2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[lastguyoffthebench]

Hard to see Messiah dropping out of top 10 given their schedule and reputation, but this is my guess a month into the season factoring in the 8 regions...   No shockers really as most are the traditional powers.

1) Wheaton
2) Oneonta St.
3) OWU
4) Trinity
5) F&M
6) Loras
7) Amherst
8) Rutgers-Camden

I could see Williams being ranked #1 in NE region, Montclair #1 in South Atlantic, St. Lawrence #1 in the East, Kenyon #1 in Central, and of course Messiah #1 in Mid-Atlantic.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Franklin & Marshall announces newcomers...

http://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-soccer/2015-16/releases/20150528s6ojl9

[D3soccerwatcher]

OWU announces newcomers...

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2015/5/22/MS_05222015.aspx

[PaulNewman]

OWU announces newcomers...

http://www.battlingbishops.com/news/2015/5/22/MS_05222015.aspx

At least on paper this looks like a strong class for OWU with far more geographic reach than usual, with players from Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia, with a few from Ohio and Indiana.

Rival Kenyon supposedly has a large and impressive class coming in as well.

And F&M looks to be solidifying its place as one of the perennial standout programs.  Wagner seems to be doing a phenomenal job there.

[Mr.Right]

That Kenyon assistant who is "known for being a World Class Recruiter" and can do no wrong deserves COY already

[PaulNewman]

Well played. 

Maybe eventually we'll hear the real story behind the hyper-reactivity to seeing any mention of the school, a full 7-8 months since Corazon made the fatal error of mentioning the school in the same sentence with beloved Williams.

[Wisco21]

So this is the final schedule that UW Oshkosh will ever play, thoughts?

http://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/schedule

[Saint of Old]

Oh when the Saints go Marching in...


http://www.saintsathletics.com/news/2015/6/14/MSOC_0614154934.aspx

[deutschfan]

Saint: It is almost time to fire up the Liberty League board.  My take on the St. Lawrence recruiting class, and this is about as uninformed as it gets given that I haven't seen any of these players, is that it would make a great basketball team but it will be interesting how the emphasis on size plays out.  If anything can be learned from Tufts championship last year, it is that great size is not necessary to win a championship, nor does it win championships--see Middlebury as a case in point.  From a soccer pedigree standpoint St. Lawrence has no USSDA recruits which must be a disappointment since the most impactful freshman from its last class was a USSDA player.  Comparing the current recruits of the Liberty League champs with the UAA champs, University of Chicago, it looks if Chicago's class is several notches higher even if several inches shorter.  http://athletics.uchicago.edu/sports/msoc/2014-15/releases/20150409fkwld1  St. Lawrence will again be the class of the Liberty League this year but my guess it wants to have more of an impact at the tournament. 

[Nutmeg]

Saint: It is almost time to fire up the Liberty League board.  My take on the St. Lawrence recruiting class, and this is about as uninformed as it gets given that I haven't seen any of these players, is that it would make a great basketball team but it will be interesting how the emphasis on size plays out.  If anything can be learned from Tufts championship last year, it is that great size is not necessary to win a championship, nor does it win championships--see Middlebury as a case in point.  From a soccer pedigree standpoint St. Lawrence has no USSDA recruits which must be a disappointment since the most impactful freshman from its last class was a USSDA player.  Comparing the current recruits of the Liberty League champs with the UAA champs, University of Chicago, it looks if Chicago's class is several notches higher even if several inches shorter.  http://athletics.uchicago.edu/sports/msoc/2014-15/releases/20150409fkwld1  St. Lawrence will again be the class of the Liberty League this year but my guess it wants to have more of an impact at the tournament.

Tufts was big where it counted...the two center backs. It was the crafty midfield that propelled them. I think only one was close to 6 feet... The attacking center midfielder..who played much smaller with good foot work. There are many d1 and d3 teams who like size and speed.  Some big teams are boring and play very ugly soccer...some are good and are hard to score on... I think it is the combination that is key...

[Saint of Old]

 Really try not to comment on SLU besides observations more so than analysis.
As most  (all) of us have beens, I find my views are overly tainted by my love.

I will say, at St. Lawrence size is not appreciated more than skill.

Lets not get into comparing conferences or the have beens from NESCAC will come on and rip us both a new one

As for the Liberty League, you are correct, I think we should wait till summer on that thread.

The League lost some alltime greats.
Beek was a throwback UCAA striker who went from a Thierry (98')  and mellowed into a Forlan ('10) by his senior year.

RPI Graduated a pair of Seniors that were the heart and soul of their program

The league also lost last seasons LL Tournament MVP who was a quiet assassin all 4 years in college.

Isn't tomorrow Summer, let the games begin.

 

[Ommadawn]

From a soccer pedigree standpoint St. Lawrence has no USSDA recruits which must be a disappointment since the most impactful freshman from its last class was a USSDA player.

Two of the St. Lawrence recruits have USSDA experience, one with BW Gottschee and one with Beachside.

[deutschfan]

Saint--despite your obvious loyalties I have found your analysis helpful and impartial.  From a national perspective hopefully the Liberty League can get at least a couple teams into the tournament this year. 

[D3soccerwatcher]

Hard to see Messiah dropping out of top 10 given their schedule and reputation, but this is my guess a month into the season factoring in the 8 regions...   No shockers really as most are the traditional powers.

1) Wheaton
2) Oneonta St.
3) OWU
4) Trinity
5) F&M
6) Loras
7) Amherst
8) Rutgers-Camden

I could see Williams being ranked #1 in NE region, Montclair #1 in South Atlantic, St. Lawrence #1 in the East, Kenyon #1 in Central, and of course Messiah #1 in Mid-Atlantic.

I'd drop Amherst out of the top 8.  They tied 3 of their last 4 games is conf and national tourny's.  They could not create separation from above average teams.  So I would drop them out and place Messiah in the top 8.  The only other question mark I see in your list is Rutgers-Camden.  Not sure they'll have it after they struggled last season with 8 losses and not winning their conf.

[D3soccerwatcher]

Hard to see Messiah dropping out of top 10 given their schedule and reputation, but this is my guess a month into the season factoring in the 8 regions...   No shockers really as most are the traditional powers.

1) Wheaton
2) Oneonta St.
3) OWU
4) Trinity
5) F&M
6) Loras
7) Amherst
8) Rutgers-Camden

I could see Williams being ranked #1 in NE region, Montclair #1 in South Atlantic, St. Lawrence #1 in the East, Kenyon #1 in Central, and of course Messiah #1 in Mid-Atlantic.

I'd drop Amherst out of the top 8.  They tied 3 of their last 4 games is conf and national tourny's.  They could not create separation from above average teams.  So I would drop them out and place Messiah in the top 8.  The only other question mark I see in your list is Rutgers-Camden.  Not sure they'll have it after they struggled last season with 8 losses and not winning their conf.

I do have one more question mark on this list and that's Wheaton.  While they arguably may have some of the best talent in country, they have a new completely unproven coach in Jake DeClute.  DeClute's only stint as a college soccer coach (that I could find) was for five years at Gordon where his winning percentage was an unimpressive 48%.  His best result ever in his tenure at Gordon was a one time conf runner up.  The coach before him (Berthoud) had a 55% winning percentage.  And of course the coach after him (Pottteiger) has a 77% winning percentage in his first two years (including the program's first win in the national tournament).  Still further, DeClute's 48% winning percentage falls well short of the program's historical all time winning percentage of 59%.  Some out there may have more insight on him, but looking strictly at the numbers, he appears to be a question mark as a skipper at this point.  Time will tell what he is able to do with all that talent at Wheaton.