NESCAC

1970s NESCAC Player · November 05, 2012, 11:52:04 AM

Good post ECSUalum! Just playing the other great NESCAC opponents each week (apart from attending fine academic institutions) is one of the reasons our sons and daughters are so blessed, even if they are never fortunate enough to play in the NCAA tourney . . .

Saint of Old · November 05, 2012, 12:15:33 PM

I would say that passion causes all of us from time to time to get a bit too agressive while making our points.
I do think that Lapaz knows the game however and makes some worthy observations.
As for myself, having seen seen/played Amherst and Williams in the tourney and I can say that along with Messiah and Wheaton , they are among the most competitive teams in College Soccer year in year out.
They make the NESCAC a respected league, the league also has some other very good teams, and I see better things coming for Hamilton once they get accustomed to the level/style of play.

I could see either team making the final 4 this year.

ECSUalum · November 05, 2012, 12:29:36 PM

Go to the excellent report (November 4, 2012), on front D3Soccer page, At-large berth analysis and predictions by Christan Shirk
which provides analysis and statistics on the AQ's, the Pool B/C candidates as well as all NCAA, (3rd week) regional rankings. Interesting seeing all the SOS's of the teams and their records vs regionally ranked teams. Check out all the CACteams.

Actually, here it is: http://www.d3soccer.com/columns/around-the-nation/2012/at-large-analysis-and-predictions

ECSUalum · November 05, 2012, 01:36:53 PM

Watched the NCAA D-III Mens Soccer Selection Show @1 pm, on NCAA.com. Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Wesleyan are in!!!!!!!!!! Congrats

ECSUalum · November 05, 2012, 01:53:18 PM

The 2012 Bracket is now posted on NCAA.com and you can Watch a replay of NCAA.com D-III Mens Soccer Selection Show: http://www.ncaa.com/video#!soccer-men/2012-11-05/diii-mens-soccer-2012-selection-show.

Host institutions are Williams College, Brandies U, and Swathmore College.

LaPaz · November 05, 2012, 03:15:48 PM

Thnaks for the support..er karma pt....ECSU ALUM....Amherst a great draw....Tufts gets in with a decent regional record and suprisingly I think gets a good draw....Williams hosts and gets decent draw but SLU must be licking their chops at Williams' field dimensions and most shockingly Wesleyan #1 gets in and albeit has to go to Stevens but to play Haverford in 1st round...I believe Wheeler from Wesleyan is on the commitee and I kno he cannot be in the room when they are discussing his team but I am really suprised at that selection. Anyway good luck to all

amh63 · November 05, 2012, 03:56:36 PM

ECSU.....thanks for the thought.. and the NCAA info on this board. I see that your team has the pleasure to travel up to "Willie" town....after the first round. Good luck! Maybe our teams will meet sometime down the road.
LePaz....I wanted to point out earlier to you that Frank U. is a Williams grad. and presently lives in Williamstown. He probably was watching the Amherst vs. Williams game last Sunday. Calling him an Amherst supporter is a BIG insult. Glad that Frank cleared that point with you.
I actually may get to see the Amherst match this coming Sunday! I will be up at Amherst for Homecoming events and other matters. Must say hello to Noon's parents again.

ECSUalum · November 05, 2012, 04:53:02 PM

Quote from: amh63 on November 05, 2012, 03:56:36 PM
ECSU.....thanks for the thought.. and the NCAA info on this board. I see that your team has the pleasure to travel up to "Willie" town....after the first round. Good luck! Maybe our teams will meet sometime down the road.
LePaz....I wanted to point out earlier to you that Frank U. is a Williams grad. and presently lives in Williamstown. He probably was watching the Amherst vs. Williams game last Sunday. Calling him an Amherst supporter is a BIG insult. Glad that Frank cleared that point with you.
I actually may get to see the Amherst match this coming Sunday! I will be up at Amherst for Homecoming events and other matters. Must say hello to Noon's parents again.

Was debating if I should make the 2.5 hr ride, (one way), from lower Fairfield County CT and watch in the cold Berkshires, or just watch on what is a very good stream out of Williams from the comfort of my office,....hmmmmm.... I think I may stay home. Yeah the Lord Jeffs gave us a wooping last year 4-2. Hopefully if we meet, we can do better.
Anyway we wish the LJs good luck and a smooth path to the D-III finals, I think they have the team to do it this year, (Hope the Noone, Heo, Bull, and the Sucre boys are all healthy), however, those guys from Messiah are going to be tough at the Blossom in San Antonio!!!

NescacPlayer · November 05, 2012, 11:22:08 PM

Played in the league recently, but not going to reveal my allegiances. Thought a player's perspective would be refreshing.

Surprised to see four at-large bids for the league, although Tufts and Wes are clearly worthy of the selection. Don't sleep on the Cardinals in the tourney.

Amherst clearly the class of the league in 2012. Direct approach gets it done for a second straight year, but will be interesting to see how they match up against more possession oriented teams (i.e. Messiah). Freshman keeper looks like the real deal.

Looks like Williams has the toughest potential matchup this weekend in St. Lawrence. I'm sure the Ephs would rather have Tufts' draw. Santos is a huge loss for Tufts who, IMO, is easily the best attacking player in the league (followed by Heo).

Hopefully these four schools represent the conference well and make a run at a national title.

P.S: Good to see someone finally call out LaPaz. Consistently fills this thread with nonsense and is more focused on trolling than providing any semblance of insight. Additionally, we should buy him/her some earmuffs so he/she doesn't poison his virgin ears.

Sandy · November 06, 2012, 08:24:10 AM

LaPaz has actually been one of the top contributors to this thread as well as this board. He knows the game and the league well. Just because people may not like what he has to say doe not mean he is "trolling". He's made some pretty spot on observations about some the teams in both how they play and act as well. The way I see it there are no offensive words, only offended people. No need to resort to name calling either.

frank uible · November 06, 2012, 11:06:23 AM

I hold no brief for Serpone, but didn't LaPaz effectively call, on this board, Serpone classless?

Sandy · November 06, 2012, 02:25:21 PM

Well, yeah, but that's because Serpone is classless. LaPaz and many others, myself included, have witnessed this. I should have made it clear that it was the manner of name calling, not the actual name calling itself, that I had issue with...So as to not derail the thread too much...

I will be at one of the NESCAC sites this weekend. It will be interesting to see another NESCAC team besides Amherst play for once.

Pat Coleman · November 06, 2012, 03:23:30 PM

Alright, folks, we got it, you don't like Serpone. But let's keep the axe-grinding to a minimum and focus on the soccer itself, if that's right.

CacCaptain · November 06, 2012, 03:43:01 PM

I'm also a recent player in the league. I've seen every team play at least once this year.

Amherst was by far the best team. But, having played them the past 4 years, I agree they (and Serpone) have 0 class whatsoever which is disappointing. That said, I believe they will make a run in the tournament, but are certainly beatable as well. I'm shocked they've only allowed 2 goals.

Wesleyan should not have gotten in but could win a game or two as they are solid.

Congrats to Tufts on making the tourney for the first time in quite a while. They are my dark horse. I hear Santos may be back and they've played very well even without him. Unlucky to have lost in PKs.

Williams is solid but, having seen them play this weekend, I fear they play too direct for a team not having the same talent up top as Amherst. Than could keep them in games (as he did against Tufts) but I don't see them going too deep.

Another great year for the NESCAC. I know we are all proud to be involved in this wonderful sports conference.

CacFan12 · November 06, 2012, 03:54:07 PM

First time poster, former player, and long-time follower of the boards. Can't say I agree with the "classless" Amherst comment. They get a bad rep for having the loudest bench and a coach that is of a different mold than the traditional "old school" successful nescac coaches Saward and Russo. Also don't think they would be getting nearly as much negative press on these boards if they weren't dominant--no one cares if they are losing. Serpone has to be doing something right, you can't argue with 6 straight NCAA appearances, 1 final four, and 3 nescac titles...

That being said, I wanted to get the nescac awards discussion going. Can Amherst sweep the awards? (noon - POY, freshman goalie - FOY, and serpone COY) or does shapiro from tufts get the nod for COY? he took a tufts team that was terrible 3 years ago to an ncaa bid. Can't imagine anyone but noon and the amherst goalie winning the other two.