NESCAC

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Well done Right as always...+K

I, too, gave you +K, MR.  The effort you put into the NESCAC preview is quite impressive.

[Buck O.]

I gave Nizzi credit all year as Hamilton was one of the few teams in Nescac that tried to play futbol. For the most part they played the ball to feet and on the ground when they could. That takes guts in this league nowadays.

Mr. Right, which are the other teams in the NESCAC that you would say try to play futbol?

[BillWill]

Where's the eating popcorn emoticon when you need it?

I can't decide whether to go with some traditional Orville R, moderate-liberal Smartfood Cheddar, or some more Wesleyan-esque Trader Joe's Herbs and Spices.

This is great stuff and hopefully will spiral into a regular blog as the saga unfolds, with the side benefit of some of us (including me) reminding everyone another time or two about the cool, elite places WE and our kids went to college.  I'm in.  The college search was a great, exhilarating time, when, before actual realities and decisions roll in, everything and every place is possible.  Great stuff for those of us who loved making and re-making lists and would love to go through the whole thing again.

So many nuances.  Too Jewish.  Midfield plays the way we like but doesn't need us.  Too rural.  City is great except if its Hartford.  Classes too big but at least mimics Europe.  Better than any strong Academy players that have played at F&M but not even playing Academy and might not even make a good Academy squad.  Could get bored.  Needs the ball but might not get off the bench.  Well, at least will be able to pull the strings for the scout team and use that intuitive decision-making in practices.  One national title coach is a jerk (proven fact apparently) who plays crap soccer.  Colby might have a flake.  The Wesleyan coach is cool but he keeps it real about realistic academic chances, and who wants all that deconstructive chalking in Middletown anyway?  So many schools that aren't good enough even though there's no signal about any suggesting admission.  Live in the Midwest but can only consider what works with Logan Airport.  Rochester has an airport.  In fact, all the UAA schools do.  No consideration of the excellent schools that sound like actual fits....Gettysburg, Dickinson, Denison, DePauw, Centre, Rhodes.

Several people have suggested what to do.  Pursue what you think you like broadly.  Pick some places to visit that want you to visit, and be sure to include at least a couple where you're very confident that admission is not an issue.  Go on said visits, and then decide on small vs big, rural vs city, campus cultures, team cultures, coaches, playing styles, likely playing time at places where you think playing style fits, etc, etc.

That's quite the stand-up routine... whatever the popcorn flavor, I'm throwing it at the screen watching this reel of "facts" which are quite "nuanced" themselves! A few corrections are in order before this commentary is permanently stamped on the collective mind of this board regarding our poor non-superstud:
- "Better than any strong academy players that have ever played at F and M." You mean all one of them? [burn emoji] What I actually said: Better than the incoming freshman. Small nuance...
- "Not even playing academy and might not even make a good squad."  Truth: Played middling academy before, then made squad this year again but turned it down. (You can pick on that decision all you want, but consider driving 25 miles in rush hour straight through a huge city four or five night a week and get home at 11pm... If you survive to apply to college, see if any nescac school thinks you are "well-rounded.")
- "Lives in midwest...."  Fact: Never said that. Guess another region...
"..But can only consider what works with Logan Airport." That's right. Or Philadelphia. Unless you are offering to give him your frequent flyer miles on American Eagle, he's going Southwest, heck, maybe even Spirit.
- "Could get bored." Fine. Son (and you all) have put to rest that silly Mom Concern. As an alum of a nescac school, I have duly warned him, however, that if he is bored, it won't be because of the soccer, it will be due to the lack thereof during a long, miserable winter stuck on a hill outside of New Hartford or Pittsfield or some other exciting place...
- "So many schools aren't good enough..."  Huh? I assure you, they are all more than good enough."... but no signal about any suggesting admission." Sure they are, but I'm not going to tell you which...
- "No consideration of the excellent schools that sound like actual fits....Gettysburg, Dickinson..." These two were and are, but I hadn't brought them into the discussion.

On that note, it's probably time for Mom to spare this board any more of the recruiting "saga." We'll suffer through the madness on the sidelines.

For the record I get that my kid is not superstud. Just don't be mean to poor Mom on some future date if he ends up sitting on a bench!

Let me guess:

You're from Texas, not the Midwest.
You're considering Gettysburg, F&M, Hamilton (alum), and other NESCAC schools
Did the "D3 East Coast Summer ID Camp Tour - 2018"
You prefer bigger city - would be good fit in Boston area D3 or Rhodes or Johns Hopkins for their location - rules out some of NESCAC and Gettysbury and F&M since not near airports or metro areas.

Your son (R) is very talented - would fit in at any of these schools but wouldn't stand out on day 1. Sone schools are a bit of a stretch academically but he can handle the workload.
Best of luck - let everyone know where he ends up.

[Mr.Right]

I gave Nizzi credit all year as Hamilton was one of the few teams in Nescac that tried to play futbol. For the most part they played the ball to feet and on the ground when they could. That takes guts in this league nowadays.

Mr. Right, which are the other teams in the NESCAC that you would say try to play futbol?

Check out the Williams Women's Soccer team....In the few times I have seen them play they put on a clinic.

[Brother Flounder]

Well done Right as always...+K

DITTO LaPAZ!   Good stuff!

[jumpshot]

Even casual NESCAC fans know that Williams women's soccer is possibly the most consistently skilled, cohesive, fit, and determined team among all men's and women's sports in NESCAC.

Go see a game in person at Cole Field in Williamstown and enjoy the beautiful fall setting as well ....

[Bobcat1]

Heard Tufts throttled Bowdoin today 6-0. Apparently their new CB Paoletta stood out with a very impressive goal early on right after Tasker put them up 1-0. Perhaps there will be a shake-up in the order of the Maine teams in the 'CAC this year...

[Mr.Right]

That is an absolute pounding especially in scrimmage with 2 teams that know each other. Looks like Shapiro did not call off the dogs. As predicted it is almost inevitable that Bowdoin drops down the standings from its 2017 showing but 6-0...damn...

Paoletta I believe is a Soph. He was a highly regarded recruit who saw some action last year..Not much because of all the depth Tufts had but if it is the kid I am thinking of he is a Soph. Sounds like he came back hungry to get in on the action and contribute but this makes for more headaches on who will get sacked if this kid is Tufts new stud on the backline

[Mr.Right]

Will be interested in seeing Tufts lineup as they open their season under the lights at Bello tonight v UMASS Boston. I think UMB is not as strong as they have been but still a good chance to see Tufts start their Nescac title defense. Midd opens their season today v Norwich. Should be an easy W for Midd to start the Elias era. I will be curious to see who is in net for Midd as I think that will be a big question mark in 2018. Whoever the GK is he will not get tested today as I do not see Norwich getting more than 2-3 SOG. Conn opens up with a walk over to Mitchell this afternoon. I am hoping Mitchell is starting to tire of Conn opening their season up every year by crushing Mitchell.  I am expecting a tighter battle this afternoon especially if the Mitchell that played St.Joe's in the NCAA's at Tufts in 2017 shows up. Still Conn should win this game 3-0. Finally, we have Hamilton going to Oswego State today. Oswego St finished dead last in the SUNYAC in 2017 going 1-8-0 but managed to draw Hamilton 3-3 last season. Those type of results must change if Hamilton is going to contend this year. Will be interested to see Hamilton's lineup especially on D.

[Mr.Right]

End of the 1st Half up at Middlebury with Norwich and Midd knotted at 0-0. Midd has had a couple dangerous chances in the run of play and on a couple set pieces. The last 10 minutes of the 1st Half have been all Midd.  Norwich has not had a SOG that I could see. Still Norwich has a player or two attacking and are holding there own defensively. Both teams a little sloppy with the ball which is normal at the beginning of the year. It feels like it is about 110 degrees outside where I am so I can't imagine it is much different anywhere in New England. It is even hotter on turf with the sun beating down so players are feeling the heat this afternoon. Some changes that I have noticed. Midd has switched its Home bench to the left side of the field if looking at the field from the West (Camera angle). Midd has been sloppy with the ball BUT they are not just blasting the ball downfield. They are knocking the ball around the carpet. Now they sometimes used to do this against non-conference opponents but when facing more difficult Nescac sides they would revert back to their old ways. We should know on Saturday when they travel to Conn. The starting lineup has changed a bit as well..O'Grady has been named a Captain but has been nowhere to be found. Announcer said he has a broken nose but usually you could play with a face mask so who knows maybe he makes an appearance 2nd Half. Midd looks to be in a 4-4-2 with the GK being a kid named Matthew Hyer..I have never heard of him but he has not seen a shot all half. Defense looks to be big, strong and decently quick. Moffat is at RB with Peter Davis and Robinson at CB and Midd's only starting Frosh Michael McFarlane at LB. They had #4 Jeremy Barovick holding and he worked his tail off with Raffi Barsamian attacking who also busted his ass and looked pretty decent with the ball at his feet. He is skilled and fast. Potter was wide left and Oudet was wide right. Goulart and Reid were up top. Oudet was busting up and down the flank but not sure how skilled he is. I still would rather have Goulart on the flank. However, Midd did a great job of interchanging all over the field as Goulart, Potter etc were constantly in motion. In years past Midd could look flat footed at times. Reid at times looked good and used his size and speed to his advantage. At other times his skill was lacking and his first touch awful. Also, he was coming back WAY to far to get the ball..He needs to be a target and stay up top and trust his teammates to feed him. He looked a bit sluggish in the heat =and running past midfield a couple times to come get the ball only burns more energy. Anyway, a solid half by Midd as now all they need to do is finish some of these chances and they should get out of here with a 1-0 or 2-0 victory.

[Mr.Right]

15 minutes into 2nd Half and still 0-0 Midd and Norwich. Midd starting to carry play with its better depth. O'Grady starts the 2nd Half up top and is very active. He is busting as usual and causing havoc with Barsamian. Another solid player off the bench who i do not remember from last year is Jacob LaBranche who is a big boy and can run. He has had a couple good looks. Midd knocking at the door but have not snuck one in yet. They need and deserve a W here as a 0-0 draw would be a massive disappointment. Norwich still without a Shot.

[Mr.Right]

Norwich hangin around still 0-0 about 15min left. Norwich has been very organized defensively and while basically non existent attacking they do have some athletes up top. If they play like this all year they could give St.Joe's a game in the weak GNAC. Interestingly, announcer says Norwich assistant coach is Brad Agoos of UVA fame. Younger guys might not remember him and his brother but his brother Jeff Agoos was a consistent starter for the US National team in the late 90's and early 2000's IIRC. Apparently, Agoos was Head Coach at U Seattle but resigned because his wife got a gig in VT.

[Mr.Right]

0-0 Midd and Norwich heading to OT. O'Grady had a sick chance with about 5 minutes to go off a cross and used the outside of the foot on the fly but it hit the post. The goalie was beat though. Another chance was cleared off the line. Interestingly, Elias has not been afraid to sack his starters that were somewhat sluggish 1st Half as O'Grady was up top but also guys that did not play much last year got tons of minutes 2nd Half and they created some dangerous looks. #13 Hellickson who is 5'6 is like a little fly buzzing around with energy and #8 Shaikh was causing some havoc on the flank along with #14 Shams. Potter, Oudet and Goulart were  sat for long stretches.

[blooter442]

"Despite what people in the chat rooms think, nobody from the Liberty League wants to make the trip here to play Middlebury."

[blooter442]

Oof, not a bad try by Robinson. I thought that was top bins.

Hoping to get to Tufts' opener tonight.