2021 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[Gregory Sager]

I blame it on giddiness induced by the serendipity of NPU getting to host next weekend.

That makes one of us.  Not too thrilled with WashU drawing NPU as a potential second-round opponent.  IMO, that should be a third-round matchup (in which case WashU would have gotten to host it, if it had happened).

Not necessarily. Wash U is not situated well geographically with regard to St. Olaf, the favorite to come out of the pod that the Oles are hosting; Northfield, MN is more than 500 miles from St. Louis, which means that the NCAA would have to spring for a flight for the Oles if Wash U were to host the sectionals.

I'm not particularly thrilled with NPU playing Wash U again, either in Chicago or St. Louis, although I speculated after the game in St. Louis back on September 11 that I could very well envision the Vikings and Bears meeting again in the postseason:

Final from the Gateway City:

Wash U 3
North Park 2

Disappointing loss for NPU. Wash U was simply more disciplined in the back third today than the Vikings were. Both teams kept nice shape defensively, but a couple too many mistakes in the back by the young Vikings backliners against a Bears team that is far more opportunistic than Wash U has been in recent seasons. Even so, there were plenty of chances to be had, as the Vikings did a nice job in particular at working the left touchline with Lundeen and then pinching in at the midpoint of the box, but they couldn't connect.

Could we see a rematch between NPU and Wash U in November?

Thing is, you have to play good teams at some point in the tourney. Once you clear the first round, the chance for a gimme shrinks dramatically for everybody who's left.

[PaulNewman]

So, obviously a lot to talk about.

To put the field thing to bed, I got all of my top 17 picks, and among my "pick 4" category I had Oneonta, Rochester, and Gettysburg.  The only team to get in outside of my "pick 4" category was Swat.

My cynical side (who knew?) says branding played a role, at least with Oneonta and Rochester, although I thought UR would get in and I thought Gettysburg was deserving.  Obviously did not see Swat, and stunned to see that many Centennials and ZERO out of the NEWMAC trio.  Maybe they decided picking among WPI, MIT, and Coast Guard was just too hard.

Biggest snubs to me are Wesleyan, no NEWMACs, and GAC with a nod to C-M-S.

[paclassic89]

Region V was very interesting and it seems like Centennial cachet played a factor in so many teams slipping in to the tourney.

Swat 11-4-2 .577 SOS 3-3-1 RvR and .6093 RPI

Hopkins 11-4-2 .577 SOS 4-3-1 RvR and .6093 RPI

LVC 14-5-0 .567 SOS 3-4-0 RVR and .6095 RPI

A coin flip and these RPI's were not in the top 21 of Pool C teams

WPI seems like the biggest snub if you look at RPI  .6203

Maybe at some point the D3 process will enter the modern era and start using an adjusted RPI like D1

[Buck O.]

I blame it on giddiness induced by the serendipity of NPU getting to host next weekend.

That makes one of us.  Not too thrilled with WashU drawing NPU as a potential second-round opponent.  IMO, that should be a third-round matchup (in which case WashU would have gotten to host it, if it had happened).

Not necessarily. Wash U is not situated well geographically with regard to St. Olaf, the favorite to come out of the pod that the Oles are hosting; Northfield, MN is more than 500 miles from St. Louis, which means that the NCAA would have to spring for a flight for the Oles if Wash U were to host the sectionals.

I'm not particularly thrilled with NPU playing Wash U again, either in Chicago or St. Louis, although I speculated after the game in St. Louis back on September 11 that I could very well envision the Vikings and Bears meeting again in the postseason:

Final from the Gateway City:

Wash U 3
North Park 2

Disappointing loss for NPU. Wash U was simply more disciplined in the back third today than the Vikings were. Both teams kept nice shape defensively, but a couple too many mistakes in the back by the young Vikings backliners against a Bears team that is far more opportunistic than Wash U has been in recent seasons. Even so, there were plenty of chances to be had, as the Vikings did a nice job in particular at working the left touchline with Lundeen and then pinching in at the midpoint of the box, but they couldn't connect.

Could we see a rematch between NPU and Wash U in November?

Thing is, you have to play good teams at some point in the tourney. Once you clear the first round, the chance for a gimme shrinks dramatically for everybody who's left.

Understood, but I think that Tufts/W&L/Amherst have dramatically easier draws.

[PaulNewman]

Posting this here so as not to step on Cristan's post and comments in response...

First, I think the Final 4 match-ups we have are as good as any we could get and I'm more excited to see the games as a neutral than any recent Final 4 I can recall.

That said, best intersectional match-ups we didn't get imo...

Kenyon vs W&L

North Park vs Amherst

Messiah vs Tufts

Trinity vs Conn Coll

Middlebury vs OWU or Wash U

Calvin vs Amherst

[PaulNewman]

D3 Soccer board MVP 2021.....

TIE....Mr.Right, SimpleCoach

[Saint of Old]

Congrats to the National Champions Champions Connecticut College.
When you win a national championship you live forever.
They can not ever forget you.
You live forever!

I am so very proud of these guys. When you are 90 seconds from a National Championship and then blow the opportunity, then pick your self up against a former champ to win a title, you are a well deserved CHAMPION.

You are champions boys.
The current team, the alumni, the future players, the fans, no one can ever take this away from you.

You are the champions!!! Enjoy this, you will be in your 70s enjoying this moment you earned.


Congrats.
U earned it.

Champions live 4ever!!!!

[Saint of Old]

D3 Soccer board MVP 2021.....

TIE....Mr.Right, SimpleCoach

I second that emotion.
Mr. Right MVP
Simple Coach Most improved Player 2021.
Well done boys, even more credit to NESAC and an old school Williams die hard.

[SimpleCoach]

D3 Soccer board MVP 2021.....

TIE....Mr.Right, SimpleCoach

I second that emotion.
Mr. Right MVP
Simple Coach Most improved Player 2021.
Well done boys, even more credit to NESAC and an old school Williams die hard.

I would like to thank the Academy for having such confidence in me.  My parents for birthing me. My wife for putting up with me.  God for guiding me.  And most importantly, my therapist who has encouraged me to embrace my insanity.

It's been fun this fall ... And am hoping there is more to come!

[PaulNewman]

D3 Soccer board MVP 2021.....

TIE....Mr.Right, SimpleCoach

I second that emotion.
Mr. Right MVP
Simple Coach Most improved Player 2021.
Well done boys, even more credit to NESAC and an old school Williams die hard.

SOL, I think you probably mean Newcomer of the Year for SimpleCoach but thanks for seconding the nominations.

Great post about what this will mean for the Conn Coll group going forward.

Gotta say I'm surprised and a little disappointed that many of the regular and even newbie regulars haven't chimed in with congratulations or something after last night.  Regardless of what anyone thinks about the play on the field, we just had a national title game with high drama that went to PKs, with an unlikely and imo pretty inspirational champion.  I'm bitterly disappointed my team wasn't there, but come on, step outside yourselves for a minute and recognize the accomplishment.

I recall during the college search visiting Conn College.  Beautiful school and compared to most D3s and other higher end LACs really, really nice, but compared to other NESCACs and some other NESCAC-like LACs around the country the campus felt a little run down and both academically/athletically Conn felt like somewhat of an underdog compared to its more highly acclaimed brethren.  10 or so years ago, in 2019, or even two months ago, I would have never guessed the Connecticut College Camels would be D3 soccer national champions.

Just an extraordinary accomplishment... and with an amazingly good coach whose youth and manner would never have suggested this was coming.  I mean the guy is 30 or 31, was coaching at some place as an asst at some place in Georgia most of us had never heard of just a few years ago, then an asst at Conn I assume largely because he is a New England guy originally, was probably an unlikely choice to be a NESCAC HC at least at that stage of his career, and just guided his outstanding team to a national title like he was Martin, Russo, Souders, Shapiro, Serpone, or whoever.

[Novacat]

Super happy for Conn College.  I love their style, super dangerous in the final third, great build up play.  Although the final played out a little bit differently, Their coach should be quite happy.

[Saint of Old]

Super happy for Conn College.  I love their style, super dangerous in the final third, great build up play.  Although the final played out a little bit differently, Their coach should be quite happy.

I knew these boys would win the Chip!
It takes a champion to beat a champion. The team defeated a dynasty in an elite eight game which is not easy to do and brings back memories of Tufts  and a young coach taking down the last dynasty before them in a similarly crazy game on their way to the mountain top. Teams that win games like that dont look back.
To complete the journey they had to go up against another former champion who threw the kitchen sink at them.

The problem for NESCAC and maybe the entire country is that once a recipe is figured out by a coach that young and forward thinking, the only thing to  do is rinse and repeat. The program will be around and doing well for quite a while it seems from the outside looking in.

The people who read these threads and are obsessed with football understand the levels we are talking about.
In soccer, there is no real D1,D2 D3 so to speak.
There are levels.
The boys who played this weekend would step on many D1 rosters in the country. The level of soccer for teams who are in the Sweet 16 is very strong.
This accomplishment is big indeed. Over 400teams start the season with a chance to win it all.
Whatever man has done man can do.
Now each and every player down the line who wears the CC shirt has an understanding that they can and should  win the entire thing.

[Hopkins92]

Yep, PN, that was my thought too... Rookie/Newcomer of the Year... in a landslide.

Thanks to all who made this such a fun season... Very much looking forward to next year and hopefully helping SC boost his YouTube numbers and jumping in on the National Poll.

[camosfan]

Congrats to CC, thought they would at some point fold to Amherst but that never happened,like I said earlier they have a deeper bench than Amherst and that helped in the marathon.

[DucksFan02]

Congrats to CC and to all teams who competed in division 3 soccer this season! not easy to stay motivated after the year off, and basically waiting 2 years between seasons, but was fantastic to see a lot of talented and hardworking young adults competing! Also thanks to the community here at d3Boards for always giving the sparknotes for those who can't watch a game. Some super cool people on this forum! As the boards go a bit quiet over the next few months, will look forward to talking to you all in the new year. I'm based in the NYC area so if anyone wants to grab a drink or coffee sometime in the new year feel free to PM. Could do some sort of d3boards event or something haha!!
Happy Holidays in advance to you all!