Go WEST young man (and NORTH)

[Kuiper]

Interesting and informative article in the Claremont Schools student newspaper about the CMS men's soccer team's spring season with new coach Edward Cartee (formerly an assistant at Trinity (TX)), including their attempt to change the culture after the hazing incident that led the administration to cancel last season's games midway through. 

https://tsl.news/stags-soccer-comeback/

Couple of interesting notes:

- One rising senior noted that this will be his fourth head coach at CMS (in 5 years because of Covid).  I hadn't really appreciated that, but it's tough to change the culture and set a new tone when there's no stability in the head coaching position.

- They noted that they were told they will be practicing three times at week at 6:15 am during the season.  I guess that's one way to get the kids to go to sleep a little earlier and stay out of trouble.

- The players conceded that the hazing event was a ritual they had all participated in when they started in the program.  So, this wasn't a one-off.  It was long-standing and either they kept it well-hidden from the coaches or the turnover helped to bury the problem.  Given that it involved the entire team, it's hard to believe that it was kept hidden all this time.

- On the positive side, the team beat DII side Azusa Pacific 4-0 in their spring game.  Azusa was a mid-table team in their conference last year and only graduated five seniors, so that's a decent sign for Cartee and the CMS program.

[Kuiper]

Whittier College of the SCIAC announced it is cutting men's football, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's golf.  There are a lot of good reasons to cut football for a small college (Oxy did it two years ago), some of which apply to lacrosse (e.g., head injury risk), but none of which apply to golf.  They don't mention cutting any other sports and soccer appears safe, but I suspect this is a warning of financial distress.  It's never a good sign when they start talking about spending more on programs that benefit all students, like yoga and dance class (which just HAPPEN to be a ton cheaper), especially since they don't really attract students to your school because virtually all schools already offer them since they are so cheap.

https://www.whittier.edu/news/tue-11152022-340-pm/whittier-college-makes-changes-poet-athletics

"Nearly one-third of our current students are athletes and Whittier remains committed to supporting Poet Athletics and the 18 intercollegiate varsity sports in which our student-athletes will continue to compete. There are no plans to discontinue additional athletic programs at the College.

Going forward, Whittier will expand its commitment to health, wellness, and recreation. We are reinvesting our resources and efforts in programs that will impact even more of our students. We are also looking to the future—we have an active eSports team, dance activities, weekly yoga classes, and more on campus. We will continue to be open to other innovative developments that meet our students' needs."

DIII soccer is sufficiently precarious already in Southern California that I'm sure the other SCIAC members are going to be monitoring this closely.

UPDATE:  Whittier College's President has announced her resignation

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-05-12/whittier-college-president-resigns-amid-financial-troubles-plunging-enrollment

In recent years, Whittier has seen enrollment plunge 35%, from 1,853 students in 2018 to about 1,200. The decreases have driven down annual revenue by 29% over roughly the same period, according to audited financial statements. In an effort to balance the books, the college last year cut football and three other sports programs and unveiled plans to sell the president's residence, Wardman House, a hilltop mansion with views to the ocean.

[Kuiper]

It looks like the massive geographic conference shifts aren't limited to the D1 conferences.  The SAA announces that Trinity TX and Southwestern will be joining them in all sports.

https://saa-sports.com/news/2023/3/9/general-saa-welcomes-southwestern-university-and-trinity-university-texas-as-full-time-members.aspx

The SCAC is replacing Trinity and Southwestern with Ozarks and Concordia Texas from the American Southwest Conference starting in 2024-2025.

https://twitter.com/SCAC_Sports/status/1658171866698207233?s=20

Currently members of the American Southwest Conference, both Concordia University Texas and University of the Ozarks will join the SCAC at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, becoming the ninth and tenth members of the league once membership stabilizes leading into the 2025-26 academic year. McMurry University was previously announced as a future core conference member, also beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

[Ron Boerger]

It looks like the massive geographic conference shifts aren't limited to the D1 conferences.  The SAA announces that Trinity TX and Southwestern will be joining them in all sports.

https://saa-sports.com/news/2023/3/9/general-saa-welcomes-southwestern-university-and-trinity-university-texas-as-full-time-members.aspx

The SCAC is replacing Trinity and Southwestern with Ozarks and Concordia Texas from the American Southwest Conference starting in 2024-2025.

https://twitter.com/SCAC_Sports/status/1658171866698207233?s=20

Currently members of the American Southwest Conference, both Concordia University Texas and University of the Ozarks will join the SCAC at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, becoming the ninth and tenth members of the league once membership stabilizes leading into the 2025-26 academic year. McMurry University was previously announced as a future core conference member, also beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

As could be inferred by the conference announcement, Trinity and Southwestern will still be in the SCAC in '24-'25; they don't move to the SAA until the following season.  12 teams in some conference sports will make for a year of challenging scheduling before returning to 10.  With the continued radio silence out of the ASC, these may not be the last additions you'll see to the SCAC, either.

[Kuiper]

I'll cross-post in the 2023-2024 Schedules thread, but on the off chance someone who reads these boards is actually interested in the SCIAC, I'll post those here as well as they come out.  For those not from the West, what's interesting from the SCIAC is seeing who is traveling this year (either going elsewhere or coming here) and who teams play in conference.  On the former, it's usually a budgetary issue, limiting it to once every few years, but it can also signal whether a coach is optimistic about his team.  On the latter, the SCIAC ditched the home-away round robin conference schedule a few years ago in favor of more non-conference games.  Both features give SCIAC teams a chance to schedule more strong non-conference opponents to boost their strength of schedule for the NCAA tourney bids, but the latter unbalances the conference so teams have double games against half the conference and single games against the other half.  That can really impact who makes the conference tourney if some teams end up stronger or weaker than expected (or get all of their games thrown out because their school suspends them halfway through the season like CMS last year).

Redlands (double games against Occidental, Cal Lutheran, Chapman, and La Verne)

https://www.goredlands.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/schedule

Chapman (double games against Redlands, CMS, Pomona-Pitzer. Cal Tech)

https://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/schedule

[Kuiper]

Cross-posing from the 2023-2024 Schedule thread

Trinity University (Texas)

https://trinitytigers.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2023

Trinity's early non-conference schedule is usually filled with teams traveling in Region X because San Antonio is a convenient airport on Southwest and it's a good way for teams in the Region to cross-pollinate for strength of schedule purposes.  This year, Pomona-Pitzer and Willamette are traveling to Trinity to play in a Labor Day Tournament with Trinity and St. Thomas (P-P and Willamette each play St. Thomas and Trinity, but they don't play each other and Trinity and St. Thomas play later in the fall).  With Willamette and St. Thomas fresh off of NCAA tourney runs, Trinity a traditional power playing at home, and P-P no pushover after advancing in the SCIAC conference tournament last year with a lot of freshman in the lineup, that's a challenging set of early matches for those teams.  Those are some games to circle on the calendar, especially Willamette v. St. Thomas at 11 am (central) on Sun, Sept 3.  Not sure who is returning for Willamette (their leading scorer was a senior, but may have a Covid year), but St. Thomas' top two scorers were only juniors.  They should be very dangerous.

Of course, as we saw with the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps v. Trinity game last year during the Trinity Labor Day tournament, it's sometimes hard to predict which teams will help your strength-of-schedule.  As it turned out, neither CMS nor Trinity did as well as expected last year.

[Ron Boerger]

St. Thomas (TX) has taken on the role of favorite in the SCAC the last couple of seasons.  It hasn't helped Trinity that they have lost their best player, Michael Meese, both of the last two years due to injury - after scoring 15 goals in 14 matches in 2021 (missing a few matches in mid-season) he was only able to play in the opening five  last season.  And they graduate a boatload of COVID seniors (Blank, Duenez, Burns. Jones, Nayler-Gress, Sommerville, Simon, Vidales, Davis) so it's going to be a rebuilding year in SA. 

A little surprised CMS isn't on the schedule with former assistant Cartee taking the reins there. 

[Kuiper]

St. Thomas (TX) has taken on the role of favorite in the SCAC the last couple of seasons.  It hasn't helped Trinity that they have lost their best player, Michael Meese, both of the last two years due to injury - after scoring 15 goals in 14 matches in 2021 (missing a few matches in mid-season) he was only able to play in the opening five  last season.  And they graduate a boatload of COVID seniors (Blank, Duenez, Burns. Jones, Nayler-Gress, Sommerville, Simon, Vidales, Davis) so it's going to be a rebuilding year in SA. 

A little surprised CMS isn't on the schedule with former assistant Cartee taking the reins there.

As for CMS, it would be a little surprising from a budgetary perspective for them to go back to Trinity this year after playing them there last year.  They generally go on a trip like that every other year because it's pretty expensive.  Plus, with the hazing incident and suspension of the season last year, I'm sure the administration is in no mood to give them any extra leeway this year until they've proven themselves mature enough to handle it.

[Kuiper]

Another regular early September tournament that, like Trinity, allows for cross-pollination of the three leagues in Region X, is held at UC Santa Cruz.  UCSC has posted its schedule and they have a pretty good set of teams participating, even if none of them are likely to be quite as highly ranked as the teams playing at Trinity over Labor Day.

https://goslugs.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2023

UCSC plays Pacific and Whitworth

Whitworth plays UCSC and Cal Lutheran

Cal Lutheran plays Whitworth and Pacific

Since UCSC is making FIVE trips down to Southern California this year and playing every team in the SCIAC except Cal Tech and Pomona-Pitzer, no reason to play Cal Lu a second time.  It basically allows Cal Lu and USCS to both get two games against teams from the Northwest Conference.  [Incidentally, if something happened to a SCIAC school -- like perhaps Whittier given that it recently dropped several sports and its president has resigned amidst a drop in enrollment and reported financial difficulties -- it wouldn't take much of a schedule change to add UCSC at least as an affiliate member of SCIAC for soccer]

One other interesting note about UCSC' schedule is that two weeks after their tournament with the SCIAC and NWC schools, they will be traveling to Colorado Springs to play Christopher Newport and Colorado College.  Not only does that get UCSC exposure to two strong teams, but they get to play Christopher Newport outside of the C2C conference tournament, which seems to be a first.  Quite the trip for Christopher Newport, however, which not only has to travel across the country and (presumably) play two teams with a short turnaround, but they have to play in Colorado Springs and deal with the altitude.  That might be a real test for them early in the season.

Incidentally, I didn't realize that the Coast to Coast Conference championships this year is in Santa Cruz.  That's a true test of the resolve of conference members because a lot of schools have to fly a really long way to get there for this tournament.  The only consolation for the east coast teams is that you don't have as much jet lag going west as going east.  If UCSC was ever going to qualify for the NCAA tourney by winning the league, this would be the year.

[Kuiper]

Any SID-types looking to make a move to Southern California?

https://twitter.com/thesciac/status/1664727032524046337?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

[bubbabeans]

Recruiting news from the SCIAC is trickling in via Instagram.

Cal Tech (9 players) https://www.instagram.com/caltechmsoc/
Tanish Rao is a midfielder from Sunnyvale, CA. He helped lead his Bellarmine Prep high school team to the NorCal State Championship this year and played his club soccer for De Anza Force.
Sam Mathews is a goalkeeper from Pepper Pike, OH. Sam played for his University High School Team, and his club soccer for both FC Evolution and White Caps FC.
Bryan Kim is a defender from Los Altos, CA. He led his Mountain View High School team to a CCS championship this winter, and played his club soccer for MVLA's ECNL team.
John Ivanov is a midfielder from Mission Viejo, CA. John captained his Tesoro High School team, and played his club soccer for both Pateadores and West Coast FC.
Aaron Henslovitz is a defender from Livingston, NJ. After playing at the MLS Next level his freshman and sophomore year, Aaron joined STA's ECNL team so that he could also play with the Livingston High School team in his junior and senior years.
Ethan Hamel is a goalkeeper from Portola Valley, CA. He played for MVLA's ECNL team and Woodside High School.
Ethan Feng is a midfielder from San Jose, CA. He played for Sporting Santa Clara's ECNL team and Lynbrook High School.
Alex Crowley is a goalkeeper from Atlanta, GA, who played for Inter Atlanta FC's National League team and Paideia High School.
Riley Coover is a defender from Orinda, CA who plays for Lamorinda Soccer Club's MLS Next team and attended Miramonte high school.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7 players) https://www.instagram.com/stagsmsoccer/
Andrew McSlarrow is a centerback from Sandy, UT who played for Dickinson College (PA).
Christopher Kim is a midfielder from San Diego, CA who played for Albion SC MLS Next.
Miles Demarest is a goalkeeper from Irvington, NY who played for FC Westchester.
James Gomez is a forward from Los Angeles, CA who played for Soccer With a Purpose (SWAP).
Cooper Bollinger-Danielson is a forward from St. Paul, MN and played for the St. Paul Blackhawks.
Alex Sondergaard is a fullback from Paradise Valley, AZ who played for RSL Arizona MSL Next.
Eric Grossman-Glover is a centerback from Seattle, WA who played for Eastside FC.

Pomona Pitzer (7 players) https://www.instagram.com/pomonapitzermsoc/
Guy Fuchs is an attacker from So Cal that played for Strikers FC.
Enzo Dal Bo is an attacker from Nor Cal who played for Lamorinda Soccer Club MLS Next.
Kieran Veloria is an attacker from Arizona who played for Soccer Club Del Sol MLS Next.
Mori Miller is an attacker from Michigan who played for United Football Club.
Aidan MacLennan is an attacker from Oregon who played for Bend Football Club.
Adam Leikin is a defender from Nor Cal who played for Marin Football Club.
Daniel Yoon is an attacker from Nor Cal who played for Placer United Football Club.

[Kuiper]

Thanks @bubbabeans!  Nice to have someone else interested in the SCIAC.  Here are a few more I have been meaning to post:

Redlands (https://www.instagram.com/redlands_mens_soccer/)

Terren Reyes (D) Chula Vista, CA, City SC MLS Next
Zach Darmanyan (MF) San Diego, CA, City SC MLS Next
Anders Beckton (F) Seattle, WA, Seattle United ECNL
Ben Evans (D) Bend, OR, Bend FC Timbers
Jackson Barker (GK), Mercer Island, WA, WA Eastside FC
Bo Robertson (D) Portland, OR, Oregon Premier FC Academy
Hazen Arias (MF), Fontana, CA, Sporting CA Arsenal ECNL

Redlands also got a transfer, Christian Barboza (Wing), Fontana, CA, transferring from Mt San Antonio Community College. Last year, he started 11 games and was on the roster for the remainder, notching 1 goal and 0 assists.

Whitter (https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctabyb4pNYU/?hl=en)

Miguel Vargas
Alex Brown (GK) Sporting CA Arsenal
Jose Reulas, Jr
Anthony Chevoya (GK) transfer from San Diego Christian
Kevin Bravo
Axel Clark, Napa, CA, Napa United
Jake Ratzlaff, Anaheim, CA

[bubbabeans]

Thanks @bubbabeans!  Nice to have someone else interested in the SCIAC.  Here are a few more I have been meaning to post:

I'm a teacher that just entered the blessed summer season so I finally have time to dig around social media. Just waiting on Cal Luth, Chapman, La Verne, and Oxy!

[Kuiper]

Chapman (https://www.instagram.com/chapmanmsoc/)

Transfers:

Of interest to people on both coasts, Wesley Jackson, a defender from San Diego Soccer club who started 13 of 16 games at Emerson College his freshman year, is transferring back to Socal and playing for Chapman

Patrick Bulubenchi, a GK from Fullerton, CA who played at Strikers ECNL, is transferring from DII Cal State San Marcos, where he did not get any minutes in his first year and his redshirt freshman year.  Presumably, he will compete to replace first team SCIAC GK Chandler Siemonsma, who graduated.  His backups last year were two seniors and a freshman who started 1 game, played in 6, and got 227 minutes total.

Freshman recruits:

Kaimana Newman (MF), Honululu, HI, Honululu Bulls
Leo Wells (MF) Redmond, WA, Eastlake
Connor Kilde (MF) Chino, CA, Legends FC
Cyrus Steele (F) Seattle, WA, Eastlake
Winston Ivory (MF) Montreal, CA, Tabor Academy HS
Grant Shaw (D) Sammamish, WA, Crossfire
Chas Stark (D) Scottsdale, AZ, Arizona Arsenal
Benji Leonetti (MF) Chicago, IL, FC United

[Kuiper]

Recruiting news from the SCIAC is trickling in via Instagram.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7 players) https://www.instagram.com/stagsmsoccer/
Andrew McSlarrow is a centerback from Sandy, UT who played for Dickinson College (PA).
Christopher Kim is a midfielder from San Diego, CA who played for Albion SC MLS Next.
Miles Demarest is a goalkeeper from Irvington, NY who played for FC Westchester.
James Gomez is a forward from Los Angeles, CA who played for Soccer With a Purpose (SWAP).
Cooper Bollinger-Danielson is a forward from St. Paul, MN and played for the St. Paul Blackhawks.
Alex Sondergaard is a fullback from Paradise Valley, AZ who played for RSL Arizona MSL Next.
Eric Grossman-Glover is a centerback from Seattle, WA who played for Eastside FC.

CMS has announced a transfer

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuKWIBIJOIp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Ben Bacdayan (MF), Pittsburgh, PA, transfer from D1 Duquesne

(never a good sign regarding playing time when the photo of the player is from warmups)