2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[Ji Sung Park the Bus]

Not sure if Rowan will any games in the tournament this year but they are a very young team that can take this experience and be serious contenders the next 2 years.  I think they need to add a goalscorer but lots of the pieces are there.

Would of liked to see Stockton make the tournament and have 4 NJAC schools but the back to back losses to Rutgers Camden destroyed their chances.  Nice to see the new coach there making them contenders again along with Kean, Rowan, Montclair, Rutgers Camden and Newark, there are some strong programs in the NJAC.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Here's the actual game video from the last 90 secs OWU-Kenyon....really unbelievable when you think about all the different things that had to happen (and go wrong....and right) for both teams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmw8eudQV2A

Watching the other video last night and now this one I think Barnes for OWU actually made a smart play.  Glassman was in and had plenty of time...more than 5 secs as he broke deep in the box.  Now he might have missed wide or hit it over but he was in and he had enough time to finish the play.  Glassman made a nice play with a chest trap pass to himself and into the open channel.  Kenyon's Barnes was right there running parallel with him.

Did you have the Xanax handy, NCAC? If there was any time for it, it was then!

Or.... some of Tennessee Jed's Hooch!

What was OWU's GK thinking with distributing the ball to the RB with 10 seconds to go?  Just delay a second or two more and punt that down the field.

[wingtips2]

Loras got a "bye" to the Final 4

You keep saying this, but it makes absolutely ZERO sense.
They have 4, count them, FOUR losses this year. Not exactly an unbeatable team.
One of which was a 2-0 loss to a team in their pod.

[wingtips2]

Loras got a "bye" to the Final 4

Agree!  Amherst with bye to Elite 8.  Oneonta with next easiest.  Winner of Haverford-SLU sitting pretty.  I like OWU's draw to the Elite 8.  No one there they can't handle and get Calvin most likely on own field.

OWU? Their history is get to final 4 or get upset in the first two rounds. I'm thinking they are unlikely to advance from their pod this year.

[Mr.Right]

Loras got a "bye" to the Final 4

You keep saying this, but it makes absolutely ZERO sense.
They have 4, count them, FOUR losses this year. Not exactly an unbeatable team.
One of which was a 2-0 loss to a team in their pod.

Their pod is weak...WEAK...one more time for you WEAK

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

If Loras survives ONU they have a cake walk. Their toughest game will be ONU until they reach the final 4.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Is there a final regular season D3Soccer National Poll that comes out today or was last week the last one?

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

http://herosports.herosports.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/d3-mens-soccer-2015-ncaa-tournament-bracket-predictions.pdf

[lastguyoffthebench]

Herosports should be holding a bracketology contest again this season.   Good to see the computer picked zero upsets.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Herosports should be holding a bracketology contest again this season.   Good to see the computer picked zero upsets.

Did they do something for last year's tournament? I do not remember.

[Shooter McGavin]

Babson is the sleeper pick of the tournament. Not saying I am going to pick them...but I can see them making it to the Sweet 16.

[Mr.Right]

Babson is NOT A good team this year. They are anemic offensively and if F&M is any good they should dispatch of Babson. Babson will also SIT DEEP and are athlrtic enough to frustrate teams but they cannot score goals. They WILL NOT BE IN THE SWEET 16

[Shooter McGavin]

Babson is NOT A good team this year. They are anemic offensively and if F&M is any good they should dispatch of Babson. Babson will also SIT DEEP and are athlrtic enough to frustrate teams but they cannot score goals. They WILL NOT BE IN THE SWEET 16

I agree with that assessment but looking at who they are against I can see F&M laying an egg as usual and Gordon knocking off CMU (who I still believe is underrated) then Babson sneaking by Gordon before getting thrashed by OWU. That's how I would see it playing out. Doubt it will but it's a possibility...deep deep sleeper pick 

[NERevs127]

http://herosports.herosports.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/d3-mens-soccer-2015-ncaa-tournament-bracket-predictions.pdf

#18 - Trinity TX
#37 - Brandeis
#43 - Carnegie
#60 - DePauw

these rankings seem legit.......... 

[Ryan Harmanis]

Loras got a "bye" to the Final 4

Agree!  Amherst with bye to Elite 8.  Oneonta with next easiest.  Winner of Haverford-SLU sitting pretty.  I like OWU's draw to the Elite 8.  No one there they can't handle and get Calvin most likely on own field.

OWU? Their history is get to final 4 or get upset in the first two rounds. I'm thinking they are unlikely to advance from their pod this year.

Without commenting on the likelihood of OWU getting out of this weekend, this is pretty accurate.  In the past ten seasons, OWU has made it through the first weekend 50% of the time (5/10) but the second weekend 60% of the time (3/5).  That includes three losses in the first weekend when OWU was a top-five team (2005, 2009, 2013).

The one thing I will say is that the teams coming to OWU this weekend are not in the mold of teams OWU has normally fallen to on the opening weekend.  The opening weekend losses since 2005 were to Transylvania (x2), Rose-Hulman, Centre, and Calvin.  I have a feeling that MSOE and this year's undefeated Calvin (assuming they win) aren't coming to town to pack it in and hope for a counter-attack goal.  Again, no comment on what I expect to happen, but I think these teams will play straight-up.

On that note, I think the OWU-MSOE game should be great, as both teams really like to attack.  Same goes for the winner against Calvin.  Should be plenty of scoring.