2022 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[PaulNewman]

I love hearing your thoughts @PaulNewman. It certainly isn't smooth sailing for every, or even most players during recruiting and later once on a college team.

I am so grateful for livestreaming, but I was flying one game day last fall, and couldn't stream the game. I had to follow along with live stats so know exactly what that was like. (It was, in fact, the only game my son scored in, so while nothing like seeing it, it was still surprisingly exciting reading it!).

One of the most exhilarating and feeling unlucky Live Stats experiences is seeing your kid's last name pop up on the screen with 'HIT POST.' 

[Saint of Old]

I love hearing your thoughts @PaulNewman. It certainly isn't smooth sailing for every, or even most players during recruiting and later once on a college team.

I am so grateful for livestreaming, but I was flying one game day last fall, and couldn't stream the game. I had to follow along with live stats so know exactly what that was like. (It was, in fact, the only game my son scored in, so while nothing like seeing it, it was still surprisingly exciting reading it!).

One of the most exhilarating and feeling unlucky Live Stats experiences is seeing your kid's last name pop up on the screen with 'HIT POST.'

Watching your kid score a goal is 100 times more exciting than scoring yourself... and that is saying A WHOLE LOT!

[PaulNewman]

I love hearing your thoughts @PaulNewman. It certainly isn't smooth sailing for every, or even most players during recruiting and later once on a college team.

I am so grateful for livestreaming, but I was flying one game day last fall, and couldn't stream the game. I had to follow along with live stats so know exactly what that was like. (It was, in fact, the only game my son scored in, so while nothing like seeing it, it was still surprisingly exciting reading it!).

One of the most exhilarating and feeling unlucky Live Stats experiences is seeing your kid's last name pop up on the screen with 'HIT POST.'

Watching your kid score a goal is 100 times more exciting than scoring yourself... and that is saying A WHOLE LOT!

Absolutely, SOL.  Imagine what I felt when my kid scored to draw Kenyon level in a Sweet 16 tilt in front of those 2980 at Shoemaker.  And then nearly had an assist to put the Owls up 2-1 with 15 to go.  Although, tbh, the walk off Hail Mary OT2 goal vs Denison at Denison was pretty sweet too. 

[Saint of Old]

I love hearing your thoughts @PaulNewman. It certainly isn't smooth sailing for every, or even most players during recruiting and later once on a college team.

I am so grateful for livestreaming, but I was flying one game day last fall, and couldn't stream the game. I had to follow along with live stats so know exactly what that was like. (It was, in fact, the only game my son scored in, so while nothing like seeing it, it was still surprisingly exciting reading it!).

One of the most exhilarating and feeling unlucky Live Stats experiences is seeing your kid's last name pop up on the screen with 'HIT POST.'

Watching your kid score a goal is 100 times more exciting than scoring yourself... and that is saying A WHOLE LOT!

Absolutely, SOL.  Imagine what I felt when my kid scored to draw Kenyon level in a Sweet 16 tilt in front of those 2980 at Shoemaker.  And then nearly had an assist to put the Owls up 2-1 with 15 to go.  Although, tbh, the walk off Hail Mary OT2 goal vs Denison at Denison was pretty sweet too. 

And those are the moments you nor him will ever forget.
It is sharing the love of your life with the love of your life!!!

[D3Dad]

I am a newby here but is it fair that all of Tufts success came with Shapiro ?  Do we expect the same results with new leadership ?

[Saint of Old]

The success always comes with the Coach.
Harvard people are smart people.

The problem also is Covid. Came at a bad time for Tufts.

I think that being in the NESCAC with 4 other Champions (Amherst/Williams/Conn College/Middlebury) means the pedigree will allow them to always make a run in the dance and who knows, but it is all about the Coach.
College coaches wear the GM hat as well and knows the recruiting/pipelines that teams are built on.

The team also adopts the Coach's personality (Tough/Hardnosed/Determined etc)

Finally, and more importantly, (besides himself) only a coach can give a player confidence. Some coaches are expert at this, like Shapiro.

Shapiro Tufts knocked Messiah off their Perch just like Fergie and Man United knocked off Liverpool.

The good thing for Tufts is now they are a certified championship, blue chip program. The players will ride that confidence knowing that whatever man has done man can do.

I can see them winning a championship (or 2) still, but definitely less likely without Shapiro.

To their credit, they brought in a young/good/hungry coach from Ithaca as a replacement and so far so good at the helm for him.

Should be a fun time in NESCAC and the country.

It seems that despite, Conn College being worthy champions, the crown and the title of best team in the country seem more up for grabs than any other time in the past 25 years.

[D3Dad]

Thx for personal reasons ,  hoping so me other up and comers make noise outside of the Nescac

[Another Mom]

Welcome d3 dad! Do you have a son playing in college?

[PaulNewman]

I wouldn't count on much slippage from Tufts.  They did barely lose in the Elite 8 last year.  I agree with SOL in general about the coach but there's also a culture that can continue, just like a coaching change at Messiah did not come close to ending their run.  Some schools have a very strong alumni base, and Tufts has evolved into one of those.  They won't tolerate Tufts not being a consistent top tier contender and just like Messiah they will be disappointed any year they don't get to the Final Four or win it all.

[PaulNewman]

It seems that despite, Conn College being worthy champions, the crown and the title of best team in the country seem more up for grabs than any other time in the past 25 years.

Imo this is absolutely true.  There are definitely 8-10 teams that could win the whole thing and probably 12-15.  Conn Coll kept the NESCAC train going, but honestly, even just 4-5 years ago Conn winning the title would have seemed like a pipe dream (and tbh feels a little bit like a pipe dream after the fact).  So personally if I am affiliated with a team trying to break through I would draw encouragement from Conn winning it versus hoping Tufts will falter.

[D3Dad]

Welcome d3 dad! Do you have a son playing in college?

Yes a freshman just dropped him off two days ago , excited to see how it goes

[Another Mom]

Congratulations! We might have sons on the same team :-) (Non nescac, drop off last week)

[PaulNewman]

Congratulations! We might have sons on the same team :-) (Non nescac, drop off last week)

Only works if W&L joined the NCAC over the weekend 

[Novacat]

It seems that despite, Conn College being worthy champions, the crown and the title of best team in the country seem more up for grabs than any other time in the past 25 years.

Imo this is absolutely true.  There are definitely 8-10 teams that could win the whole thing and probably 12-15.  Conn Coll kept the NESCAC train going, but honestly, even just 4-5 years ago Conn winning the title would have seemed like a pipe dream (and tbh feels a little bit like a pipe dream after the fact).  So personally if I am affiliated with a team trying to break through I would draw encouragement from Conn winning it versus hoping Tufts will falter.

No doubt.  Despite the concentration of previous recent winners, the nature of the game of soccer makes a dynasty very, very hard to come by.  Just look at the past two national championship runs.  Tufts in 2019 had some very very close games.  Conn College in 2021 won the first round game on PKs, another one with a last minute set piece goal, a wild one in the Final 8 against Tufts and two tough games in the Final 4.


(modified by GS for formatting)

[Another Mom]

W&L is scrimmaging with an area team tonight.