2023 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[camosfan]

thanks! was thinking Midwest for some reason.

[jknezek]

Oglethorpe and Covenant are both in Georgia, although Covenant barely is, maybe a thousand feet from the Tennessee state line in the famous (to Civil War buffs, anyway) locale of Lookout Mountain. It's only 2 miles from downtown Chattanooga actually, and closer to Nashville than Atlanta. Oglethorpe is in Brookhaven, a suburb on the north side of the Atlanta metro.

Oglethorpe is a secular liberal arts/sciences university while Covenant is a Presbyterian church college.

Just going to add to this that Covenant 's campus, perched on a bluff of lookout mountain, has some of the most amazing views from a campus I've seen east of the Rockies.

[PaulNewman]

Oglethorpe and Covenant are both in Georgia, although Covenant barely is, maybe a thousand feet from the Tennessee state line in the famous (to Civil War buffs, anyway) locale of Lookout Mountain. It's only 2 miles from downtown Chattanooga actually, and closer to Nashville than Atlanta. Oglethorpe is in Brookhaven, a suburb on the north side of the Atlanta metro.
Oglethorpe is a secular liberal arts/sciences university while Covenant is a Presbyterian church college.

Thanks for this...my confusion makes sense. Now I'm thinking there may be a Lookout Mtn, GA AND a Lookout Mtn, TN reflecting that the same area bleeds into both states.  I'm more familiar with the TN version...because of the aforementioned Roscoe Tanner and my freshman year girlfriend.  Heart of Bluegrass country.

And by Bluegrass I obviously mean music as we all know that the only actual blue grass in the United States lives in Kentucky.

[jknezek]

Oglethorpe and Covenant are both in Georgia, although Covenant barely is, maybe a thousand feet from the Tennessee state line in the famous (to Civil War buffs, anyway) locale of Lookout Mountain. It's only 2 miles from downtown Chattanooga actually, and closer to Nashville than Atlanta. Oglethorpe is in Brookhaven, a suburb on the north side of the Atlanta metro.
Oglethorpe is a secular liberal arts/sciences university while Covenant is a Presbyterian church college.

Thanks for this...my confusion makes sense. Now I'm thinking there may be a Lookout Mtn, GA AND a Lookout Mtn, TN reflecting that the same area bleeds into both states.  I'm more familiar with the TN version...because of the aforementioned Roscoe Tanner and my freshman year girlfriend.  Heart of Bluegrass country.

And by Bluegrass I obviously mean music as we all know that the only actual blue grass in the United States lives in Kentucky.

It is the same part of the Cumberland Plateau. The peak is in GA, just miles from both the TN and AL state lines. The plateau itself stretches from TN into GA and down through AL. The Battle of Chickamauga (Civil War) was fought near the peak and around the area in GA. Lookout Mountain, however, is best known for attractions near Chattanooga, including Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway that takes you to the battle site. But only 3 miles of the plateau are in TN. 30+ miles are in GA, and 50+ miles are in AL, ending down near Noccalula Falls in Gadsden AL.

[PaulNewman]

^^^^Excellent...thanks.

[PaulNewman]

Sunday, Sept 24


Colby-Amherst...Colby indeed beat Middlebury in Waterville in 2021 and knocked Amherst out of the 2021 NESCAC tourney in PKs (I think at Amherst).  Last year in 2022 Colby had a week of three consecutive draws with Williams, Amherst, and Tufts, in the tie-fest season that culminated with a Mules record of 4-7-7.  Over/under on this one being 0-0 at the half? Fwiw, I'm pretty sure Colby is my favorite NESCAC other than possibly fellow Maine entrant, Bowdoin.  Gotta love the Maine schools.

Hamilton-Wesleyan...Big weekend for the Cardinals as Wesleyan needs to get wins over Trinity and the Continentals if they hope to have a shot at closing stronger than they did last year after a very promising start.  Hamilton will be coming off 90 minutes in Medford and needs to pick up results wherever they can get them. 

Sewanee-Emory...Sewanee so far has been unable to bridge momentum from last season into this one.  I was the only pollster wise enough to sneak Emory into the back end of the top 25 last week.  The Eagles see a chance to land in the top three or so in the UAA, and a loss or even a draw here would be a setback.  I was impressed with the 1-0 loss to Mary Washington...or least my near-term confidence was not shaken.

Hardin-Simmons-St Thomas (TX)...Cowboy up, only to Cowboy down.  St Thomas isn't ready for an off day...at least not yet.

Southwestern-Mary Hardin Baylor...Battling for 4th place in Texas isn't the worst thing...since it's big 'ol Texas. 

Loras-Dominican...The Stars of Dominican were one of the premier "mid-majors" in D3 well before St Joe's of Maine, Western Connecticut, or UWEC.  Loras had appeared to be on an upswing, sparking memories of past glory, but taking it on the chin with Wheaton was not good.  This is not a gimme for the Duhawks as Dominican and conference-mate MSOE can play some futbol.

Bates-Middlebury...In recent years Midd was good for dropping one of these games against the bottom end of the NESCAC (while I nod that the bottom end of NESCAC often is as good or better than the top half of some other major conferences) or versus a far weaker non-conference foe.  But this is the year Midd is confidently hoping will be magical.  I'm a believer...for now. 

Bowdoin-Williams...Game of the day.  This weekend should give us a strong hint about whether either of these teams are overrated.  I've watched snippets of Williams and Diffley looks as sharp as he was in last year's tourney run.  Is top GK in NESCAC down to Grady and Diffley?  Can Juantorena disrupt any offensive forays by the Ephs...and also supply a little magic on the other end?  Just like with having a Grady or Diffley, it's got to feel comforting for Bowdoin fans to see Juantorena on the pitch.  Or will the match be decided by a Huckster?  Cries to make sure you pay attention to a #35 somehow don't sound right.  But then there's #48, Michael Meese, at Trinity (TX), and no school has high impact players with more unusual numbers than North Park.

[Newenglander]

Sunday, Sept 24


Colby-Amherst...Colby indeed beat Middlebury in Waterville in 2021 and knocked Amherst out of the 2021 NESCAC tourney in PKs (I think at Amherst).  Last year in 2022 Colby had a week of three consecutive draws with Williams, Amherst, and Tufts, in the tie-fest season that culminated with a Mules record of 4-7-7.  Over/under on this one being 0-0 at the half? Fwiw, I'm pretty sure Colby is my favorite NESCAC other than possibly fellow Maine entrant, Bowdoin.  Gotta love the Maine schools.

Hamilton-Wesleyan...Big weekend for the Cardinals as Wesleyan needs to get wins over Trinity and the Continentals if they hope to have a shot at closing stronger than they did last year after a very promising start.  Hamilton will be coming off 90 minutes in Medford and needs to pick up results wherever they can get them. 

Sewanee-Emory...Sewanee so far has been unable to bridge momentum from last season into this one.  I was the only pollster wise enough to sneak Emory into the back end of the top 25 last week.  The Eagles see a chance to land in the top three or so in the UAA, and a loss or even a draw here would be a setback.  I was impressed with the 1-0 loss to Mary Washington...or least my near-term confidence was not shaken.

Hardin-Simmons-St Thomas (TX)...Cowboy up, only to Cowboy down.  St Thomas isn't ready for an off day...at least not yet.

Southwestern-Mary Hardin Baylor...Battling for 4th place in Texas isn't the worst thing...since it's big 'ol Texas. 

Loras-Dominican...The Stars of Dominican were one of the premier "mid-majors" in D3 well before St Joe's of Maine, Western Connecticut, or UWEC.  Loras had appeared to be on an upswing, sparking memories of past glory, but taking it on the chin with Wheaton was not good.  This is not a gimme for the Duhawks as Dominican and conference-mate MSOE can play some futbol.

Bates-Middlebury...In recent years Midd was good for dropping one of these games against the bottom end of the NESCAC (while I nod that the bottom end of NESCAC often is as good or better than the top half of some other major conferences) or versus a far weaker non-conference foe.  But this is the year Midd is confidently hoping will be magical.  I'm a believer...for now. 

Bowdoin-Williams...Game of the day.  This weekend should give us a strong hint about whether either of these teams are overrated.  I've watched snippets of Williams and Diffley looks as sharp as he was in last year's tourney run.  Is top GK in NESCAC down to Grady and Diffley?  Can Juantorena disrupt any offensive forays by the Ephs...and also supply a little magic on the other end?  Just like with having a Grady or Diffley, it's got to feel comforting for Bowdoin fans to see Juantorena on the pitch.  Or will the match be decided by a Huckster?  Cries to make sure you pay attention to a #35 somehow don't sound right.  But then there's #48, Michael Meese, at Trinity (TX), and no school has high impact players with more unusual numbers than North Park.

May be a bit biased but can't discount Peter Silvester in the top GK conversation....

[PaulNewman]

^^^^^I knew the NESCAC GK reference would reverberate for some, including possibly the kinfolks of the two mentioned.

In any case, the good news for Silvester is that his name and heroics have been forever etched into D3 lore..."saving" the Camels to take the 2021 NCAA crown for Conn's first national title in any sport ever.

[Hopkins92]

Oglethorpe and Covenant are both in Georgia, although Covenant barely is, maybe a thousand feet from the Tennessee state line in the famous (to Civil War buffs, anyway) locale of Lookout Mountain. It's only 2 miles from downtown Chattanooga actually, and closer to Nashville than Atlanta. Oglethorpe is in Brookhaven, a suburb on the north side of the Atlanta metro.
Oglethorpe is a secular liberal arts/sciences university while Covenant is a Presbyterian church college.

Thanks for this...my confusion makes sense. Now I'm thinking there may be a Lookout Mtn, GA AND a Lookout Mtn, TN reflecting that the same area bleeds into both states.  I'm more familiar with the TN version...because of the aforementioned Roscoe Tanner and my freshman year girlfriend.  Heart of Bluegrass country.

And by Bluegrass I obviously mean music as we all know that the only actual blue grass in the United States lives in Kentucky.

It is the same part of the Cumberland Plateau. The peak is in GA, just miles from both the TN and AL state lines. The plateau itself stretches from TN into GA and down through AL. The Battle of Chickamauga (Civil War) was fought near the peak and around the area in GA. Lookout Mountain, however, is best known for attractions near Chattanooga, including Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway that takes you to the battle site. But only 3 miles of the plateau are in TN. 30+ miles are in GA, and 50+ miles are in AL, ending down near Noccalula Falls in Gadsden AL.

Ah! I knew something was floating around in my brain. My gramma lived in Atlanta and she took me to Rock City, et. al when I was pretty young.

[Hopkins92]

Widener-Moravian...Look for Widener superfan, the old guy with the white hair across from the player benches.  And, btw, this is an upset alert

Ha!

[Kuiper]

Mount Union scores with 18 seconds left to beat Case 2-1 and no posts from Simple Coach?  He must be out celebrating!  Big win for the Purple Raiders!

[PaulNewman]

Mount Union scores with 18 seconds left to beat Case 2-1 and no posts from Simple Coach?  He must be out celebrating!  Big win for the Purple Raiders!

That was absolutely brutal for CWRU.  I watched the last 10-12 minutes and the Spartans appeared to be having their way...and then boom, something that looked relatively harmless as the seconds ticked suddenly turned dangerous.  Exhilirating and important win for Mt Union to confirm Calvin wasn't just a fluke. 

I thought the UW-Platteville versus Wartburg might have a similar outcome.  Again, the Pioneers mostly had Wartburg pinned in and had even more clean chances than I saw with CWRU, including what looked like might be a tap-in.  The Knights had a few breaks off the counter but didn't get a lot done when in UW-Platteville territory.

Big picture most of the projected heavy favorites and mild favorites prevailed but not in an impressive fashion that some of us and I'm sure team fans expected.  The exception was Chicago, who, coming off a maddening loss, blitzed a Wheaton Thunder side that had just handled Loras.  Wash Coll avoids a tie and gets a very solid win over Rowan.  NYU and Stevens battle to a draw.  The NYU star, for whatever reason, has not featured at all in the last two NYU matches.

[SimpleCoach]

Mount Union scores with 18 seconds left to beat Case 2-1 and no posts from Simple Coach?  He must be out celebrating!  Big win for the Purple Raiders!

I anguished over my Top 25 on whether to include.  Opted not to because not sure they have "earned" it.  This may be different. 

Am super pumped.  They defend very very well.  Disciplined.  The attack is opportunistic but effective...

SC.

[calvin_grad]

Carthage 4, Calvin 2. Defense was some of the worst I have seen. Everything was way too easy for Carthage. The Knights need to get their act together soon.

[SimpleCoach]

Carthage 4, Calvin 2. Defense was some of the worst I have seen. Everything was way too easy for Carthage. The Knights need to get their act together soon.

Totally disappointed.  Had high hopes for them.

SC.