NESCAC

[Jump4Joy]

Amherst with a deserved win over Daniel Webster, who fought to the wire.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst could have played 9 v 11 and quite possibly defeated Daniel Webster...Oneonta is a young side this year so if they somehow get by RUN who is not used to grass then Amherst will be in the Final 4. 2016 Oneonta is not the same team of 2015 or nowhere near 2014 Oneonta. Do not get me wrong they are a very good side but they are very beatable...RUN is so dangerous attacking wise but they will look a bit different on grass than turf..Remember they were up here in September and lost to Wheaton(MA) on their grass field and while it was 2 months ago it still threw them a bit I thought

[Falconer]

Amherst could have played 9 v 11 and quite possibly defeated Daniel Webster...Oneonta is a young side this year so if they somehow get by RUN who is not used to grass then Amherst will be in the Final 4. 2016 Oneonta is not the same team of 2015 or nowhere near 2014 Oneonta. Do not get me wrong they are a very good side but they are very beatable...RUN is so dangerous attacking wise but they will look a bit different on grass than turf..Remember they were up here in September and lost to Wheaton(MA) on their grass field and while it was 2 months ago it still threw them a bit I thought

My only comment is to quote Dick Allen, the baseball player: If a horse can't eat it, I don't want to play on it.

IMO the NCAA rule should limit tournament games only to grass fields, except in unusual circumstances.  "Grass-like" ain't grass, and it's proliferation shouldn't be encouraged.

[Off Pitch]

RUN is so dangerous attacking wise but they will look a bit different on grass than turf..Remember they were up here in September and lost to Wheaton(MA) on their grass field and while it was 2 months ago it still threw them a bit I thought

That was 24 hours after beating Babson 3-2 on Babson's grass field.   Hard to jump to too many conclusions based on a single result.

[Jump4Joy]

Some folks might have had more interesting games to watch on Sunday, but Daniel Webster deserves credit for playing hard for the full 90, knowing 1) they were looking at a 3-goal deficit, AND 2) that they were going to be dis-banded no matter what, as their school closes its doors at the end of the academic year. Gutsy. Not many people could say they would give it their all in those circumstances. DW did.

In the face of some criticisms that some teams have imploded or self-destructed, DW did neither. They don't deserve to be summarily dismissed.

[blooter442]

Some folks might have had more interesting games to watch on Sunday, but Daniel Webster deserves credit for playing hard for the full 90, knowing 1) they were looking at a 3-goal deficit, AND 2) that they were going to be dis-banded no matter what, as their school closes its doors at the end of the academic year. Gutsy. Not many people could say they would give it their all in those circumstances. DW did.

In the face of some criticisms that some teams have imploded or self-destructed, DW did neither. They don't deserve to be summarily dismissed.

Didn't know about the disbandment, but that makes it even more impressive. I myself laughed at the possibility of DW giving Montclair State a game last year, yet IIRC they proceeded to knot things up 2-2 before eventually falling 3-2. Impressive spirit.

[Once_A_Metro_Always_A_Red]

I'm not particularly surprised that not-actually-that-good Amherst couldn't get past their first real opponent of the tournament, while Tufts -- the best team in the NESCAC this year -- have clawed their way into the Elite 8. Sure, the tournament is always a bit of a crapshoot, but it was pretty clear that Tufts was the most complete team in the conference this year, even when they were failing to take points from winnable games

[Jump4Joy]

Good that Tufts is advancing. They certainly fell into good fortune to have the home field today against a highly depleted opponent. Let's hope they continue and bring the NESCAC back to the final four again. While their record does not support claims of being the best team in NESCAC this year--during the season or during the conference tournament--they are the team still standing. Go NESCAC.

[blooter442]

Good that Tufts is advancing. Must be said they played at home (a freak fortune) and played against a highly depleted opponent. Let's hope they continue and bring the NESCAC back to the final four again.

I, too, would like to see Tufts do well. The only thing that could have gone better for them today was Trinity-Kenyon going the full 110, but the Lords will be able to rest some guys for tomorrow by the looks of it. That said, Tufts will be desperate for revenge on its home patch given the way Kenyon knocked them out last year. I anticipate it will be a good game.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst will lose ANOTHER monster class...It is very tough to continue your dominance after losing 2 HUGE classes, this year and last year. 2017 Amherst will be interesting to see how they line-up.

They lose:   Andrew Orozco, Jackson Lenhart, Christopher Martin, Rohan Sood, Justin Aoyama and Bryce Ciambella...That is 6 very key players and counting what they lost last year that is a TON...They will always re-load but would predict they might struggle in 2017 especially early in the season.

[blooter442]

Amherst will lose ANOTHER monster class...It is very tough to continue your dominance after losing 2 HUGE classes, this year and last year. 2017 Amherst will be interesting to see how they line-up.

They lose:   Andrew Orozco, Jackson Lenhart, Christopher Martin, Rohan Sood, Justin Aoyama and Bryce Ciambella...That is 6 very key players and counting what they lost last year that is a TON...They will always re-load but would predict they might struggle in 2017 especially early in the season.

Does Hlinomaz return? I thought he entered school at Conn. in the fall of 2013, so would be a senior this year if he didn't take a year off (he may well have), but I would imagine a school like Amherst would require a minimum of 2 years - I know Brandeis did when I transferred, although I came in as a sophomore so it was a non-issue. He did well this year and if he is back I think that is big for them. Think that Martin is perhaps the more praised player but Ciambella is the biggest loss IMHO.

[Jump4Joy]

Repeating myself from another thread: NESCAC back in final four.

[letsGOswans!]

Hlinomaz did not play in 2015 so yes he has another year.

From the beginning I thought Tuft's had as good a chance as anyone to win this thing. They don't give up many chances. Defense wins championships. Roll on Jumbos!

[Jump4Joy]

Yes, the Tufts defense was strong today. Sullivan, especially, plays an extremely physical game that is hard to crack.

[Nutmeg]

So much for the rankings...... Congrats Tufts!