2023 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[Kuiper]

Can't be that simple. Can't afford 1 extra chartered bus, and no field space b/c of spring sports, i.e. lacrosse? From what I can tell, coaches and players universally would trade out a few extra practices for another game. Is it that important to have more games or does it just make spring season more fun?

I was just reporting what people said when this first came down last year, but it usually is that simple when these things are voted on.  Extra practices don't affect budgets at all (assuming coaches aren't paid by the hour), while extra games do and also affect scheduling on the game fields.  So, I think the assumption was that the committee drafted the proposal in the way that would be the most likely to secure an affirmative vote and that meant in a way that would change as little as possible to avoid any objections from the decision-makers.  Perhaps the theory is they can get to more spring games once this changes has a few years to take root.

As to whether it is important (rather than just fun) to have more games, it probably depends upon how productive your practices are, whether you have enough players to run intra-squad full field scrimmages, and whether you have a lot of players who didn't get meaningful time in the fall and want to use this as an opportunity to impress the coach.  If players just need game action for individual development, they can play in summer leagues.  It isn't critical for success as a team since NESCAC teams have historically had no spring coach-led practices of any kind and that hasn't hindered them in the fall.

[camosfan]

I don't think there is a great need for spring games, a lot of players are playing in summer leagues as it stands now.

[SKUD]

PN and Kuiper, now that the season is done what do you do with all your free time?  How many days till the first game of '24?

Happy Holidays to all! 

[Kuiper]

PN and Kuiper, now that the season is done what do you do with all your free time?  How many days till the first game of '24?

Happy Holidays to all!

Watch @SimpleCoach's Coach-to-Coach and Field of Dreams' segments, of course!

Plus, there are recruits to track (tons of strong players are committing to DIII programs this week in Early Decision I).

And, of course, the coaching carousel keeps moving in the off-season.

Before we know it, spring games and fall schedules will start leaking out . . . In fact, Aurora College already posted the beginning of its 2024 schedule (basically the conference schedule, which many conferences set several years in advance)

https://athletics.aurora.edu/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2024

[Ejay]

No surprise here, Amer Lukovic named D3 PoY. A three-time All-American, Lukovic led all of the NCAA in points (75), goals (34), and game-winning goals (11). Should be fun to see what he does next fall in his final year.

https://montclairathletics.com/news/2023/12/12/mens-soccer-amer-lukovic-named-2023-national-player-of-the-year.aspx

[Kuiper]

Harley Kruschwitz, a second team USC All-American forward from Manchester University, who scored 18 goals this year, committed to Ohio State to play soccer in Fall 2024 as a grad transfer

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0zPU8Yr-BF/

These kinds of DIII to DI grad transfers are going to dry up after this year because of the end of the Covid fifth year, but I wonder if there may be a few more DIII to DI transfers with the easing of restrictions on the transfer portal (or perhaps elimination of all of the restrictions if the recent legal decision is made permanent).  With DI coaches under pressure for immediate results, sometimes an experienced DIII player is a better place to look than a freshman recruit and more readily available and qualified for admittance than an international recruit. 

Erik Lauta, who transferred to University of New Hampshire this year after two years at Tufts, is probably the model in the absence of grad transfers.  He played in 4 games and had 3 starts with a .95 GAA this year for UNH and was the primary backup behind a DI grad transfer.  It looks like he was being groomed to take over the starter positions next year absence another grad transfer or recruit.

[Kuiper]

St. Olaf's coaching staff named USC Men's Soccer DIII Coaching Staff of the Year

https://x.com/stolafathletics/status/1735759894064554317?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Led by head coach Justin Oliver, the St. Olaf College men's soccer program's coaching staff was honored as the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Coaching Staff of the Year, as announced on Friday afternoon.

After named the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Region IX Coaching Staff of the year earlier in the month, St. Olaf's staff of Oliver, Matthew Gibbons, Ben Braman, Tyler Keith, and Brian Sullivan was honored as the national staff of the year to cap a season that ended with the program's first national championship.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Interesting result as to Region 1

[SimpleCoach]

St. Olaf's coaching staff named USC Men's Soccer DIII Coaching Staff of the Year

https://x.com/stolafathletics/status/1735759894064554317?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Led by head coach Justin Oliver, the St. Olaf College men's soccer program's coaching staff was honored as the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Coaching Staff of the Year, as announced on Friday afternoon.

After named the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Region IX Coaching Staff of the year earlier in the month, St. Olaf's staff of Oliver, Matthew Gibbons, Ben Braman, Tyler Keith, and Brian Sullivan was honored as the national staff of the year to cap a season that ended with the program's first national championship.

I understand why, but my Coaching Staff of the Year is CalTech's HC Duncan Gillis and Asst Coach Rockne DeCoster.  I mean what they have done in one year was nothing short of miraculous.  At least in my humble opinion.

SC.

[Kuiper]

St. Olaf's coaching staff named USC Men's Soccer DIII Coaching Staff of the Year

https://x.com/stolafathletics/status/1735759894064554317?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Led by head coach Justin Oliver, the St. Olaf College men's soccer program's coaching staff was honored as the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Coaching Staff of the Year, as announced on Friday afternoon.

After named the United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Region IX Coaching Staff of the year earlier in the month, St. Olaf's staff of Oliver, Matthew Gibbons, Ben Braman, Tyler Keith, and Brian Sullivan was honored as the national staff of the year to cap a season that ended with the program's first national championship.

I understand why, but my Coaching Staff of the Year is CalTech's HC Duncan Gillis and Asst Coach Rockne DeCoster.  I mean what they have done in one year was nothing short of miraculous.  At least in my humble opinion.

SC.

You'll get no argument from me. I've been carrying that torch all season.  First non-losing season in Cal Tech men's soccer history and Gillis played out of the back and didn't rely upon parking the bus or hopeful long throw-ins.  He figured what his top players' strengths were (intelligence, not surprisingly, but also technical skill and decision-making at pace) and then built a system that minimized its weaknesses (e.g., lack of physicality and weak technical skill in the bottom 2/3 of the roster) as much as he could.  Plus, the recruiting hill he has to overcome is enormous.  When he does get a strong soccer player who can get through the Cal Tech admissions gauntlet, the competition Gillis faces often isn't from other soccer programs, but from the directors of the specialized labs at schools like Stanford, Harvard, Columbia et al who also want the kid. 

[Kuiper]

USC came out with its DIII Men's Soccer Scholar All-Americans teams

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SAA-DIII-Men.pdf

There is a lot of cross-over with its All-American teams, but it's nice to see majors and GPAs of top soccer players highlighted and to honor kids who are doing work in the classroom too.

First Team

K Jalen Depenbrock GR-5 Aurora University Exercise Science 3.90 LaSalle, Ill.
K Daniel Wunder GR-5 Calvin University Exercise Science 4.00 Grand Rapids, Mich.
D Dylan Alic Jr. Dominican University Accounting 3.54 Lincolnwood, Ill.
D Christopher Comber Sr. Washington College Business Management 3.44 Chester Springs, Pa.
D Justin Crawmer Sr. Carleton College Biology 3.97 Urbandale, Iowa
D Luke Madden Jr. Middlebury College Spanish 3.81 Manhattan Beach, Calif.
D Ben Vollmer Sr. Messiah University Psychology 3.50 State College, Pa.
M Bruno Andino GR-5 Stevens Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering 3.96 North Brunswick, N.J.
M Koa Kaliebe Jr. Franklin & Marshall College Business, Organizations & Society 3.96 Cary, N.C.
F Shea Bechtel Jr. St. Olaf College Economics 3.76 Plainfield, Ill.

Second Team

K Ryan Grady Sr. Middlebury College Economics 3.76 Deerfield, Ill.
K Brennon Woody GR-5 Wartburg College Engineering Science 3.54 Grimes, Iowa
D Otis Anderson* Sr. Gustavus Adolphus College Business management 3.51 Minneapolis, Minn.
D John Bernardi Jr. SUNY Oneonta Business Economics 3.66 Mahopac, N.Y.
D Fredric Kabeiseman Sr. Stevens Institute of Technology Business and Technology 3.85 Portland, Ore.
D Connor Koschineg Jr. Hobart College Political Science 3.50 Ambler, Pa.
D Brady West Jr. Ohio Wesleyan University Finance -Economica 3.57 Dublin, Ohio
M Owen Fauth* Sr. Vassar College Mathematics 3.84 Keene, N.H.
F Oscar Horwitz Sr. Franklin & Marshall College History/Business, Organizations & Society 3.54 Glen Rock, N.J.
F Matthew Scoffone Sr. Connecticut College Economics 3.85 Thornton, Pa.

Third Team

K Justin Cross GR-5 Stevens Institute of Technology Bio-Medical Engineering 3.99 Kendall Park, N.J.
K Anthony Pinto Sr. Washington College Economics and Business Management 3.98 Matawan, N.J.
D Ben Clark-Eden Jr. Amherst College Film 3.97 Littlehampton, England
D Colin Iverson* GR-5 Calvin University Education 3.97 Naperville, Ill.
D Curtis Ratzer Sr. Wartburg College Business Administration 3.812 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
D PJ Ryan Jr. Washington & Lee University Cognitive and Behavioral Science 3.40 Morristown, N.J.
M James Devine Sr. Wartburg College Business Administration 3.57 Council Bluffs, Iowa
M Russell Domm Jr. SUNY Brockport Physical Education Teacher Certification 3.80 East Rochester, N.Y.
M Trevor Jones Sr. Carleton College Biology Biochemistry 3.86 Urbandale, Iowa
M Julian Juantorena Sr. Bowdoin College Economics and Visual Arts 3.51 Brooklyn, N.Y.
M Jarec Morlote Sr. Messiah University Economics 3.70 Hillsdale, N.J.
F Michael Meese Jr. Trinity University (Texas) Business 3.56 Williamsburg, Va.
F Jordan Saint-Louis* Sr. Middlebury College Film And Media Culture 3.68 Potomac, Md.
F Aidan Westerberg* Sr. North Central College Biology 3.95 Belvidere, Ill.

* - previous selection
National Scholar Player of the Year bolded.

[camosfan]

congrats to all!

[camosfan]

congrats to all!

[Freddyfud]

Out of the almost 400 players eligible for today's MLS SuperDraft, there are 2 names familiar to this board:  Amer Lukovic and Hakeem Morgan.  Good luck to both of them.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/news/mls-superdraft-2024-eligible-players

[Kuiper]

The College Sports Communicators came out with its Academic All-Americans for Men's Soccer. 

https://academicallamerica.com/news/2023/12/18/2023-academic-all-america-mens-soccer-teams-announced-for-all-ncaa-and-naia-divisions.aspx

Logan Falzarano of Johns Hopkins was named DIII Men's Soccer Academic All-American of the Year.

FIRST TEAM
Pos.   Name   School   Yr.   GPA   Major
GK   Justin Cross (1)   Stevens Institute of Technology   Gr.   3.99   Biomedical Engineering
D   Logan Falzarano (1,6)   Johns Hopkins University   Sr.   3.99   Applied Mathematics & Statistics / Computer Science
D   Justin Crawmer   Carleton College   Sr.   3.97   Biology
D   Alex Lippiatt (2)   Case Western Reserve University   Sr.   4.00   Economics & Finance
D   Aidan Burns   Kenyon College   Sr.   3.69   Biology
M   Aidan Westerberg (1,6)   North Central College   Sr.   3.95   Biochemistry
M   Will Shaffer   Ohio Northern University   Sr.   4.00   Finance
M   Bruno Andino (1)   Stevens Institute of Technology   Gr.   3.96   Mechanical Engineering
F   Colton Myers   Emory University   Gr.   3.96   Analytical Finance
F   Ryan Sommerfeld   Ohio Northern University   Jr.   3.94   Mechanical Engineering
F   Griffin Meyer   Johns Hopkins University   Gr.   3.65   Economics (UG) / Global Health Economics (G)

SECOND TEAM
Pos.   Name   School   Yr.   GPA   Major
GK   Ryan Grady   Middlebury College   Sr.   3.76   Economics
D   Will Wood   Saint Joseph's College of Maine   Sr.   3.98   Pre-Med & Biology
D   Josh Cook   Case Western Reserve University   Sr.   3.90   Electrical Engineering
D   Fritz Kabeiseman   Stevens Institute of Technology   Sr.   3.86   Business & Technology
D   Mark Wischmeyer   Otterbein University   Sr.   3.87   Sport Management
M   Lyndon Hu   University of Chicago   Jr.   4.00   Biology
M   Koa Kaliebe   Franklin & Marshall College   Jr.   3.94   Business, Organizations & Society
M   Matt Vatne (3)   Case Western Reserve University   Sr.   3.73   Computer Science & Mechanical Engineering
F   Tyler Bonin   St. Norbert College   Jr.   4.00   Biomedical Sciences
F   Tyler Murphy (1)   Trine University   Sr.   3.97   Design, Engineering & Technology
F   Shea Bechtel   St. Olaf College   Jr.   3.76   Quantitative Economics
F   Jordan Saint-Louis   Middlebury College   Sr.   3.68   Film & Media Culture

THIRD TEAM
Pos.   Name   School   Yr.   GPA   Major
GK   Adam Carter   Messiah University   Jr.   3.81   English
D   Curtis Hale   Colorado College   Sr.   3.80   Mathematical Economics
D   Jack Leuker   University of Chicago   Jr.   3.54   Public Policy
D   Cole Dobson   Pacific Lutheran University   Sr.   3.82   Business
D   Eli Pilcher   Rhodes College   Jr.   3.91   Economics / Philosophy
M   Nicholas Graeca   John Carroll University   Jr.   3.95   Biology
M   Ben Goodman   Johns Hopkins University   Gr.   3.97   Finance & Spanish (UG) / Finance (Gr.)
M   Moses Beers   Cairn University   Jr.   3.70   Sports Management & Marketing
F   Martin Harguindey   Elmira College   So.   3.94   Management
F   Tiago Frazao   Endicott College   Sr.   3.91   International Business
F   Hans Haenicke   Macalester College   Jr.   3.98   German Studies / Media & Cultural Studies

This has the names of the Academic All-District honorees for all three NCAA divisions, plus NAIA, of but you can scroll down to see who made it from your team:

https://academicallamerica.com/documents/2023/11/21//Acad_MSOC_2023_24.pdf?id=4436

The caveat with this kind of list is that it's based on nominations from the school.  So, some schools nominated a lot of players and others nominated none or just one, who also happened to be the best player on the team (e.g., from Region X, Evan Karp from Occidental or Adan Villarreal from LaVerne).  Others seemed to steer clearly of their players who have been given awards already (e.g., Cal Tech, which probably has a team full of academic all-americans).  Still, a nice accomplishment for all!

(by the way, call me a sucker for the humanities, but I like to see the Messiah GK majoring in English - that and History have sadly fallen into disfavor based on general reports and these lists of majors)