NESCAC

[Once_A_Metro_Always_A_Red]

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.

I know that sports is results-oriented, but it's still bewildering that folks will overweight the importance of outcomes relative to the importance doing things right on process. Outcomes are almost inherently subject to chance, uncertainty, and fluctuation, but getting process right increases the liklihood of success in the long-run. IMO, though I think it's clear if you've seen them play over the course of the season, Tufts played the best soccer and was the most complete team in the NESCAC. Their level of chance creation suggested a team that would have success; even in their first 3 games where they went 0-2-1, they still created many more chances.

If we could simulate this season like 1000 times, I'd have a hard time picking another team over Tufts given everything we've seen this season from everyone in the league.

[Once_A_Metro_Always_A_Red]

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.

I know that sports is results-oriented, but it's still bewildering that folks will overweight the importance of outcomes relative to the importance doing things right on process. Outcomes are almost inherently subject to chance, uncertainty, and fluctuation, but getting process right increases the liklihood of success in the long-run. IMO, though I think it's clear if you've seen them play over the course of the season, Tufts played the best soccer and was the most complete team in the NESCAC. Their level of chance creation suggested a team that would have success; even in their first 3 games where they went 0-2-1, they still created many more chances.

If we could simulate this season like 1000 times, I'd have a hard time picking another team over Tufts given everything we've seen this season from everyone in the league.

Although clearly the secret to NCAA tourney success is getting bounced in the 1st round of NESCACs

[Mr.Right]

I think Tufts has a major weakness at LB...That McMillian kid like I said in another thread can be beaten quite easily 1v1 against better opponents, whacks everything and gives the ball away WAY to much for my liking...Coleman is also to slow but he and especially Sullivan did a very nice job this weekend in tough conditions.

[Ommadawn]

I think Tufts has a major weakness at LB...That McMillian kid like I said in another thread can be beaten quite easily 1v1 against better opponents, whacks everything and gives the ball away WAY to much for my liking...Coleman is also to slow but he and especially Sullivan did a very nice job this weekend in tough conditions.

From what I recall, it looked like Coach Shapiro went with Zinner down the stretch.  Tufts had a freshman, Jameson, at left back for part of the season, but maybe he got hurt.

[Mr.Right]

I think Tufts has a major weakness at LB...That McMillian kid like I said in another thread can be beaten quite easily 1v1 against better opponents, whacks everything and gives the ball away WAY to much for my liking...Coleman is also to slow but he and especially Sullivan did a very nice job this weekend in tough conditions.

From what I recall, it looked like Coach Shapiro went with Zinner down the stretch.  Tufts had a freshman, Jameson, at left back for part of the season, but maybe he got hurt.

He did go with Zinner but only because McMillian went out due to injury after a tackle I think...Anyhow Zinner has weaknesses as well but if I am a team I would overload that side and really put pressure on them down that flank

[Jump4Joy]

Just saw that the NSCAA regional COYS are out.
NESCAC gets the New England nod in Serpone.
http://tinyurl.com/j4k5qch

[NEsoccerfan20]

Does anyone know when the all region teams come out for NSCAA?

[NEsoccerfan20]

First Team

Pos.   First   Class   School   Hometown
K   Chris Moura   Sr.   Rhode Island College   Rumford, R.I.
D   Justin Aoyama   Sr.   Amherst College   Narbeth, Pa.
D   Xavier Carty   Sr.   Johnson & Wales University   Mount Vernon, N.Y.
D   Marcelo Cunha   Jr.   University Of Massachusetts-Boston   Goiania, Brazil
D   Jackson Lehnhart   Sr.   Amherst College   Juneau, Alaska
M   Bryce Ciambella   Sr.   Amherst College   Ocala, Fla.
M   Willie Clemons   Jr.   Thomas College   Paget, Bermuda
M   Caleb Cole   Sr.   Gordon College   Coatesville, Pa.
M   Patrick Devlin   Sr.   Connecticut College   Washington Crossing, Pa.
M   Denis Martinez   So.   University Of Massachusetts-Boston   Chelsea, Mass.
M   Josh Ocel   Sr.   Brandeis University   North Attleboro, Mass.
M   Mohammed Rashid   Sr.   Williams College   Accra, Ghana
F   Luke Alvaro   Sr.   Springfield College   Chicopee, Mass.
F   Gaston Becherano   Sr.   Tufts University   Hollywood, Fla.
F   Komla Dogbey   Jr.   Rhode Island College   Providence, R.I.
F   Matt Vidal   Sr.   University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth   New Bedford, Mass.
Second Team

Pos.   First   Class   School   Hometown
K   Gregory Sydor   Sr.   Middlebury College   Madison, Conn.
D   Kofi Abankroh   Sr.   Babson College   Worcester, Mass.
D   Benjamin Gradert   Jr.   Gordon College   Hudson, Ohio
D   Daniel Sullivan   Sr.   Tufts University   Brooklyn, N.Y.
M   Emmett Basaca   Jr.   Wentworth Institute of Technology   San Diego, Calif.
M   Kevin Davis   Sr.   Wheaton College (Mass.)   Beacon, N.Y.
M   Daniel Sullivan   Sr.   Rhode Island College   Pawtucket, R.I.
M   Moctar Niang   So.   Bowdoin College   New York, N.Y.
M   Moab Schiers   Sr.   Norwich University   South Weber, Utah
F   Zack Blais   Sr.   Clark University   Tiverton, R.I.
F   Gregory Conrad   Sr.   Middlebury College   Peabody, Mass.
F   Adam Glaser   Sr.   Middlebury College   Washington, D.C.
F   Adam Labrie   So.   Thomas College   Yarmouth, Me.
F   Christopher Martin   Sr.   Amherst College   Philadelphia, Pa.
F   Noah Martins   So.   Wentworth Institute of Technology   Dartmouth, Mass.
F   Amara Sesay   Jr.   Wheaton College (Mass.)   Bronx, N.Y.
Third Team

Pos.   First   Class   School   Hometown
K   Christian Alcorn   Sr.   Williams College   Richmond, Va.
D   Ryan Cohane   Jr.   Endicott College   Easton, Conn.
D   Luke Eckels   Fr.   Hamilton College   Ridgewood, N.J.
D   Austin Read   Jr.   United States Coast Guard   Takoma Park, Md.
D   Michael Skarbelis   Jr.   New England College   North Andover, Mass.
M   Tobias Gimand   Sr.   Trinity College   Copenhagen, Denmark
M   Zach Halliday   Sr.   Tufts University   Cranbury, N.J.
M   Mohamed Kenawy   So.   University Of Massachusetts-Boston   Revere, Mass.
M   Alex McCormick   Sr.   Castleton University   Starkboro, Vt.
M   Brendan Nemes   Jr.   Worcester Polytechnic   Kingston, Mass.
M   Daniel O'Grady   So.   Middlebury College   New York, N.Y.
F   Ronaldinho Diniz   Fr.   Wheaton College (Mass.)   Brockton., Mass.
F   Ethan Ellsworth   Jr.   Bowdoin College   Greenlawn, N.Y.
F   Denali Sexton   Jr.   Colby-Sawyer College   Barrington, R.I.
F   Ocane Williamson   Fr.   University Of Massachusetts-Boston   St. Catherine, Jamaica
F   Jacob Zimmerman   Sr.   Norwich University   Litchfield, N.H.


SHOCKED that Scott Greenwood was not on this list. Also pretty surprised Weinstein and/or Woodhouse didn't make the list as I wasn't very high on Alcorn or Moura from RIC

[letsGOswans!]

I really don't understand how Gimand has made All-NESCAC first team the last two years. Halliday should be higher on that list, he makes Tufts tick. Good to see Lenhart and Aoyoma get recognition. Obviously no one is surprised by Devlin's inclusion. He should be at worst a second team all american. Happy for Niang. He's a beast!

[CovensCorner]

Did Jackson Lehnhart get recruited while living in Juneau Alaska or is that just his hometown? I would be rather interested to hear the recruiting story behind him if anyone is familiar unless he just had to travel to California or Washington to get seen at a showcase. Either way, there can't be too many recruits coming from Alaska, especially to a top tier program such as Amherst.

[blooter442]

Did Jackson Lehnhart get recruited while living in Juneau Alaska or is that just his hometown? I would be rather interested to hear the recruiting story behind him if anyone is familiar unless he just had to travel to California or Washington to get seen at a showcase. Either way, there can't be too many recruits coming from Alaska, especially to a top tier program such as Amherst.

Pretty cool article on Lehnhart - it appears he is indeed originally from Alaska. http://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-men-s-soccer-6214188

[blooter442]

SHOCKED that Scott Greenwood was not on this list. Also pretty surprised Weinstein and/or Woodhouse didn't make the list as I wasn't very high on Alcorn or Moura from RIC

Yeah, that's surprising.

I was out of the country when the All-NESCAC squads were announced so didn't see them until today, but I was also surprised to see that he didn't even get 2nd Team All-NESCAC. That said, Sydor is very deserving of All-NESCAC honors, and I found Alcorn to be very solid, so I can't complain about the quality of the choices, but rather just Greenwood's omission.

I am not a Greenwood fanboy and have been critical of him in the past, but I thought he was the best GK in the NESCAC this year, and even managed to improve on what I think was his one true weakness - high balls and set pieces. Moreover, his GAA and save percentage are among the best in the country, all the more impressive considering Tufts plays an extremely demanding schedule.

Woodhouse would have been deserving - as would Weinstein - as he was MASSIVE against Amherst and kept Brandeis in the game today but didn't have the numbers that some of the other GKs had, which I think is analogous to the situation with Kayne and his omission from the All-American selections last year, although I maintain that was more a function of Brandeis taking a while to figure out its defense rather than Woodhouse's play. Still, I think he would have been a deserved All-Region honoree.

[Jump4Joy]

With regard to Greenwood and Woodhouse, it could be that the blemishes on their records work against them in the all-star discussion. Their teams peaked at the right times, but those early losses must have had a true impact on the selection process. For example, giving up 5 in one game on 10 SOGs is glaring against Woodhouse. Giving up goals that lead to losses against teams going nowhere didn't help Greenwood. Of course, GAA depends, on large part, on the defenders in front of you, but at the all-star selection table, those numbers are haunting.

I bet that both Woodhouse and Greenwood care more about bringing their teams to the Final Four than they do about collecting hardware that begins to collect dust within a week after their senior seasons end--genuine accomplishments for both.

[blooter442]

An interesting side note: I was watching the video of the Brandeis men doing community service by talking to a local elementary school PE class, and discovered who I believe to be - if not his long-lost twin - Serpone hanging around with the Brandeis squad in the last minute of the video. Didn't realize that he was in Virginia, but I personally think it's pretty cool to see him spending time with colleagues like Coven (and Margolis), as I'm sure there is extensive mutual respect between the two.

[Mr.Right]

He might be the NCAA rep for New England which would mean he needs to be at the Final 4