Go WEST young man (and NORTH)

[Ron Boerger]

Here's the bracket:  https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-men/d3/2024

Colorado gets PLU; CMS and Oglethorpe in the other half there.

If they both win out, Trinity and Colorado would face off again in the fourth round.  Middlebury is the top seed in the quadrant and likely hosts if they get through their first two games. 

[Kuiper]

Well, that's a surprise with both Colorado and Trinity hosting, and the NCAA sending Belhaven and Bowdoin to San Antonio.  Happy for CC who deserved the chance to host. 

Agreed.  CMS and Pacific Lutheran were going to have get on a plane anyway.  Colorado Springs is actually closer for both of them, although higher elevation obviously.  The Committee probably considered sending Oglethorpe to Colorado College to be fair considering Oglethorpe got to stay home and play at Emory last season against Colorado College in the first round (a game CC won).

For Belhaven, once they put the South bracket host at Lynchburg, San Antonio was the closer host anyway.  Bowdoin is the one that is traveling the farthest of just about any school, which perhaps suggests that there were members of the Committee who, like some on these boards, questioned their credentials.  Unless Bowdoin has to play a really late game, I frankly think going from the cold climate of Maine west to San Antonio is a much easier trip  weather and jet lag-wise than getting sent from LA to Amherst, for example, as happened to Occidental when they got out of the first couple of rounds.  No way do they send Bowdoin that far, though, if the NCAA hadn't allocated extra money for travel this year and NESCAC hadn't qualified so many teams for the tournament.

[Ron Boerger]

Apropos of nothing, but of interest to those remembering the St. Thomas - TLU donnybrook of last season which resulted in his resignation, former STT HC Ian Clerihew has re-associated with the sport.  He is now "CAP Director / Assistant DOC" (feel free to fill me in on what those acronyms might mean) for Idaho Surf Soccer Club, "the finest club soccer experience in the Treasure Valley" (Boise ID area).  He joined Surf in March of this year according to his LinkedIn profile.

At one point said profile stated he was trying to get into tech recruiting, but that industry has seen its share of struggles with many firms laying off tech staff and reducing salaries/benefits offered to tech workers.  His profile now says he is "looking to apply my passion and skills in the sales / recruiting" [sic].

[Hopkins92]

I could be wrong but:

CAP - College Advisory Program
DOC - Director of Coaching

[BTXCru18]

I'm sure this might have been mentioned in the NPI or national threads, but with Colorado College having such a  high ranking but no proximity to hardly any school, what will happen to their hosting priority?

FWIW, all but Wesleyan(CT) are hosting 1st/2nd rounds of the top 16 seeds. CC was a convenient coincidence, but makes you think if that was the intention all along. Lynchburg(#20) is the only non top-16 host site.

[SKUD]

^ not sure I understand? Wesleyan is NOT a top 16.

[BTXCru18]

^ not sure I understand? Wesleyan is NOT a top 16.

Am I reading something wrong? 11/10 NPI has them #16.

https://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/40157?utf8=%E2%9C%93&commit=Submit

[SKUD]

^ oops I was reading that from the previous day. 16 is correct.

[mngopher]

Shout out to UW Superior! They knocked off my Oles, and it was no fluke. I think it is easy to forget about the UMAC, I often do even being based in MN. The Yellowjackets dominated the conference this season. 16-0 in the conference including the conference tournament. 13 of those 16 wins were by 3 or more goals. Only gave up 5 goals in 16 conference games. Close games against very high quality opponents during the regular season, and a couple of big wins to start off the NCAA tournament. Heck of a season so far, and they've earned themselves a trip to the Sweet 16. Congrats, and best of luck!

[Kuiper]

The Northwest Conference announced their all conference selections. 

First Team
Pos / Name                                                                                 Class             Hometown / High School
GK – Nicholas Gaston, Pacific Lutheran * ...................................... Sr              Mililani, Hawaii / Mililani
D – Cole Dobson, Pacific Lutheran * .............................................. Sr              Spokane, Wash. / University
D – Alvin Kamau, Pacific Lutheran# .............................................. So              Nairobi, Kenya / High Mowing School (N.H.)
D – Dominic Gusman, Whitworth%................................................ Gr             Aiea, Hawaii / Punahou
D – Liam Elliott, Puget Sound#....................................................... Gr              Tacoma, Wash. / Stadium
M – Craig Johnson, Pacific Lutheran *............................................ Sr              Puyallup, Wash. / Puyallup
M – Clayton Crockett, Whitworth# ................................................. Sr              Liberty Lake, Wash. / Central Valley
M – Lucas McAllister, Whitman# .................................................... Jr              Brier, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet
F – Trevor Thompson, Pacific Lutheran* ........................................ Sr             Olympia, Wash. / River Ridge
F – Jacob Burrill, Whitman............................................................... Sr             Redwood City, Calif. / Sequoia
F – Cole Friesen, Whitworth* .......................................................... Jr              Chula Vista, Calif. / Eastlake
F – Krisna LaFrance, Willamette ..................................................... Sr              Seattle, Wash. / Ballard

Second Team
Pos / Name                                                                                   Class         Hometown / High School
GK – Ryan Saunders, Puget Sound #............................................. Sr            Colleyville, Tex. / Lawrence D Bell
D – Landon Sexton, Pacific Lutheran ............................................. So            Olympia, Wash. / North Thurston
D – Garrett Heuett, Pacific (Ore.).................................................... Jr              Spokane, Wash. / Cheney
D – Kilinahe Waring, George Fox ................................................... Jr              Honolulu, Hawaii / Kamehameha
M – Christian Pineda, Pacific Lutheran#......................................... Sr              Puyallup, Wash. / Emerald Ridge
M – Keegan Davis, Whitworth% ..................................................... Jr              Albuquerque, N.M. / Eldorado
M – Rhys Foote, Puget Sound........................................................ So               Mountain View, Calif. / Palo Alto
M – E.J. Sablan, Linfield.................................................................. So               Puyallup, Wash. / River Ridge
F – Beckett Arthur, Whitworth% ...................................................... Sr               Missoula, Mont. / Hellgate
F – Connor Kong, George Fox......................................................... Sr                Kahului, Hawaii / Maui
F- Sean Kim, Willamette ................................................................. Gr                Sunnyvale, Calif. / Homestead
F- Sawyer Valero, Whitman* ........................................................... Sr                Brooklyn, NY / Brooklyn Tech
 
 
Honorable Mention
Pos / Name                                                                                  Class                Hometown / High School
GK- Zach Aderinto, Pacific (Ore.) % ............................................. Sr                    Kailua-Kona, Hawaii / Kealakehe
GK- Justin Huttinger , George Fox, .............................................. Jr                      Mill Creek, Wash. / Henry M. Jackson
D – Jossue Tobar, Whitman ......................................................... Sr                     Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador / Colegio ANAN
D – Kody Carmel, Puget Sound ................................................... So                     Federal Way, Wash.
D – Camden Wyatt, Pacific (Ore.) ................................................ Jr                      Seattle, Wash. / Seattle Preparatory
M – Pema Globus, Puget Sound................................................... Sr                      San Francisco, Calif. / Drew School
M – Andrew Reed, Willamette% ................................................... Sr                     Portland, Ore. / Franklin
M – Joshua Chang, George Fox ................................................... Sr                      Mercer Island, Wash. / Mercer Island
F – Kevin Serrano, Whitman ......................................................... Fr                     Portland, Ore. / La Salle Catholic College Prep
F – Jackson Smith, Puget Sound. ................................................. Fr                     Shoreline, Wash. / Shorewood

[Kuiper]

This occurred before the tournament started, but I never got to posting it.  The SCAC announced the all conference selections

2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer First Team

Curtis Hale Colorado College Sr. D Richmond, Va.
JonConnor Rule Trinity University Gr. D San Antonio, Texas
Raghav Sharma Southwestern Univ. Jr. D Austin, Texas
Hunter Cain Trinity University Sr. F Houston, Texas
Daniel Castro Univ. of St. Thomas Sr. F Houston, Texas
Jose Aguirre Concordia (Texas) Sr. F Oceanside, Calif.
Louis Catchpole Austin College Sr. F Kent, England
Adam Knutson Trinity University Jr. M Dripping Springs, Texas
Michael Grimm Southwestern Univ. Sr. M Dallas, Texas
Alexander Ward Colorado College Sr. M Portland, Ore.
Louis Instrall Trinity University Jr. M London, England
Alex Wolter Colorado College So. GK New Canaan, Conn.

2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Second Team

Will Powell Trinity University Sr. D London, England
Rex Karjian Colorado College Jr. D Seattle, Wash.
Cameron Burleson Concordia (Texas) Sr. D San Antonio, Texas
Oliver Ramirez Colorado College Jr. F Fort Collins, Colo.
Wyatt Linggi Colorado College So. F San Diego, Calif.
Louis Hart Texas Lutheran Univ. Sr. F Missouri City, Texas
Jack Manke Texas Lutheran Univ. Sr. M Houston, Texas
Pierce Wear Austin College Jr. M North Richland, Texas
Will Bavier Colorado College Sr. M Cambridge, Mass.
Jack Hilliard Colorado College So. M San Antonio, Texas
Omkar Satpathy Trinity University Jr. GK Pleasanton, Calif.

2024 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Honorable Mention

Ian Alvarez Univ. of St. Thomas Sr. D Bellville, Texas
Diego Roman Texas Lutheran Univ. Sr. D Houston, Texas
Noah Harris Texas Lutheran Univ. Sr. D Missouri City, Texas
Brock Bernard Univ. of the Ozarks Sr. D Rockwall, Texas
Luke Mayfield Trinity University So. D Dallas, Texas
Dylan Stapley Colorado College So. D San Diego, Calif.
Sam Spencer Austin College Jr. D Heath, Texas
Luke Chandler Trinity University Jr. D Glasgow, Scotland
Carson Alldredge Texas Lutheran Univ. So. D Spring, Texas
Cooper Pero Southwestern Univ. So. D Tulsa, Okla.
Ahmad Alhendi Concordia (Texas) Jr. D Dallas, Texas
Anthony Licea McMurry University So. D Lake Highlands, Texas
Theo Givens Concordia (Texas) Sr. F Austin, Texas
Tony Castro Univ. of St. Thomas So. F Queens, N.Y.
Nathan Uduojie Centenary College Fy. F Houston, Texas
Vincent Luglio Colorado College Sr. F Wilmette, Ill.
Greyson Pinto Southwestern Univ. Jr. F Plano, Texas

[Ejay]

Who's the 1 starter from CC that didn't earn all conference? They have 10 on the three teams. Like HS all over again.

[Kuiper]

Reposting from the Coaching Carousel thread.  Ralph Perez is an institution in SoCal soccer and one of the few coaches who has had success at every level of the game, up to and including the international game.  There will be big shoes to fill at Redlands (I suspect Cody Carlson will be a top candidate internally, but we'll see).

2025 will be the last season for legendary Redlands Men's Soccer HC Ralph Perez

With more than 445 collegiate wins, Head Men's Soccer Coach Ralph Perez has announced that the 2025 season will be his final season at the University of Redlands.

"This has been the most enjoyable experience I have had in collegiate coaching.  I have had the privilege of working with outstanding people like Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez, former Head Athletic Trainer Janelle Kratz, and Head Women's Soccer and Lacrosse Coach Suzette Soboti," Perez stated.  "I am grateful for my assistant coaches, who have been instrumental in continuing the high-caliber experience in Bulldog men's soccer.  I inherited a great program and hope to provide one for the next coach."

A familiar face to the U.S. soccer scene, Perez has accumulated 50 years of experience dating back to his first coaching position at Whittier College in 1974.  He has enjoyed several collegiate coaching stints, including those at Old Dominion University (VA), Santa Clara University, Cal State Fullerton, and the University of Redlands. Furthermore, he founded the Cal State San Bernardino women's program and the Cal State Los Angeles men's team, which made an NCAA Championship appearance in its fourth season.

Highlighting his collegiate success, Perez has led each of his former institutions to one or more conference titles while also securing the respective coach-of-the-year honor.

Perez's longest tenure has come at the University of Redlands, where he has amassed an 18-year winning percentage of .736 with 255 wins, including 190 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).  Under his leadership, the Bulldogs have won 10 regular-season championships, qualified for the conference tournament every year since its inception (excluding a COVID-impacted 2020 season), and advanced to the NCAA Championships on seven occasions.  His team earned a spot in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2007 and 2016 and made appearances in the round of 16 in 2011 and 2021.

"From the moment I stepped on campus in 2021, I knew we had a special coach in Ralph Perez," stated Krista Newkirk, University President.  "I have witnessed his leadership, passion, and knowledge from inside the huddle on more than one occasion.  We have been incredibly fortunate to have him as our coach, and I expect nothing but a phenomenal final season from him and his team."

The four-time United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America) West Region Coach of the Year (2011, 2015, 2016, 2021) has coached nine All-America selections, eleven SCIAC Athletes of the Year, and numerous All-Region honorees during his time with the University of Redlands men's soccer program.

[Kuiper]

I was waiting for an official announcement to post this, but in light of the Ralph Perez announcement that 2025 is his last season, I thought it was only fitting that I mentioned that Bill Swartz of Pomona-Pitzer is retiring this season as well.  Hard to believe that this quote from the game recap of the last game of the year is all he gets, but that may have been his wish to go out quietly.

https://sagehens.com/news/2024/11/2/mens-soccer-sagehens-tie-with-occidental-in-swartz-final-match.aspx

Today's match marks Bill Swartz's final game as the head coach of the Sagehens. Swartz is retiring after 37 seasons at Pomona-Pitzer. His career coaching record is 414-278-41.

Two big shoes to fill in the SCIAC

He had taken medical leave of absence for 1.5 seasons and came back last season for one more go at it.  37 years at the school and 414 wins seems to deserve more mention than a single sentence.

EDIT:  I should have added that he deserved more than a single sentence in a story about his retirement.  It looks like the team had him walk with the seniors for the last game alongside his family, which was a nice touch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DB7WGmAyP4x/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Hopkins92]

Ah... the fiercest bird of all... The mighty Sagehen!