the NCAA Tourney - as a second yr player.

I also hear he made the Boston Rams summer team (NE Revs amateur affiliate) and is doing very well.