2014 D3 Season: National Perspective

[Brother Flounder]

This is starting to get fun. It seems people are picking Wheaton or Oneonta.  OWU and Tufts are playing with real confidence.  I would like to see someone post the 4 teams SOS. Also, Tufts just beat Messiah. Again, Tufts just beat Messiah...something no one but Tufts thought was possible, and also something no one else has accomplished in some time.  OWU just won a gut check game under poor conditions and just when you thought momentum was against them.  I don't see how there is any favorite at this point...

[PaulNewman]

Midwest, the difference between Tufts and Kenyon right now is that Tufts has more offensive firepower with Santos, Kayne, Hoppenot, etc.  OWU is going to have more to worry about defensively against Tufts.

In hindsight, maybe the early NESCAC tourney loss helped Tufts...saved their legs, let them get healthier if they had any injuries, and gave their coaching staff fuel for getting them re-focused.

[KnightFalcon]

Here's a challenge that should not be overlooked ... how do these teams handle a 2 week interval before playing again? Oneonta and OWU should have an idea having gone through it in 2011, but Wheaton and Tufts will have to figure that out - especially Tufts which is riding a lot of confidence and momentum. That can be tough to sustain for 2 weeks.
Does anyone know how the teams plan to prepare? Will they let the players go home for a time over Thanksgiving or keep them on campus?

[lastguyoffthebench]

all i can say is... Oneonta was on the radar a few years ago.   Now, after a 2nd final 4 appearance vs yet another central team.... would like to see them win.

Programs over last 4-5 years:

1) Messiah
2) Loras
3) Oneonta St
4) Trinity/OWU
6) Williams
7) Rutgers-Camden/Amherst/MSU
8) Wheaton/York   

Please feel free to debate this one.... 

[KnightFalcon]

all i can say is... Oneonta was on the radar a few years ago.   Now, after a 2nd final 4 appearance vs yet another central team.... would like to see them win.

Programs over last 4-5 years:

1) Messiah
2) Loras
3) Oneonta St
4) Trinity/OWU
6) Williams
7) Rutgers-Camden/Amherst/MSU
8) Wheaton/York   

Please feel free to debate this one....

Absolutely no debate about about #1 - 4 titles in 5 years and a 10-2-2 record against the other teams in that list including road wins at Oneonta (2013), OWU (2011), MSU (2014) and York (2011). 3-0 in final four games against that group. Only losses were to York in 2009 & 2013. I think a case can be made to move OWU up as they have a title during that span

[Saint of Old]

Standard bearers of college soccer that do not reside in PA is simple.

Wheaton and OWU.

No one else comes in this category.
2 Stars, almost always dancing, and always somehow in the hunt when it matters.
These teams have been doing it consistently better than everyone else.
Whether 4-5 years (OWU ''11)
5-10 (Wheaton '06 finalist)
10-15 (Wheaton '99 Finalist)
15-20 (Wheaton '97 Champ, OWU 98 Champ)

I could actually go on, but being good for 4-5 years could be a great class, this type of fire comes from tradition.

I do think there are a few programs that will break in and are just a season or two (maybe away)
Amherst, Loras, Stevens, Oneonta, Trinity, and I'm sure I'm missing 2-3.

This is why we love this part of the year though, where greatness and history becons the hungriest and most together group.
Like a world cup tournament every year!!!

Good luck final 4.

[Nutmeg]

Midwest, the difference between Tufts and Kenyon right now is that Tufts has more offensive firepower with Santos, Kayne, Hoppenot, etc.  OWU is going to have more to worry about defensively against Tufts.

In hindsight, maybe the early NESCAC tourney loss helped Tufts...saved their legs, let them get healthier if they had any injuries, and gave their coaching staff fuel for getting them re-focused.

I have to agree with this analysis...and that loss told them how important it is to come out strong at the start of the game....also, tufts has such diverse scoring and that makes them difficult to defend...

[Midwest Soccer]

In the last 5 years...

1.) Messiah: No argument here. Very clear cut.

2.) OWU: 2 Final 4's, a Championship, an Elite 8 run.

3.) Loras: 2 Final 4's and numerous Sweet 16 appearances.

4.) Trinity: 3 or 4 Elite 8 losses for these guys. They play a great brand, just need to get back to the Final 4!

5.) Oneonta St: "New Kids on the block" featuring in their 2nd Final 4 in 4 years. Have proven over the last 4 years they can play with anyone and nobody has beaten them yet this year.

6.) Amherst: Consistent Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearances.

7.) SLU: Every year their name is in the hat to make a serious run at it. They've been tripped up by Amherst the last couple years but that shouldn't take away from the fact that they are a very good program who play a great brand.

8.) Wheaton/Williams: Williams does have 3 Final 4's to their name so they should probably be higher but I'm more of a fan of the other teams ahead of them. Wheaton hasn't gotten to the Final 4 since 2006 but they're Wheaton and usually in the thick of things. Made an Elite 8 run in 2012.

9.) Calvin

[Midwest Soccer]

Also....Who are are front runners for National Player of the Year?

1.) Jeremy Payne

2.) Travis Vegter

3.) Colton Bloecher

4.) Stephen Golz

5.) Sam Justice

Just to name a few...who else ya got?

[Ryan Harmanis]

If prior years are any indication I think Golz and Bloecher are neck-and-neck right now, and if either Wheaton or OWU lifts the title I'd venture to guess that player would get it.

[KnightFalcon]

Agree - will go to a player in the final 4 and Golz and Bloecher are solid candidates. If Messiah had moved on I would put Brian Ramirez into that conversation.

[KICKIN95]

In the last 5 years...

1.) Messiah: No argument here. Very clear cut.

2.) OWU: 2 Final 4's, a Championship, an Elite 8 run.

3.) Loras: 2 Final 4's and numerous Sweet 16 appearances.

4.) Trinity: 3 or 4 Elite 8 losses for these guys. They play a great brand, just need to get back to the Final 4!

5.) Oneonta St: "New Kids on the block" featuring in their 2nd Final 4 in 4 years. Have proven over the last 4 years they can play with anyone and nobody has beaten them yet this year.

6.) Amherst: Consistent Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearances.

7.) SLU: Every year their name is in the hat to make a serious run at it. They've been tripped up by Amherst the last couple years but that shouldn't take away from the fact that they are a very good program who play a great brand.

8.) Wheaton/Williams: Williams does have 3 Final 4's to their name so they should probably be higher but I'm more of a fan of the other teams ahead of them. Wheaton hasn't gotten to the Final 4 since 2006 but they're Wheaton and usually in the thick of things. Made an Elite 8 run in 2012.

9.) Calvin

Loras has had 4 Sweet 16 in the past 5 years and 2 Final 4's.  Go back to 2007 and they have made the Sweet 16 every year except 2011 and 4 Final 4's.

[KnightFalcon]

Good points Kickin. And I will say this about Loras: they WILL eventually win a title with Rothert as coach - its not if but when for them. They are a tough minded team and you will have to beat them to move on - they don't beat themselves and they will not quit. It might have happened last year if not for one of the cruelest endings to a game I've ever seen. The energy level of the team went way up once they brought the starters back in against an exhausted Camden late in the 2nd half. Even down 0-1 with 15 to play you could see Loras believed they were going to win that game. Sure enough, they promptly put 2 in the back of the net to go up 2-1. I think they need to find another player of the caliber of Cavers so that they have the ball possession element to their game - he was the guy that made them so dangerous. If they keep pulling talent out of the Chicago area, that will happen sooner than later.

[KICKIN95]

Good points Kickin. And I will say this about Loras: they WILL eventually win a title with Rothert as coach - its not if but when for them. They are a tough minded team and you will have to beat them to move on - they don't beat themselves and they will not quit. It might have happened last year if not for one of the cruelest endings to a game I've ever seen. The energy level of the team went way up once they brought the starters back in against an exhausted Camden late in the 2nd half. Even down 0-1 with 15 to play you could see Loras believed they were going to win that game. Sure enough, they promptly put 2 in the back of the net to go up 2-1. I think they need to find another player of the caliber of Cavers so that they have the ball possession element to their game - he was the guy that made them so dangerous. If they keep pulling talent out of the Chicago area, that will happen sooner than later.

Thanks for the kind words KnightFalcon.  Cavers was a huge loss, his field vision and distribution was fun to watch.  Hopefully with the 2 strikers returning from injury next season (Rummelhart & Bradley) and Spencer Moore coming in to his sophomore season things will align.  Need to find a replacement for Pizzello and Fluegel, but I know the bench is deep and their are some serious studs in the recruiting stable.

[Brother Flounder]

Also....Who are are front runners for National Player of the Year?

1.) Jeremy Payne

2.) Travis Vegter

3.) Colton Bloecher

4.) Stephen Golz

5.) Sam Justice

Just to name a few...who else ya got?

Midwest, are all of these forwards?  Usually, this award will go to a high scorer... What about defenders or goaltenders, or midfielders who really control a game's tempo but don't show up in statistics with the top leaders?  What about players that come from the toughest conferences whose stats aren't as good.  I understand why the scorers get listed because its easy to quantify.  Thoughts???