2015 Mid Atlantic Region

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

They probably don't want to play Messiah is my guess. There would be some fun match-ups if they did though. I would love to see them face F&M.

[Mr.Right]

Like I argued last year the Centennial teams have nothing to lose. They boost their SOS and if they lose they are supposed to lose but if they get a result that does wonders for them come November. It is basically a win-win proposition for them

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

I agree 100%. The Cenn. is similar to the SEC in football. You can finish 10-8 and have a chance at the tournament. I don't think that will be the case this year by the looks of how things have started for a lot of those teams. Still baffled by Dickinson making the tournament last year. Didn't win a game in their final month of play.

[Mr.Right]

I agree 100%. The Cenn. is similar to the SEC in football. You can finish 10-8 and have a chance at the tournament. I don't think that will be the case this year by the looks of how things have started for a lot of those teams. Still baffled by Dickinson making the tournament last year. Didn't win a game in their final month of play.

Dickinson bowed out very quickly in a lackluster game vs Tufts...I am still baffled how RPI got totally shafted as they should of got in before Dickinson and most likely would have taken there spot at Wheaton MA in that pod

[lastguyoffthebench]

RPI, Haverford should have been in it...

K-zoo and Camden were the teams peaking just too late that could have made some noise as well.

In regards to the Mid-Atlantic, Manhanttanville could be a team that wins their conference.  Will be a decent race with Eastern, King's, and Miseri.   Lost on the last second to MSU, Beat Vassar (who tied Oneonta St).  Scored twice on Rutgers-Camden.   

[Mr.Right]

I remember Haverford having like the best SOS and OWP and OOWP but maybe having 1 to many losses. I could be wrong but same deal for Camden as they were peaking but just 1 to many losses. RPI had a great SOS and decent Record v Ranked and I think only 3-4 losses but maybe had 1 to many draws..oh well anyway.....

[Flying Weasel]

I know I mentioned this last year but it still befuddles me why Messiah does not play 4-5 teams from the Centennial. Location + and Competition + for both teams. Curious as to why this does not happen either from Messiah's standpoint or some Centennial teams

Of course, pre-1993 the Centennial schools were in the huge two-league, four division Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) with Messiah, but some/most were in other divisions.  Since 1993 they have been non-conference options for the Falcons. For a long time Messiah avoided playing on astroturf/carpet.  And I think that habit died hard even with the advent of the synthetic turfs that are so common now. But certainly under Brad McCarty, that has changed as it should given the increased likelihood of playing on it in the tournament.  But that explains why Messiah never tried to schedule Hopkins back when they were a national power chosing instead to play a Greensboro or Christopher Newport.  In more recent years, Hopkins has ceased be as attractive of an opponent.  Messiah did play a spring game at Hopkins this year.

Messiah has year-in, year-out consistently played Dickinson and Gettysburg who are two of their closest D-III neighbors (not sure why Dickinson was dropped this year).  Those two are second and thrid on the list of most played opponents all-time (behind E-town). They had McDaniel on the schedule for a couple of home-and-home series back in then mid-2000s when McDaniel was peaking competitively.  The played Haverford home-and-away in 2011/2012. Swarthmore?  They had turf, so historically that would have ruled them out. 

I can only speculate about why they don't play F&M. First, before the past 5 or so years, they were not a perennial top team, so that combined with their turf kept them from being a target.  I don't think the turf is much, if any, of a factor anymore, but they are coached by a Messiah alum (who's had other Messiah alum as assistants) so there's those connections and mutual respect for what F&M does on and off the field.  Not sure if they'd simply rather not lock horns.

Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher is the lack of games against Muhlenberg.  Pretty easy trip for Messiah.  Grass field, although small.  Some NCAA encounters back in the 80's and 90's seemed as good start for a rivalry.

Who knows.  And it's a two-way street.  Messiah wasn't necessarily the impediment to more games with some of the Centennial schools.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

I was surprised that John Carroll, Lycoming, or RPI didn't get in! 17-4, 15-3-3, and 12-4-3 I believe for those 3 teams? Might be off by a game but still all 3 had serious cases to make the tournament. All 3 got tripped up in their conference finals too. Will never understand how the committee doesn't consider how the team is playing at that moment. Dickinson did not win any of their last 5 games which included 4 losses during that span. How a team that is 0-4-1 leading up to NCAA's and finishes 11-6-2 and gets in is crazy. RPI played a tough schedule and just couldn't get by St. Lawrence either time and Lycoming couldn't get by Messiah either time. Still feel bad for those 3 teams last year. But it's a new year with more surprises I'm sure! And in regards to Manhattanville, they are the dark horse of that conference but that is a possible for that conference. Didn't they lose with 1 second left against MSU? Harsh.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Was also curious why Dickinson was dropped from Messiah's schedule. Does anyone have any info on that?

[Mr.Right]

I know I mentioned this last year but it still befuddles me why Messiah does not play 4-5 teams from the Centennial. Location + and Competition + for both teams. Curious as to why this does not happen either from Messiah's standpoint or some Centennial teams

Of course, pre-1993 the Centennial schools were in the huge two-league, four division Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) with Messiah, but some/most were in other divisions.  Since 1993 they have been non-conference options for the Falcons. For a long time Messiah avoided playing on astroturf/carpet.  And I think that habit died hard even with the advent of the synthetic turfs that are so common now. But certainly under Brad McCarty, that has changed as it should given the increased likelihood of playing on it in the tournament.  But that explains why Messiah never tried to schedule Hopkins back when they were a national power chosing instead to play a Greensboro or Christopher Newport.  In more recent years, Hopkins has ceased be as attractive of an opponent.  Messiah did play a spring game at Hopkins this year.

Messiah has year-in, year-out consistently played Dickinson and Gettysburg who are two of their closest D-III neighbors (not sure why Dickinson was dropped this year).  Those two are second and thrid on the list of most played opponents all-time (behind E-town). They had McDaniel on the schedule for a couple of home-and-home series back in then mid-2000s when McDaniel was peaking competitively.  The played Haverford home-and-away in 2011/2012. Swarthmore?  They had turf, so historically that would have ruled them out. 

I can only speculate about why they don't play F&M. First, before the past 5 or so years, they were not a perennial top team, so that combined with their turf kept them from being a target.  I don't think the turf is much, if any, of a factor anymore, but they are coached by a Messiah alum (who's had other Messiah alum as assistants) so there's those connections and mutual respect for what F&M does on and off the field.  Not sure if they'd simply rather not lock horns.

Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher is the lack of games against Muhlenberg.  Pretty easy trip for Messiah.  Grass field, although small.  Some NCAA encounters back in the 80's and 90's seemed as good start for a rivalry.

Who knows.  And it's a two-way street.  Messiah wasn't necessarily the impediment to more games with some of the Centennial schools.

This makes a lot of sense as I know from the 90's on some Nescac teams would refuse to play on turf.

[Ommadawn]

In regards to the Mid-Atlantic, Manhanttanville could be a team that wins their conference. 

A quick peek at Manhattanville's roster reveals an interesting trend toward recruiting international players that may have something to do with the team's rise.  This year's first-year class includes an Austrian, three Swedes, a Brazilian, and a South African, who join two Swedish sophomores, a Swedish junior, and a Hungarian senior on the squad.

http://www.govaliants.com/roster.aspx?path=msoc&;

[Mr.Right]

Falling back on foreigners is a risky proposition. Usually the coach has not seen them play, just seen video. It is a total crapshoot that lower level D1 guys deal with every year.

[lastguyoffthebench]

NC Wesleyan had success with this in mid 2000s I believe.

Usually see this happen in D2 as well....

[Mr.Right]

Salem State had great success in the 80's and early 90's with this as well. I think they made 1 D3 Final 4 if I remember correctly. Then the "crazy" and I mean "CRAZY" coach Padovani made a huge NCAA VIOLATION that cost him his job and ever since Salem State have been irrelevant except some token 1 and done NCAA appearances...Story for another day

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Big upcoming week for non-conference action in this region that could rattle the standings a bit.

Messiah vs Gettysburg and York

F & M vs Etown and Swat

Eastern vs Swat and Salisbury

Drew vs Muhlenberg and The College of NJ

Lycoming vs Keystone and Rochester

Cabrini vs Camden and Alvernia

York vs Hopkins, Misericordia and Messiah

Should be a fun week and a half!