2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

Geez I was hoping for 120 v 80...

[Golden_Fan]

It could be I haven't been there in a while and I could not find any of the dimensions online

[lastguyoffthebench]

While a few of us are tweaking each other about NESCAC COY, here are a few national nominations...

Parsons from Coast Guard

Keller from Wabash

Coven from Brandeis

Wagner from F&M

Topping from Muhlenberg

Brown from Kenyon

Souders from Calvin

Byrne from Oneonta

I don't know a thing about Byrne and how reality matches the written word, but I loved this linked below....

http://www.oneontaathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=515&path=msoc

Wagner should beat out McCarty....

Parsons from Coast Guard should beat out Brandeis, although you could argue either way.   As far as the NESCAC I'd vote for the Colby coach.

How about POY race?  Is this Payne's to lose at this point?  Who are some of the top nominees from other regions?  Vegter from Calvin, Araujo from Newark, Brown from CNU, Bloecher from OWU.   

[lastguyoffthebench]

A player from Oneonta St, Kenyon, Brandeis, and Trinity has to be in the race...

Who is likely to win UAA player of the year?

[Midwest Soccer]

Vegter from Calvin is my front runner. Tough decision but I'd rate him higher than Payne. And in my opinion, Payne wasn't the most worthy recipient his sophomore year. Had a great season but I thought there were others more deserving and for what it's worth, Jack Thompson is still for me, the most valuable player on that team with Brian Ramirez being a close 2nd.

[Mr.Right]

just noticed the SAA conference in the south has a tournament for 8 teams and plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 3 days in a row for the winner and the finals loser. That is really interesting. What is the reason behind this schedule? It is a good way to pick up unnecessary injuries

[Soccergeek]

Vegter from Calvin is my front runner. Tough decision but I'd rate him higher than Payne. And in my opinion, Payne wasn't the most worthy recipient his sophomore year. Had a great season but I thought there were others more deserving and for what it's worth, Jack Thompson is still for me, the most valuable player on that team with Brian Ramirez being a close 2nd.

I have to agree with you.  Having seen Calvin play multiple games this season, it's hard to imagine a player meaning more to his team than Vegter.  He is simply a beast on the field.

[lastguyoffthebench]

I'd agree with you on Thompson, Midwest Soccer.   

Vegter and Araujo are almost identical in career GPG and PPG, both play strong schedules, but Calvin has made deeper runs and most likely will make a run this year.

[jknezek]

just noticed the SAA conference in the south has a tournament for 8 teams and plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 3 days in a row for the winner and the finals loser. That is really interesting. What is the reason behind this schedule? It is a good way to pick up unnecessary injuries

Interesting. Not sure the reason except that the whole tournament is hosted by one school. The idea is probably just to get it done as expediently as possible. The SAA is one of those conferences that is spread out everywhere. If you played the first two rounds at the higher seed the travel would be onerous with lots of missed class time. It is possible that a 3 round tournament over a week would involve either traveling or playing all or part of every day of the week for the final two teams. Friday, Saturday, Sunday in one location minimizes the affect on classes. Tough schedule, but probably more feasible regarding getting kids to classes.

[Mr.Right]

Understood. I thought that was the case but wanted someone to confirm. Thanks

[chelseafc30]

A player from Oneonta St, Kenyon, Brandeis, and Trinity has to be in the race...

Who is likely to win UAA player of the year?

I think that Justice from Kenyon has to be the favorite for National DPOY. Kenyon has the lowest goals against average across all three Divisions of college soccer (4 GA in 17 GP) and he is a massive reason for that.

[PaulNewman]

From an opponent perspective Thompson scares me more than any other player on Messiah.  Is he back to 100%?  And Ramirez for me is the most valuable if we can make that differentiation....the kind of player who refuses to let his team lose and I'm guessing has a ton of leadership qualities in "real life" as well.

Justice from Kenyon is what D3 athletics at its best is all about.  No trash talk.  Never says a word.  Always defers to teammates in terms of the limelight.  Makes every play.  And an academic stud.

[Midwest Soccer]

Chelseafc,

A defender winning NPOY is no easy task, JD Binger was the last to do it in 2008. Not to say Justice doesn't have a chance, but in 2009 OWU let in TWO goals through the regular season (later self-imploded in post season) and only one player from their back line even made All-American.

I think it was Amherst who gave up 3 goals in the entire season a few years back and didn't have a shout for a player of the year (I think that was the year Payne won which was the most open year).

Vegter also has been to a national final where he scored 3 goals as a freshman. Kid can play.

[PaulNewman]

Midwest, chelseafc said Defensive POY (not NPOY) fwiw.

[Midwest Soccer]

Fair enough, for d3soccer.com awards I would agree with that choice!