2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[OldMCGuy]

Messiah over York(PA) 5-0 in a game that was closer than the final score.  First half was pretty even, with York creating the better opportunities.  Second half, Messiah finished their chances.

[PaulNewman]

I watched 2nd half of Messiah.  They looked fantastic.  A 5-0 win sends a message to the rest of D3 if any was needed.

Outside of the Falcons, CNU and Wheaton (Ill) appear to be the hottest teams in the country.  CNU wins tonight 5-1 away at Lynchburg.

Some other notables still struggling.  Swat, at home, in scoreless draw with winless Neumann.  OWU, at home, squeaks by Hanover in OT.   Wesleyan loses at home 1-0 to WNEC.

Wheaton (MA) escaped 3-2 late against Roger Williams.

[wchandy22]

Has any other player won 4 titles by way of red shirt other than Josh Wood?

I believe three players from Messiah history have played on four National Championship teams.  The first to do it was Andy Rosamilia.  Brett Faro (younger brother of the assistant coach) was 2nd and Josh Wood was third.

[Falconer]

I saw the first have of the Messiah-York game as pretty even, with the Falcons probably owning the ball more often, but York was constantly in the passing lanes disrupting the attack. The best opportunity in the first half was a bullet header off a great cross, but somehow York's keeper got to it. The second half was all Messiah, most of the way. Indeed it was a message. The final 3 goals were all scored by freshmen, however. The final tally in the closing minute came on a great shot from outside the 18 on the dead run by Colby Thomas, one of the all-time leading scorers in PA high school history (http://thetimes-tribune.com/sports/all-region-colby-thomas-boys-player-of-the-year-1.1406926). He also set up the previous goal all by himself, basically. He's a fast, stocky guy with moves who has a nose for the ball. Should be fun to watch him once the seniors leave and he gets lots more PT--which he will. It was his first goal, after having been robbed a couple of times in earlier games. The keeper had no chance on this one; the only question was whether it would stay under the bar.

I noticed how young this year's York squad is. There might be only 3 seniors on the roster. They played harder than the score shows, but it was nice to see our shots start going in, after a stretch in which misses were too frequent.

[PaulNewman]

Brandeis avoided tripping up at Babson just a few days after getting by Tufts.  Impressive.  Salisbury also still rolling, winning 3-1 against Roanoke.  Emory struggled with Birm-Southern but ended up with 2-0 win.  Luther, a little bit under the radar, remains undefeated with 5-4 win in a shootout vs St Olaf.

Wabash gets good win for them on the road at Rose-Hulman.

[Brother Flounder]

I watched 2nd half of Messiah.  They looked fantastic.  A 5-0 win sends a message to the rest of D3 if any was needed.

Outside of the Falcons, CNU and Wheaton (Ill) appear to be the hottest teams in the country.  CNU wins tonight 5-1 away at Lynchburg.

Some other notables still struggling.  Swat, at home, in scoreless draw with winless Neumann.  OWU, at home, squeaks by Hanover in OT.   Wesleyan loses at home 1-0 to WNEC.

Wheaton (MA) escaped 3-2 late against Roger Williams.

Hasn't Wheaton illinois lost twice already?

[KnightFalcon]

Yes - Wheaton has lost twice (Hope & Whitworth) early in the year. But they have some very strong talent with speed and look to be playing more organized than I've seen them in the last few years. Their confidence is growing too. Big test will be against North Park later in the season.

[pad3fan]

In addition, both those teams are "Top 10" teams. They also beat 2 "Top 25" teams in Montclair and Calvin. Doubt any team in the country has played a tougher schedule in their first 10 games. Actually a bigger test lurking is this Friday vs. Wash U. away. North Park is still several weeks away and will be big..... come that time!

[Jump4Joy]

NCAC NE,
Maybe I'm reading it incorrectly, but your post about Brandeis having "avoided being tripped up by Babson" seems to imply that it was a close game. While Babson enjoyed the game for the first 10 mins or so (nearly scoring twice), it was all Brandeis after that, really. The Judges did especially well in making the field very big on attack by passing in triangles and then switching the point. They were composed on the ball--perhaps because Babo never went high pressure. The gap between Babson's midfielders and their lone striker posting up against two capable center backs served as an abyss when Babson won possession deep and thumped it forward over the chasm. Brandeis looked comfortable and confident. I didn't see the Tufts game, but I wonder if the Jumbos pressed the ball to shrink the field against the Judges and, if so, what effect that kind of pressure has on Brandeis.
Note: Babson's facility is a quality, soccer-specific field of dreams.

[PaulNewman]

J4J, yes, you read it a bit incorrectly.  I meant that the Babson game so soon after the big win over Tufts was a potential trap game against a pretty good opponent who could have used a big win over Brandeis in case they are a bubble team down the road.  Babson did after all beat Williams on the road.  So I found Brandeis taking of business impressive.

[PaulNewman]

Wheaton (Ill) lost 2 tight 1-0 games early, and as noted against teams that have been ranked in the top 10.  They have played a monster schedule, much like CNU. IMHO they are one of the few teams that can match (or come close to) Messiah talent-wise -- skilled, fast and athletic, and BIG.  I don't see North Park being a problem for them.  In considering who can challenge Messiah I'm thinking of teams that have some offensive explosiveness so that Messiah would have to do some defending of their own, and Wheaton (Ill), CNU, and Trinity (TX) appear to be such teams.  Loras still may be one, and Kenyon has quite a bit of firepower but we need to see how the Lords fare against better competition.  I know it's possible, but it's hard to imagine Messiah losing in a 1-0 or 0-0 contest.

One other note on Wheaton.  This is their coach's final season, so I would assume the players want this badly (as they would anyway).  We'll see if that added pressure is a positive or negative.  Wheaton also is much like Messiah in terms of having a broadcasting "network" with at least 2 commentators, post-game coach interviews, etc.  Bottom line is Wheaton is a legit contender.

[MidwestAficionado]

This one flew under the radar a bit, but Dominican lost to Benedictine (IL) on Tuesday night for the 2nd year in a row. Last year Dominican had their 100+ conference win streak snapped.

Some highlights: http://youtu.be/pailqrzWLEk

Has Dominican fallen or is Benedictine simply a team who has caught up?

[gustiefan04]

I have seen Wheaton play a few times this year. They have great speed and strength, and get numbers forward quickly. Their holding CM maybe one of the best players I've seen in that role in a few years. This team could be poised for a deep NCAA run should their form continue, and they remain injury free.

Loras seems to be having a rough start when compared to the last few years. I've seen portions of a few games and they are playing a far more direct style, and have taken a hit with an injury or two. I think Luther, Wartburg, GAC and/or St. Olaf could end up spoiling the show for Loras if they can't start putting together complete games.

IMHO Dominican has been on the decline the last couple of seasons. With 4 L's already, and no signature Non-conference wins, they appear to be in a must-win conference situation if they hope to make the NCAA's.

[Jump4Joy]

NCAC NE: Understood.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Taking a shot at the top 25 here....

1.   Messiah
2.   Kenyon
3.   SUNY Oneonta
4.   Trinity
5.   Brandeis
6.   F&M
7.   Emory
8.   Hope
9.   Luther
10.  CNU
11.  Loras
12.  Amherst
13.  Whitworth
14.  Rochester
15.  OWU
16.  Wheaton Ill
17.  RPI
18.  Salisbury
19.  Wheaton MA
20.  Muhlenberg
21.  North Park
22   St. Norbert
23.  Colorado College
24.  Rose-Hulman
25.  Middlebury

RV - Swat, DePauw, GAC, UCSC, Birmingham-Southern

Better move Calvin in there as they beat Hope 4-1

I wonder how the Central Region will vote...  I would put Wheaton 1 (8th in nation), Calvin 2 (14), Hope (19), Washington, North Park.