2015 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

[Puerco Espin]

Wheaton's Marshall Hollingsworth taken No. 41 in today's MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2016/tracker

[Puerco Espin]

Highway robbery with this year's D3Soccer AA's. Wow.

Three of the four teams in the Final Four have two AA's ... Loras has NONE. All this award proves is that the "voters" know how to read stat lines. If anyone watched games from the NCAA Tournament or the Final Four, Johnny Rummelhart and Alex Bradley made their case for All-American status with their play, on and off the ball. But I'm not going to sit here and simply pump up only Loras' players.

But then again, even stat lines don't seem to make a difference in all cases. How on God's green earth do the "voters" pick Salisbury's GK as 2nd Team and completely omit Calvin's GK?

Salisbury GK // 13-4-3 // .890 Save % // 0.63 GAA // First Round
Calvin GK // 24-1-1 // .908 Save % // 0.24 GAA // Final Four

If its not stat lines that determine who gets AA, then maybe it's all about what players get talked up the most on these boards. I get it, DIII soccer doesn't receive the same level of national publicity as DI, but come on, do some reading and research and figure it out.

Congrats to the players who were named AA and are deserving. You've made your home fans and colleges proud.

[blooter442]

Thought that D3soccer.com did a great job with the AA selections. We all probably have a player or two that we wanted on there, and we all might well have done it slightly differently, but given the sheer number of teams, games, and talented players that were up for debate I thought they did very well. All of the national POYs had very strong cases for the accolade and were deserved winners IMHO.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Forward of the Year was a shocker, IMO... 

1) Sam Yarosh (39 pts) had fantastic numbers with one of the hardest schedules in the nation.  Not sure how the voters botched this one...
2) NPL was a big piece to the Amherst puzzle. 
3) Mike Ryan (39 pts) had solid numbers for Camden and a difficult schedule.
4) Tony Amolo (41 pts) from Kenyon
5) Johnny Rummelhart from Loras\
6) Brian Schaefer, OWU (41 pts)
7) Adam Glaser from Middlebury
8) Sean Bingham and Austin Juniet
10) Jake Sutherland, Oneonta St.

[blooter442]

Forward of the Year was a shocker, IMO... 

1) Sam Yarosh (39 pts) had fantastic numbers with one of the hardest schedules in the nation.  Not sure how the voters botched this one...
2) NPL was a big piece to the Amherst puzzle. 
3) Mike Ryan (39 pts) had solid numbers for Camden and a difficult schedule.
4) Tony Amolo (41 pts) from Kenyon
5) Johnny Rummelhart from Loras\
6) Brian Schaefer, OWU (41 pts)
7) Adam Glaser from Middlebury
8) Sean Bingham and Austin Juniet
10) Jake Sutherland, Oneonta St.

Would have picked NPL myself, but Bingham is the real deal. Even if MIT's SOS wasn't the best, 54 points is legit, and he scored or assisted over 50% of his team's goals. Scored two in a big game against Stevens, scored against Bridgewater State in the 1st Round and Bowdoin in OT in the 2nd Round, along with numerous other game-tying or winning goals. MIT was by no means a dominant side, but they got it done, and that was in large part due to Bingham. They're going to feel his loss next year, big time.

[lastguyoffthebench]

Bingham converted 4 PKs this year;

6 pts in a 4-0 win vs Keene St.  (5-11)
1 pt  in a 7-0 win at Newbury   (11-9-1)
5 pts in a 9-0 win vs Emmanuel (5-11-1)
5 pts in a 5-0 win at Emerson    (5-13)
6 pts in a 6-0 win vs Suffolk      (2-16-1)
4 pts in a 3-2 win at Wheaton    (11-8)

--------------------------------------------------
2 pts in a 1-0 win at Babson      (12-7-2)
4 pts in a 3-0 win vs WPI          (11-7-2)
4 pts in a 3-2 win at Springfield (16-4-2)
5 pts in a 4-3 win vs SIT           (15-4-2)
2 pts in a 1-0 win vs Bowdoin    (11-4-4)


BY THE NUMBERS:  SEAN BINGHAM vs MIKE RYAN
very close---

Mike Ryan: 166 career points (2nd overall across all divisions)
                 75G 16A (1st overall in goals across all divisions)
                 96 games
                 23 GWG (24% of games played)
                 3-5 PKs
                 403 shots / 211 SOG:  52.4% --- 4.19 shots per game
                 SOS 2015-14-13-12 - (19th), (34th), (2nd), (33rd)  Massey Ratings

Sean Bingham:  162 career points (4th overall across all divisions)
                        70G 22A (2nd overall in goals across all divisions)
                        78 games
                        18 GWG (23% of games played)
                        6-6 PKs
                        263 shots / 146 SOG: 55.5% --- 3.37 shots per game
                        SOS 2015-14-13-12 (63rd), (62nd), (147th), (89th)
                       

[Brother Flounder]

Forward of the Year was a shocker, IMO... 

1) Sam Yarosh (39 pts) had fantastic numbers with one of the hardest schedules in the nation.  Not sure how the voters botched this one...
2) NPL was a big piece to the Amherst puzzle. 
3) Mike Ryan (39 pts) had solid numbers for Camden and a difficult schedule.
4) Tony Amolo (41 pts) from Kenyon
5) Johnny Rummelhart from Loras\
6) Brian Schaefer, OWU (41 pts)
7) Adam Glaser from Middlebury
8) Sean Bingham and Austin Juniet
10) Jake Sutherland, Oneonta St.

Would have picked NPL myself, but Bingham is the real deal. Even if MIT's SOS wasn't the best, 54 points is legit, and he scored or assisted over 50% of his team's goals. Scored two in a big game against Stevens, scored against Bridgewater State in the 1st Round and Bowdoin in OT in the 2nd Round, along with numerous other game-tying or winning goals. MIT was by no means a dominant side, but they got it done, and that was in large part due to Bingham. They're going to feel his loss next year, big time.

I would have picked NPL and Kayne (M) and Patel (D) from Tufts on the first team.  Devlin on UCONN (M) should also be considered. Both Kayne and Devlin didn't have the points the other midfielders did so I understand to an extent, but if you have seen them play against the competition you would understand.  Devlin is very scrappy and consistent with an engine that doesn't stop, sort of like Hollingsworth of Wheaton.  Hollingsworth's touch isn't the best but boy is he fast, great defensively, and has a huge heart...Kayne is a fantastic 2 way player and one of the best passers in the game.  I have said this before that the numbers are really apples and oranges given the differences in conferences, schedules, and number of games played in a season.  Also some of the players mentioned take their team's penalty kicks. Others don't. It's easy to look at the points, and I must admit it may be the only way to get some sort of semi-standardized look.  However, I am certain that some of those players wouldn't have the points they put up playing in the NESCAC or other tough conferences, given the lower number of games and tough schedules. Yes, I have seen both Bingham and NPL play. Both are excellent but I also give the edge to NPL.  I have also seen many of the midfielders and defenders listed play.

Blooter, thoughts? You seem to have seen many games.... 

[blooter442]

I would have picked NPL and Kayne (M) and Patel (D) from Tufts on the first team.  Devlin on UCONN (M) should also be considered. Both Kayne and Devlin didn't have the points the other midfielders did so I understand to an extent, but if you have seen them play against the competition you would understand.  Devlin is very scrappy and consistent with an engine that doesn't stop, sort of like Hollingsworth of Wheaton.  Hollingsworth's touch isn't the best but boy is he fast, great defensively, and has a huge heart...Kayne is a fantastic 2 way player and one of the best passers in the game.  I have said this before that the numbers are really apples and oranges given the differences in conferences, schedules, and number of games played in a season.  Also some of the players mentioned take their team's penalty kicks. Others don't. It's easy to look at the points, and I must admit it may be the only way to get some sort of semi-standardized look.  However, I am certain that some of those players wouldn't have the points they put up playing in the NESCAC or other tough conferences, given the lower number of games and tough schedules. Yes, I have seen both Bingham and NPL play. Both are excellent but I also give the edge to NPL.  I have also seen many of the midfielders and defenders listed play.

Blooter, thoughts? You seem to have seen many games....

I have seen Kayne play a lot, and he would definitely have been a justified AA selection in my book. In fact, when Tufts was still No. 1 early in the season, I said he might be a top 3 player in the country. However, he didn't have a great season statistically, and while statistics don't mean everything, the unfortunate reality is that they often come into play when choosing awards, particularly when determining one player's merit for a spot on the AA team versus another. To a degree, I agree with using statistics, as it often helps to prevent players who had a poor season getting placed on teams based on their legacy. (Clearly it does not always work: I had many qualms with Jeff Greblick of Rochester getting a spot on the UAA first team with 3g&0a and only one conference goal, and I would have taken Santos over Hoppenot any day for the '14 NESCAC 1st Team.) As far as Kayne's case in particular goes, this might sound biased since the following MF plays for my alma mater, but when Josh Ocel of Brandeis has 4g&10a and scored or assisted 50% of his team's game-winners, and Kayne has 1g&2a, and both teams reached the same round of NCAAs, then you'd be hard-pressed to take Kayne over him for a spot in midfield on an AA team. Will Corkery and his 9g&13a presents an even more compelling case for AA inclusion, and perhaps explains why he ended up on the first team, along with Logan Andryk and his 21g&17a. Numbers ain't everything, and you can always debate their significance or validity, but they do mean something.

Even with all of that said, I would have loved to have had Kayne on my team! He will always be remembered for his goal against Messiah (I refuse to use the three-word term that everyone seems to love, as it is not a registered trademark .) Patel would have been a justified choice at LB. Very good defensively, technically sound, good going forward, and takes excellent corner kicks. Devlin like you said is a scrappy two-way player who never stops running, and I really enjoyed watching him too.

In short: I don't think it was as much of an issue as to whether Kayne was an AA-caliber player, because he very much was IMHO, but rather how he stacked up against other AA candidates. And when you have a lot of nominees competing for far fewer spots, there has to be a way to separate them, no matter how imperfect it may be. That said, if Majumder had finished a few more through balls from Kayne this year, we could very well be talking about him as an AA selection. Either way, I think Kayne can be very proud of his career, and that NCAA title means more than an AA honor would have.

Fun note: I've often said that NPL looks like Thomas Ian Nicholas from Rookie of the Year and American Pie. Here you go, folks.

[PickettStreetParty]

I find it very odd that a team in the national championship does not have a single d3soccer AA. Especially from a veteran group has played in two final fours and a national championship.

[Brother Flounder]

I would have picked NPL and Kayne (M) and Patel (D) from Tufts on the first team.  Devlin on UCONN (M) should also be considered. Both Kayne and Devlin didn't have the points the other midfielders did so I understand to an extent, but if you have seen them play against the competition you would understand.  Devlin is very scrappy and consistent with an engine that doesn't stop, sort of like Hollingsworth of Wheaton.  Hollingsworth's touch isn't the best but boy is he fast, great defensively, and has a huge heart...Kayne is a fantastic 2 way player and one of the best passers in the game.  I have said this before that the numbers are really apples and oranges given the differences in conferences, schedules, and number of games played in a season.  Also some of the players mentioned take their team's penalty kicks. Others don't. It's easy to look at the points, and I must admit it may be the only way to get some sort of semi-standardized look.  However, I am certain that some of those players wouldn't have the points they put up playing in the NESCAC or other tough conferences, given the lower number of games and tough schedules. Yes, I have seen both Bingham and NPL play. Both are excellent but I also give the edge to NPL.  I have also seen many of the midfielders and defenders listed play.

Blooter, thoughts? You seem to have seen many games....

I have seen Kayne play a lot, and he would definitely have been a justified AA selection in my book. In fact, when Tufts was still No. 1 early in the season, I said he might be a top 3 player in the country. However, he didn't have a great season statistically, and while statistics don't mean everything, the unfortunate reality is that they often come into play when choosing awards, particularly when determining one player's merit for a spot on the AA team versus another. To a degree, I agree with using statistics, as it often helps to prevent players who had a poor season getting placed on teams based on their legacy. (Clearly it does not always work: I had many qualms with Jeff Greblick of Rochester getting a spot on the UAA first team with 3g&0a and only one conference goal, and I would have taken Santos over Hoppenot any day for the '14 NESCAC 1st Team.) As far as Kayne's case in particular goes, this might sound biased since the following MF plays for my alma mater, but when Josh Ocel of Brandeis has 4g&10a and scored or assisted 50% of his team's game-winners, and Kayne has 1g&2a, and both teams reached the same round of NCAAs, then you'd be hard-pressed to take Kayne over him for a spot in midfield on an AA team. Will Corkery and his 9g&13a presents an even more compelling case for AA inclusion, and perhaps explains why he ended up on the first team, along with Logan Andryk and his 21g&17a. Numbers ain't everything, and you can always debate their significance or validity, but they do mean something.

Even with all of that said, I would have loved to have had Kayne on my team! He will always be remembered for his goal against Messiah (I refuse to use the three-word term that everyone seems to love, as it is not a registered trademark .) Patel would have been a justified choice at LB. Very good defensively, technically sound, good going forward, and takes excellent corner kicks. Devlin like you said is a scrappy two-way player who never stops running, and I really enjoyed watching him too.

In short: I don't think it was as much of an issue as to whether Kayne was an AA-caliber player, because he very much was IMHO, but rather how he stacked up against other AA candidates. And when you have a lot of nominees competing for far fewer spots, there has to be a way to separate them, no matter how imperfect it may be. That said, if Majumder had finished a few more through balls from Kayne this year, we could very well be talking about him as an AA selection. Either way, I think Kayne can be very proud of his career, and that NCAA title means more than an AA honor would have.

Fun note: I've often said that NPL looks like Thomas Ian Nicholas from Rookie of the Year and American Pie. Here you go, folks.

Very good analysis, like always!!!  Yes, that goal will go down as one of the most important goals, if not the most important, in Tufts history.  True, about NPL!  Funny.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

I would have went with NPL or Yarosh as FWD of the Year. Just my thoughts. Also surprised to see only 3 players from the Mid-Atlantic region selected. Thought the region deserved a couple more but I might be slightly bias  Glad to see Kyle Thomas from Lycoming make the ballot. I know a lot of voters dismiss underclassmen because they think they will "just get the nod next year." That's an assumption I have always hated. But with him only being a sophomore and getting a 2nd team AA nod from NSCAA and D3Soccer I think he will be in contention for Def. POY within the next 2 seasons as he will continue to be the anchor for that stingy Lycoming defense that we have come to know.

Was disappointed with the Salisbury GK selection as well. Not saying he isn't deserving but I think the Etown GK Barrera was extremely overlooked after they got they snubbed from NCAA's. 15 GA, .79 GAA, .837 Save%, 17-2-1 record, 8 shut outs. The shut out stat hurts him a little but he still had a very nice season!

Overall the selections are well done and hard to argue any of them. One last thought...wouldn't it be neat to see an "All-Coaches Team" selected? Serpone got COY so him plus say 4 other coaches make the All-Coaches AA Team. Many deserving candidates for that obviously.

I would go with, in no order, Serpone(Amherst), Rineer(Fords), Gibboney(Lyco), Byrne(Oneonta St.), and Rothert(Loras)/Shapiro(Tufts). 

[lastguyoffthebench]

And for the first time, no Messiah players...

For the top coaches outside of Serpone getting the award:

2) Souders - hard to overlook that win streak regardless of opponents.
3) Rineer - consistently schedules strong out of conference games and this program has come a longgg way.
4) Byrne - always organized and very technical teams, have put together some strong seasons.
5) Rothert - consistently schedules strong out of conference games and have been making deep runs in the tourney.
6) Ken Bovell, MIT - took over a 8-7-3 from 2014 and got the Engineers to 18-3-1
7) Mike Singleton, Washington & Lee - the former MIT coach has put W&L on the map after just two seasons.  From fourth in the ODAC to Champs...

[Flying Weasel]

Great list, lgotb.  Caught basically all the names I was thinking of (and added the W&L coach who I hadn't considered but is definitely worthy of mention).  For me personally, I'd probably have picked Rineer or Souders for COY simply because what they accomplished with their teams much was less expected, but you can't go wrong with a coach who finally gets his team over the hump for their first-ever national title.  Given the teams and coaches at the Final Four, the national champion coach was always going to be not only the default choice, but a very worthy honoree.  A short honorable mention list for coaches might not be a bad addition for the D3soccer.com awards.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Yes all great selections as well. My reasoning for Shapiro from Tufts was simply because they overcame all of the questions asked of them going into the season and made a nice run in the NCAA tournament when most people questioned them even making the tournament. They were a very worthy team and with a huge target on their back they were able to quiet most of the doubters. Although their record wasn't as stellar as the previous year I think Shapiro did a wonderful job managing the team and high expectations they and the rest of the country had for them.

[Flying Weasel]

Shifting back to players, there's always going to be debate and disagreement about who gets selected for awards.  It's a very subjective thing, and in the D-III world, most fans and voters will have seen relatively few of the candidates play more than a time or two, if that.  The other thing is that fans/voters might factor things differently or have a different ideas of what the awards are meant to represent. 

Here are some very general questions I have when thinking about awards and who should get them. I'd be interested to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions.

(1) Should honors/awards be recognizing the top players or the top performers?  In other words, should honors go to the player who, when on his game, is one of the best or to the player who, regardless how he stacks up talent/abiltity-wise, most consistently put in top performances throughout the season?

(2) Should honors/awards be based on a player's full body of work--the whole season, start to finish (with allowance to weight performances against tougher opponents and in NCAA games) OR can they be based on a certain subset of games?  In other words, in comparing players for awards, should the full season of each player be compared or should Player A at his best be compared to Player B at his best? Or Player A in the post-season vs. Player B in the post-season? Or Player A in tough games vs. Player B in tough games?

(3) Should there be some rough limit on how many games a player can miss due to injury (or "coaches decision") during the season to still be considered for honors/awards?  Would a third of the season (6-8 games depending on NCAA advancement) be a reasonable limit on missed games to be considered?  More?  Less?  And if you think a player could miss even more games and still be considered, how do you make the statistical comparison to other players?