NESCAC

[Brother Flounder]

First off I want to thank all the posters of this board for keeping this community running.  Much to the amusement of my former teammates, I spent way too much of my free time browsing the pages of this site.  After taking some time to think it over I have decided that I am ready to take the plunge and join in myself. 

I appreciate the difficulties of following d3 soccer and attempting to provide tactical analyses when stream qualities are inconsistent at best.  However, it has been interesting to see how certain ideas regarding my past teams gained traction on this site despite differing radical from how we perceived ourselves.  As a member of the Tufts Soccer program, I still consider myself a member because Coach Shapiro has built an incredible family that one does simply graduate from, I find the perception of the 2014 team a little odd.  As a member of that team and a passionate follower of the subsequent editions, I can promise you that the alumni feel that Tufts Soccer has only gotten better each year.  While certain players on that team certainly were unique talents, I think the comparisons are unfair to the teams since.  A comparison of the statistics from that team and this years is interesting.

The 2014 National Championship team scored 49 goals and conceded 12 in 22 matches.  This years team scored 40 and conceded 2 in 21 matches.  However, the 2014 team scored 16 goals in the first 3 matches of the season and this years team scored 10 against Mt. St. Vincent.  So without those matches 2014 was 33 GF/12 GA in 19 matches and this years team was 30 GF/2 GA in 20 matches.  So the notion that the 2014 was a prolific free scoring outfit while this year was a rigid defensive powerhouse is derived more from this years' defensive record than any offensive shortcomings. 

Also this year's team was probably the most able in terms of pure possession, although I do believe my 2014 group would have rivaled that if we played on the turf at Bello instead of Kraft. 

I also think some of the opinions given on the senior class are a little unfair.  I completely agree that the players are replaceable.  But I do not mean that in any way as a characterization of their talent.  I think the current situation at Tufts is akin to how Messiah's graduating senior classes (with the exception of 2014) were replaceable given that each subsequent class followed up on their success.  When my class hung up the boots at Tufts, we joked that now that the deadweight was cleared out Tufts could really take off.  And I think the current senior class would feel similarly because Coach Shapiro continues to take this program to new levels each year, and Sunday's result does not change that—every year 10-20 programs are capable of winning it all and it takes a combination of luck, health, and togetherness to make it happen.  Coach Shapiro has ensured that Tufts will be in that conversation for the foreseeable future. 

I welcome talking to all of you about my experience and am excited to join this community.  And Mr. Right I hate to let you down, but Coleman isn't nearly as slow as you think. Some of the people I've seen him beat in sprints during training would surprise you.   

D4, welcome! Good input! Congrats on your career at Tufts.  Must have been a great ride!

[letsGOswans!]

Welcome D4, and grats on your national championship.

I admire many of the "unsung" heroes from your national championship teams. Without players like Halliday, Pinheiro, Brown, or Hoppenot, your accomplishments wouldn't have been possible.

As an ardent Camel fan I can't help but ask you two questions:
The best team you've played against that's not Messiah?
What did you think about going against my Cames during the years you played?

[Brother Flounder]

Welcome D4, and grats on your national championship.

I admire many of the "unsung" heroes from your national championship teams. Without players like Halliday, Pinheiro, Brown, or Hoppenot, your accomplishments wouldn't have been possible.

As an ardent Camel fan I can't help but ask you two questions:
The best team you've played against that's not Messiah?
What did you think about going against my Cames during the years you played?

How true....

[d4_Pace]

Welcome D4, and grats on your national championship.

I admire many of the "unsung" heroes from your national championship teams. Without players like Halliday, Pinheiro, Brown, or Hoppenot, your accomplishments wouldn't have been possible.

As an ardent Camel fan I can't help but ask you two questions:
The best team you've played against that's not Messiah?
What did you think about going against my Cames during the years you played?

The coolest part about making the deep runs was all the great teams we got to play.  I think Calvin was probably the next best side with Rowan.  Then the two games against Kenyon's could have gone either way. 

Conn was definitely one of our biggest rivals.  When we lost in the 2014 NESCAC quarters, we thought they had ended our season.  Develin was also probably the best player along with Nico that played in the league during my time so he was always the focal point. 

[Mr.Right]

Coleman--While I was not his biggest fan he started to grow on me a bit. He was steady eddy in the back but still to slow for my liking. He will be missed for his size and leadership but I think Shapiro will be able to replace him with Jameson or maybe Aroh. To me Aroh looks to be more of a back than a holder but we shall see. A solid career but certainly not the level of Kramer or Williams was in 2014.

Mr. Right, I assume you've seen this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbz12DgnvlE (fast forward to 9:45)

No I had not but Mr.Right has no problems laughing at himself...In Mr.R's book Bad pub is good pub....

[Mr.Right]

First off I want to thank all the posters of this board for keeping this community running.  Much to the amusement of my former teammates, I spent way too much of my free time browsing the pages of this site.  After taking some time to think it over I have decided that I am ready to take the plunge and join in myself. 

I appreciate the difficulties of following d3 soccer and attempting to provide tactical analyses when stream qualities are inconsistent at best.  However, it has been interesting to see how certain ideas regarding my past teams gained traction on this site despite differing radical from how we perceived ourselves.  As a member of the Tufts Soccer program, I still consider myself a member because Coach Shapiro has built an incredible family that one does simply graduate from, I find the perception of the 2014 team a little odd.  As a member of that team and a passionate follower of the subsequent editions, I can promise you that the alumni feel that Tufts Soccer has only gotten better each year.  While certain players on that team certainly were unique talents, I think the comparisons are unfair to the teams since.  A comparison of the statistics from that team and this years is interesting.

The 2014 National Championship team scored 49 goals and conceded 12 in 22 matches.  This years team scored 40 and conceded 2 in 21 matches.  However, the 2014 team scored 16 goals in the first 3 matches of the season and this years team scored 10 against Mt. St. Vincent.  So without those matches 2014 was 33 GF/12 GA in 19 matches and this years team was 30 GF/2 GA in 20 matches.  So the notion that the 2014 was a prolific free scoring outfit while this year was a rigid defensive powerhouse is derived more from this years' defensive record than any offensive shortcomings. 

Also this year's team was probably the most able in terms of pure possession, although I do believe my 2014 group would have rivaled that if we played on the turf at Bello instead of Kraft. 

I also think some of the opinions given on the senior class are a little unfair.  I completely agree that the players are replaceable.  But I do not mean that in any way as a characterization of their talent.  I think the current situation at Tufts is akin to how Messiah's graduating senior classes (with the exception of 2014) were replaceable given that each subsequent class followed up on their success.  When my class hung up the boots at Tufts, we joked that now that the deadweight was cleared out Tufts could really take off.  And I think the current senior class would feel similarly because Coach Shapiro continues to take this program to new levels each year, and Sunday's result does not change that—every year 10-20 programs are capable of winning it all and it takes a combination of luck, health, and togetherness to make it happen.  Coach Shapiro has ensured that Tufts will be in that conversation for the foreseeable future. 

I welcome talking to all of you about my experience and am excited to join this community.  And Mr. Right I hate to let you down, but Coleman isn't nearly as slow as you think. Some of the people I've seen him beat in sprints during training would surprise you.   

That is fair..I mean you would know way better than I if you were on that team. I am certainly not at practice every day. I am not around off the field. I just do not get "inside" any team. I can only really base my opinions on what I see on the stream or sometimes live. Some think I am to critical but I feel I am fair and maybe to honest sometimes but you guys are big boys you can handle a little criticism. Well I thought some could until I got a NASTY email from a parent of one of the players I had criticized earlier in the year. I laughed and did not single him out because of that email but still was critical when I saw something I did not like. So you think my criticism's of the Tufts senior class were unfair...Ok...well just for a minute put those jumbo sized blinders to the side and give me an honest assessment of each senior. Strength's and Weaknesses..It takes sack to be truly honest about your former teammates..Surely all the players listed have some weaknesses. I really did not think I was even that harsh. When Noon and Wirz used to post they would not talk a bad word about their former teammates which is understandable to a point but also frustrating to the neutral. I have no problem with you guys giving props to all your former teammates as long as you are truly honest about each individual and give both strength's and weaknesses. Of course you can post what you want and have every right to just would make it a ton more interesting if we got an honest assessment.

[d4_Pace]

Mr. Right you're criticism has never bothered us, in fact it has inspired some the funniest jokes on our team.  And I actually believe your assessment of the senior class was fair.  The only point I was making is that I believe the idea that this years team was much more defensive than 2014, which is not solely your opinion, isn't necessarily true.  Last year 100% but this year was pretty good going both ways. 

[blooter442]

Mr. Right you're criticism has never bothered us, in fact it has inspired some the funniest jokes on our team.  And I actually believe your assessment of the senior class was fair.  The only point I was making is that I believe the idea that this years team was much more defensive than 2014, which is not solely your opinion, isn't necessarily true.  Last year 100% but this year was pretty good going both ways.

Upon reflection, perhaps the 2014 team was lauded going forward after the fact because of perception more than anything else. That year with Santos and Brown on the wings I always felt that they could make something happen with their trickery and pace every time they went down the field. Santos in particular was a virtuoso and it was great to see him finish his career with a bang after a slow start to the season when he wasn't even starting (although I've been told that was due to injury.) Additionally, I think the fact that the final and semifinal were 4-2 and 3-0 probably changed perception further. I still feel the 2014 outfit was more attacking than this year's, but maybe not to the extent that I previously thought.

[letsGOswans!]

More attacking, more defending, it doesn't matter and changes game to game. The 2014 team was better I don't see how anyone can even begin to think that is not true. Top to bottom, player for player, the 2014 team was superior to this year's team. Grats to tufts on a great season but I feel like d3 a soccer and especially the nescac has been down the last 1-2 years.

[PaulNewman]

The hindsight factor is huge.  As the Tufts player poster noted, they thought Conn had knocked them out of the NCAA tourney that year.  If they don't get the bid we are never talking about 2014 Tufts and Kayne's monumentally historic moment.  We also aren't saying 2014 was the best.  If Kenyon scores in the 108th minute like they almost did then no one is talking much about 2016.  And if Halliday scores when Mr.Right says he should have scored Tufts is going to this year's Final Four with as good a chance of winning again as anyone.  Random events out of anyone's control (like home field falling in their lap out of the blue last year) and near-misses and near-makes are a big part of the deal.  But when you get those breaks then momentum and confidence swing your way, as do things like a weekly Tufts video series.  When you don't get them you see just a even bigger hurdle to climb, which is why I am happy for Chicago and for Brandeis getting another crack.

I also don't buy the NESCAC is down right now, either.  Amherst perhaps was a little down from their lofty standards, but Conn, Bowdoin, Williams and maybe Midd were better this year.  If one wants to argue that NESCAC was down I think you have to argue that D3 soccer nationwide was down.....and some big names have been down....Wheaton (Ill), Wheaton (MA) for that matter, OWU, Redlands, Whitworth, Camden, etc.  NESCAC got FIVE bids.  Bowdoin could have given any team in the country a competitive game, as could Conn.

And, yes, I think Shapiro leaving Tufts would be huge.  Maybe he sees the opportunity to do what Martin did at OWU, Russo at Williams, the SLU legend, the Trinity (TX) guy, etc.

[PaulNewman]

I would add that Hamilton, Colby and Bates also were better than they have been in recent years (although Hamilton was decent last year as well).

[Brother Flounder]

More attacking, more defending, it doesn't matter and changes game to game. The 2014 team was better I don't see how anyone can even begin to think that is not true. Top to bottom, player for player, the 2014 team was superior to this year's team. Grats to tufts on a great season but I feel like d3 a soccer and especially the nescac has been down the last 1-2 years.

Didn't a NESCAC the Natty Championship last year?  Down?

[Mr.Right]

Mr. Right you're criticism has never bothered us, in fact it has inspired some the funniest jokes on our team.  And I actually believe your assessment of the senior class was fair.  The only point I was making is that I believe the idea that this years team was much more defensive than 2014, which is not solely your opinion, isn't necessarily true.  Last year 100% but this year was pretty good going both ways.

Upon reflection, perhaps the 2014 team was lauded going forward after the fact because of perception more than anything else. That year with Santos and Brown on the wings I always felt that they could make something happen with their trickery and pace every time they went down the field. Santos in particular was a virtuoso and it was great to see him finish his career with a bang after a slow start to the season when he wasn't even starting (although I've been told that was due to injury.) Additionally, I think the fact that the final and semifinal were 4-2 and 3-0 probably changed perception further. I still feel the 2014 outfit was more attacking than this year's, but maybe not to the extent that I previously thought.

Yes I agree..Also, the 2014 side did not commit to defending like 2016 or 2017 IMO..It seems 2016 and 2017 squads pretty much every player bought into defending as a team. IIRC and I could be wrong but Brown would track back most of the time but certainly not known as a defender and Santos as magic as he was on the ball flat out did not defend at all. Hoppenot was an extremely hard worker and pressed and tracked. Correct me if I am wrong D4 because it has been 3 years but that is what I remember. To me that is fine as I want my more creative players focusing on attacking the other team as long as I have a solid block of 6 defending. Bloots is right though because Brown, Santos and Hoppenot could create their own shots and work their magic 1v1 it maybe blinded us neutrals into thinking of that side as a more attacking technical outfit. I mean 2017 Tufts how many guys could create their own shots out of nothing? Maybe Tasker? If I am being generous maybe Halliday? Maybe Rojas? You are right 2017 could possess and did possess very nicely but the final pass was really lacking especially this final weekend. I said it way before the NCAA's that if Tufts was going to advance to the Final 4 they would have to win a couple shootouts..They did that impressively with different shooters which is very rare but 328 minutes of NCAA Soccer this year produced 0 goals and that stat some of us saw coming. 2017 Tufts just did not have that individual talent to create his own goal when they needed it most. Halliday did that in the Nescac Tournament and almost had a goal v Brandeis that would have changed this whole conversation around. Just was not meant to be.

[Mr.Right]

Since I did Tufts seniors I might as well do other Nescac's. I really hate to do Bowdoin because I do not want to start a 2 page rant and rave but here goes.

Bowdoin will lose 3/4 of their backline and their GK. They will return everyone else. I still would like to see Wiercinski get 2 or 3 creative midfield type of players so they can break teams down. Kind of like a Dias-Costa type but he has some other worries in the meantime. Unlike Tufts, he has 3 players that just are not replaceable right away.

GK--Stevie Van Siclen----This will be the programs biggest loss since maybe Ben Brewster or even Nick Figueiredo or Andrew Russo. The last 2 being absolute beasts of talent that Bowdoin had under Ainscough in the mid 2000's. My point is this will be a loss that will hit the program hard. A 4 year starter in net with fantastic results and trophies to show for it. IMO Bowdoin would not have seen the NCAA's 3 of the last 4 years without Van Siclen in net. Also they will miss his leadership big time, I watched enough Bowdoin games this year to see that this WAS HIS TEAM. He was their undisputed leader. They have a backup GK that will be a JR next year named Sam McDowell. He is 6'3 and in 2 years he has seen ZERO minutes. Maybe our Bowdoin friends know more about him but he is a total mystery to me. He is the only other GK on their roster so I am assuming Wiercinski will be bringing in 2 GK's next season. This will be a wait and see for sure.

B-Sam Ward----I was mystified that this kid did not make an All-Nescac team this year especially that 5 other Bowdoin kids got picked over him. Van Siclen and Bubb I can see. McColl while I like the kid as a wingback and love his service on set pieces this would have to be a tossup. Ellsworth while a good player is not an All-Nescac Player I am sorry. He is a good player but not a great player. Niang is also a toss up to me..Anyway back to Ward. This kid was so steady in the back for Bowdoin all year and also showed very well in midfield for the few games Wiercinski put him there. He and Bubb were very reliable all year at CB and they both did a fantastic job defensively using their quickness to make up for the size advantage opponents had on them up top. These 2 might have been the smallest CB duo in the league besides maybe Bates and Trinity but made up for it in soccer intelligence and quickness. This kid will be missed but not as much as Van Siclen as it might take a while but Wiercinski will be able to replace him and Bubb.

B-Riley Bubb---See Sam Ward but I will add his All-Nescac selection was warranted. An underrated player that usually marked the other teams best and took them out of the game rather well. A quick player that did a ton of dirty work and was rewarded for it with his 1st team selection. He along with Ward will be missed and it will really take some time to replace two key CB's and a GK for Wiercinski. I expect Bowdoin to struggle early on next season until he can get 2 reliable CB's and a GK all on the same page.

B/M- Ben Ginzberg---Never saw much action in his 4 years whether that was due to injury or talent. Enough said.

M-Ethan Ellsworth---I liked this kid as a player and thought Bowdoin was very dangerous on the left side of the field along with McColl. As I said before this kid was a good player not a great player. An All-Nescac selection was eye opening IMO. He saw minutes all 4 years but really improved since his Frosh year. He really scored some BIG goals for Bowdoin this year and even last year and always assisted on a ton as well. Had 2 GW goals this year which is impressive. Had a great work ethic and would run up and down the flank like mad. In Wiercinski's system the flank players MUST defend as well as attack so you must be incredibly fit. A key cog this year but can be replaced. This is where I would like to see Wiercinski get some more 1v1 attacking guys where their focus would just be on attacking. That will never happen as I do not see Bowdoin changing their system or style.

B-Wilson MacMillan--Started ll 18 games this year and was a decent RB for Bowdoin. I will say I thought he was the weakest of a very strong back 4 for Bowdoin. This is the side of the field that opponents should have been attacking. Still he was a solid player with decent speed and skill. Nothing that jumped off the screen for me but nothing that screamed "get him off the field" either. A solid steady player but will and can be replaced IMO.

[Mr.Right]

How about Williams now. I saw enough games to give a good read on them. I said it all year but they played to conservative for my liking. They do play hard for Sullivan as he is a great motivator but they struggled big time scoring goals against the Top teams in Nescac. Like many other Nescac's they lack creativity in midfield. Besides the Frosh Petrik, who I think could be a big time player in this league if Sullivan lets him loose, they had no one pulling the strings. Granted Tommy Young's injury killed them but they also lacked like other Nescac's a striker that could finish. They also have to many players that are "soft" IMO..They look to lack a mental toughness needed to win games. I would take 10 Scatt MacDonald's and Sean Dory's anyday over some of the softer players on this roster. So let's take a look at what they lose.

GK--Bobby Schneiderman---This will be a big loss. He played very well all year except for the goal he gave up against Middlebury. He started some games his Frosh year but this job did not become his until GK Alcorn graduated. So considering this was his first year as a consistent starter he did an amazing job. Looking at the roster Williams has 2 other GK's with 6'3 Aaron Schein being the Senior I would imagine he would get first crack at winning this job. He played a couple games in his career and it has been all mop up duty in blowout games. I know he was shaky in some of the clinics he went to but that was 4 years ago so maybe he has improved. Since Sullivan was a GK I would imagine he has improved a ton under his tutelage. I think they will miss Schneiderman but if Schein can step in like Schneiderman did his Senior year than they will be fine in net.


B--Milan Jones---Saw his first significant minutes his senior year at wingback. Got 12 starts there and IMO was a weakness back there. He was quick and skilled but not a great defender and certainly could and was beaten 1v1. He also would lose his mark on set pieces sometimes. Certainly replaceable.

B-Tobias Muellers---Had a pretty good career at Williams. He saw significant minutes starting his Frosh year at wingback and then moved in the middle. Fast as lightning and a pretty good defender. If there was a weakness here I would say he was not the toughest kid especially with his size. He was the lone captain on the field with Tommy Young being injured. If he had Luke Pierce's leadership and toughness than this kid would have been a stud. Just a hunch but I am not sure how much of a vocal leader he was especially when the team needed it most. Could be wrong. This will be a big loss but I think Sullivan could find a CB maybe not as fast but more physical to deal with how the league has become.

M--Tommy Young---So much promise for this kid. Had the skill and speed on the flank to beat anyone. Just was injured way to much and when he was not injured Sullivan did not seem to use him as much. Certainly not a defender at all and not a tough kid so maybe Sullivan did not like that. IDK..He would of really helped out this year though as he could pull the strings as an attacking midfielder as he showed in the first game of the year against Trinity. Unfortunately, that was the last time we saw it as his season ended in that game. He would have eligibility but I doubt he would do a 5th year.

M/F--Malcolm Singleton---Another kid that saw significant minutes the past two years. Had great speed and a decent 1v1 player on the flank but at 5'5 he could be knocked off the ball very easily. He would disappear in games for long periods of time but he was a hard worker and would track back. Replaceable though.

F---Mark Sisco-Tolomeo----I was tough and critical of this kid for a long time. That was only because he had so much talent and came to Williams with a ton of promise. Looking at his career stats though he did PRODUCE..He finished with 19 goals in his career which is damn good especially because Williams does not play any true cupcakes. However, he had 60 Games Played with only 58 SOG..For a striker that got the type of minutes that he got that is not a great stat. I will say this kid worked his butt off every game I saw him play. I mean he pressed and busted every minute he was out there and was incredibly fit. My problem with him was for a striker in Nescac he just did not have the size to win balls in the air against most Nescac squads. That is not all his fault as Williams should have been playing more to his feet. That brings the other problem I had was when he checked back to the ball and was played to feet the ball would bounce off of him like it hit a wall..Meaning his touch was way off all 4 years...I guess I just assumed he would have more skill. Losing a top striker is never good but a school like Williams should be able to find a big, fast and skilled striker that can finish. Someone like UChicago's Lopez would look really good in Purple and Gold. A guy can wish.

M--David Madding---David had some injury problems but all I can say is he was a massive disappointment. His brother was such a good player for Williams when he was not injured that I just assumed David would be as good if not better because he was quicker. If you told me before his Frosh year this kid would score ZERO goals in his career at Williams I would have laughed. Well he finished with zero goals. IMO he was like Tommy Young not really a Sullivan type player. Not a tough kid and not a defensive player. Still I was amazed that he was not on the field more especially this year and last year. Kid was a good player before he got to Williams and I am guessing lost a ton of confidence in his 4 years. He had plenty of skill and was fast enough to beat guys and I thought he deserved more minutes but by the end of his career he was not really playing at all..To make matters worse Sullivan called on him to hit the 5th KICK in the Nescac Quarters in PK'S at Bowdoin. He had not played all game and he hit the worst PK of the 5 and Van Siclen easily saved it and Williams lost on his kick..I give him credit for having the guts to take it but not a good coaching decision to bring a guy off the bench cold to take your 5th PK. I really believe this kid could have been a pretty good player if given the chance to re-build his confidence. Never happened and his career ended on his missed PK..I felt bad for the kid I really did at the time. It was a tough position to be put in.