NESCAC

[Viking]

Tufts and Amherst both lost MASSIVE pieces to graduation.

It's so hard to know what's really being lost until 2022 rosters are posted, but there's no question that Tufts' expected losses are epic, including four program-defining players (Aroh, Van Brewer, Daly, Paoletta) and several other critical pieces, including Cano, Enge, Seigelstein, Welsh, and Jacobs. Yikes. Bowdoin's graduation losses are also massive after bringing back a bunch of fifth-year seniors last year (seven starters expected to have graduated!). Amherst is the interesting one. Everyone is focused on the departure of the Giammonster, but to me the most interesting potential losses are on the back line, barring any unexpected returns. From left to right, Gitler, Wu, Kelly, Johnson -- the entire back line -- may be gone. Three of those guys were started back in 2019. There are elite prospects to replace them, as is always the case with that program, but that transition is going to be fascinating to watch.

Unless there are some unexpected retention issues that I'm not aware of, Conn's roster loses less going into 2022 than any other NESCAC team except Trinity.

Correction: Conn's roster losses less going into 2022 than any other NESCAC teams except *WILLIAMS* and Trinity. As noted way earlier in this thread, Williams loses nothing. Like, literally nothing. Never seen anything like it before.

Middlebury only loses one person out of starting XI—Brandon Reid—and only one (Raffi Barsamian) significant contributor off the bench.

Wait, are you saying that defender/captain McFarlane is returning? That's huge for Midd. If so, a perfect example of how we know so little about actual returnees until rosters are posted.

[College Soccer Observer]

McFarlane is back.  Midd will be solid defensively again with Grady in net, along with zero losses on defense and a transfer center back from New Hampshire. Their midfield returns an experienced crew, including Sloan, Juarez, Farrell, Powers, and Chae, and they welcome some good freshmen along with Saint Louis up top.

[camosfan]

Seigelstein and Welsh are still at Tufts!

[SimpleCoach]

From what I was told.... Ian Daly is back.

SC

[camosfan]

Daly and Welsh are two of the captains.

[EnmoreCat]

Tufts and Amherst both lost MASSIVE pieces to graduation.

It's so hard to know what's really being lost until 2022 rosters are posted, but there's no question that Tufts' expected losses are epic, including four program-defining players (Aroh, Van Brewer, Daly, Paoletta) and several other critical pieces, including Cano, Enge, Seigelstein, Welsh, and Jacobs. Yikes. Bowdoin's graduation losses are also massive after bringing back a bunch of fifth-year seniors last year (seven starters expected to have graduated!). Amherst is the interesting one. Everyone is focused on the departure of the Giammonster, but to me the most interesting potential losses are on the back line, barring any unexpected returns. From left to right, Gitler, Wu, Kelly, Johnson -- the entire back line -- may be gone. Three of those guys were started back in 2019. There are elite prospects to replace them, as is always the case with that program, but that transition is going to be fascinating to watch.

Unless there are some unexpected retention issues that I'm not aware of, Conn's roster loses less going into 2022 than any other NESCAC team except Trinity.

Correction: Conn's roster losses less going into 2022 than any other NESCAC teams except *WILLIAMS* and Trinity. As noted way earlier in this thread, Williams loses nothing. Like, literally nothing. Never seen anything like it before.

Middlebury only loses one person out of starting XI—Brandon Reid—and only one (Raffi Barsamian) significant contributor off the bench.

Wait, are you saying that defender/captain McFarlane is returning? That's huge for Midd. If so, a perfect example of how we know so little about actual returnees until rosters are posted.

Happy to declare my Mammoths (and specific positional!) bias, but I think once the 2022 defensive line has had some time together, that they will step up, there are some capable players waiting for an opportunity.

[Mr.Right]

I'm getting that whiff of Autumn that just about hooks me in. I really had not followed the offseason but a quick glance

-Bates HC resigning or being forced out after only 3 years not a great sign

-A quick glance at some Rosters and there seems a lot more transfers than years past. Transfers are a complete mixed bag and are toss ups but Nescac schools seem to be taking more athletic transfers in other Sports as well thru admissions than they ever used to.

-The Roster sizes are still too large. 30-35 Players is ridiculous. That is like 11v11v11 in practice. Yes teams get injuries but not that many and one team last year carried 6 GK's. The norm used to be 25 max and frankly I would love to see a 23 man roster where we get the numbers down, everyone is seriously involved, focused having fun and playing. Everyone would need excellent fitness but I think that is the way to go.

-I think from the rosters I have seen these Nescac teams "on paper" are looking good. For example Wesleyan seems to have a monopoly of Montclair, NJ players mixed with their returning core.

-If Daly is back for Tufts that is huge for their backline.

[quicksilver]

Tufts and Amherst both lost MASSIVE pieces to graduation.

It's so hard to know what's really being lost until 2022 rosters are posted, but there's no question that Tufts' expected losses are epic, including four program-defining players (Aroh, Van Brewer, Daly, Paoletta) and several other critical pieces, including Cano, Enge, Seigelstein, Welsh, and Jacobs. Yikes. Bowdoin's graduation losses are also massive after bringing back a bunch of fifth-year seniors last year (seven starters expected to have graduated!).

Bowdoin lost two critical starters to graduation—Byrd and Chaban—but other than back-up goalie Kingston, Bowdoin's other 8 seniors from last year are expected to be back for a final season. I just heard Bowdoin HC Scott Wiercinski state on a radio show that those returnees include outstanding defender Dylan Reid

[Novacat]

this is a good summary of the situation.

COLLEGE
D3 Men: Which New England teams start the season in our Top 10 rankings?
By Matt LangoneAugust 22, 2022


Connecticut College enters as the defending national champion, having defeated Amherst in dramatic fashion for the title last December. However, simply getting out of the mighty NESCAC again in 2022 will be no easy task, as four programs from the powerful league start the season in our top four.

Some teams across the region will kick-off the 2022 season as early as next week, while just about everyone else will play their first match within the first seven days of September. That will begin a three-month quest to crown a national champ.

Before the season begins in full force, here are our preseason Top 10 rankings

1. Connecticut College
Record in 2021: 19-4-1 | Head coach: Reuben Burk | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Mitchell

It's only right that the defending Division 3 national champions start the season off in the top spot, following their unforgettable 2021, which landed the program its first national title. The Camels return the majority of their starters and reserves. On the offensive end, All-America and NESCAC Player of the Year Augue Djerdjaj and fellow All-NESCAC teammate Steve Yeonas highlight a strong returning midfield. Jack Kelesoglu anchors an experienced back line, while goalkeeper Sam Maidenberg returns for a second consecutive year. Rye Jaran and Jake Creus also return as capable goal-scorers for a side that outscored opponents, 42-19, last year.

2. Amherst
Record in 2021: 17-3-2 | Head coach: Justin Serpone | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. College of Mount St. Vincent

Amherst fell to NESCAC rival Connecticut College in a penalty kick shootout in the national championship match last December in Greensboro, N.C. It was one of the few blemishes in a campaign that saw the Mammoths allow just nine goals. Sophomore Laurens ten Cate (Staples, Conn.) returns to that solid back line, while midfielder Alex Shahmirzadi is also back. Junior forward Ada Okorogheye is the leading returning scorer with four goals and six assists in 2021, and senior midfielder Ignacio Cubeddu has proven to be a clutch playmaker in big matches.

3. Tufts
Record in 2021: 15-2-4 | Head coach: Kyle Dezotell | Season opener: Sept. 6 at MIT

After winning back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019, Tufts fell in the Elite 8 last year against NESCAC foe Connecticut College. Depth and a balanced attack have become the hallmarks of this perennial power, as five players had double-digit points last year. Sophomore Erik Lauta provides a stellar presence in net, while 6-foot-3 junior defender Max Clivio returns after leading all field players in minutes in 2021 with 1,949, and senior defender Ian Daly was a First Team All-NESCAC selection last year. Senior forward Sean Traynor could be poised to take a major step forward as a goal-producer this season.

4. Middlebury
Record in 2021: 13-5-3 | Head coach: Alex Elias | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Mount Saint Mary College

Yet another NESCAC program lands in our preseason top four. Middlebury surrendered only nine goals in 2021 and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tourney, falling to Amherst. Junior goalkeeper Ryan Grady is one of the best in the country and was First Team All-NESCAC last year. Junior forward Jordan Saint-Louis had eight goals and six assists last season. Sophomore defenders William O'Brien (Norton, Mass.), Hank Nelson and Aidan Pape all saw heavy minutes last year and should anchor the back line this fall.

5. MIT
Record in 2021: 13-4-2 | Head coach: Ken Bovell | Season opener: Sept. 1 at Gordon

MIT lost in the NEWMAC championship game last year to Babson. The Engineers boast a potent offense, capable of putting big numbers on the scoreboard. They scored at least four goals in a match on four different occasions last season. Junior midfielder Garrett Robinson had six goals and four assists in 2021, while senior forward Will Seiple had five goals and three assists. Senior goalkeeper Paarth Desai returns after making 13 starts and posting a 1.09 goals against average in 2021.

6. Babson
Record in 2021: 12-5-3 | Head coach: Jon Anderson | Season opener: Sept. 3 at Rutgers-Newark

After capturing the NEWMAC tournament championship, Babson advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Amherst. Senior midfielder Jack Dugan returns after being named Second Team All-NEWMAC last year. Senior back RJ Parilla (Pawcatuck, Conn.) anchors the defense, after starting 20 matches last season.

7. Wesleyan
Record in 2021: 10-3-3 | Head coach: Geoff Wheeler | Season opener: Sept. 7 at Eastern Connecticut State

Wesleyan was defeated by Middlebury in a penalty kick shootout in the NESCAC quarterfinals last year. Still, for the first time since the 2011 campaign, Wesleyan finished with double-digit wins. The team returns All-NESCAC selections in senior goalkeeper Liam Devanny (Concord, N.H.) and sophomore midfielder Lucas Ruehlemann.

8. Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Record in 2021: 16-2-2 | Head coach: Will Pike | Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. Southern Maine

Last year, the Monks claimed their sixth GNAC tournament title, then dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to NYU in the NCAA Tournament's first round. Six players posted double-figure points last season and the side only allowed 15 goals. Sophomore forward Gus Ford (Falmouth, Maine) and sophomore midfielder Rion Dos Santos (Falmouth, Maine) give the team two reliable playmakers.

9. UMass Boston
Record in 2021: 13-4-1 | Head coach: Jake Beverlin | Season opener: Sept. 1 at Salve Regina

UMass Boston outscored opponents, 51-16, in 2021, but came up shy of qualifying for the NCAA tourney. Senior back Emelson Barbosa returns after a season that saw him earn Second Team All-American honors. Senior midfielder Vangjel Gjergo (North Quincy, Mass.) will be counted on to make up for some of the production that left with the graduation of Nilton de Andrade (20 goals, nine assists).

10. Gordon
Record in 2021: 12-6-2 | Head coach: Matt Horth | Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. MIT

Fresh off winning their first CCC tournament title since 2018, the Fighting Scots nearly knocked off perennial powerhouse Montclair State in the NCAA Tournament's first round, only to lose 1-0. Sophomore forward Benji Wright is back, as is junior defender Casey Torres, who led the team in minutes last year with 1,807.

Matt Langone is the managing editor for New England Soccer Journal. You can email him at matt.langone@nesoccerjournal.com or follow him on Twitter @MattLangone.

[Mr.Right]

Bates Men's Soccer players giving back some time:

https://nescac.com/news/2022/8/24/mens-soccer-life-skills-through-soccer-bates-bobcats-and-rosati-leadership-academy.aspx

Good start for the Interim HC and looking at Bates Roster they have a lot of returning players with game time experience. A complete unknown for me would be the incoming class but I am guessing there is a player or two in there that will be of help right away. I think this team needs to focus this year on playing more as a team with more combination passing and smart forward runs. It will be interesting to see how they start the year as their former HC did them no favors by jamming 5 Games into the first 10 Days of the season. Still 3 of the 5 are non league Maine schools with a HUGE rivalry Home Game against Bowdoin to start their Nescac slate.  Bowdoin should remember the loss Bates put on them last year in Brunswick.

[Mr.Right]

this is a good summary of the situation.

COLLEGE
D3 Men: Which New England teams start the season in our Top 10 rankings?
By Matt LangoneAugust 22, 2022


Connecticut College enters as the defending national champion, having defeated Amherst in dramatic fashion for the title last December. However, simply getting out of the mighty NESCAC again in 2022 will be no easy task, as four programs from the powerful league start the season in our top four.

Some teams across the region will kick-off the 2022 season as early as next week, while just about everyone else will play their first match within the first seven days of September. That will begin a three-month quest to crown a national champ.

Before the season begins in full force, here are our preseason Top 10 rankings

1. Connecticut College
Record in 2021: 19-4-1 | Head coach: Reuben Burk | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Mitchell

It's only right that the defending Division 3 national champions start the season off in the top spot, following their unforgettable 2021, which landed the program its first national title. The Camels return the majority of their starters and reserves. On the offensive end, All-America and NESCAC Player of the Year Augue Djerdjaj and fellow All-NESCAC teammate Steve Yeonas highlight a strong returning midfield. Jack Kelesoglu anchors an experienced back line, while goalkeeper Sam Maidenberg returns for a second consecutive year. Rye Jaran and Jake Creus also return as capable goal-scorers for a side that outscored opponents, 42-19, last year.

2. Amherst
Record in 2021: 17-3-2 | Head coach: Justin Serpone | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. College of Mount St. Vincent

Amherst fell to NESCAC rival Connecticut College in a penalty kick shootout in the national championship match last December in Greensboro, N.C. It was one of the few blemishes in a campaign that saw the Mammoths allow just nine goals. Sophomore Laurens ten Cate (Staples, Conn.) returns to that solid back line, while midfielder Alex Shahmirzadi is also back. Junior forward Ada Okorogheye is the leading returning scorer with four goals and six assists in 2021, and senior midfielder Ignacio Cubeddu has proven to be a clutch playmaker in big matches.

3. Tufts
Record in 2021: 15-2-4 | Head coach: Kyle Dezotell | Season opener: Sept. 6 at MIT

After winning back-to-back national titles in 2018 and 2019, Tufts fell in the Elite 8 last year against NESCAC foe Connecticut College. Depth and a balanced attack have become the hallmarks of this perennial power, as five players had double-digit points last year. Sophomore Erik Lauta provides a stellar presence in net, while 6-foot-3 junior defender Max Clivio returns after leading all field players in minutes in 2021 with 1,949, and senior defender Ian Daly was a First Team All-NESCAC selection last year. Senior forward Sean Traynor could be poised to take a major step forward as a goal-producer this season.

4. Middlebury
Record in 2021: 13-5-3 | Head coach: Alex Elias | Season opener: Sept. 6 vs. Mount Saint Mary College

Yet another NESCAC program lands in our preseason top four. Middlebury surrendered only nine goals in 2021 and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tourney, falling to Amherst. Junior goalkeeper Ryan Grady is one of the best in the country and was First Team All-NESCAC last year. Junior forward Jordan Saint-Louis had eight goals and six assists last season. Sophomore defenders William O'Brien (Norton, Mass.), Hank Nelson and Aidan Pape all saw heavy minutes last year and should anchor the back line this fall.

5. MIT
Record in 2021: 13-4-2 | Head coach: Ken Bovell | Season opener: Sept. 1 at Gordon

MIT lost in the NEWMAC championship game last year to Babson. The Engineers boast a potent offense, capable of putting big numbers on the scoreboard. They scored at least four goals in a match on four different occasions last season. Junior midfielder Garrett Robinson had six goals and four assists in 2021, while senior forward Will Seiple had five goals and three assists. Senior goalkeeper Paarth Desai returns after making 13 starts and posting a 1.09 goals against average in 2021.

6. Babson
Record in 2021: 12-5-3 | Head coach: Jon Anderson | Season opener: Sept. 3 at Rutgers-Newark

After capturing the NEWMAC tournament championship, Babson advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Amherst. Senior midfielder Jack Dugan returns after being named Second Team All-NEWMAC last year. Senior back RJ Parilla (Pawcatuck, Conn.) anchors the defense, after starting 20 matches last season.

7. Wesleyan
Record in 2021: 10-3-3 | Head coach: Geoff Wheeler | Season opener: Sept. 7 at Eastern Connecticut State

Wesleyan was defeated by Middlebury in a penalty kick shootout in the NESCAC quarterfinals last year. Still, for the first time since the 2011 campaign, Wesleyan finished with double-digit wins. The team returns All-NESCAC selections in senior goalkeeper Liam Devanny (Concord, N.H.) and sophomore midfielder Lucas Ruehlemann.

8. Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Record in 2021: 16-2-2 | Head coach: Will Pike | Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. Southern Maine

Last year, the Monks claimed their sixth GNAC tournament title, then dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to NYU in the NCAA Tournament's first round. Six players posted double-figure points last season and the side only allowed 15 goals. Sophomore forward Gus Ford (Falmouth, Maine) and sophomore midfielder Rion Dos Santos (Falmouth, Maine) give the team two reliable playmakers.

9. UMass Boston
Record in 2021: 13-4-1 | Head coach: Jake Beverlin | Season opener: Sept. 1 at Salve Regina

UMass Boston outscored opponents, 51-16, in 2021, but came up shy of qualifying for the NCAA tourney. Senior back Emelson Barbosa returns after a season that saw him earn Second Team All-American honors. Senior midfielder Vangjel Gjergo (North Quincy, Mass.) will be counted on to make up for some of the production that left with the graduation of Nilton de Andrade (20 goals, nine assists).

10. Gordon
Record in 2021: 12-6-2 | Head coach: Matt Horth | Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. MIT

Fresh off winning their first CCC tournament title since 2018, the Fighting Scots nearly knocked off perennial powerhouse Montclair State in the NCAA Tournament's first round, only to lose 1-0. Sophomore forward Benji Wright is back, as is junior defender Casey Torres, who led the team in minutes last year with 1,807.

Matt Langone is the managing editor for New England Soccer Journal. You can email him at matt.langone@nesoccerjournal.com or follow him on Twitter @MattLangone.

shameless plug

[EnmoreCat]

Amherst won a scrimmage at Endicott 3-2 today.  No further details known at this time other than first years and transfer  were at orientation activities so couldn't participate.

[Kuiper]

Amherst won a scrimmage at Endicott 3-2 today.  No further details known at this time other than first years and transfer  were at orientation activities so couldn't participate.

That seems unfair to Amherst considering Endicott has something like 50+ players listed on its roster this year! 

https://www.ecgulls.com/sports/msoc/2022-23/roster

Seriously, though, did Endicott start a reserve team or are they planning on rotating in a fresh 11 every 20 minutes or so?

[PaulNewman]

Amherst won a scrimmage at Endicott 3-2 today.  No further details known at this time other than first years and transfer  were at orientation activities so couldn't participate.

That seems unfair to Amherst considering Endicott has something like 50+ players listed on its roster this year! 

https://www.ecgulls.com/sports/msoc/2022-23/roster

Seriously, though, did Endicott start a reserve team or are they planning on rotating in a fresh 11 every 20 minutes or so?

Two weeks ago John Carroll listed 63 players on the roster.  Apparently after some deep cuts the Blue Streaks have a mere 49.

[camosfan]

Harvard beat Tufts 3-1 yesterday!