NESCAC

[camosfan]

It is probably safe to say that Tufts and Bowdoin will play each other Tuesday and Saturday. Regular season on Tuesday and NESCAC tournament on Saturday.

[northman]

In terms of "safe", I'm guessing you mean "reasonably probable".  However, I've been around the NESCAC for 15+ years...and, especially over the last 5 years, I can say (as cliche as it sounds) that anything can happen in any game...especially in the last regular season game.  It will be interesting to see where things stand on Wednesday morning.

[Yankeesoccerdad]

Camos and Northman, I think you are right that it is very likely Bowdoin and Tufts play twice this week.  The Tufts sports information release says Tufts has a chance to finish anywhere from 2 to 5 in seeding.  The most likely outcome is that Tufts/Bowdoin on Tuesday will determine who hosts the quarterfinal game, with Tufts needing a win to host.

Bowdoin enters the last game in good shape after defeating Colby 5-1 and Wesleyan 3-0 this week.  Those were much needed wins, as the Polar Bears were stuck a bit in the doldrums for a couple of weeks, with ties against Wheaton and Hamilton, a narrow, late win against Trinity (some of you think it benefitted from a generous ref) and a tough 1-0 loss to Amherst.  Tyler Huck paced the team this week as he has done all season, scoring the first goal in each game.  His goal against Colby was especially well-timed, as Colby was the first to score.  Huck responded 90 seconds later and his equalizer opened the door to four more goals, including one from Rueda-Duran.  Whatever had been ailing the team the first two weeks of October seems to have been cured and there is optimism heading into what I expect to be back to back games against Tufts.

As an aside, I know it has been noted years ago but since it was my first time there--the Colby fields and athletic facilities are amazing!  By far the best of any NESCAC, IMO.  The men's grass field is recessed with spectators in bleachers and grass on a hill overlooking the field (similar to Midd, but it feels closer and the field is grass).  The athletics building feels like something out of the SEC, not the NESCAC.  A little out of the way, but worth the trip if you haven't been.

Since CSO offered some interesting stats (I concede that trailing for only 15 min all season is impressive), I will offer a few for Bowdoin.  Rueda-Duran and Huck now rank first and second in the conference overall leader board for goals.  Through 9 conference games, Bowdoin has conceded only 6 goals, second only to Midd, which has conceded 5.  Considering the team lost 6 of the top 10 players from last year in minutes played, including POY Dylan Reid and first team all NESCAC GK Michael Webber, the team has had a great season to date.  Sophomore GK Alex Ainsworth had some big shoes to fill with Webber's graduation and has risen to the occasion.

Of course, as November approaches we get to the most interesting part of the season and anything can happen.  According to the Massey power ratings, which are supposed to be the better measure of potential, five NESCAC teams are in the top eight in D3, with Amherst at one and Midd at two.  No doubt Tuesday will offer some surprises, but I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks.

[PaulNewman]

Great post, YSD...and very generous to comment on Colby and its facilities.  Some of the other NESCACs get more attention especially on this board, which is understandable, but Colby is an absolutely amazing school.

[College Soccer Observer]

Camos and Northman, I think you are right that it is very likely Bowdoin and Tufts play twice this week.  The Tufts sports information release says Tufts has a chance to finish anywhere from 2 to 5 in seeding.  The most likely outcome is that Tufts/Bowdoin on Tuesday will determine who hosts the quarterfinal game, with Tufts needing a win to host.

Bowdoin enters the last game in good shape after defeating Colby 5-1 and Wesleyan 3-0 this week.  Those were much needed wins, as the Polar Bears were stuck a bit in the doldrums for a couple of weeks, with ties against Wheaton and Hamilton, a narrow, late win against Trinity (some of you think it benefitted from a generous ref) and a tough 1-0 loss to Amherst.  Tyler Huck paced the team this week as he has done all season, scoring the first goal in each game.  His goal against Colby was especially well-timed, as Colby was the first to score.  Huck responded 90 seconds later and his equalizer opened the door to four more goals, including one from Rueda-Duran.  Whatever had been ailing the team the first two weeks of October seems to have been cured and there is optimism heading into what I expect to be back to back games against Tufts.

As an aside, I know it has been noted years ago but since it was my first time there--the Colby fields and athletic facilities are amazing!  By far the best of any NESCAC, IMO.  The men's grass field is recessed with spectators in bleachers and grass on a hill overlooking the field (similar to Midd, but it feels closer and the field is grass).  The athletics building feels like something out of the SEC, not the NESCAC.  A little out of the way, but worth the trip if you haven't been.

Since CSO offered some interesting stats (I concede that trailing for only 15 min all season is impressive), I will offer a few for Bowdoin.  Rueda-Duran and Huck now rank first and second in the conference overall leader board for goals.  Through 9 conference games, Bowdoin has conceded only 6 goals, second only to Midd, which has conceded 5.  Considering the team lost 6 of the top 10 players from last year in minutes played, including POY Dylan Reid and first team all NESCAC GK Michael Webber, the team has had a great season to date.  Sophomore GK Alex Ainsworth had some big shoes to fill with Webber's graduation and has risen to the occasion.

Of course, as November approaches we get to the most interesting part of the season and anything can happen.  According to the Massey power ratings, which are supposed to be the better measure of potential, five NESCAC teams are in the top eight in D3, with Amherst at one and Midd at two.  No doubt Tuesday will offer some surprises, but I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks.

@YankeeSoccerDad.  I fully agree that Rueda-Duran and Huck are dangerous and capable attackers.  I think the better measure is looking at goals scored in conference play, given the disparity in each team's non-conference opponents.  In terms of conference games, Bowdoin has 16 goals, with Rueda-Duran and Huck leading the way with 4 each (half of the team total). Pacelli, Banks, and Cabral have 2 each, while Horch and Braver have one each.  Middlebury has 19 goals.  Tyler Payne has 4, while Randolph, Saint-Louis, and Duggan have 3 each, and Nicholl and Nilsson each have 2.  Madden and Farrell have 1 apiece for Midd. 

[Yankeesoccerdad]

@CSO, very fair point.  I tend to look at both overall and conference only, as the numbers tend to vary especially if there is a difference in SOS.  This year the difference in SOS doesn't seem meaningful and looking at more games offers a broader perspective. 

Looking at teams and conference only, Midd has the edge in margin (GF-GA) with Amherst and Bowdoin tied for second.  Point taken--Midd has a strong and diverse offensive force.  Tyler Payne's conference numbers especially stand out.  At the risk of being controversial, I personally discount JSL's stats given his age--he is a 2017 HS grad, making him several years older than most peers and a full five years older than Huck and Rueda-Duran.  It is hard to do an apples to apples comparison.

[northman]

Camos and Northman, I think you are right that it is very likely Bowdoin and Tufts play twice this week.  The Tufts sports information release says Tufts has a chance to finish anywhere from 2 to 5 in seeding.  The most likely outcome is that Tufts/Bowdoin on Tuesday will determine who hosts the quarterfinal game, with Tufts needing a win to host.

Bowdoin enters the last game in good shape after defeating Colby 5-1 and Wesleyan 3-0 this week.  Those were much needed wins, as the Polar Bears were stuck a bit in the doldrums for a couple of weeks, with ties against Wheaton and Hamilton, a narrow, late win against Trinity (some of you think it benefitted from a generous ref) and a tough 1-0 loss to Amherst.  Tyler Huck paced the team this week as he has done all season, scoring the first goal in each game.  His goal against Colby was especially well-timed, as Colby was the first to score.  Huck responded 90 seconds later and his equalizer opened the door to four more goals, including one from Rueda-Duran.  Whatever had been ailing the team the first two weeks of October seems to have been cured and there is optimism heading into what I expect to be back to back games against Tufts.

As an aside, I know it has been noted years ago but since it was my first time there--the Colby fields and athletic facilities are amazing!  By far the best of any NESCAC, IMO.  The men's grass field is recessed with spectators in bleachers and grass on a hill overlooking the field (similar to Midd, but it feels closer and the field is grass).  The athletics building feels like something out of the SEC, not the NESCAC.  A little out of the way, but worth the trip if you haven't been.

Since CSO offered some interesting stats (I concede that trailing for only 15 min all season is impressive), I will offer a few for Bowdoin.  Rueda-Duran and Huck now rank first and second in the conference overall leader board for goals.  Through 9 conference games, Bowdoin has conceded only 6 goals, second only to Midd, which has conceded 5.  Considering the team lost 6 of the top 10 players from last year in minutes played, including POY Dylan Reid and first team all NESCAC GK Michael Webber, the team has had a great season to date.  Sophomore GK Alex Ainsworth had some big shoes to fill with Webber's graduation and has risen to the occasion.

Of course, as November approaches we get to the most interesting part of the season and anything can happen.  According to the Massey power ratings, which are supposed to be the better measure of potential, five NESCAC teams are in the top eight in D3, with Amherst at one and Midd at two.  No doubt Tuesday will offer some surprises, but I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks.

YSD, you may have mentioned this in a previous post and I missed it...but are you a current Bowdoin soccer parent?  If so, welcome to the club!

Regarding Colby's athletic facilities, you and other posters may be aware of the story behind Colby's world class facilities...both athletic and academic.  Harold Alfond was the humble but cagey owner of old-line Maine shoe company Dexter Shoe.  Decades ago, he did a deal with Warren Buffet to sell Dexter Shoe to Berkshire Hathaway in a stock only deal.  The Oracle of Omaha famously said it was the worst deal he ever did.  The rest is history, as Berkshire Hathaway share prices continued to rocket into the stratosphere.  The Alfond family has been extraordinarily generous in the ensuing years in making major gifts to Colby, University of Maine, and St. Joseph's College among others.

But especially to Colby, where the Alfonds and Lunders (Alfond family members) have gifted literally hundreds of millions to support the new athletic facilities, the world class art museum and much of its contents, and other projects.

[Newenglander]

@CSO, very fair point.  I tend to look at both overall and conference only, as the numbers tend to vary especially if there is a difference in SOS.  This year the difference in SOS doesn't seem meaningful and looking at more games offers a broader perspective. 

Looking at teams and conference only, Midd has the edge in margin (GF-GA) with Amherst and Bowdoin tied for second.  Point taken--Midd has a strong and diverse offensive force.  Tyler Payne's conference numbers especially stand out.  At the risk of being controversial, I personally discount JSL's stats given his age--he is a 2017 HS grad, making him several years older than most peers and a full five years older than Huck and Rueda-Duran.  It is hard to do an apples to apples comparison.

regardless of someone's age, the 4 seasons in 5 years of eligibility remain the same so not sure why you wouldn't compare - a college career is a college career.

[northman]

My guess is that YSD is referring to an older athlete's physical and emotional maturity...which are undeniable factors. 

[camosfan]

Don't think that is a big issue, the foreign players tend to the older, this player is from the US, guys turn to college after failed attempts to go pro. Remember an NJAC coach telling us he had guy that spent 4 years in the Israeli army before coming in. We see some of that in D1 college football, but a lot of the foreign players is soccer are similarly aged.

[camosfan]

At half time

Con2-1 over Wesleyan

Mid 0, Williams 0

Colby 1, Bates 0

[FanofNescac]

If the Camels win and Midd ties, who wins the tiebreaker?

[camosfan]

Not sure, was just about to figure that out!

[camosfan]

Mid scores ,a penalty!

[Kuiper]

And Wesleyan scores to tie the game up with Connecticut College 2-2