NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

Did Shapiro earn himself the COY yesterday...? What do you guys think?

I think it's going to Byrne from Oneonta St if they reach the final...   

Did Brandeis coach get it for New England Region?   At least Shapiro is in the mix now that they made the FINAL FOUR.

When does the voting for the COY and all-american teams take place...before or after the NCCA final game?  That could have a major impact....

[Mr.Right]

Voting I believe takes place this week and next week

[Brother Flounder]

Voting I believe takes place this week and next week

Mr. RIGHT, do u think any NESCAC players make first or second team all-american given their NESCAC play and NCAA play?

[Flying Weasel]

It didn't hurt that the Tufts fans made this feel like a home game despite the much longer trip. Shapiro managed this game masterfully. The way he utilized his subs was crucial to keep the energy level high for 90. Congratulations to the Jumbos! Hoping they can continue this special run. They certainly have all the right pieces.

CacCaptain brings up a couple points that bear reinforcing.

1.  Tufts energy, intensity, and work rate from start to finish was incredible.  Without that I don't think they hold on for the win.  They're not the first team to find a way to keep Messiah at bay without parking the bus, but that usually requires (in addition to discipline) expanding a lot of energy, physically and mentally, and rarely can they keep it up for the full ninety.  Usually after Messiah's starters have that first go at the defense coming out of halftime you see some fatigue starting to creep in and whatever was working for them starts losing its effectiveness.  Tufts did not have a noticeable drop off.  They matched Messiah's work rate for the full game which is saying something.

2. The Tufts fans brought it.  Messiah's fans not so much.  Sad but true.  Despite how close Muhlenberg is to Messiah, I was shocked not to see many more fans.  Disappointing.  The families were there.  Numerous former players.  But there didn't seem to much of a student presence, the type that bring the majority of the noise and vocal support.  Historically Messiah has travelled very well in big numbers.  Over the years Messiah fans have made many a road game in the tournament seem like a home game, ever since that first title won at Rowan where it seemed we outnumbered the home Rowan fans.

And I wanted to just add one more comment and say that of all the Messiah seniors, I thought Brian Ramirez played incredible well in very adverse conditions in the middle of the park with the Tufts players closing down quickly, going in hard, etc.  He was a beast at times, winning or maintaining possession incredibly well despite all the physical play and tight spaces.  He really worked his butt off and sacrificed body.  Tufts clogged the passing lanes in front of him and did a great job denying chances to slot the ball forward to Payne and Brandt, so he often had to work the ball to the wings which is fine when it's one of the options not the only option.  All the seniors played their hearts out, but if I had to single out one for extra praise and recognition in that particular game, I give it to him.

[Flying Weasel]

I thought that NSCAA national COY was voted on after the tournament with the eight regional COY's being joined on the ballot by the national champion coach (if not already on as regional COY).  I did not know that all four Final Four coaches were in the mix.

[Brother Flounder]

It didn't hurt that the Tufts fans made this feel like a home game despite the much longer trip. Shapiro managed this game masterfully. The way he utilized his subs was crucial to keep the energy level high for 90. Congratulations to the Jumbos! Hoping they can continue this special run. They certainly have all the right pieces.

CacCaptain brings up a couple points that bear reinforcing.

1.  Tufts energy, intensity, and work rate from start to finish was incredible.  Without that I don't think they hold on for the win.  They're not the first team to find a way to keep Messiah at bay without parking the bus, but that usually requires (in addition to discipline) expanding a lot of energy, physically and mentally, and rarely can they keep it up for the full ninety.  Usually after Messiah's starters have that first go at the defense coming out of halftime you see some fatigue starting to creep in and whatever was working for them starts losing its effectiveness.  Tufts did not have a noticeable drop off.  They matched Messiah's work rate for the full game which is saying something.

2. The Tufts fans brought it.  Messiah's fans not so much.  Sad but true.  Despite how close Muhlenberg is to Messiah, I was shocked not to see many more fans.  Disappointing.  The families were there.  Numerous former players.  But there didn't seem to much of a student presence, the type that bring the majority of the noise and vocal support.  Historically Messiah has travelled very well in big numbers.  Over the years Messiah fans have made many a road game in the tournament seem like a home game, ever since that first title won at Rowan where it seemed we outnumbered the home Rowan fans.

And I wanted to just add one more comment and say that of all the Messiah seniors, I thought Brian Ramirez played incredible well in very adverse conditions in the middle of the park with the Tufts players closing down quickly, going in hard, etc.  He was a beast at times, winning or maintaining possession incredibly well despite all the physical play and tight spaces.  He really worked his butt off and sacrificed body.  Tufts clogged the passing lanes in front of him and did a great job denying chances to slot the ball forward to Payne and Brandt, so he often had to work the ball to the wings which is fine when it's one of the options not the only option.  All the seniors played their hearts out, but if I had to single out one for extra praise and recognition in that particular game, I give it to him.

Was he number 11 in the middle?  If so, he had tremendous composure and excellent ball skills from what I could see on video.  What did you think of the Tufts midfielders, technically and skillwise?

[lastguyoffthebench]

I thought that NSCAA national COY was voted on after the tournament with the eight regional COY's being joined on the ballot by the national champion coach (if not already on as regional COY).  I did not know that all four Final Four coaches were in the mix.

I'm probably wrong.  When in doubt, trust in FW.   

[Flying Weasel]

I honestly do not know, and so I could certainly be wrong.  I can't really say anymore where I got the impression it was the 8 regional COY's and the national champion, but it's the impression I have carried with me.

[oldonionbag]

It didn't hurt that the Tufts fans made this feel like a home game despite the much longer trip. Shapiro managed this game masterfully. The way he utilized his subs was crucial to keep the energy level high for 90. Congratulations to the Jumbos! Hoping they can continue this special run. They certainly have all the right pieces.

CacCaptain brings up a couple points that bear reinforcing.

1.  Tufts energy, intensity, and work rate from start to finish was incredible.  Without that I don't think they hold on for the win.  They're not the first team to find a way to keep Messiah at bay without parking the bus, but that usually requires (in addition to discipline) expanding a lot of energy, physically and mentally, and rarely can they keep it up for the full ninety.  Usually after Messiah's starters have that first go at the defense coming out of halftime you see some fatigue starting to creep in and whatever was working for them starts losing its effectiveness.  Tufts did not have a noticeable drop off.  They matched Messiah's work rate for the full game which is saying something.

2. The Tufts fans brought it.  Messiah's fans not so much.  Sad but true.  Despite how close Muhlenberg is to Messiah, I was shocked not to see many more fans.  Disappointing.  The families were there.  Numerous former players.  But there didn't seem to much of a student presence, the type that bring the majority of the noise and vocal support.  Historically Messiah has travelled very well in big numbers.  Over the years Messiah fans have made many a road game in the tournament seem like a home game, ever since that first title won at Rowan where it seemed we outnumbered the home Rowan fans.

And I wanted to just add one more comment and say that of all the Messiah seniors, I thought Brian Ramirez played incredible well in very adverse conditions in the middle of the park with the Tufts players closing down quickly, going in hard, etc.  He was a beast at times, winning or maintaining possession incredibly well despite all the physical play and tight spaces.  He really worked his butt off and sacrificed body.  Tufts clogged the passing lanes in front of him and did a great job denying chances to slot the ball forward to Payne and Brandt, so he often had to work the ball to the wings which is fine when it's one of the options not the only option.  All the seniors played their hearts out, but if I had to single out one for extra praise and recognition in that particular game, I give it to him.

Wanted to echo everything Flying Weasel said here. I was surprised Messiah didn't have more/louder fans, with Allentown being so close. I was thinking maybe it was because it was on a Sunday? I don't know how religious the student body typically is, so my apologies- don't mean to offend, just curious. I think the Tufts fans really helped the players. At least when I played, I know that having a huge student section/chants/cheering really helped me go that extra mile.

With regards to the work rate- I was interested to see how that was going to play out with Messiah having been able to rest a ton of their starters after the 6-0 shellacking, and Tufts having to more or less grind out the win the previous day. That they were able to keep pace is a testament to working hard and getting in shape in the offseason/easier weeks during the season.

Additionally, Ramirez was exceptional. Flying Weasel, would there be any chance he'd get an invite to the MLS combine? He's got the build, pace, vision, technical skills to hold his own at the MLS level IMO. Just a thought!

[Falconer]

Yes, number 11 is Brian Ramirez. He has the best overall skill set of any Falcon during his 4 years here, but he isn't very fast. That could prevent him from having much of a future in professional soccer. IMO. Of course, Josh Wood (last year's POY) is even slower, and he did get an invite to the combine. But Josh is more of a pure scorer, while Ramirez is a super distributor who was also our best imitation of bend it like Beckham.

[Brother Flounder]

Yes, number 11 is Brian Ramirez. He has the best overall skill set of any Falcon during his 4 years here, but he isn't very fast. That could prevent him from having much of a future in professional soccer. IMO. Of course, Josh Wood (last year's POY) is even slower, and he did get an invite to the combine. But Josh is more of a pure scorer, while Ramirez is a super distributor who was also our best imitation of bend it like Beckham.

He looked pretty quick on the video feed, but sometimes its hard to tell....What was your impression of the Tufts midfielders seeing them in person?

[KnightFalcon]

I thought #6 was pretty sharp and had a pretty good battle going with Ramirez the whole game. And I'll second what was said previously about Ramirez - I thought he was exceptional and the hardest working player out there ...not taking anything away from the effort of the Tufts players.

[Nutmeg]

Tufts gets an early goal and stuns Messiah 1-0! An earlier poster made a wish that the Jumbos' strength of schedule would be an asset, and that may well have played an important part. Having seen Messiah play this year and numerous times in the past, I assure you that, as good as the program is in recruiting and coaching, opponents such as Gettysburg, Catholic, Widener, Albright, Hood, York, etc., clearly do not constitute rigorous preparation for tournament play. Perhaps it made more of a difference this time than in other years.

No doubt several other conferences are tougher, top to bottom, than the one Messiah is part of--especially since the traditional rival Elizabethtown College (who won the national title in the late 1980s and was a perennial tournament team for decades) left the conference after 2013--I think (to be frank) they were tired of losing to Messiah and wanted different opponents, but I digress. Some of the teams listed by jumpshot are in our conference: you play them, regardless of SOS. But, really--Catholic isn't a good team? If not for that terrible non-call last weekend, Tufts would have played them instead of Muhlenburg. York isn't a good team? I'll give you that for 2014, but not for any other recent season. Messiah plays York annually, and it's almost always a tight game, with York winning sometimes: how many other teams can say that they've beaten the Falcons more than once in the past decade? At least one of those games, York was the superior team; they just could never seem to score enough in the tournament, or they were probably Final Four material somewhere in there. Gettysburg is also good, quite often, though not this year. They also have given Messiah blemishes (plural) in recent years. Messiah played 3 tournament teams this year, all of them out of conference. In another year, it could have been five or six (take your pick from York, TCNJ, Redlands, Neumann, or Etown). Some years we play CNU, Roanoke, Gordon, or Wheaton-ILL, or Chicago. It all depends on travel and who's coming East to play us.

I looked back and it was Nutmeg who made the comment about SOS.  I agree, Messiah has a harder schedule than given credit for but I also think SOS has some value and Tufts had a very high SOS. On the other hand, Messiah has been National Champions several times and I am sure the opponents higher SOS didn't help those opponents.  So, maybe we can agree that the SOS benefited Tufts here and was less of a detriment to Messiah...

Flounder, I am glad someone pays attention to my posts! I really wish I could have been at that messiah-tufts game...seemed pretty special...

[Nutmeg]

Wishing the best to Tufts this coming week..Go NESCAC!

[Corazon]

Wishing the best to Tufts this coming week..Go NESCAC!

Indeed. During the season, we might argue within the conference, but absolutely pulling for the NESCAC!