2022 Season Game Notes

[PaulNewman]

From the D3soccer.com website....

Richard Gillespie of Chicago is the D3soccer.com Defender of the Year, teaming with fellow junior Griffin Wada to form the nation's best center back pairing. Despite playing one of the toughest schedules in Division III, the Maroon defense ranked fourth in goals conceded (0.47 GAA), posted 13 shutouts (twice each against high-scoring Calvin and North Park), and only conceded multiple goals in a game once. Chicago trailed for less than 91 minutes all season (the least by percentage in the nation) despite a low 1.32 goal scoring average. Credit goes to Gillespie & Co. who not only held opponents to just 7.0 shot attempts on average (5th best) but did even better limiting quality looks as reflected in a nation-leading 2.29 shots on goal allowed per game. They were the stingiest defense in the NCAA tournament, not conceding a single goal until the 18th minute of overtime in the national semifinal. Gillespie also contributed offensively with five goals and a pair of assists, all but one coming with the game still scoreless, often in the second half. The versatile defender was highly effective with both his head (2g, 1a) and feet (3g) inside the eighteen on set pieces.

A very interesting tidbit here is the kid who broke Chicago's scoreless string in the NCAA tourney in the 18th minute of OT in the national semi was Ignacio Cubeddu (#10) for Amherst.  No one really has mentioned (and I forgot) that Cubeddu has not played this season (not a minute I don't think).  He would make a BIG difference in the Amherst attack and he is a dynamic, highly skilled soccer player who had an absolute wonder strike to take Amherst to the final.

[PaulNewman]

MBM, if you are truly unfamiliar with the strength of Chicago's conference we can safely return to referring to you as a troll.

And no, your analogy and explanation did not help.  Btw, Guilford has a bunch of kids 6'2 and above, so there's that.

[MessageBoardMessi]

MBM, if you are truly unfamiliar with the strength of Chicago's conference we can safely return to referring to you as a troll.

And no, your analogy and explanation did not help.  Btw, Guilford has a bunch of kids 6'2 and above, so there's that.

And if you cannot process that analogy outside of a literal review of guilfords roster - I may have to re asses the level of intellect I am dealing with on this Board.

[northman]

Gotta love some of the new cool features on these 3rd generation burner accounts.....now come factory pre-installed with their own goats.  Quaint.

As a new, first generation, never been on here before or tended a goat in my life account - I must have missed an unwritten rule or two on ones ability to simply banter no different that others on this board.  Saying that, let me try this in what I hope to be a more palatable way......

Mr. Newman, that is an interesting take regarding the CBs at Chicago.  In your humble yet expert opinion, do you feel that they are better than Messiah's Lent Koop?  I only ask because that kid is pretty much a stud, and I don't think I have seen him make a mistake all season....not to mention the fact he also has 5 ish goals based on his ability to be a force on set pieces and full field runs.  Would love to hear  what you have discerned about the Chicago CBs.....

The truth is I have no idea and in general agree with northman.  There are a lot of VERY good CBs on very good teams around the country.  I haven't watched Lent-Koop much at all despite the begging to watch all of Messiah's great plays and goals.  The drooling and self-congratulation always send me a little over the edge....and hence why I'm so "goatable."  I've watched the Chicago guys several times and they are superb.  All three -- Kent-Loop and Gillespie and Wada were FIRST TEAM D3soccer.com AAs last year with Gillespie winning national Defender of the Year.

From the D3soccer.com website....

Richard Gillespie of Chicago is the D3soccer.com Defender of the Year, teaming with fellow junior Griffin Wada to form the nation's best center back pairing. Despite playing one of the toughest schedules in Division III, the Maroon defense ranked fourth in goals conceded (0.47 GAA), posted 13 shutouts (twice each against high-scoring Calvin and North Park), and only conceded multiple goals in a game once. Chicago trailed for less than 91 minutes all season (the least by percentage in the nation) despite a low 1.32 goal scoring average. Credit goes to Gillespie & Co. who not only held opponents to just 7.0 shot attempts on average (5th best) but did even better limiting quality looks as reflected in a nation-leading 2.29 shots on goal allowed per game. They were the stingiest defense in the NCAA tournament, not conceding a single goal until the 18th minute of overtime in the national semifinal. Gillespie also contributed offensively with five goals and a pair of assists, all but one coming with the game still scoreless, often in the second half. The versatile defender was highly effective with both his head (2g, 1a) and feet (3g) inside the eighteen on set pieces.

I have paid attention to McDonald and he is a great player.  Chicago has its own lethal offensive players...Yetishefsky, Kai Walsh, Alex Lee, Lyndon Hu.

Now that I'm returning to this forum after an absence of several years, I rely on some of you who really study D3 soccer more broadly to get me up to speed on what's going on nationally.  I admittedly have a very narrow view, as I'm a former Bowdoin parent and I really enjoy the competitiveness of the NESCAC across a number of sports.  That said, the NCAA tournament results over the past decade suggest the NESCAC is a deeper conference than U Chicago's UAA conference.  In this particular regular season, the Bowdoin D has played consistently well.  This is borne out by the stats:  0.36 GAA, .878 save percentage.

https://nescac.com/stats.aspx?path=msoc&year=2022

They do have a good center back tandem (Dylan Reid and Jack Selig), but how much of their defensive solidity is due to the CBs, the keeper, the entire back 5, or even the defending up front and in the midfield?  That's why I think it's difficult to make apples to apples comparisons of CB quality across the universe...

[PaulNewman]

MBM, if you are truly unfamiliar with the strength of Chicago's conference we can safely return to referring to you as a troll.

And no, your analogy and explanation did not help.  Btw, Guilford has a bunch of kids 6'2 and above, so there's that.

And if you cannot process that analogy outside of a literal review of guilfords roster - I may have to re asses the level of intellect I am dealing with on this Board.

This was metaphorical?

Guilford really shouldn't be better, nor will they be.  Their entire athletic program struggles, and have never been seen as legitimate in the region. Why would you think they would be better? Their location?  There is nothing attractive about that program, or special about the location.....and they typically attract the players that are short or without options

I'm sure it's me.  You can move on to more intelligent posters.

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Lent-Koop was also voted First Team All American by United Soccer Coaches last year. The two Chicago center backs in questions didn't receive a mention for 1st, 2nd or 3rd team. Also, Massey has Messiah's SOS as significantly higher than Chicago's.

I haven't watched Chicago much but Lent-Koop is more than a pure defender, he pings the ball around like Van Dyck and is often the second-fastest guy on the field (after MacDonald). He's a lot more than a big, athletic guy winning headers and playing square passes.

[PaulNewman]

LOL, northman.  Never said UAA was better than NESCAC.  We all know NESCAC is the #1 conference.  UAA is clearly #2...and last place Emory has been to at least one Elite 8 in the past 5 years, next to last Brandeis has been to two Final Fours in the past 8 or so years, Rochester went to Final Four a few years ago, and Chicago has been twice in the past few years.  Maybe you can just agree that Chicago has some pretty good CBs.  And, like Bowdoin, the Maroons seem to be having a pretty decent season.

[paclassic89]

Well, this year they are basically neck and neck but UAA has the slight RPI edge.  So, by one objective measure, UAA is the stronger conference.     Trinity drops the NESCAC into 2nd.  Take them out and NESCAC is stronger on average

[PaulNewman]

Lent-Koop was also voted First Team All American by United Soccer Coaches last year. The two Chicago center backs in questions didn't receive a mention for 1st, 2nd or 3rd team. Also, Massey has Messiah's SOS as significantly higher than Chicago's.

I haven't watched Chicago much but Lent-Koop is more than a pure defender, he pings the ball around like Van Dyck and is often the second-fastest guy on the field (after MacDonald). He's a lot more than a big, athletic guy winning headers and playing square passes.

OMG, you Messiah folks......  Van Dyck?  Groothoff is Messi?  Who is McDonald....Ronaldo?  Kane?  Haaland? Benzema?

You folks live in your own echo chamber similar to a few of the NESCAC folks.  Kent-Loop obviously is fantastic.  Gillespie is also tremendous offensive CB...or did you not bother to read the paragraph from D3soccer.com?

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Lent-Koop was also voted First Team All American by United Soccer Coaches last year. The two Chicago center backs in questions didn't receive a mention for 1st, 2nd or 3rd team. Also, Massey has Messiah's SOS as significantly higher than Chicago's.

I haven't watched Chicago much but Lent-Koop is more than a pure defender, he pings the ball around like Van Dyck and is often the second-fastest guy on the field (after MacDonald). He's a lot more than a big, athletic guy winning headers and playing square passes.

OMG, you Messiah folks......  Van Dyck?  Groothoff is Messi?  Who is McDonald....Ronaldo?  Kane?  Haaland? Benzema?

You folks live in your own echo chamber similar to a few of the NESCAC folks.  Kent-Loop obviously is fantastic.  Gillespie is also tremendous offensive CB...or did you not bother to read the paragraph from D3soccer.com?

MacDonald is actually faster than Kane, Haaland, and Benzema...but not Ronaldo in his prime.

[PaulNewman]

You can tell the tournament is approaching.  Anxiety, hyperbole, and the chippiness are ramping up.

The biggest news in that last slew of posts is Cubeddu for Amherst. 

[PaulNewman]

Lent-Koop was also voted First Team All American by United Soccer Coaches last year. The two Chicago center backs in questions didn't receive a mention for 1st, 2nd or 3rd team. Also, Massey has Messiah's SOS as significantly higher than Chicago's.

I haven't watched Chicago much but Lent-Koop is more than a pure defender, he pings the ball around like Van Dyck and is often the second-fastest guy on the field (after MacDonald). He's a lot more than a big, athletic guy winning headers and playing square passes.

OMG, you Messiah folks......  Van Dyck?  Groothoff is Messi?  Who is McDonald....Ronaldo?  Kane?  Haaland? Benzema?

You folks live in your own echo chamber similar to a few of the NESCAC folks.  Kent-Loop obviously is fantastic.  Gillespie is also tremendous offensive CB...or did you not bother to read the paragraph from D3soccer.com?

MacDonald is actually faster than Kane, Haaland, and Benzema...but not Ronaldo in his prime.

I'm disappointed.  You didn't sneak in a Nick West reference.

[paclassic89]

MacDonald's pro analogue is Dirk Kuyt lol

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Lent-Koop was also voted First Team All American by United Soccer Coaches last year. The two Chicago center backs in questions didn't receive a mention for 1st, 2nd or 3rd team. Also, Massey has Messiah's SOS as significantly higher than Chicago's.

I haven't watched Chicago much but Lent-Koop is more than a pure defender, he pings the ball around like Van Dyck and is often the second-fastest guy on the field (after MacDonald). He's a lot more than a big, athletic guy winning headers and playing square passes.

OMG, you Messiah folks......  Van Dyck?  Groothoff is Messi?  Who is McDonald....Ronaldo?  Kane?  Haaland? Benzema?

You folks live in your own echo chamber similar to a few of the NESCAC folks.  Kent-Loop obviously is fantastic.  Gillespie is also tremendous offensive CB...or did you not bother to read the paragraph from D3soccer.com?

MacDonald is actually faster than Kane, Haaland, and Benzema...but not Ronaldo in his prime.

I'm disappointed.  You didn't sneak in a Nick West reference.

Who's Nick West?

[D3SoccerTalker]

Not to get severely off topic from the point of this strand "Game Notes." Have had an opportunity to watch Chicago, specifically their game against CMU and I was impressed with a lot of their tactical movements (ability to fluctuate between a 3/4 back, midfielders dropping into the backline to create overloads, etc . . .) Interestingly, when they switched to a three back in the second half, Wada seemed to play the central role of the three backs/I was a little more impressed with his ability to anchor the defense than Gillespie. Maybe I haven't seen enough or maybe this just showcases the quality of their backs, either way I am looking forward to seeing how they match up against a decently fluid/dyanmic/sizeable NYU attack.