NESCAC

[LaPaz]

This is a Nescac board...not one of your Messiah pom pom cheerleading boards. New England soccer people are well aware of the Messiah connections at Gordon and its Christian roots...Maybe they can dominate a weak league like Messiah does year in and year out. If only there were more D1 schools for these Christian right wing nuts to send their kids.

[PaulNewman]

With OWU almost certain to drop after 2 draws will Amherst climb to #1 in at least the NCAA poll?  Messiah and Rutgers-Camden appear to be the other competitors for the top spot.  All four of these schools have had impressive streaks.

[Pat Coleman]

This is a Nescac board...not one of your Messiah pom pom cheerleading boards. New England soccer people are well aware of the Messiah connections at Gordon and its Christian roots...Maybe they can dominate a weak league like Messiah does year in and year out. If only there were more D1 schools for these Christian right wing nuts to send their kids.

LaPaz -- no need to go all political here. Thanks.

[Flying Weasel]

This is a Nescac board...not one of your Messiah pom pom cheerleading boards. New England soccer people are well aware of the Messiah connections at Gordon and its Christian roots...Maybe they can dominate a weak league like Messiah does year in and year out. If only there were more D1 schools for these Christian right wing nuts to send their kids.

Sorry you took such offense, La Paz.  Since you took a swipe at the 14-1-0 record that Gordon has posted, I thought it fair to suggest that their 14-1-0 record might reflect more than just a weak schedule (though it certainly is a reflection of that).  BTW, it's exactly this type of information that I wish was shared more on this message board.  Who can possibly keep up on all the coaching changes, roster changes, recruiting classes, injuries, etc. and the potential they bring to change a program's immediate, short-term, and long-term fortunes?  So it's helpful and educational when everyone shares the insights, info, and knowledge they have.  Maybe all you New England soccer people knew about the situation at Gordon, but not everyone on this message board is a knowledgeable New England soccer person.

[LaPaz]

Fair enough....I was having a bad day...sorry about that..anyway

Today:

Bowdoin at Tufts- Hige game for seeding in Nescac. Bowdoin I think has won 6 or 7 in a row, while Tufts is coming off a thrilling victory at Hamilton. The ref did them no favors in central Ny by booking them 5v times and giving a straight red. The red went to Holliday who can be replaced for this game without much difference. They get there #1 keeper back after suspension. This team / coach do confuse me as Hoppenot ( who scored the lone goal did not start). He has benched Santos, Nakomura and Hoppenot all this season. Anyway, I think if Tufts plays there game at home they can win this and get a home field for Nescac quarters. Bowdoin on a roll and wouldn't be suprised to see  them sit in a bit and let Tufts come at them. A tie is enough for Bowdoin to host. Tufts must take Brewster out of the game and go at the other Bowdoin defenders who I think are weak.  2-1 Tufts

[Jump4Joy]

LaPaz predicted a 1-goal separation between Jumbos and Polar Bears, so he was right: Tufts, 1-0, for the home berth on Saturday. These teams were playing for home field adv. last year at this time, too, with Tufts winning the prize then.

Check out the NCAA (NSCAA) rankings this week. Amherst #1, but only one other NESCAC team (Bowdoin) in the top 25. Could be trouble come berth time???
http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings/2746/NCAADivisionIII/men/National/Poll9

[All NESCAC]

Big game today Wesleyan at Conn which will solidify the playoff seedings.  tough game to call.  If Wesleyan wins then they likely will end up in 3rd and Conn #7.  Wesleyan would play Middlebury.  Conn would travel to Williams.  If Conn wins Wesleyan likely will still end up in 3rd, but Conn in #6 for a rematch Saturday at Wesleyan.  Middlebury would travel to Williams (assuming Williams beats Hamilton which is not a given).  If I'm Conn better to win today and play rematch vs Wesleyan than travel out to Williams for Saturday.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Predictions on Amherst at Trinity?    I would think 2-0 Amherst...

[amh63]

Amherst wins over Trinity in Hartford this afternoon...4-0.  Trinity's announcers started off slow by calling the LJs Williams for about 10 minutes...catch himself and making the error again.  He did come back strong for the rest of the game.  Announcers stated that Hamilton won against Williams...thereby eliminating the Bantams from the playoffs.  Amherst would have met Trinity again in the first round...it seems.

[madzillagd]

Very rough game at Williams which won't show up in the stat sheet because non-calls don't get recorded.  Both ways, it wasn't one sided at all.  Williams flat out blew getting a point with a missed penalty kick that was at least 5 ft over the crossbar.  Hamilton's game winner came between Morrell's legs which I'm sure he'll be kicking himself about. 

[PaulNewman]

Did Colby really lose 5-1 at home against Bates?  0-10 for the season.

[PaulNewman]

Anyone want to take a shot at how NCAA bids are going to play out for the NESCAC?

Amherst looks to be the only entirely safe team and the only team that could survive a quarterfinal loss.  I don't see how the rest could get a bid without winning at least 1 game, and most would seem to need at least 2 games.  If the winner of Bowdoin vs Tufts managed to beat Amherst in the semis that would probably earn a bid.  I don't see Wesleyan getting a bid unless they beat Conn again, and also think the loser of Midd vs Williams will be out.  And I wouldn't be surprised if the semifinal in that half of the bracket is for a bid.  In other words, I could see NESCAC only getting 2 teams and at most 3 (if Amherst is upset in the quarters or semis).  Anyone see this differently?

[KICKIN95]

Watched some of the Trinity v Amherst match.  Amherst had little problem disposing of Trinity.  I thought the commentators were more entertaining than the match, I think they finally realized Trinity was actually playing Amherst instead of "Williams" about 5 min before the end of the 1st half.  If there wasn't video streaming with this match you would have been lead to believe this was a closely fought battle.

[All NESCAC]

Other than Amherst, everyone else really has to get to the finals to get a bid, with Williams the only other who could get a bid with one win in playoffs, and it looks like Williams gave away a game yesterday vs Hamilton completely outshooting them, missing a PK and unable to finish--so who truly knows about Williams.   there may only be 2 teams this year from NESCAC.  Wesleyan would have to get to the finals to get a bid as there out of conference play was not good.  Reading stats and write up of yesterday's game vs Conn looks like Wesleyan was outplayed, but found a way to win, thus rematch on Saturday could go either way.  By losing yesterday no way Conn could get a bid unless they won the tournament.  Wesleyan would have to make the finals to get a bid, same with Bowdoin/Tufts/Middlebury.  Crazy season as they all continue to beat each other up in the standings demonstrating little difference in talent/competitiveness between #' 2 through #8, yet likely only two bids this year, but anyone of other 7 could do well if they got the bid given how competitive the league has been.

[cacalum]

Best part of the season here folks, NESCAC Tournament.

Will try and opine on NCAA bids later this weekend as I haven't had the time to look at the rest of the country and what it means for the NESCAC, will try and take a closer look this weekend and hopefully catch a game in-person as well.

Quarterfinal picks:

8. Hamilton at 1. Amherst (Amherst 1-0)
Amherst has rolled through the NESCAC this year besides for two blemishes in Hamilton and Conn College. They will be looking for a little payback and combined with them being at home and motivated I think they get this one done. Julien Aoyoama by all reports is rounding into shape and Hamilton only saw Aoyoama Lite in the first game (his younger brother). That being said Hamilton will not be afraid of the Jeffs as they probably (rightly so) feel they should have gotten 3 points at home. Still think Amherst has too many weapons here though.

7. Conn at 2. Wesleyan (0-0; Wes in PKs)
Wesleyan won the regular season match-up 1-0 yesterday. This pick comes from a couple of things: 1.) Wesleyan will tighten up in the back as they always have and play defense first and 2.) Wesleyan has not scored more than 1 goal in a game since the first week in September. Conn will try and stretch the game with their attacking players and particularly Hawkey but I don't think they have enough weapons to punch one in, especially @ the "birdcage." I'll go with the home squad in PKs but don't really have a particular reason other than that they are at home. I like Sousa for them btw, seems to be a pretty steady player.

6. Midd at 3. Williams (Midd 2-1)
Williams won 2-1 in the regular season matchup in early October. The beginning of this game means a lot for a couple reasons. First off, sounds like Williams really let one go yesterday against Hamilton at home and a couple guys might be hanging their heads a little lower today than yesterday. Combine that with the youth of Middlebury and if Williams lets Midd think they can win the game in the first 20, I think it might swing in Midd's favor.  I like Batista a lot, as well as Tyler Smith. Williams has never really gotten on track in my opinion this year. They're not as potent in attack as one would like to see.  Midd gets the win.

5. Bowdoin at 4. Tufts (Tufts 2-1)
Really hope this game is more interesting than the one I saw on webcast earlier this week, which was an absolute snore. Hoppenot the difference here as Bowdoin scores one late to make it interesting.