2023 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[EnmoreCat]

I know it's the players' welfare that we are most concerned with, given the nature of D3 scheduling, but just a special shout out to the regular posters here.  Some of you have started with a real intensity, I am just hoping you will be able to keep it up.  In the  national tournament of D3 pundits, it feels like some of the AQ spots are already spoken for.  My only worry is that some of you, like some of the teams mentioned, could be guilty of peaking too early.  There is a real risk of over-interpreting outcomes, literally after week one, essentially because we have been starved of games.  It's a long season people, stay the course.

OK, I'll indulge...while I still have some 'real intensity.'

Your 'only worry'?  'A real risk'?  Like what are you worried could happen?  Seriously, what is your worst case scenario? 

As for D3 pundit AQs, they are free and unlimited.  Grab one on the big table just outside the door if you wish.  You will be instantly deputized and bestowed with all the perks and resources that the rest of us in our very exclusive club enjoy.

P.S. If you're going to spend a large portion of your days and nights hanging out on the board why not post?  I mean, beyond being quizzical about why others are posting on a posting board?

I am clearly going to have to upgrade my attempts at humour, this cross cultural stuff is clearly a challenge for me.  My point really was that to me, it feels premature to write off teams on the basis of one game.  A lot of very good teams have already lost a game, but it might be the last one they lose for some time quite possibly too.  Anyway, if I have given anyone pause from prognosticating, please don't mind me. 

[Another Mom]

And he's getting great time too. That's gotta be fun to watch as well. Good luck this season.

Much more fun to watch him play than sit on the bench :-)

[Another Mom]

I know it's the players' welfare that we are most concerned with, given the nature of D3 scheduling, but just a special shout out to the regular posters here.  Some of you have started with a real intensity, I am just hoping you will be able to keep it up.  In the  national tournament of D3 pundits, it feels like some of the AQ spots are already spoken for.  My only worry is that some of you, like some of the teams mentioned, could be guilty of peaking too early.  There is a real risk of over-interpreting outcomes, literally after week one, essentially because we have been starved of games.  It's a long season people, stay the course.

OK, I'll indulge...while I still have some 'real intensity.'

Your 'only worry'?  'A real risk'?  Like what are you worried could happen?  Seriously, what is your worst case scenario? 

As for D3 pundit AQs, they are free and unlimited.  Grab one on the big table just outside the door if you wish.  You will be instantly deputized and bestowed with all the perks and resources that the rest of us in our very exclusive club enjoy.

P.S. If you're going to spend a large portion of your days and nights hanging out on the board why not post?  I mean, beyond being quizzical about why others are posting on a posting board?

I am clearly going to have to upgrade my attempts at humour, this cross cultural stuff is clearly a challenge for me.  My point really was that to me, it feels premature to write off teams on the basis of one game.  A lot of very good teams have already lost a game, but it might be the last one they lose for some time quite possibly too.  Anyway, if I have given anyone pause from prognosticating, please don't mind me.

I understood where you were coming from! Maybe some don't realize the Aussie sense of humor one has to keep in mind when reading your posts.

[SierraFD3soccer]

I was at the game. I know Coach Singleton is pleased that the defense has only given up one goal in three games. The offense isn't quite clicking. They are integrating some new first years and the team hasn't completely jelled yet. Given Coach Singleton is also a professor of sports psychology,  I am confident the pieces will come together.

My son is playing a different position than the one he played at W&L for the past two years, so that's fun too.

Definitely, Mike has all the tools and is an excellent coach. Totally can be overcome.  W&L lost to Messiah first game last season and then went on a tear the rest of the season. Son's team lost 3-0 to Stevens on a very hot day while be totally flat all game. Did not lose for 14 games straight.

FYI, W&L played in the stadium field at the Maryland Soccerplex with has somewhere between 20-30 fields. The stadium is surrounded on three sides and covered fence on 4th. NWSL team used to play home games there. Son played several top level club games there in the summer and early fall.  Crazy hot despite grass field and no air movement. W&L also just played its 3rd game in 5 days.   

[Hopkins92]

That's an anomaly at the Soccerplex. I've played/coached hundreds of games up there and there's almost always a breeze/wind coming out of the west.

[SierraFD3soccer]

That's an anomaly at the Soccerplex. I've played/coached hundreds of games up there and there's almost always a breeze/wind coming out of the west.

On the fields, but also in the Stadium?

[WUPHF]

I understood where you were coming from! Maybe some don't realize the Aussie sense of humor one has to keep in mind when reading your posts.

So, part The Road Warrior and part Ozzy Man Reviews?

[Hopkins92]

That's an anomaly at the Soccerplex. I've played/coached hundreds of games up there and there's almost always a breeze/wind coming out of the west.

On the fields, but also in the Stadium?

I've definitely seen it quite blustery and I've seen what you experienced, which is dead air compounded by it being somewhat closed off. But the wind isn't really blocked on the northeast/north side of the field where it's just fencing and not seating. And that's often the direction the wind is traveling up there (I said west, but looking again at Google it more out of the NW.)

Anyways, certainly not trying to tell it wasn't hot as Hades. Just more commenting that it's kind of known for the wind affecting play.

[Another Mom]

It was incredibly hot, mostly due to the weather,  which had a "real feel" of 100 degrees at 5 pm. I did feel a slight breeze in the stands, don't know if it was felt on the field.  Stadium was very nice!

[PaulNewman]

Enmorecat (and Another Mom), I don't want to make this a big deal which I've been known to do in the past, but I don't think the issue is a translation (or lack of appreciation for humor) problem.

There is humor for the sake of humor, and then there is trying to make a point and using humor around it to make the digestion a little easier.  My take is that the latter is more accurate in your case.  You clearly have been irritated by some of the posting, going back to the Spring when, you, ironically were on the board yourself and tried to nicely (humorously?) chastise folks into enjoying some beach time, then the shot at the LL crew for posting too much for your liking, and then the most recent.  Btw, who argued that the fate of entire seasons has already been determined?  Or are we not supposed to comment on strong or weak or middling starts?  The other interesting thing here is that you said you were trying to make a point about not writing off a team after one game, but at least the two prior pages in the thread were solely or almost solely about how folks feel about crediting assists.  I not sure what post or posts you're actually responding to...but at any rate, I think it's OK if any of us diverge in our opinions from time to time.  For instance, I think Calvin is going to be very good and some others aren't so convinced.  That's fine.  That's discussion.  And if I say a team is "done," and I end up being wrong, I'm pretty sure any jail time is gonna be pretty limited (humor).

[Another Mom]

Guys, it's just a message board. I appreciate each and every poster, most *especially* PaulNewman and Enmorecat!

The only poster I didn't appreciate was the guy with the recruiting service a couple of years ago who claimed he knew every d3 program in the country. He was a shyster, and didn't like being called out. Though, once he was, he left the board, thank goodness.

[PaulNewman]

Widener takes the lead 1-0 over Swat in the 86th minute.....on a double assist lol.  Fatiga had to get on the scoresheet somehow.

[Ejay]

F&M 3-2 over Lebanon Valley.  Horowitz scored the game winner in the 87th minute. Not as dramatic as his 89th minute winner vs. Stevens, but still...

[PaulNewman]

F&M 3-2 over Lebanon Valley.  Horowitz scored the game winner in the 87th minute. Not as dramatic as his 89th minute winner vs. Stevens, but still...

And Leb Valley led 2-1 pretty late.

[Kuiper]

Early scorelines that I find interesting:

MIT up 1-0 on Tufts at halftime (UPDATE) 

Second half - Tufts is now up 3-1 in the 76th minute

Cal Tech up 4-0 on Life Pacific at halftime. It's starting to look like three wins for the Beavers, which would be a historic start to the season and I think tied for the second best win total in 30 years (UPDATE) 

Second half - 4-1 with 18 minutes to go. 

Averett and Davidson (D1) 0-0 at halftime (UPDATE)

Second half - Davidson up 1-0 in the 73rd minute.  Davidson leads on shots 15-0, but Averett is still doing its best to keep the bus parked