The Big Dance

[stillwatching]

That Messiah left side is ripping NPU apart. We all knew about how dangerous West is but I have been very impressed with Quintin.

Yeah, Quinton is phenomenal.  Very talented bu also super-smart player.  He's had a great tournament....and has 2 years left.

I've mentioned before, my son was a member of a different team within the same club as Shay, and has played on the same team with him on their college age player's summer team for the past 2 years.  He is just a terrific kid, and a great player.   Really really pleased for him, and the Messiah team. 

Was traveling home from Florida today, and did not get to see any of the final.  If we were home, I definitely would have tried to catch some of the stream

[mr_b]

After years of study and careful reflection, now that the final data point is obtained, I formally state Falconer's Rule: to win the big kahuna, a team must first lose a quarter final game in the NESCAC or lose the MAC Commonwealth AQ to Lycoming.

Now we know why Tufts was toast, NPU was doomed, Chicago wasn't gonna do it, and Calvin couldn't get it done. They just didn't meet the prerequisite. End of story. Class dismissed. Watch your step on the way out.

Messiah deserved to win, but North Park deserved to be there.  Brandeis and Chicago would also have been worthy champions. It was not the cakewalk that some posters were predicting.

[OldMCGuy]

As a Zimbabwe-born Messiah soccer alum from the late 1960's - early 70's I went to elementary school with a handful of very athletic Swedish missionary kids.  Last night's game felt like a reunion of sorts.  (Special thanks to Gregory Sager's wonderfully informative essay on North Park University.)

Congratulations to the Messiah senior class...they finally got their ring...just like every other class since the late 1990's when my nephews played there.  I also love that some of the truly important contributions were made by "unsung heroes".  That is a reflection on the team's skill, depth and character.  There are a lot of subs there who could start almost anywhere else.  It is just nice that they can still get their names in the pantheon of heroes from time to time.

Of course, there is no way that I would ever have been recruited to play for the recent iterations of Messiah teams...Way...Too...Slow!.  However, in my day, if you had ever touched a round, leather ball with your feet you were automatically on the team.

Congratulations to the Vikings, they played a very spirited game and I am sure they will be back.  They showed great skill and their coaches demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt their strategy quickly to the take the best possible advantage of the situations in each of their games in the tournament.

Congratulations to Brandeis.  They are truly a class organization.  The discipline, character and demeanor of the players in each of their games no matter the outcome was truly exemplary.  They showed what D3 sports...and life in general...should be like.

Congratulations to Chicago.  I wish Messiah had the chance to play them, but they scared me more than any other team.  So much skill!  Maybe next year.

Finally, thanks to the active participants (Right, Blooter, Newman, Falconer, Weasel, FirstPlace and many others) on this forum and all the folks behind the scenes that make it work.  It has been a fun year. Thanks!

[wchandy22]

As a Zimbabwe-born Messiah soccer alum from the late 1960's - early 70's I went to elementary school with a handful of very athletic Swedish missionary kids.  Last night's game felt like a reunion of sorts.  (Special thanks to Gregory Sager's wonderfully informative essay on North Park University.)

Wow!  You played in the very early years (Drescher, Barr, and Sweimler).  I assume its safe to assume that you had no idea back then what the Messiah soccer program would become today.  I have been watching Messiah soccer since 1984 and wish I had the opportunity to watch you and your teams play.

[OldMCGuy]

Wow!  You played in the very early years (Drescher, Barr, and Sweimler).  I assume its safe to assume that you had no idea back then what the Messiah soccer program would become today.  I have been watching Messiah soccer since 1984 and wish I had the opportunity to watch you and your teams play.

Just Barr and Sweimler
You are correct "we had no idea..."
I would like to think that if you had seen us play that you may have observed the same level of intensity.  I am sanguine enough to say that you would have seen a lot less artistry.

[Saint of Old]

As a Zimbabwe-born Messiah soccer alum from the late 1960's - early 70's I went to elementary school with a handful of very athletic Swedish missionary kids.  Last night's game felt like a reunion of sorts.  (Special thanks to Gregory Sager's wonderfully informative essay on North Park University.)

Congratulations to the Messiah senior class...they finally got their ring...just like every other class since the late 1990's when my nephews played there.  I also love that some of the truly important contributions were made by "unsung heroes".  That is a reflection on the team's skill, depth and character.  There are a lot of subs there who could start almost anywhere else.  It is just nice that they can still get their names in the pantheon of heroes from time to time.

Of course, there is no way that I would ever have been recruited to play for the recent iterations of Messiah teams...Way...Too...Slow!.  However, in my day, if you had ever touched a round, leather ball with your feet you were automatically on the team.

Congratulations to the Vikings, they played a very spirited game and I am sure they will be back.  They showed great skill and their coaches demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt their strategy quickly to the take the best possible advantage of the situations in each of their games in the tournament.

Congratulations to Brandeis.  They are truly a class organization.  The discipline, character and demeanor of the players in each of their games no matter the outcome was truly exemplary.  They showed what D3 sports...and life in general...should be like.

Congratulations to Chicago.  I wish Messiah had the chance to play them, but they scared me more than any other team.  So much skill!  Maybe next year.

Finally, thanks to the active participants (Right, Blooter, Newman, Falconer, Weasel, FirstPlace and many others) on this forum and all the folks behind the scenes that make it work.  It has been a fun year. Thanks!

Yes Brother Zimbabwe.
"Every man have a right to decide his... own destiny"- Marley

Messiah is was and always has been a class program.
Their alumni has always been a strong brotherhood committed to each other and the team... wayyy before they started collecting hardware.

I played this team in the late 90s tourney and luckily got by them, only to find a Messiah alum coaching the next opponent in the final 4.
They are everywhere, and have been spreading good soccer for decades now.
Tough to root against this team, even when you want to.

Many people know the Freddie Mercury/Queen ballad ("We are the Champions My Friend")
What is important is the very next line explaining why this is so ("We'll keep on fighting till the end").
That's Messiah, Champions.
They were down and about to lose early in the season against Rowan, but fought till the end and prevailed.
They were down twice in the semis and fought back to win.
They were also down in the final and managed victory.

How many teams in the history of the NCAA's regardless of division have ever been down 3 times in the final 4 and still end as champions??
The one truth, in my opinion, about our game is that if a team comes from behind and beat you, they are better than you.

The best team in the country are deserved champions.
Class program.
Class kids.

Now cmon Amherst, Chicago, Lycoming, OWU, Trinity, Cortland, Oneonta, Tufts, You Saints....
Lets knock em off that throne

[firstplaceloser]

I played this team in the late 90s tourney and luckily got by them, only to find a Messiah alum coaching the next opponent in the final 4.
They are everywhere, and have been spreading good soccer for decades now.
Tough to root against this team, even when you want to.

[/quote]


they really are EVERYWHERE. a lot of coaches that I speak too are college alumni and some are college coaches now. Soccer around NJ is really starting to improve. can't speak for PA DE area but from the looks of it id say they are doing alright.

random question. where do Messiah commits normally play? what level and what clubs? NJ has a few well known teams so I wasn't sure

[irapthor]

Wow...I heard someone say it was the first of the season for Haines...didn't know it was the first of his CAREER.

Yeah, for the broadcast I had in my notes he had never scored before...so when he DID score I did a double take before saying it on air

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Wow...I heard someone say it was the first of the season for Haines...didn't know it was the first of his CAREER.

Yeah, for the broadcast I had in my notes he had never scored before...so when he DID score I did a double take before saying it on air

I did a triple take... checked my notes... wasn't sure... went to check again... figured just maybe that was the case... you then said it and I thought "oh please be right" because... NO WAY! Totally awesome a career first goal ends up being a championship clinching goal.

[Ommadawn]

Kulcsar's GWG last year for Tufts was his first career goal, too.

[blooter442]

Kulcsar's GWG last year for Tufts was his first career goal, too.

And his only! That would be a great story to tell — "yeah I only scored one goal, but it was the double overtime winner in the national championship game."

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Kulcsar's GWG last year for Tufts was his first career goal, too.

And his only! That would be a great story to tell — "yeah I only scored one goal, but it was the double overtime winner in the national championship game."

Oh that's right! Darn it all. LOL

[rudy]

Finals post game press for both teams if interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojh8UGsrx7I

Brandeis  vs Messiah Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orPnxFMhUTs

NP vs Chicago Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz9W8yHp0Ik

[wchandy22]

random question. where do Messiah commits normally play? what level and what clubs? NJ has a few well known teams so I wasn't sure

I don't know if anyone answered your question regarding clubs. I can only answer for those recruits from this area (central PA). Many of them played for PA Classics.  Other clubs include North Union United and SuperNova FC.  I believe Christian Pulisic first gained notoriety while playing for PA Classics.  His father used to coach there ... actually his father coached at LVC before that.  Small world.

[firstplaceloser]

random question. where do Messiah commits normally play? what level and what clubs? NJ has a few well known teams so I wasn't sure

I don't know if anyone answered your question regarding clubs. I can only answer for those recruits from this area (central PA). Many of them played for PA Classics.  Other clubs include North Union United and SuperNova FC.  I believe Christian Pulisic first gained notoriety while playing for PA Classics.  His father used to coach there ... actually his father coached at LVC before that.  Small world.

that's what I was looking for haha. but yes I am aware of PA Classics they first came about years ago when a guy named Matt Driver started a high level league for kids and we played against PA Classics so many times.