2016 NACC

[dontshootthegoose]

Gooser here,

With conference play about a week away (for some of the early games), I would like to take a look at the favorites, the surprises, and players to watch.

First point to mention, I do not see a clear favorite, or sense of overall strength from this conference this year. I think this will be one of the weaker conferences this year, which should make for an interesting/wide-open year.

Favorites to me are CUW, Aurora, and Dominican (specifically in that order). --CUW received a transfer from Milwaukee who can ball. I think they have enough returners from last year and an experience to stay on top. Aurora, same goes with them. Returning talent and youth.
Dominican is hard to tell. They are always coached great and bring in fresh talent. But were beat by Chicago 4-0.

For surprises, I think for the most part, things will stay the same. There will be a cluster of teams aiming for that 5-6 spots. Teams like Marian, WLC, Rockford, Edgewood will come to the mix. Marian is deep in experience. WLC, although lost some key seniors, have the talent and coaching ability to whether the storm. Rockford is a team that is finally trending upward (after some bad decades).  Regardless of who they have, Edgewood is always in a spot to make a run.

Players to watch out for: Obviously Bradyn, MSOE, is on everyone's radar. However, I think he will struggle without his brother. Colin Dibb, the transfer from Milwaukee, is my guess for offensive player of the year. Through two games, he has 4 goals, both game winners.  Ben Edith from Aurora, 3 goals in 2 games. Coming off a great season last year where he was named 1st team all conference.  Nick Kapetanos from Benedictine. Seems to always find the back of the net.

Predictions for Conference Standings:
1. CUW
2. Aurora
3. Dominican
4. Benedictine
5. MSOE
6. Between WLC, Marian, Rockford, Edgewood.