NESCAC

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Amazing Nescac Stat of the Day. With the Nescac Tournament Approaching I thought I would throw this one out there.

2 time NCAA Champion and 2 time NCAA Quarter-Finalist Tufts has had much more success in the NCAA Tournament than the Nescac Tournament. In 17 years of Nescac Tournament play Tufts has qualified 15 times and have never hosted, never won it, never finished runner up and only been in the Semi-Finals once in 2011.

Overall Record: 1-12-4  .176%

They beat Bowdoin in 2012 to make their only Semi-Finals appearance. Honestly that just floored me as when Former Coach Ralph Ferrigno started bringing the program into a Florida drain gutter by 2004 until he got sacked in 2010 they obviously struggled but Shapiro has been their for 7 years. 1 win in 7 years under Shapiro is very surprising. Anyway I guess the only thing that matters is his record in the NCAA's but just thought this stat was to juicy to pass up

That is a crazy stat. I just looked up another one I was curious about. Prior to 2014 there is only one NESCAC team that has won the national championship since it began in 1974. What team and year was that? I expected more since NESCAC is always considered a top conference every year. Babson actually had won a couple in the early years

Yes, prior to 2014, both Williams (1998(?)) and Middlebury (2007) won national championships.  One fact to keep in mind is that until approximately 1995 (or maybe even slightly later), NESCAC teams were not allowed to participate in any D-3 team sport NCAA tournaments.  So in approximately 20 years, the conference has won 5 championships (more than any other except MAC - Messiah), including the last three and 4 out of last 9.  In addition, NESCAC has a very impressive rate of participation in the Final Four in the last decade, missing out, I believe, only once.

[Bobcat1]

It is worth noting that the Jumbos had a breakaway in the last minute of the second overtime, but Bowdoin defender Bubb did well to push Hallliday wide and win the ball.

Well let us remember that Bubb and Ward have been described as super-human so.....

And McColl.  Don't forget McColl.

On another note:
Blooter -- I didnt get to watch today.   How did both teams line up defense?

Bowdoin: Did they keep their back line home, or were they pushing up high and overlapping at midfield? 
The last games I saw, they were pushing their whole back line high and Bubb or Ward overlapping alternately with their wing, OR. Ward and McColl participating in offense above midfield with Bubb playing a sort of libero role in the back.

Tufts: Did they play a 4-4-2?  They started the season with a flat back four, but the other competitive games of theirs that I saw, they switched mid-game to a 3-5-2, with Zinner holding things down. 
Did Braun play today?  (I was thinking someone said he missed an earlier game this week?)

Thanks for being there and all of the good-natured reporting!

With Bloots likely at a bar in Copenhagen I will take a shot and let others fill in based on the video feed and commentator:

Both teams had a different look to their starting lineups. Braun did not play for Tufts. Rojas only played the first OT. Also, Jameson and Weatherbie did not play which meant a new look back 4 for Tufts. They appeared to play a 4-1-4-1 with Kulcsar as the holding mid and Halliday up top. Bowdoin played 4 in the back as well with Ward and Bubb in their usual spots. McColl did participate in the offense several times making overlapping runs and put a few dangerous crosses in the box. The last of which was the one Rojas headed off the cross bar in the first OT (would have been Tufts second own goal of the season).  Ward was much more selective in his runs and was not nearly as active as McColl on the offense.  Bowdoin did move Niang up top in the OT to push for the game winner. They did have the better of the play in the first OT, but Tufts had a enormous possession advantage in the second OT.

Bottom line: each team had one grade A chance that was saved by the opposing goalie. Mr. Right had this game pegged.  Tufts may have out shot Bowdoin 9-3, but was a pretty even game and a fair result. I would expect Tufts to be fine with the tie as it locked up the NESCAC regular season title, #1 seed in the conference tournament, and likely home games for at least the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. 

[Bobcat1]

Raining hard here in Maine now, but updated forecast calls for 50-60% showers from 3pm to 5pm during the game.  It does not appear the wind will be a significant factor (less than 10mph). A Colby win and I believe they finish 6th.  A Bates win and they will be 8th and head to Tufts on Saturday. A draw and Colby heads to Tufts.  I'm wondering if they will move the game from the grass to the turf? Probably not as it would be the last home game of the year for Colby.

[rudy]

Amazing Nescac Stat of the Day. With the Nescac Tournament Approaching I thought I would throw this one out there.

2 time NCAA Champion and 2 time NCAA Quarter-Finalist Tufts has had much more success in the NCAA Tournament than the Nescac Tournament. In 17 years of Nescac Tournament play Tufts has qualified 15 times and have never hosted, never won it, never finished runner up and only been in the Semi-Finals once in 2011.

Overall Record: 1-12-4  .176%

They beat Bowdoin in 2012 to make their only Semi-Finals appearance. Honestly that just floored me as when Former Coach Ralph Ferrigno started bringing the program into a Florida drain gutter by 2004 until he got sacked in 2010 they obviously struggled but Shapiro has been their for 7 years. 1 win in 7 years under Shapiro is very surprising. Anyway I guess the only thing that matters is his record in the NCAA's but just thought this stat was to juicy to pass up

That is a crazy stat. I just looked up another one I was curious about. Prior to 2014 there is only one NESCAC team that has won the national championship since it began in 1974. What team and year was that? I expected more since NESCAC is always considered a top conference every year. Babson actually had won a couple in the early years

Yes, prior to 2014, both Williams (1998(?)) and Middlebury (2007) won national championships.  One fact to keep in mind is that until approximately 1995 (or maybe even slightly later), NESCAC teams were not allowed to participate in any D-3 team sport NCAA tournaments.  So in approximately 20 years, the conference has won 5 championships (more than any other except MAC - Messiah), including the last three and 4 out of last 9.  In addition, NESCAC has a very impressive rate of participation in the Final Four in the last decade, missing out, I believe, only once.

I didn't see Middlebury. Williams in 1995. Given that NESCAC gets 3-5 bids every year I'm not surprised they have high final 4 appearances. Probability is higher than conferences that have one team in tournament.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Raining hard here in Maine now, but updated forecast calls for 50-60% showers from 3pm to 5pm during the game.  It does not appear the wind will be a significant factor (less than 10mph). A Colby win and I believe they finish 6th.  A Bates win and they will be 8th and head to Tufts on Saturday. A draw and Colby heads to Tufts.  I'm wondering if they will move the game from the grass to the turf? Probably not as it would be the last home game of the year for Colby.

Bobcat, I agree with your conclusions as to the effects of the outcome of the Colby-Bates game.  As to whether the game will be moved to turf, that likely will depend on the condition of the grass soccer field and the availability of the turf field at 3:00 p.m.

[NESCAC11]

Always take the wind advantage 1st Half because the wind can always change

+k.  Can never understand why anyone would ever do it any other way.

That happened in yesterday's Williams match. Middlebury had the wind in the first half and Williams had it for 20 minutes in the second half and then there was a 45 minute lightening delay and when they re-started there was no wind!!! Not that any of that would have helped Williams score.

[PaulNewman]

Amazing Nescac Stat of the Day. With the Nescac Tournament Approaching I thought I would throw this one out there.

2 time NCAA Champion and 2 time NCAA Quarter-Finalist Tufts has had much more success in the NCAA Tournament than the Nescac Tournament. In 17 years of Nescac Tournament play Tufts has qualified 15 times and have never hosted, never won it, never finished runner up and only been in the Semi-Finals once in 2011.

Overall Record: 1-12-4  .176%

They beat Bowdoin in 2012 to make their only Semi-Finals appearance. Honestly that just floored me as when Former Coach Ralph Ferrigno started bringing the program into a Florida drain gutter by 2004 until he got sacked in 2010 they obviously struggled but Shapiro has been their for 7 years. 1 win in 7 years under Shapiro is very surprising. Anyway I guess the only thing that matters is his record in the NCAA's but just thought this stat was to juicy to pass up

That is a crazy stat. I just looked up another one I was curious about. Prior to 2014 there is only one NESCAC team that has won the national championship since it began in 1974. What team and year was that? I expected more since NESCAC is always considered a top conference every year. Babson actually had won a couple in the early years

Yes, prior to 2014, both Williams (1998(?)) and Middlebury (2007) won national championships.  One fact to keep in mind is that until approximately 1995 (or maybe even slightly later), NESCAC teams were not allowed to participate in any D-3 team sport NCAA tournaments.  So in approximately 20 years, the conference has won 5 championships (more than any other except MAC - Messiah), including the last three and 4 out of last 9.  In addition, NESCAC has a very impressive rate of participation in the Final Four in the last decade, missing out, I believe, only once.

I didn't see Middlebury. Williams in 1995. Given that NESCAC gets 3-5 bids every year I'm not surprised they have high final 4 appearances. Probability is higher than conferences that have one team in tournament.

Only up to a point, as usually all  but one NESCAC team would end up in the same quadrant, so they normally would knock each other out prior to the Final Four.  You're still right in the sense of more total chances or a greater likelihood that at least one team will emerge.

[Bobcat1]

Raining hard here in Maine now, but updated forecast calls for 50-60% showers from 3pm to 5pm during the game.  It does not appear the wind will be a significant factor (less than 10mph). A Colby win and I believe they finish 6th.  A Bates win and they will be 8th and head to Tufts on Saturday. A draw and Colby heads to Tufts.  I'm wondering if they will move the game from the grass to the turf? Probably not as it would be the last home game of the year for Colby.

Bobcat, I agree with your conclusions as to the effects of the outcome of the Colby-Bates game.  As to whether the game will be moved to turf, that likely will depend on the condition of the grass soccer field and the availability of the turf field at 3:00 p.m.

Looks like the field hockey game is tonight and the women's soccer game was played yesterday, so there should not be an issue with field availability. I expect they will stick with the grass field unless there is standing water.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

I haven't been to campus this fall, so I may be wrong, but the new turf field may not be a soccer field (just appropriate for field hockey and lacrosse?).  If so, that would mean the football field would need to be available.  But I agree, as this would be the last game of the year, they will stick to the new grass field unless it is waterlogged.

[Flying Weasel]

Amazing Nescac Stat of the Day. With the Nescac Tournament Approaching I thought I would throw this one out there.

2 time NCAA Champion and 2 time NCAA Quarter-Finalist Tufts has had much more success in the NCAA Tournament than the Nescac Tournament. In 17 years of Nescac Tournament play Tufts has qualified 15 times and have never hosted, never won it, never finished runner up and only been in the Semi-Finals once in 2011.

Overall Record: 1-12-4  .176%

They beat Bowdoin in 2012 to make their only Semi-Finals appearance. Honestly that just floored me as when Former Coach Ralph Ferrigno started bringing the program into a Florida drain gutter by 2004 until he got sacked in 2010 they obviously struggled but Shapiro has been their for 7 years. 1 win in 7 years under Shapiro is very surprising. Anyway I guess the only thing that matters is his record in the NCAA's but just thought this stat was to juicy to pass up

That is a crazy stat. I just looked up another one I was curious about. Prior to 2014 there is only one NESCAC team that has won the national championship since it began in 1974. What team and year was that? I expected more since NESCAC is always considered a top conference every year. Babson actually had won a couple in the early years

Yes, prior to 2014, both Williams (1998(?)) and Middlebury (2007) won national championships.  One fact to keep in mind is that until approximately 1995 (or maybe even slightly later), NESCAC teams were not allowed to participate in any D-3 team sport NCAA tournaments.  So in approximately 20 years, the conference has won 5 championships (more than any other except MAC - Messiah), including the last three and 4 out of last 9.  In addition, NESCAC has a very impressive rate of participation in the Final Four in the last decade, missing out, I believe, only once.

I didn't see Middlebury. Williams in 1995. Given that NESCAC gets 3-5 bids every year I'm not surprised they have high final 4 appearances. Probability is higher than conferences that have one team in tournament.

Only up to a point, as usually all  but one NESCAC team would end up in the same quadrant, so they normally would knock each other out prior to the Final Four.  You're still right in the sense of more total chances or a greater likelihood that at least one team will emerge.

1993 was the first year the the NESCAC schools were permitted by the conference to participate in the NCAA tournament and Williams immediately advanced to the title game that year, losing to UC San Diego.  They would make it back two years later and win it all that time.  Amherst made the 1997 Final Four, losing in to the eventual champ in the semifinals, and Williams meet the same fate in the 1998 Final Four. And then it would be a 9-year wait for the NESCAC to be represented in the Final Four again when Middlebury claimed the national title without scoring or allowing a goal at the Final Four.  During that 8-year drought, Williams had some highly talented sides that made the tournament every year, but they didn't live up to expectations in the tournament.  They were upset in 2001, 2003, and 2004 and some might consider some of their other exits as upsets as well. Middlebury's 2007 title run started a four-year stretch with a different NESCAC team reaching the Final Four as Amherst (2008), Williams (2009) and Bowdoin (2010) demonstrated how strong and deep the NESCAC was.  Also starting with Middlebury in 2007, the NESCAC has been represented in every Final Four except in 2011--9 of the last 10!

There's different reasons for the NESCAC's overwhelming success over the past 5 to 10 years versus minimal/limited success in the 15 years prior to that. I wouldn't claim to know all the reasons or the more influential reasons. I do think the NESCAC has remained more immune to the effects of the increase in parity over the past 10 years as the talent pool has grown and could no longer be concentrated in just a dozen or two powerhouses (not to mention more quality coaches to be spread around). And as has already been pointed out, in the 90's into the early 2000's, due mostly to the smaller tournament field size (32 teams thru 1996, 40 in 1997 and 1998, and 44 from 1999 to 2004), teams had to play the other teams from their region and their conference right form the start of the tournament and the NESCAC was only getting two or three teams into the tournament each year (initially due to the small field size, then due to the automatic berth system when the tournament field started to grow). So the bracket only allowed for one team from a conference to advance past the first two rounds.  That all changed in 2005 went the tournament size jumped to 57 teams and has slowing increased to the present 61. Now, conference rivals can be kept apart much longer, sometimes up until the Final Four.  So now, instead of one NESCAC representative against the rest of the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, it can be three NESCAC teams against the rest of the Sweet 16. Better odds of reaching the Final Four. These things are contributing factors.

[blooter442]

It is worth noting that the Jumbos had a breakaway in the last minute of the second overtime, but Bowdoin defender Bubb did well to push Hallliday wide and win the ball.

Well let us remember that Bubb and Ward have been described as super-human so.....

And McColl.  Don't forget McColl.

On another note:
Blooter -- I didnt get to watch today.   How did both teams line up defense?

Bowdoin: Did they keep their back line home, or were they pushing up high and overlapping at midfield? 
The last games I saw, they were pushing their whole back line high and Bubb or Ward overlapping alternately with their wing, OR. Ward and McColl participating in offense above midfield with Bubb playing a sort of libero role in the back.

Tufts: Did they play a 4-4-2?  They started the season with a flat back four, but the other competitive games of theirs that I saw, they switched mid-game to a 3-5-2, with Zinner holding things down. 
Did Braun play today?  (I was thinking someone said he missed an earlier game this week?)

Thanks for being there and all of the good-natured reporting!

With Bloots likely at a bar in Copenhagen I will take a shot and let others fill in based on the video feed and commentator:

Both teams had a different look to their starting lineups. Braun did not play for Tufts. Rojas only played the first OT. Also, Jameson and Weatherbie did not play which meant a new look back 4 for Tufts. They appeared to play a 4-1-4-1 with Kulcsar as the holding mid and Halliday up top. Bowdoin played 4 in the back as well with Ward and Bubb in their usual spots. McColl did participate in the offense several times making overlapping runs and put a few dangerous crosses in the box. The last of which was the one Rojas headed off the cross bar in the first OT (would have been Tufts second own goal of the season).  Ward was much more selective in his runs and was not nearly as active as McColl on the offense.  Bowdoin did move Niang up top in the OT to push for the game winner. They did have the better of the play in the first OT, but Tufts had a enormous possession advantage in the second OT.

Bottom line: each team had one grade A chance that was saved by the opposing goalie. Mr. Right had this game pegged.  Tufts may have out shot Bowdoin 9-3, but was a pretty even game and a fair result. I would expect Tufts to be fine with the tie as it locked up the NESCAC regular season title, #1 seed in the conference tournament, and likely home games for at least the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Bobcat, that made me laugh out loud. +k Just across the water in Malmo, Sweden right now, but I'm heading back to Copenhagen where I'm going to try to find a bar to watch the Chelsea-Everton match. Plenty of Carlsberg to go around — and, as a Liverpool fan, and with numerous LFC shirts with that logo on the front, I have an obligation to like said beer even though it tastes about as good as Narragansett.

Soccermom, glad you enjoyed my commentary. I am usually pretty restless during games and am up walking around — I got in 10,000 steps during the match yesterday — even ones where I have no dog in the fight, so it's a nice outlet. I would agree with your characterization of Bubb having a libero role, and I would say both center backs and their wingbacks stayed home for most of the match, although as Bobcat said McColl did get forward a few times and put a really nice service in which resulted in Bowdoin's biggest chance. Personally, I think that was the right approach, especially given Tufts' strength down the wings, particularly with Tasker.

All told, I think both teams would be happy with the draw. Curious to see who both teams will end up facing in this weekend's quarters.

[Mr.Right]

Amazing Nescac Stat of the Day. With the Nescac Tournament Approaching I thought I would throw this one out there.

2 time NCAA Champion and 2 time NCAA Quarter-Finalist Tufts has had much more success in the NCAA Tournament than the Nescac Tournament. In 17 years of Nescac Tournament play Tufts has qualified 15 times and have never hosted, never won it, never finished runner up and only been in the Semi-Finals once in 2011.

Overall Record: 1-12-4  .176%

They beat Bowdoin in 2012 to make their only Semi-Finals appearance. Honestly that just floored me as when Former Coach Ralph Ferrigno started bringing the program into a Florida drain gutter by 2004 until he got sacked in 2010 they obviously struggled but Shapiro has been their for 7 years. 1 win in 7 years under Shapiro is very surprising. Anyway I guess the only thing that matters is his record in the NCAA's but just thought this stat was to juicy to pass up

That is a crazy stat. I just looked up another one I was curious about. Prior to 2014 there is only one NESCAC team that has won the national championship since it began in 1974. What team and year was that? I expected more since NESCAC is always considered a top conference every year. Babson actually had won a couple in the early years

Yes, prior to 2014, both Williams (1998(?)) and Middlebury (2007) won national championships.  One fact to keep in mind is that until approximately 1995 (or maybe even slightly later), NESCAC teams were not allowed to participate in any D-3 team sport NCAA tournaments.  So in approximately 20 years, the conference has won 5 championships (more than any other except MAC - Messiah), including the last three and 4 out of last 9.  In addition, NESCAC has a very impressive rate of participation in the Final Four in the last decade, missing out, I believe, only once.

I didn't see Middlebury. Williams in 1995. Given that NESCAC gets 3-5 bids every year I'm not surprised they have high final 4 appearances. Probability is higher than conferences that have one team in tournament.

Only up to a point, as usually all  but one NESCAC team would end up in the same quadrant, so they normally would knock each other out prior to the Final Four.  You're still right in the sense of more total chances or a greater likelihood that at least one team will emerge.

1993 was the first year the the NESCAC schools were permitted by the conference to participate in the NCAA tournament and Williams immediately advanced to the title game that year, losing to UC San Diego.  They would make it back two years later and win it all that time.  Amherst made the 1997 Final Four, losing in to the eventual champ in the semifinals, and Williams meet the same fate in the 1998 Final Four. And then it would be a 9-year wait for the NESCAC to be represented in the Final Four again when Middlebury claimed the national title without scoring or allowing a goal at the Final Four.  During that 8-year drought, Williams had some highly talented sides that made the tournament every year, but they didn't live up to expectations in the tournament.  They were upset in 2001, 2003, and 2004 and some might consider some of their other exits as upsets as well. Middlebury's 2007 title run started a four-year stretch with a different NESCAC team reaching the Final Four as Amherst (2008), Williams (2009) and Bowdoin (2010) demonstrated how strong and deep the NESCAC was.  Also starting with Middlebury in 2007, the NESCAC has been represented in every Final Four except in 2011--9 of the last 10!

There's different reasons for the NESCAC's overwhelming success over the past 5 to 10 years versus minimal/limited success in the 15 years prior to that. I wouldn't claim to know all the reasons or the more influential reasons. I do think the NESCAC has remained more immune to the effects of the increase in parity over the past 10 years as the talent pool has grown and could no longer be concentrated in just a dozen or two powerhouses (not to mention more quality coaches to be spread around). And as has already been pointed out, in the 90's into the early 2000's, due mostly to the smaller tournament field size (32 teams thru 1996, 40 in 1997 and 1998, and 44 from 1999 to 2004), teams had to play the other teams from their region and their conference right form the start of the tournament and the NESCAC was only getting two or three teams into the tournament each year (initially due to the small field size, then due to the automatic berth system when the tournament field started to grow). So the bracket only allowed for one team from a conference to advance past the first two rounds.  That all changed in 2005 went the tournament size jumped to 57 teams and has slowing increased to the present 61. Now, conference rivals can be kept apart much longer, sometimes up until the Final Four.  So now, instead of one NESCAC representative against the rest of the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, it can be three NESCAC teams against the rest of the Sweet 16. Better odds of reaching the Final Four. These things are contributing factors.

Thank you...This is an accurate summary of the past 20-25 years in Nescac. I will say this that Williams had its most talented and dominant sides between 1998-2006 and really as you said failed to live up to expectations in the NCAA tournament. Very unlucky against 2 decent NJAC teams in 1999 and 2000 Elite 8 match-ups, 1998 final 4 at Ohio Wesleyan they dominated the game but their GK made a horrific mistake and Ohio Wesleyan held on for dear life to win it, 2001 the biggest upset in NCAA D3 History in my mind when Worcester St defeated Williams in the 1st Round in PK's, 2002 Williams absolutely dominated Arcadia at Southern CT but lost in Pk's, 2003 well I could go on and on....Williams just flat out under performed in the NCAA's between 1998-2005. By 2006 Williams was not quite as good but still a dominant side lost to a very talented Messiah side at Home in what was one of the best played D3 games I have seen in a while. After 2006, Williams played much better in the NCAA's and found some luck of their own in 2012 and 2013.

[Mr.Right]

Some things to watch for today...

1. Regional Rankings in New England...It will be interesting to see who jumps who and where everyone is ranked.

2. Bates--Do they come out of the gates ready to go? Will they play Colby straight up and try to attack and sneak an early goal? Will they sit in and try to counter? Hope not but very possible.

3. Colby--How do they set up today? Read above...

4. Hamilton at Oneonta St---Hamilton is out of the Pool C race but how do they play today against a Regional Power? Do they rest guys or are they playing their usual starters? I am guessing they play this game like any other but you know they are thinking about what looks to be a Nescac Quarter-Final match-up at Tufts or at Amherst..Same can be said for Oneonta..How do they play this game? They cannot afford a loss on this game as that would take them out of the running to host in the NCAA's IMO.

[Mr.Right]

Colby's Starting 11 looks a bit different today. I do not see #5 Berolzheimer or #3 Aoyama..Aoyama sometimes comes off the bench but Berolzheimer usually starts..Hope there are no injury issues...


NOTE: So Live Stats was a tad wrong as #5 Berolzheimer is in the starting 11 so both teams have very familiar line-ups today and look to be for the most part injury free

[Mr.Right]

Colby's size over Bates is very noticeable on the stream. I agree with Bloots on Opoku as he might be more productive out wide