2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Flying Weasel]

Do not dismiss UMASS Boston and / or Nicolls against Oneonta. I saw both league finals and Nichols is quite physical and could hold their own maybe. Umass Boston is undersized but quite skilled in the middle of the park with a mix of Portuguese and  Hispanic palyers they are fun to watch

Messiah actually came to Salisbury last year due to conflict with the women.  I think the bye alleviates that this year.

When one team has a 1st round bye, they only play the second day, and thus all the problems that come with trying to play four back to back to back to back games on the first day do not exist and on the second day there's only two games which is fine.

As soon as the Messiah women were shown to be hosting a 1st/2nd round pod in the 1:00 pm live women's announcement, it was clear that the Messiah men had been given first round bye.  Otherwise, it was the men's turn, being an even-numbered year, to host a pod and the women would have had to go on the road.

[Mr.Right]

Agreed I am done. Meds have kicked in and now I am Mr. Happy

[Falconer]

Agree that UT-Dallas is a great mystery. However, given that the Trinity women are hosting the first weekend, I'm not surprised that the Trinity men are not hosting the same weekend, regardless of where they are sent.

Messiah over Calvin/Kenyon
F&M over Wheaton/Trinity

Messiah over F&M: one former Falcon player over another, at the coaching level.

Awhile back, responding to a question posed by someone else, I offered an opinion on the level of talent this year's Falcons have compared with some other NCAA championship teams the Falcons have had. I was reluctant to say (at that point in the season) that this year's squad is the best all-time, and I'm still reluctant to say that--let them finish out the season first. However, they might have the single best graduating class. At least five of the seniors are among the best at their positions in Falcon history: Payne (target), Ramirez (attacking and/or holding MF), Jack Thompson (left wing), West (GK), and Robbins (central defender). The fastest current player, right winger Kovach, is perhaps a step lower on the all-time list, but it wouldn't be a very big step.

IMO the most highly skilled player in this group is Ramirez, our version of David Beckham. He could be very important in the tournament, if the Falcons get a bunch of corner kicks and free kicks. He's more physical than most of his teammates as well, so putting pressure on him doesn't usually pay off. Payne is a great scorer with his feet or his head, an ideal target, but he can also create his own shots from the midfield or the wing. The most dangerous athlete of this group is Thompson, who can beat almost anyone with the ball and then cross it effectively: he's the all-time assist leader at Messiah. However IMO the most dangerous player on the whole team could be a freshman, Colby Thomas. His nose for the ball and the goal is unmatched, and the only predictable thing about him is that he will be moving forward and he will probably put the ball on frame, if it's not blocked first by one of the defenders he's in the middle of (he usually draws a crowd). I think we'll be hearing his name a great deal in coming years, and perhaps in the tournament as well. He's been playing a lot lately, b/c Brandt is apparently injured. I don't know the nature of the injury, how serious it is, or when it happened, but I don't think it was in a game. Does anyone have information about this?

[Mr.Right]

So do you Messiah people think they could get a result against Navy. I was not to impressed by Navy in that TV game last Friday night against Army. They worked very hard and played well in OT against an equally hard working Army. Ironically they have Nate Bascom on the team. His brother beat Williams in a 2012 Final 4 match up on Ohio Northern. I like Navy's keeper and Bascon and the kid that scored.

[stlawus]

I doubt Messiah could get a result against Navy.  I went to USNA for 2  years before transferring to SLU, and Navy at home are tough to beat.  They have a good team this year, and can turn it up when the time comes.  Plus Brandt knows Messiah's every in and out and would formulate an effective game plan. 

[Mr.Right]

Yes I see Navy has a big home field advantage BUT lets say Messiah hosts

[chelseafc30]

I feel pretty comfortable with predicting Messiah and Wheaton (Ill.) to make the final four. I'm also going to pick Kenyon just because they seem like one of those high seeded teams that no one picks to win and they seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. As for the other region, I really can't decide between Oneonta, F&M, or Brandeis.

[stlawus]

I mean, it would be a competitive game no doubt.  Messiah can definitely beat some some D-I teams.  But Navy proved they're a good team when they beat Maryland.  They play well against ranked opponents, and Greenspan at CB could handle Payne I think. 

[Falconer]

I haven't seen this year's Navy team (which I hear is pretty good) play, so I'm not entitled to an opinion on that specific question.

In general, however, I think this year's Falcon team would get a good result against most D1 teams and nearly all D2 teams. I doubt they would be a Top 20 team in D1, but they might crack the top 30 or 40. We'll never have a basis to establish that one way or the other, since D1 and D2 teams quite understandably won't schedule us for regular games, but the results we get in spring scrimmages are pretty impressive.

In several recent seasons we've had one or two D1 transfers on the team, but none this year (to the best of my knowledge). However a number of current Falcons declined scholarship offers from D1 teams. That's normal, and of course Messiah is hardly unique among D3 teams on that score. The current freshman class (which is potentially as good as the current seniors) includes some very serious players, including Thomas--one of the top all-time career scorers in PA state history.

[Mr.Right]

When Navy played Maryland, Maryland still had a ton of injuries and they are a bit down this year. You are probably right but I was just wondering.

I think F&M could have a tough game in the round of 32. That could be an upset special right there

[Mr.Right]

Falconer I am well aware they would get a result against maybe anyone outside of ACC teams and BIg 10 ten etc. I just wanted to know the Navy v Messiah result.

[oldonionbag]

Out of all the teams in D3, which one would give Messiah the best game? And, do you see this team making the finals (if they aren't from Messiah's bracket)?

[lastguyoffthebench]

Who could beat Messiah 2014?  Messiah 2013...

[oldonionbag]

haha  well done

[lastguyoffthebench]

Kenyon, Wheaton, Oneonta St, Tufts would be the 4 that I think could knock off Messiah.   Oneonta St has played them twice in the last 3 years.  (Messiah 2, Oneonta St. 1 1OT in 2013) (Messiah 0, Oneonta St 0 in 2012).  We know of the Kenyon result last year...

Of course OWU, Calvin, CNU (before they kind of fell off mid-season).