2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

Ok back to the games...Here is a poll idea...Who is the most surprising team in the Sweet 16? Also, for the message boards..why are they the most surprising team?

[Saint of Old]

Cortland.

started the season 0-2 gave up 5 goals to SLU and could have folded.
But they lost that game 5-2 by scoring a goal I the last minute.
I said right there that this team had a whole lot of fight in them. They went on to have an amazing season and could crash the party.
Surprising because in a conference normally dominated by Plattsburgh St. and other more familiar names they managed to arrive this season as a regional power. A hard nosed team that can play good soccer.
They are led by an Irishman in the back I believe and some pretty good strikers up top.

[Mr.Right]

Thanks Saint...Did they play SLU at home? I have only seen Cortland for a half so I really would like to know more. Maybe you have not seen them much either but I am betting they are an athletic bunch. WHat is their formation and how do you predict they will play on Saturday?


Did you read my comment on your game vs Amherst?  Do you agree or disagree about the foul and Gk points? Just curious what you thought in more detail about that game

[oldonionbag]

Sorry for the non-soccer post but while we're on the topic of Cortland...from this past weekend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImcLkon-Kko#t=76

WOW! I hope we get some of those fireworks during the soccer games!

[Mr.Right]

That is insane....should be a top 3 on sportscenter....Love it

[Mr.Right]

Another question...when was the last time two previous years final 4 teams missed the tournament altogether?

[Midwest Soccer]

2011, when Lynchburg and Bowdoin failed.

[stlawus]

Costello came up huge on a few saves, though.  Yeah he probably could have done better but he is not to blame for the result.  Amherst had a couple of breakaways that he defended well on.  At the end of the day it was the squandered golden opportunities that cost SLU the victory. 

[Mr.Right]

I agree Stlawus and I was not saying he was to blame I just felt that the ball literally bounced in front of him and he could of pounced right there than it got tipped to his right and it would have taken guts and excellent athletic ability to maybe knock it away there instead he kind of was ball watching a bit and by that time Bean had roofed it if I can remember

[CentennialFan]

Don't discount Muhlenberg just yet... They are 6-1 against ranked teams this year, and their only loss was a double OT 1-0 loss to F&M. Their defense is excellent, and they usually make the best of their opportunities to score...
They are in arguably one of the toughest conferences in the country too (3 made it to the tournament), and deserve to be where they are. Home field is also key, and they MUST take total advantage of that. It should be a great game, and hoping they make it to play in the Elite 8. I have never seen them play Messiah, which is pretty surprising considering how close they are to each other...
Cortland has been all but written off against Messiah, but I think it may be a much closer game than people think...
Watched the entire Muhlenberg/Catholic game on their online feed Sunday, and other than the "no commentary" it worked flawlessly for us...I know many people on here have complained about the feed, but I had no problems at all with it...

[Flying Weasel]

Another question...when was the last time two previous years final 4 teams missed the tournament altogether?

2011, when Lynchburg and Bowdoin failed.

Actually three 2010 Final Four teams missed the 2011 tournament.  Lynchburg went 7-9-4, Bowdoin went 4-7-3, and UW-Oshkosh went 10-6-2.  Only Messiah got back to the tournament the next year, and they went one-and-out being upset in the 2nd Round after a first round bye.  So only one of four got back to the tournament, and not a single one made the Sweet 16.  Pretty incredible.

[Mr.Right]

That really is incredible. The only team out of the 3 I am familiar about in their 2011 seasons was Bowdoin. They had 2 major issues in 2011 their top GK from 2010 graduated and they did not properly replace him and injuries absolutely decimated them. They lost 4 or 5 starters from the 2010 team to injury. Surprisingly they did not even make the 8 team Nescac tournament that year

[Mr.Right]

I am not discounting Muhlenberg but after looking at their results I see one quality win out of conference a 1-0 win over Stevens. Looking at the box score it looked to be even. In conference 2 wins vs Haverford and Dickinson, 1 win vs John Hopkins and Swathmore. After watching Dickinson play Tufts this past weekend I was not really impressed. I thought they were decent sized and athletic in the back but played quite direct and were lacking quality in midfield and solid first touch. Admittedly it is tough to judge teams based on one game and that is only what I saw that game. Also I realize that is Dickinson not Muhlenberg but like Nescac the Centennial is a top 4 conference and with quality conferences top to bottom usually the top 3 to 4 teams are pretty close save for a player or 2, superb GK, organized defense, etc. I think it will be a one goal game and with the home field that may be all Muhlenberg needs. I am very excited for this match. Since I have you here can you give us Nescac folks a look into Muhlenberg. Style, top players, size,GK. etc

[PaulNewman]

Amazing how well the tourney has turned out in terms of almost all of the presumed top 16 teams comprising the Sweet 16.  The notables that did not make it (and if they had they would have knocked out top 16 teams) are SLU and Calvin.  Emory, Wheaton (MA), Montclair, and Salisbury were other highly ranked teams that didn't make it, but I think most place all of those 4 outside the top 16 now anyway.

D3soccer.com tracked especially well with all 16 still alive ranked in the top 25.  NSCAA missed on Tufts and Cortland, but did have 14 of the survivors in their top 17.

With the exception of Messiah (and I agree that Cortland may prove to be a handful), you can make a case that every other game is "too close to call." 

[Mr.Right]

Suggestion for the site mid week would be to link some of the coaches press conferences after the games.

Here is one from SLU and Amherst-

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20141116/BLOGS11/141118809