NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

yes usually the Thursday before NCAA's the Nescac teams are announced followed by an OUTCRY of Amherst players / alums questioning why a lot of their players have been left off. Coaches screwing Amherst this way and that. Will that trend continue this year?


                                                                               Yes           -125
                                                                                No           +115

RIGHT, thoughts on First Team???

[blooter442]

Yes but he is helped a nudge by Bowdoin's deliberate style. After Bowdoin's great NCAA Final 4 run in 2010 they had a 2-3 year nightmare in GOAL before Van Siclien arrived. They had some great teams with some horrible goaltending that really HURT them from 2011-2013. That was on O'Leary for not recruiting a legit GK and I believe they even had to beg an average at best GK Will Wise who was a Lax player to play in net. They are very happy Van Siclien is in Brunswick for another 2 years.

Certainly a fair point that Bowdoin's style helps him out, but his record - especially in PKs - is commendable. Dan Hicks was a good goalkeeper and was commanding, but you're right, there did seem to be a void for a while.

I was impressed by Van Siclen last year, not just because of the PK saves but the way he commanded his box so well for a first-year, and he's improved this year. Perhaps Bowdoin will even begin to  take more risks offensively since they have the confidence of having him back there. I don't mean to sound premature, and this is totally speculation, but if he continues to improve I think he could be an All-American by his senior year - he's got serious talent. That said, he also plays hockey, but with the competitiveness of the Bowdoin soccer program and his huge role in that success, he may well shift his attention to the pitch. We'll have to see.

[Brother Flounder]

Yes but he is helped a nudge by Bowdoin's deliberate style. After Bowdoin's great NCAA Final 4 run in 2010 they had a 2-3 year nightmare in GOAL before Van Siclien arrived. They had some great teams with some horrible goaltending that really HURT them from 2011-2013. That was on O'Leary for not recruiting a legit GK and I believe they even had to beg an average at best GK Will Wise who was a Lax player to play in net. They are very happy Van Siclien is in Brunswick for another 2 years.

Certainly a fair point that Bowdoin's style helps him out, but his record - especially in PKs - is commendable. Dan Hicks was a good goalkeeper and was commanding, but you're right, there did seem to be a void for a while.

I was impressed by Van Siclen last year, not just because of the PK saves but the way he commanded his box so well for a first-year, and he's improved this year. Perhaps Bowdoin will even begin to  take some risks offensively since they have the confidence of having him back there. I don't mean to sound premature, and this is totally speculation, but if he continues to improve I think he could be an All-American by his senior year - he's got serious talent. That said, he also plays hockey, but with the competitiveness of the Bowdoin soccer program and his huge role in that success, he may well shift his attention to the pitch. We'll have to see.

Speaking of All-Americans, how many will the NESCAC get???

[Mr.Right]

Well I have said many times he is a D1 Keeper that should be in the Ivies or even a BC but they they all stayed away because of the 2 ACL's he had before college. Coaches figure with that injury will 1. Either come more injuries or 2. He cannot get low quick enough. He has proven them all wrong so far. Even a couple top Nescac sides stayed away and with him liking / playing hockey I imagine that is why he chose Bowdoin.

[blooter442]

Well I have said many times he is a D1 Keeper that should be in the Ivies or even a BC but they they all stayed away because of the 2 ACL's he had before college. Coaches figure with that injury will 1. Either come more injuries or 2. He cannot get low quick enough. He has proven them all wrong so far. Even a couple top Nescac sides stayed away and with him liking / playing hockey I imagine that is why he chose Bowdoin.

Good point. Wiercinski made a comment last year about how he supports the two-sport athlete, and I bet a lot of other coaches probably wouldn't be so open to the idea. But if the kid is doing well in both sports and neither is detrimental, then who cares?

Speaking of All-Americans, how many will the NESCAC get???

Oomf. Tough question. Amherst could have as many as three - my guess is that NPL will be on the 1st Team, and depending on how things end up Bull could be an AA selection too. Maybe even Martin? Personally I would have Kayne as an All-American because I think he is a fantastic player, but the stats monkeys might not like his one goal and two assists. That said, if you've watched Tufts you know that he is absolutely what makes him tick, and I think he's their best player. Majumder has to be given some consideration with nine goals and five game-winners in a tough league. Conrad was an All-American last year and had more goals this year so could be considered too.

Final guess: 4 between the three teams, with NPL on the first team.

[PaulNewman]

Speaking of All-Americans, how many will the NESCAC get???
[/quote]

NESCAC will get all 33 spots and Tufts starting XI will comprise the First Team.

[Brother Flounder]

Well I have said many times he is a D1 Keeper that should be in the Ivies or even a BC but they they all stayed away because of the 2 ACL's he had before college. Coaches figure with that injury will 1. Either come more injuries or 2. He cannot get low quick enough. He has proven them all wrong so far. Even a couple top Nescac sides stayed away and with him liking / playing hockey I imagine that is why he chose Bowdoin.

Good point. Wiercinski made a comment last year about how he supports the two-sport athlete, and I bet a lot of other coaches probably wouldn't be so open to the idea. But if the kid is doing well in both sports and neither is detrimental, then who cares?

Speaking of All-Americans, how many will the NESCAC get???

Oomf. Tough question. Amherst could have as many as three - my guess is that NPL will be on the 1st Team, and depending on how things end up Bull could be an AA selection too. Maybe even Martin? Personally I would have Kayne as an All-American because I think he is a fantastic player, but the stats monkeys might not like his one goal and two assists. That said, if you've watched Tufts you know that he is absolutely what makes him tick, and I think he's their best player. Majumder has to be given some consideration with nine goals and five game-winners in a tough league. Conrad was an All-American last year and had more goals this year so could be considered too.

Final guess: 4 between the three teams, with NPL on the first team.

I agree with NPL on 1st team.

I don't think Martin

I think Bull will make it but not first team

Majumder has a slight chance because people who don't know him will see his goals

I agree with your Kayne analysis. He "should definitely" make it but may not unless the rest of the country realizes that NESCAC stats are generally not high, especially for midfielders... As mentioned earlier here, it would be nice to have seen Kayne play with NPL, given Amherst's general lack of midfield play.

Conrad is in the same boat as Majumder but has a better chance since he made it last year

[Brother Flounder]

Speaking of All-Americans, how many will the NESCAC get???

NESCAC will get all 33 spots and Tufts starting XI will comprise the First Team.
[/quote]

[quicksilver]

Well I have said many times he is a D1 Keeper that should be in the Ivies or even a BC but they they all stayed away because of the 2 ACL's he had before college. Coaches figure with that injury will 1. Either come more injuries or 2. He cannot get low quick enough. He has proven them all wrong so far. Even a couple top Nescac sides stayed away and with him liking / playing hockey I imagine that is why he chose Bowdoin.

Van siclen was being recruited by Amherst up until he tore his ACL. His brother was a very good hockey player for Amherst, who graduated in 2013, so would have been a natural fit. The post-season success in soccer slowed his development as a hockey player during his first season at Bowdoin as he was not able to join the hockey team until well into the season.

[blooter442]

Van siclen was being recruited by Amherst up until he tore his ACL. His brother was a very good hockey player for Amherst, who graduated in 2013, so would have been a natural fit. The post-season success in soccer slowed his development as a hockey player during his first season at Bowdoin as he was not able to join the hockey team until well into the season.

Interesting. Well, as far as his soccer development is concerned, getting thrown right between the pipes as a freshman clearly helped as opposed to waiting two years for Bull to graduate. And hey, he has two NESCAC titles to show for it, so clearly he made the right choice!

[Mr.Right]

Well I have said many times he is a D1 Keeper that should be in the Ivies or even a BC but they they all stayed away because of the 2 ACL's he had before college. Coaches figure with that injury will 1. Either come more injuries or 2. He cannot get low quick enough. He has proven them all wrong so far. Even a couple top Nescac sides stayed away and with him liking / playing hockey I imagine that is why he chose Bowdoin.

Van siclen was being recruited by Amherst up until he tore his ACL. His brother was a very good hockey player for Amherst, who graduated in 2013, so would have been a natural fit. The post-season success in soccer slowed his development as a hockey player during his first season at Bowdoin as he was not able to join the hockey team until well into the season.

Van Siclein would have been a "tip" for either Williams or Amherst. It makes absolutely no sense for Amherst to "tip" for a GK to sit on the bench and watch Bull. I am guessing that is why if Amherst was interested why would they "tip" for him. Unless because of the legacy. Either way he made a good choice going to Bowdoin.

[quicksilver]

Van Siclen seems to believe that Amherst backed off because of the ACL injury, which actually occurred in his junior year in high school. . . This article from the Bowdoin student newspaper has good info on his recruitment, including that his recruitment was initiated by Wiercinski's predecessor.

[blooter442]

Van Siclen seems to believe that Amherst backed off because of the ACL injury, which actually occurred in his junior year in high school. . . This article from the Bowdoin student newspaper has good info on his recruitment, including that his recruitment was initiated by Wiercinski's predecessor.

I was actually just reading that article! A very interesting piece.

I also read an article from the Tufts newspaper which detailed Shapiro's motivation to, when he took over, first bring in a class of athleticism and pace - Santos and Hoppenot - and second get a group of players with high soccer IQs - Kayne and Pinheiro. Santos was, as a Tufts parent described to me at a game once, a "virtuoso" and was the X factor that teams couldn't prepare for last year, and as Mr.Right said was the MVP of Tufts' tourney run. Combine that with Williams, who I think should have been a 1st Team All-American on D, and Lee-Kramer, who made some dumb decisions at times but was nonetheless imposing and a threat on set pieces, as well as Hoppenot holding the ball up and tracking back, and Tufts had a combination that was hard to beat. Even though they have played excellent soccer this year, not sure that they have the same level of athleticism, and I think that is the difference - they are much easier to defend against and even with Majumder they don't have quite the same scoring punch.

[Brother Flounder]

Van Siclen seems to believe that Amherst backed off because of the ACL injury, which actually occurred in his junior year in high school. . . This article from the Bowdoin student newspaper has good info on his recruitment, including that his recruitment was initiated by Wiercinski's predecessor.

I was actually just reading that article! A very interesting piece.

I also read an article from the Tufts newspaper which detailed Shapiro's motivation to, when he took over, first bring in a class of athleticism and pace - Santos and Hoppenot - and second get a group of players with high soccer IQs - Kayne and Pinheiro. Santos was, as a Tufts parent described to me at a game once, a "virtuoso" and was the X factor that teams couldn't prepare for last year, and as Mr.Right said was the MVP of Tufts' tourney run. Combine that with Williams, who I think should have been a 1st Team All-American on D, and Lee-Kramer, who made some dumb decisions at times but was nonetheless imposing and a threat on set pieces, as well as Hoppenot holding the ball up and tracking back, and Tufts had a combination that was hard to beat. Even though they have played excellent soccer this year, not sure that they have the same level of athleticism, and I think that is the difference - they are much easier to defend against and even with Majumder they don't have quite the same scoring punch.

This makes good sense. Santos was on fire during the tourney run.  He has great offensive skills.  Kayne was also hot. Brown played well...., and the defense and Greenwood were excellent.  Santos had his best years as a freshman and senior and was basically absent in between.  Santos was either extremely hot or cold, and it's hard to imagine that he was benched for a short time.  I think Majumbder is as athletic as Hoppenot.  In the Championship game Kayne stole the ball twice and had 2 breakaways.   Instead of shooting he passed to Majumbder both times (who scored once)...unselfish player.  It was fun to watch Hollingswerth (raw speed) and Kayne (excellent skills and vision) play against each other, and while it probably won't happen, it would be good to see them go at it again.  Yes, the first 2 years of Shapiro's recruiting came together well.  The combination of players was excellent. IF Tufts plays like they did against Williams and Middlebury, they will be tough...right NCAC? 

[PaulNewman]

Absolutely, BF.  Tufts is the clear tournament favorite.  And Danny Brandt still thinks he made the right decision leaving Messiah because he could not handle the humiliation of losing to Tufts which you were the first to so adroitly identify  .

Btw, how did you like that Kayne goal against Messiah?