NCAA TOURNAMENT 2024

[Newenglander]

Middlebury v Babson [Elite 8]

What an entertaining match. This was my first time watching Midd this season (I know, shame) and I was mightily impressed. They are loaded with skillful, tall midfielders that have a certain edge to them. #17 in particular caught my eye (was it the green cleats?).

Babson was impressive in the sense that they were incredibly organized defensively. I loved how Babson built out of the back - both CBs displaying top notch composure and distribution. They often looked for penetrating passes to skilled MFs who were comfortable receiving the ball with pressure on their back. I thought they were dangerous on the counter and quite sound in defense. There was one moment in OT where a Babson player had a smash from the top of the box through heavy traffic, and I'm sure the Midd players had hearts in mouths as they watched the ball whistle past the post.

The Midfield in this match was tightly contested and became increasingly more of a warzone as the two teams entered deeper into OT.

And of course, as mentioned previously, any announcer with an English accent is automatically over qualified to announce a D3 match 

PKs were a thrill to watch. Felt Babson were in for it as soon as their keeper took the first PK and skied it.

Overall, two really good sides who showed why they belonged in the final 8 teams of the tournament.

One of the Babson CB's (Cerezo) was a 5th year transfer from Conn College - great player and a great career.

[Johnny231]

Does anyone have any insight on the other side of the bracket? I haven't had the opportunity to watch either Connecticut College or Washington and Lee play?

[Mr_November]

W&L v Williams PK Shootout

I had talked up a big game about the Williams keeper, Diffley...but how about Will Joseph of W&L? Mentality monster in net during the shootout. Both Diffley and Joseph are great keepers in their own right. I thought William's first PK taker, #28 Tate Michelson, was unfortunate to somewhat lose his footing while striking his pen. Fast forward to the 6th PK for W&L taken by Ryan Sharpe (a freshman). What a lovely, deft, little dink. Impressive composure. I also enjoyed watching the leadership of #21 at the back for W&L, PJ Ryan - 6'1, 180 lbs.,no nonsense defender.

How do we think W&L will fare against CC in the Final Four?

[Newenglander]

Does anyone have any insight on the other side of the bracket? I haven't had the opportunity to watch either Connecticut College or Washington and Lee play?

First off this will be a rematch of the 2021 final four with Conn coming out on top in what was considered an upset I believe.

I've watched a lot of Conn so I can only speak to that side. Strong defense (susceptible to the counter now and again) and tries to build out the back/possess as much as is allowed in the NESCAC Both strikers seem to be hitting their stride at the right time.

Conn was missing one of their starting CB's last weekend and hoping he can be fit for Vegas. As in most sports, health is king at this point of the season.   

[Another Mom]

Agree^^. W&L was missing a key starter as well last weekend.

[PaulNewman]

My season is over, but the humanitarian in me can't tolerate just watching Dustin P flail away with his desperate hunger for validation.  Deep and abiding narcissistic insecurity is a tough nut to crack.  Believe me, I know.

Congratulations to Midd.  I didn't watch a second of action yesterday other than catching the Midd-Babson PKs.  Very impressive for Midd to pull through as I imagine the Panther faithful thought they were watching the same gut-wrenching end to the movie that has capped off other recent stellar campaigns.  Deserving is not the right word, but for simplicity, Midd imo is the most deserving among NESCACs for breaking through (and yes, before you repeat it, I know Midd won the title on 2007 without scoring a goal).  The Panthers finally caught a break with Amherst getting shipped safely to a faraway land.  Midd was arguably the second best team in the country for the most of or the entire season.  If the PKs had gone sideways, Panther fans could have fairly wondered if their time would ever come.  Speaking of getting knocked out in the Elite 8, full credit to Babson.  Incredible season, and even though falling in the Elite 8 is no doubt about the most painful thing that can happen in our tiny D3 world, it is also imo the cutoff mark for a phenomenal season (at least for programs that have been hovering around the top end of D3 for a minute).  Few will remember Babson knocking out undefeated Trinity in the Sweet 16, and even fewer will credit Babson instead of making a meal of Trinity's winter-weather fragilities.  And next up for the Middlebury Panthers.....the Mammoths.

Speaking of Amherst, an irony of the Mammoths becoming the poster child for everything some of us love to hate about NESCAC, is that they are imo the NESCAC least dependent on being a NESCAC (and yes, I know dependent is not exactly the right word either).  In other words, Amherst would be Amherst regardless of where it is and what conference it is in.  Certainly there is competition at the very top, but if you put total titles aside, one can legimately argue that Amherst has been D3s best and most consistent program for 15 years.  Hear that, Mammoths Nation?  You are #1!  Tip of the cap to Amherst.  There is no denying the record of excellence.

Oh, dear, sweet Connecticut College.  As most know, I have been a Conn lover and defender for some time now.  I love Conn and I love Burk, and I feel like I've known a handful of their players for a decade.  Except for (maybe) a small break with Denison jettisoning UMW to the 2025-2026 season, Conn went through Amherst, Williams, and Middlebury, and then F&M, Kenyon, and Denison.  Well-earned trip back to the Final 4.  The Camels are as likely as any of the four to take the hardware again.  That said, love has its limits.  My saltiness about Conn has not so much to do with knocking out my Owls or the alleged acting out during the PKs.  I'm sure there had been some jawing between both teams throughout the game, and Martinez for Kenyon likes to talk trash.  I don't begrudge Conn players for acting any particular way.  Prevail, and you get to talk smack and celebrate within the confines of the law.  If the NESCAC Golden Retrievers, Akitas, and Samoyeds were all unleashed to do their business on the Kenyon logo, what do I care? I'm already reduced to waiting six to seven months for the Owls' 2025-2026 season schedule.  I trust Burk will keep the Camels grounded and at least feigning gratitude, as long as they don't forget that modesty works best for them.  Conn is the exact opposite of Amherst.  Conn needs the NESCAC probably more than any other NESCAC school.  In fact, aren't the Camels still on their 20 year NESCAC probationary status?  I mean, Conn isn't even as good a school as...........Denison.  If Conn wins it again, I'm going to "wedding-crash" the Conn program banquet at Chili's.

Oh, W&L.  I think the Generals are the only one I truly envy...because whether true or untrue, there's at least three to four other schools imo that would have had the same or better odds as W&L in terms of making three Final 4s in four years.  The only silver lining for me?  The one miss for W&L was due to a Sweet 16 loss in Gambier.  Coming back to reality, it's one thing for Amherst to make three F4s in four years, but W&L?  With two different coaches?  Just an incredible accomplishment...and there is no question that W&L earned its way by navigating through a gauntlet draw (with the only mini-break being the unexpected exit of the Jumbos).  Who knew that when W&L crushed Ferrum (I'm making this up off the top of my head) 2-0 in week three that W&L would be flying to Vegas.  Another Mom knew.  Or did she?  Regardless, she got the last laugh, and now we're the ones eating the hats, lol.  Hopefully she has moved on from milking the Oglethorpe win.  Now Generals supporters can list Otterbein, Hopkins, Williams, and Dickinson, beating two hosts in back to back weekends.  I'll be totally honest.  I didn't think there was any way W&L was getting back to the Final 4.  Two seasons from now no one will remember they maybe caught another minor break with Dickinson being awarded hosting.  But any negative feelings and consternation I have towards W&L are easy to diagnose and even to own...if W&L makes three out of four Final 4s, then Kenyon and Hopkins deserved at least one trip.

I don't like the Final 4 at all, but it is a good one.  I don't know yet if I'll watch or not.  I had almost zero interest yesterday.  But it is a remarkable set-up with a repeat of the Amherst vs Midd documentary drama series and a repeat of a 2021 Final 4 national semifinal.  One of the cool things is there is every reason to believe that any of the four can win.  At this very moment, all seem invincible, even though some of the margins to get there (think PKs) were small.

[Another Mom]

Good memory Paul Newman, on the hat eating ! I had forgotten :-).

As to whether I knew W&L would end up in the final 4 -- absolutely not! In fact, for most of the season I was pretty sure they weren't even getting to the tournament.

That said, the team that's playing now is a completely different one from early September.  And that's not a surprise with a new coach coming in and having to get up to speed on each player, some players getting used to new positions etc.

The players on the team, though, have always had the finals in their sights, and always believed they would get here. I would say W&L is the underdog of Las Vegas, but the team is peaking at the right time, and the mental game goes a very long way. And they have that.

[Mr_November]

Good memory Paul Newman, on the hat eating ! I had forgotten :-).

As to whether I knew W&L would end up in the final 4 -- absolutely not! In fact, for most of the season I was pretty sure they weren't even getting to the tournament.

That said, the team that's playing now is a completely different one from early September.  And that's not a surprise with a new coach coming in and having to get up to speed on each player, some players getting used to new positions etc.

The players on the team, though, have always had the finals in their sights, and always believed they would get here. I would say W&L is the underdog of Las Vegas, but the team is peaking at the right time, and the mental game goes a very long way. And they have that.

As a neutral, I notice that mental edge. They seem very composed and unbothered by the occasion of each game.

[PaulNewman]

Just a couple of small points, and hopefully I'm out for a while.

Do not underestimate Reuben Burk and Conn Coll level of confidence.

If the PKs go differently against Hopkins (and most of us thought it would go differently) there's obviously a very different narrative.  Again, tiny margins often yield outsized narratives.  You have to have some good fortune.  Kenyon GK doesn't misread an intended cross from 45 yards out into the box and Conn most likely is done.  We're in a mini-competition about missing players.  Hopkins was missing one.  Apparently Conn and W&L were missing one.  The Owls had an AA level striker who could not play, except for somehow contributing two massive goals two weekends in a row.  Also was missing another couple of key starters. Imagine taking the W&L striker, Scoffone, Nuhu, etc off the pitch.  Same thing for Donovan and UWEC. Injuries are the one variable I think we all wish would be eradicated (more so than OT or not, Golden Goal or not, more of less subbing, etc).

A lot of GK talk this season (and this tournament) per usual. Did want to shoutout to Joseph for W&L.  Stellar play and I finally caught his postgame interview after Hopkins.  Very impressive young man.  Also shoutout to Prokos at Denison.  Phenomenal games against Kenyon and others during the season, and again versus UMW.  Now take your diploma and get out of here!

[FanofNescac]

Something I want to add about Amherst is the lack of substitutions made. This is interesting for a team that goes complete high press to only make 4 subs on a Sunday double-header Elite 8 game..wow. Same for W&L with 5 subs.

In comparison, Midd and Conn both made 10 subs. Depth and fresh legs play a critical role at this stage

[SKUD]

Can someone remind me where the playback link is for the games?

[soccerlaxfan]

Can someone remind me where the playback link is for the games?

https://www.ncaa.com/champs-pass

[NEsoccerfan]

As a North region guy lost in all of this NESCAC love-hate I just want to point out that one of the biggest stories of the tournament really is that the 4th leading goalscorer of ALL TIME in D3 soccer (Nathan Donovan from UWEC) hasn't played a minute in this tournament and is done for the season. Yet, his team is in the final 8. If he played for a team further east this would be discussed more, but we in the north generally are stuffed into the same sectional and largely ignored. It's ok, we are used to it.

What a remarkable stat and kudos to both him and UWEC. While I'm well aware of the caveat that they pile on goals against some very questionable competition, you have to tip your hat to that much consistent production over four years. Needless to say I'll be cheering for them this afternoon.

A good example here of the lack of knowledge about north region teams. You are likely confusing them with UMAC member UW-Superior. UW Eau Claire has played a high quality schedule since starting their program in 2021.

My apologies. I thought I recalled an earlier post months ago talking about how a solid percentage of his/their goals over the last few years came against a few really bad teams.

[camosfan]

Something I want to add about Amherst is the lack of substitutions made. This is interesting for a team that goes complete high press to only make 4 subs on a Sunday double-header Elite 8 game..wow. Same for W&L with 5 subs.

In comparison, Midd and Conn both made 10 subs. Depth and fresh legs play a critical role at this stage
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Sometimes the substitutions hurt Conn's game, you look at the bench and say WTF they are doing, Amherst has a way of keeping key players in for very long time, remember Oko had to signal to the sideline
that he needed to come out.

[Newenglander]

Something I want to add about Amherst is the lack of substitutions made. This is interesting for a team that goes complete high press to only make 4 subs on a Sunday double-header Elite 8 game..wow. Same for W&L with 5 subs.

In comparison, Midd and Conn both made 10 subs. Depth and fresh legs play a critical role at this stage
Like
Quote
More...

Sometimes the substitutions hurt Conn's game, you look at the bench and say WTF they are doing, Amherst has a way of keeping key players in for very long time, remember Oko had to signal to the sideline
that he needed to come out.

I would agree at times but hard to argue with the results.....think part of Conn's formula is that the sum is worth more than the individual parts.....Not sure they've had a Oko type individual player. Burk anchors the team with his back 4 (CB's rarely subbed) and rotates everyone else. Strong players like Jaran and Scoffone still command a ton of time.

Every year they seem to have someone different step up in the playoff run...