NESCAC

[Corazon]

Colby puts up another stinker at Wheaton on Sunday. Tough trip from Maine to Boston this weekend as they lose to Tufts and Wheaton without scoring a goal and only getting 3 SOG in two games....YIKES....This is reminding me of Colby ala 2013...Is it possible they were better in 2014? Let's see if they cannot bounce back with a couple home games coming up.

Hard to say without watching a few of their games and considering they played 2 of the top teams in New England, but in speaking with a Tufts supporter who saw them live, view is that Colby was probably better in 2014 (Colby took Tufts to OT last year) but they have a lot of freshmen who play, so once they gel as a team - perhaps by middle of year, they might become better than last year.  Couldn't help but notice they started 7 freshmen vs Wheaton. Has this ever happened before in the NESCAC?

Mr. Right, how do you feel about Williams?  Do you feel they will be a threat to win the NESCAC?  How is this year's playing style?  Curious whether Sullivan plays a traditional NESCAC direct style or plays it on the ground.  We all know last year was a down year, but  do you feel they are back to their typical levels?  I hope to catch some of their game this weekend.  As of now, looks like it might be a 3 way battle between Tufts, Amherst and Williams but dismissing middlebury for one lacklustre game would be foolish, so to me, it is still a 4 way battle.

[Mr.Right]

I think it is a legitimate 5 WAY battle...Amherst, Williams, Midd, Bowdoin and Tufts. Also, Wesleyan might hang around for a while. Conn and Trinity will battle for 7th and 8tn IMO...Colby, Bates and Hamilton need work.

Williams has looked good so far. Again with Rashid, Moutenot, Young and Sisco plus De-Stefano they can attack with any team in Nescac. I really feel with Rashid last year they would have been fine. Anyway, they can attack but they lack depth as I am not a fan of who is coming off the bench quite yet. Also, Danilack is as solid as they come at CB and the frosh Andreau is solid and fast at LB but RB TL Guest is not my answer there and Meullers is still a fast CB but still a bit untested. Alcorn is hit or miss some games.

The Oneonta win was a good one even if they are not quite as good. The 1st half at Trinity, Williams came out like gangbusters but the 2nd Half WAS AWFUL....They looked sluggish and ineffective at best and reminded me of 2014 but they came out with the win. Skidmore I do not think will be much of a test but the Maine trip will tell us a lot.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Colby puts up another stinker at Wheaton on Sunday. Tough trip from Maine to Boston this weekend as they lose to Tufts and Wheaton without scoring a goal and only getting 3 SOG in two games....YIKES....This is reminding me of Colby ala 2013...Is it possible they were better in 2014? Let's see if they cannot bounce back with a couple home games coming up.

Hard to say without watching a few of their games and considering they played 2 of the top teams in New England, but in speaking with a Tufts supporter who saw them live, view is that Colby was probably better in 2014 (Colby took Tufts to OT last year) but they have a lot of freshmen who play, so once they gel as a team - perhaps by middle of year, they might become better than last year.  Couldn't help but notice they started 7 freshmen vs Wheaton. Has this ever happened before in the NESCAC?

I attended both Colby games this weekend.  They will likely take some lumps while they sort things out, but the freshmen are a talented group.  8 freshman finished the game against Tufts.  Colby could start a freshman at every position without any real drop-off in talent.  But that will be the coach's dilemma this season:  trying to find the right mix of experience and young talent, and trying to find everyone's best position.  Perhaps they will not break through this year, but with a couple of more strong recruiting classes to completely fill out the roster, Colby should be quite competitive.

In 2014, Colby lost to Tufts 1-0 on an 86' goal, but Tufts probably dominated statistically more in that game than last weekend.  The difference was that the 2014 Colby team had an experienced GK and more organized defense than at the moment.  One assumes that Colby will become more stout on defense, but scoring will be the primary challenge.  Coach Seabrook did not bring in any true strikers, so the scoring will need to come from attacking midfielders.  A three-year starter at striker who is tall and extremely fast decided not to play his senior season (as did his backup).  This means that there is no true striker on the roster, and a lack of size and speed to stretch the center of opposing defenses.

Wheaton's demise was somewhat over-exaggerated.  After a slow start, they have won four on the trot and looked solid yesterday.  They have two dangerous forwards, some physical battling midfielders, and a very organized defense.  They will be difficult for any team to beat.  That said, yesterday's game was 0-0 until the 65' minute when the referee awarded what appeared to be a dubious PK that completely changed the game.

[Mr.Right]

Interesting that 2 players quit on Seabrook..Who? Also, how Colby could not recruit a striker is beyond me. They have not been able to score goals in 15 years

[Mr.Right]

Wheaton's demise was somewhat over-exaggerated.  After a slow start, they have won four on the trot and looked solid yesterday.  They have two dangerous forwards, some physical battling midfielders, and a very organized defense.  They will be difficult for any team to beat.  That said, yesterday's game was 0-0 until the 65' minute when the referee awarded what appeared to be a dubious PK that completely changed the game.
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Sorry but Wheaton is 4-2-0 and the wins are against Husson(weak), Keene St( very weak this year, actually surprisingly weak), Colby (average at best) and WNEC (struggling to start year)...We will have a better idea about Wheaton after September as they have a 7 game stretch with good competition.

v Springfield (tough in conference battle)
v Roger Williams (should be a W, but former assistant Greenslit will get them up for this one)
at WPI
v Brandeis
at Babson
v Trinity CT
v MIT

[blooter442]

v Trinity CT

That's one I'm looking forward to. Could be a game that has big implications, as both teams could very well be on the bubble for the tournament this year. Remember that Trinity was one of a few blemishes in Wheaton's 17-4-2 campaign last year, and I think with revenge on the mind and especially being at home Wheaton will come out guns blazing.

[Corazon]

Excellent post, 1970. Colby has been fascinating to follow and I've been pulling for them a bit. I was surprised by Seabrook's turnaround last year and can't believe he has 19 freshmen. We know he can coach and recruit, but this year is going to be a tough one for him to manage with 32 players though. I think they're going to have a tough year playing without a striker. You can win without one as a possession based team but their direct style and the plethora of attacking mids is a strange mix. Reminds me a bit of UMASS Lowell's recent entry into D1 and their subsequent complete roster turnover. Can anyone shed any light on other roster turnovers in the NESCAC? How about at Tufts when Shapiro replaced Ferrigno?

Any Bates followers on here who can give us an update?  Last year's second half surge coincided with Flahery playing the younger guys over the less talented upperclassmen. I found him to be a relentless recruiter and believe he has increased the talent level each year. Even though Hamilton is down this year, making that massive trip from Lewiston and pulling out a W is impressive.

[PaulNewman]

How many hours is the trip from Hamilton to Colby?

[Corazon]

How many hours is the trip from Hamilton to Colby?

7-8 hours

[Corazon]

My revised NESCAC rankings after week 1.

1. Amherst
2. Tufts
3. Williams
4. Middlebury
5. Bowdoin
6. Wesleyan
7. Conn
8. Trinity
9. Bates
10. Colby
11. Hamilton

[PaulNewman]

Huge weekend for Bowdoin.  Wesleyan and Williams back to back.  And big game for Wesleyan.

[Mr.Right]

My revised NESCAC rankings after week 1.

1. Amherst
2. Tufts
3. Williams
4. Middlebury
5. Bowdoin
6. Wesleyan
7. Conn
8. Trinity
9. Bates
10. Colby
11. Hamilton

Not sure how Amherst jumped Tufts already.

[Mr.Right]

Huge weekend for Bowdoin.  Wesleyan and Williams back to back.  And big game for Wesleyan.

At this point all games with the top 6 are HUGE....I expect Williams, Amherst, Midd, Bowdoin, Tufts and Wesleyan to beat each other up this year. Also add Conn and Trinity who could knock someone off on a good day.

[All NESCAC]

Huge weekend for Bowdoin.  Wesleyan and Williams back to back.  And big game for Wesleyan.

At this point all games with the top 6 are HUGE....I expect Williams, Amherst, Midd, Bowdoin, Tufts and Wesleyan to beat each other up this year. Also add Conn and Trinity who could knock someone off on a good day.

Agree Mr. Right...it's going to be another grinder of a season with no runaway team like the Amherst squad of 2012...will be very tightly packed up top...and it may be Conn and/or Trinity who knocks off 1 or 2 of these top teams to throw it in more turmoil come October.

[Mr.Right]

Exactly..I even expect Colby and Bates to get a rare draw or even a win against the top 6. Hamilton I think might go 0-9-1 this year and will not be a factor unless they get their sh*t together real soon.