2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[PaulNewman]

Did I see that Loras lost 5-2 tonight?!?!

Yep, to a D1 team.

[Nutmeg]

Nutmeg, you are misunderstanding.  I think they are better than last year, at least right now, at this same point compared to last year.  I THINK THEY ARE THE #1 TEAM. And I said I thought they should have been ranked last year!  I just think , again IN HINDSIGHT, there is an overreaction to how badly they supposedly were treated.  You also seem to be discounting that being under the radar may have HELPED them win the national title.  If they had entered the NCAA tournament ranked top 3 in the country, do you think other teams might have viewed them a little differently, and prepared a little differently?  Would you have viewed them differently if they hadn't made the tournament or had lost in the 1st round to Dickinson?  And no, they were not the only team that could have beaten Messiah.  The Falcons would have been favorites against anyone, but other teams would have had a chance in a one game match.

You made valid points. I was just also following up in my reply to comments of other posters.... And yes, the under the radar did most probably help them...I think I stated the same in the past...however, I do disagree that they are better than last years team, even at this point in the season. However, they can get there with more experience for some new starters..

NCAC, you know hindsight makes everyone a genius...even me!

[PaulNewman]

We'll know in another couple of weeks, but you have to compare based on thinking about where they were at this exact same time last year and block out of your mind that they ended up winning the national title.  I personally think a team is going to have to play a near-perfect game to beat them (and have some good fortune) and I certainly didn't feel that way the 1st half of last season.  At this point last year, it wasn't even clear if Santos and Hoppenot would be regular starters!  My own take is that Amherst away is their biggest challenge and I think they are even odds for that one, and favored for every other game.

[Nutmeg]

We'll know in another couple of weeks, but you have to compare based on thinking about where they were at this exact same time last year and block out of your mind that they ended up winning the national title.  I personally think a team is going to have to play a near-perfect game to beat them (and have some good fortune) and I certainly didn't feel that way the 1st half of last season.  At this point last year, it wasn't even clear if Santos and Hoppenot would be regular starters!  My own take is that Amherst away is their biggest challenge and I think they are even odds for that one, and favored for every other game.

Yep, the Amherst game will be a good one! Would love to be a fly on the wall to hear Serpone's pregnant speech....The Brandeis game will be tough...and they cannot be underestimated.

[PaulNewman]

Amherst needs that game more than Tufts does.  And Brandeis is a perfect example.  Few would have favored Tufts in the Brandeis game last year.  This year they are a clear favorite (although I agree that Brandeis is a good test and the road to another very good season).

[Homegrown Harry]

Well, let's be honest, a D1 team that was 1-5-1.
I consider Loras a d3 team that cuold hang with some of the lesser d1 teams ino disrespect to w. ill meant).
Didn't see the game so not sure what happened and honestly surprised it was that one sideed.

[Puerco Espin]

Four of the five goals WIU scored tonight against Loras were off of Loras' own mistakes. WIU, much like I assume many DI programs, were very fast and technical. Loras played without Rummelhart and Bradley tonight and had difficulties going 1v1 in the back with the attacking players of WIU.

Last goal WIU scored was with guys #22-31 on Loras' roster, including backup GK.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Did I see that Loras lost 5-2 tonight?!?!

Yep, to a D1 team.

Got ya I didn't know they were D1. Thanks for the info! How does that factor into their SOS by playing a D1 team?

[KICKIN95]

Did I see that Loras lost 5-2 tonight?!?!

Yep, to a D1 team.

I wouldn't put too much into this one.  Western is a D1 program and Loras sat both their star players for some much needed rest and repair.  Loras scored first and the two teams traded goals to go to a 2-2 draw.  Western put 3 more in while Loras tried to play with some changes and Western showed their pace up front.  This was a match between friends (Rothert's former coach at Loras 22 years ago) and was more of a warmup than a true match.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Does it count for their record? How does that work?

[KICKIN95]

It definitely counts, but I don't think it will have as much negative affect in rankings or selection process since it is not an in region match or anything you can get an OWP or OOWP against.  I still see Loras running the table in conference and if not at least getting the AQ. 

[lastguyoffthebench]

NSCAA PROJECTIONS:

Central:  Calvin, Chicago, North Park
East:  RPI, SLU, Plattsburgh St, Oneonta St.
Great Lakes:  Kenyon, Denison, CMU, Thomas More
Mid-Atlantic:  F&M, Eastern, Gettysburg, Drew
New England:  Tufts, Amherst, ECSU, Brandeis, MA Boston
North:  UWW, Loras, St. John's, UWO
South-Atlantic:  CNU, MSU, Rowan, Stockton
West:  Whitworth, Colorado, UT-Dallas

National Rankings
1.  Tufts
2.  Kenyon
3.  F&M
4.  RPI
5.  CNU
6.  Calvin
7.  UWW
8.  Whitworth
9.  Amherst
10. Denison
11. Loras
12. SLU
13. MSU
14. Chicago
15. Colorado
16. Eastern
17. CMU
18. ESCU
19. UT-Dallas
20. Rowan
21. Gettysburg
22. Plattsburgh St
23. North Park
24. Brandeis
25. Thomas More

RV:  Drew, MA Boston, Stockton, UWO, Oneonta St.

I forgot about Washington MO in the Central Region.  With 2 wins for the week, they will stay at #3 in the region.
Applying that same logic, Salisbury did not lose this week either, so they should remain in the 3rd slot, (around #20);  followed by Stockton and Rowan.
Occidental out West is 6-0-2 and could slide up to the 3rd or 4th slot in the region.
Brandeis strong wins over Babson and WPI will bump ECSU (draw vs Plymouth St) to 4th in the New England Region.  Slide Brandeis to #17, ECSU to #24.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Riversharks games are okay.   Good seats for cheap, pitchers throw in the low 80s.

Camden didn't even have live stats tonight.   3-1 win over NJCU

4th at best 7th at worst for nscaa this week is my guess

From the website: 
With the victory, Rutgers-Camden raised its home record to an amazing 51-3-3 dating back to the 2011 season. Counting the last four home games in 2010, all wins, the Raptors are 55-3-3 at Rutgers-Camden Community Park since that time.

[PaulNewman]

Some nice "undercard" type games today/tonight...

The headliner is probably ECSU @Gordon.

UMass-Boston at Wentworth

Curry @Johnson & Wales

Calvin @Alma

Potential hangover trap game for Thomas More @Heidelberg

[lastguyoffthebench]

NSCAA PROJECTIONS:

Central:  Calvin, Chicago, North Park
East:  RPI, SLU, Plattsburgh St, Oneonta St.
Great Lakes:  Kenyon, Denison, CMU, Thomas More
Mid-Atlantic:  F&M, Eastern, Gettysburg, Drew
New England:  Tufts, Amherst, ECSU, Brandeis, MA Boston
North:  UWW, Loras, St. John's, UWO
South-Atlantic:  CNU, MSU, Rowan, Stockton
West:  Whitworth, Colorado, UT-Dallas

National Rankings
1.  Tufts
2.  Kenyon
3.  F&M
4.  RPI
5.  CNU
6.  Calvin
7.  UWW
8.  Whitworth
9.  Amherst
10. Denison
11. Loras
12. SLU
13. MSU
14. Chicago
15. Colorado
16. Eastern
17. CMU
18. ESCU
19. UT-Dallas
20. Rowan
21. Gettysburg
22. Plattsburgh St
23. North Park
24. Brandeis
25. Thomas More

RV:  Drew, MA Boston, Stockton, UWO, Oneonta St.

I forgot about Washington MO in the Central Region.  With 2 wins for the week, they will stay at #3 in the region.
Applying that same logic, Salisbury did not lose this week either, so they should remain in the 3rd slot, (around #20);  followed by Stockton and Rowan.
Occidental out West is 6-0-2 and could slide up to the 3rd or 4th slot in the region.
Brandeis strong wins over Babson and WPI will bump ECSU (draw vs Plymouth St) to 4th in the New England Region.  Slide Brandeis to #17, ECSU to #24.

NSCAA NCAA Division III Men - National - Poll 2 - September 22, 2015

1 Tufts University 
2 Kenyon College 
3 Franklin & Marshall College
4 Christopher Newport University     (off by 1)
5 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater  (off by 2)
6 Calvin College
7 Amherst College   (off by 2)
8 Whitworth University
9 Denison University (off by 1)
10 Loras College   (off by 1)
11 University Of Chicago  (off by 3)
12 Montclair State University  (off by 1)
13 Carnegie Mellon University (off by 4)
14 Eastern University (off by 2)
15 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute  (off by 10)
16 Brandeis University (off by 1)
17 University of Texas-Dallas (off by 2)
18 Washington University (Mo.) (late addition)
19 St. Lawrence University (off by 7)
20 Saint John's University (forgot to put them in but had them at #3 in region)
21 Occidental College (late addition)
22 Salisbury University  (off by 2)
23 Drew University  (off by 3)
24 Eastern Connecticut State University
25 Thomas More College


Also receiving votes: Stockton University (13), Plattsburgh State University (12), Trinity University (Texas) (12), Colorado College (12), Rowan University (10), North Park University (9), Gettysburg College (3), Messiah College (3)

http://www.nscaa.com/rankings/4402