NESCAC

[Buck O.]

Swat and Conn going to OT.  Plenty of action in the 30 minutes that I've watched, so I'd expect to see a goal for someone in OT.  As Mr. Right said, opportunities on both sides.  If I were Swat, I wouldn't want to try to win a third straight game in PKs, with Marcucci looming in goal for Conn. 

[Mr.Right]

sick finish AGAIN for Camels....well done

[Buck O.]

Oh, what a way to lose!  Conn scores the game winner on a shot that the Swat keeper let go, apparently thinking it would go wide.  It bounced off the post and went in.

[Edit:  I looked at the replay after seeing Mr. Right's post, and I don't think the keeper would have been able to get to it if he had thought it was going in.  So it didn't really matter.]

[Mr.Right]

Tufts first 15 minutes of 2nd Half look about as good as I have seen them...That was 15 minutes of wave after wave of pressure...This game could blow open if Tufts continues like this

[Mr.Right]

Ratzan just working this crew..ref missing some big calls here

[Mr.Right]

50/50 Tufts wins it when the starters come back in with 10 minutes left....just tell Zelinsky do the right thin

[Buddham]

Serpone has his hands full with #23. This kid has the athletic ability to be a star but he needs coaching like no player I have seen in a while in this league. The improvement / lack thereof of this kid might give some of us outsiders a real chance at seeing how good a Head Coach Serpone is. I will say it does matter the kids attitude..He has to be willing to learn and hopefully is open to it.

What do you mean by "attitude" and why does he need "coaching"? Please cite specifics.

[Buddham]

Did #23 from Amherst turn back to his coach and yell, as one of the Rowan players did? I wonder what the stream captured of #23 that makes you think he has an attitude issue. Did he front up another player? Throw his shinguards down and refuse to track back and defend? Did he express dissent to the referee as the Amherst captain did in the last minute (for which he was cautioned)? #23 didn't get cautioned so I don't think the refs found his "attitude" lacking.

Oh, he did score the winning goal, so there's that. Whatever else could you have been referring to? Perhaps you've mixed him up with another player? Seems like you watched a bunch of games yesterday so perhaps you didn't watch the whole game between Rowan and Amherst which makes what you noticed all the more curious, because it wouldn't have likely been a long look and there wasn't a "flashpoint" incident with #23 (other than his goal).

[Mr.Right]

Serpone has his hands full with #23. This kid has the athletic ability to be a star but he needs coaching like no player I have seen in a while in this league. The improvement / lack thereof of this kid might give some of us outsiders a real chance at seeing how good a Head Coach Serpone is. I will say it does matter the kids attitude..He has to be willing to learn and hopefully is open to it.

What do you mean by "attitude" and why does he need "coaching"? Please cite specifics.

I rhought I was pretty clear in what I meant. He has to be willing to learn and that it matters if his attitude is "open" to it. Some players are open to suggestion and others not so much. I was not in any way implying the kid has a bad attitude and why would I? I have never met him. I actually stated he has the potential to be a star but he needs some polish. Most Frosh need to "learn" the college game and some take longer than others. I feel like the overall product could be much better if he works on game....thats it...u obviously disagree and that is fine as well.

[hiyasoccer]

Lind with practically a goal per postseason match. Amherst in control, conceding twice would be very unlike them. Seems more likely they get one or two more.

[Jump4Joy]

A strange day at Amherst, having to switch fields at halftime. If I'm Serpone, I definitely dig in and insist on playing on my home field as the home team. No faulting the decision, as Hitchcock Field--although tricky in spots--was deemed playable by officials before kick-off. Good job by all crews to get game going again on Gooding. Amherst deserved the win today. Congrats to RPI on a strong season.

[d4_Pace]

A joke the refs let the game start on the grass then switch their minds 45 mins later.  Anyways... this has got to be the first time the Nescac has gotten two teams in the final four in recent memory.  Everyone here would be rooting for a tufts-amherst final. That game would be one for the ages. Tufts will absolutely have their hands full with Calvin on friday night though.  You've got to think Amherst is a big favorite over centre but you never know.

[hiyasoccer]

Refs a joke lol... can't imagine Serpone complained too much about the halftime move with his team already up 3-0. That field's usually in bad shape come post-season time, but it was just brutal today. Centre will be very thankful final four is played on neutral ground...

After the Conn Tufts result, did a quick history check. Last victory for the Camels over Tufts was the famous 2014 upset that set up the first NCAA run. That said, in 2017 and 2018 Conn managed 0-0 ties, pretty decent results, before the 2-0 and 3-1 losses this year.

[College Soccer Observer]

Men's Soccer All-NESCAC Teams

Player of the Year: German Giammattei, Amherst
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Grady, Middlebury
Coach of the Year: Josh Shapiro, Tufts

First Team All-NESCAC
Pos.   Name   Institution   Yr.   Hometown
GK   AJ Marcucci *P@&   Connecticut College   Jr.   West Chester, Pa.
D   Liam Bardong =   Williams   Sr.   Manhasset, N.Y.
D   Liam Donelan *   Connecticut College   Jr.   Milton, Mass.
D   Biagio Paoletta =   Tufts   Jr.   Fairfield, Conn.
M   Calvin Aroh   Tufts   Jr.   Glastonbury, Conn.
M   Cutler Coleman *   Amherst   Sr.   Winter Park, Fla.
M   Augie Djerdjaj   Connecticut College   So.   Mahopac, N.Y.
M   Gavin Tasker *   Tufts   Sr.   Concord, N.H.
F   Joe Braun *   Tufts   Sr.   Yardley, Pa.
F   Demian Gass   Williams   Sr.   Houston, Texas
F   German Giammattei R   Amherst   So.   Pinecrest, Fla.

Second Team All-NESCAC
Pos.   Name   Institution   Yr.   Hometown
GK   Ryan Grady   Middlebury   Fy.   Deerfield, Ill.
D   Luke Eckels *#%2   Hamilton   Sr.   Ridgewood, N.J.
D   Michael McFarlane   Middlebury   So.   Suffield, Conn.
D   Jules Oberg   Williams   So.   Stockholm, Sweden
D   Aidan Robinson =   Middlebury   Sr.   Gloucester, Mass.
M   Matt Butera   Connecticut College   Sr.   Westfield, Mass.
M   Travis Van Brewer   Tufts   Jr.   Wilbraham, Mass.
M   Henry Wilhelm   Middlebury   Sr.   Shaker Heights, Ohio
F   Ethan Fabricant   Colby   So.   Summit, N.J.
F   Dane Lind   Amherst   Sr.   San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
F   Aidan Wood =#   Hamilton   Sr.   Ipswich, Mass.

The NESCAC has some great goalkeepers.  I was impressed with Devanny from Wesleyan, but I think that Marcucci and Grady were the top two.  I think that the order was wrong, however.  Marcucci had an awesome year in 2018, and was very good this year, but Grady had better stats across the board.

Saves:  Grady 81 (1st), Marcucci 67 (3rd)
Save Pct:  Grady .890 (1st), Marcucci .859 (3rd)
Goals against avg:  Grady 0.49 (1st), Marcucci 0.58 (4th)
Shutouts:  Grady 9 solo, 2 shared (1st), Marcucci 5 solo , 1 shared (tie for 3rd)
Wins:  Grady 9 (4th), Marcucci 12 (2nd)

The voting was done before NCAA play, so that does not factor in.  While Marcucci's team advanced deeper into the tournament, both had two shutouts in NCAA play.  Middlebury was eliminated in the second round without giving up a goal in either of their first two games.  Again, this is not a shot at Marcucci, who is an outstanding goalkeeper, but simply an argument that Grady had the better year. 

[d4_Pace]

Yeah but stats only show so much. If you watch the game Marcucci is just better. Easily the best goalie in the league since Tom Bull