New England Soccer Discussion

Started by Jim Matson, June 09, 2006, 12:25:06 AM

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OldNed

New England Soccer Journal just released their preseason top 20 for New England:

1. Tufts
2018 record: 18-0-3 | Coach: Josh Shapiro (1oth year)

2. Amherst
2018 record: 14-5-1 | Coach: Justin Serpone (13th year)

3. Connecticut College
2018 record: 13-3-2 | Coach: Reuben Burk (first year)

4. Middlebury
2018 record: 10-4-3 | Coach: Alex Elias (second year)

5. Williams
2018 record: 10-6-3 | Coach: Erin Sullivan (fifth year)

6. Springfield
2018 record: 14-5-1 | Coach: Tommy Crabill (second year)

7. Saint Joseph's (Maine)
2018 record: 21-1 | Coach: Will Pike (first year)

8. Babson
2018 record: 12-3-4 | Coach: Jon Anderson (34th year)

9. Endicott
2018 record: 10-6-2 | Coach: Joe Calabrese (ninth year)

10. Bowdoin
2018 record: 9-5-2 | Coach: Scott Wiercinski (seventh year)

11. Brandeis
2018 record: 7-9-2 | Coach: Gabe Margolis (third year)

12. Roger Williams
2018 record: 16-5 | Coach: James Greenslit (fifth year)

13. UMass Boston
2018 record: 9-10-2 | Coach: Jake Beverlin (eighth year)

14. Gordon
2018 record: 12-6-2 | Coach: Matt Horth (third year)

15. Eastern Connecticut State
2018 record: 15-4 | Coach: Greg DeVito (13th year)

16. Western Connecticut State
2018 record: 17-4-3 | Coach: Joe Mingachos (third year)

17. WPI
2018 record: 12-3-3 | Coach: Brian Kelley (seventh year)

18. Colby
2018 record: 8-6-5 | Coach: Ewan Seabrook (sixth year)

19. Wheaton
2018 record: 9-10-1 | Coach: Bryan Waggoner (second year)

20. Bates
2018 record: 8-7 | Coach: Tyler Sheikh (second year)

Also receiving votes: Framingham State, Salve Regina, Trinity, Clark, Bridgewater State, Western New England, Norwich

Ejay

I'd keep a close eye on Springfield.  Crabill is an excellent coach. Last year they could have easily gone 18-2 instead of 14-5-1.

Buck O.

A few thoughts:

  • I thought Williams would be lower.  But I don't think I saw Williams play last year, so that might just be me.
  • I thought Deis would be higher.  But I'll let Blooter weigh in on that.
  • Trinity got votes?

blooter442

Quote from: Buck O. on August 08, 2019, 04:07:34 PM
  • I thought Deis would be higher.  But I'll let Blooter weigh in on that.

I would have had them higher, but can't say who they'd supplant. There's not a whole lot to go off in terms of judging this year's potential besides last season, and they definitely underperformed — even with a brutally tough schedule in a rebuilding year, I think they would have expected to be above .500. So, while they have had a really successful run since the turn of the decade, they'll have to get back to winning ways to prove that last season was a one-off and thus climb back up the rankings in short order. I think the FY class will be solid and it looks like some size is being added, which is good because the team (midfield in particular) last year lacked it big time. All told, I am optimistic, but adopting a "wait and see" viewpoint.

As for Williams, I am not sure they will end the year 5th in the region, but they do appear to be back on the upswing after a few years on the fringes but below their traditional standards. And, with Brandeis and Babson (who generally take at least one, if not two, Pool Cs) absent from NCAA competition last year, they were one of the higher-ranked teams in the region, perhaps explaining their preseason ranking.

TyWebb

Quote from: EB2319 on August 08, 2019, 02:32:18 PM
I'd keep a close eye on Springfield.  Crabill is an excellent coach. Last year they could have easily gone 18-2 instead of 14-5-1.

Springfield graduated their top two scorers and one heck of a goal keeper so they have some holes to fill, but they've been a top program in
the NEWMAC for awhile now so I am not counting them out.

OldNed

Quote from: TyWebb on August 09, 2019, 10:38:42 AM
Quote from: EB2319 on August 08, 2019, 02:32:18 PM
I'd keep a close eye on Springfield.  Crabill is an excellent coach. Last year they could have easily gone 18-2 instead of 14-5-1.

Springfield graduated their top two scorers and one heck of a goal keeper so they have some holes to fill, but they've been a top program in
the NEWMAC for awhile now so I am not counting them out.

I got bored last night so I did a little number crunching on the NESJ top 10 to see which teams lost the most offensive firepower, and TyWebb is correct that Springfield is losing a lot.  The other team that stands out to me is Bowdoin graduating a lot of their goals and assists, so look for them to struggle scoring early on.























Team2018 Record     2018 Goals Scored     2018 Assists     % Goals Returning     % Assists Returning     
1. Tufts18-0-3463989.13%89.74
2. Amherst14-5-1423661.90%63.89%
3. Connecticut College13-3-2313161.29%35.38%
4. Middlebury10-4-3302779.31%81.48%
5. Williams10-6-3261973.08%73.68%
6. Springfield14-5-1282542.86%60.00%
7. St. Joseph's (Maine)21-1806465.00%81.25%
8. Babson12-3-4263169.23%67.74%
9. Endicott *10-6-2282185.71%71.43%
10. Bowdoin9-5-2281957.14%57.80%

Endicott gets an asterisk here because they're gaining an All-New England First Teamer in Donald Igo who transferred from Salve Regina, where he scored 14 goals and added 10 assists.  He's really going to help Endicott this year, so I think they're a team to watch in New England.  Really looking forward to the Endicott-St. Joseph's (Maine) game on August 30 to start off the season.

Ommadawn

Quote from: OldNed on August 09, 2019, 01:39:23 PM
Endicott gets an asterisk here because they're gaining an All-New England First Teamer in Donald Igo who transferred from Salve Regina, where he scored 14 goals and added 10 assists. 

Thank you for the number crunching, OldNed!  It's a pleasure to see the data all laid out like that.  Donnie Igo is a big addition for Endicott.  He was highly regarded coming out of high school and committed to Providence in the fall of 2015.  By the winter of 2016, he had decommitted to Providence (I don't know what transpired there) and committed to UMass.  He didn't end up playing for UMass in 2016, but went to Salve Regina in 2017 and had a great debut year there (11G, 3A).  I, too, am looking forward to the August 30 St. Joe's v Endicott match!

Ejay

Igo wasn't just All-NE, but was an All-American.  That's a huge pick-up, alhough I don't see him listed in the Endicott recruiting class:

The Gulls will also bring in two transfer student-athletes in Connor Ross (Atkinson, N.H./Clark University) and Kobe Barnes (Hartford, Conn./Newbury College).

OldNed

Quote from: EB2319 on August 09, 2019, 04:46:09 PM
Igo wasn't just All-NE, but was an All-American.  That's a huge pick-up, alhough I don't see him listed in the Endicott recruiting class:

The Gulls will also bring in two transfer student-athletes in Connor Ross (Atkinson, N.H./Clark University) and Kobe Barnes (Hartford, Conn./Newbury College).

Thanks for setting me straight, EB2319  - I wasn't aware he was an All American, too.  New England Soccer Journal has reported in two recent articles that Igo is an Endicott transfer.  Apparently Connor Ross from Clark has 9 goals and 2 assists as a freshman, so Endicott is getting a couple of skilled offensive players.

OldNed

Christian Schneider from Springfield is playing for the Philadelphia Fury of the new National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).  Nice to see a former New England standout progress to a bigger stage.

https://www.nesoccerjournal.com/christian-schneider-lands-with-nisas-philadelphia-fury/

There are a couple of other former D3 players on the roster for the Fury as well.

ECSUalum

Here is review of ECSU's team for 2019:

https://gowarriorathletics.com/sports/msoc/2019-20/releases/lec_pre-season_soc_poll-aug24

Keep an eye on 2 newcomers: Springfield College junior transfer defender 6'3' defender Emmanuel Agyemang (East Hartford) (Patricks older brother), and sophomore forward 6'3' forward Harvey Lipman (South Glastonbury) who played in the UK at the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy.

blooter442

The 5:30 p.m. matchup in Waltham will be fun, particularly for me as far as season openers go. First time 'Deis and RWU have battled since the 2013 Sweet 16 matchup, which Mr.Right heckles me for obsessing about (he's "correct") that happened my senior year at Brandeis — as many of you know, I spent freshman year at Roger but have been 100% in the 'Deis camp since I met Coven and Gabe back in Fall 2011. Not out of work until kickoff time but current commute is short (15 minutes!) so hopefully I won't miss too much. RWU has improved the last couple years after dropping off after Cook left and looked pretty good most of last year before their CCC exit. 'Deis will be eager to get off on the right foot after a disappointing year last year. Looking forward to it.

blooter442

And like 2013, Brandeis wins it 1-0. FY Will DeNight got the goal off a failed clear and looked solid up top. Judges solid in possession and created some nice opportunities. Roger Williams had a few dangerous looks but were limited to the minority of possession and chances. Good start to the season.

OldNed

St. Joe's goes up 2-1 on Endicott with 3 minutes left.  A botched clearance from an Endicott defender fell directly to soph defender Michael Wildes who buried it.  A pretty even game all night - Endicott is looking good, and St. Joe's has been opportunistic with their chances.

Ommadawn

Quote from: OldNed on August 30, 2019, 08:54:58 PM
St. Joe's goes up 2-1 on Endicott with 3 minutes left.  A botched clearance from an Endicott defender fell directly to soph defender Michael Wildes who buried it.  A pretty even game all night - Endicott is looking good, and St. Joe's has been opportunistic with their chances.

It appears that Donnie Igo did not end up at Endicott after all.  He did not play and isn't listed on the roster.  A good start for St. Joe's in the post-Blake Mullen era.