2024 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[stlawus]

Figured we'd get a new thread for the upcoming season as the Massey preseason rankings are now up. https://masseyratings.com/csoc/ncaa-d3/ratings

[Newenglander]

Interested to understand what this was based off - not all schedules are even out yet. I would have assumed like the United Soccer Coach's poll it would start off identical to the previous end of season rankings but not the case.

[Gray Fox]

Massey Ratings basically start where the last season Massey ratings ended.  They are all mechanical based on formulas.

[Newenglander]

Massey Ratings basically start where the last season Massey ratings ended.  They are all mechanical based on formulas.

That's why I was asking - they are not the same:
2023 End of Season:
St Olaf
Middlebury
Amherst
Messiah
Tufts
Mary Washington
CT College
Calvin
Cortland St
Chicago

2024:
Amherst   
St Olaf   
Middlebury   
CT College   
Chicago   
Tufts   
Messiah
Mary Washington
Bowdoin
Williams

[stlawus]

It's not only based on last season.  Preseason rankings combine several season's worth of historical data.  It all adjusts accordingly a couple weeks into the season.  Massey himself talks about it here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AVtJ4LARcs

[Gray Fox]

It's not only based on last season.  Preseason rankings combine several season's worth of historical data.  It all adjusts accordingly a couple weeks into the season.  Massey himself talks about it here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AVtJ4LARcs

Thank you.

[Crossit4fun]

The Massey preseason ratings will be updated again later in summer when all scheduled matches for Fall are loaded in the system and the conferences will also be updated for teams that moved to new conferences.

[Kuiper]

SUNY New Paltz joining the NJAC.  That's the first non-New Jersey school in that conference I think

https://x.com/njacsports/status/1808153404675613022?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

[Kuiper]

SUNY New Paltz joining the NJAC.  That's the first non-New Jersey school in that conference I think

https://x.com/njacsports/status/1808153404675613022?s=46&t=uXiupHZfR0TxrRyWF9BmRg

This will give the NJAC 11 schools.  I wonder if they are worried about losing any of their schools

New Jersey City University might be one source of concern.  It definitely continues to have financial difficulties, which could lead to a merger with a larger institution according to a recent report

https://newjerseymonitor.com/2024/06/11/new-jersey-city-university-president-testifies-before-lawmakers-on-schools-financial-troubles/

Amoroso's report urged the university to find a larger educational institution to partner with to survive. Acebo said the university also has made "significant progress in identifying partners" to acquire real estate but was reluctant to discuss them because of ongoing negotiations.

Ultimately, the partnership may lead to it merging with a larger school, but New Jersey City University has an "obligation to study each and every opportunity and option, including looking at whether or not the university could sustain itself independently," Amoroso said.

Sen. Joe Cryan asked if the university would be able to survive as a stand-alone institution.

"Without significant financial intervention, I do not think so," Amoroso replied.

[Kuiper]

Congrats to Oscar Herrera, Augsburg '23 and USC First Team All Region IX keeper in 2021, who was just signed to an MLS Next Pro contract by Minnesota United 2 and signed to a short-term loan agreement with first team Minnesota United for tonight's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps!  And for those wondering if a sub 6'0 DIII GK can possibly make it to the pros, Herrera is listed at 5'11"

https://www.mnufc.com/news/mnufc2-signs-goalkeeper-oscar-herrera

Oscar Herrera joins MNUFC2 after a prolific collegiate soccer career at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he played all four years from 2020-2023. With Augsburg, he made 54 appearances in net and made 182 saves while earning 27 wins throughout his time as an Auggie – making him the fourth-best keeper in school history in the wins category. Following his 2021 season, Herrera earned All-MIAC honors along with United Soccer Coaches Division III First Team All-Region IX honors.

During his collegiate career, Herrera trained with both Minneapolis City SC and Forward Madison in the off seasons. Prior to his time in college, the keeper played his high school soccer at Madison West High School in Madison, Wisconsin.

Transaction: MNUFC2 signs goalkeeper Oscar Herrera to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through the end of 2024. Additionally, Herrera signs a Short-Term Agreement with Minnesota United, making him available for selection ahead of Wednesday night's MLS match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

[Little Giant 89]

56 days until the Wabash Little Giant futbol team kicks off against Principia in St. Louis.

[Kuiper]

Maryville announces it is moving to the Southern Athletic Association in 26-27

Replaces Birmingham Southern and Hendrix and joins Trinity and Southwestern in moving to the SAA.  Starts as a football affiliate in 2025

Maryville College has accepted a unanimous invitation to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The Scots 19 programs will become members of the SAA beginning with the 2026-27 season while the football and women's golf programs are set to be conference affiliates starting in the 2025-26 academic year.   

"Today marks another historic chapter in the Southern Athletic Association's history," remarked Jennifer Collins, Rhodes College President and Chair of the SAA President's Council. "We are delighted to welcome Maryville to the league and look forward to robust and collegial competition for years to come."

Maryville will join the SAA from the Collegiate Conference of the South where they were founding members in 2021. They have won back-to-back men's basketball conference titles and were joined last season by women's soccer, baseball, and softball as CCS champions. Maryville's football and women's golf programs play in the USA South and will be eligible for SAA championships in 2025-26. Scots football dates back to 1889 and boasts an appearance in the 1947 Tangerine Bowl.

[Kuiper]

D3Footy on Instagram listed its teams to watch.  A few surprises, but if you think of it not as a ranking, but as a list of teams that might be interesting or perhaps improve based on something like ties or close results last year, coaching changes from recent years, recruiting classes or schedules, it makes a little more sense

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-VLUUrorkK/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Messiah
Kenyon
Oglethorpe
Vassar
Otterbein
Emory
St. Olaf
Chicago
Trinity
Stevens
Amherst

Honorable mention

Haverford
Franklin & Marshall
Middlebury
Tufts
Mary Washington
Lynchburg
John Carroll
Ohio Wesleyan

[Gray Fox]

East coast bias.

[OldNed]

East coast bias.

Can't argue with that. Who would you like to see included there outside of the East Coast/midwest?