NESCAC

[College Soccer Observer]

Out of conference games for NESCAC Schools (latest NPI rankings in parentheses)
Amherst:  Emerson (186), Manhattanville (139), Babson (9), WPI (74), Suffolk (118) 4-0-1 (tie vs Babson)
Bates: St. Joseph's (221), U of New England (233), Emerson (186), Southern Maine (293), Maine Farmington (261) 4-1 (loss vs Emerson)
Bowdoin: U of New England (233), Husson (182), Wheaton MA (60), St. Joseph's (221), Southern Maine (293) 5-0
Colby: Thomas (100), Southern Mainer (293), Endicott (51), RPI (294), Maine Maritime (275) 5-0
Conn:  Merchant Marine (184), Salve Regina (180), Western New England (163), Coast Guard (59), Rhode Island College (109) 5-0
Hamilton: Oswego (112), SUNY Poly (186), SUNY Oneonta (57), Ithaca (171), Utica (313) 3-1-1 (tie vs Oneonta, loss vs Oswego)
Middlebury: Norwich (283), Keene State (279), Endicott (51), Bridgewater St (131), Babson (9) 5-0
Trinity:  Framingham St (370), St. John Fisher (159), Hartford (105), Western New England (163), Western Connecticut (83) 2-2 (loss to Hartford and W. New England), W Conn not yet played
Tufts:  MIT (145), Salem St. (232), Emerson (186), Babson (9), Husson (182) 3-0-1 (tie vs Babson) Husson not yet played
Wesleyan:  Western New England (163), Babson (9), Springfield (169), Western Connecticut (83), Eastern Connecticut (306) 3-0-1 (tie vs Babson, E Conn not yet played
Williams:  Wheaton (60), Union (183), Western Connecticut (83), Cortland St (31) Keene St (279) 4-0-1 (tied Western Conn)
NESCAC NPI Ranks: 
Tufts 1, Midd 3, Amherst 4, Williams 6, Conn 8, Wesleyan 20, Bowdoin 34, Hamilton 36, Colby 93, Bates 95, Trinity 266

[rdanie03]

Out of those 50 games only 6 were against to 25 teams? I guess there are not a lot of options for playing strong programs out of conference without a long bus ride.

This one factor. The undsaid factor is that because NESCAC has tighter restrictions on both number of games that can be played in the regular season and when teams can start, they can't participate in some of the bigger non-conference games that happen in late August.

[Newenglander]

Out of those 50 games only 6 were against to 25 teams? I guess there are not a lot of options for playing strong programs out of conference without a long bus ride.

This one factor. The undsaid factor is that because NESCAC has tighter restrictions on both number of games that can be played in the regular season and when teams can start, they can't participate in some of the bigger non-conference games that happen in late August.

yes - both silly but thats a story for a different rant.......

[College Soccer Observer]

@RDanie03 is correct with the restrictions. As has been pointed out in the past, the Maine schools will always struggle to get quality non-conference games because of their location.  When you factor in the conference NPI games, how many games against top 100 teams is optimal?  Outside of Trinity, each NESCAC team plays 9 current top 100 NPI teams in conference (Trinity gets 10).  Add in the numbers below.

Non-Conf games vs top 100 NPI teams:
Amherst 2, Bates 0. Bowdoin 1, Colby 1, Conn 1, Hamilton 1, Midd 2, Trinity 1, Tufts 1, Wesleyan 2, Williams 3.

For teams that make the NESCAC tournament, there is most likely another top 100 NPI game.  That gives most teams in the range of 11-13 out of 16 games against top 100 NPI sides.

[eaglesoccerdad]

For fun I went through UMWs schedule. They will end up with 10 NPI100 (5 NPI50) games in reg seasson

[EnmoreCat]

In the case of the Mammoths, three of this year's non-conference opponents made the tournament last year, so we're talking good quality programmes.

[nescac1]

The problem is that NESCAC so dominates the New England region is that there are few non-conference teams in the area in the top 25 that are even available to play within a reasonable drive -- really, this year, just Babson, Vassar, and SUNY Cortland (which is too far for most NESCAC tams), and NESCAC teams have a good number of total games against those three schools.  And schools in the middle tier of NESCAC like Wesleyan and Hamilton would probably be in the top 25 mix if they were in easier conferences and didn't have to play so many games against higher-ranked league foes. 

In the end, in the last nine tournaments, six have been won by NESCAC teams, with another four runners-up, and it's not like the top of the league is in any way down right now, so the odds of at least one NESCAC team making a deep run this year are pretty darn high.  Although the league isn't QUITE as dominant since Shapiro, who was becoming a near-lock for winning the national title even in a relatively down year for Tufts, moved on to Harvard. 

I do wonder what happened to Messiah -- their talent level was far and away the best in D3 year after year, but they've been out of contention for a few years now.   

[Hopkins92]

Now you're dipping into "my" region and I'll just say there have been at least 2, if not 3 years in the last 5 where Messiah just got unlucky, or to be more objective, November Madness got them.

But I ultimately will agree with your general assessment. When you compare the gauntlet that is NESCAC with the MAC Commonwealth, it's not in the same universe.

[nescac1]

Ahh, fair enough regarding Messiah.  Williams had a stretch like that around 2000 when it had by far the most talent in the country (like multiple future high level pros on the same team) and could absolutely dominate teams but had some simply crazy tournament results.  I should have remembered the Messiah team that Williams got past in PKs en route to the national title game in 2022 was right there with the loaded UChicago team that won and maybe even slightly better, certainly Williams was not the better team in that contest. 

[eaglesoccerdad]

Remember these tournaments are not to determine the best team but to get a champion. You see this even in the UEFA Champions League. To say Messiah has been out of contention is a bit harsh - maybe they peaked in September. Match ups and hot teams are what matters in the tournament.

[Convict charlie]

Ahh, fair enough regarding Messiah.  Williams had a stretch like that around 2000 when it had by far the most talent in the country (like multiple future high level pros on the same team) and could absolutely dominate teams but had some simply crazy tournament results.  I should have remembered the Messiah team that Williams got past in PKs en route to the national title game in 2022 was right there with the loaded UChicago team that won and maybe even slightly better, certainly Williams was not the better team in that contest. 

York, pa was like that for a number of years even when messiah was winning numerous ncaa tournaments in a row and over a stretch. York was beating them every year in non conference matchups. They went like 70 games or something without a loss. When it came tournament time it was always a tie and lost on penalties that knocked them out. I see they're doing well again this year.

[EnmoreCat]

Bowdoin 1 Amherst 3

Unfortunately there was no livestream until around ten minutes into the second half, which of course meant that I didn't get to see any of the goals and was relying on live stats.  Amherst scored early through one of the hard working seniors, got to 2-0 up via one of the sophomores, Bowdoin got one back and then early in the second half, the same sophomore scored again.  From what I did get to see, it looked like Bowdoin had a bit more of the play as the Mammoths were content to sit back and whilst they were effective at getting the ball to around the edge of the penalty area, they didn't threaten beyond there, aside from one or two moments.

Going back, since 2009, this is only the fourth time Amherst has won this fixture by more than a goal, in what are traditionally very tight games, so from that perspective today's result definitely represents a positive outcome and something to build on.  Away at Trinity to finish and then tournament play commences. 

Foul Count: Bowdoin 14 Amherst 13   

[rdanie03]

Bowdoin's in a tough spot now after not getting a point vs. Amherst. If Bates can beat the 1-8 Mules, Bowdoin will have to go to Bello and break up the Jumbos' unbeaten season just to make the tourney.

[camosfan]

And then possibly return on Saturday to do that again!

[College Soccer Observer]

Midd with a 2-0 win over Williams to conclude a 2nd consecutive unbeaten regular season. Last regular season loss was the 2022 Williams game.