NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

Midd has wins against Conn and Wesleyan...That are their only 2 solid victories. If neither of those teams are ranked than Midd is in serious trouble. Their record is over inflated by playing 5 incredibly weak non-conference games...I predicted this in August that Midd based on their schedule would have about 4 chances to garner legit wins over ranked opponents. They lost to Amherst and Tufts..They better pray Conn and / or Wesleyan is ranked...Their SOS will be hovering around .550...Midd has a lot of work to do as they are not in by any means...

[Mr.Right]

God is Colby UGLY to watch...wasting time, whacking everything in sight, long throws....This team deserves to be buried in two weeks

I have to agree with you here. They are truly unwatchable. Thankfully, they are an outlier even in a league known for direct play. If there's an uglier style than Seabrook's in the country, I'd love to hear about it. Laughable that some (includeding yours truly) lauded his coaching last year.

Speaking of playing style, I've enjoyed watching Tufts and Conn this year. Old Williams in the past as well.

You are both being a bit harsh on Colby.  I'm not going to argue with your assessment of their watchability, but we're down to the business end of the season and teams like Colby must now do whatever they can to continue playing into the postseason.  Seabrook inherited a pretty good roster, but 9-10 of those guys are gone this year (and then he lost his captain early in the season), so it is a total reboot.  I've noticed that he has shortened his bench and has probably settled on whatever style will concede the least and give them some kind of chance going forward.  If we're still seeing this style two years from now, then blast away, but you should cut him a bit of slack in the short run.

I am not being harsh on Colby. First of all you are telling me that Seabrook inherited a GOOD roster from former coach Mark Serdjenian?  Serdgenian was bumped UPSTAIRS for going 0-10-0 in Nescac in 2013. So please do not tell me he inherited a great roster. Either way, Seabrook does NOT HAVE TO play the way he is playing. He could focus on some skill and passing and possession. Surely he has some technical players....After watching Colby against Williams, Amherst and Bowdoin I must say they are without doubt the ugliest team I have witnessed in a long time...Former Colby Assistant Coach Peter Oostergaurrd at University of New England has way less talent than the Colby roster yet he tries to play and possess and at least gives it a solid try even with a weak team..I commend him for it..

[PaulNewman]

The Wes loss to Midd was a KILLER, as they seemed to have the game, and Wes DOES have the out of conference good games that Midd does not.

Feel really bad for Wes because they did everything they are supposed to do but dropped a couple that easily could have gone their way.  One of the hard-luck teams of the year so far, and I'd love to see the Cardinals make it and Midd pay for that schedule. 

[Mr.Right]

The Wes loss to Midd was a KILLER, as they seemed to have the game, and Wes DOES have the out of conference good games that Midd does not.

Feel really bad for Wes because they did everything they are supposed to do but dropped a couple that easily could have gone their way.  One of the hard-luck teams of the year so far, and I'd love to see the Cardinals make it and Midd pay for that schedule.

You are correct. It always seems Wheeler / Wes always disappoints with one to many losses...The loss to ECONN really hurts...They have the Haverford game but they MUST beat Amherst and Conn which will be very HARD...Basically, at 7-4-1 and a loss to Amherst coming up they are AQ or bust..However, I will be interested to see if they are ranked TODAY.. I am guessing maybe #10 or #11...

[Mr.Right]

That being said comparing Wesleyan and Williams..Wesleyan is 7-4-1 and Williams is 6-4-2...Both have very good SOS but Williams has some better wins v Ranked and bad losses to unranked teams...I will be curious to see if Wesleyan is ranked because comparing both teams Williams seems to have better wins...Personally, they BOTH should be ranked and teams like Gordon and Springfield should not be ranked...We will see...

[Corazon]

God is Colby UGLY to watch...wasting time, whacking everything in sight, long throws....This team deserves to be buried in two weeks

I have to agree with you here. They are truly unwatchable. Thankfully, they are an outlier even in a league known for direct play. If there's an uglier style than Seabrook's in the country, I'd love to hear about it. Laughable that some (includeding yours truly) lauded his coaching last year.

Speaking of playing style, I've enjoyed watching Tufts and Conn this year. Old Williams in the past as well.

You are both being a bit harsh on Colby.  I'm not going to argue with your assessment of their watchability, but we're down to the business end of the season and teams like Colby must now do whatever they can to continue playing into the postseason.  Seabrook inherited a pretty good roster, but 9-10 of those guys are gone this year (and then he lost his captain early in the season), so it is a total reboot.  I've noticed that he has shortened his bench and has probably settled on whatever style will concede the least and give them some kind of chance going forward.  If we're still seeing this style two years from now, then blast away, but you should cut him a bit of slack in the short run.

Fair enough, 1970. I think the real disappointment on this board with Colby, and in retrospect, the rather harsh comments, are because most of the longer term regulars on here WANTED Colby to do well, as let's face it - who doesn't like a good underdog story? I believe you are not updated on the recent NESCAC history. Seabrook inherited a roster that went 0-10 the previous year, and willed them to 7th place. They weren't pretty, but that was excused due to a lack of talent. Then he seemingly was recruiting well - landing at least 3 USSDA players and maybe more (with only half the academys reporting). The future seemed bright and we all pulled for them - they were consensus 7th pick in pre-season (I think) on these boards.

But the red flags were there in the pre-season. 32 man roster? 19 freshmen? 20-25 man rotation? Are you kidding me? Mr. Right predicted disaster in the pre-season. Then the always intelligent and diplomatic NCAC New England gave us a scouting report for the ages after their first game. I had to see it for myself and saw some of the the replay. He was dead on. It was the UGLIEST game I've ever seen at any level. I've also seen 5-6 of their other games (granted, several only for 10-20 minutes per pop) as well as one live.  There was no exaggeration. The team, and it's style, is the worst in the NESCAC.

If you look at Seabrook's background, we shouldn't be all that surprised. He was assistant at U New Hampshire, which many considered the ugliest in D1 under their previous regime (since dismantled). He is also English, with the stereotypes that go along with that style. We do know he is organized, and recruits well. How he got the plethora of attacking mids (your scouting - 1970) to buy into his vision and commit to Colby is a head scratcher. He may be a heck of a recruiter, but when you play that style, the talent is wasted. And you guys complain about Amherst and Middlebury??? I sincerely hope they play soccer in the future. Last place in the NESCAC will hopefully send him a signal that maybe his style is not going to be well received. I promise though, no more Colby comments from me until 2017 😊 Unless they win next year and at least try to play soccer, then I'll jump on their band wagon.

[Corazon]

Two absolute must-win games today for both Wes and Williams. Good teams, having frustrating seasons. Expect both to come through with narrow wins.

[Bucket]

Regional rankings are out.

No surprise that Amherst is 1st in New England.

Tufts is 3rd, Middlebury 6th, Conn 7th, and Wesleyan 9th.

Also, FYI, Middlebury's SOS is .586. Wesleyan's, by comparison, is .581.

[Mr.Right]

Tufts and Williams have by far the Highest SOS in New England and the country. If Williams can finish clean and get to the final they will have a shot IMO...Tufts will have a shot to host to the Final 4 if Amherst slips up once or twice.

[Mr.Right]

Trinity v Wesleyan 1-1 10 minutes in.....possible 6-7 goal fest today?

[Mr.Right]

1st Half Williams and Hamilton knotted at 0-0...Williams looking like it has most of the season, they are not playing with any guts....Just when I praised their SOS at .648 or whatever and even a 6-4-2 record with a smallest of chances Pool C if they went CLEAN(no draws or losses), they look listless and are playing down to their competition against Hamilton. Amherst also did this 1st Half at Hamilton but they also came out in the 2nd Half fired up and winning 3-0. Can Williams do the same?

[Mr.Right]

Williams starting B.Dory and Sisco so they have sacked Tommy Young again. What an enigma.

[ihidebehindtheinternet]

Tufts and Williams have by far the Highest SOS in New England and the country. If Williams can finish clean and get to the final they will have a shot IMO...Tufts will have a shot to host to the Final 4 if Amherst slips up once or twice.

Just doing some quick back of the envelope math, a 15-2 amherst (lose one of last two and loss in nescac semis) would actually bring tufts strength of schedule to below brandeis's. that 1000 winning percentage really helps boost your strength of schedule. not to mention both of tufts remaining games will dilute their strength of schedule as well. given brandeis has the head to head as well, i don't really see any change of tufts hosting past the first weekend.

[Mr.Right]

You are maybe right but Tufts playing Williams and Bowdoin hardly dilutes their schedule as much as Brandeis taking on NYU....

[1970s NESCAC Player]

God is Colby UGLY to watch...wasting time, whacking everything in sight, long throws....This team deserves to be buried in two weeks

I have to agree with you here. They are truly unwatchable. Thankfully, they are an outlier even in a league known for direct play. If there's an uglier style than Seabrook's in the country, I'd love to hear about it. Laughable that some (includeding yours truly) lauded his coaching last year.

Speaking of playing style, I've enjoyed watching Tufts and Conn this year. Old Williams in the past as well.

You are both being a bit harsh on Colby.  I'm not going to argue with your assessment of their watchability, but we're down to the business end of the season and teams like Colby must now do whatever they can to continue playing into the postseason.  Seabrook inherited a pretty good roster, but 9-10 of those guys are gone this year (and then he lost his captain early in the season), so it is a total reboot.  I've noticed that he has shortened his bench and has probably settled on whatever style will concede the least and give them some kind of chance going forward.  If we're still seeing this style two years from now, then blast away, but you should cut him a bit of slack in the short run.

Fair enough, 1970. I think the real disappointment on this board with Colby, and in retrospect, the rather harsh comments, are because most of the longer term regulars on here WANTED Colby to do well, as let's face it - who doesn't like a good underdog story? I believe you are not updated on the recent NESCAC history. Seabrook inherited a roster that went 0-10 the previous year, and willed them to 7th place. They weren't pretty, but that was excused due to a lack of talent. Then he seemingly was recruiting well - landing at least 3 USSDA players and maybe more (with only half the academys reporting). The future seemed bright and we all pulled for them - they were consensus 7th pick in pre-season (I think) on these boards.

But the red flags were there in the pre-season. 32 man roster? 19 freshmen? 20-25 man rotation? Are you kidding me? Mr. Right predicted disaster in the pre-season. Then the always intelligent and diplomatic NCAC New England gave us a scouting report for the ages after their first game. I had to see it for myself and saw some of the the replay. He was dead on. It was the UGLIEST game I've ever seen at any level. I've also seen 5-6 of their other games (granted, several only for 10-20 minutes per pop) as well as one live.  There was no exaggeration. The team, and it's style, is the worst in the NESCAC.

If you look at Seabrook's background, we shouldn't be all that surprised. He was assistant at U New Hampshire, which many considered the ugliest in D1 under their previous regime (since dismantled). He is also English, with the stereotypes that go along with that style. We do know he is organized, and recruits well. How he got the plethora of attacking mids (your scouting - 1970) to buy into his vision and commit to Colby is a head scratcher. He may be a heck of a recruiter, but when you play that style, the talent is wasted. And you guys complain about Amherst and Middlebury??? I sincerely hope they play soccer in the future. Last place in the NESCAC will hopefully send him a signal that maybe his style is not going to be well received. I promise though, no more Colby comments from me until 2017 😊 Unless they win next year and at least try to play soccer, then I'll jump on their band wagon.

I commend the thoughtful reply.  No doubt this season has not worked out the way Seabrook hoped.  Having seen every game the team played from 2012-14, I would argue that last season's roster was the best in terms of producing results.  Given the loss of 10 influential players from that roster, coupled with bringing in so many freshmen, the team now needs to learn to win again.

If Seabrook is not able to incorporate a more attractive style while producing successful results as he builds the roster (one year is never enough time), then all criticism on this board will be warranted.