2022 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[Mr.Right]

Mystery solved.  Hector Gomez, who would have been a leading candidate for D3 NPOY at OWU, is using his last year of eligibility as a grad student at D1 Cleveland State.  In two games thus far, Hector has logged 47 minutes versus Canisius and 50 minutes versus UIC, both victories for the Vikings.

Cleveland State??? Ok I guess.....That is a tough loss for OWU especially if his teammates were expecting him back. Kind of a slap in the face OR like u said maybe it was planned from the get go.

[Ejay]

Kind of a slap in the face OR like u said maybe it was planned from the get go.

Kinda harsh. Looks like he graduated and is now getting a graduate degree which isn't available at OWU.

[Mr.Right]

yea maybe a little harsh ur right. I am still getting used to all this jumping around for players

[Ron Boerger]

My handle shows how old I am (roughly) and I spent about a dozen years coaching elite youth (girls). My issue, or really more of a question, is how in the heck do you run effective practices with that many kids? Do they just divide up the top 1-25 (or whatever) and 26-xx and let the latter group just go off on your own?

I don't know how other programs do it, but at NPU the varsity and the reserves practice separately once the season starts.

That's the odd thing about Trinity.  North Park lists a HC, two ACs, and a volunteer asst.  That's enough to handle what is effectively two teams.  Trinity only lists one HC and one AC. Maybe they have more who aren't listed, but bringing in more players without springing for more coaches just degrades the experience for everyone.

Man, for someone with zero knowledge of a program you're casting a lot of judgement on it.  Trinity has large rosters every year.  Kids keep coming and most of them stick around.  Could be that soccer isn't the sole reason some of these players make the journey to South Texas, it could be they find ways to set expectations and keep players engaged, or maybe both.  A program doesn't go 531-87-34 over 31 years by treating its student-athletes poorly.

[Kuiper]

My handle shows how old I am (roughly) and I spent about a dozen years coaching elite youth (girls). My issue, or really more of a question, is how in the heck do you run effective practices with that many kids? Do they just divide up the top 1-25 (or whatever) and 26-xx and let the latter group just go off on your own?

I don't know how other programs do it, but at NPU the varsity and the reserves practice separately once the season starts.

That's the odd thing about Trinity.  North Park lists a HC, two ACs, and a volunteer asst.  That's enough to handle what is effectively two teams.  Trinity only lists one HC and one AC. Maybe they have more who aren't listed, but bringing in more players without springing for more coaches just degrades the experience for everyone.

Man, for someone with zero knowledge of a program you're casting a lot of judgement on it.  Trinity has large rosters every year.  Kids keep coming and most of them stick around.  Could be that soccer isn't the sole reason some of these players make the journey to South Texas, it could be they find ways to set expectations and keep players engaged, or maybe both.  A program doesn't go 531-87-34 over 31 years by treating its student-athletes poorly.

My apologies.  My post was not meant to give offense to you or cast aspersions on Trinity as an institution.  I'm probably one of the few people on this board to actually have lived in San Antonio (I've lived in Dallas too) and currently live in Region X, so I know Trinity has a strong academic reputation and I know they attract students from all over.  Plus, I have relatives who lived in Alamo Heights (and went there for HS) and I see a number of people from Alamo Hts HS on the roster, which is not surprising since it's a popular school locally too among those who don't want the UT/A&M experience. 

Rather, my post was meant to state my surprise that they have 58 players, but the same size staff as a school with half as many players and to express my opinion that this is not as good for the experience of players as having more coaches to handle all of those players (one of the reasons I started a thread awhile back about reserve teams and large rosters).  Other schools with really large rosters plow some of that extra money back into larger staffs.  As you say, perhaps Trinity does a bunch of other great things.  If so, it would be nice to hear about them since growing roster sizes is happening in a lot of places.

[D3Navy]

I'm not on the inside of Trinity soccer, but I love watching and plan to be at the games on Saturday and Sunday this week.  Might get the chance to talk to some parents/others.  I'll see what I can glean. 

From observation, the mood of the team is very positive and relaxed, and I can't imagine players making the decision to go to TU are not aware of the caliber of the team and the likelihood of playing. 

Side note: Football and Volleyball are also home this weekend, and all will play on Saturday night.  Volleyball plays the defending national champ, UW-Eau Claire, in the gym while football plays outside.  Which to watch?

Nice to be back in the swirl of college sports!

[PaulNewman]

Now that I can do a proper, quick scan thanks to D3soccer.com...I noticed a few games that I overlooked on my first go around...

3:00 -- Carleton @ Ramapo -- Don't know if this will be an interesting game but Carleton did make the NCCA tourney last year and bowed out to North Park, but rarely do you see a Region IX team go on the road to take on a Region IV squad...and seems even more unusual as often such trips involve a pair of games.  Not the case here as Carleton next plays North Central.

4:00 -- Wartburg @ GAC -- GAC had a strong season last year and usually is good.  Wartburg had a few years more than a half-decade ago of tense battles with Loras who at the time was a top 3 program in the country.

5:00 -- MIT @ Gordon -- Could be a sneaky good game with strong regional interest.

5:00 -- F&M @ Leb Valley -- Leb Valley has been an improving program and a win over F&M would give them a big early boost, while F&M, the Kenyon of the East, needs to show they can be more than a very good Sweet 16 team.

7:00 -- Brockport St @ RIT -- Oneonta and Cortland tend to grab all the SUNYAC attention but Brockport, Buff St, Plattsburgh have had some good teams....and our SLU/Liberty League friends seem to be very high on RIT.

7:00 -- Centre @ Otterbein -- Very solid intersectional battle.  Centre made the Final Four in a semi-shock in 2019, and Otterbein just had one of their very best years in recent memory.  A W could be very important for both.

7:00 -- JCU @ Oberlin -- JCU should handle the Yeomen with relative ease but long-time skipper Blake New has a history of pulling an upset...like in 2013 when Oberlin made a rare NCAA tourney appearance replete with an opening round 2-0 win over mighty Oneonta St despite Oneonta outshooting the Yeomen something like 32-3 at Fauver Stadium in the middle of campus at University of Rochester.

7:00 -- Elizabethtown @ York (PA) -- Not one that really interests me but those Mid-Atlantic fans really love their Mid-Atlantic soccer.

7:00 -- Salisbury @ Washington College -- First chance for Wash Coll to verify last season's dramatic emergence on the national scene against Salisbury which a handful of years ago seemed like a steady, marginal NCAA tourney candidate but seems to have slipped.

7:30 -- SLU @ Geneseo St -- The kind of early game that could send the Saints faithful into a dark place.  Would be nice to see SLU get off to a strong start.

7:30 -- Willamette @ Colorado College -- Nothing caps off a great evening like a nice Region X tilt with the Pac NW colliding with a SCAC perennial bridesmaid to Trinity (TX).

[PaulNewman]

Just wondering how the tailgating and pep rally are going in Lexington, VA.

[SimpleCoach]

Now that I can do a proper, quick scan thanks to D3soccer.com...I noticed a few games that I overlooked on my first go around...

3:00 -- Carleton @ Ramapo -- Don't know if this will be an interesting game but Carleton did make the NCCA tourney last year and bowed out to North Park, but rarely do you see a Region IX team go on the road to take on a Region IV squad...and seems even more unusual as often such trips involve a pair of games.  Not the case here as Carleton next plays North Central.

4:00 -- Wartburg @ GAC -- GAC had a strong season last year and usually is good.  Wartburg had a few years more than a half-decade ago of tense battles with Loras who at the time was a top 3 program in the country.

5:00 -- MIT @ Gordon -- Could be a sneaky good game with strong regional interest.

5:00 -- F&M @ Leb Valley -- Leb Valley has been an improving program and a win over F&M would give them a big early boost, while F&M, the Kenyon of the East, needs to show they can be more than a very good Sweet 16 team.

7:00 -- Brockport St @ RIT -- Oneonta and Cortland tend to grab all the SUNYAC attention but Brockport, Buff St, Plattsburgh have had some good teams....and our SLU/Liberty League friends seem to be very high on RIT.

7:00 -- Centre @ Otterbein -- Very solid intersectional battle.  Centre made the Final Four in a semi-shock in 2019, and Otterbein just had one of their very best years in recent memory.  A W could be very important for both.

7:00 -- JCU @ Oberlin -- JCU should handle the Yeomen with relative ease but long-time skipper Blake New has a history of pulling an upset...like in 2013 when Oberlin made a rare NCAA tourney appearance replete with an opening round 2-0 win over mighty Oneonta St despite Oneonta outshooting the Yeomen something like 32-3 at Fauver Stadium in the middle of campus at University of Rochester.

7:00 -- Elizabethtown @ York (PA) -- Not one that really interests me but those Mid-Atlantic fans really love their Mid-Atlantic soccer.

7:00 -- Salisbury @ Washington College -- First chance for Wash Coll to verify last season's dramatic emergence on the national scene against Salisbury which a handful of years ago seemed like a steady, marginal NCAA tourney candidate but seems to have slipped.

7:30 -- SLU @ Geneseo St -- The kind of early game that could send the Saints faithful into a dark place.  Would be nice to see SLU get off to a strong start.

7:30 -- Willamette @ Colorado College -- Nothing caps off a great evening like a nice Region X tilt with the Pac NW colliding with a SCAC perennial bridesmaid to Trinity (TX).

Rowan at JHU?  Kickoff was at 1.  Watching now.  Very good second half.

[PaulNewman]

Hear ya go, SC....from my 8-19-22 post...didn't want to repeat my original headliners...

Newman's Late Summer Menu Selections (through September 14 with online ordering available)

Two Chef's Specials above all others...Messiah @ W&L on opening day and the NESCAC heavyweight tournament that should be played at one venue as a doubleheader on Sept. 10.

September 1, 2022

Messiah @ W&L $$$$$
Rochester @ Cortland St $$$$
Rowan @ Hopkins $$$$
RPI @ Montclair $$$
Chicago @ Kzoo $$
Ohio Northern @ Kenyon $$
Centre @ Otterbein $
Wash U @ Carthage $

[SimpleCoach]

Hear ya go, SC....from my 8-19-22 post...didn't want to repeat my original headliners...

Newman's Late Summer Menu Selections (through September 14 with online ordering available)

Two Chef's Specials above all others...Messiah @ W&L on opening day and the NESCAC heavyweight tournament that should be played at one venue as a doubleheader on Sept. 10.

September 1, 2022

Messiah @ W&L $$$$$
Rochester @ Cortland St $$$$
Rowan @ Hopkins $$$$
RPI @ Montclair $$$
Chicago @ Kzoo $$
Ohio Northern @ Kenyon $$
Centre @ Otterbein $
Wash U @ Carthage $

Yeah saw the original post.  I'll take one of everything please.

SC.

[stlawus]

Looks like Cortland has three more D1 transfers this year in the starting lineup.  5 total.

[PaulNewman]

Looks like Cortland has three more D1 transfers this year in the starting lineup.  5 total.

Nothing says D3 is (almost) as good as D1 more than a team full of D1 transfers playing for a D3....or something.

[stlawus]

Looks like Cortland has three more D1 transfers this year in the starting lineup.  5 total.

Nothing says D3 is (almost) as good as D1 more than a team full of D1 transfers playing for a D3....or something.

With the pro game continuing to slowly wean itself off of heavily relying on the college ranks I think this is becoming more true.  D1 soccer only has 9.5 scholarships as it is, so the majority of the D1 player pool are not on scholarship.  As it is an upper half D3 player is not that far away from a D1 walk on in terms of quality.

[Flying Weasel]

All-American Michael Kutsanzira did not play for Washington & Lee in their opener and All-American Amer Lukovic did not play for Montclair State in their opener.  Injuries?  Anybody have any insight?