2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[PaulNewman]

Stevenson holds Messiah to a 0-0 draw.

[chelseafc30]

Stevenson holds Messiah to a 0-0 draw.

Will this affect any polls? Or will Messiah still be #1 at the end of the day because everyone knows they're in a class by themselves.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Messiah ties Stevenson 0-0 after double OT

[D3soccerwatcher]

Stevenson holds Messiah to a 0-0 draw.

Will this affect any polls? Or will Messiah still be #1 at the end of the day because everyone knows they're in a class by themselves.

Kenyon is now the only unblemished team in the land.  Wheaton is at #5 with two losses.  So at most, with one tie Messiah drops to #2...maybe.

Messiah is great...but they are human...and yes there are other really good D3 soccer teams out there.

[Corazon]

Sounds like Stevenson packed it in.  Would be nice to get an account from someone who saw the game.

Hard to justify Messiah not maintaining #1 status but I suppose it's possible that Kenyon, with the only unblemished record, moves up.

[Cheesehead Henry]

Stevenson holds Messiah to a 0-0 draw.

Will this affect any polls? Or will Messiah still be #1 at the end of the day because everyone knows they're in a class by themselves.

Kenyon is now the only unblemished team in the land.  Wheaton is at #5 with two losses.  So at most, with one tie Messiah drops to #2...maybe.

Messiah is great...but they are human...and yes there are other really good D3 soccer teams out there.

Messiah had 26 shots and only 4 on frame. Hard to win when the ball just isn't bouncing your way sometimes.

[chelseafc30]

By the time next week's polls come out, if Kenyon wins at rival Denison tomorrow and then at #16 Wabash on Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised to see them at #1, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Messiah retain #1 either.

[PaulNewman]

There's no question that Messiah is still the best in the land, but a poll is slightly different.  First of all, there are a lot of games to play between now and the next polls, which after all, mean nothing even though they are fun for us fans and for a headline on a school website.  And every team that has lost or had a draw has moved down a spot or two if the teams immediately behind them haven't had any blemishes.  Why should Messiah be any different?  So yeah, if Kenyon wins the next two, or F&M wins if Kenyon gets knocked off, another team should be #1 and will be in at least one of the polls.

[KnightFalcon]

I agree - Kenyon should move up and get their shot at #1.
As for the Messiah tie - I only saw the last part of the game and OTs, but messiah owned possession and had several good scoring chances. Goalie made a one handed save on one, several blocks by defenders and several solid headers sent just wide of the post. Thought Thompson won it in OT2 with a clean header that froze the keeper but went just wide. They'll be fine ... They seem to have a game like this each year and it sharpens them up. Bodes well for their homecoming game on Saturday night against Albright as I suspect they'll be ready to get back on track in front of a large crowd.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Sounds like Stevenson packed it in.  Would be nice to get an account from someone who saw the game.

Hard to justify Messiah not maintaining #1 status but I suppose it's possible that Kenyon, with the only unblemished record, moves up.

I watched the entire game online.  Stevens packed it in big time - the stats show that too.  Messiah had chances to win several times but shots went just wide or high or were blocked...including what looked like a sure winning shot that hit the back of a defender standing just in front of the goal line. Undeniable domination by Messiah, but it was one of those nights where they just couldn't find the back of the net.  To Stevenson's credit they came into the game with a plan to defend and they did just that for almost the entire game.  They did however create a few opportunities on the occasional counter, especially as Messiah was pressing forward to try to win the game.  So kudos to Stevenson, I think they probably achieved what they hoped for.

[Flying Weasel]

I would expect Kenyon to easily overtake Messiah if they win their two games, especially given the Wabash game would give them a Top 25 win.  I'd wouldn't be surprised if Messiah retained some first place votes, but wouldn't expect many.  Kenyon's 592 point total this week does indicate that not all voters have them at No. 2, so F&M and Trinity (Tx.) might even grab a couple first place votes.

Right now (tonight) a reasonable case could certainly be made to keep Messiah ahead of Kenyon (Messiah has commanding wins over No. 16 Montclair St. and RV Dickinson while Kenyon has no signature wins yet given their season opening win caught Carnegie Mellon at the outset of a poor 2-3 (6 GF, 9 GA) start.), but that would be partially neutralized if Kenyon beats Wabash and voters might remember Messiah's narrow (on the scoreboard) 3-2 win over Lebanon Valley and hold that against them more next week than they did this week. 

A Kenyon-Wabash tie would make for a much more intriguing Top 25 vote next week, probably bringing F&M and Trinity (Tx.) more into play.

[KnightFalcon]

What are some of the other best D3 soccer venues?

KnightFalcon, thanks for your other comment.  I have really enjoyed learning more about all of the different colleges and their programs  across the United States.  I've actually learned a lot.  I tend to have an East Coast bias, along with a New Englandish bias for the US News Top 50 lists, and so to learn about all of these other great places, where kids achieve at such a high level and then go on to do great things and where the alumni feel so passionately about their schools, is something I really appreciate.  It's actually liberating to learn about all these other places where such wonderful things happen.

Was hoping someone would pose the best venues question. In addition to Hope, I'd include:
Messiah's Shoemaker field - great crowds, excellent surface and the mystique that goes with all those national titles. Plus, the sunsets at game time are unforgettable. A great experience all the way around.
Wheaton (IL) Joe Bean field - nothing like having trains go by during the game and getting hit by a ball kicked out of bounds
The Rock Pile at Loras is another tough place to play - I will get there myself someday to see a match
OWU is a legendary venue too with a very nice structure

Any others?

[PaulNewman]

Getting way ahead of ourselves on the polls.  Kenyon's tougher game probably is tomorrow against Denison, a big rivalry game and Denison should have a big crowd.  But if Kenyon does win the next two how jacked up would the OWU Battling Bishops be coming into Gambier on the very same day Kenyon reached #1? 

I think F&M and Trinity are very much in play.

As for venues, Christopher Newport looks nice.  I think either Roanoke or Lynchburg has a nice new facility, and Dickinson's field looked perfect on video a week or so ago.  Joe Bean doesn't have an attractive surface and the sidelines, corners, and touchlines are way too tight.

[backyarddawg]

Any respect for Eastern University yet?

They now sit at 10-2 with wins over York (4-1) and tonight against conference rival Misericordia (1-0 2 ot).  Their only blemishes were on the road at RUC where Camden scored early and a slip up against Albright.  Definitely a team which seems to be peaking and getting unnoticed.  Not a top 10 team yet but definitely someone with their remaining schedule who could finish 15-2 on the year with their only tough game remaining is King's.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Any respect for Eastern University yet?

They now sit at 10-2 with wins over York (4-1) and tonight against conference rival Misericordia (1-0 2 ot).  Their only blemishes were on the road at RUC where Camden scored early and a slip up against Albright.  Definitely a team which seems to be peaking and getting unnoticed.  Not a top 10 team yet but definitely someone with their remaining schedule who could finish 15-2 on the year with their only tough game remaining is King's.

I think Eastern is on the rise and may start getting more votes soon.  I believe their coach is a former Messiah player, so no surprise they are experiencing growing success.