Mid-Atlantic Region

[FelixCloudy]

Shots were 13-10.  F&M played the whole second half down a man and needed a last minute FK to advance (I watched part of the game and they controlled most of the second half but were starting to tire and PSU-Harrisburg were increasingly dangerous down the stretch).  In my opinion, that classifies as squeaking by against an opponent they should have beat by at least 2-3 goals.  They were not convincing at all

I was gonna make a similar comment but glad you jumped in.  I mean how could the F&M GK see red if he had so little to do as initially described?  Obviously the quality of the shots may have been wildly divergent, but PS-H outshot F&M in the first half.  And it's kind of a big deal to not have the #1 GK as it's not like  Montclair is brand new to this NCAA thing.  And almost ANY 1-0 game is a "squeak by" even if shots are 30-3, especially in a one-and-done scenario.  It is fascinating, though, as the tournament approaches and then heats up how there is a rise in pedantics, corrections, doubling-down, etc, etc.  I'm learning to see everything as additive...but very early on in an attempted perspective-change 

You are both right - didn't mean to tout F&M undeservedly, and I was hoping somebody would have seen the RC to add in here?  Seems completely dumb, and especially so given F&M's GK is second team all conference and this isn't his first NCAA.  I was more commenting that it should have been possible for PS-H to score given how long F&M was down a man.  Montclair State will be a tough game.  Maybe I am biased, but F&M seems to have had some difficulty scoring during run of play, and their goals are more often from free kicks and PK shots than one would expect from a top ranked team?

[Domino1195]

Maybe I am biased, but F&M seems to have had some difficulty scoring during run of play, and their goals are more often from free kicks and PK shots than one would expect from a top ranked team?

FK's and throw-ins opportunities seemed to have dominated in games I've seen this year. We've all heard varying estimates as to how many goals are scored off set pieces - but the reality is that number is increasing. JCU has won 4,5 games on set piece goals.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2018/06/20/why-set-pieces-are-dominating-scoring-so-far-at-the-world-cup/%3foutputType=amp

[ChrisJS]

I can't speak for other conferences but I watched a lot of OAC games this season. Apart from Ruple at  BW, I don't recall seeing another predatory consistent goal scorer, which may explain why a lot of goals came from set pieces rather than open play.

[Hopkins All American]

All-Centennial Conference Awards: http://www.centennial.org/sports/msoc/2019-20/releases/All-CC

First Team

F-Nick Jannelli, Haverford Sr. / Springfield, Pa. / Springfield
F-Oladayo Thomas, Gettysburg So. / Lagos, Nigeria / The Masters (N.Y.)
F-Kevin Gilbert, Dickinson Sr. / Boxford, Mass. / Phillips Exeter Academy
M-Chris Richards, Muhlenberg Fr. / Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic
M-R.J. Moore, Johns Hopkins Jr. / Vienna, Va. / Gonzaga College HS
M-Alejandro Maclean, Johns Hopkins Jr. / Riverside, Conn. / Greenwich
D-Ezekiel Omosanya, Gettysburg / Sr. / Lagos, Nigeria / Northfield Mount Hermon
D-Connor Whitacre, Franklin & Marshall / Sr. / Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley
D-Connor Jacobs, Johns Hopkins / Sr./ Knoxville, Tenn. / Webb School of Knoxville
D-Raff Mazzone, Gettysburg/ Sr. Nottingham, Md. / Loyola Blakefield
GK-Xander Lefevre, Johns Hopkins Jr./ Glenwood, Md. / Glenelg

Second Team

F-A.J. Kopacz, Franklin & Marshall So. / Green Brook, N.J. / Oratory Prep.
F-James Strine, Washington College Jr. / Hockessin, Del. / Salesianum School
F-Achim Younker, Johns Hopkins Sr. / Union, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep
M-J.T. Mogan, Franklin & Marshall / Jr. / Medford, N.J. / Shawnee
M-Trevor Homstad, Swarthmore / Sr. / Culver City, Calif. / Loyola
M-Brendan McGovern, Dickinson / Sr. / Burlington, Vt. / Kimball Union Academy, N.H.
M-Liam Creedon, Johns Hopkins / Jr. / Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East
M-Jonathan Molina, Gettysburg / Jr. / Adelphi, Md. / DeMatha Catholic
D-Julito Quintana, Johns Hopkins / Jr. / Riverside, Conn. / Fairfield Prep
D-Ben Lau, Swarthmore So. / Los Altos, Calif. / Mountain View
D-Harry Nevins, Swarthmore / So. / London, England / American School in London
GK-Christopher Amoruso, Frank. & Marsh. / Sr. / Greenlawn, N.Y. / Harborfields

       
Honorable Mention       

F-Joe Barile, Swarthmore Jr. River Vale, N.J. / Bergen Catholic
F-Alex Lalovic, Franklin & Marshall   Jr.   Lititz, Pa. / Warwick
F-Jacob Wells, McDaniel   Jr.   Hanover, Pa. / South Western
F-Pablo Martinez, Johns Hopkins !   Jr.   Darien, Conn. / Darien
F-Bless Tumushabe, Swarthmore   Fr.   Washington, D.C. / Woodrow Wilson
M-Shay Adamson, Franklin & Marshall   Fr.   Allen, Texas / Einstein School
M-Noah Schwab, Haverford   So.   Millburn, N.J. / Millburn
M-Isaac Bradbury, Dickinson   Fr.   Toronto, Canada / St. Andrew's College
M-Connor O'Donnell, Gettysburg   So.   Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North
D-Tim Treinen, Johns Hopkins   So.   Glendale, Calif. / Flintridge Preparatory School
D-Felix Laniyan, Swarthmore %   Sr.   Baltimore, Md. / St. Paul's School
D-Pat Palin, McDaniel   Sr.   Ellicott City, Md. / Mt. Hebron
D-Mark Walter, Muhlenberg %   So.   Westfield, N.J. / Westfield


Player of the Year – Nick Jannelli, Haverford
Rookie of the Year– Chris Richards, Muhlenberg
Coach of the Year– Dan Wagner, Franklin & Marshall

SOTD:

Gettysburg Defender Ezekiel Omosanya earns All-CC first team honors for the fourth consecutive year.  This award puts him on a short list of conference legends as just the 7th player to earn All-CC first team all four years.  He was second team all-region as a junior and third team all-region as a sophomore and freshman, an impressive feat given his team's relative lack of national attention.

Omosanya has led Gettysburg back to the tournament this year for the first time since 2001, which is tied for the longest gap since their last appearance in this years field.  They have a winnable first round matchup against Oglethorpe and should fancy their chances to get a crack at hosts W&L in the second round.

I'll be rooting for Omosanya to carry the Bullets to the second round, and hoping that some increased national attention can get him that elusive spot on the all-region first team and some all-american consideration this year.

Watched Gettysburg blowing a 2 goal lead earlier today and lost the game eventually. Thought it was an awful display from Mazone, who was a first team all conference defender. His mistake led to W&L's equalizer and was beaten on his side for W&L's game winner. He was eventually sent off for a misconduct by throwing the ball directly at an opponent's face. Not the kind of behavior you would expect from the team's captain.

Though I couldn't say the same for Omosanya. His performance today was excellent and I'd rate him as one of the best defender in D3. He's not just a solid tackler, but also reads the game well and really good with his feet as a CB. Really can't blame him for all 3 goals conceded but Gettysburg is lucky to have not conceded more if it wasn't for his performance.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Messiah and Swat all that remain in the Sweet 16. The region had a nice opening day showing but faced some tough teams in the second round and didn't perform as well.

Round 1: (5 wins & 4 losses)
Messiah wins
Keystone loses
F&M wins
PSU Harris loses
JHU wins
Eastern loses
Getty wins
Swat wins
Catholic loses

Round 2: (2 wins & 3 losses)
Messiah wins
F&M loses
JHU loses
Swat wins
Getty loses

Swat gets to host and Messiah gets to play on grass. Can see both advancing another game or two. Hoping one can make the final 4!

[Ejay]

Gettysburg loses 1st team All-Region, and 2x All-Conference Oladayo Thomas to Santa Clara via transfer. That's a big hit to their offense as Thomas was sure to have a big junior campaign after scoring 23 goals in his first two years.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

MID-ATLANTIC REGION
1.   Johns Hopkins
2.   Franklin and Marshall   
3.   Messiah
4.   Swarthmore   
5.   Gettysburg
6.   Catholic   
7.   Dickinson   
8.   Haverford   
9.   Lycoming   
10.   Elizabethtown   

Here is how the final NCAA rankings shaped up last season. I think we will see these familiar faces in the mix again this upcoming season. Some others to throw in the mix are Scranton, Stevens, Eastern and Muhlenberg. All had solid years but were just on the outside looking in.

Some items to watch and note as we head into the fall are conference realignments and coaching changes. The most notable change in the region is the departure of Eastern's HC Jeremy Payne who headed to the west coast. He is replaced by former Elmira HC Kevin Brenner. Eastern has been rather successful in recent years under Wagner and Payne and only time will tell if Brenner can have the same success. But it will be difficult as Eastern swaps conferences as they jump from the MAC Freedom to the MAC Commonwealth. York will also tag along with Eastern making the Commonwealth even more competitive. In what looks like an attempt to balance the 2 divisions of the MAC, Arcadia and Lycoming are leaving the MAC Commonwealth and headed to the MAC Freedom. From a soccer perspective, I don't think Arcadia or Lycoming will miss facing off with Messiah in the postseason anymore, but Stevens and some others in the Freedom are no joke. Another change include Juniata finding a new HC in Brendan Grady who most recently assisted at Swarthmore.   

So here is how the new MAC looks:
Commonwealth
Messiah
Eastern
York
LVC
Alvernia
Stevenson
Albright
Widener
Hood

Freedom
Stevens
Lyco
Arcadia
Kings
Misericordia
DeSales
Del Val
FDU Florham
Wilkes


My way too early predictions include many familiar names for the region but it's worth a shot!

MAF Preseason Poll
1. Messiah
2. Hopkins
3. Haverford
4. F&M
5. Lyco
6. Dickinson
7. Gettysburg
8. Etown
9. Swarthmore
10. Catholic
HM: LVC, Scranton, Stevenson

[Ejay]

I think you're grossly underestimating the addition of Stevens to the Mid-Atlantic.  They're 29-7-4 in the last two seasons in the East, and are losing just two seniors who saw the field for a combined total of 55 minutes. With due respect to Lycoming, I expect Stevens won't see much trouble in route to the MACF championship and a Top 20 ranking. They certainly deserve a Top 10 pre-season ranking at the very least.

[Flying Weasel]

Nice reminder on the changes coming to the MAC this fall. 

I'd imagine that the omission of Stevens was an unintentional oversight on MAF's part.  Heck, it almost appeared like he might have been listing the Commonwealth and Freedom  teams in the order he expects them to finish which would mean having Stevens ahead of Lyco.  Now, since Lycoming is his team and have pushed Messiah over the past stretch of years, I can see MAF rating Lyco ahead of Stevens, but it's hard to imagine he also thinks all those other teams, especially the honorable mentions, are in front of the Ducks. I imagine that, like me, it's hard to get used to Stevens being a Mid-Atlantic team after decades of them being in other regions (Metro, then East).

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Nice reminder on the changes coming to the MAC this fall. 

I'd imagine that the omission of Stevens was an unintentional oversight on MAF's part.  Heck, it almost appeared like he might have been listing the Commonwealth and Freedom  teams in the order he expects them to finish which would mean having Stevens ahead of Lyco.  Now, since Lycoming is his team and have pushed Messiah over the past stretch of years, I can see MAF rating Lyco ahead of Stevens, but it's hard to imagine he also thinks all those other teams, especially the honorable mentions, are in front of the Ducks. I imagine that, like me, it's hard to get used to Stevens being a Mid-Atlantic team after decades of them being in other regions (Metro, then East).

Great catch! Yes I should have included Stevens in the HM section for the preseason poll. I'd favor them over Scranton, LVC and Stevenson in that section although I do not think they will crack the top 10. Stevens had a great record last year but played a weak schedule both non-conference and conference. This caused them to have little consideration for a top 10 regional ranking by the NCAA committee due to low SOS. They do return a boatload of talent from a strong team last season and will certainly be a favorite alongside Lycoming and Kings in the Freedom conference. But they got bounced in the semifinals at home as the 1 seed. They played a weak schedule and did well with that part but when they faced their first true tests of the season they crumbled. The 5 game stretch prior to conference and at the start of MAC play saw them go 0-3-2 and only one of those teams was regionally or nationally ranked. So it's hard for me to have them in the top 10 based on last year's performance against top/above average quality coupled with being knocked from the first round. Historically they have been very good and I think they will have another fantastic year this fall, but that doesn't warrant a top 10 finish at the moment. I think the Freedom ultimately will come down to either Stevens or Lycoming but Kings has always been pesky and shouldn't be overlooked as Stevens knows all too well now. .527 SOS and 1-1-0 RvR isn't going to cut it so I am intrigued to see if they have made any adjustments to the 2020 schedule to help bolster that SOS. The addition of Lycoming will certainly help but the non-conference schedule will determine how much of a boost they will get. 

[Ejay]

I imagine that, like me, it's hard to get used to Stevens being a Mid-Atlantic team after decades of them being in other regions (Metro, then East).

Ha. I found it super-annoying that NJ teams were all over the place.  Stevens was East, Montclair was South, and Drew was Mid-Atlantic.  And the distance between those schools is about 30 miles in total. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I imagine that, like me, it's hard to get used to Stevens being a Mid-Atlantic team after decades of them being in other regions (Metro, then East).

Ha. I found it super-annoying that NJ teams were all over the place.  Stevens was East, Montclair was South, and Drew was Mid-Atlantic.  And the distance between those schools is about 30 miles in total.

Had to do with the conferences ... it was done another way once before and that was actually more convoluted. The CAC in women's basketball, for example, was in both the Mid-Atlantic and Atlantic regions. Guess how much fun it was when two CAC teams came to the "table" as at-large contenders to make NCAA tournaments? It happened ... not ideal.

So while schools in NJ were in different regions (because Stevens was in an East Region conference), it was far better than other options. That is also why the in-region game rules count conference games, games within 500-miles (used to be 200) and the NCAA Administrative regions.

BTW - not the only place this happens and moving forward with the ten-region set-up coming to basketball, soccer, and others, you may see this a bit especially in New England which will likely be split into at least two regions.

[Ejay]

Do you have details on the 10 region set-up? And when is it coming?

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Do you have details on the 10 region set-up? And when is it coming?

Yep ... been reporting on it for months now. Follow @d3hoopsville - while we are a basketball show, we cover a lot of general DIII news.

The regions were approved in April and will go into effect for 21-22 academic year. There are still some tweaks taking place with the set-up for sports and such, but the next 15 months will be spent finalizing all of that (well, probably a year at the most they will want it announced and done well enough in time).

I don't have any thing else I can share, though. We had a few conversations about this on the show. In February, we talked to Brad Bankston, ODAC Commissioner, who was one of those who spearheaded the effort. In April, we talked with Dan Dutcher, VP for DIII, about this and a LOT Of topics.

Here is the Bankston show: https://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2019-20/feb23 (video or podcast)
Here is the State of DIII show: https://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2019-20/april (podcast only)

[Ejay]

Thanks for the link Dave, and nice job.  Do you know if the 10 region chart is published somewhere?