NESCAC

[Flying Weasel]

On this subject, I was initially a bit surprised to see that Tufts wasn't even in RV of the NSCAA poll this week, particularly considering they have wins over Amherst and Middlebury, both of whom are ranked.

If the NSCAA follows their age-old Top 25 framework/template (regional #1's at 1 thru 8, regional #2's at 9 thru 16, etc...), a team needs to be #4 in their region (not higher or lower) to be "Receiving Votes" for the national Top 25.

[Ommadawn]

Wheaton up 1-0 on Wesleyan midway through the first half on a beautiful afternoon in Middletown.  Wesleyan has had the better of play, but Wheaton was able to poke one in. 

[letsGOswans!]

Conn down 2-0 to Amherst in the first half. First goal was a terrible mistake. A Conn defender passed the ball back and Ciambella reached it first and slotted it past the goalkeeper. The second goal started with a ball over the top that Ciambella chipped over the Conn keeper. This doesn't look good for the camels.

[Ommadawn]

And Wheaton goes up 2-0 with about 8' left in the first half on an acrobatic goal by Diniz of a bike-assist by Sesay.

[Jump4Joy]

Watching the Amherst-Conn game right now (video).
I have to watch on mute.
Hoping to see this guy Devlin everyone is talking about.
Did he start today? Can't see any Conn midfielder taking control. Jersey numbers are not clear on my screen.
I'm a few minutes after Amherst goes up 1-0 on a miscue and pounce.

[letsGOswans!]

Devlin is number 4 and has red hair (might be hard to tell). I have watched him against Amherst in the past and he is more than capable of running around their midfield. He struggled today because Amherst made the game destructive and completely marked him out of it. Any elite midfielder would struggle in that game.  Conn's lack of quality elsewhere was glaringly obvious today. I originally had them at finishing 7th. They have some tough games coming up so let's see if they can recover from this loss.

[Jump4Joy]

Thanks, Swan. Can't see hair color or numbers. He's definitely been made invisible.
Just saw that cheeky chip by Ciambella for the brace.

[Jump4Joy]

Really well taken restart at the top of the box by Conn. Up and over the wall and heading under the bar. So difficult to do at close range like that. Owen up to the task to tip it over for the corner.

[Jump4Joy]

Just saw in the stats that it was Devlin who scored Conn's consolation goal in the closing minutes. I watched the play a couple of times to understand the call but couldn't see what the ref saw in it. Biased lenses? (I'm sure I'll know the answer when I receive my negative karma point that I score each time I post...) At any rate: Well taken PK. Side netting.

[blooter442]

Just saw in the stats that it was Devlin who scored Conn's consolation goal in the closing minutes. I watched the play a couple of times to understand the call but couldn't see what the ref saw in it. Biased lenses? (I'm sure I'll know the answer when I receive my negative karma point that I score each time I post...) At any rate: Well taken PK. Side netting.

+K for recognizing your own (potential) bias.

FWIW, I thought it was a bit soft as well.

[letsGOswans!]

If it helps I am a staunch Conn fan and had no idea what the penalty call was for either.

[Brother Flounder]

Devlin is number 4 and has red hair (might be hard to tell). I have watched him against Amherst in the past and he is more than capable of running around their midfield. He struggled today because Amherst made the game destructive and completely marked him out of it. Any elite midfielder would struggle in that game.  Conn's lack of quality elsewhere was glaringly obvious today. I originally had them at finishing 7th. They have some tough games coming up so let's see if they can recover from this loss.

I also thought he had a tough game. Usually Amherst isn't strong in the middle but they defended him well...

[Mr.Right]

With 6 teams with Nescac Doubleheaders this weekend we should have a much clearer picture of the Nescac Playoffs after Sunday

Nescac Predictions for Saturday:

Wesleyan at Williams----Williams just came off of a 11 day hiatus with a 1-1 draw at Skidmore. They looked somewhat flat in the game but Skidmore is a very solid side that by my estimations WILL win the Liberty League. Wesleyan is coming off a 2-1 loss v Wheaton who also is playing very well right now. Wesleyan will be coming into Williamstown a desperate side in the need of a result to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. It is becoming more apparent in each game I watch that Sullivan will only attack with 5. He does not allow his wingbacks to overlap and attack like Russo used to. That is his choice and totally understandable its just going to be hard to break down teams like Bowdoin and Wesleyan who are traditionally very COMPACT. If Wesleyan can take Rashid out of the game they will have a chance in this. Williams has played very well at home this year. 1-1 Draw

Bowdoin at Hamilton-----Another desperate side like Wesleyan is Bowdoin. They must get points this weekend. No idea about the injury status of Van Siclien but his back up did a decent job in the game I saw v Trinity stuffing Milbury 1v1 2nd Half. They have better athletes than Hamilton with Niang, Charlier, and Bubb up and down the spine, with Dias-Costa on the flank causing havoc and with Stenquist in midfield sticking guys I favor Bowdoin in this game. The one missing player this year for them has been Sam Ward as he has been invisible all year. He will need to start scoring some goals for this team to succeed the rest of the way. 1-0 Bowdoin

Tufts at Conn------Conn really missed a chance this week to grab a result against a ranked team in Amherst. I still do not quite know what to make of them this year. Some games they have looked just as good if not better than last year but other games you can see they are missing some key pieces from last year especially Leon. I also do not quite know what to make of Tufts. They have nothing that is really "special" like 2014 except Majumder but he has only been back for 3 games.  They work VERY HARD and have very solid pieces at every position. Becherano has 6 goals(4 in Nescac) which is impressive but he can be shut down and to be honest I never rated him before this season. At 5-3-2, Tufts controls its own destiny for a Pool C especially with some VERY solid wins on the resume already. If they finish 4-1-0 they will be 9-4-2 with 3 to 4 ranked wins which will be enough to get them a Pool C. Tufts 2-0

Midd at Trinity------Trinity is 4-0-1 in its last five games. Midd needs to get its Nescac play back on track as they have not won a Nescac game since winning at Hamilton in late September. Midd has 5 goals in 6 conference games which is dreadful. This could be a game where the floodgates open for Midd scoring wise as Trinity does not have much to mark Glaser and Conrad with. They ended Trinity's season 5-0 last year in the Nescac Quarters. Even without Savonen, Trinity has been playing very competitively the past month and can get a good home crowd as long as their football team is not playing at home. Murphy and Gimand must control midfield and pull the strings if Trinity is to have a shot. 3-1 Midd

Colby at Amherst------Colby plays very COMPACT against better teams and will throw 10 players behind the ball in this one. Colby still has a Nescac Playoff Pulse because they have Hamilton and Bates left after this game. They still need points though and they will try to grind out a draw. The problem is Colby will not have more than 3 SOG all game. That gives Amherst the ability to push numbers forward all game if they wanted to and put Colby under tremendous stress without fearing any consequences on the back end. I think they roll. Amherst 3-0

[1970s NESCAC Player]

MR, always a pleasure to read your NESCAC predictions!  FYI, although you may be aware, once the NESCAC football season starts (approximately the 3rd weekend in September), until the end of the soccer season (late October), men's and women's soccer, field hockey, and football from one school all travel and play the same school as a group.  So, for example, while Middlebury is playing Trinity in men's soccer, their football teams will be playing each other on the field next door.

[Mr.Right]

Nah.....The Football schedule does not follow Soccer and Field Hockey.