2021 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[PaulNewman]

I'll hedge just a bit on Randolph because after looking at Reg VI, there are going to be teams ranked that no one expects.  It's hard to come up with 10.

W&L, Emory, CNU, UWW, VA Wes, Maryville, Oglethorpe?, Roanoke?, Lynchburg?, Randolph?, Berry?, Centre?, Mary Washington?, Randolph-Macon?, Rhodes?

That's 15 casting a very generous net and I may have missed a couple but in prior years probably only 3-4 of those or less would be ranked.

Again, iirc, even in some recent years W&L, Lynchburg and/or Roanoke struggled to squeeze into the #6 or #7 slot in the prior South Atlantic rankings....and Maryville with a perennially strong record but very low SoS usually didn't get in the rankings.

[PaulNewman]

I usually don't quibble much with the D3 poll.

I've noted before the staying power of some schools.  Some have said Calvin is down and on cue there they are at #8.  Amherst actually moves up a spot to #7, which seems fine given an away 2OT loss to Tufts.  But Chicago moves UP two spots to #11 after a home loss to Brandeis and sitting at 9-4-1 (and yeah, I understand Chicago has a top SoS).  OWU only drops two spots to #6.  Wash U didn't fall much.  NYU lost TWICE and only fell to #14.

My biggest quibble though is probably St. Olaf (13-1-1) only at #19 while there's Hope still in the top 20 at #18 after a draw and sitting at 9-2-2.  I realize many probably don't even know where St Olaf is but imo they deserve a top 10 ranking.

And after not having Kenyon and North Park in my own poll at all until this week imo both should be several spots higher.

And still minimal love for MIT and none for Vassar.

[Hopkins92]

Christian Shirk just published this primer on NCAA regional rankings and the selection process:  https://d3soccer.com/columns/christan-shirk/2021/the-rankings-that-matter

That's a really helpful refresher for someone like me. I started in on this board 4 years ago, and never really got a firm grasp on things (not all that committed to the cause, frankly) and then completely lost the plot last year (obviously).

Anyways, it's actually not all that complicated and pretty transparent. Was having a chat on a Hopkins message board, lamenting what it was like back when only 12-16 were getting in.

Saw this little teaser at the end: [Editor's Note:] The discussion above is primarily drawn from many years of observation and study of the men's at-large selections. In 2019, after the third weekly rankings were posted, we published an in-depth analysis of the women's at-large selections from 2011 through 2018 which corroborate these points. We hope to replicate that study for the men's side and publish in conjunction with the release of the third weekly rankings this season.

Yes please!

[PaulNewman]

I'm gonna try and watch some of Messiah tonight, but the headliners this evening would seem to be Kalamazoo at Calvin and Montclair St at RPI.  KZoo has the same record as Hope and maybe 1-2 less good wins, but comparatively KZoo has flown well below the radar of national attention (and I don't think featured in either RV category of the two polls).

A likely entertaining but head-scratching encounter puts Wheaton (Ill) @ Rutgers-Newark.  Wouldn't be that surprising in the first or second week of the season but an odd trip at this juncture. 

Tomorrow we've got some big conference match-ups that could determine regular season champs and home field for tournaments...the main event has got to be Otterbein at still disrespected (and unbeaten) Wilmington in an OAC showdown.  Luther heads to Dubuque to play Dubuque with ARC bragging rights on the line.  And Rose Hulman goes to Hanover where those two yet again are neck and neck in the HCAC. 

Elsewhere tomorrow, I'm circling Wesleyan at Springfield, Swat at Wash Coll, F&M at Haverford, Rowan at Kean, Dominican at North Central, Buffalo St at Hobart, WPI at Amherst, the ODAC clashes between Virginia Wesleyan and Randolph-Macon and Lynchburg at cross-town Randolph.  Salem St at Wheaton (MA) is a sleeper pick, and I'm curious to see if Ursinus can keep the ball rolling vs Muhlenberg.  And of course don't forget the late game with Pomona-Pitzer at C-M-S.

[PaulNewman]

LOL.  OK, already saw enough of the Falcons.  Difference between a bball player who can pass to teammates vs the special ones who put the pass right in the teammate's shooting pocket or throws the ball ahead so teammate doesn't have to break stride and/or sees 4-5 passes ahead.

[PaulNewman]

Haven't seen this often.  MSU has free kick from about 22-23 yards out, players tries to rip it right through the wall and wall does its job blocking the shot, ball richochets back to kicker who then buries it in back of the net.

MSU 1 RPI 0 ...5-6 min left.

[PaulNewman]

And of course....Calvin wins in OT.  KZoo is good, though.

[Ejay]

Haven't seen this often.  MSU has free kick from about 22-23 yards out, players tries to rip it right through the wall and wall does its job blocking the shot, ball richochets back to kicker who then buries it in back of the net.

MSU 1 RPI 0 ...5-6 min left.

That player was Amer Lukovic.  A freshman HS All-American who was originally committed to Rutgers. He now has 16 goals in 16 games.

[SimpleCoach]

Haven't seen this often.  MSU has free kick from about 22-23 yards out, players tries to rip it right through the wall and wall does its job blocking the shot, ball richochets back to kicker who then buries it in back of the net.

MSU 1 RPI 0 ...5-6 min left.

That player was Amer Lukovic.  A freshman HS All-American who was originally committed to Rutgers. He now has 16 goals in 16 games.

If that's the center forward with a bomb of a left foot, he was very good.  You could tell his quality and how dangerous he could be.

[ConnAlum]

Crazy start to the Wilmington v. Otterbein match. Already 1-1 less than 15 minutes in with Otterbein hitting another off the post and Wilmington with some solid chances of their own. Very back and forth game. Think Wilmington deserves just as much national recognition as Otterbein.

[jknezek]

W&L down 1-0 at the half to Roanoke. I picked up about 20 minutes in. Didn't see the goal or a PK the Generals apparently hit into the keeper early. What I have seen is a Roanoke team very well organized in defense, but I can count in low minutes any kind of possession in W&L's half. The Generals, on the other hand just not able to open the lock. The last pass won'tconnect or the shot is at the keeper. They look out of synch. Some of that is obviously the defense, but it needs to be straightened out at halftime or it will be a sad night in Lexington.

[ConnAlum]

Won't be able to catch the 2nd half but Otterbein is now up 2-1. Wilmington had another shot off the post too...Def an exciting game to watch

[jknezek]

After 18 shots the Generals finally get an equalizer in the 74th minute. I suspect Roanoke will continue to keep 9 players inside the 18 to play for a tie. It's hard to watch.

[jknezek]

Ends 1-1 in Lexington. W&L takes 33 shots, 11 on goal and only score once. The missed PK is big. Roanoke got 5 shots and scored on the only one they put on frame. 6 corners for the Generals, 1 for the Maroons. Roanoke held a great defensive shape all night qith 8 or 9 players back. W&L got through enough, but the chances were just not finished.

[Another Mom]

Completely agree with your assessment.