2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[wchandy22]

Tufts and Amherst play to 1-1 draw on a wonderful homecoming atmosphere. York and CNU also play to a 1-1 draw.

Messiah over Misericordia 3-0 with goals by Raul Serrano, Jack Thompson and Colby Thomas. On a related note, here's a recipe for Queso Fundido with Colby Jack cheese and Serrano chili peppers.

Beyond nachos
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2011/05/01/beyond_nachos/

[PaulNewman]

In sympathy with the NESCAC we got some other interesting results around the nation.

Ohio Northern loses to Anderson, the same Anderson that got drilled 9-0 by DePauw.

Rochester loses in OT on the road at Lycoming, with the latter now an impressive 8-0-2.

Coast Guard in the wake of its impressive start suffers its first loss of the season to struggling Clark.

St. Johns beats GAC in OT.

Oneonta, maybe the hottest team not named Wheaton (Ill), Christopher Newport, or Messiah, cools off with a 2-2 draw with Cortland in a gmae that for some quirky playoffs reason goes to PKs where Oneonta apparently prevails 5-4.  And speaking of CNU, they finally cool off with a draw against a York squad desperate for a result.

Swat's very recent struggles mount with a 3-2 OT loss to Hopkins.

Montclair tried to get healthy with a 4-0 throttling of Richard Stockton, and similarly Vassar bounces back with a good win over Skidmore.

UMass-Boston beats UMass-Dartmouth 7-0, which seems almost impossible.

McDaniel gets a win over Haverford.

Wartburg gets by Simpson 4-3.

Carnegie Mellon is trying hard to rebound and gets a pretty good win over Grove City.

The Little Giants of Wabash win 1-0 over Hiram and are now unbeaten at 7-0-2.

Babson bounces back with an important 3-2 win at MIT.

Kenyon prevails in one of the highest profile games of the day with a solid 1-0 victory over DePauw.  Henceforth, this one should be dubbed the Shaka Smart-Brad Stevens bowl.

In the Centennial, many may be surprised to hear that Gettysburg is 7-1-1 with the only loss being to Messiah and today gets a 1-1 draw with fellow strong starter Muhlenberg (6-0-2).   Dickinson, now at 6-2-1 pounded Ursinus 5-0.

North Park earns a 2-0 decision over Rose-Hulman.

In the OAC where Ohio Northern suddenly looks shaky keep an eye on hard-charging John Carroll which blew out Geneva 6-0.

[wchandy22]

It may be time we begin to acknowledge the accomplishments of Lycoming College. With their 2-1 win over Rochester yesterday they move to 8-0-2 on the season having surrendered only 2 goals thus far. Coach Nate Gibboney took over a program that posted a 5-21-4 conference record in the four years prior to his arrival. In his first year as head coach he led Lycoming to their first conference title and NCAA Tournament wins in school history. At the end of last season they advanced through a stretch of five games in a 2-week stretch where any one of the five games could have ended their season. They held Messiah to just two goals in a total of 200 minutes of soccer. Their defense was very stingy last year and appears to be even better this year. I don't know how long Gibboney will remain at Lycoming but I see nothing but good as long as he remains. If you are available, you may want to catch their game against Messiah on Wednesday, October 8th (video and live stats should be available).

[PaulNewman]

The biggest surprise about the latest poll about yesterday's biggest surprise is Ohio Northern losing to Anderson so far coming in a distant last place.  And the Tufts=Amherst draw is vying for the lead when I was wondering how that even made the list as a surprise.  I personally voted for the Colby-Midd game.

wchandy22, thanks for the background color on Lycoming.  I noticed how stingy they have been on defense reading the recaps of the Rochester game.

[PaulNewman]

Games of the Week

Tuesday

Center Court

Wheaton (MA) at Brandeis -- Biggest non-NESCAC game in New England thus far and maybe for entire regular season.  Both teams are skilled and experienced.  Wheaton may be a bit more athletic overall while Brandeis may have a slight edge in cohesion and overall confidence.  Could see game going either way so perhaps a draw is likely.

Grandstand Court

Swarthmore at Muhlenberg -- Huge week for the Mules with F&M looming Friday.  Swat already has lost a couple of Centennial games so a loss here would really put them in a hole. 

Wednesday

Center Court

Wartburg at Luther -- A heavyweight clash in the IIAC and North Region.  Luther is one of the few unbeaten, untied teams left nationally, and Wartburg could use a signature win to increase odds of being on the right side of the bubble down the road.

Grandstand Court

Middlebury at Williams -- With both losing Saturday, and with Williams in danger of needing to win conference tournament for a bid, the stakes here have magnified.  Williams is at home and one wonders if Midd will have recovered from the Waterville spanking.  These are also two teams that may play again later when a bid really is on the line.

Outside Courts of Interest

Western New England at Amherst -- Trap game for Amherst?  Can the Golden Bears knock off another NESCAC?

Salisbury at Catholic -- Trap game for Salisbury?  I almost scrapped this one when I saw Catholic is 4-5 but I'll trust my instinct.

Gettysburg @ Hopkins -- A win here will keep one of these teams among the leaders in the Centennial.  Will be interesting to see if the Bullets can underscore themselves as a real threat.

Rutgers-Camden at Rowan -- A good down and dirty NJAC clash in the heart of the season that warms the heart of Jersey fans.

North Central at Milwaukee School of Engineering -- Adding this one in hopes that another MSOE reference will get someone to tell us something about them.

Friday

Center Court

Muhlenberg at F&M -- A blockbuster Centennial tilt, especially if Muhlenberg finds a way through against Swat earlier in the week.  Meanwhile F&M is fully intent on solidifying their standing as a top 5 team on the national stage and a legitimate threat to Messiah in the national title race.  BTW, why aren't F&M and Messiah playing in the regular season, especially given the proximity and familial ties between the two schools?

Grandstand Court

Oneonta at Brockport -- a SUNYAC showdown.  Oneonta has been getting all of the press while some of us are still wondering exactly where Brockport is, and so a great opportunity for Brockport to rattle the cages of national voters.  Umm, just saw that Brockport already has 4 draws, so a win here would be big.

Outside Courts of Interest

Elmhurst at Wheaton (Ill) -- A trap game for Wheaton?  I doubt, as I expect the Thunder to keep humming along.

SLU at Union -- A trap game for SLU?  I know I'm wearing out the trap game theme, but I think this is one.

Saturday

Center Court

Tufts at Middlebury -- Is one of the teams going to emerge as a threat to the Amherst/Williams recent stranglehold on the NESCAC?  For perhaps slightly different psychological reasons both of these teams need a win and not a draw, and definitely not a loss.

Grandstand Court

Ohio Northern at John Carroll -- Playing for home field in the OAC tourney?  ONU is at serious risk of missing out on a NCAA bid although their tournament could save them.  John Carroll is pushing to get noticed.  Rumor has it that Don Shula will be talking to the squad this week.

Outside Courts of Interest

Babson at Wheaton (MA) -- Important NEWMAC contest.  Will the NEWMAC get more bids than the NESCAC???

SLU at RPI -- Two good teams trying to avoid too many setbacks.

Rochester at NYU -- A couple of Ls in the loss column put some pressure on UR to win this one.

Williams at Skidmore -- A more important than normal non-conference affair for two teams who can play themselves on or off the right side of the bubble.

Carnegie Mellon at Chicago -- Is the loser toast?

Alvernia at Lycoming -- Trap game for Lycoming.  For real.  When was the last time someone said Lycoming had a trap game?

GAC at St Olaf -- The Gusties want to avoid going down two in the conference loss column to the Oles.

Roanoke at Virginia Wesleyan -- Good old-fashioned ODAC donnybrook with the Marlins trying to play themselves back into contention.

Dickinson at Hopkins -- Will the Centennial picture just be muddier after all these teams have been beating up on one another?

[blooter442]

Games of the Week

Tuesday

Center Court

Wheaton (MA) at Brandeis -- Biggest non-NESCAC game in New England thus far and maybe for entire regular season.  Both teams are skilled and experienced.  Wheaton may be a bit more athletic overall while Brandeis may have a slight edge in cohesion and overall confidence.  Could see game going either way so perhaps a draw is likely.

Wheaton are a very good side. It will be interesting to see how they approach this game tactically. Being at home I'm sure Brandeis will try to take the initiative but I doubt Cushing will bring his guys up there with the intention of parking the bus. Their win at Roger Williams last week was impressive—they played like the home team.

Games of the Week
Tufts at Middlebury -- Is one of the teams going to emerge as a threat to the Amherst/Williams recent stranglehold on the NESCAC?  For perhaps slightly different psychological reasons both of these teams need a win and not a draw, and definitely not a loss.

Middlebury have impressed me but I think Tufts is a bit more cohesive. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but, objectively speaking, if Tufts was better in the final third, they could be 8-0 instead of 5-1-2. That said, home field advantage could prove decisive for Midd. Excited for this one.

[casualfan]

Games of the Week

North Central at Milwaukee School of Engineering -- Adding this one in hopes that another MSOE reference will get someone to tell us something about them.

I've seen MSOE play a couple times. They can be very dangerous. From what I've seen, they're a much better team on turf than on grass. There is a great deal of talent with their top players (L. Andryk, B. Andryk, Skow) who can pop up at any time for goals. Something to watch for with the Raiders is that they are up there with the best on set pieces. Logan Andryk has 6 goals & 14 assists this season with a large portion of the assists coming corners or free kicks. He whips in a ball that is very tough to deal with. They'll be up there with the best in the NACC which has weakened with Dominican's dropoff. But Benedictine and MSOE have improved enough to give a good game to a number of the region's better teams.

[Jump4Joy]

Games of the Week

Games of the Week
Tufts at Middlebury -- Is one of the teams going to emerge as a threat to the Amherst/Williams recent stranglehold on the NESCAC?  For perhaps slightly different psychological reasons both of these teams need a win and not a draw, and definitely not a loss.

Middlebury have impressed me but I think Tufts is a bit more cohesive. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but, objectively speaking, if Tufts was better in the final third, they could be 8-0 instead of 5-1-2. That said, home field advantage could prove decisive for Midd. Excited for this one.

Might be tough for Tufts being on the road at Middlebury: long trip up and without their giant center back (red card). Tufts will be motivated by the chance to stay on top for home-field advantage come time for the conference tournament. Midd will be pushing to remain in the thick of the race.

[wchandy22]

Games of the Week

Tuesday

Center Court

Wheaton (MA) at Brandeis -- Biggest non-NESCAC game in New England thus far and maybe for entire regular season.  Both teams are skilled and experienced.  Wheaton may be a bit more athletic overall while Brandeis may have a slight edge in cohesion and overall confidence.  Could see game going either way so perhaps a draw is likely.

Grandstand Court

Swarthmore at Muhlenberg -- Huge week for the Mules with F&M looming Friday.  Swat already has lost a couple of Centennial games so a loss here would really put them in a hole. 

NCAC New England, I believe you have to include Messiah and E-Town at some court if only for the fact that this is the Marshmallow Match. The environment at this game is like no other. Don't believe me, take a look at last year's game.

2013 Marshmallow Match -- Messiah at E-Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo9QgaVdYNc

[PaulNewman]

wchandy22, that is very cute, and I am sure there is a good deal of tradition there. 

I like the outcome of the games I feature to be at least a little bit in doubt.  Are you suggesting this is a trap game for Messiah, AT HOME?  Not to mention that Messiah already gets plenty of coverage here on the site. 

You had me at Lycoming......... but I can't let myself get nostalgic about the E'town teams of yesteryear.  I will confess that I do really love the Blue Jays' uniforms.

[Ommadawn]

Western New England at Amherst -- Trap game for Amherst?  Can the Golden Bears knock off another NESCAC?

I didn't see WNEU's win against Wesleyan, but it couldn't have been the same team that was taken apart at home by Gordon this past weekend (Gordon's skilled attack was very impressive in its 3-0 road win).  I think it will be 3-0 Amherst.

[PaulNewman]

Wow.  More negative karma after spending a bit of time trying to put something fun together that might be of some interest?  I don't get the karma thing on this site (which will probably earn me some more negative karma), but wouldn't it be more revealing (and interesting) for the reader to actually post the objection in words?  The way it is one has no idea what it is that is being responded to negatively.

[Corazon]

I've never understood the karma thing either.

Onto more interesting topics, my upset prediction of Montclair over Messiah didn't turn out so well. In looking at Messiah's schedule, I'm not sure I see any possible upsets left. Any thoughts?  Looks like deep into NCAAs before a serious challenger might emerge.

[Corazon]

Awesome. My previous post just earned me another negative karma. Keep it coming ...

[PaulNewman]

There you go Corazon.  Got you on the karma comeback trail!