NESCAC

[camosfan]

I noticed the keeper switch as well, I know Madienberg ,so maybe a bit biased, he played with my son in club before college and on summer teams, Sylvester has sharper reflexes but overall I don't think he is better.

[College Soccer Observer]

I noticed the keeper switch as well, I know Madienberg ,so maybe a bit biased, he played with my son in club before college and on summer teams, Sylvester has sharper reflexes but overall I don't he is better.

If the game were on Conn's turf field I would go with Conn but since the game is at Amherst I do not see how they have the size to compete against the 20+ corner and throws that will come in the box.  I bet Amherst has not cut the grass this week. They will make it a mosh pit.

Conn College seems to have switched GKs in mid-season from Maidenberg to Silvester.  Not sure if that is injury or performance-related, but I recall Coach Burk implying on an interview before the season with Simple Coach that the GK position was not as settled as one might think based on the starter from the championship team returning.  If it was performance-related, one thing Silvester seems to bring over Maidenberg is a couple inches more in size and, from what I can tell from the few games I have seen him, a general inclination to come off his line and challenge for balls in the air.  Both could be helpful with those balls into the box.

Silvester was not good in the air against Middlebury, as the only goal of the game was scored on a cross/shot that he misjudged and did not get a touch on.

[Kuiper]

I noticed the keeper switch as well, I know Madienberg ,so maybe a bit biased, he played with my son in club before college and on summer teams, Sylvester has sharper reflexes but overall I don't he is better.

If the game were on Conn's turf field I would go with Conn but since the game is at Amherst I do not see how they have the size to compete against the 20+ corner and throws that will come in the box.  I bet Amherst has not cut the grass this week. They will make it a mosh pit.

Conn College seems to have switched GKs in mid-season from Maidenberg to Silvester.  Not sure if that is injury or performance-related, but I recall Coach Burk implying on an interview before the season with Simple Coach that the GK position was not as settled as one might think based on the starter from the championship team returning.  If it was performance-related, one thing Silvester seems to bring over Maidenberg is a couple inches more in size and, from what I can tell from the few games I have seen him, a general inclination to come off his line and challenge for balls in the air.  Both could be helpful with those balls into the box.

Silvester was not good in the air against Middlebury, as the only goal of the game was scored on a cross/shot that he misjudged and did not get a touch on.

I missed that.  As I said, I really haven't seen him enough to judge his ability, but I did notice his size and willingness to come off his line in the few times I have seen him.  Sometimes, that willingness can be a bad thing if it's not accompanied by good timing.

[northman]

A bit of NESCAC trivia that not everyone may be aware of.  I believe I read somewhere last year that Bowdoin's CM Julian Juantorena is related to the legendary Alberto Juantorena...who won 800M and 400M gold at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.  Julian may not be as fast as his relative, but he's had a very solid season thus far...

[camosfan]

That came across my mind each time his name is mentioned in a game, because I have never heard of another.

[Falconer]

A bit of NESCAC trivia that not everyone may be aware of.  I believe I read somewhere last year that Bowdoin's CM Julian Juantorena is related to the legendary Alberto Juantorena...who won 800M and 400M gold at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.  Julian may not be as fast as his relative, but he's had a very solid season thus far...

Thank you for this interesting fact. As a former runner and big track fan, I momentarily wondered about this—but, only momentarily. I didn't bother to do any research on it.

I still have a copy of Track & Field News from September 1976. On the cover is a photo of the Cuban at the finish of the 800, hands raised in triumph. The headline, "Juantorena / Two-torena." I think at that time he was the only person to do that particular double in the Olympics, and I cannot recall anyone doing it since either. A bull of of man, he was—stronger than anyone else in either event.

[camosfan]

Middlebury got tied by WPI 0-0!

[College Soccer Observer]

That is two hours of my life I will not get back.  Ball was bouncing all over the place on the turf and field is shorter and narrower than Midd's.  Thankfully, their new turf is much nicer.  Midd dominated in terms of shots (20-11, with 9 on frame vs 2) but could not find a way through.  Midd still missing Nelson, O'Brien, Lund in the back and started Powers at right back.  Credit to WPI for grinding out a result.

[Mr.Right]

4 teams have a Game in hand, and this is that Game:

Hamilton at Williams
Conn at Amherst

Also, a CBB Game and Colby's Season in balance:

Colby at Bowdoin

[Mr.Right]

Colby gutted out a 1-0 revenge Win over 2021 National Champ Conn College who had ended Colby's season in the Nescac Semi's last year. They did it on a Senior Day recognizing a weighty 12 SENIORS most of whom came back for that 5th year / xtra semester and really gave a lot to this program. They have accomplished plenty including winning the 2018 Nescac Championship but are on the brink now fighting for their playoff lives. The 3 pts Colby got from the Conn game got Colby back in the hunt. Question is now how do they finish it off? It has been a roller coaster season with an unprecedented 7 straight Draws. That is eye opening stuff. All those late leads given up and now I think they might need all 6 pts in these last two games to be safe. Let's see what they got left in the tank.

[Mr.Right]

If the game were on Conn's turf field I would go with Conn but since the game is at Amherst I do not see how they have the size to compete against the 20+ corner and throws that will come in the box.  I bet Amherst has not cut the grass this week. They will make it a mosh pit.

Conn College seems to have switched GKs in mid-season from Maidenberg to Silvester.  Not sure if that is injury or performance-related, but I recall Coach Burk implying on an interview before the season with Simple Coach that the GK position was not as settled as one might think based on the starter from the championship team returning.  If it was performance-related, one thing Silvester seems to bring over Maidenberg is a couple inches more in size and, from what I can tell from the few games I have seen him, a general inclination to come off his line and challenge for balls in the air.  Both could be helpful with those balls into the box.

Not sure which is the better GK, but Conn likes to use the GK as their 12th man. That was the risk / reward last year with #00 Maidenberg as the keeper / sweeper. They like their GK to have real good touch and use their feet like Man City. #1 Silvester does not have the same quickness and feet as Maidenberg

[Mr.Right]

Love how Bowdoin has the highlights with the recap. Little effort goes a long way. 4-0 Win over Hamilton.

https://youtu.be/VnjKe06s4lY

[Soccer2022]

Noticed the GK switch as well and was very surprised given Maidenberg delivered the tin last year and I think he played every game.  Maybe the best feet of any GK in Nescac.  Perhaps a bit undersize at 6ft for today's coaches who like BIG keepers, but seems to make up for it with athleticism and positioning.  Watched him go up and get or swat away ball after ball against Tufts in the Elite 8 and Amherst in the finals.  Not sure what motivated the switch but seems like CC misses the leadership and the level of competitiveness he brings. 

[Hopkins92]

Big GKs... Such a silly filter for a goalie.

I used to have the shortest player on my team put their back up against the tallest. Then I'd ask the shortest to put his/her arms up as high as they could while still flat-footed.

Invariably, the arms stretched at least to the neck, but most of the times the hands were above the head. Then I'd walk them over to the goal and have them touch the bottom of the goalpost, and stretch up with the opposite hand to touch the post above. It's almost always about the same as the players actual height.

So, as a goalie, you don't even need to have a crazy high vertical leap to get up and above even the tallest players on the field.

And not to keep beating this drum, but this is what is so frustrating when goalies don't catch lofted balls into the box. A properly trained and motivated goalie beats the opposition to a ball in the air every time.

[camosfan]

Game underway on a cow pasture in Amherst!