NESCAC

[Bucket]

Interestingly enough that was the third less-than-stellar Tufts goalkeeper performance in its last three trips to Bowdoin...Greenwood got beat near post a free kick by Goitia in 2014 and then by a long one by then-freshman Ely Spencer (what happened to him?) beat him in 2016 (Spencer scored both goals in a 2-1 Bowdoin win)...both years Tufts went on to win the whole thing...perhaps Mieth's performance today is an omen? (Mostly kidding.) Must be something about that field (or team?).

I can honestly say I do not even remember an Ely Spencer...I remember Goitia as he was their Captain in 2014. No clue who Ely Spencer even is and you say he scored both goals??

I remember Ely having a couple of big goals that year, though I remember him (and was keeping an eye on his stats) because I grew up with both of his parents in a small town in southwestern Va.

[truenorth]

Credit to Tufts.  Tough, tough team to beat, even with some mistakes.  Heartbreaking for Bowdoin who was less than 2 minutes away from an almost certain NCAA bid.

I attended the Bowdoin vs. Tuft game with my wife.  It was her first Bowdoin game of the season and she picked a beauty.  It was truly an exciting game, and obviously could have gone either way.  I have to say that Tufts was the best NESCAC team I've seen this season, and Bowdoin was close to being their equal in this game.

Kudos to Tufts for hanging tough and pulling this one out of the fire.  Kudos to Bowdoin for being so resilient.  They are worthy of the NCAA tournament, but it will probably take a NESCAC final to get them there...

[Bobcat1]

Looking like it will be balmy 35 degrees with 10-12 mph winds in Lewiston tonight for the 8pm kickoff on the turf at Bates. A draw or win for Bates and they secure the 8th seed. A win by Colby and they get the 8 seed and date with Tufts on Saturday. Should be another crazy one tonight. Would love to see Mr. Right's break down on this game. I hate to say it, but it feels like a keeper mistake could decide this game...

Also, I agree with truenorth, that was the most exciting NESCAC game of the season yesterday.  7 goals in a Bowdoin/Tufts game...wow! When was the last time either of those teams gave up that many goals in a NESCAC game. Just crazy. Hopefully the scoring continues tonight in Lewiston.

[wizard]

I can honestly say I do not even remember an Ely Spencer...I remember Goitia as he was their Captain in 2014. No clue who Ely Spencer even is and you say he scored both goals??

2016 game recap: http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/20161025qzquvh

Yeah Goitia was a solid presence back there, definitely the Bowdoin leader on defense with Odulate. That 2014 side wasn't the most highly-regarded but could play a bit, with guys like Henshall, Dias-Costa, and Sam White. And that was van Siclen's first year as well when he came out of nowhere to win two PK shootouts for Bowdoin.

Deserved win for Tufts. Bowdoin had its chances and took them but Tufts controlled the play, and has controlled most of the play when I've seen the two sides meet.

Bloots,

That was actually Van Siclen's junior year and he was hurt. Safian was in goal for that game, facing 11 shots and giving up only the 1. Then they came back and beat Tufts the next week 2-1 in the first round of NESCAC's.

Van Sinclen's crazy PK game was 2014.

[blooter442]

Bloots,

That was actually Van Siclen's junior year and he was hurt. Safian was in goal for that game, facing 11 shots and giving up only the 1. Then they came back and beat Tufts the next week 2-1 in the first round of NESCAC's.

Van Sinclen's crazy PK game was 2014.

I remember that. IIRC van Siclen was out for half of his junior year and Safian deputized well when called upon, particularly in that game.

[Past Jumbo]

I don't know if "torched" is the right word  but it's true - I don't remember the last time...but it looks like it was IN 2009!

Wow. That is astounding - that is when Ralph Ferrigno coached Tufts and had basically mailed it in. I guess a Shapiro-coached Tufts has never allowed more than two goals to an opponent...until today.

From the Tufts athletics archives:
Sat.   24, 2009   at Williams*   1-3 L

I've been a reader of this page since the first Tufts title but only now have decided to post.

I can assure you that Coach Shapiro has suffered a defeat while allowing 3 goals - mostly because I was on the pitch when we lost 3/0 to Middlebury in the Nescac QFs in 2010, Shapiro's first year with the program.

Absolutely anectodal and adds no content to the current discussion, but I couldn't bear this page having false information on it 

[Ommadawn]

I don't know if "torched" is the right word  but it's true - I don't remember the last time...but it looks like it was IN 2009!

Wow. That is astounding - that is when Ralph Ferrigno coached Tufts and had basically mailed it in. I guess a Shapiro-coached Tufts has never allowed more than two goals to an opponent...until today.

From the Tufts athletics archives:
Sat.   24, 2009   at Williams*   1-3 L

I've been a reader of this page since the first Tufts title but only now have decided to post.

I can assure you that Coach Shapiro has suffered a defeat while allowing 3 goals - mostly because I was on the pitch when we lost 3/0 to Middlebury in the Nescac QFs in 2010, Shapiro's first year with the program.

Absolutely anectodal and adds no content to the current discussion, but I couldn't bear this page having false information on it 

Welcome, Past Jumbo! I'm surprised that PaulNewman hasn't chimed in on this one, but Kenyon defeated Tufts 3-2 in the 2015 Sweet 16.

[Bobcat1]

Congratulations to Colby. Well earned. The Fabricant goal was a beauty. Bates just could not break the seal despite 22 shots and a c-bar midway through the second half. Tough way to end the season for the Bobcats.  A week ago with a 1-0 lead at Bowdoin midway through the game things were looking bright.  In the end, some defensive organization issues and marking lapses along with some missed quality chances on offensive end their season earlier than we hoped.  That said, I think Coach Sheikh will continue to improve the team and have them back in the playoff mix next year.

Should be a good set of quarterfinal games this weekend with lots of eyes on the Bowdoin/Amherst match-up.

[oldonionbag]

I don't know if "torched" is the right word  but it's true - I don't remember the last time...but it looks like it was IN 2009!

Wow. That is astounding - that is when Ralph Ferrigno coached Tufts and had basically mailed it in. I guess a Shapiro-coached Tufts has never allowed more than two goals to an opponent...until today.

From the Tufts athletics archives:
Sat.   24, 2009   at Williams*   1-3 L

I've been a reader of this page since the first Tufts title but only now have decided to post.

I can assure you that Coach Shapiro has suffered a defeat while allowing 3 goals - mostly because I was on the pitch when we lost 3/0 to Middlebury in the Nescac QFs in 2010, Shapiro's first year with the program.

Absolutely anectodal and adds no content to the current discussion, but I couldn't bear this page having false information on it 

Welcome, Past Jumbo! I'm surprised that PaulNewman hasn't chimed in on this one, but Kenyon defeated Tufts 3-2 in the 2015 Sweet 16.

I should have clarified...REGULAR SEASON. 

[PaulNewman]

I don't know if "torched" is the right word  but it's true - I don't remember the last time...but it looks like it was IN 2009!

Wow. That is astounding - that is when Ralph Ferrigno coached Tufts and had basically mailed it in. I guess a Shapiro-coached Tufts has never allowed more than two goals to an opponent...until today.

From the Tufts athletics archives:
Sat.   24, 2009   at Williams*   1-3 L

I’ve been a reader of this page since the first Tufts title but only now have decided to post.

I can assure you that Coach Shapiro has suffered a defeat while allowing 3 goals - mostly because I was on the pitch when we lost 3/0 to Middlebury in the Nescac QFs in 2010, Shapiro’s first year with the program.

Absolutely anectodal and adds no content to the current discussion, but I couldn’t bear this page having false information on it 

Welcome, Past Jumbo! I'm surprised that PaulNewman hasn't chimed in on this one, but Kenyon defeated Tufts 3-2 in the 2015 Sweet 16.

Yeah, I have no interest in flaming up my pal Brother Flounder into a mini-discussion that I can't win (i.e. Tufts with 2 national titles and Lords with zero) AND thinking about that game only reminds me of the misery that happened the next day in Gambier.

Your post did get me to thinking that I am pretty sure Kenyon is #1 on any list of D3 men's soccer programs over the past 5 years that should have made a final four but didn't.  Probably not wording that exactly right.....what team over the past five years based on overall success during that five years would be considered next in line to have made a final four.

P.S.  The only other schools that come to mind (and I could be missing one or two) are Franklin & Marshall and Trinity (TX).

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Any chance that NESCAC will push the Q-final games to Sunday, given the storm that is scheduled to hit Saturday?

[Ommadawn]

Any chance that NESCAC will push the Q-final games to Sunday, given the storm that is scheduled to hit Saturday?

I think that the odds are good that that will happen.

[Mr.Right]

I was not able to catch the Bates v Colby match but Colby exacted some revenge on Bates for knocking them out of the 2017 Nescac Top 8 with 20 seconds left in OT. Colby now gets the matchup that they should of had last season at Tufts in the Nescac Quarters. I must say congrats to Bates for finishing over .500 at 8-7-0 and a 3-7-0 Nescac record which was better than I had predicted before the season started. Bates Head Coach Tyler Sheikh has proved that he is the right man for this program going forward and I expect Bates to be hard on the recruiting trail this off-season. Sheikh did the best he could this year with what he had and the players really performed well in spots throughout the season. They will lose their GK Montanaro who started the year VERY well but did have a few lapses to end the season and he does lose star CB Huebschmann who proved to be a true warrior and solid Captain this season. It sounds like the defense let them down last night with a couple lapses and that was the case at Bowdoin last week. Still 2018 Bates looked to actually have a PLAN and carried it out all year compared to the last 6 years where they were a mess organizationally. I really liked Sheikh's comments in last nights recap as he thanked his Senior class and EXPECTS to be contending ASAP. Gotta love that passion for his program and I expect him to be stealing a few kids that would not have gone to Bates in the past. I already know of a one who has committed for 2019 that shunned a couple other Nescac's and I can promise you that Flaherty would not have gotten the kid. Bates finished 9th and just outside the Nescac Playoffs BUT they are WAY ahead of the two teams below him Trinity and Wesleyan as those programs are in a world of hurt right now for Men's Soccer.



Trinity ends up finishing 2-13-0 overall and 0-10-0 in Nescac. They were shut out six times this year and were AWFUL all season. Most Nescac Men's Soccer Head Coaches are on 3 year contracts with some exceptions as long tenured Coaches of which there are not many left are on 5 year contracts and some schools just do rolling 1 year contracts for new Head Coaches. I am guessing Trinity Head Coach Pilger is on a 3 year contract. Usually players like playing for Pilger so I am guessing there have been few complaints so unless something has drastically changed he probably is going nowhere. In the past Trinity has not cared about Soccer and that has hindered Pilger because of the lack of support and combined with the lack of financial aid that Trinity gives compared to other Nescac's does hurt but in this situation it could help him as they should give him a chance to fix this program as it needs a major rebuild. Trinity does have a new AD so maybe things have changed but I doubt it. Unless there have been major player/parents complaints which can happen with seasons like this I think Pilger is safe but as I have said in the past the last 2 teams that have gone 0-10-0 in Nescac those Men's Soccer Head Coaches have been re-assigned within the athletic department instead of getting fired but those Coaches had been at their respective schools for over 30 years. After 3 years those reassignments came and passed and those Coaches "retired" in a nice sendoff. Pilger has been at Trinity 15 years and I am sure has a ton of goodwill within the athletic department and will be given another shot at this considering it has only been two years that he has missed out on the Top 8 but these past 2 years have been AWFUL. In 2017 they were 4-10-1 and 1-8-1 in Nescac so they are 1-18-1 in Nescac the past 2 seasons. Things need to change and Trinity did build a beautiful new field for Men's/Women's Soccer and that should help in recruiting along with some lax admissions compared to other Nescac's BUT the lack of financial aid really can hurt when you are fighting for players with other Nescac's that can offer more aid. Either way I expect Pilger to return BUT they cannot go thru another season like the past 2 years and MUST get some talent into this program and bring in a ton of kids to push returning players and weed out some of the waste. To be continued.......



Wesleyan finishes the year 3-11-0 overall and 2-8-0 in Nescac. They scored ONLY 7 GOALS all season.They were SHUTOUT 9 GAMES OUT OF 14. That is just AWFUL and while the program like Trinity seriously lacks talent, Wheeler's system/tactics certainly does not help the situation. Wesleyan has now MISSED the Nescac Playoffs/Top 8 the past 3 seasons after qualifying for Wheeler's first 15 years including some fantastic runs between 2005-2014 finishing with 1 outright Nescac Regular Season Title in 2009 and a shared title with Amherst in 2011 but losing it on a tie-breaker. Wesleyan was a usual Top 4 finisher during this 2005-2014 run and a usual NCAA participant including a 2009 Sweet 16 run. That 2009 side was Wheeler's most talented as they won the 2009 Nescac Regular Season title and hosting rights. They ended up losing to Rochester in the 2009 Sweet 16 at Messiah but they had a 1-0 lead well into the 2nd Half but gave up a soft goal late in the match as UR forced OT and won the match in the 2OT. Even in 2015 Wesleyan snuck into the Nescac Top 8 finishing 8th but got all the way to the Nescac Final before losing to Bowdoin in OT. My point is Wheeler had built Wesleyan into a top program in New England but by 2016 the program began to drop off with a noticeable lack of talent compared to past years. In the past three seasons Wesleyan is 15-26-3 overall BUT are 6-22-2 in those 3 years. Wheeler is a good coach as I expect he will be allowed to turn his program around and try to get Wesleyan back into the mixer. Again it could depend on the culture in the program these day as Wheeler is not the most accessible or approachable Head Coach for his players from what I have heard but he might need to change his ways a bit to get them back on track. More importantly like Trinity this program needs an influx of talent as there is no reason a school like Wesleyan cannot get some solid players into the program as this past season was one of the WORST Wesleyan sides I have witnessed in maybe 25 years. To be continued..........

[Mr.Right]

Any chance that NESCAC will push the Q-final games to Sunday, given the storm that is scheduled to hit Saturday?

Why???  What is the weather forecast supposed to be? Kids cannot play in a little rain and wind these days? I mean all the teams hosting have turf fields to play on and while Amherst turf is not the greatest it is still able to host a match on it...

[NESCAC11]

Mr. Right and others, I am wondering people's thoughts on whether some of these teams should play for PKs on Saturday rather than extending themselves and giving up cheap or fluke goals? I have seen a few games at tufts and Conn this season and while solid sides, they don't score that easily. Same for Midd. Bowdoin, Williams, even Colby have solid defenses that would be stronger by not over extending themselves. Look at Williams. They have a very solid back line and a gk who has done well against PKs this season stopping several. It is clear that Sullivan can't create a scheme to score goals. Each time they do push forward they end up not scoring but frequently expose themselves to attack. I'll hang up now and see what everyone's thoughts are on this.