NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

I thought he was a senior last year. Could be wrong. Either way he was the weak link last year on the backline IMO.

[blooter442]

I thought he was a senior last year. Could be wrong. Either way he was the weak link last year on the backline IMO.

Nope, junior last year. I do agree with your last sentence, and have expressed that belief as well, although he did score a nice (wind-aided?) goal against St. Thomas (albeit one the 'keeper should have saved).

[Mr.Right]

Williams defeats Colby 1-0 in another uneventful match-up. I might be able to count on 1 hand the SOG for both teams. Colby has improved its overall team but they have absolutely NO striker. They were the better team but again Williams finished its chance and Colby did not. As much as I am critical of Sisco he does finish and is a threat to score. Colby has some skill and can match-up with the top teams in physical play. They have a long thrower and a ton of trees to get on the end of set pieces. They will get some points this year but just have nothing up top. That is the difference. As I predicted last December the Nescac is down this year. I do not see any Elite 8 teams in this league yet. Williams did not look dangerous at all today and really have not been tested this year by Colby, RPI or Trinity. The match tomorrow at Bowdoin should be a good indicator of where they are.

[blooter442]

As much as I am critical of Sisco he does finish and is a threat to score.

Interestingly enough, Sisco played for the same high school program that my dad did (he was a 'keeper back in the 70s when it first became a varsity team). I have watched him a few times and I think he is good, although some say he hasn't fulfilled his potential. I do think he would look better if playing in the Williams of 2012 or 2013 with guys like Ebobisse and guys of that ilk setting him up, even if he did play with Rashid for a bit, albeit post-injury Rashid. Again, I haven't seen him a ton, but that's what I drew based on my observations -- that perhaps he hasn't gotten the service or help that guys in previous years got.

[Mr.Right]

As much as I am critical of Sisco he does finish and is a threat to score.

Interestingly enough, Sisco played for the same high school program that my dad did (he was a 'keeper back in the 70s when it first became a varsity team). I have watched him a few times and I think he is good, although some say he hasn't fulfilled his potential. I do think he would look better if playing in the Williams of 2012 or 2013 with guys like Ebobisse and guys of that ilk setting him up, even if he did play with Rashid for a bit. Again, I haven't seen him a ton, but that's what I drew based on my observations.

Agreed. he would have more around him.+k....just been watching the Tufts match and there is a clear difference between Tufts and the other Nescac's from what I have seen. The turf makes Tufts look faster but have they are the best team in the league. Have they been dominating Conn all game? From what I have seen Tufts is all over them.

[blooter442]

Agreed. he would have more around him.+k....just been watching the Tufts match and there is a clear difference between Tufts and the other Nescac's from what I have seen. The turf makes Tufts look faster but have they are the best team in the league. Have they been dominating Conn all game? From what I have seen Tufts is all over them.

First half was pretty even, but second half they have really started to turn it up. Based on the first two weeks, even without a No. 9 and even with having to grind out two wins in OT, I do think Tufts is the best side in the league. That said, they haven't been tested away from home yet -- they blew out Plymouth State -- and I will be more curious to see how they do when going to Amherst, Williams, etc.

I wonder what the impetus was behind Tufts moving from Kraft to the turf -- someone (I think BF, not sure) said last year that it was because the field hockey team moved off Bello to elsewhere, but that explained the opportunity, not the reasoning. I would be curious to know the reasoning.

[Mr.Right]

Just to make my point of the lack of good strikers in Nescac and just an overall lack of goal scoring in 10 Nescac league games this year 7 of them have only had 1 goal..7 out of 10 with 1 goal is ridiculous. All 5 league games today will finish at 1-0 or 0-0. The other 3 games were 2-1 scorelines. Not good.

[blooter442]

Just to make my point of the lack of good strikers in Nescac and just an overall lack of goal scoring in 10 Nescac league games this year 7 of them have only had 1 goal..7 out of 10 with 1 goal is ridiculous. All 5 league games today will finish at 1-0 or 0-0. The other 3 games were 2-1 scorelines. Not good.

That is pretty underwhelming.

Even though I said Tufts is the best side in the league two posts back, I don't think they are as dominant as last year. Then again, I said that last year's team wasn't as talented as the 2014 side, and they, too, ended up winning the national title, so what do I know? It's like getting bounced in the NESCAC quarters has become the new prerequisite for winning it all.

That said, I don't know that any NESCAC team (or any New England team, for that matter) is as dominant as in years past (cue yet another NESCAC NCAA championship win).

[Mr.Right]

I need a change of regions for a game tonight.

I am wondering if Shapiro realized his team plays better on the turf. I am also curious and will try to get an answer

[blooter442]

I am wondering if Shapiro realized his team plays better on the turf. I am also curious and will try to get an answer

That is my suspicion, although I trust your detective work more than my intuition.

[blooter442]

Tufts now in 2OT and dominating the shot count, but still can't find a way through. Could this be first points dropped this year for the Jumbos?

[Mr.Right]

I will say Conn's Frosh GK Marcucci looks legit. A HUGE upgrade on what Conn has had since Murphy arrived in 2009. Conn will be in every game they play if he gives them this effort every match.

[blooter442]

Final from Bello, Tufts 0-0 Connecticut College. Jumbos had most of the ball and shots but couldn't break down Conn. Before the game I thought Conn. could get a draw, but I must admit I thought Tufts would find a way once it got to OT. Both teams at 3-0-1, although the Camels will definitely be happier with the point.

[PaulNewman]

I have a little bit different take on Tufts...you  sometimes know how good a team is by how much you don't like 'em.

Remember Tufts was 0-2-1 to start last season (and because they opened up with Messiah or Haverford or Brandeis).  Remember that in '14 and '16 Tufts was "on the bubble" for a bid.  Some said in '14 they got the last Pool C.  Last year none of us thought they were more than a Sweet 16 team at best.

I think it's Shapiro, his willingness to adjust, and the super-confident vibe he instills in his team.  Tufts is more like Amherst now than the '14 team with Santos and company and also since the Kayne group left.  They are physical, big, and play with a bit of a bully mentality. Their own announcer was talking about Braun's antics in the 2nd half and OT.  They have a smugness and never think they are going to lose.  They could have a game next weekend with Messiah or Calvin or W&L or Chicago on the road and they would be absolutely confident they would win.  They won those huge games on the road against Montclair in '15 and Rowan last year. Doesn't mean they won't ever get nicked in a game, but they are not a team you want to play in the NCAA tournament.   The Calvin coach has a totally different stlye and kills you with sappy kindness and praise but he instills that same kind of confidence in his team. 

Also, it may be true that the NESCAC is down a little but that also may be true nationally.  Would Calvin be a clear fave versus Tufts today?  Maybe Chicago?  Anybody think Tufts couldn't play with Messiah or Rowan after watching those two teams last night?  We'll see what Chicago does but don't be surprised if we're still talking about Tufts and hearing about Tufts from their favorite fan in mid-November.

[blooter442]

I have a little bit different take on Tufts...you  sometimes know how good a team is by how much you don't like 'em.

Remember Tufts was 0-2-1 to start last season (and because they opened up with Messiah or Haverford or Brandeis).  Remember that in '14 and '16 Tufts was "on the bubble" for a bid.  Some said in '14 they got the last Pool C.  Last year none of us thought they were more than a Sweet 16 team at best.

I think it's Shapiro, his willingness to adjust, and the super-confident vibe he instills in his team.  Tufts is more like Amherst now than the '14 team with Santos and company and also since the Kayne group left.  They are physical, big, and play with a bit of a bully mentality. Their own announcer was talking about Braun's antics in the 2nd half and OT.  They have a smugness and never think they are going to lose.  They could have a game next weekend with Messiah or Calvin or W&L or Chicago on the road and they would be absolutely confident they would win.  They won those huge games on the road against Montclair in '15 and Rowan last year. Doesn't mean they won't ever get nicked in a game, but they are not a team you want to play in the NCAA tournament.   The Calvin coach has a totally different stlye and kills you with sappy kindness and praise but he instills that same kind of confidence in his team. 

Also, it may be true that the NESCAC is down a little but that also may be true nationally.  Would Calvin be a clear fave versus Tufts today?  Maybe Chicago?  Anybody think Tufts couldn't play with Messiah or Rowan after watching those two teams last night?  We'll see what Chicago does but don't be surprised if we're still talking about Tufts and hearing about Tufts from their favorite fan in mid-November.

PN, certainly a respectable opinion, and I agree with much of it.

I don't disagree that they are a confident outfit, or that we may be discussing them in November, but I do think that while heart and grinding out results can get you far, talent can play a bigger part than you might think. I made a point about Tufts having potential defensive troubles without Greenwood (which hasn't happened thus far) but while 0 goals conceded in 4 games is certainly good, it's not as they've been tested against a Chicago/Messiah/etc. yet. While they are physical, I don't know that I'd agree they are "smug" — I think that implies arrogance — but I think they adhere to "respect all, fear none," at least from what Shapiro said.

Don't get me wrong, I think Tufts is a good side that has emerged faster than anyone would've imagined. Moreover they have made runs to NCAA titles after so-so regular seasons (although things did go off the rails to a point after a good start in 2015.) My point is simply that they are not unassailable and that they have their weaknesses that teams can exploit.

As an aside, I do really like both Souders and Shapiro — both classy coaches albeit with different demeanors (the former effusive with praise, the latter pragmatic and fair).