2023 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[SierraFD3soccer]

Ummm, 4-1. Yup, Horowitz No. 4 Kaliebe 4th assists (8 assists this year) did all the hard work with three defenders around him by making the good pass to Oscar. No. 18 on the season.  Had to look it up, some call it a "haul" some call  "double brace"

Bad defense by F&M, great finish by JHU's Meyer 4-2

Uh oh, Scooby Meyers with a hat trick 4-3 now with 12:30 to play.

[Hopkins Walk-On]

4-3 final. Hopkins made it interesting but couldn't overcome the 1st half defensive errors.

[SierraFD3soccer]

4-3 final. Hopkins made it interesting but couldn't overcome the 1st half defensive errors.

Crazy, crazy game.  When was the last time any of us have seen a 7 goal game with all 7 scored by only two players? Hey, very easy for this to all be replayed in Cent. Conf. playoffs. 

Now go crush Wash. College on Wednesday!!

[stlawus]

Wash College about to be 9-0-5 as they're smoking Gettysburg right now.  They could start getting some national attention.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Wash College about to be 9-0-5 as they're smoking Gettysburg right now.  They could start getting some national attention.

Definitely, possible problem up to now is SOS for them. They have some very tough games the next week and half.  Wed - JHU, Sat. Muhls Sat. F&M. 

[Chargers96]

CNU vs. Mary Wash ends 1-1.  I was there.  1st half played in a downpour and the field conditions impacted play.  UMW's attackers combine really well and you can see why they are ranked so highly.  CNU had a stretch in the later stages of the 2nd half where they were on top with multiple chances.  Overall a very exciting game to witness. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

Lynchburg v. VWU, late goal by VWU to take the win. This goal is pretty much what D3 soccer is about. Kid/team will always remember this.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxI59KfkcT6MI8HIiItOt7HYpsjG4mRNVj?si=TysVYtxiYO0OgNcg

Great 3.5 hr bus ride all the way back to VA Beach.

[Freddyfud]

Caught the last 30 of the Hop F&M game.  Due credit to the F&M press, but from what I saw plus the goal highlights it looked like the back line of Hopkins should not be blamed.  Their center midfielders didn't seem to show for the ball.   Maybe it was an off night.  F&M is certainly on a roll but if a team figures out how to consistently beat their press they look vulnerable on the counter.  That and the press seems to be the main basis for offensive production.  One wildcard who actually doesn't seem to fit this mold is this Koa.  Not that I've watched a lot of games this year but he is the real deal and one of the best I've seen.

Had the Geese vs the Bullets game on the other monitor.  As mentioned elsewhere the next 2 weeks will be the test for WC--Hopkins, Mules and then F&M.  Not sure this is their year, but I see them improving over the next few years as they have some good young talent.

When the F&M Hopkins game was over I caught the last 20 or so of the W&L Randolph game.  Basically Randolph trying to hold onto a 1-0 lead which seemed to be going well until W&L scored off a corner late to tie.

Admittedly I am mid-Atlantic focused (I wish I had more time to drop in on the occasional "insert name of conference here" game--someday perhaps) but it has been interesting watching games at this level for the first time.

[Freddyfud]

CNU vs. Mary Wash ends 1-1.  I was there.  1st half played in a downpour and the field conditions impacted play.  UMW's attackers combine really well and you can see why they are ranked so highly.  CNU had a stretch in the later stages of the 2nd half where they were on top with multiple chances.  Overall a very exciting game to witness.

I was hoping to watch this one, sounds like I missed a good one.  Maybe I should get a third monitor?  And yea from watching other games impressed with the UMW combo play.

Lynchburg v. VWU, late goal by VWU to take the win. This goal is pretty much what D3 soccer is about. Kid/team will always remember this.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxI59KfkcT6MI8HIiItOt7HYpsjG4mRNVj?si=TysVYtxiYO0OgNcg

Great 3.5 hr bus ride all the way back to VA Beach.

That first touch...

[TNAggie]

REMAINING UNDEFEATED TEAMS AS OF OCT 12:
Messiah 12-0-1
Middlebury 8-0-3
CT College 8-0-3
Wisconsin-Platteville 9-0-4
Washington College 8-0-5
Kean 9-0-4
Gordon 6-0-5 xxx
J&W NC 9-0-2
Manchester 8-0-5

Only Gordon lost so far ... still 8 undefeated teams remain after Sat Oct 14. Messiah, Middlebury, and CT College are Massey's top 3. WI Platteville and Washington College are creeping up the Massey Ratings into the top 30s.

[SimpleCoach]

CNU vs. Mary Wash ends 1-1.  I was there.  1st half played in a downpour and the field conditions impacted play.  UMW's attackers combine really well and you can see why they are ranked so highly.  CNU had a stretch in the later stages of the 2nd half where they were on top with multiple chances.  Overall a very exciting game to witness.

Was impressed with both teams, in spite of the field conditions.  Another game I would have loved to have watched in good weather.

SC.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Caught the last 30 of the Hop F&M game.  Due credit to the F&M press, but from what I saw plus the goal highlights it looked like the back line of Hopkins should not be blamed.  Their center midfielders didn't seem to show for the ball.   Maybe it was an off night.  F&M is certainly on a roll but if a team figures out how to consistently beat their press they look vulnerable on the counter.  That and the press seems to be the main basis for offensive production.  One wildcard who actually doesn't seem to fit this mold is this Koa.  Not that I've watched a lot of games this year but he is the real deal and one of the best I've seen.

Admittedly I am mid-Atlantic focused (I wish I had more time to drop in on the occasional "insert name of conference here" game--someday perhaps) but it has been interesting watching games at this level for the first time.

Perhaps as to center mids not showing but may have been covered and/or just brain freeze by the back.  Also, may have underestimated Koa at least to the first time.

I've said this before I think, Koa Kaliebe is just super quick in small spaces and I've seen him run down balls that, after 45+ years of playing, reffing and watching soccer, I was sure that they were going out especially because of turf. Plus he can do something with it once he has it in small spaces. Difference is that, while he is smaller than most, he has beefed up from his first two years so that he can't be pushed off as easily.

People say, "You have smother/mark Horowitz always"  Under normal circumstances, no problem.  JHU and other teams very, very capable teams absolutely know that. Then you see that Horowitz isn't covered and scoring all alone.  Many times, its because Koa sucks all the players to him once he beats that first guy and defenders see Koa as the main threat leaving Oscar unmarked. Happened twice last night and several times before. Oscar also seems to have what many in D3 do not, a knack for beating his man, being in the right place and finishing.  If he had this knack during his club days and wasn't considered a center back, I think he would have been playing at a different level.

[Bucket]

REMAINING UNDEFEATED TEAMS AS OF OCT 12:
Messiah 12-0-1
Middlebury 8-0-3
CT College 8-0-3
Wisconsin-Platteville 9-0-4
Washington College 8-0-5
Kean 9-0-4
Gordon 6-0-5 xxx
J&W NC 9-0-2
Manchester 8-0-5

Only Gordon lost so far ... still 8 undefeated teams remain after Sat Oct 14. Messiah, Middlebury, and CT College are Massey's top 3. WI Platteville and Washington College are creeping up the Massey Ratings into the top 30s.

Middlebury and Conn play each other today.

[NEsoccerfan]

Not really on topic given it's w/r/t the women's side, but the WashU women are 12-0 and have not given up a single goal all season. Incredibly impressive.

[SKUD]

Wow, that is impressive!