2017 Season - National Perspective

[D3soccerwatcher]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

[NESCAC43]

Predictions:
North Park over W&L 2-0
St. Thomas over Otterbein 2-1
Chicago over Calvin 1-0 OT
Emory over MHB 3-1
Tufts over JHU 3-0
Brandeis over Drew 2-1
Messiah over Stevens 1-0
Rochester over Amherst 2-1 2OT

Went 8/8 but only got 1 score correct (Rochester vs. Amherst). Wasn't able to make it out to the Tufts location games due to a family commitment that came up. What a slate of Final Four games we have though. And the possibility of an all UAA final?! Has there ever been two teams from the same conference in the National Championship? My guess would be that if there was one, it would be from the NESCAC or MAC. Busy at work so am not able to dig too deep into the research right now. But if anyone knows off the top of their head, kudos to you!

[Gregory Sager]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

[Buck O.]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

BC and BU were in the D-1 Frozen Four (along with Wisconsin and Colgate).  Also, Yale and Quinnipiac, who met in the 2013 final, are only eight miles apart, which is closer than NP is to UC.

[Buck O.]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

BC and BU were in the 1990 D-1 Frozen Four (along with Wisconsin and Colgate).  Also, Yale and Quinnipiac, who met in the 2013 final, are only eight miles apart, which is closer than NP is to UC.

Edited to add the year.

[1970s NESCAC Player]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

Came within a whisker last year with Tufts and Brandeis.  I know Medford and Waltham are not the same town, but Boston is so tiny that I believe Tufts and Brandeis are closer together than Chicago and No. Park.

[blooter442]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

Well, Chicago isn't a "town" -- it's a city, and the third largest municipality in the United States. That said, I will assume you meant "town" colloquially, although I do know (as Buck O. pointed out) BC and BU have been in the same Frozen 4 in D1 hockey before, although I echo your sentiment that it is incredibly rare.

Came within a whisker last year with Tufts and Brandeis.  I know Medford and Waltham are not the same town, but Boston is so tiny that I believe Tufts and Brandeis are closer together than Chicago and No. Park.

For my own curiosity, and fully realizing Waltham and Medford are different cities that are separated by two municipalities (Belmont and Arlington), I ran my own search. The straight-line distance between Brandeis and Tufts is 6.388 miles closer than Chicago and NPU, but the shortest drive from Brandeis to Tufts (according to Google Maps) is only 1.8 miles less than Chicago to North Park. Just goes to show how awful the roads are in Greater Boston!

[Gregory Sager]

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

BC and BU were in the D-1 Frozen Four (along with Wisconsin and Colgate).  Also, Yale and Quinnipiac, who met in the 2013 final, are only eight miles apart, which is closer than NP is to UC.

That's a good try, Buck O., but both attempts hit the post. Boston College isn't in Boston; it's in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Boston, while Boston University is in the city itself. And, while it is true that Yale and Quinnipiac are closer to each other than NPU is to the U of C, they are nevertheless located in different municipalities; Yale is in New Haven proper, while Quinnipiac is in the New Haven suburb of Hamden.

Thus, the question still stands: Are NPU and the U of C the first two NCAA schools from the same municipality to appear in the same Final Four?

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

Came within a whisker last year with Tufts and Brandeis.  I know Medford and Waltham are not the same town, but Boston is so tiny that I believe Tufts and Brandeis are closer together than Chicago and No. Park.

Again, the question wasn't about distance.

I'm more interested in the fact that this Final Four includes two schools that are located in the same town. I strongly doubt that any NCAA championship in any sport has ever had that happen in a Final Four. I certainly can't think of one.

Well, Chicago isn't a "town" -- it's a city, and the third largest municipality in the United States.

Of course it's a town -- a toddlin' town. Or are you calling Frank Sinatra a liar?

(That's never a safe course of action, even though he's been dead for almost two decades.)

That said, I will assume you meant "town" colloquially, although I do know (as Buck O. pointed out) BC and BU have been in the same Frozen 4 in D1 hockey before, although I echo your sentiment that it is incredibly rare.

Well, yeah. I think that we can safely put a "Duh!" there about my using the word "town" colloquially. Nevertheless, both North Park and the U of C call the same municipality home, which was the point here before you smokescreened us with the "town" stuff. I'm just curious as to whether or not this particular quirk has ever taken place in an NCAA Final Four.

For my own curiosity, and fully realizing Waltham and Medford are different cities that are separated by two municipalities (Belmont and Arlington), I ran my own search. The straight-line distance between Brandeis and Tufts is 6.388 miles closer than Chicago and NPU, but the shortest drive from Brandeis to Tufts (according to Google Maps) is only 1.8 miles less than Chicago to North Park. Just goes to show how awful the roads are in Greater Boston!

That's what you get for letting cows seeking their pasture design your cities and villages.

Chicago's grid is a marvel of expediency by comparison, but I'm sure that the advantage of traveling in straight lines is more than wiped out by comparative traffic density. According to Google Maps, you can get from Tufts to Brandeis (or vice-versa) in 25 minutes. You're going to need more than a half-hour to get from NPU to the U of C, or from the U of C to NPU -- significantly more if it's rush hour -- regardless of whether you take the Kennedy and Dan Ryan expressways or Lake Shore Drive. (Google Maps is totally unreliable as to Chicago drive times.)

[PaulNewman]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

I don't have an opinion for a just this year award, but for a 4 year period in aggregate I would think there aren't many better candidates that Josh Ocel of Brandeis. For a 3 year period Kenyon's Henry Myers would have to be in the mix.

As for the Final Four, the group strikes me as one of the most even since I've been following (past 6-7 years). I would not be surprised at all by any of the 4 winning. I'm tempted to pick Chicago because of the relief for them of clearing the psychological hurdle of getting there.

[blooter442]

Of course it's a town -- a toddlin' town. Or are you calling Frank Sinatra a liar?

(That's never a safe course of action, even though he's been dead for almost two decades.)

For someone who seems to value technicalities so much, I find it funny that you would cite Sinatra. Obviously this was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but still funny nonetheless.

Well, yeah. I think that we can safely put a "Duh!" there about my using the word "town" colloquially. Nevertheless, both North Park and the U of C call the same municipality home, which was the point here before you smokescreened us with the "town" stuff. I'm just curious as to whether or not this particular quirk has ever taken place in an NCAA Final Four.

Yes, the intention was clear. I should have said "know" rather than "will assume."

That's what you get for letting cows seeking their pasture design your cities and villages.

True. I have lamented this many times.

[blooter442]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

Lopez for me. 19 goals on the year (4 in UAA play) so far for a team with one of the most difficult schedules in the country (.633 SoS). Scored in both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matches, as well as the 1st Round. Clearly a big-game player who can produce despite very much being a "marked man."

[PaulNewman]

Mr. Sager,

Congrats on the incredible season for North Park and the first trip to the Final Four for the Vikings.  Wish my team was there instead or that my team would have at least gotten a crack at the Vikings.  Was this kind of season anticipated?  What are the ingredients that made this season so special, while acknowledging that North Park has enjoyed a long history of success in men's soccer?

Also, could you tell us more about North Park, the institution, as especially us Easterners are likely far less familiar with the school than the other participants?  How did the connection with Sweden get started and what has been key to the continued connection over many years?  What are the school's calling cards academically and socially?

As regards the soccer team, is the average team age older than most D3 teams?  Do some of the players from Sweden come over in their mid-20s or generally at 18/19?

Lastly, given the discussion about the uniqueness of two teams within the same city limits, do North Park and U Chicago have any kind of significant sports rivalry that precedes the high stakes battles this season in men's soccer?

[blue_jays]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

Lopez for me. 19 goals on the year (4 in UAA play) so far for a team with one of the most difficult schedules in the country (.633 SoS). Scored in both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matches, as well as the 1st Round. Clearly a big-game player who can produce despite very much being a "marked man."

Co-sign. He had a hat trick against Emory in the Elite 8, but two were wiped off by a foul and an offside.

[NESCAC43]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

Lopez for me. 19 goals on the year (4 in UAA play) so far for a team with one of the most difficult schedules in the country (.633 SoS). Scored in both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matches, as well as the 1st Round. Clearly a big-game player who can produce despite very much being a "marked man."

Co-sign. He had a hat trick against Emory in the Elite 8, but two were wiped off by a foul and an offside.

I agree, as well. I know D3soccer.com does Forward, Midfielder and Defender of the Year.

Forward: Max Lopez, Chicago
Midfielder: Josh Ocel, Brandeis
Defender: Trent Vegter, Calvin

[PaulNewman]

Candidates for National Player of the Year?

Lopez for me. 19 goals on the year (4 in UAA play) so far for a team with one of the most difficult schedules in the country (.633 SoS). Scored in both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matches, as well as the 1st Round. Clearly a big-game player who can produce despite very much being a "marked man."

Co-sign. He had a hat trick against Emory in the Elite 8, but two were wiped off by a foul and an offside.

I agree, as well. I know D3soccer.com does Forward, Midfielder and Defender of the Year.

Forward: Max Lopez, Chicago
Midfielder: Josh Ocel, Brandeis
Defender: Trent Vegter, Calvin

Excellent.  Done.  And saved D3soccer.com a ton of work ad heartache