NESCAC

[amh63]

Interesting posts on this board on pre- season team and player national recognitions..  I find the same points raised here on other Nescac boards.  Shorter season, academic pressure, etc.  Yes, the Nescac is unique in many ways in the World of sports...just as the Ivies are, and the Vanderbilts and Nothwesterns are in their conferences.  Still, the student athletes are aware of those limitations as well as the opportunities when attending.
In the end, in The D3 world, the conference wins a heck of a lot of National titles in all sports and its teams win a lot of academic-athletic awards....as well as individual ones too!  Over the years,  I have found pre- season recognition of teams/individuals...or lack of such...not worth in depth discussion.

[Flying Weasel]

No love for NESCAC on Hero Sports?  While the NESCAC is number 1 in their conference power rankings, there is no review of the conference or no NESCAC players in their top 5 at any position so far.  Wheaton has 2 midfielders alone (even though they started the season poorly).  The NESCAC has several excellent players, some certainly worthy of consideration.... Savonen, Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, many more, etc....  The NESCAC has the strongest SOS and plays less games so statistics don't stand out. Thoughts?

http://herosports.com/sport/collegesoccer/d3-mens-soccer/#more_articles_bottom

Ooops, I missed Conrad at forward....I see he's listed

First off, they did do a preview of the NESCAC.  http://herosports.com/collegesoccer/nescac-mens-soccer-preview-2015/

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

Finally, try being less hypersensitive to any perceived lack of recognition for being the absolute best.  It's unbecoming for you and a turn-off (to say the least) to the rest of us.

[Mr.Right]

I have to agree with Weasel on this....Let's just focus on the teams, players, coaches and matchups....I usually do not involve myself in these strongest conference debates because we go thru this every year on this board.

[Brother Flounder]

No love for NESCAC on Hero Sports?  While the NESCAC is number 1 in their conference power rankings, there is no review of the conference or no NESCAC players in their top 5 at any position so far.  Wheaton has 2 midfielders alone (even though they started the season poorly).  The NESCAC has several excellent players, some certainly worthy of consideration.... Savonen, Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, many more, etc....  The NESCAC has the strongest SOS and plays less games so statistics don't stand out. Thoughts?

http://herosports.com/sport/collegesoccer/d3-mens-soccer/#more_articles_bottom

Ooops, I missed Conrad at forward....I see he's listed

First off, they did do a preview of the NESCAC.  http://herosports.com/collegesoccer/nescac-mens-soccer-preview-2015/

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

Finally, try being less hypersensitive to any perceived lack of recognition for being the absolute best.  It's unbecoming for you and a turn-off (to say the least) to the rest of us.

Weasel... I stand corrected.  I didn't see that write up when I looked...probably didn't look back far enough.....

[PaulNewman]

No love for NESCAC on Hero Sports?  While the NESCAC is number 1 in their conference power rankings, there is no review of the conference or no NESCAC players in their top 5 at any position so far.  Wheaton has 2 midfielders alone (even though they started the season poorly).  The NESCAC has several excellent players, some certainly worthy of consideration.... Savonen, Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, many more, etc....  The NESCAC has the strongest SOS and plays less games so statistics don't stand out. Thoughts?

http://herosports.com/sport/collegesoccer/d3-mens-soccer/#more_articles_bottom

Ooops, I missed Conrad at forward....I see he's listed

First off, they did do a preview of the NESCAC.  http://herosports.com/collegesoccer/nescac-mens-soccer-preview-2015/

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

Finally, try being less hypersensitive to any perceived lack of recognition for being the absolute best.  It's unbecoming for you and a turn-off (to say the least) to the rest of us.

Thank you!

[Brother Flounder]

No love for NESCAC on Hero Sports?  While the NESCAC is number 1 in their conference power rankings, there is no review of the conference or no NESCAC players in their top 5 at any position so far.  Wheaton has 2 midfielders alone (even though they started the season poorly).  The NESCAC has several excellent players, some certainly worthy of consideration.... Savonen, Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, many more, etc....  The NESCAC has the strongest SOS and plays less games so statistics don't stand out. Thoughts?

http://herosports.com/sport/collegesoccer/d3-mens-soccer/#more_articles_bottom

Ooops, I missed Conrad at forward....I see he's listed

First off, they did do a preview of the NESCAC.  http://herosports.com/collegesoccer/nescac-mens-soccer-preview-2015/

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

Finally, try being less hypersensitive to any perceived lack of recognition for being the absolute best.  It's unbecoming for you and a turn-off (to say the least) to the rest of us.

Weasel... I stand corrected.  I didn't see that write up when I looked...probably didn't look back far enough.....

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

I will take a stab.... Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, Savonen..and Rashid if healthy...(and Conrad but he's already listed and possibly Connor Brown)....It's unfortunate they don't play in as many games and in easy conferences.....

[Flying Weasel]

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

I will take a stab.... Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, Savonen..and Rashid if healthy...(and Conrad but he's already listed and possibly Connor Brown)....It's unfortunate they don't play in as many games and in easy conferences.....

But would you admit that none of them are clear-cut, undeniable Top 5 at their position?  Or do you contend they are?  And you have to be kidding including Rashid.  Why would anyone making a preseason Top 5 forward list (or will he play midfield?) from the hundreds of candidates, pick a player coming back from ACL surgery after missing all of last year when there's numerous other forwards who had great seasons last year and are back with another year of experience under their belt.  I'm not saying the players you list aren't deserving, but so are the players that were picked Top 5 (with, as I said, a questionable selection or two).

I'm curious to see how Greenwood does this year.  Last year his save pct. was unimpressive throughout most of the year despite having a stellar team and defense in front of him limiting the quality of shots he faced.  He looking impressive in the NCAA's, and the NESCAC fans raved about him, which made his year-long stats a surprise when I looked them up.

In the end, though, isn't it silly to get worked up over a preseason position Top 5 list?  Sillier than taking a preseason Top 25 or Week 1 ranking too seriously!  On to another set of weekend games in what could be a very interesting season and wide open race for a national title.

[Brother Flounder]

Second, as to the Top 5 returning players at each position, while there may be a questionable pick or two in there, who are the obvious NESCAC players that deserved to make a Top 5 list at their position? 

I will take a stab.... Pascal-Leone, Kayne, Greenwood, Savonen..and Rashid if healthy...(and Conrad but he's already listed and possibly Connor Brown)....It's unfortunate they don't play in as many games and in easy conferences.....

But would you admit that none of them are clear-cut, undeniable Top 5 at their position?  Or do you contend they are?  And you have to be kidding including Rashid.  Why would anyone making a preseason Top 5 forward list (or will he play midfield?) from the hundreds of candidates, pick a player coming back from ACL surgery after missing all of last year when there's numerous other forwards who had great seasons last year and are back with another year of experience under their belt.  I'm not saying the players you list aren't deserving, but so are the players that were picked Top 5 (with, as I said, a questionable selection or two).

I'm curious to see how Greenwood does this year.  Last year his save pct. was unimpressive throughout most of the year despite having a stellar team and defense in front of him limiting the quality of shots he faced.  He looking impressive in the NCAA's, and the NESCAC fans raved about him, which made his year-long stats a surprise when I looked them up.

In the end, though, isn't it silly to get worked up over a preseason position Top 5 list?  Sillier than taking a preseason Top 25 or Week 1 ranking too seriously!  On to another set of weekend games in what could be a very interesting season and wide open race for a national title.

Yes, all of the preseason polls are rather silly, but they are given and people always respond...and really, the only poll that really matters is the last one. Regarding Rashid... yes silly for a preseason poll but not as prediction for the end of the season.  I do think that Pascal-Leone, Kayne and Savonen could be there instead of Borge.  Also, Hollingsworth was picked.  Look at his stats from last year. Impressive but not super..... Also, he just had his third surgery in 3 years on the same knee.....But he means so much to his team.  The same can be said for Greenwood.

[Brother Flounder]

I'm not saying the players you list aren't deserving, but so are the players that were picked Top 5 (with, as I said, a questionable selection or two).

Agreed.....

[PaulNewman]

It's unfortunate they don't play in easier conferences?  Huh?  You want to take away the single biggest thing they have going for them?  Now you don't want to be in the top conference in the country?

Hollingsworth is a leading candidate for national player of the year.  Look, I love the Savonen brothers.  I've seen both of them play, including in person, a lot.  The older one had a fabulous career and got everything out of his talent and was rewarded with a slew of accolades and honors.  The younger one is certainly an important player for Trinity but he's not one of the top 5 forwards in the country and may not even be top 5 in the NESCAC.

The NESCAC is going to get a ton of attention this year, especially because there is going to be great interest in Tufts and that will overflow to the other leading NESCAC squads.  Pascal-Leone and Kayne will get their due, as will other top NESCAC players.

[PaulNewman]

One last comment of this top players list theme.  You're acting like the only kids under consideration are the ones someone picked in a preseason list and your NESCAC players.  There are a ton of other really good players out there around the country.  I don't pretend to know who they are all either.  But between the NJAC, the South Atlantic teams like Roanoke, Lynchburg, NC Wesleyan, Virginia Wesleyan, schools like Trinity (TX) and Whitworth that those of us on the East Coast know almost nothing about, Loras, and others I'm sure there are a bunch of under-the-radar players who deserve attention.  What about the Webb kid at Carnegie Mellon who had a hat trick against Messiah and already has 7 goals???  Then there are kids like Schaefer, Barnes and Evan Lee at OWU and Barnes and Eudy at Kenyon.  The list could go on and on.

[Brother Flounder]

One last comment of this top players list theme.  You're acting like the only kids under consideration are the ones someone picked in a preseason list and your NESCAC players.  There are a ton of other really good players out there around the country.  I don't pretend to know who they are all either.  But between the NJAC, the South Atlantic teams like Roanoke, Lynchburg, NC Wesleyan, Virginia Wesleyan, schools like Trinity (TX) and Whitworth that those of us on the East Coast know almost nothing about, Loras, and others I'm sure there are a bunch of under-the-radar players who deserve attention.  What about the Webb kid at Carnegie Mellon who had a hat trick against Messiah and already has 7 goals???  Then there are kids like Schaefer, Barnes and Evan Lee at OWU and Barnes and Eudy at Kenyon.  The list could go on and on.

I agree there are other players from other conferences.... but this is  NESCAC thread so that is why I mentioned NESCAC players.....

[Nutmeg]

I may try to get over to Medford tomorrow to catch the Tufts-Colby game. If so, I will try to post a report.

[PaulNewman]

"I agree there are other players from other conferences.... but this is  NESCAC thread so that is why I mentioned NESCAC players....."

Yeah, it's a NESCAC thread, but you're complaining about national-level recognition.

[All NESCAC]

ALLNESCAC, agreed, but that is all self-imposed.  The rest of the country (and the rest of us) aren't doing that to the NESCAC teams and players.

And BF, the conference habitually is ranked as the #1 conference.  What more do you want the rest of the country to admit???

NCAC agree it is self imposed and I don't have issue with it or the perceived lack of National Attention at a player or team level because of the shortened schedule.  I was just stating why this "perceived lack  of attention" may exist.  NESCAC is a rather unique "animal" in the D3 world, rightly or wrongly, they (the College Presidents/Trustees) do things how they want to do it.  No Football playoffs for the NESCAC even though the Coaches, players and fans/alumni want it and only an 8 game schedule...too bad not happening.  Shortened schedule for soccer and other sports...it is what it is, and it is self imposed.  I can honestly say I never once heard any NESCAC soccer players complaining about only playing a 14/15 game regular season...and I am in agreement with a shortened schedule....they don't go to a NESCAC school first and foremost to play soccer, if they can play while they're there fantastic and  congratulations!