Game of the week for D3 men's soccer

[PaulNewman]

Coach Jeff, could you tell us all a bit about your background, team affiliations, whether you're really a Coach or not, etc?

Sure thing I am 52 and I played on the team and graduated from Geneva College '92(NAIA at the time) with a degree in secondary Mathematics.  Coached Soccer at all levels.  Two different high schools in PA and Club teams.  I also was a coach at Susquehanna University for 7 years in the late 90's.  During this time I have had many opportunities to coach at college soccer camps for instance Susquehanna, Messiah and the Naval Academy.  Over the years I have worked with many great coaches during these camps.  My 4 sons have had been coached at the camps by Coach Dave Brandt, Coach Brad McCarty, Coach Brett Faro, Coach Derek Potteiger, Coach Mike Dreeves, Coach Gary Dunda, Coach Jake DeClute, Coach Roger Mast and many more.  I have learned a lot from these coaches and enjoy the opportunity D3 soccer has given my two oldest sons.  Trevor Leitzel played for 2 season at Grove City and my second son Stefan is currently playing for the Messiah Falcons.  If you would like to know any other information please ask.  Hope this is helpful.

Thank you and welcome, coach.  When someone brand new comes in kind of hot that often raises the specter of trolling, so glad to hear that is not the case.  And congrats to your son for being on one of the two best teams in the country.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

Wednesday
North Park vs North Central

North Park with another strong start to the year and their only blemish is a loss to #1 Chicago. North Central still undefeated and this is a battle for the top seed in the CCIW. North Central has been the thorn in North Park's side the last 4 or 5 years and it has grown into a nice rivalry. Excited to tune into this one!

Actually, North Central hasn't "been the thorn in North Park's side the last four or five years." NPU has beaten NCC the last six times that they've met (including the CCIW tourney), outscoring the Cardinals 19-5 over that stretch. North Central's last win over the Vikings was back in 2015.

Perhaps you meant it the other way around. It's not uncommon for non-CCIW folks to mix up the league's two schools with "North" in their names.

I can't speak for North Central, but for North Park it's not the big soccer rivalry. That is, and will most likely always be, Wheaton, both because Wheaton has been the bête noire of the Vikings on the soccer pitch since North Park inaugurated varsity men's soccer back in 1981, and because Wheaton is North Park's traditional rival in everything (whether Wheaton knows it or not ). And the NPU/Carthage rivalry has been a fierce and chippy one over the years as well. But I can definitely see an NPU/NCC rivalry blooming, because Enzo Fuschino has rebuilt what is now a very solid program out there in the western suburbs that had long been moribund. He basically built up UW-Platteville (his last coaching stop prior to North Central) out of nothing as well. Right now, with Wheaton and Carthage both struggling to find their footing again (each hired a former D1 head coach within the past year with that in mind), North Central has emerged as NPU's main challenger for CCIW hegemony.

No mix up but just meant it in a different way. More so that North Park would easily coast if North Central wasn't as competitive over the last few years. They have made it a challenge and agreed that Wheaton is the historical rival. But they haven't been relevant really since 2015 correct? Carthage had a year here or there but over the last few it's been all North Park with North Central challenging. Does that make more sense of my angle? I might still be off base 

[Gregory Sager]

No mix up but just meant it in a different way. More so that North Park would easily coast if North Central wasn't as competitive over the last few years. They have made it a challenge

I think it's overstating it to call North Central "the thorn in North Park's side," because that phrase implies that NCC has dealt NPU a setback or two, and that hasn't been the case.

I certainly agree that the Cardinals have proved to be a challenge for the Vikings the last two times that they met, because in both cases the Vikings only won by a goal. That's a reflection of the excellence of the North Central defense led by All-Americans Marquardt and Kraemer, of which I spoke earlier. But it's also the case that NCC only put five shots on goal against North Park in those two games combined, and one of them was a penalty kick. IOW, NPU proved to be more than up to the challenge both times.

Prior to those two contests, the third most recent contest between the Vikings and Cardinals was the 2018 CCIW tourney semifinal in which the Vikings annihilated NCC to the tune of 6-2. North Central's second goal in that game came in the 86th minute against NPU's reserves.

and agreed that Wheaton is the historical rival. But they haven't been relevant really since 2015 correct?

No, in fact, Wheaton was a thorn in North Park's side last season, beating the Vikings in overtime at Hedstrand Field in the 2021 CCIW tourney semifinal round after the Vikings had completely dominated Wheaton in their regular-season meeting at Joe Bean Stadium out in the 'burbs.

Wheaton fell off from its usual high standards during Jake DeClute's tenure as head coach (John Gosling was interim head coach last year when Wheaton pulled off that postseason upset in Chicago), but even a down Wheaton team is still a dangerous Wheaton team. That will very much be the attitude that the Vikings take on October 22 when the two teams meet in Chicago (aside from the fact that it's a rivalry game, with the usual throw-out-the-standings atmosphere you get from rivalry games).

Carthage had a year here or there but over the last few it's been all North Park with North Central challenging.

Not really, because, again, Carthage proved to be the thorn in North Park's side in 2018 when the then-Redmen scored a pair of late goals against the run of play to upset NPU 3-2 in the CCIW championship game in Chicago. That outcome also ran counter to the earlier regular-season contest, which had been a routine 3-0 romp in North Park's favor. That CCIW tourney loss kept North Park out of the D3 tournament, the only time that the Vikings have missed the dance since they began their current run of CCIW dominance that has also seem them emerge on the national scene.

Does that make more sense of my angle? I might still be off base 

Yes, it does make more sense, but ... yes, you're still off-base. That's OK, though. If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous about typing this stuff up and clicking POST, because it's making me wonder if I'm giving the Cardinals locker-room bulletin board material.

[Coach Jeff]

A lot of good matchups! And I am sure I missed some as well!

Gustavus-Adolphus vs Augsburg
Gettysburg vs Mary Wash
Dension vs Wabash
Catholic vs Wash College
Western Conn vs Drew
Lycoming vs Misericordia
UW-Platteville vs Luther
North Park vs North Central
Montclair vs Newark
Babson vs Conn College
CMU vs Chicago
Vassar vs Clarkson
Colorado vs Southwestern
Stevens vs Lycoming
Hamilton vs Bowdoin
Williams vs Wesleyan
St. Olaf vs Gustavus Adholphus
Newark vs Camden
ONU vs John Carroll
CNU vs St. Marys
NYU vs UR
CWRU vs Chicago

If you had to pick one for the week which one would it be and why?  Add the game time and date.  Just trying to gain interest in D3 soccer.  No one will be able to catch all these games.

That's a tough one...I'll go by day to narrow it down

Tuesday
UW-Platteville vs Luther

Both leading their respective conferences and both teams a little unknown (at least to me). Can UWP compete with CNU in conference and steal a bid or is the record inflated by an average SOS? UWP with 8 straight wins and haven't lost in their last 10. Both losses were opening weekend against 2 strong teams in MSOE and UW-EC.

Luther more recently has been successful and an NCAA tournament team. Battled Chicago to the end earlier in the year and held a 1-0 lead at halftime of the game before losing 2-1 in the 88th minute. Shots were dead even in this game and Luther held an advantage on corners 7-5. This has probably been Chicago's most difficult game of the year given the circumstances (although some would argue Calvin or NP too).

Should be a fun game to watch!

Wednesday
North Park vs North Central

North Park with another strong start to the year and their only blemish is a loss to #1 Chicago. North Central still undefeated and this is a battle for the top seed in the CCIW. North Central has been the thorn in North Park's side the last 4 or 5 years and it has grown into a nice rivalry. Excited to tune into this one!

Friday
CMU vs Chicago

Big conference matchup and will show how "real" CMU is this year.

Saturday
Hamilton vs Bowdoin

Massive game in the NESCAC. Hamilton still without a loss but coming off back to back ties against 2 teams near the bottom of the league. Will they bounce back or continue to drop points? For Bowdoin, a win could put them in the driver seat for a playoff spot. Coming off a nice result by drawing at Amherst-can they keep the momentum going? They finish with Tufts and won't want to bank on needing points in that game to get into the conference playoffs.

Sunday
NYU vs Rochester

Make or break game for both these teams. A win here keeps them alive in conference and for an at-large bid, but a loss may very well end the NCAA tournament hopes.

Like your Sunday pick but I bet RU will have the PAYWALL up.  Guess who is not paying to watch them play.

[Coach Jeff]

UWP v Luther ended 3-1 yesterday.  I noticed that UWP had 8 shots on goal compared to only 5 for Luther.  Was it an even match or was it more one sided?  I heard that UWP scored 2 goals in a minute of play.  Just wondering about the match as a whole.

[Gregory Sager]

I saw the last four-minute scramble of UWP @ Luther. It didn't tell me anything about the flow of the game, but it reminded me how much I like Luther's stadium ... and how much I dislike their field-level camera.

[Coach Jeff]

Tonight nights game chosen by you to watch is North Park v North Central.  Game time is at 8:30 and there is no PAYWALL 

[PaulNewman]

Tonight nights game chosen by you to watch is North Park v North Central.  Game time is at 8:30 and there is no PAYWALL 

Not sure if I'm reading this correctly.  Chosen by you for us?  Chosen by the group here?  Regardless, should be a good one.

[camosfan]

Did anyone mention the Conn College v Babson tonight at 7 pm?

[Maine Soccer Fan]

Did anyone mention the Conn College v Babson tonight at 7 pm?

Very interesting game, big one for CT College. However, if I remember correctly, the camera position makes CT College games hard on the eyes.

[Coach Jeff]

Thanks to Mid-Atlantic fan for suggesting we watch North Park v North Central.  A very good match with two very disciplined teams.  Both played quality soccer and worked hard from the starting whistle.  The goal of the match was the 27 yard direct kick by North Park's Christian Vaaland.  He could not have struck it any better.  A 2-2 draw was a fitting end to this game.  Great game!  Hopefully we will get to see the rematch in the CCIW Conference playoffs.

[Gregory Sager]

Wish I could've seen it. I had to call a women's volleyball match in the NPU gym, so I missed it completely.

[Coach Jeff]

I would like to see what each member feels the game of the week will be so we can watch and enjoy it from a differ point of view.  Not necessarily a top 25 matchup but maybe a cross town rivalry game for example the CODE red game W & L v Lynchburg or the marsh mellow game E-town v Messiah. 

Games between Monday, October 10 to Sunday, October 16.  Tell us the game and the reason we should watch.

My game to watch this week is Tuesday October 11 Western Connecticut at Drew, if Western wins this game it will make Western Connecticut prove this team is a contender for top 25 and NCAA tournament bid from the LEC.

If you missed the Western Connecticut v Drew game here was a few notes from the game.  Drew scored early in the match off a direct kick and lead the game for about 80 minutes when Western Connecticut found an equalizer.  The wolves out shot Drew 17-6 in the match and lead in corners 6-2.  One interesting side note I found was that the Wolves actually played 3 different goalies during the game.  Silva, Benson and Figueiredo each played about 1/3 of the contest.  It did not appear as if there were any injuries.  It just seemed odd to me at this late in the season to be using 3 different keepers.  Does anyone have any information about the use of the goalies?

[Hopkins92]

I have info:

That's really REALLY weird.

[Kuiper]

I would like to see what each member feels the game of the week will be so we can watch and enjoy it from a differ point of view.  Not necessarily a top 25 matchup but maybe a cross town rivalry game for example the CODE red game W & L v Lynchburg or the marsh mellow game E-town v Messiah. 

Games between Monday, October 10 to Sunday, October 16.  Tell us the game and the reason we should watch.

My game to watch this week is Tuesday October 11 Western Connecticut at Drew, if Western wins this game it will make Western Connecticut prove this team is a contender for top 25 and NCAA tournament bid from the LEC.

If you missed the Western Connecticut v Drew game here was a few notes from the game.  Drew scored early in the match off a direct kick and lead the game for about 80 minutes when Western Connecticut found an equalizer.  The wolves out shot Drew 17-6 in the match and lead in corners 6-2.  One interesting side note I found was that the Wolves actually played 3 different goalies during the game.  Silva, Benson and Figueiredo each played about 1/3 of the contest.  It did not appear as if there were any injuries.  It just seemed odd to me at this late in the season to be using 3 different keepers.  Does anyone have any information about the use of the goalies?

I don't follow the program, but a quick look at the playing stats for the three goalkeepers indicates that this is not that uncommon.  Benson, a freshman, appears to be the starter and has played in 14 games, starting 11.  Silva and Figueiredo, a sophomore and junior, respectively, have played in 7 games, each getting 2 starts, and getting minutes in the second half in the other 5 they have played, respectively.  It isn't only the blowout games they've played in either.  They've played in several tight games, including all three playing in the last two, a 1-0 win and a 1-1 tie.  One possibility is the freshman has started to wear down during the season, probably mentally more than anything, and the coach wants to ease up on the throttle on him and maybe give others a chance to shine too.

Frankly, I wish more coaches treated their goalkeepers this way when they have several good goalkeepers.  They appear to have 3 decent ones, although Benson is significantly taller than other two (6'3" v. 5'8" and 5'11").  There is this notion that you can't switch GKs during the game (and some would say during the season), but there's no real research on that point that goes beyond the merely anecdotal.  Many coaches rely upon one-off experiences where GKs are brought in late in the game along with a bunch of other subs that cause a team to relax or that lowers their quality substantially and the coaches blame a goal on the keeper rather than on the bad coaching decision to empty the bench instead of working kids in one at a time throughout a game or on not giving the backup GK adequate warmup time.  There is a potential confidence issue caused by pulling GKs for mistakes or after bad games (although some coaches would say it breeds competition and sharpens everyone), but this doesn't seem like that is what is going on here.  In the Drew game, Benson gave up a goal in the 8th minute and wasn't pulled until the 35th, so it wasn't like he was pulled for the goal (although I didn't see the game and it's possible he made distribution mistakes or got lucky not to concede and it was about performance).  In any event, even if a GK is pulled for performance, it's nice to see a coach go back to them the next game rather than "riding the hot hand," which means the other GKs have to wait for the first GK to fail before they get their chance.  Plus, if you rotate frequently, the field players see it as normal, they are used to them, the GKs are sharp when called upon, and it might even have the benefit of giving the opponent a different look if, for instance, one GK has a different distribution style or on coming out for 1 v1s and crosses.  The alternative is that GKs sometimes have to wait 3 years before they get  their chance.