NESCAC

[Ejay]

I only caught the last bit of the 2nd half and then the OTs  Honestly, I found it hard to watch.  I don't think I saw more than two passes before the balls were launched deep.  Agreed on Conn keeper - kid seems legit.

[PaulNewman]

I only caught the last bit of the 2nd half and then the OTs  Honestly, I found it hard to watch.  I don't think I saw more than two passes before the balls were launched deep.  Agreed on Conn keeper - kid seems legit.

Yup....although I do think the video and closeness to field with low angle exacerbates the impression.  At one point though the Conn announcer (very solid) noted that neither Tufts or Conn for the most part had another player within 25-30 yards of a lone striker up top.

P.S.  I actually can't think of one NESCAC field that has a real press box higher above the field for decent video angles (maybe Hamilton is the best?).  Also not sure many have real stands for fans either, although I did enjoy watching Midd and Trin today so maybe that is a new facility??

[Bobcat1]

Hard to watch because of the field not the skill of the teams. Rained all morning and then the women played on the same field for 100 minutes before the men. That field is a narrow quagmire, just about as bad as ours at Bates after the rain. Shots 18-4 for Tufts, Marcucci makes 6 saves (the last one looked spectacular), and the Jumbos must feel like they missed a golden opportunity to put a stranglehold on the regular season title.

More games tomorrow. Bowdoin at Williams should be good one as Home field in the first round of the conference tournament could be on the line.

[rudy]

I only caught the last bit of the 2nd half and then the OTs  Honestly, I found it hard to watch.  I don't think I saw more than two passes before the balls were launched deep.  Agreed on Conn keeper - kid seems legit.

Yup....although I do think the video and closeness to field with low angle exacerbates the impression.  At one point though the Conn announcer (very solid) noted that neither Tufts or Conn for the most part had another player within 25-30 yards of a lone striker up top.

P.S.  I actually can't think of one NESCAC field that has a real press box higher above the field for decent video angles (maybe Hamilton is the best?).  Also not sure many have real stands for fans either, although I did enjoy watching Midd and Trin today so maybe that is a new facility??

The tufts grass field has pretty good camera angle. But only the women play on it! Men opt for the turf. 

[PaulNewman]

I only caught the last bit of the 2nd half and then the OTs  Honestly, I found it hard to watch.  I don't think I saw more than two passes before the balls were launched deep.  Agreed on Conn keeper - kid seems legit.

Yup....although I do think the video and closeness to field with low angle exacerbates the impression.  At one point though the Conn announcer (very solid) noted that neither Tufts or Conn for the most part had another player within 25-30 yards of a lone striker up top.

P.S.  I actually can't think of one NESCAC field that has a real press box higher above the field for decent video angles (maybe Hamilton is the best?).  Also not sure many have real stands for fans either, although I did enjoy watching Midd and Trin today so maybe that is a new facility??

The tufts grass field has pretty good camera angle. But only the women play on it! Men opt for the turf.

Forgot about Tufts....Bello does have real stands and when video actually working one of the better NESCAC cinematic experiences...Kraft has real stands too if I recall and maybe a press both up higher...

[Once_A_Metro_Always_A_Red]

I only caught the last bit of the 2nd half and then the OTs  Honestly, I found it hard to watch.  I don't think I saw more than two passes before the balls were launched deep.  Agreed on Conn keeper - kid seems legit.

Yup....although I do think the video and closeness to field with low angle exacerbates the impression.  At one point though the Conn announcer (very solid) noted that neither Tufts or Conn for the most part had another player within 25-30 yards of a lone striker up top.

P.S.  I actually can't think of one NESCAC field that has a real press box higher above the field for decent video angles (maybe Hamilton is the best?).  Also not sure many have real stands for fans either, although I did enjoy watching Midd and Trin today so maybe that is a new facility??

The tufts grass field has pretty good camera angle. But only the women play on it! Men opt for the turf.

Forgot about Tufts....Bello does have real stands and when video actually working one of the better NESCAC cinematic experiences...Kraft has real stands too if I recall and maybe a press both up higher...

Wesleyan has an actual tower for filming. Obviously the grass Jackson Field sucks, but the height of the broadcast is decent. Also, now that they've re-done the turf on the field hockey field, games at Smith Field both have a good camera angles and stands.

[NESCAC11]

Huge game for Williams and Bowdoin today. Winner is in the driver's seat to host a nescac tournament game. I did not see bowdoin yesterday but Williams played very well. Boarding in the midfield and Oberg in the back looks like a good combination. They had 2 freshman score yesterday which brings the total to 6 for the season. As Mr. Right described, Wesleyan did not have the players to really challenge Williams but Williams played short passes and connected well all over the field. They seem to be playing well and creating opportunities. The defense has looked sharp and will improve when Matthew gets back. The GK Schein made 2 very nice saves on low balls to keep the clean sheet. If Williams can get a first half goal and go into the half with a lead I believe they will loosen up and play even better. Macdonald and Andreou are definitely stepping up in the last few weeks of their senior year. Seems as though adding Hirsch to the lineup has energized the team.

[truenorth]

Yes, David Green, the current Colby president is a high roller who comes from a family of college administrators.  He is aggressive, has sterling contacts, and has done a lot in a relatively short period of time to raise Colby's profile .  But I've heard some alums and faculty members say some of this change has been too much, too fast and has caused Colby to lose a little bit of its soul in the process...

Interesting point about soul.  Of course we're all going to mostly defend/promote our own schools and those our kids attend.  I tried to pump Kenyon as hard as I could for a couple of years here.  Anyway, 35-40 years ago Davidson was beautiful and very quaint with a little village almost like Kenyon is to this day.  Nowadays, Davidson still has a very attractive and impressive campus but also the school and area have grown and developed  so much that it is like a cross between an upscale planned community a la Reston, VA and a fancy amusement/water park.  I personally now prefer Kenyon despite the disparity in USNWR type rankings and greater resources, and that -- aside from the lingering Southern religiosity that I don't love -- is mostly a gut feeling about soul and some Platonic idea about what college should look and feel like (and of course "soul" is something that such schools also market so one can certainly question what is real and what is mirage in terms of soul).

The thing about athletic complexes is also a huge point.  Kenyon has gotten a ton of mileage out of their fancy, state of the art complex, but now it's 10 or more years old.  Wooster has since built a beautiful place.  I think Denison has or is in the process of doing so.  I know there are a number of schools like Colby that have or are doing so.  It's sort of like brand-new NFL stadiums and NBA arenas....what's state of the art today will seem old and outdated in 15-25 years.

PaulNewman, Kenyon is absolutely a great school.  A girlfriend of mine went to Kenyon and I really enjoyed seeing the place when I went to visit.  I'm guessing the prestigious midwestern and western D3 schools don't get enough love on this discussion thread because the majority of the posters (like me) are from New England...

[PaulNewman]

Yes, David Green, the current Colby president is a high roller who comes from a family of college administrators.  He is aggressive, has sterling contacts, and has done a lot in a relatively short period of time to raise Colby's profile .  But I've heard some alums and faculty members say some of this change has been too much, too fast and has caused Colby to lose a little bit of its soul in the process...

Interesting point about soul.  Of course we're all going to mostly defend/promote our own schools and those our kids attend.  I tried to pump Kenyon as hard as I could for a couple of years here.  Anyway, 35-40 years ago Davidson was beautiful and very quaint with a little village almost like Kenyon is to this day.  Nowadays, Davidson still has a very attractive and impressive campus but also the school and area have grown and developed  so much that it is like a cross between an upscale planned community a la Reston, VA and a fancy amusement/water park.  I personally now prefer Kenyon despite the disparity in USNWR type rankings and greater resources, and that -- aside from the lingering Southern religiosity that I don't love -- is mostly a gut feeling about soul and some Platonic idea about what college should look and feel like (and of course "soul" is something that such schools also market so one can certainly question what is real and what is mirage in terms of soul).

The thing about athletic complexes is also a huge point.  Kenyon has gotten a ton of mileage out of their fancy, state of the art complex, but now it's 10 or more years old.  Wooster has since built a beautiful place.  I think Denison has or is in the process of doing so.  I know there are a number of schools like Colby that have or are doing so.  It's sort of like brand-new NFL stadiums and NBA arenas....what's state of the art today will seem old and outdated in 15-25 years.

PaulNewman, Kenyon is absolutely a great school.  A girlfriend of mine went to Kenyon and I really enjoyed seeing the place when I went to visit.  I'm guessing the prestigious midwestern and western D3 schools don't get enough love on this discussion thread because the majority of the posters (like me) are from New England...

Was she a romantic poet, lol?

This is the NESCAC thread so don't want to encroach too much, and you're right....for whatever reason New England posters (which I am as well) dominate this site (along with a strong Messiah contingent) as evidenced by this particular thread (initiated by our own Mr.Right) absolutely crushing all other threads in terms of volume/interest.

Kenyon is a very special place, and most who have ever walked around that campus generally would agree.  Kenyon from a marketing perspective also does a great job of making virtues out of its flaws/quirks.  It is gorgeous this time of year, as of course many college campuses are.  I truly believe that America's college campuses from shore to shore are definitely a piece of what "makes America great." 

Endowments do make a difference.  Kenyon's is relatively meager by NESCAC standards, much closer to Bates than Colby.  I was very surprised to see that Denison has an endowment much closer to Colby's in the 800 mill range.

One big difference between the Midwest LACs (Oberlin, Macalester, Kenyon, and I assume Carleton, Grinnell, etc) and the NESCACs is that the former offer merit money.  I know NESCACs are very generous with financial aid but for families who don't qualify getting a year's worth or more of college paid for is no small thing.  I wonder if and when NESCAC schools might start offering merit awards.

The stratification of the reputation of the NESCACs interests me.  I have to agree with Mr.Right that my gut instinct is Williams and Amherst are in their own untouchable category.  I mean, when was the last time those two weren't ranked as the #1 and #2 LACs?  That said, it is very difficult to believe there could be much separation from Bowdoin and Midd, both of whom never seem to fall below the #4 to #6/7 area.  Bowdoin was one of the first schools we visited and I immediately fell in love.  I have family very close to Midd and my kid went to hockey camp there....equally impressive and benefits from its international fame as a language institute (and boasts its own skiing facility).  I agree that Wesleyan (another fave for me) and Tufts are kind of in their own categories.

On the weekend, Tufts and Conn IMO came out the other side in very enviable spots just about where everyone had them.  And Bowdoin, Midd and Williams, perhaps followed by Hamilton are in a very solid next tier.  That Bowdoin coach must be very solid as the Polar Bears almost every year seem to get stronger as the season progresses towards November.  Colby seems to have faltered a bit, and we'll see what happens with Bates over the next week or two.

[Bobcat1]

On the weekend, Tufts and Conn IMO came out the other side in very enviable spots just about where everyone had them.  And Bowdoin, Midd and Williams, perhaps followed by Hamilton are in a very solid next tier.  That Bowdoin coach must be very solid as the Polar Bears almost every year seem to get stronger as the season progresses towards November.  Colby seems to have faltered a bit, and we'll see what happens with Bates over the next week or two.

Bates has a massive game at Bowdoin on Wednesday. Bates will have been off a week come game time, rested and ready to go.  If they can hold Bowdoin scoreless in the first half, I like their chances. Bowdoin is coming off a very long weekend at Hamilton and Williams that saw them go the full 110 minutes in both games. This is a golden opportunity for the Bobcats to get a result against one of their rivals.

[rangerfan]

Sounds about right...Shapiro is very attentive to every detail in every process. I find it a bit much to be spelling out to your son where he will play and who he will play behind and how many minutes and starts he will get as a Frosh. NO ONE can control that. You get injuries, maybe your son doesn't pan out as expected and now Shapiro has to change things up or change his position. These are all things out of his control unless he has super natural powers to be able to discern EVERY recruit and tip he brings in and know before the kid enrolls how good he will be. Most Coaches make mistakes EVERY year on at least 1 player and I am betting Shapiro falls into that category as well. It is only realistic to make a mistake once in a while so promising minutes, position and # of goals he will tally is WAY to much information. There is no way he could make all those promises happen......I am just using your son as an example as I am not saying he will fail or whatever just making a point...

Adding to your point Mr. R, I once knew a skinny SLU freshman  kid who was third in line for the #7 shirt but by game number 2  both players ahead of him broke their leg and he inherited the classic number not based on anything but weird freak destiny or chance.... 

That is how random things can be in the college game.

I would advise any HS senior to do their best to diversify their game in order to give the coach more to think about in terms of where you can slot in if need be.

Great points, SoO....a team's top recruits certainly come in with a substantial advantage (in addition to usually being really good) and most often do well, but not always.  There is hope for those who come in far more unheralded if they work really hard, are determined, and are mostly all about the team and being a great teammate.

I knew a kid who didn't even get a jersey or dress for his first 3 games, got a chance after the coach benched a couple of guys for various reasons, then started for the rest of frosh year and most of soph year, was first sub off the bench his last 2 years, scored on Shoemaker Field in a NCAA game, and was a highly valued part of a squad that rose to #2 in the country.  Pretty cool for a kid who didn't think he could (or would be cleared to) play college soccer at all.

Just to clarify, I brought up the Shapiro recruiting story with my son only to give a perspective on how/why Shapiro has kept that program successful. IMHO, he is a better recruiter than the most/all of the others NESCAC coaches with whom my son interacted. Obviously kids walk on, develop later, get hurt, lose interest, have a few too many beers, etc.... All kids have to earn their time on the field once they earn their jersey, my son included. I was just pointing out one of the very compelling ways that Shapiro is able to get kids to buy into what he is selling.

I have a question on the online streams. The Bowdoin-Williams game yesterday was virtually unwatchable. Tufts-Trinity, on the other hand, was pretty much perfect. Why was the game at Williams so bad, and is this a common occurrence? Are the games usually watchable? The Tufts game was over early, and the Williams game worth watching!

And to echo earlier comments, Williams has a good group of freshman. Nick Boardman is a very good athlete--fast, tough and has a surprisingly big vertical (he's got ups!). Not the most technical player, but I'd definitely want him on my team.

[dacac]

Does anyone know the tiebreak rules in the event Conn and Tufts end the season with the same record and a head-to-head draw?

[Bucket]

Does anyone know the tiebreak rules in the event Conn and Tufts end the season with the same record and a head-to-head draw?

The next tiebreaker is record vs top-four finishers, so the two other than themselves. After that, I'm not sure!

[OldCardinal]

Does anyone know the tiebreak rules in the event Conn and Tufts end the season with the same record and a head-to-head draw?

From the NESCAC website:

Tie Breaking Procedures

Ties will be broken as follows:

Head-to-head result (if teams play each other more than once during the regular season, the game that appears on the league schedule will be the game that is counted).

If teams tied during the regular season, or there is a 3-way or more tie, the following tie breaking procedure will be used:

    Best record among tying teams, against one another (head-to-head).
    Best conference winning percentage.
    Most conference wins (in games that are part of the conference schedule and count toward league standings).
    Comparison of results of conference games played against top 4 teams (including all teams at the 4th spot).
    Comparison of results of conference games played against top 8 teams (including all teams at the 8th spot).
    Comparison of results of conference games played against conference teams in rank order.
    Comparisons shall be made one team at a time starting with the highest ranked team.
    If the tie remains after comparing results against the highest ranked team, the results against the next team in rank order shall be used. This process is continued until a winner is determined.
    Goal differential up to but not exceeding three goals for each conference game that is part of the conference schedule (e.g., if a team wins 1-0, the team's goal differential would be +1. If a team wins 2-1, goal differential would be +1. If a team wins 4-0, the goal differential would be +3).
    Coin flip (or similar random action involving all tied teams).

Note: In case of ties among three or more schools, the criteria above will be applied in order until a team is (or teams are) separated. At that point, the process begins anew (returning to the first criteria) with the remaining teams. The process is continued until the tie is eventually broken. In cases where only a random action will break the tie of three or more teams, the random action will be applied to all teams involved in the tie. For example, if three teams are tied and only a random action (pulling names out of a hat) will break the tie, each name will be pulled and seeded in order of being pulled. Also, in the event that there are two (or more) groups of teams tied at different spots in the standings and the only criteria left that can be used to break those ties is a coin flip/random action, the coin flip/random action used to break the tie of one group (to put teams in rank order) will not affect the tie breaking procedures of the other group(s) of tied teams.

[truenorth]

[/quote]
Kenyon is a very special place, and most who have ever walked around that campus generally would agree.  Kenyon from a marketing perspective also does a great job of making virtues out of its flaws/quirks.  It is gorgeous this time of year, as of course many college campuses are.  I truly believe that America's college campuses from shore to shore are definitely a piece of what "makes America great." 

Endowments do make a difference.  Kenyon's is relatively meager by NESCAC standards, much closer to Bates than Colby.  I was very surprised to see that Denison has an endowment much closer to Colby's in the 800 mill range.

One big difference between the Midwest LACs (Oberlin, Macalester, Kenyon, and I assume Carleton, Grinnell, etc) and the NESCACs is that the former offer merit money.  I know NESCACs are very generous with financial aid but for families who don't qualify getting a year's worth or more of college paid for is no small thing.  I wonder if and when NESCAC schools might start offering merit awards.
[/quote]

On the Kenyon front, I have two cycling buddies right here in the Brunswick, Maine area with Kenyon connections.  One is a retired attorney who worked in Columbus for a bunch of years.  The other worked in Kenyon's admissions department.  His partner is now the director of admissions at Bates...

College endowments are always an interesting topic.  In the midwest, Grinnell is an outlier with an endowment currently valued at $1.8B, which was fueled by a huge donation from a single donor years ago.

I don't see the NESCACs or Ivys offering merit scholarships anytime soon.  The wealthier Ivys get around that by raising the family income level that qualifies a family for financial aid.  At Harvard for example, I believe families with household income of <$170K qualify for some outright (non-loan) grant money.