NESCAC

[EasyGoer27]

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As for Amherst you are correct they are a Pool C lock and now have 2 weeks off which could be helpful. They just have a major question mark in net at this point. They have 4 GK's that have all started this year. This is pure speculation but I am sure Serpone will get an earful from his captains and seniors about who they want in net going forward to give them the best chance to win. Serpone does not need to hear that from them as he has most likely been thinking about this the past 48 hours as well with his staff. There is just no way you can stick Hope-Gund back in net after that performance. His confidence is shot and more importantly his teammates confidence with him in net right now is also shot. After the final goal that Hamilton scored you could just see on the stream his teammates were in disbelief with what happened 2nd Half and rightly so. My guess and IT IS ONLY A GUESS but the seniors will want Owen back in net. He would not be my answer and has his own weaknesses and I am assuming he has already had a chat with Serpone over a month ago on how they are going to go in a different direction BUT where do you turn? Dunne was a HIGHLY touted GK out of Chicago and was supposed to be Bull's replacement. I have no idea what has happened there. The other Frosh I have not seen as much so I really do not know. It will be interesting to see if Amherst gets to host in the 1st / 2nd round..I think they would still have a shot but against some decent competition not one of these 1st round cakewalks.

Slightly different take.  Amherst were almost lucky to be in that game.  Hope-Gund made a few reads to cut off deep balls and two saves that can only be called spectacular.  The read on the 2nd goal was silly -- he had two defenders who were capable of cleaning that up no need to wander that far.  The 4th goal was a total scramble and the Hamilton player just overpowered through.  I think Amherst was pretty much a mess across the entire back 5.  Truly without the ref and Hope-Gund it could have been worse.  I don't expect we will see 4 goals vs Amherst again.

On your Ref comment from Sat, I couldn't agree more.

To be fair I am a Williams supporter so I am a bit biased but I'm not sure I've ever seen a game with the ref so completely on one side.  I probably have but at 65 the memory fades.  The Hamilton side were going nuts and Serpone said nothing.  When is the last time Serpone and company didn't get on the ref?  Tells you all you need to know.   That guy should never ever ref another Amherst game. 

[Mr.Right]

Wow it is amazing to me how two people watching the same game can come to such a different conclusion. So in your opinion Hope-Gund SAVED them...Well you were there and I was watching on the stream but I must say I am shocked at this assessment. Yes their defense did not have their best game of the year but I just cannot tell you how much I disagree..1st goal by Hamilton's Kastilahn I suppose a defender should have closed him faster BUT it was a 25 yard shot from an almost impossible angle to score on at the college level. A GK MUST SAVE THAT. 2nd goal was a complete hot mess.Hope-Gund charged out of his net 30-35 yards to clear a ball that his defender could have cleared. He must not have gotten the scouting report on Wood's speed because once he saw Hope-Gund come he got on his horse and flat out got there in plenty of time, tackled Hope-Gund, got to the ball and slotted with his left. 3rd goal was not his fault as it was a nice turn by Schmidt and a great off the ball run by Wood and feed by Schmidt and a perfect finish by Wood. 4th goal was a scrum like u said BUT remember the GK can use his hands not the other players and he needs to BE DIVING ON THAT BALL not stumbling on the field, being indecisive on the play meaning he did not know whether to come or stay home and he decided to come only way to late and he just flat out missed the ball..I mean he could make 3 or 4 game saving changes which I must say I did not see but I was kinda flicking back and forth to the Williams game but a coach who was not a GK will always focus on a GK's mistakes not his great saves. Serpone was a GK so maybe I could be wrong but if he benched Owen after the 1st Half of Williams for a hesitant decision then surely he is benching this kid..I will be the 1st to admit to you if I am wrong because it is quite possible he has no other options but I find that really hard to believe.

[SoccerMom_5]

My addendum to Soccermom's comments and Mr. Right's comments that followed but aren't quoted here:  My wife and I are parents of a former Bowdoin player from the O'Leary era and we remain Bowdoin soccer fans.  We were at today's game.  It was a beautiful day for soccer in Brunswick, although the field was a bit slick after 4+" of rain in recent days.

I certainly haven't spectated every Bowdoin game over the last six years, but I will say this was the largest crowd I've seen since the 2010 NCAA quarterfinals, when Bowdoin beat Middlebury in the last second of the first overtime to advance to the final four.  Today's crowd was larger than Mr. Right's estimates of the Ainscough era crowds.

That said, Bowdoin was on balance the better team today and deserved to advance to the NESCAC semis.  I will also confirm that there is "proactive attacking" Bowdoin and there is "bunkered in" Bowdoin.  Both were on display today.  The moment Bowdoin got the 1-0 lead, they bunkered in and invited Williams to own two thirds of the field and continually create chances.  Big mistake...the predictable happened.  A well organized Premier League team can protect a lead.  A D3 college team with D3 skills and mentality has much more difficulty doing so.  I'd like to think this could be a lesson learned, but the past five years suggest otherwise...

Regarding some of the other observations, again I haven't watched every game and don't pretend to grasp all the details, but Levi Morant had the game of his career today.  He is not a quick player, but he consistently won 50/50s in the middle of the pitch and was a difference maker.  He played at a higher level than I've seen before.  And Niang was more potent in an advanced position.

As Mr. Right predicted, Van Siclen was the difference in PKs, getting to two.  But Schneiderman performed well and stopped one.  Impressively, all ten PKs were on frame, which is rare in a D3 game.

Now that I've watched a variety of NESCAC games this season online and in person, I agree the league is down a little bit but the better teams can probably still compete with anyone in the NCAA tournament.  There is certainly less goal scoring, but there is a defensive tenacity among the better teams that tends to wear well in the NCAAs.

You did a fantastic job of describing a "bunkered in" Bowdoin of which I have been describing for way to long BUT you failed to describe this "proactive attack" that you witnessed on Saturday? Please explain Bowdoin's Proactive Attack for me as I am curious and I am not trying to be a DB..I really am curious? All I saw was a team that can score on set pieces and are very good at creating chances on set pieces. They have terrific finishers and maybe the best service on set pieces in the league. Nothing wrong with that as the league has been trending this way, to my dismay, for the past 8-10 years or basically since Serpone took over Amherst and started winning doing it. Bowdoin can only score on set pieces against solid teams and that is just fact..They are just to inept in midfield and lack a creative player that can break guys down. Niang while quite possibly one of the more dangerous finishers on set pieces cant break anyone down 2v1 let alone 1v1...I saw a ton of giveaway's by him against Williams in which if you had a player that could thread the needle would have given Bowdoin's strikers a serious look in that game. That is why i wondered why not try this Frosh Byrd in that role? Yes he is maybe to slight and would get knocked off the ball but you could say the same thing about Williams #9 Petrik and he caused a bit of havoc against Bowdoin in that game. While Byrd is better on the flank for now and is a good 1v1 player I do not think at least right now he is quite as good as Petrik. Also, I agree that Morant had a nice goal and played well but as you start moving forward and seeing teams with way more skill in midfield his warts will show defensively. Stenquist cannot possibly be expected to do his work and Morant's against quicker skilled players? That is why I liked when Wiercinski moved Ward back into midfield 2 weeks ago but he is to steady in the back this late in the season to move him now. I am not bashing Bowdoin as I picked them to win the league but they do not have a proactive attack.

Please explain Bowdoin's Proactive Attack for me as I am curious and I am not trying to be a DB..I really am curious?

That is what I have been talking about -- there IS an attacking Bowdoin.  Their whole back line sits at midfield and they send at least two and occasionally three of them up into the attacking third.  That started a few games in and was hit-or-miss for a while, but... you can see when they started it, because they went from very few shots to taking LOTS of shots.    Once they started doing that, they have had a much more solid offense.  They still can't SCORE because they still have no finishers.   But... They certainly DO attack...  I mean... look at their stats... they possess the ball, they move it through the other team well, and they take TONS of shots.   Goodness gracious... I watched a game where they had about 30+ shots.  Only one goal.   THat has to do with finishing problems.   

They DID have an attacking problem, where the midfield struggled and the offense could not shoot the ball, but they fixed it by using their back four to move the ball through the midfield and pushed the midfield and their OBs up to help the forwards. And when the backs keep everyone pushed up and overlap, they have tons of offense... the forwards still can't finish... but they have tons of offense.  So... this is why I think they keep changing their line-up.  I think that they figure they have their offense problem pretty much solved, but they still have not found their finisher.


They are just to inept in midfield and lack a creative player that can break guys down.

Again, at the risk of beating a dead horse... this is why I love the Bowdoin back line so much.  Ward and Bubb are incredibly creative;  they are great at reading the field, and they have taken players on frequently, ever since Bowdoin started with the overlapping strategy...    In this last game, Bubb carried from just above the 18 all the way into the attacking third for Williams. He tore everyone up through the entire middle of the field.   And that was not a one-time thing; in fact...  I really did not think he had a terrific game, overall.  He has certainly played better than he did this past weekend (In fact, when he is "on," I think he is fantastic... but he also can have some "down" games, now and then, too. And the Williams game was one. But even in a down game like Saturday, he seems to be able to cut them up through the middle, when he chooses to go.  Ward overlaps more often than Bubb does. Ward is not flashy, but is definitely more consistent and whenever he goes forward, he definitely creates opportunities up front.  He sees the field and reads the play and he is great with his distribution.  And you dont worry about his speed because he is so darn smart and reads the play so well, that he always seems tp be where he needs to be.   But that is not all... besides those two, they still they have McColl who will pretty much ALWAYS go.  McColl has the pace to go full field and can carry through traffic.  And... he is dangerous with the wall-passes, all the way up the left flank.  Then there are those times when one or both OBs and one of the CBs will all go at once...  And then there is usually some pretty fun offense...  It does expose them in the back though.  But it is usually pretty fun soccer up front when the back decides to get involved.  They don't always do it, though; sometimes they seem to be risk-averse and choose to stay home and bunker down and just "clear."   And that is when Bowdoin usually starts having trouble.  Then the midfield drops in and they all end up sitting in the box and just getting pounded. So, a better midfield solution would be good.  But... It is not like one can say that Bowdoin has no creativity or that they don't have anyone who can break down players in 1v1 situations. 



But  this last game, with the adjustments Wiercinski made in the midfield, I really thought there was a lot of great play in the middle.  I understand that you are worried about Morant's speed.  But... Ward is not a speed demon either.  But his skill set is such, that he does not have to be.  Ward can get away without being super-fast because he is very technical and he can read the play and anticipate the second and the third ball.  He is not fast, but he rarely gets exposed.  I think Morant had to adjust a little, but he is also technical, and seems to see the field pretty well, and I thought he was very effective even though he had to make a sudden adjustment.   I think that once he adjusts, you will not notice his speed, just as no one ever comments on Wards.  In any case,  they have Bubb who has the pace and who reads the game so well that actually can play as a libero...    within a 4-4-2 system with a flat-back-four.  (I mean... you don't see a whole lot of liberos at any level of college soccer, and I don't think I have ever seen one who was part of a standard back four line-up. LOL.  And... it is working well enough that they regularly send two --and occasionally even three-- defenders on overlapping runs.   Who says Bowdoin is not creative.... lol  They needed to create on offense, but maybe didn't have all of the depth they needed...  so they are using a freaking libero... in D3 soccer!  That's crazy.  Like a fox. But, as you know... I do really like this Bowdoin team.   And as time goes by and they have started getting their pieces in the right places, I am liking them more and more.  lol )   No that things are pretty much over, I think that they are just getting ready to start hitting on all cylinders.  It is too bad it took so long, because I have been waiting all season for them to get all of the pieces put together.   

I have maintained since midseason that the Bowdoin players were very talented and smart, but that they could not get all of the pieces put together, so the "machine" was not running right.  For me, the talent has always been clear, but position problems have limited their possibilities.  For example, I have always really liked Ellsworth's creative runs, but they weren't producing much, becausethe cetnral midfielders were missing some really great runs as they were developing (and played hasty and often very risky negative balls, rather than anticipating the run on the flank)   With distribution problems in the middle, it limits creativity, in that it does not actually create opportunities. BUT... Bowdoin clearly has some very creative players.   And Ellsworth is the poster child... When Wiercinski has moved him inside here and there...he has been great.  He was juking all kinds of players in both of the last games I watched.  And... having a blast with it.  At one point in the Williams game, he broke through a double teaam by megging the defender to his left, who had tried to challenge with his right foot.  (I believe it was #18 who got megged by Ellsworth, but I'm really not familiar with Williams back line)   Even more fun... in the Colby game, Ellsworth did a rainbow over Lauderback to break through into space.

I also really like MacPherron - the first year who plays CAM from the bench   I think he is brilliant in his off-ball movement.  He is very creative, also.  He is fantastic at drawing out defenders and at creating space for through-balls. You have to have midfielders who can see it, so Bowdoin dpesn't always capitalize on it... But when the CBs are in an attacking mood and. especially when McColl is in on the left, watch how many through-balls slice in through through the space MacPherron is creating... and how often Bowdoin will split defenders because MacPherron and McColl are drawing them out.  I mean... the Williams back line was getting split left and right for a while there...   Tufts got split, too.  And Colby -- although that surprised me less, I guess

Problem is...  They don't always play that proactive, creative game.  Sometimes they "pack it in" and try to sit 10 men in the box to defend. Then they deserve to give up a goal... and they usually do.   And, as TrueNorth observed: they seem not to be able to take a lesson from that.   In the games I have watched, when they go up one goal, "bunkered in" Bowdoin shows up and then it is a matter of time.  This year, they lost to Amherst that way, and St. Joe, and they gave up the Bates goal that way (they had all 10 men in their box, and kept clearing to the Bates forward who kept serving it right back into the box.)  They also slipped into that several times against Tufts    And for about 15 minutes vs Williams (enough time to give up a goal).   


Niang while quite possibly one of the more dangerous finishers on set pieces cant break anyone down 2v1 let alone 1v1...I saw a ton of giveaway's by him against Williams in which if you had a player that could thread the needle would have given Bowdoin's strikers a serious look in that game.


I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE, MR RIGHT.   I think Niang belongs all the way on the top where he can score off of crosses.   But... I guess Wiercinski knows his players better than I do... so he must have his reasons for the way he is lining them up. 

They have overcome a lot of their problems already, and I think that Wiercinski has made some really brilliant adjustments here at the end of the season.  I wish there were more games left --it took all season for them to get all of their pieces put together right, I think that they are really getting there just now and I really would have loved to see them play some real games once they adjusted and hit their stride.   

Ah well...   

[PaulNewman]

SoccerMom_5, are you a coach or a former coach?  And do you have a kid on the Bowdoin squad?

In any case, props to you for some serious posting.  You are into this Bowdoin team about as deep and sophisticated as any poster who follows any school.

[truenorth]

You did a fantastic job of describing a "bunkered in" Bowdoin of which I have been describing for way to long BUT you failed to describe this "proactive attack" that you witnessed on Saturday? Please explain Bowdoin's Proactive Attack for me as I am curious and I am not trying to be a DB..I really am curious? All I saw was a team that can score on set pieces and are very good at creating chances on set pieces. They have terrific finishers and maybe the best service on set pieces in the league. Nothing wrong with that as the league has been trending this way, to my dismay, for the past 8-10 years or basically since Serpone took over Amherst and started winning doing it. Bowdoin can only score on set pieces against solid teams and that is just fact..They are just to inept in midfield and lack a creative player that can break guys down. Niang while quite possibly one of the more dangerous finishers on set pieces cant break anyone down 2v1 let alone 1v1...I saw a ton of giveaway's by him against Williams in which if you had a player that could thread the needle would have given Bowdoin's strikers a serious look in that game. That is why i wondered why not try this Frosh Byrd in that role? Yes he is maybe to slight and would get knocked off the ball but you could say the same thing about Williams #9 Petrik and he caused a bit of havoc against Bowdoin in that game. While Byrd is better on the flank for now and is a good 1v1 player I do not think at least right now he is quite as good as Petrik. Also, I agree that Morant had a nice goal and played well but as you start moving forward and seeing teams with way more skill in midfield his warts will show defensively. Stenquist cannot possibly be expected to do his work and Morant's against quicker skilled players? That is why I liked when Wiercinski moved Ward back into midfield 2 weeks ago but he is to steady in the back this late in the season to move him now. I am not bashing Bowdoin as I picked them to win the league but they do not have a proactive attack.

Apologies for being slow to respond.  We've been without power here in Maine for a couple of days.  When I mentioned "proactive attacking" Bowdoin, I suspected that turn of phrase would provoke a response.  I was really referring to a mindset rather than a skill set. Bowdoin clearly does not have an abundance of true attacking talent.  However, they are more potent offensively when they turn on an attacking mindset.  In the game vs. Williiams they "bunkered in" after scoring a goal and then predictably conceded a goal.  Late in regulation and throughout the two overtimes, they adopted an attacking mindset and generated some sustained pressure, which in turn leads to the set pieces you describe as their bread and butter.

[truenorth]

SoccerMom_5, are you a coach or a former coach?  And do you have a kid on the Bowdoin squad?

In any case, props to you for some serious posting.  You are into this Bowdoin team about as deep and sophisticated as any poster who follows any school.

And yes, I concur that SoccerMom has made some detailed and insightful observations about Bowdoin's tactics and the strengths and weaknesses of their individual players.  I certainly agree with her observations about Bubb, who is very composed defending as well as moving the ball through pressure up the middle of the field.

Bubb is a great example of how players can evolve during their four years of playing NESCAC soccer.  He was an occasional starter during his first three years and he has absolutely blossomed in his role this year.  This kind of four-year evolution has happened with other players on other NESCAC teams over the years, and it is fun to watch!

[nescac1]

Discouraging end to the year for Williams, indeed.  The last few years, the team just hasn't generated nearly enough offense to beat the top of the league. The defense and GKs have kept them in games but that isn't quite enough.  The Ephs need to bring in several BIG TIME goal-scorers and creators, and fast, and then start to play more aggressively, or they will continue to be a mid-level NESCAC team falling just short of league and NCAA contention ... the former league powers Midd and Williams have been supplanted by Tufts and Amherst, but there is no reason that Williams can't get back into the mix. 

[Mr.Right]

My last point on Bowdoin. The only time their CB's push forward is if one happens to overlap which is very rare or on set pieces. The only back that goes is McColl and for good reason as he does have the speed to do it. With McColl and Ellsworth in midfield they have a pretty solid left side but they play a flat back 4. They do not play with a libero and with good reason as the libero went out of the game 20 years ago. Ward might look like he drifts a little behind the other backs but that is him being careful but they are in a flat back 4.

[SoccerMom_5]

My last point on Bowdoin. The only time their CB's push forward is if one happens to overlap which is very rare or on set pieces. The only back that goes is McColl and for good reason as he does have the speed to do it. With McColl and Ellsworth in midfield they have a pretty solid left side but they play a flat back 4. They do not play with a libero and with good reason as the libero went out of the game 20 years ago. Ward might look like he drifts a little behind the other backs but that is him being careful but they are in a flat back 4.

Lol.

1)  I mean a true libero, not a sweeper "libero."  And Bowdoin has been using one.  And the fact that "no one does it" is exactly the reason I think it is such a creative approach to addressing their problems.   

2)  i know they play a flat back four; I actually emphasized  that they play a flat back four because that is what makes the libero situation all the more remarkable....    Most of the time, a team would be gift-wrapping  goals if they tried having a CB within a flat back four line up take on a libero role.   

I mean... there is a reason you don't see it often.  It requires a lot of speed and stamina, and a very high-level ability to read the game and fantastic concentration .  And if you play a flat back four, then your other CB has to have an equally high level of focus and soccer intelligence.  And with OBs who are consistently involved up in the attacking third?     I mean...  come on....   .
So... I  think the Bowdoin back line is  very (very!) good.

3)  In most of the games I have watched, all of the Bowdoin backs frequently overlap. The only one who kind of doesnt is that new kid they have had on the right since they moved MacMillan up.

But.... they dont always do it, so...  ??
  I have not watched every game so  maybe you and I aren't watching the same games? 

[Clotpoll]

No NESCAC team is worth all these words. Frankly, it's become an agricultural league of grinders and grapplers. I'll never get back the 120' of my life I tossed away attending Tufts-Bowdoin last week.

[SoccerMom_5]

No NESCAC team is worth all these words. Frankly, it's become an agricultural league of grinders and grapplers. I'll never get back the 120' of my life I tossed away attending Tufts-Bowdoin last week.

Lol. But I like kid-soccer and Im retired. 

[crappaport1978]

Any end of season award predictions from the experts in the room? Looking at you Mr. Right

[truenorth]

No NESCAC team is worth all these words. Frankly, it's become an agricultural league of grinders and grapplers. I'll never get back the 120' of my life I tossed away attending Tufts-Bowdoin last week.

It would seem the obvious solution is not to bother watching any NESCAC soccer again...there are clearly other things you could be doing with your time...

[SoccerMom_5]

SoccerMom_5, are you a coach or a former coach?  And do you have a kid on the Bowdoin squad?

In any case, props to you for some serious posting.  You are into this Bowdoin team about as deep and sophisticated as any poster who follows any school.

Haha.  Thanks. I am retired from soccer now, but I used to play and I used to coach.  When my kids played for the local academy, I worked at their club. Then they went off to play in college and  I was ready for a break.  But...now that I have been "soccer-retired" for a couple years, I started to kind of miss it.

I actually like a good developmental youth soccer game as well as I like the Premier League. (I know that is strange... but I find the developmental aspects of the game very interesting.)  Anyway, I watched some NESCAC games last year and decided to actually "follow" Bowdoin this year.
It is my vicarious developmental soccer "fix;"  I don't have to drive four hours or spend the weekend for the games... I just turn on the internet when the game comes on.   


.

[FourMoreYears]

No NESCAC team is worth all these words. Frankly, it's become an agricultural league of grinders and grapplers. I'll never get back the 120' of my life I tossed away attending Tufts-Bowdoin last week.

If that's the case, there's a decent chance you'll save some time not watching the NCAA D-3 Championship Game, so you have that going for you. ;-)