2021 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[Another Mom]

Agree with both of you, it wouldn't be horrible for them to lose -- in fact losing might act as a wake up call for them.  I feel they are too complacent-- entitled even -- and not playing with the intensity they need, especially since there's a target on their backs.

My son knows, the #1 thing I care about when watching any player or any team is "did you try your hardest?" If so, great game no matter the outcome. The fact that they don't seem to be trying their hardest is kind of driving me nuts. They've been this way for the past few games.

[deiscanton]

Yeshiva had their moment by making an appearance in the Skyline Conference tournament this season, but the season for the Macs is probably coming to an end today.  Farmingdale State is up 2-0 on Yeshiva with less than 10 minutes left.  The Maccabees only had 2 shots on target all game. 

If this scoreline holds, Farmingdale State will play Mount St. Vincent in one Skyline Conf semifinal, while Merchant Marine plays Manhattanville in the other.

2:03 PM Eastern update-- I spoke too soon.  The Maccabees said "There is no choice", and scored 2 late goals in regulation to send the match to extra time.  End of regulation,  Farmingdale State and Yeshiva are tied at 2-2.

Yeshiva scored their first goal on an 86th minute goal from Asher Martin.  48 seconds later, in the 87th minute, the Macs score the equalizer on a goal from Naor Dahan. 

That is why they say that a 2 goal lead is the most dangerous lead in soccer.....

2:19 PM Eastern update-- After 1 extra time period, Yeshiva and Farmingdale State are tied at 2-2.

[PaulNewman]

Quintessential (new fave word) UAA game day.  All four tilts 0-0 at various points in 1st half.

[deiscanton]

Quintessential (new fave word) UAA game day.  All four tilts 0-0 at various points in 1st half.

Thanks, I am not missing anything while Yeshiva and Farmingdale State play it out for the right to face Mount St. Vincent.  The match got really interesting late when the Macs scored 2 quick goals to send it to extra time.

[deiscanton]

Yeshiva and Farmingdale State end up in a 2-2 draw after extra time.

We are going to kicks from the mark to see who advances to the Skyline Conference semifinals to play Mount St. Vincent.

2:51 PM Eastern update-- Yeshiva advances on kicks from the mark, 4-3, in 6 rounds, and will play Mount St. Vincent.  With less than 10 minutes left in regulation, it looked like the Macs's season was going to end.  However, Yeshiva was able to survive and advance.

In the other Skyline Conference semifinal, it will be Merchant Marine at Manhattanville.

[PaulNewman]

I was preparing to post what a brutally crushing weekend it was for Emory, losing leads late two games in a row, and with under a minute a left in 1st OT Emory player scores on a free kick straight on from at least 22 yards out beating Mancuso top right.  So Emory remains in pretty good shape despite the loss to Brandeis.

Shortly before NYU leveled #10 got tripped at midfield and I think was trying to draw a red on Emory.  He jumped up quickly motioning for a card and was running around absolutely fine and then fell to the ground and started grabbing his ankle and rolling on the turf.  Probably a film student.

Wash U and Chicago take care of business two grab two Ws each against UAA basement dwellers CMU and CWRU.

And give credit to Brandeis for not throwing in the towel a couple of weeks ago...the Judges have been very competitive and end the weekend with a W and a draw.

I would say UR is the team in no-man's land in the UAA at the moment, but they'll probably be fine as they always seem to manage getting a Pool C.

I will say as a mock pollster it is very hard to weigh out these UAA teams when they for the week have a loss and win or vice versa.  The easy solution is Wash U and Chicago move up and NYU and Emory drop at least a little.

[deiscanton]

Congratulations to the Pacific Lutheran Lutes on winning the 2021-2022 Northwest Conference Men's Championship and becoming the first team to get the AQ to the 2021-2022 NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Championship.

Pacific Lutheran has just defeated George Fox, 4-0, in matchround 13 of 14 matchrounds.  The NWC awards their conference title and AQ to the team with the most points through 14 rounds of play.  Each NWC men's team plays their 7 conference opponents home and away during the regular season.

Pacific Lutheran has just improved to 11-2 in the NWC (33 points.)  The Lutes started today with a 5 point lead over the rest of the field thanks to a win by Pacific Lutheran and a loss by 2nd place team Willamette in yesterday's games (matchround 12).  As a result of the win over George Fox today, the Lutes will maintain at least a 5 point lead over the rest of the field with 1 game remaining.

Through 13 conference games, the Lutes have outscored their opponents 44-4.  All 11 of Pacific Lutheran's conference wins this season came by way of getting a clean sheet.   Pacific Lutheran has only lost conference games this season when they have conceded goals in them.

[Hopkins92]

Probably a film student.

I really don't use the term laugh out loud very often... But this one got me. Quality.

[Centennial1]

Probably a film student.

I really don't use the term laugh out loud very often... But this one got me. Quality.

That makes two. I giggled.

[PaulNewman]

And now for a little Contender OR Pretender interlude....

Trinity (TX)
St Olaf
Otterbein
Cortland St
North Central
C-M-S
MIT
JCU
GAC
CNU
Dubuque
Wesleyan
MHB
Hope
Rochester
Redlands
Swat
Rowan
RUN
RPI
Vassar
Gettysburg
Hopkins
Denison
St Joe's
UMass-Boston
KZoo
Pac Luth
Kean
Ps-Harrisburg
Oglethorpe
Maryville
Webster

[Ejay]

How did you get a look at my #20-#50 rankings?

[PaulNewman]

How did you get a look at my #20-#50 rankings?

LOL.  I'm sure our lists are very similar. 

For the poll I submitted last night the cut-off for my top 20 teams ends with North Central and C-M-S, so the first six listed made my top 20.

I only included Trinity because some like to question whether or not their contending prowess matches their usual lofty rankings, and St Olaf because that's a name most aren't used to considering for a leading contender role.  Among those first six listed Cortland probably has the strongest pedigree after Trinity although Otterbein got to a Sweet 16 a few years ago and C-M-S did as well in 2019 (bowing out to Centre).

[jknezek]

Are we talking contender to win the tournament, or are we talking contender to make a nice run to the last 8 or 4? Because those are 2 different things.

[PaulNewman]

Are we talking contender to win the tournament, or are we talking contender to make a nice run to the last 8 or 4? Because those are 2 different things.

I'm really just playing around but good question.  For some a run to the Elite 8 or better would be my standard, for others to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, and for others the bar might be earning a noteworthy 1st round upset (like a repeat of PS-H beating Messiah or F&M or a NESCAC OR  PS-Behrend [not listed] knocking off OWU, Kenyon, or JCU).

[PaulNewman]

I think W&L, Tufts, and Messiah are still the heavy faves to win the whole thing, although I'm a little less confident about Messiah given the loss of their best player.

After that I would say legit contenders in no particular order are Trinity, Conn Coll, Calvin, Kenyon, OWU, Chicago, Wash U, Emory, North Park, Montclair, and maybe St Olaf, Amherst, NYU, and JCU.  My sleeper picks might be Midd and North Central. I could be missing one or two but otherwise any other teams getting to the Final Four I would consider a significant surprise.