2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

wow-wingtips way to jump on the band wagon an attack me...SOrry that 2002 Arcadia team was not great they were ok. They played 10 deep the entire game against Williams and won in PK's. They had a coach who is now at Villinova- Carlin- and a cagey CM who I do not remember the name of. They could barely keep up with Williams Jamaicans that day and were extremely lucky to survive. Enough wasting keystrokes on such a useless topic.

[Mr.Right]

Stay classy NCAC..sleep well tonight

[lastguyoffthebench]

I hate to say it but when this sort of thing happens, moving venues this could turn into a Sunday-Monday affair or even Monday-Tuesday...They will most likely move it to the closest Turf field available but if traffic is stuck who knows.

This happened in 2002 Keene St sectional...Arcadia beat Keene st and Williams beat defending national champion Richard Stockton. They woke up to a ice storm and could not use Keene St field. Arcadia v Williams got moved to Southern CT State and Williams lost in PK's to a much weaker Arcadia side. One of Williams worst losses in an NCAA tournament

That was hardly a weak Arcadia team, they had white, degeorge, pocaroba, wimsey, etc - a bunch of guys I played with after school - and were more than deserving of a place in the elite 8

Yeah, that was a pretty darn good Arcadia side.  Their star rose and fell fairly quickly with their coach--name escapes me at the moment--moving on.  But for a few years with that group of players, they had a high-octane attack.

They also played in a shoe-box.   

The CM you are referring to is Tommy DeGeorge.  Had both he and Robbie White attended Arcadia for four years instead of transferring in from Manor College... they might have made a final four or kept the program on the map longer.  If you had to ask me who was a better player:  Jeremy Payne or Tommy DeGeorge... I'm going with Tommy. 

[oldonionbag]

Tufts played the rest of the game with the very good balance of defensive compactness and limited but far from non-existent offensive forays.  I think they got the game plan just right for so long as the game stayed 1-0 in their favor (which it did until the end).  They continued to create the occasional dangerous chance and kept Messiah's defense on their toes throughout.  Messiah's defense was up to the task for the most part, though there were some nervy moments.

In possession, I think Messiah displayed their skill and illustrated what makes them best team in D-III.  The Falcons' great touches, control, short passing, and combination play were on good display despite Tufts playing good, tough defense and closing the Falcons down quickly without losing their shape and compactness.  However, regardless of how impressively the Falcons worked the ball through Tufts' challenges, the time it took to advance the ball into the offensive third meant the Jumbos always had the middle of the field crowded, giving Messiah no room to work in and around the top of the area.  Thus the low shot total for the Falcons.  Tufts did a great job of making sure defenders didn't get isolated on Payne and making sure he had little time or space to turn.  One of the few times he did, he almost scored the equalizer.

Tufts is a very good team and they certainly did not lack for self-belief, they certainly were not afraid of Messiah, and they clearly and genuinely relished the chance to knock off the kings of Division III.  You combine that with an early goal, an effective game plan and the players to execute it well, and some good fortune with the Messiah shots off the woodwork and you have yourself a win.  Messiah will rue those shots off the woodwork and the goal-line clearance, but they can have no complaints as Tufts worked hard, played well, and earned what they got.

I feel bad for the Messiah seniors.  Just when you think Messiah can't get any better, they did take the level of play to yet another level.  They very likely are the best class to pass through the Messiah program and that's saying something.  And yet, they will be the first class in 10 years to leave with just two championship rings instead of three.  Sure, there's no reason for anyone else to feel sorry for players with two national titles.  But they brought as much or more skill and as much or more effort and as much or more heart as their predecessors, and as a fan you still somehow feel they "deserved" better even though you know that's not how sports works, especially not in soccer.   

Great summary Flying Weasel. Being a follower of the team, is that the best you've seen a team play against Messiah this year? It was funny- while watching the second half I kep thinking to myself "well, if Messiah scores they deserve it...and then immediately thinking "well, if Tufts scores they deserve it too". While Messiah was unlucky not to score (clearance off the line, off the crossbar), I also thought that Tufts played very well picking times to go forward and counter and felt as though Santos or Hoppenot could have added an insurance goal if not for some great goalkeeping. It was an extremely entertaining game!

Also, the unsung hero for me was the CB for Messiah, #21. If not for him, I think Tufts gets another goal. He was calm on the ball and made excellent decisions when Tufts brought numbers forward. He and Hoppenot had a great little moment after they fouled each other- they got up and patted each other on the back and shook hands. Class on both sides after a hard-fought battle.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Dumbest question of the year will be awarded to me... but will this Messiah/Tufts game be on youtube or on demand?   I missed the entire first half and was unable to connect to the live stream, just resorted to watching the not-so-live stats.


CNU 3-2 over OWU is the prediction today.

[Ryan Harmanis]

The game today is going to be interesting. Forecast in Gambier is 60s, but 30 MPH winds with gusts up to 55 MPH. It also poured all night so who knows how this will play out. The one thing I'd expect would be goals.

[Domino1195]

The game today is going to be interesting. Forecast in Gambier is 60s, but 30 MPH winds with gusts up to 55 MPH. It also poured all night so who knows how this will play out. The one thing I'd expect would be goals.

Line of strong storms moving through Columbus right now (11:20 am). Impossible to say how this game will turn out under these conditions.  Watched OSU at ND last night - players needed scuba gear.

[Flying Weasel]

Great summary Flying Weasel. Being a follower of the team, is that the best you've seen a team play against Messiah this year? It was funny- while watching the second half I kep thinking to myself "well, if Messiah scores they deserve it...and then immediately thinking "well, if Tufts scores they deserve it too". While Messiah was unlucky not to score (clearance off the line, off the crossbar), I also thought that Tufts played very well picking times to go forward and counter and felt as though Santos or Hoppenot could have added an insurance goal if not for some great goalkeeping. It was an extremely entertaining game!

Also, the unsung hero for me was the CB for Messiah, #21. If not for him, I think Tufts gets another goal. He was calm on the ball and made excellent decisions when Tufts brought numbers forward. He and Hoppenot had a great little moment after they fouled each other- they got up and patted each other on the back and shook hands. Class on both sides after a hard-fought battle.

Yes, given that York was only a shadow of what they have been, Montclair State was a step down this year, and Cortland State obviously weren't up to the task on Saturday, Tufts would have to represent the toughest opponent for the Falcons this season.  Over the past decade, the best team to play Messiah straight up and succeed in beating the Falcons at their own game has been York.  Trinity edged Messiah in the 2007 semifinal playing the Falcons straight-up with both team playing well and cancelling each other out.  Loras played Messiah straight-up in the 2012 semifinal and pushed Messiah to the limit.  Those are some of the few examples of teams matching Messiah without compromising their attack-minded style and approach.  Tufts doesn't play as close a style to Messiah as those teams and it doesn't seem that they truly played the Falcons straight up--I'm guessing they played a bit more defensive, more compact, with more players behind the ball than they usually do against most opponents.  And that's not to take anything away from Tufts as the name of the game is to do what it takes to win and move on, and Tufts did that.  But I don't categorize the game with some of those other epic battles I mentioned.  It may be in its own category as it's also certainly not a Neumann situation of a lopsided game won by the inferior 10-men behind the ball for 90 minutes team.  Last years's Kenyon match in the Sweet 16 had a very similar feel to the Tufts game except that Messiah came through with the win in the end.  It's rare, but Messiah has occasionally been outplayed by an opponent on the day (e.g. CNU in the 2008 Elite 8), but found a way to win anyways.  Messiah wasn't overmatched or outplayed by Tufts.  Matched, neutralized, stalemated, etc. would be far better characterizations, IMO.

And, yes, #21 Carter Robbins is one cool customer.  He exudes calmness . . . to the point of almost appearing dangerously non-chalant at times.  But he can be as fiesty and combative (in a good way) as they come, as you noticed in that taggle with Hoppenot.  There's a reason he's been named an All-American.  Messiah has had a lot of top notch centerbacks over the years, but I'm pretty sure none have ever made the job look so effortless (which it certainly isn't).

[Falconer]

I've known quite a few players well enough to ask them, after four years, which teams did they regard as the toughest opponents in that period. Three of the most common answers from past seasons (not this season): Loras, Williams (referring to the epic 0-0 game here http://www.messiah.edu/gomessiah/sports/mens_soccer/statistics/2006/ncaamess.htm), and UC-Santa Cruz (despite the fact that Messiah blew it open by scoring on their first 3 shots to win the national title). Other teams come up also, but those 3 came up quite a bit--especially Williams. If memory serves, Williams had us beaten, except for an unbelievable save (according to the Williams radio team, who kept saying it) by Dustin Shambach, who was probably the best keeper we've ever had.

[GarbageGoals33]

Surprised Gustavus in the 2005 Final doesn't show up on the list of best teams Messiah has played.  GAC had a goal called back, statistics are basically even.  Goal midway through the second half by Lenehan sealed it.

[GarbageGoals33]

Fun fact about the 2004 UC-Santa Cruz team... They had Stephen Wondolowski on their team, younger brother of Chris Wondowloski, USMNT.

[Saint of Old]

Have to go with OWU in this one.

Just not convinced a new champion will be crowned this season.

[Mr.Right]

I think OWU is a bit down this year but lets see what this game offers

[Mr.Right]

The way that wind is blowing it is probably a good thing there is no audio

[Mr.Right]

early goals...love em or hate em..this one is debatable