NESCAC

[Jump4Joy]

True story.
I should say that Sydor is a good keeper. Bull and Sydor are the top 2 from what I've seen so far.

[amh63]

Got a chance to watch the Amherst vs Tuft's battle on grass.  Arrived near the end of the 2nd half.  Stood awhile with  some Tuft's players...women players...and a coach.  Not as close as I liked due to nearby dorm construction.  Did see the players movement and flow of the game.  Was at the football game earlier.  After reading the earlier posts....I really suggest some posters go to see Amherst play live.  All this talk about the coach, sideline antics of players, etc. is a little over the top IMO.  Having watched Amherst play at WPI in a tough close away game...there was no sideline player antics...Amherst coaches were very quiet...maybe too passive at times.  In the time  I watched the game afar, I saw the coach talk to his key player alone and aside...before the first OT.  I heard him talking to the team before the first OT....saying to them...no scoring by Tuft's.  Did anyone see that online?  hear that ?  coaching moments.   Sideline players did get upset over no calls on teammates.  Saw the  scuffle that had the refs working and players separating players.
Bottom line...as in football games...it's different watching live and watching on a screen.  Believe it will make you a better poster and a better person to call out the action and not pounding on the coaches.

[Corazon]

Got a chance to watch the Amherst vs Tuft's battle on grass.  Arrived near the end of the 2nd half.  Stood awhile with  some Tuft's players...women players...and a coach.  Not as close as I liked due to nearby dorm construction.  Did see the players movement and flow of the game.  Was at the football game earlier.  After reading the earlier posts....I really suggest some posters go to see Amherst play live.  All this talk about the coach, sideline antics of players, etc. is a little over the top IMO.  Having watched Amherst play at WPI in a tough close away game...there was no sideline player antics...Amherst coaches were very quiet...maybe too passive at times.  In the time  I watched the game afar, I saw the coach talk to his key player alone and aside...before the first OT.  I heard him talking to the team before the first OT....saying to them...no scoring by Tuft's.  Did anyone see that online?  hear that ?  coaching moments.   Sideline players did get upset over no calls on teammates.  Saw the  scuffle that had the refs working and players separating players.
Bottom line...as in football games...it's different watching live and watching on a screen.  Believe it will make you a better poster and a better person to call out the action and not pounding on the coaches.

Totally agree with this. Surprised to see some of the posts on here.

[backyarddawg]

Amen Amh63

For all those haters out there who only come on this board and rip Amherst and Coach Serpone, you need to really be careful what you say.  As someone who has no ties to the program but has follows them, the hate towards them is because they win.   You ask anyone of his former players and what Coach Serpone does for them on and off the field is the most important thing.  The life lessons and drive to compete to their fullest. I've heard from multiple alums about  how their relationship w Coach Serpone will be forever.  Not many players leave a program saying that.  Remember it is more then about the wins and losses.

As for Stl the jealously of loosing to Amherst so many times in a row must hurt.   I was at the Amherst SLU game back in 2010 and the disrespect the SLU fans had  toward Amherst players was nothing to write home about so before you call out Amherst on you might want to check your own program out.

[Bucket]

Blooter, Thanks for the follow up. I suppose to make a most accurate assessment of GKs, we'd have to see video of every save and every goal against. I doubt that happens at all-star meetings. Same goes for field players. Do we see video of the brilliant goals, the half chances converted, the clever touch that creates space. No. We're left to stats such as "game winners" if that. Moreso, we look at flat stats. Like Glaser's. Two Gs and two As at Colby-Sawyer. Two more Gs at Green Mountain. The totals at the end of the season will not break down that 10 of his points come during the likes of those two games.

In case it was lost in yesterday's flurry of game reports, I'm reposting my comment on Sydor and the game v. Hamilton:

Steady downpour during the Hamilton game; second goal was late and slipped through Sydor's hands with the game standing at 4-1. Perhaps slight lack of concentration coupled with a very slippery ball.
---

Make of it what you will to support your respective arguments!

[dacac]

Amen Amh63

For all those haters out there who only come on this board and rip Amherst and Coach Serpone, you need to really be careful what you say.  As someone who has no ties to the program but has follows them, the hate towards them is because they win.   You ask anyone of his former players and what Coach Serpone does for them on and off the field is the most important thing.  The life lessons and drive to compete to their fullest. I've heard from multiple alums about  how their relationship w Coach Serpone will be forever.  Not many players leave a program saying that.  Remember it is more then about the wins and losses.

As for Stl the jealously of loosing to Amherst so many times in a row must hurt.   I was at the Amherst SLU game back in 2010 and the disrespect the SLU fans had  toward Amherst players was nothing to write home about so before you call out Amherst on you might want to check your own program out.

You're missing the point. No one is doubting Serpone cares about his own players and wants them to succeed after college. What bothers people is the over the top arrogance and extreme lack of sportsmanship that he encourages.

This observation is not affected by Amherst's W/L record. I played in the league from '08-'11, and during this time Amherst was always one of the top 3/4 programs, but was not viewed as the defacto best program. However, they were the only top program with such a poor reputation league-wide. It is absolutely deserved.

[Bucket]

Amen Amh63

For all those haters out there who only come on this board and rip Amherst and Coach Serpone, you need to really be careful what you say.  As someone who has no ties to the program but has follows them, the hate towards them is because they win.   You ask anyone of his former players and what Coach Serpone does for them on and off the field is the most important thing.  The life lessons and drive to compete to their fullest. I've heard from multiple alums about  how their relationship w Coach Serpone will be forever.  Not many players leave a program saying that.  Remember it is more then about the wins and losses.

As for Stl the jealously of loosing to Amherst so many times in a row must hurt.   I was at the Amherst SLU game back in 2010 and the disrespect the SLU fans had  toward Amherst players was nothing to write home about so before you call out Amherst on you might want to check your own program out.

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. This "hatred" toward Amherst and Coach Serpone is not because they win. It's how they win. (Or lose.) It's far too simplistic to say it's due to winning. Was the same hatred directed toward Coach Saward and the dominant Middlebury teams in the mid-2000s? Was it directed at the Panthers and Saward when they won a national championship? Is it directed at Tufts and Coach Shapiro? The defending national champions? Was it directed at Williams and Coach Russo when they won a national title in the mid-1990s?

No.

A constant for these Amherst teams under Serpone is a chippiness, an arrogant attitude that occasionally bubbles over into nastiness (from the bench, on the field).

I have no doubt that the players love him and that their relationships with him will span lifetimes. He's no Bobby Knight. Being honest, I would love him, too, if I played for him.

Personally, I like Justin. He's not a bad man. But even as a fan, the competitor (aggressor?) in me wants Amherst to lose, every time they step on the pitch. And it's not because they win more games than they lose. It's how they win.

[D3soccerwatcher]

After watching the Wesleyan game and the Tufts vs Plymouth State game, not sure Tufts is a #1 in country team!!  Amherst should prevail when they play Saturday!!

Tufts has now gone 265 consecutive minutes without scoring a goal.  They are going to have to find a way out of that funk if they hope to prevail against Amherst.  That being said, ECSUalum may have the right pick for Saturday

After today's loss, Tufts has now gone 371 consecutive minutes without scoring a goal.  That's the equivalent of over four full games without a goal.

Noted, but they have played 3 great defensive teams in a row, one which will be no.1 and one probably in top 5... That has a little something to do with it...

Are you referencing #8 Brandeis who gave up two goals to Trinity and another two goals to Carnegie Mellon?  And are you also referencing unranked Wesleyan who gave up two goals to Bowdoin?  I think to make claim to being the best you have to beat the best. While Tufts certainly made an absolutely unbelievable run to win last year's tournament, IMO they were probably not the best team in the country.  And IMO that may prove to be true as I don't think they will get very close to defending their title this year. Many of the NESCAC insiders on this string have not even picked Tufts to win the conference.

That being said, I fully except Tufts will finally break their scoreless streak today and have a break out game against last place Hamilton.

[ECSUalum]

My only comment on yesterday's Tufts-Amherst match is how really physical, (mean), it got and that the referee did not card anyone.  Personally, players from both sides came close to being seriously injured, and this ridiculous referee let the game get out of control to the point of the confrontation.  It reminded me of a boxing match where in the first couple of rounds the boxers feel each other out and by the 10 round they are beating the s..t out of each other.  NESCAC and/or the NCAA should have a talk with this guy Brookman!!!

NPL's goal was brilliant, it was like where the player come to the net and the opposing player put insane topspin on the ball for the winnerl!!  Congrats to Amherst on the remaining unbeaten, and on another clean sheet by TB!, who IMHO is by far the best GK in NE!!!

BTW a tough game for Tufts then have to board a bus and travel to Western NY, (4-5 hrs?) to play Hamilton for a 1:30pm game!!

[ECSUalum]

Anybody know why Tufts got two attempts at the penalty kick vs Hamilton, the first of which was blocked by Hamilton's keeper Pollack?

[FourMoreYears]

Amen Amh63

For all those haters out there who only come on this board and rip Amherst and Coach Serpone, you need to really be careful what you say.  As someone who has no ties to the program but has follows them, the hate towards them is because they win.   You ask anyone of his former players and what Coach Serpone does for them on and off the field is the most important thing.  The life lessons and drive to compete to their fullest. I've heard from multiple alums about  how their relationship w Coach Serpone will be forever.  Not many players leave a program saying that.  Remember it is more then about the wins and losses.

As for Stl the jealously of loosing to Amherst so many times in a row must hurt.   I was at the Amherst SLU game back in 2010 and the disrespect the SLU fans had  toward Amherst players was nothing to write home about so before you call out Amherst on you might want to check your own program out.

You're missing the point. No one is doubting Serpone cares about his own players and wants them to succeed after college. What bothers people is the over the top arrogance and extreme lack of sportsmanship that he encourages.

This observation is not affected by Amherst's W/L record. I played in the league from '08-'11, and during this time Amherst was always one of the top 3/4 programs, but was not viewed as the defacto best program. However, they were the only top program with such a poor reputation league-wide. It is absolutely deserved.

spot on

[FourMoreYears]

Amen Amh63

For all those haters out there who only come on this board and rip Amherst and Coach Serpone, you need to really be careful what you say.  As someone who has no ties to the program but has follows them, the hate towards them is because they win.   You ask anyone of his former players and what Coach Serpone does for them on and off the field is the most important thing.  The life lessons and drive to compete to their fullest. I've heard from multiple alums about  how their relationship w Coach Serpone will be forever.  Not many players leave a program saying that.  Remember it is more then about the wins and losses.

As for Stl the jealously of loosing to Amherst so many times in a row must hurt.   I was at the Amherst SLU game back in 2010 and the disrespect the SLU fans had  toward Amherst players was nothing to write home about so before you call out Amherst on you might want to check your own program out.

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. This "hatred" toward Amherst and Coach Serpone is not because they win. It's how they win. (Or lose.) It's far too simplistic to say it's due to winning. Was the same hatred directed toward Coach Saward and the dominant Middlebury teams in the mid-2000s? Was it directed at the Panthers and Saward when they won a national championship? Is it directed at Tufts and Coach Shapiro? The defending national champions? Was it directed at Williams and Coach Russo when they won a national title in the mid-1990s?

No.

A constant for these Amherst teams under Serpone is a chippiness, an arrogant attitude that occasionally bubbles over into nastiness (from the bench, on the field).

I have no doubt that the players love him and that their relationships with him will span lifetimes. He's no Bobby Knight. Being honest, I would love him, too, if I played for him.

Personally, I like Justin. He's not a bad man. But even as a fan, the competitor (aggressor?) in me wants Amherst to lose, every time they step on the pitch. And it's not because they win more games than they lose. It's how they win.

agreed. My time watching NESCAC soccer is very limited but the antics on the Amherst sidelines don't even compare.  It's awful.  I don't feel that way about Tufts, and they won the whole thing last year.  Nobody is doubting Serpone's relationships with his players.  But that has nothing to do with how they conduct themselves in matches, which is deplorable.  Look forward to my negative K from Amh63 ;-)

[blooter442]

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. This "hatred" toward Amherst and Coach Serpone is not because they win. It's how they win. (Or lose.) It's far too simplistic to say it's due to winning. Was the same hatred directed toward Coach Saward and the dominant Middlebury teams in the mid-2000s? Was it directed at the Panthers and Saward when they won a national championship? Is it directed at Tufts and Coach Shapiro? The defending national champions? Was it directed at Williams and Coach Russo when they won a national title in the mid-1990s?

No.

A constant for these Amherst teams under Serpone is a chippiness, an arrogant attitude that occasionally bubbles over into nastiness (from the bench, on the field).

I have no doubt that the players love him and that their relationships with him will span lifetimes. He's no Bobby Knight. Being honest, I would love him, too, if I played for him.

Personally, I like Justin. He's not a bad man. But even as a fan, the competitor (aggressor?) in me wants Amherst to lose, every time they step on the pitch. And it's not because they win more games than they lose. It's how they win.

Well stated. I've got a lot of respect for Shapiro and Russo, who are both class acts, and, also happen to have won national championships. Can't say the same of Serpone.

WOW.

Hamilton goes and beats Tufts 2-1 in 2OT. Crazy. PK with about 10 left tied it up and then the hosts snuck a winner in 2OT. That said, soccer is clearly not the announcer at Hamilton's first sport. He has called multiple corner kicks "penalty kicks" and was the most deadpan every play until Hamilton scored the winner. I know not everyone likes soccer like we do, but that was absolutely awful soccer announcing.

[blooter442]

Wierd game and congrats to Hamilton. Tufts has different lineups and rested starters. Can't tell what happened on Hsmiltons first goal. Thought Greenwood had it but the he gets a yellow. Can anyone explain. Now, last years finalists may not make the tourney....

Didn't get that either. What happened on the play? Was on another tab and got back just in time to hear that Hamilton was getting a PK (the announcer got it right that time.) Usually if the GK gets a PK called against him it's because he took out the striker 1-v-1 and that can be a red card if it was denying a goalscoring opportunity. But just a yellow doesn't lead me to believe he did that - did he pick up a backpass or something? (By the way, if that's what it was, that should only be an indirect kick, not a PK.)

[PaulNewman]

Tufts fans, let me introduce you to Tennessee Jed.  He's got the "good stuff."