2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

Cannot believe Babson is hosting. I am kind of glad as their video is good. NEWMAC is going to go 1-2-0 1st round and Wheaton will go out in 2nd round against either Dickinson or Tufts

[Mr.Right]

Just for clarification purposes on my comment... Both programs are fantastic, both are usually worthy of a first round bye, but let's get these teams some tricky early games.

They deserve a easy ticket into Sweet 16 if they earned it in the regular season. Now the sweet 16 needs to be more competitive I will give you that

[PaulNewman]

Just for clarification purposes on my comment... Both programs are fantastic, both are usually worthy of a first round bye, but let's get these teams some tricky early games.

I agree...Yes, they've earned their paths so to speak, but it's a bit circular too.  Both of those teams, and Oneonta and Wheaton, literally could leave their starting units at home and get to the sweet 16.  I would have loved to see Messiah have to deal with a Rochester or Salisbury or Newark in at least the 2nd round.

The WORST case scenario for Messiah is Cortland, Newark or Babson in the sweet 16 and then an Elite 8 game with Wheaton, Tufts, or Muhlenberg.  Might as well fly them to KC right now.  Compare that to F&M who has to get through Rochester/Salisbury and Oneonta just to get to the Elite 8, and then Brandeis, SLU or Amherst waiting on the other side before they even get to the Final Four.  Or Kenyon that would have to get through North Park, OWU or Calvin, and then Montclair, Christopher Newport, Emory, or Whitworth.

[wchandy22]

Messiah is beatable, or should I say drawable with the opportunity to advance in PKs. Haven't seen them play, but in D3 soccer anything is possible. With a good GK and an organized defense if you park the bus you can stay in any game. The one blemish on Messiah's record this season was against a below average team.

If you had the opportunity to see Messiah play then you might have seen the "park the bus" strategy used against them time and time again. In years past, I thought Messiah had very tough roads to the Final Four. This year is one of those rare exceptions where I, and many others, believe their quadrant to be the weakest. I don't enjoy games where opponents have 10 players behind the ball for most of the game. That is why I have the utmost respect for teams like York, Loras and others who have always given Messiah a great game (this year's York contest notwithstanding). But I am not so naïve to think one or more teams in this tournament might not want to "park the bus" and take their chances in PKs when playing Messiah.  But you should take the opportunity to see them once before offering an opinion.

[GarbageGoals33]

Does this Messiah team do things differently than Messiah teams from years past or is it the same system? I have watched multiple Messiah games in previous seasons dating back to 2004 but haven't watched them play this year...

[Mr.Right]

since your here could you answer my question that everyone else ignored could Messiah beat Navy this year at home?

[PaulNewman]

I agree if I understand wchandy correctly.  The "park the bus" and play for PKs strategy will work against Messiah about once every 90-100 games.  Not to mention that notwithstanding the Lycoming aberration, Messiah almost always is going to have the far superior PK takers.  Certainly even worthy opponents need to have some kind of defensive strategy but still play and put some pressure on their defense so that the ball isn't in your own final third 80-85% of the game.  The biggest problem with Messiah is that it is like trying to squeeze a balloon.  You have to pick your poison, and there just is too much poison to cover.  All 10 of their players are a risk to score.

[PaulNewman]

since your here could you answer my question that everyone else ignored could Messiah beat Navy this year at home?

Yes, at least sometimes.  I bet they would be a top 3 team in the Patriot League.  And one of reasons is that in addition to their trademark very high skill and soccer IQ levels they are a BIG and FAST team.  They physically can match up with D1 teams and I would guess are bigger than 60% of D1 teams.  Anyone who hasn't seen them play in person needs to do that to appreciate just how good they are.  In person vs video is essential (and that's true for a lot of these teams).

[PaulNewman]

Mr.Right, let's compile a list of teams we need scouting reports on.  I'll start....

Cortland
Brockport
Oneonta***
Salisbury
Wartburg***
GAC
Dominican
Trinity (TX)***
Newark
Muhlenberg***
North Park***
Whitworth***
Montclair***

[gustiefan04]

No team should have an easy path. The whole point of the competition is to bring the best of the best together in one tournament to duke it out and crown a champion.

There are three teams who earn a first round byes. Beyond that nothing should be guaranteed. Certainly not a pass to the sweet 16. That's absurd.

A big part of what makes soccer such a great sport is that on any given day, no matter how outmatched, your team can earn a result that you likely wouldn't otherwise. 

The park the bus strategy may not work often, but it's no less effective than playing Messiah straight up. There aren't many teams that can play a full 90 plus OT with messiah regardless of tactics.

[Mr.Right]

I saw Oneonta play at Hamilton 2 weeks ago and was not impressed but I assume it was a midweek game and they might have been sleeping thru it. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and if it was not for their keeper who made 3 of the best saves I have seen all season they would have lost to Hamilton.

I saw NOrth Park play Elmhurst last Thursday and really did not think I was watching a NCAA team. Elmhurst was controlling play for most of the game.

Muhlenberg I was impressed with.

The others I would need some help

[Mr.Right]

No team should have an easy path. The whole point of the competition is to bring the best of the best together in one tournament to duke it out and crown a champion.

There are three teams who earn a first round byes. Beyond that nothing should be guaranteed. Certainly not a pass to the sweet 16. That's absurd.

A big part of what makes soccer such a great sport is that on any given day, no matter how outmatched, your team can earn a result that you likely wouldn't otherwise. 

The park the bus strategy may not work often, but it's no less effective than playing Messiah straight up. There aren't many teams that can play a full 90 plus OT with messiah regardless of tactics.





Unless you eliminate the AQ for undeserving conferences this will always happen

[PaulNewman]

I saw Oneonta play at Hamilton 2 weeks ago and was not impressed but I assume it was a midweek game and they might have been sleeping thru it. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and if it was not for their keeper who made 3 of the best saves I have seen all season they would have lost to Hamilton.

I saw NOrth Park play Elmhurst last Thursday and really did not think I was watching a NCAA team. Elmhurst was controlling play for most of the game.

Muhlenberg I was impressed with.

The others I would need some help

But don't you think it's very hard to judge via video?  I am amazed at the difference in the speed of the game and skill levels when I see a game live vs video that makes it seem like just a decent high school game.

[wchandy22]

since your here could you answer my question that everyone else ignored could Messiah beat Navy this year at home?

Could?  Certainly!  There isn't a D1 opponent Messiah has faced that they thought they couldn't push for 90 minutes. Oddly enough, Messiah and Navy have one opponent in common this year. Messiah has become an attractive spring game opponent for other Patriot League teams. I was talking with a member of the Bucknell coaching staff this spring (at the game) and he told me as much. The Bucknell men's soccer team had just returned from what he thought was a very positive trip to Europe. They were having a promising spring and he was quite hopeful of a successful upcoming season. But the comment from the BUsoccer twitter account after the game sums it up . . .

"Lost to defending Div III National Champion Messiah 1 3.  A lot to learn from tonight's game!"

Bucknell Men's Soccer @BUsoccer
https://twitter.com/BUsoccer/status/455158883255091200

[PaulNewman]

In case anyone is interested the NIT has just announced their 16 team field with their final four to be held at Gaelic Park in the Bronx....

Top 4 seeds

Luther
John Carroll
Rutgers-Camden
Haverford

The other 12 teams

St Olaf
Elmhurst
Roanoke
CMU
Middlebury
Centre
Wesleyan
Kalamazoo
UW-O
Colorado Coll
Willamette
Wabash

First 4 out -- Williams, Santa Cruz, Puget Sound, Lycoming

Geez, I forgot WPI....someone's got to get bumped out.