NESCAC

[PaulNewman]

For the record, I am most certainly partisan, but work to keep that stuff out of public commentary.

That being said, as a NESCAC partisan (you can now guess for whom), I am looking forward to the day when #7 is not on the pitch for the Mammoths.  Incredibly good player.  May fly a bit below the radar, but players like him are critical to successful programs.

LOL.  EVERYONE here lands on a scale from very partisan to insanely and blindingly partisan.  And wholeheartedly agree.  Players like Murphy are critical to national title runs.

[maineman]

I watched so many games yesterday, I am not sure which one it was, but the commentator speculated that with the OT and PK games yesterday that the NESCAC would get 7 teams into the NCAAs including Bowdoin and Wesleyan.  Is this likely to happen?

[SKUD]

Lots of moving parts.

IMO; Bowdoin needs at least another result.  Wesleyan with a loss might drop?

Who knows with the new system.

What does anyone else think?

[nunezfan27]

Lots of moving parts.

IMO; Bowdoin needs at least another result.  Wesleyan with a loss might drop?

Who knows with the new system.

What does anyone else think?

I think OT or PK wins/losses are both counted as draws

[rdanie03]

Lots of moving parts.

IMO; Bowdoin needs at least another result.  Wesleyan with a loss might drop?

Who knows with the new system.

As the commentator I can explain a little more. The new NPI rankings, which can be found here(https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/39872?utf8=%E2%9C%93&commit=Submit) will be the only factor in deciding AQs, of which there will be 22. If you assume that the top-ranked team in each conference will win the conference tourney(which obviously won't happen, and will therefore reduce the number of potential at-large bids), the cutoff is at 41, which is below the rating of every NESCAC tourney team. Hamilton, with a loss is almost certainly out, but after Bowdoin got two draws against the Jumbos and Wesleyan got points vs. Conn College and Williams this week, both are very likely to see at-large bids.

What does anyone else think?

I think OT or PK wins/losses are both counted as draws

[Mighty Igor]

For the record, I am most certainly partisan, but work to keep that stuff out of public commentary.

That being said, as a NESCAC partisan (you can now guess for whom), I am looking forward to the day when #7 is not on the pitch for the Mammoths.  Incredibly good player.  May fly a bit below the radar, but players like him are critical to successful programs.

Niall Murphy entered Amherst as a Freshman in September 2021 and became a starter in his first season with the team. It may seem like forever to some people, but he has only been gracefully tormenting NESCAC teams for four seasons. Haven't witnessed any boorishness over that period, but rather plenty of healthy and respectfully competitive relationships built with players across the conference.

[College Soccer Observer]

Lots of moving parts.

IMO; Bowdoin needs at least another result.  Wesleyan with a loss might drop?

Who knows with the new system.

What does anyone else think?

I think OT or PK wins/losses are both counted as draws

PK results are treated as ties.  If a team scores in OT, they get a win and the opponent gets a loss.

[nescac1]

A few notes on Williams:

Not sure if he is out for the season or potentially coming back, but the loss of Griffin Labonski, who anchors the entire center of the defense, has been keenly felt, as the team has given up a lot more clean looks and more goals per game without his physical presence in the back.  Other than Diffley, probably the player the Ephs can least afford to lose. 

Speaking of Diffley, he had what has to be a leading candidate for save of the year (especially considering the situation) against Wesleyan to help send the Ephs to OT, you can see it at 3:15 of this video, a quick one-timer at point blank range, Diffley reacted incredibly fast to a shot and did well to get a hand on it, the Wesleyan shooter was in disbelief.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHpuBEJU7f8

Conversely, feel bad for the Wesleyan GK who couldn't handle an awkward hop on the game-winning goal.

Great to see Coehlo score in that situation, even if on a bit of flukey goal, adding his long-term strike ability to the growing array of finishers available to the Ephs bodes well for both the short and long term, a lot of young strikers and attacking mids who can grow together as a group.  But I do hope the Ephs get Labonski back to help shore up what had been a lock-down defense until he went out.   

[maineman]

So it should be Midd-Bow in the early game and Will-Conn in the nightcap.  What two will advance to the final and who will rein supreme in that one?

[FanofNescac]

Midd v Bowodin = 2-1 Midd

Conn v Williams = 1-0 Conn

Midd v Conn = 1-1, Conn pks

[camosfan]

Do you think Conn is ready for their first NESCAC title?

[SKUD]

Nope

[Newenglander]

Nope

interesting take - all these seniors were on the national championship team.....

[SKUD]

I watched them a few times this year.  Were the current seniors a big part of that team?

[MunnyTim]

For Conn, Kelesoglu was a definitely starter in '21.  Jaran, Scoffone, Creus, Horvath-Diano played key minutes and scored/assisted in the NCAA tourney run, and Silvester was the keeper for penalties.