NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

I can think of a couple great players in the past years and have no information as to why they are not playing regular minutes. If anyone knows please fill us in.

Issiroff-Wesleyan.  Great play maker in midfield has found the bench and limited minutes.  I love Gruner in midfield but certainly Issiroff is better quality than Erickson and Bravo.

Nakamura-Tufts. From starter to maybe 10 minutes a game if lucky. I always thought he was one of Tufts more creative players. My only guess here is that Shapiro does not think he is tough enough but certainly he is equal to Pinheiro if not a tad better.

[/b]
I will start this off by saying that I don't have any inside information regarding Tufts but I have seen a few live games and one video game.  The midfield combination works very well together, as mentioned by other posters.  They probably have the best midfield group, as a whole, in the NESCAC. I simply think it's a matter of chemistry and not about an individual talent comparison between the mentioned players.  From what I have seen, there seems to be a better rythym with the group that starts and maybe that's what the coach sees.  Kayne seems to be the main (and most versatile) playmaker in his central attacking role, and the midfielders behind him seem to start the attack through him. Pinheiro is a good passer and Brown and Santos are fast and talented wingmen.  Defensively, the midfield presses well. Of course, this has been only in the games that I have seen.  It could be totally different in other games and others can confirm.  Also the video feeds are a bit challenging at times.

[MENESCACFAN]

Nakamura-Tufts. From starter to maybe 10 minutes a game if lucky. I always thought he was one of Tufts more creative players. My only guess here is that Shapiro does not think he is tough enough but certainly he is equal to Pinheiro if not a tad better.

Going on the words of a Tufts parent here, but here is the rumor on Nakamura.  Who by the way, as a freshman and sophomore was a first team All-NESCAC player in my eyes.  His first two years he played for a Boston Rams PDL franchise and was razor sharp fitness wise.  This past summer he worked a lucrative internship back in Japan, did not touch a soccer ball and has been straight up beaten out of the lineup by sharper guys due to being rusty and unfit.  If that is true and you keep winning, I imagine yo udon't just get back in.

[Corazon]

I've been waiting for Jae Heo of Amherst to get going as well.  He is still very good of course, but he was lights out his first couple of years.  I suppose when you take time off, it takes awhile to get your timing back.

[PaulNewman]

A lot is made of D3 being student friendly compared to D1, but the difference is only one of degree.  Playing for these D3 teams, especially the more competitive ones, takes a ton of time and effort.  Kids have to show up in better shape than they ever imagined coming out of high school (or else they won't play even if they have a great pedigree, and I'm sure we all a few Academy kids who are sitting the bench or no longer playing at all).  Then there are the summers in between.  Kids have a lot pressure to play at as high a level as possible in the summer, to run, to get stronger, etc while also feeling increased pressure each year to be doing some productive (job, internship, travel abroad, etc) in terms of their academic and career futures.  You're not going to get in med school if you spend most of your time in the summers in the gym and on the pitch.  In many cases, upperclassmen are actually at some disadvantage as the new, gung ho recruits come in.  Coaches try to attract stronger classes every year, and D3 college soccer is not a place where the juniors or seniors are awarded any priority or even "the tie goes to the senior" status.  We all know that if 10-12 players come in as frosh that maybe only 4-6 are still playing as seniors.  And as we are handicapping teams and games we have no idea who had to pull an all-nighter because of a biochemistry exam or a 15 page paper that is due.  Don't get me wrong.  I know many of these young men love playing, love their teammates, and love playing for their schools.  There are certainly life-long benefits.  But it's not easy, and ironically the deep run that all of the players crave and strive for also comes with a cost, as that run goes right into final exam prep period. 

[Bucket]

I've been waiting for Jae Heo of Amherst to get going as well.  He is still very good of course, but he was lights out his first couple of years.  I suppose when you take time off, it takes awhile to get your timing back.

Yeah, but that was about 5 years ago.

[Mr.Right]

Charlier seemed to me to be about 15lbs overweight. He is a good athlete but not with that xtra baggage on him.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Tufts still not passing Coast Guard in d3soccer rankings...  I guess that means Coast Guard will be #2 in NSCAA too, because they didn't lose last week.

1) Brandeis
2) Coast Guard
3) Wheaton MA
4) Tufts
5) Amherst

[Mr.Right]

Good god is that a joke.

[Brother Flounder]

That is pretty much a joke. Both Amherst & Tufts should be ahead of CG and Wheaton IMHO.

[Mr.Right]

Can you imagine Coast Guard is actually going to get in the NCAA's and host a sectional. A first round treat of Coast Guard v Elms awaits

[Corazon]

Agree.  Total joke.

[lastguyoffthebench]

I agree as well... NSCAA is all coaches that vote, correct?   Perhaps the little guys are sticking together.

Tufts should be #2 in region, without question.


Will be interesting to see how the South Atlantic votes with Emory CNU and RU-N losing.   MSU should easily be #1, but I doubt that will be the case.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Going to call it now.... ECU will be beat CG, Wheaton will also beat CG... CG fails to win NEWMAC and will not get a pool C bid.

[Mr.Right]

I would have predicted that as well. Our ECSU friend has told us they have some major injuries. I am not confident they can break down Coast Guard.I think Springfield and Wheaton can beat them.

[Flying Weasel]

Yea, I don't get the votes for Coast Guard.  Their schedule just doesn't merit inclusion in the Top 25. 

To teams with weak schedules and guady records:  If you are that good, but don't have the schedule to prove it, tough!  You have the NCAA tournament to put up or shut up.  And if you win a couple tournament games and turn some heads, you'll get the plaudits at that time and they will be deserved.  Until then, tough!

Transylvania had a couple years where they made noise in the tournament despite a weak schedule that, IMHO, didn't merit Top 25 consideration.  But usually these teams either don't even make it out of their conference tournament or flop in the NCAA's.

Maybe not as egregious , but I didn't understand Luther's Top 10 ranking in September given who they had played.  And I find Whitworth at No. 9 to be ridiculous--they're getting a lot of mileage out of an opening weekend 1-0 win at Wheaton.