Liberty League

[kevdog]

I new that. I just hope Hamilton's field (probably is) is bette than it was in the early 90's. It was hard as a rock. It basically was just a carpet rolled over cement. Very little cushion and was like playing on sandpaper. Have you heard if SLU has any other late players coming in for next year? Thanks for keeping the rest of us any news that you hear about SLU and the Liberty League. It is appreciated.

[stlawus]

Haven't heard anything about late first year commits aside from the presumed 9 incomers.   Haven't seen much if any transfer action with the rest of the league, there's usually at least a few.   

[Saint of Old]

Hamilton of course used to be in the league. SLU-Hamilton was always a great matchup.  Saint of Old still has open wounds as a result of the Continentals, but Durocher usually got the best of them.  The Saints are 26-19-10 all time against them, with lion's share of the wins coming under Durocher's tenure.   Overall I suspect Hamilton likes being an exclusive NESCAC member but one has to think they would be better off in the Liberty League.

Don't get me started on Hamilton.
I was 4-1 against them in my career but that 1 loss is tough after 60 games without one.
Hamilton could be back on track after finding their feet in NESCAC. They had a great start last season but had a bad run at the worst possible time. Not that I feel sorry for them ofcoarse

[Saint of Old]

I new that. I just hope Hamilton's field (probably is) is bette than it was in the early 90's. It was hard as a rock. It basically was just a carpet rolled over cement. Very little cushion and was like playing on sandpaper. Have you heard if SLU has any other late players coming in for next year? Thanks for keeping the rest of us any news that you hear about SLU and the Liberty League. It is appreciated.

Kevin, you sound like you were a  part of the Goodwin Era.
Coach Goodwin had many Good Wins!

[kevdog]

I new that. I just hope Hamilton's field (probably is) is bette than it was in the early 90's. It was hard as a rock. It basically was just a carpet rolled over cement. Very little cushion and was like playing on sandpaper. Have you heard if SLU has any other late players coming in for next year? Thanks for keeping the rest of us any news that you hear about SLU and the Liberty League. It is appreciated.

Kevin, you sound like you were a  part of the Goodwin Era.
Coach Goodwin had many Good Wins!

Close. I was part of the transition from the Goodwin era. Basically Coach Durocher first 4 years. They were some lean times.Coach D was rebuilding the program back up. We had some talent but other teams collectively were just better. 93 team is when the program started to really turn it around. I am glad Coach D made the program the way it is and Coach Tosh has continued it. Hope it will be for a long time.

[Saint of Old]

I new that. I just hope Hamilton's field (probably is) is bette than it was in the early 90's. It was hard as a rock. It basically was just a carpet rolled over cement. Very little cushion and was like playing on sandpaper. Have you heard if SLU has any other late players coming in for next year? Thanks for keeping the rest of us any news that you hear about SLU and the Liberty League. It is appreciated.

Kevin, you sound like you were a  part of the Goodwin Era.
Coach Goodwin had many Good Wins!

Close. I was part of the transition from the Goodwin era. Basically Coach Durocher first 4 years. They were some lean times.Coach D was rebuilding the program back up. We had some talent but other teams collectively were just better. 93 team is when the program started to really turn it around. I am glad Coach D made the program the way it is and Coach Tosh has continued it. Hope it will be for a long time.

Good stuff Kev
Got it. You played with Scott Wycall/Chris Rose  and them boys.
Just before the Mani/Dre Era began.
I have always said the 93 and 94 teams were 2 of ny favorites man.
You guys laid the foundation and did most of the hard lifting for us to re-emerge after a 15 year hiatus from the top.
Much respect
Durocher did 25 years overall and more than anything he built it up.
Not easy to go from Bad to Good to Great and then stay there for 20 straight years.
Like you I really love watching these young men do it each year.

I think Coach Tosh has found his sea legs in the conference which is good news for us and bad news for everyone else.

[kevdog]

Yes played with Wycal/ Chris Rose. Rose was my away roommate. Just a great guy and really good player. Mani and White were freshmen when I was a Sr. That was a great recruiting class that started to put the program on the map. I believed you played in the glory days of the program. In the late 90's early 2000 if I am not mistaken. Would have loved to watch those teams played. It is nice to watch these young men play now and I try to watch as many games as I can. It is a little difficult being on that I live on the West Coast so any info on our alma mater is greatly appreciated.

[stlawus]

I get most recruiting info from instagram (as much as I'd like to be thought of as being "plugged in") and it appears that RPI is bringing in a whopping 15 players.  Doesn't necessarily mean every player will make the team but I can't remember a Liberty League team bringing in a class that big.

[Racoon72]

Everyone's schedules are now up. Lot of the same from last year.  Can't see any real non challenging out of conference schedule aside from Bard.   Good to see Vassar get Middlebury, it's not often Liberty League teams play the NESCAC in the regular season.

As it stands the most intriguing matchups seem to be Hobart vs JHU and UMW, Vassar vs West Conn, MSU and Middlebury, SLU vs Cortland and Oneonta and RPI vs UMW and Oneonta.

Still not ready to make preseason predictions given there are some unconfirmed roster implications.

What ?   Clarkson sure is playing some really, really, really, really soft pre-Liberty League matches!  Five of their matches are with such powerhouses as SUNY Canton, Russell Sage, Castleton, Morrisville State and North Country Community College (who were outscored 25-0 in their last 5 matches).  Strength of schedule kept Clarkson out of being selected as an at-large NCAA team in 2019.  Does the new AD think this approach will get Clarkson back to the NCAAs?  ARGH !!!!!!!!   So frustrating if you are a devoted Clarkson soccer alumni! C'MON MAN !!

[deutschfan]

Nice to see the board ramping up early with some new SLU contributors as if there weren't enough already!   Clarkson is now competing with Union and Bard for the scheduling the most cupcakes.  It is quite a perplexing strategy.  It means the school has to win the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney or they never get there.  It is also means that your recruits know they are going to a school that will never make a national impact thereby causing quality players to look elsewhere.  In contrast to Clarkson's schedule I am tres impressed with Coach Hood's fixtures at Vassar.  West Conn who should have made the tourney last year, Brandeis in Waltham, Montclair on the road, and, in the middle of league, a home invite to Middlebury.  All of these schools should be in the mix for bids next year.  My guess is that one of the ways you keep your 5th years around is by setting a challenging schedule involving travel and some storied programs.

[d3d3d3]

Liberty League shut out of this preseason Top 25:
https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-diii-men/

[1970s NESCAC Player]

Nice to see the board ramping up early with some new SLU contributors as if there weren't enough already!   Clarkson is now competing with Union and Bard for the scheduling the most cupcakes.  It is quite a perplexing strategy.  It means the school has to win the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney or they never get there.  It is also means that your recruits know they are going to a school that will never make a national impact thereby causing quality players to look elsewhere.  In contrast to Clarkson's schedule I am tres impressed with Coach Hood's fixtures at Vassar.  West Conn who should have made the tourney last year, Brandeis in Waltham, Montclair on the road, and, in the middle of league, a home invite to Middlebury.  All of these schools should be in the mix for bids next year.  My guess is that one of the ways you keep your 5th years around is by setting a challenging schedule involving travel and some storied programs.

You should check Union's schedule this year; it's actually a fair upgrade from recent seasons.

[stlawus]

Looks like the rankings are just a rehash of the final rankings from last year, which is normal. 

[deutschfan]

Yes, rankings are not a surprise and if they considered 2023 lineups sans first years it is unlikely that LL would have a top 25 team.  SLU lost its best player by far.  Vassar loses a stud keeper and never gets preseason respect anyway.  Kudos to Union's one year new coaching staff for scheduling some quality teams and I can't be critical of them for keeping their arch rival Albany Pharmacy.

[Saint of Old]

SLU always losing its best player. We lost Chris Rose and got Mani/Dre. Lost Mani/Dre and got Dan Annan. Lost Annan got Reps Ballantyne and a bunch of Jamaicans. Lost the Jamaicans got Macky Diop. Lost Diop got Steve Watson, then Gorman/Demello/Seyfe Broak/Dede and then Sibanda.
The next few names on this list is just waiting to hit them this fall!!!