NESCAC

[Saint of Old]

So I was around in the latter 90s and locked horns with Williams/Messiah/Wheaton when SLU was on the come up.
I respected those teams so very much then and still do because I realize that when you win you have a big BULLS-Eye on your back and every single team that plays you is going to bring it.
Everyone wants to knock off the king, people will not take a trip to your home lightly and when you go on the road you will have more of the student body present to see a game against the National champions.
Teams like the ones I mentioned before along with Texas/Amherst more recently have built up and developed calluses on their feet to deal with this extra  10% teams throw at them.
If you dont do this as a champion a title defense is almost impossible.  It is almost impossible even when you are ready for every teams strongest punch.

[camosfan]

Quick question, do Conn get an automatic bid to the tourney since they won last year? A regular bid for them looking unlikely after the performances this weekend.

I think it is premature to think they wont make it, they are likely to finish in the top 8 of NESCAC making the Nescac tournament, winning two games in the NESCAC tournament will almost guarantee them  an invite to NCAA.

[Coach Jeff]

So I was around in the latter 90s and locked horns with Williams/Messiah/Wheaton when SLU was on the come up.
I respected those teams so very much then and still do because I realize that when you win you have a big BULLS-Eye on your back and every single team that plays you is going to bring it.
Everyone wants to knock off the king, people will not take a trip to your home lightly and when you go on the road you will have more of the student body present to see a game against the National champions.
Teams like the ones I mentioned before along with Texas/Amherst more recently have built up and developed calluses on their feet to deal with this extra  10% teams throw at them.
If you dont do this as a champion a title defense is almost impossible.  It is almost impossible even when you are ready for every teams strongest punch.

Totally agree with Saint of Old.  It is very hard to repeat and continue to take other teams best shots..

[4231CenterBack]

I realize its early, but assuming neither is able to get the automatic bid from winning the NESCAC tourney...which of these recent national champs is most likely to miss out on on the NCAA tourney? 

They both have quality win possibilities ahead:

Tufts 2-2-3 NESCAC, 4-2-4 overall

10/12/2022    at Clark       
10/15/2022    at Bates    
10/16/2022    at UMaine Farmington    
10/22/2022    Middlebury    
10/25/2022    Bowdoin    

Conn College 2-3-1 NESCAC, 5-3-2

10/12/2022    Babson College        
10/15/2022    at Colby    
10/19/2022    at Amherst       
10/22/2022    Bates    
10/25/2022    Wesleyan

How many bids will the NESCAC get this year?  Right now it looks like Colby, Bates, and Trinity are the only sides without a reasonable hope.

[camosfan]

Top 8 teams play in NESCAC tournament starting 10/29, the four semifinalist plus one will end up in the tournament. BTW what you think of Amherst chances?

[4231CenterBack]

So you are predicting just 4 at-large bids this year?  A little lighter than normal?  Or is the NESCAC typically a 5 bid league?  I guess your semi-finalists + 1 prediction makes sense this year since there are no true powerhouses to be upset this year in the conference.

The fatalist in me figures Amherst will bludgeon their way to the NCAA tournament somehow  .

[EnmoreCat]

So you are predicting just 4 at-large bids this year?  A little lighter than normal?  Or is the NESCAC typically a 5 bid league?  I guess your semi-finalists + 1 prediction makes sense this year since there are no true powerhouses to be upset this year in the conference.

The fatalist in me figures Amherst will bludgeon their way to the NCAA tournament somehow  .

Bludgeon: a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon.

I know there's not much Amherst love in these halls and that's fine, I get it.  Other than being keen on doing well against NESCAC rivals, I don't have any particular teams I don't like, but my family has been adopted by the Mammoths and I gotta say, it suits us just fine.

I have no idea how many times you have played against/seen the Mammoths 4231 and I am sure it's more than me, but what I can say is that having just spent a few weeks there, watching games, training and re-watching games (things are quiet in Amherst) I can tell you that it thrills me that you and others are happy to underestimate the skill this team brings, I am quite confident no coaches do and there have been enough that Simple Coach has interviewed who understand exactly what they bring to the table.  I am not aware of any mandated D3 curriculum and equally I don't think asterisks appear against teams that progress/win a national tournament with something appearing in brackets saying, "didn't play the game the way some D3 Boards aesthetes would like".  The transition can be quite devastating when the team is on and isn't the game about getting in the opposition box? Getting behind most D3 defences isn't easy, but it might be just a little less hard than trying to play through a low block.   

Does the ball go in the air? Yes it does, but definitely not all the time and again, I am quite happy for teams to prepare for Amherst on that basis as they are setting up for failure.  Do players tackle, are they aggressive? Yes, winning the ball is part of the game.  In any event, I am yet to see a NESCAC team that didn't give as good as it got, perhaps they are able to fly under the radar.  I can't vouch for all decisions made about who goes and doesn't go to the tournament, but what I can say is that given that most in here agree that D3 isn't preparing its players for a career in the game, surely it's about making the most of the four years you have to impact, knowing that every year will be different and you might only get one decent chance.   

[Ejay]

So you are predicting just 4 at-large bids this year?  A little lighter than normal?  Or is the NESCAC typically a 5 bid league?  I guess your semi-finalists + 1 prediction makes sense this year since there are no true powerhouses to be upset this year in the conference.

The fatalist in me figures Amherst will bludgeon their way to the NCAA tournament somehow  .

Bludgeon: a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon.

I know there's not much Amherst love in these halls and that's fine, I get it.  Other than being keen on doing well against NESCAC rivals, I don't have any particular teams I don't like, but my family has been adopted by the Mammoths and I gotta say, it suits us just fine.

I have no idea how many times you have played against/seen the Mammoths 4231 and I am sure it's more than me, but what I can say is that having just spent a few weeks there, watching games, training and re-watching games (things are quiet in Amherst) I can tell you that it thrills me that you and others are happy to underestimate the skill this team brings, I am quite confident no coaches do and there have been enough that Simple Coach has interviewed who understand exactly what they bring to the table.  I am not aware of any mandated D3 curriculum and equally I don't think asterisks appear against teams that progress/win a national tournament with something appearing in brackets saying, "didn't play the game the way some D3 Boards aesthetes would like".  The transition can be quite devastating when the team is on and isn't the game about getting in the opposition box? Getting behind most D3 defences isn't easy, but it might be just a little less hard than trying to play through a low block.   

Does the ball go in the air? Yes it does, but definitely not all the time and again, I am quite happy for teams to prepare for Amherst on that basis as they are setting up for failure.  Do players tackle, are they aggressive? Yes, winning the ball is part of the game.  In any event, I am yet to see a NESCAC team that didn't give as good as it got, perhaps they are able to fly under the radar.  I can't vouch for all decisions made about who goes and doesn't go to the tournament, but what I can say is that given that most in here agree that D3 isn't preparing its players for a career in the game, surely it's about making the most of the four years you have to impact, knowing that every year will be different and you might only get one decent chance.   

Love the instant passion you've developed for your new school! And I hope your son is enjoying his new home, both academically and athletically.  And i have a soft spot you personally as I lived in Oz for a time many years back :-)

But 4231CB must have hit a nerve. I don't think you'll find any "D3 board aesthetes" who feel Amherst victories should include an asterisks because they don't play the "right way". And nobody has ever said their style isn't effective, and all will likely agree it gives them a great chance at winning the ultimate prize.

I know players in the NESCAC. My son has played for and against many players in the NESCAC though HS and club. I know they're excellent players and will vouch for their skills and talents. So what I say next is not on behalf of the "Board aesthetes", but rather just a personal opinion. I find Amherst unwatchable and in fact, don't really enjoy watching any NESCAC game. Plus Serpone's sideline antics are boorish and tiresome. All this doesn't take away from the fact that I have Amherst ranked #8 in my last poll. I'm actually rooting for them because of your presence on this board, just as I also root for other teams that have strong board representation like W&L, Denison, Messiah, North Park, Hopkins, Scranton (where is NEPAFAN?), etc.

Do you have a preference between Union or League? 

[camosfan]

In my opinion there is no NESCAC team that gets Tufts as ready to play as Amherst and although Tufts has beaten them in the last 3 games ,I sense they generate the most fear. It is hard to hate a team as a parent knowing the effort the parents and players on the other side have put in to make it to this level. A lot of players in NESCAC played together or against each other in highschool, club or in summer league lots of strong bonds.

[4231CenterBack]

Sorry E-Cat.  I probably should have gone without the  emoji.  I actually think D3 is a more interesting place because Amherst and Justin Serpone exist. They are fun to root against and hope your favorite team never has to play them.

I first saw Amherst play in 2012ish against Williams @ Amherst.  It was unlike anything I had ever seen.  The naked utility of Serpone's system was alternately impressive and shocking.  The 70 yard balls to 6-5 attackers was really something!  The non-stop sprinting of a particular CM was also notable. The 50/50 challenges were cringe inducing. Williams somehow won the match but emerged bloody and broken. 

Really the only part of the show that I don't enjoy, and seems unnecessary, is the endless chirping at the officials and the other team.  It seems to whip the players up to the point that the play does cross the line into dangerous.  By all accounts Serpone is a gentlemen and a scholar so this never added up for me.  That said, I've only seen Amherst play in NCAA matches and at Tufts so maybe emotions ran higher than normal!

[pittsfieldpete]

So you are predicting just 4 at-large bids this year?  A little lighter than normal?  Or is the NESCAC typically a 5 bid league?  I guess your semi-finalists + 1 prediction makes sense this year since there are no true powerhouses to be upset this year in the conference.

The fatalist in me figures Amherst will bludgeon their way to the NCAA tournament somehow  .

Bludgeon: a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon.

I know there's not much Amherst love in these halls and that's fine, I get it.  Other than being keen on doing well against NESCAC rivals, I don't have any particular teams I don't like, but my family has been adopted by the Mammoths and I gotta say, it suits us just fine.

I have no idea how many times you have played against/seen the Mammoths 4231 and I am sure it's more than me, but what I can say is that having just spent a few weeks there, watching games, training and re-watching games (things are quiet in Amherst) I can tell you that it thrills me that you and others are happy to underestimate the skill this team brings, I am quite confident no coaches do and there have been enough that Simple Coach has interviewed who understand exactly what they bring to the table.  I am not aware of any mandated D3 curriculum and equally I don't think asterisks appear against teams that progress/win a national tournament with something appearing in brackets saying, "didn't play the game the way some D3 Boards aesthetes would like".  The transition can be quite devastating when the team is on and isn't the game about getting in the opposition box? Getting behind most D3 defences isn't easy, but it might be just a little less hard than trying to play through a low block.   

Does the ball go in the air? Yes it does, but definitely not all the time and again, I am quite happy for teams to prepare for Amherst on that basis as they are setting up for failure.  Do players tackle, are they aggressive? Yes, winning the ball is part of the game.  In any event, I am yet to see a NESCAC team that didn't give as good as it got, perhaps they are able to fly under the radar.  I can't vouch for all decisions made about who goes and doesn't go to the tournament, but what I can say is that given that most in here agree that D3 isn't preparing its players for a career in the game, surely it's about making the most of the four years you have to impact, knowing that every year will be different and you might only get one decent chance.   

I think Amherst is certainly the most physical team in the league.  That being said, I think other teams are catching up. I managed to catch the Williams-Amherst game a couple of weeks back and they Ephs weren't afraid to mix it up. Boardman was very tough on the backline and Gutierrez wasn't far behind in terms of putting in tough tackles. Not sure it makes for the prettiest games but definitely a change from years past.

[maineman]

Massey has most of the NESCAC teams with a SOS of 2,3,4,8 or not far behind.  Bowdoin is an exception coming in at 55.  Since they all play each other, is this due to the Polar Bears weak OOC schedule or is their NESCAC front loaded with the low end NESCACs?  Conn College is 22.

[Another Mom]

I agree Coach Serpone is a gentleman and a scholar (er, HOW many master's degrees does he have?). I think the words I would use to describe him are "intense" and "overachiever". I am certainly not an insider but my son was in fairly serious recruiting talks with Amherst,  so I got to see a bit of Coach S.

[College Soccer Observer]

Massey has most of the NESCAC teams with a SOS of 2,3,4,8 or not far behind.  Bowdoin is an exception coming in at 55.  Since they all play each other, is this due to the Polar Bears weak OOC schedule or is their NESCAC front loaded with the low end NESCACs?  Conn College is 22.

Bowdoin's non conference schedule (with Massey Rankings of opponents)
Husson 212
Thomas 280
Maine Maritime 329
Southern Maine 274
U of New England 366

Middlebury non conference schedule
Mount Saint Mary's 206
Norwich 74
Framingham St 124
Eastern Nazarene 241
WPI 63

Amherst non conference
Mt. St. Vincent 200
Thomas 280
Manhattanville 133
Babson 10
WPI 63

[maineman]

Massey has most of the NESCAC teams with a SOS of 2,3,4,8 or not far behind.  Bowdoin is an exception coming in at 55.  Since they all play each other, is this due to the Polar Bears weak OOC schedule or is their NESCAC front loaded with the low end NESCACs?  Conn College is 22.

Bowdoin's non conference schedule (with Massey Rankings of opponents)
Husson 212
Thomas 280
Maine Maritime 329
Southern Maine 274
U of New England 366

Middlebury non conference schedule
Mount Saint Mary's 206
Norwich 74
Framingham St 124
Eastern Nazarene 241
WPI 63

Amherst non conference
Mt. St. Vincent 200
Thomas 280
Manhattanville 133
Babson 10
WPI 63

Massey has most of the NESCAC teams with a SOS of 2,3,4,8 or not far behind.  Bowdoin is an exception coming in at 55.  Since they all play each other, is this due to the Polar Bears weak OOC schedule or is their NESCAC front loaded with the low end NESCACs?  Conn College is 22.

Bowdoin's non conference schedule (with Massey Rankings of opponents)
Husson 212
Thomas 280
Maine Maritime 329
Southern Maine 274
U of New England 366

Middlebury non conference schedule
Mount Saint Mary's 206
Norwich 74
Framingham St 124
Eastern Nazarene 241
WPI 63

Amherst non conference
Mt. St. Vincent 200
Thomas 280
Manhattanville 133
Babson 10
WPI 63

So are all the game scheduled factored in on the SOS on day one of the season and change according to the success of the team or do they only enter into the calculations once they have been played? In other words, for Midd, they play E Nazarene today.  Once played, their SOS will go down.