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D3soccer.com => Women's soccer => Topic started by: DivisionIIISoccerSource on August 04, 2017, 02:06:59 PM

Title: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: DivisionIIISoccerSource on August 04, 2017, 02:06:59 PM
Hi everybody!

Wanted to open up a new thread to begin the new campaign!
Season is just around the corner.

What is everybody's expectations for the year?
Favorites for this year?
Programs to really watch for this Fall?
Who will struggle this year?

We will keep the thread going into the season once play hits.

Kick on!
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on August 04, 2017, 05:11:35 PM
I am a Messiah fan and the Falcons are almost always in the conversation.  They open the season with Stevens, Pacific Lutheran, Hopkins and William Smith.  Those four teams were 73-7-6 last year, so we shall see.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: cciw83 on August 04, 2017, 11:33:14 PM
No surprise to expect Messiah, Williams, William Smith and over the last few years Washington U. to be in the running. I wonder about Washington U. this year as losing their All-American keeper could cost them some of the tight games they have won in the past.

The team that has the potential to go all the way is Hardin-Simmons. Almost everyone is back, including two AA's at forward and center back and overall tough defense.

Down year last year for the CCIW, on paper Wheaton seems to have a strong recruit class  and Il Wesleyan could rebound. The CCIW sits in a real soccer hot bed in the suburbs of Chicago, particularly the western suburbs so they should always pull in some of these players.

I don't like basing on last year, but saw Lynchburg play twice and Trinity TX play twice. Lynchburg looked really strong and I was surprised how their year ended up. I must have caught Trinity on average days as they had a great record, but they did not seem as polished as some of their past teams.  I just have a feeling that Lynchburg may make a run this season.

Some one will have to help with the New Jersey teams, as I did not see them last season and don't know what their recruiting classes were like or key returnees.

The other usual suspects: Thomas More is a question mark with a new coach and the loss of 2 AA's, Johns Hopkins is always strong and expect the same this season, lot of things going for Wisconsin-Whitewater but they lose an AA and a lot of goal scoring. Centre loses a 2 time AA and a strong senior class, but seems to reload.  An Amherst, Middlebury, Carnegie-Mellon, Washington & Lee will always have an impact, just don't know their recruiting classes for this season.

I am going to pick the surprise team from the UAA this season to be Emory, they have a strong returning group and a good recruiting class. It's a brutal conference so to get by Brandeis and U. of Chicago along with Washington U. will require a lot. 

Will the Northwest teams make a breakthrough? I know a former NAIA coach from that area and he raved on the technical training and support in that part of the country but it has not completely shown yet in the D-3 schools in area.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: DivisionIIISoccerSource on August 05, 2017, 06:09:01 PM
Totally with you on the Emory pick. I think they are going to be a surprise and come out of no where at the top. Messiah always a easy pick for National Chamions. Lynchburg has weapons to be very good. But I hear Virginia Wesleyan may makes some moves this year? Will see though. I think Thomas will fall off map. Competitive still, but I can't see same results.

Would love to honestly see the California conference and Northwest dominate in D3. So much talent and quality colleges out there to be good. I'm rooting for Puget Sound to come out and be a National Contender. No idea situation, but would love to see it happen.

I'm waiting to make a call after rosters are released. But I'm thinking UAA program handles business vs Messiah again.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on August 28, 2017, 03:31:07 PM
Well things get started this weekend.  I hope the early season sparks some conversation.  The New England folks in particular seem to have moved on.  I am looking forward to seeing some great games.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: bricullen on August 29, 2017, 08:01:16 AM
Some interesting games to start the season this weekend.  It's nice to see some teams like Trinity (TX), Chicago and Pacific Lutheran traveling to play out of region.  Makes for some great match ups to start the season. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 4samuy on August 30, 2017, 02:04:03 PM
Yes.  That Chicago vs Pomona-pitzer rematch from last years elite eight should be a good one
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on September 07, 2017, 01:31:49 PM
The rainy weather in Central Pa. has moved last night's Messiah v Hopkins game from the grass at Shoemaker to the turf at Homewood tonight.  Ouch.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on September 08, 2017, 10:46:21 AM
Quote from: 2xfaux on September 07, 2017, 01:31:49 PM
The rainy weather in Central Pa. has moved last night's Messiah v Hopkins game from the grass at Shoemaker to the turf at Homewood tonight.  Ouch.

Very evenly matched teams. Lots of Defense on display. Messiah held to just 2 shots thru about 3/4 of the game. Scoreless after 110 mins.

With two draws already on their record, expect Messiah to plummet in the next rankings.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on September 08, 2017, 12:44:37 PM
No question that the Falcons will and should slide in the polls.  I think we all know that the early polls, vanity aside, don't mean much.  Of more concern as a Messiah fan is one goal in three games.  Things certainly don't get any easier with a trip to William Smith this weekend.  Without more offense it could be a long day in Geneva.  We shall see. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on September 10, 2017, 02:00:50 PM
Why...what's the point?

http://www.d3soccer.com/seasons/women/2017/boxscores/20170909_4ldn.xml
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on September 10, 2017, 02:03:16 PM
And this.....

Medgar Evers     0 
Sarah Lawrence 17 
Final
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on September 11, 2017, 09:33:39 PM
Big surprises in Connecticut early in the season....

Yale at 6-1 with their only loss to #2 Stanford
Conn College at 3-0 with a 1-0 win over NESCAC enemy and ranked Middlebury
Western Conn St at 5-0

UConn and Central Conn on the wrong side of the good news line.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on September 12, 2017, 09:01:57 AM
A bit of news from the SCAC:  not sure why, but Southwestern soph keeper Mary Cardone has yet to make an appearance in goal this season despite being listed on the roster.  The First Team all-SCAC and conference newcomer-of-the-year (19 starts, 85 saves, 16 goals allowed for a 0.89 GAA) was instrumental in leading the Pirates to an 11-8 record which was their best in nearly a decade.   Without her in goal, Southwestern has struggled to an 0-4 start, allowing nearly as many goals in those four games (14) as Cardone yielded over the course of an entire season.   Additionally, during the conference media days, an interview is conducted with each team's coach and one selected player and the team's other keeper, senior Kylie Hunt, was the player interviewed.   There was no mention of Cardone during that interview. 

As far as conference power Trinity (TX) goes, they still seem to be recovering from the loss of last year's strong senior class.  A season-opening trip to Virginia resulted in an unexpected 2OT loss to Christopher Newport (0-1 with only 3 SOG) and the usually high-flying Tiger offense has not converted at its usual rate (2.5 GPG over the first five matches).    Yesterday's 5-0 over formerly undefeated Concordia (TX) hopefully shows that the offense is starting to gel (tho it must be observed that Concordia's record came against lesser opposition). 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on September 15, 2017, 07:51:06 PM
Having started strong in the NE region, MIT is drawing 0-0 at home with Wheaton at the half in a downpour. The visitors have actually had some decent opportunities on counters, but MIT had the best chance of the half and the Wheaton GK made a good save. Interested to see what happens in the second half.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on September 15, 2017, 08:24:16 PM
Second half and Wheaton GK performs heroics to somehow keep the ball out after a scrum off a corner. Still 0-0 and shots are relatively even, although MIT bossing SOG 6-0.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on September 15, 2017, 08:42:39 PM
MIT breaks through with 9:08 remaining. One-timer off a corner.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on September 15, 2017, 08:58:24 PM
MIT gets a deserved 1-0 win to move to 7-0 in what was probably its toughest game since beating Brandeis on opening day. Engineers will travel to Williams in October (where they lost 4-1 last year) and will play Tufts (3-0-1) on 9/26, but those look like their big tests – based on what I've seen this season, they could run the table in the NEWMAC (although I'm sure 5-0 Springfield will have something to say about that.)
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: DivisionIIISoccerSource on September 16, 2017, 03:03:00 AM
See Greensboro College schedule and results last two years.

Quote from: Abitofeverything on September 10, 2017, 02:03:16 PM
And this.....

Medgar Evers     0 
Sarah Lawrence 17 
Final
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: SoccerFan2017 on September 17, 2017, 09:37:35 AM
What's the point of how Greensboro College schedules non-conference games? Who are you helping as their coach?

Quote from: DivisionIIISoccerSource on September 16, 2017, 03:03:00 AM
See Greensboro College schedule and results last two years.

Quote from: Abitofeverything on September 10, 2017, 02:03:16 PM
And this.....

Medgar Evers     0 
Sarah Lawrence 17 
Final
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on September 17, 2017, 12:03:54 PM
Sat. top 10 results....
Chicago improves to 6-0 over Milwaukee
Williams to 4-0 over Colby
TCNJ to 5-0 over Paterson
Trinity TX improved to 5-1 over Dallas
Swarthmore to 7-0 over Dickinson

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on September 18, 2017, 08:52:10 AM
Not that early season rankings mean a whole lot, but here's some predicted moves for Tuesdays update on the top 25...

Wash-StL will fall a point or two Despite a win over UW-Whitewater.

Chicago will be the new #1 mowing down every opponent they have faced this year.

TCNJ will move up a point or two with their win over ranked Hopkins in double OT.

General and Christopher N will move into top 10 as Hopkins and Whitewater fall out.

Carnegie, Amherst, & Pomona will fall out. MIT will close in on the T10 and Springfield along with Western CT will get their first T25 rankings of the year.




Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 4samuy on September 18, 2017, 01:26:15 PM
It's pretty clear that Chicago's strategy is shoot whenever the opportunity presents itself, wherever you may be on the pitch,  to the tune of 160-20 shot advantage and 23-2 goals scored advantage thru the first 5 games.  They will, however,  need to improve that conversion pct as they move into the tough UAA, but they are very dangerous in the opponents defensive third.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on September 21, 2017, 10:00:36 AM
We'll be 1/3 of the way through the season after this weekend (approximately)....staring at Conference play ready to start....any coaches in trouble that only a successful conference run could save their position?
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blue_jays on September 22, 2017, 01:07:24 PM
Quote from: 4samuy on September 18, 2017, 01:26:15 PM
It's pretty clear that Chicago's strategy is shoot whenever the opportunity presents itself, wherever you may be on the pitch,  to the tune of 160-20 shot advantage and 23-2 goals scored advantage thru the first 5 games.  They will, however,  need to improve that conversion pct as they move into the tough UAA, but they are very dangerous in the opponents defensive third.
If you watch their run of play, this is not really the case. They don't take bad or wild shots, 54 percent are on goal. They're taking all these shots because: 1) they own the midfield and the other team can't possess at all. 2) they are in full-on attack mode at all times which put teams on their heels. Carthage tried to play a high back line on them this week, forced 9 offsides and STILL conceded 7 goals because UChicago making concerted runs on goal is beyond scary. Anyone on that team can score at any time. The aggression is real.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on September 25, 2017, 04:09:35 PM
It has been awhile since a team has put up these kind of numbers. I look forward to catching them on video.  It should be fun.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 4samuy on September 25, 2017, 10:11:04 PM
 I agree with pretty much all you said Blue Jay.  I've actually seen Chicago play 3 or four times this year and quite frequently over the past few years and the point I was trying to make, and probably didn't make it as well as I wanted , is that yes,  they are creating a ton of opportunities in the run of play, but they have done that over the past few years only to make an extra pass in situations that probably warranted a shot, and therefore have lost scoring opportunities.  IMHO there has been an emphasis on getting balls on or towards net in situations and in parts of the offensive third that they haven't done in the past creating more  shots and scoring opportunities.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blue_jays on September 26, 2017, 10:26:24 AM
Quote from: 4samuy on September 25, 2017, 10:11:04 PM
I agree with pretty much all you said Blue Jay.  I've actually seen Chicago play 3 or four times this year and quite frequently over the past few years and the point I was trying to make, and probably didn't make it as well as I wanted , is that yes,  they are creating a ton of opportunities in the run of play, but they have done that over the past few years only to make an extra pass in situations that probably warranted a shot, and therefore have lost scoring opportunities.  IMHO there has been an emphasis on getting balls on or towards net in situations and in parts of the offensive third that they haven't done in the past creating more  shots and scoring opportunities.
They are definitely taking more shots in an aggressive fashion for sure, less deferment and indecision. The UAA will feature the best teams they will see all year, so we shall see how they impose their will. Only teams that have a chance will be ones that try to match them skill for skill, with aggression in the midfield. If you can't possess on Chicago, you have no chance to beat them.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on September 26, 2017, 03:24:45 PM
Add to that 18 of the teams 33 goals have come from Freshman/Sophomore classes, and that Chicago is one of those rare D3's with a worldwide academic notoriety which allows them to continue to recruit the best and you might be seeing the beginning of a long stretch of winning for the Maroons. Streaming tonight at 4 CDT.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: cciw83 on October 08, 2017, 04:52:25 PM
I am still trying to figure out if Chicago is that good or Emory just had a very bad day. I stopped watching early in the second half as Chicago had it under control. Chicago midfield controlled the play and Emory either because of the speed of play or talent looked disorganized and had a number of giveaways without pressure.  It was not a surprise of Chicago winning, but the score and type of contest were.

One of standout newcomers for Emory last season #26, a forward, was substituted early in the first half, wonder if she is nursing an injury or coming back from an injury.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on October 09, 2017, 09:14:08 AM
Quote from: cciw83 on October 08, 2017, 04:52:25 PM
I am still trying to figure out if Chicago is that good or Emory just had a very bad day. I stopped watching early in the second half as Chicago had it under control. Chicago midfield controlled the play and Emory either because of the speed of play or talent looked disorganized and had a number of giveaways without pressure.  It was not a surprise of Chicago winning, but the score and type of contest were.

One of standout newcomers for Emory last season #26, a forward, was substituted early in the first half, wonder if she is nursing an injury or coming back from an injury.

I think Chicago is that good. Look at Emory vs ranked opponents - Hopkins, C. Newport & Wash (Mo). All one goal losses, and except Hopkins fairly even stats. Emory couldn't get a single point in 3 games vs teams ranked in the 5-15 spots (depending on whose ranking you are looking at). No one is ranking Chicago in that range. Sure the Maroons haven't been truly tested yet, but they haven't slipped, even a little. So a 4-0 result is quite reasonable for the clear and away #1 team in the nation and a team in the 20-30 slot.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blue_jays on October 13, 2017, 09:29:03 PM
Quote from: cciw83 on October 08, 2017, 04:52:25 PM
I am still trying to figure out if Chicago is that good or Emory just had a very bad day. I stopped watching early in the second half as Chicago had it under control. Chicago midfield controlled the play and Emory either because of the speed of play or talent looked disorganized and had a number of giveaways without pressure.  It was not a surprise of Chicago winning, but the score and type of contest were.

One of standout newcomers for Emory last season #26, a forward, was substituted early in the first half, wonder if she is nursing an injury or coming back from an injury.
Chicago is that good. Definitely one of the top 3 favorites to win the national title.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on October 16, 2017, 01:44:31 PM
Chicago...I'll say this up front, they are deserving of the #1 ranking they currently hold.

But...

They are nowhere near to being unbeatable. Their record is built on a schedule that lacks a single true top 10 game. They have one coming when they face conference foe Washington (MO), but until then the competition has been pretty thin. They played Pomona-Pitzer to start the season back when the west coasters were in the preseason Top 10. But that ranking turned out to be misguided and Pomona has fallen out of the rankings completely and their only other matches of significance were against Carnegie Mellon and Emory, both currently in the 20's.  Despite their demonstrated willingness to travel far beyond the confines of the western Great Lakes region, they haven't played Messiah, TCNJ, William Smith, Geneseo, Johns Hopkins, etc...all of whom would have been good pre-conference matches for them.

Not condemning Chicago or the AD that handles the scheduling...and again, I believe they deserve their ranking. But I'd be very worried if I were the head coach of Chicago as I enter the NCAA's knowing my squad has not been tested, as compared to a Messiah who played Hopkins, William Smith, Carnegie and Misericordia in the span of less than 2 weeks.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blue_jays on October 16, 2017, 02:34:28 PM
Quote from: CarpIsNotAFish on October 16, 2017, 01:44:31 PM
Chicago...I'll say this up front, they are deserving of the #1 ranking they currently hold.

But...

They are nowhere near to being unbeatable. Their record is built on a schedule that lacks a single true top 10 game. They have one coming when they face conference foe Washington (MO), but until then the competition has been pretty thin. They played Pomona-Pitzer to start the season back when the west coasters were in the preseason Top 10. But that ranking turned out to be misguided and Pomona has fallen out of the rankings completely and their only other matches of significance were against Carnegie Mellon and Emory, both currently in the 20's.  Despite their demonstrated willingness to travel far beyond the confines of the western Great Lakes region, they haven't played Messiah, TCNJ, William Smith, Geneseo, Johns Hopkins, etc...all of whom would have been good pre-conference matches for them.

Not condemning Chicago or the AD that handles the scheduling...and again, I believe they deserve their ranking. But I'd be very worried if I were the head coach of Chicago as I enter the NCAA's knowing my squad has not been tested, as compared to a Messiah who played Hopkins, William Smith, Carnegie and Misericordia in the span of less than 2 weeks.

This is basically same Chicago team that made Final 4 last year and played Messiah to overtime. And they're better than last year's version. They're ready for anyone.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 4samuy on October 16, 2017, 04:05:52 PM
Quote from: blue_jays on October 16, 2017, 02:34:28 PM
Quote from: CarpIsNotAFish on October 16, 2017, 01:44:31 PM
Chicago...I'll say this up front, they are deserving of the #1 ranking they currently hold.

But...

They are nowhere near to being unbeatable. Their record is built on a schedule that lacks a single true top 10 game. They have one coming when they face conference foe Washington (MO), but until then the competition has been pretty thin. They played Pomona-Pitzer to start the season back when the west coasters were in the preseason Top 10. But that ranking turned out to be misguided and Pomona has fallen out of the rankings completely and their only other matches of significance were against Carnegie Mellon and Emory, both currently in the 20's.  Despite their demonstrated willingness to travel far beyond the confines of the western Great Lakes region, they haven't played Messiah, TCNJ, William Smith, Geneseo, Johns Hopkins, etc...all of whom would have been good pre-conference matches for them.

Not condemning Chicago or the AD that handles the scheduling...and again, I believe they deserve their ranking. But I'd be very worried if I were the head coach of Chicago as I enter the NCAA's knowing my squad has not been tested, as compared to a Messiah who played Hopkins, William Smith, Carnegie and Misericordia in the span of less than 2 weeks.

This is basically same Chicago team that made Final 4 last year and played Messiah to overtime. And they're better than last year's version. They're ready for anyone.

Carp

I get much of what you said referencing Chicago and the elite women's sides.  However,  Massey ratings have chicago as 5th in strength of schedule behind Carnegie #1 and Messiah #2.  I attended the Chicago/Carnegie game this past weekend, which Chicago won 2-0.   Quite frankly it could have been 3 or 4.  Carnegie then went down to St. Louis and beat WashU 1-0.  I was actually impressed with the Carnegie back line.  I know Messiah needed OT to dispatch Carnegie at home, but at this point all we can look at is head to head.  IMHO, Chicago has a structured and disciplined back line and score in many ways and if going thru the UAA doesn't prepare you, I'm not sure what does. By the time the season ends, Chicago will have likely faced 7 or 8 regionally ranked teams.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on October 16, 2017, 05:10:57 PM
Quote from: 4samuy on October 16, 2017, 04:05:52 PM
I attended the Chicago/Carnegie game this past weekend, which Chicago won 2-0.   Quite frankly it could have been 3 or 4.  Carnegie then went down to St. Louis and beat WashU 1-0.  I was actually impressed with the Carnegie back line.  I know Messiah needed OT to dispatch Carnegie at home, but at this point all we can look at is head to head.  IMHO, Chicago has a structured and disciplined back line and score in many ways and if going thru the UAA doesn't prepare you, I'm not sure what does. By the time the season ends, Chicago will have likely faced 7 or 8 regionally ranked teams.

I went to the Carnegie Mellon game at Washington University, though I missed parts of the game as I had a toddler in tow.  I was very impressed by the Tartans and I'll second the comment about the back line.  I would say the game was played pretty evenly throughout with maybe a slight edge to Carnegie.

I thought the Bears were tentative at times, though maybe it was just a matter of playing a better team.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on October 17, 2017, 12:47:23 PM
Quote from: 4samuy on October 16, 2017, 04:05:52 PM
Quote from: blue_jays on October 16, 2017, 02:34:28 PM
Quote from: CarpIsNotAFish on October 16, 2017, 01:44:31 PM
Chicago...I'll say this up front, they are deserving of the #1 ranking they currently hold.

But...

They are nowhere near to being unbeatable.

Carp

I get much of what you said referencing Chicago and the elite women's sides.  However,  Massey ratings have chicago as 5th in strength of schedule behind Carnegie #1 and Messiah #2.  I attended the Chicago/Carnegie game this past weekend, which Chicago won 2-0.   Quite frankly it could have been 3 or 4.  Carnegie then went down to St. Louis and beat WashU 1-0.  I was actually impressed with the Carnegie back line.  I know Messiah needed OT to dispatch Carnegie at home, but at this point all we can look at is head to head.  IMHO, Chicago has a structured and disciplined back line and score in many ways and if going thru the UAA doesn't prepare you, I'm not sure what does. By the time the season ends, Chicago will have likely faced 7 or 8 regionally ranked teams.

The Massey SOS ranking is a great example of the point I was struggling to make. Hypothetically, if a team played ONLY teams in its own conference (like Nescac nearly), then you would expect that the strongest team in that conference would NOT have the most difficult SOS - since they don't have to play themselves. That holds true in the NESCAC, Williams has an easier SOS than Tufts, CT College & Hamilton.

In leagues where there are a plethora of out of conference games, this would be mitigated by who the team scheduled to fill up its season. Messiah has the toughest SOS in the Mid Atlantic despite being the best team in the conf because they play Stevens, PacLuth, Hopkins & WSmith in their schedule.

But in the UAA, Chicago's SOS is only 3 spots below the #1 SOS Carnegie and they haven't played a significant opponent outside of the UAA. Heck, conference foe Emory has a SOS 4 spots below Chicago and they played both CNewport and Hopkins before having to face UAA's Chicago & Carnegie, and yet a weaker SOS.

Again, I think the Maroons deserve the #1 spot, but there seems to be some circular logic in how SOS is being calculated in the UAA.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: PlaySimple on October 17, 2017, 02:36:48 PM
I watched quite a bit of the Illinois Wesleyan @ Wheaton stream last night. I don't have a kid at either school but, as a Chicagoan, was watching for the regional interest. This was a big CCIW match with league title implications. Last year Wheaton won in the regular season, 1-0, and IWU won in the CCIW playoffs.

I was surprised at how direct both teams played and really feel that neither will make a long run in the post-season. At the opening kick off, Wheaton just booted the ball down the field into their attacking third. I believe that the ball went out of bounds. This is the type of stuff that is seen in recreational league games. When it was IWU's turn to start, they did the exact same thing! In my mind when a team kicks off that way they are just as well off to kick the ball down the field to other team and say "here, you guys take possession." That stuff rarely works and I'm not sure why a team, at the collegiate level, would do such a thing. The last time I saw a team do it, and it was successful, was when UNC was playing Yale and Yael Averbuch kicked the ball over the keeper's head for what was probably the fastest goal ever. Unless a team has a player that can do that, it's a waste of possession, IMHO.  You can be sure that was not something that UNC did often and it was probably done for the novelty of it. Averbuch had probably done it in training while goofing around and wanted to see if she could do it in a game.

If you've never seen it, here is the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIoGpN9caw

Anyway, I think that both teams do have potential but it wasn't seen in the match. IWU, it sometimes seemed, would often just kick the ball forward and hope for the best. That is a total waste of possession. There were several on the team that would try to connect passes but players wouldn't move to space or, if the receiving player had multiple pass options, chose to boot the ball or hang on to the ball and dribble until they were dispossessed. Why just kick the ball ahead to nobody? Again, just say "here, you guys take possession." Soccer is the "beautiful game." Well this match represented the "ugly game." Wheaton was nearly as bad. It seems that they might have more practice in playing the direct game because there were instantly runners tracking down the balls. Wheaton also took a lot of shots from far outside the 18. Actually, the second goal was scored that way and another pinged off of the crossbar. Most of the shots were ill-advised, though.

Really a sloppy game, IMHO, and not one to take a kid to to learn the fundamentals of possession soccer. It also seemed that neither team could keep the ball on the ground.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on October 17, 2017, 03:01:18 PM
Quote from: PlaySimple on October 17, 2017, 02:36:48 PM
I watched quite a bit of the Illinois Wesleyan @ Wheaton stream last night. I don't have a kid at either school but, as a Chicagoan, was watching for the regional interest. This was a big CCIW match with league title implications. Last year Wheaton won in the regular season, 1-0, and IWU won in the CCIW playoffs.

I was surprised at how direct both teams played and really feel that neither will make a long run in the post-season. At the opening kick off, Wheaton just booted the ball down the field into their attacking third. I believe that the ball went out of bounds. This is the type of stuff that is seen in recreational league games. When it was IWU's turn to start, they did the exact same thing! In my mind when a team kicks off that way they are just as well off to kick the ball down the field to other team and say "here, you guys take possession." That stuff rarely works and I'm not sure why a team, at the collegiate level, would do such a thing. The last time ...

Too funny. I've seen multiple D3 college teams do this Rec-move to start the game. I honestly have no idea why. My only guess is that some teams feel they are significantly better at pinning a ball in the opponent's defensive third than they are in possessing/passing it into the same area. To me it just announces "BAD COACHING."
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: PlaySimple on October 18, 2017, 05:35:39 PM
^^ Agree. It also shows, at IMHO, that the coach has little confidence in his team's ability to keep possession. It's just poor soccer. I would rather see a team be patient and play tiki-taka soccer while winning 1-0 rather than bootball with a low percentage of possession and a 3-0 result. Teams seem to lack patience these days. Both IWU and Wheaton seemed content to bypass the midfield. That's a lazy style of play and when a forward gets the ball that dribbles it until they're dispossessed, that's even worse.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on October 18, 2017, 05:52:45 PM
Do any of you folks know where final four is this year? 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on October 18, 2017, 06:46:19 PM
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 18, 2017, 05:52:45 PM
Do any of you folks know where final four is this year?

DIII Soccer Championship
Dec. 1-2, 2017
UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium
Greensboro, NC

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/soccer-women/d3
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on October 19, 2017, 10:50:10 AM
Quote from: Ron Boerger on October 18, 2017, 06:46:19 PM
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 18, 2017, 05:52:45 PM
Do any of you folks know where final four is this year?

DIII Soccer Championship
Dec. 1-2, 2017
UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium
Greensboro, NC

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/soccer-women/d3


I know hindsight is 20/20, but this should have been in Raleigh during CASL Showcase...would have been a great opportunity to show kids that D3 is not necessarily a "lower" level of play!
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on October 19, 2017, 03:49:07 PM
Quote from: Abitofeverything on October 19, 2017, 10:50:10 AM
I know hindsight is 20/20, but this should have been in Raleigh during CASL Showcase...would have been a great opportunity to show kids that D3 is not necessarily a "lower" level of play!

I wonder if anyone submitted a bid for Raleigh.   NCAA can only go where there are people willing to put a championship together.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on October 26, 2017, 12:59:39 PM
Anyone in trouble? Season over for quite a few schools now.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on October 26, 2017, 03:02:02 PM
Well, I am certainly in trouble for spending too much time trying for figure out what is going on in d-3 women's soccer this year. ;) .  It seems to me that the teams to beat as we head into the tournaments are Chicago, TCNJ, Hardin Simmons and Carnegie Mellon. 

Does anyone know why on the women's regional rankings there is no non-conference SOS listed?
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Abitofeverything on October 30, 2017, 01:08:27 PM
Any word on potential changes in leadership for some programs?

William Peace University just posted today!
Concordia University-Chicago has been open (with Interim) since mid-Sept
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on October 30, 2017, 11:12:50 PM
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 26, 2017, 03:02:02 PM
It seems to me that the teams to beat as we head into the tournaments are Chicago, TCNJ, Hardin Simmons and Carnegie Mellon. 

Just my opinion, but I do think you left out a third UAA team worthy of the teams to beat list, but I am willing to wait for the weekend before others get on board.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 01, 2017, 12:35:44 PM
Quote from: WUH on October 30, 2017, 11:12:50 PM
Quote from: 2xfaux on October 26, 2017, 03:02:02 PM
It seems to me that the teams to beat as we head into the tournaments are Chicago, TCNJ, Hardin Simmons and Carnegie Mellon. 

Just my opinion, but I do think you left out a third UAA team worthy of the teams to beat list, but I am willing to wait for the weekend before others get on board.

Wash U and Messiah have to be considered on the teams to beat list as well.  I am willing to hold off on Williams and William Smith; but those are also very strong teams year in and year out in NCAAs.

Speaking of the UAA, the Case women got their first ever victory over Emory on Sunday at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, with a final score of 5-2.  Emory was 28-0-2 vs Case prior to last Sunday.  Emory needed those 2 wins over Case and Rochester to stay in the hunt for a Pool C bid, but Case's victory most likely ended those NCAA hopes for the Emory women.  Emory's primary winning percentage is now too low for a Pool C bid.  (7-6-3) (.536 winning percentage), with an overall secondary winning percentage of .594 still being too low.  Even if Emory wins on Saturday vs Rochester, they are now on the wrong side of the bubble.

Brandeis and NYU are on the proverbial Pool C bubble going into Saturday.  The winner of the Brandeis v NYU match will most likely be selected as on a Pool C bid, but it is possible that the UAA can get 4 Pool C bids in this year given the strength of schedule of the UAA Pool C teams.  The number of wins and ties vs regionally ranked opponents are the big question for Brandeis and NYU.  Brandeis only has 2 ties vs regionally ranked opponents this season (the equivalent of 1 win)-- those ties are to Tufts (#6 New England in week 2 rankings), and Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes in week 2 reg. rankings).  NYU currently has a win over Vassar (#8 East in week 2 rankings), a tie vs Scranton (#4 Mid Atlantic in week 2 rankings), and a tie vs Emory (#6 South Atlantic in week 2 rankings.)  Both Brandeis and NYU, (along with Carnegie Mellon-- however the Tartans are already a lock for a Pool C selection to NCAAs.),  have declared for the ECAC Div III Women's Soccer Tournament as a backup situation-- so both Brandeis and NYU will be playing a first round postseason game (either NCAA or ECAC) on Saturday, November 11 regardless of the results of Saturday's match.  The ECAC field this year is a 16 team tournament spread out over 2 weekends; most of the ECAC declared teams are from Pennsylvania, with a few teams from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and only 2 ECAC declared teams from Massachusetts.

The Week 3 regional rankings get released later today, and the R v R in these rankings will count as regionally ranked results for the national selection call.  Any results vs new teams added in the week 4 rankings will also count for selection purposes.

As of now, with conference tournaments still to be played, I have already pencilled in 4 of the 20 Pool C bids.  These 4 currently go to the loser of the Chicago/Wash U match on Saturday, Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes), Connecticut College (NESCAC-- #3 New England), and Middlebury (NESCAC-- #4 New England).  16 Pool C bids are yet to be decided.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 01, 2017, 05:35:01 PM
UAA teams in Week 3 regional rankings November 1, 2017

Chicago-- #1 Central
Wash U-- #2 Central
Carnegie Mellon-- #1 Great Lakes
Brandeis-- #5 New England (of 12)
New York Univ -- #6 East (of 8)
Emory-- #8 South Atlantic (of 9)
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 02, 2017, 02:50:31 PM
As of this afternoon, I have 6 Pool C candidates either locks or safely in, and will most likely be selected on Monday:

1.). Loser of Chicago vs Wash U on Saturday-- Wash U if the game ends in a draw; Chicago if Wash U wins the match.
2.)  Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes)
3.). Connecticut College (#3 New England)
4.). Middlebury (#4 New England)
5.). Wartburg (#3 North)
6.). St Thomas Minnesota (#4 North)

By my count, 14 Pool C's are still left to be decided depending upon the results of conf tournament and game action this weekend.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on November 02, 2017, 03:09:00 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 02, 2017, 02:50:31 PM
As of this afternoon, I have 6 Pool C candidates either locks or safely in, and will most likely be selected on Monday:

1.). Loser of Chicago vs Wash U on Saturday-- Wash U if the game ends in a draw; Chicago if Wash U wins the match.
2.)  Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes)
3.). Connecticut College (#3 New England)
4.). Middlebury (#4 New England)
5.). Wartburg (#3 North)
6.). St Thomas Minnesota (#4 North)

By my count, 14 Pool C's are still left to be decided depending upon the results of conf tournament and game action this weekend.

I don't think both Conn College and Middlebury will make it. Both suffered upsets in the Conf tourney to unranked Amherst and Hamilton. Tufts on the other hand is in the NESCAC semi's (vs Hamilton). If they make it to the finals look for them to replace one or both of their conference foes.

I think you could add Rowan (#3 in S Atlantic) unless Montclair State manages to beat TCNJ. And add #2 in the Mid Atlantic and #10 overall Johns Hopkins to the Pool C locks if they should lose their conf title match.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 02, 2017, 03:33:20 PM
Quote from: CarpIsNotAFish on November 02, 2017, 03:09:00 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 02, 2017, 02:50:31 PM
As of this afternoon, I have 6 Pool C candidates either locks or safely in, and will most likely be selected on Monday:

1.). Loser of Chicago vs Wash U on Saturday-- Wash U if the game ends in a draw; Chicago if Wash U wins the match.
2.)  Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes)
3.). Connecticut College (#3 New England)
4.). Middlebury (#4 New England)
5.). Wartburg (#3 North)
6.). St Thomas Minnesota (#4 North)

By my count, 14 Pool C's are still left to be decided depending upon the results of conf tournament and game action this weekend.

I don't think both Conn College and Middlebury will make it. Both suffered upsets in the Conf tourney to unranked Amherst and Hamilton. Tufts on the other hand is in the NESCAC semi's (vs Hamilton). If they make it to the finals look for them to replace one or both of their conference foes.

I think you could add Rowan (#3 in S Atlantic) unless Montclair State manages to beat TCNJ. And add #2 in the Mid Atlantic and #10 overall Johns Hopkins to the Pool C locks if they should lose their conf title match.

Middlebury defeated #1 New England Williams just a few days before their loss in the NESCAC tournament.  Conn College also has plenty of regionally ranked wins over teams, including a head to head win over Middlebury during the season.  The entirety of the season has to be taken into account.  You are over emphasizing a conference tourney loss-- by their nature, most Pool C candidates lose their last game before the NCAA tournament-- in what round of the conference tournament they lose in is usually not a factor if they demonstrate results during the season before the loss.

I have added Wartburg and St Thomas Minnesota in for the same reasons.  Both teams were upset in the conference tournaments, but scored results ( either wins or ties) against teams in the #1 to 4 range in both the North and West regions.

Johns Hopkins is so noted-- but I expect that the Blue Jays will win their conference tournament.  If an upset happens in Centennial Conf tourney, I will update.  Similarly with other teams in the #1 or #2 rankings in their respective regions-- but I have to get the results of those tournaments.

I am holding off on Rowan.  Rowan is currently #4 in South Atlantic, not #3, and may drop 1 spot in final regional rankings depending on results of the ODAC tournament.  Rowan is on the Pool C bubble, because while the Profs have an excellent winning percentage, and their SOS of .561 is competitive; Montclair State dropped out of the regional rankings this week so the Profs cannot count the two ties with Montclair State as regionally ranked ties. Rowan goes on the board with only 1 regionally ranked win vs #8 Mid Atlantic Arcadia. Therefore, I have the Profs on the bubble, and am not yet ready to award a Pool C slot to Rowan.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 02, 2017, 04:53:17 PM
For reference, here are the NESCAC teams positions in the NCAA regional rankings this week; which reflects the results of the season including the first round of the NESCAC tournament-- with my predictions

#1 New England-- Williams-- Pool A/C lock if loses in NESCAC tourney.
#3 New England-- Conn College-- Pool C likely
#4 New England-- Middlebury-- Pool C likely
#6 New England-- Tufts-- Pool C bubble
#7 New England-- Hamilton-- needs to win AQ.
#9 New England-- Amherst-- needs to win AQ.
#10 New England-- Bowdoin-- wrong side of Pool C-- season over.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 03, 2017, 06:45:43 AM
Someone's Pool C bubble just popped last night.  In the West Region, #2 West Cal Lutheran lost in the SCIAC semifinals to Whittier 3-2 in extra time.  Whittier's golden goal was actually an own goal conceded by the Cal Lutheran goalkeeper on a defensive misplay in the 3rd minute of extra time.

Cal Lutheran goes to the Pool C bubble with a record of 15-3-2; for a winning percentage of .800; a competitive SOS of .569, and a regionally ranked win over #5 South Atlantic Virginia Wesleyan (Va Wesleyan could go up to #4 South Atlantic over Rowan after the ODAC tourney concludes.). Cal Lutheran also has a loss vs #2 South Atlantic Christopher Newport.  Right now, that would give Cal Lutheran an edge over Rowan in the Pool C hunt.

Pomona Pitzer is one win away from returning to the NCAAs.  They play Whittier tomorrow for the Pool A AQ from the SCIAC.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 03, 2017, 01:22:42 PM
NEWMAC Tournament update

Semifinal at MIT-- Saturday, November 4-- 10:30 AM ET

#11 New England Springfield vs Babson

MIT has a bye to the finals on Sunday and will play the winner of Springfield vs Babson for the AQ.

Wheaton (MA)'s college president banned their women's soccer team from competing in the rest of the NEWMAC tournament due to one of the players dressing in blackface in a Halloween costume at a party over the previous weekend.  Many of the other team players were also at that party.  The incident was reported in the Boston Globe metro section yesterday, and was also reported in the Attleboro MA Sun Chronicle.  In a letter sent to Wheaton College students and staff, president Dennis Hanno condemned the student for wearing a blackface Halloween costume and her soccer teammates for participating with her in the incident and attempting to cover it up afterwards.



Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 03, 2017, 01:49:29 PM
The first two automatic bids get awarded today.

This afternoon, Grove City and Thomas More play in the Presidents Athletic Conf final for the first Pool A bid to this year's NCAA tournament.

Tonight, TCNJ plays Montclair State for the NJAC AQ.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 03, 2017, 03:56:28 PM
Thomas More has officially become the first team into the NCAA DIII Women's Soccer Tournament, defeating Grove City 2-0 for the PAC AQ.  Goals came in the 8th minute and the 85th minute.  Thomas More almost converted a penalty kick in the 69th minute.  Congrats to the Thomas More Saints for becoming the first team officially in.

Grove City has declared for ECACs, so the Wolverines should be playing next Saturday no matter what happens.  Grove City advanced to the ECAC semifinals last year before bowing to NYU.  Grove City will most likely get an ECAC bid on Monday and then hope to win the ECACs.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 04, 2017, 05:24:28 AM
Congratulations to TCNJ women's soccer coach Joe Russo on achieving your 500th career victory last night.

TCNJ becomes the second team officially into the NCAAs by clinching the NJAC AQ.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 04, 2017, 05:24:34 PM
Washington University with a convincing 2-1 road win over previously undefeated UChicago...
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on November 04, 2017, 08:35:26 PM
Arcadia knocks off Messiah!
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 04:49:52 AM
Quote from: WUH on November 04, 2017, 05:24:34 PM
Washington University with a convincing 2-1 road win over previously undefeated UChicago...

The Conference Central page should list Wash U as the Pool A AQ from the UAA as a result of the head to head tiebreaker between UAA Co-Champions Wash U and Chicago.  Both Wash U and Chicago finish tied at 6-1 in the UAA.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 05:56:31 AM
A quick early morning update on the Pool C picture right now--

The following teams should be selected on Monday via Pool C as of now:

1.). Chicago-- #1 Central-- UAA Co-Champion; lost head to head tiebreaker against Wash U.
2.) Carnegie Mellon--#1 Great Lakes
3.) Messiah-- # 1 Mid-Atlantic
4.) Connecticut College--#3 New England
5.) Middlebury--#4 New England
6.) Wartburg-- #3 North
7.) St Thomas MN-- #4 North

Also leaning to take Cal Lutheran--#2 West for Pool C pick #8.

12 Pool C picks to go....
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 08:34:57 AM
With their victory over George Fox yesterday, (#5W) Pacific Lutheran has clinched the NWC Regular Season Championship and the AQ to the NCAAs.  Pacific Lutheran has a 4 pt lead over their nearest rivals with one game left to play.  The NWC concludes double round robin play today.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 05, 2017, 02:55:43 PM
Thanks for the bracketology @deiscanton.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 06:18:21 PM
First off, we have to pick a Pool B team to the field.

The Pool B candidates that we have do not have great resumes, but here is the board for these candidates-- we must choose one.

Data from week 3 rankings, with the top candidate from each region on the board:

New England-- Pine Manor 3-8 (.373), SOS .293
East-- SUNY Canton 4-8 (.333) SOS .469
Mid-Atlantic-- Valley Forge 4-6 (.400) SOS .339
South Atlantic-- Trinity Washington 4-1 (.800) SOS .311, 2-0 vs Valley Forge
Central-- Marantha Baptist 4-7(.364), SOS .398, advantage over Mt Mary via common opponent Rockford
North-- Mt Mary 5-7-1, SOS .218
West-- UC Santa Cruz 3-8 (.375) SOS .512, 0-1 vs regionally ranked opponents.


My Pool B pick goes to UC Santa Cruz, the team with the strongest SOS, and the only one to play against a regionally ranked opponent, Cal Lutheran.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 06:36:23 PM
Centennial Conf AQ is going to PKs.

Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore finish with a draw at 2-2.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 06:47:43 PM
Swarthmore takes the Centennial AQ on PKs, 3-1, after 4 rounds of PKs.

Swarthmore went first, converting PKs in rounds 1,2, and 3, but missed in round 4.

Johns Hopkins only converted one in the first round, but missed on all subsequent rounds.



Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 07:03:27 PM
Starting my mock Pool C picks--

C1-- Chicago (#1 Central)
C2-- Messiah (#1 Mid Atlantic)
C3-- Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes)
C4-- Johns Hopkins (#2 Mid Atlantic)
C5-- Connecticut College(#3 New England)
C6-- Wartburg (#3 North)
C7-- Cal Lutheran (#2 West)
C8-- Middlebury (#4 New England)
C9-- St Thomas MN (#4 North)
C10-- Illinois Wesleyan (#4 Central)
C11-- UW-Whitewater (#5 North)
C12-- Rowan (#4 South Atlantic)
C13-- Brandeis (#5 New England)
C14-- Tufts (#6 New England)

As a result of Vassar beating RIT in LL semis, I have moved Nazareth to #4 East, NYU to #5 East and #6 in East is RIT.  These three teams are so close together that due to NYU beating Vassar, I have NYU ahead over RIT.

C15 Nazareth
C16 New York University
C17 RIT

The final 3 mock picks should come from this board--

Hamilton, St Lawrence, Susquehanna, Virginia Wesleyan, John Carroll, Adrian, Augsburg, and Mary Hardin Baylor.

After taking a few hours to get some rest and think about it--

C18-- Virginia Wesleyan #5 South Atlantic

Bridgewater VA up on the board from S. Atlantic

C19-- Bridgewater VA #7 South Atlantic


My final mock Pool C pick is--

C20-- Susquehanna -- #6 Mid Atlantic

Susquehanna gets the edge with a better win percentage, and the result of a tie vs #3 Misericordia outweighing Hamilton's win over #4 Middlebury in NESCAC tourney.

I also had to use secondary criteria for this final pick, and Susquehanna's non conference SOS from the week 1 rankings was way better than Hamilton's non C conference SOS.

My last mock Pool C pick came down to Hamilton or Susquehanna, and Hamilton was my first one out.  Hamilton's win over Middlebury was impressive, but a non conference SOS of .496 in week 1 soured me on Hamilton

Selection Monday reaction--

I got 16 of my 20 mock Pool C selections correct.

NCAA took Hamilton (#7 NE), Wilkes (#7 Mid Atlantic), McDaniel (#9 Mid Atlantic), and Mary Hardin Baylor (#4 West)

Picks I got wrong-- the package deal of RIT, Nazareth, and NYU plus the selection of Bridgewater (VA).
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: bricullen on November 06, 2017, 06:40:13 AM
deiscanton, Thank you for the great work.  Very enjoyable reading.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 06, 2017, 08:04:24 AM
Thanks.  I am planning to watch the selection show quietly at my town library, and hopefully the NCAA will put up the show on demand afterwards because my library opens at 1 PM Eastern today, so I may miss a few minutes of the live women's selection show feed.  I will stay and watch the men's feed afterwards.  In the past, I have travelled to the Brandeis campus to watch the shows with the teams, but I would like to save my money for tickets and potentially official NCAA playoff t shirts.  The NCAA merchandise is very expensive-- at least $20 to $25 for a t shirt with the names of the teams in the field printed on it.  At least Brandeis finally has banners all over the Gosman Center printed with the years each sports team made the NCAA tournament.  For many years, they only had the banners of the Brandeis teams that won the NCAA National Championship.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on November 06, 2017, 08:11:33 AM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 05, 2017, 07:03:27 PM
Starting my mock Pool C picks--

C1-- Chicago (#1 Central)
C2-- Messiah (#1 Mid Atlantic)
C3-- Carnegie Mellon (#1 Great Lakes)
C4-- Johns Hopkins (#2 Mid Atlantic)


Wow. What kind of odds would you have given at the beginning of the season if someone had predicted that all 4 of these ^^^^ teams would need a pool bid to get into the dance. 100-1? 1000-1?
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: bricullen on November 06, 2017, 10:51:41 AM
Those are certainly 4 very strong teams.  The UAA is a fantastic conference.  No matter what there would have been two top ten at large teams coming from the UAA.  The Centennial is pretty strong as well.  Out of the 4, I would have to say that Messiah not getting the AQ is the most surprising, but, not 1000-1 surprising.  100-1 is probably around right.  :)   
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 06, 2017, 02:11:02 PM
On my mock board, I got 16 correct out of 20--

The NCAA National Committee rejected the package deal of RIT, Nazareth, and NYU.  It was understable- either all 3 were going to get Pool C's, or none of them would get Pool C's.  The NCAA also did not take Bridgewater (VA).

Afterwards, the picks that the NCAA took:  Hamilton, Wilkes, McDaniel, and Mary Hardin Baylor seem to make sense.

The Mid Atlantic is a very strong region, so it was no surprise that if a #8 and #9 ranked team was going to be selected, it would be from that region.

Hamilton played their way into the NCAAs by knocking off #4NE Middlebury in the NESCAC quarters-- that victory was Hamilton's first ever NESCAC women's soccer tournament victory.  That gave NESCAC a fourth Pool C bid for the second year in a row. 

I thought that the West would not get 2 Pool C's in -- apparently the NCAA disagreed.  The West Region also got the Pool B pick of UC Santa Cruz.  Mary Hardin Baylor (#4 West) makes sense as a geographic pick.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 06, 2017, 02:31:52 PM
Pool C picks by region--

New England got 5 Pool C picks:  Connecticut College, Middlebury, Brandeis, Tufts, and Hamilton.

East got 0 Pool C picks.

Mid Atlantic got 5 Pool C picks:  Messiah, Johns Hopkins, Susquehanna, Wilkes, and McDaniel.

South Atlantic got 2 Pool C picks:  Rowan and Virginia Wesleyan

Great Lakes got 1 Pool C pick:  Carnegie Mellon

Central got 2 Pool C picks:  Chicago and Illinois Wesleyan

North got 3 Pool C picks:  Wartburg, St Thomas (MN), and UW-Whitewater

West got 2 Pool C picks:  Cal Lutheran, and Mary Hardin Baylor.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on November 06, 2017, 04:58:09 PM
Thank goodness for public libraries.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Purplegatorade on November 06, 2017, 07:43:57 PM
http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/soccer-women/d3

After looking at this year's bracket.  Which first round match ups caught your eye?  These match ups have caught my eye:
UW-Whitewater vs Hope
Stevens vs. Brandeis
MHB vs. Trinity
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Centre
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 07, 2017, 01:58:59 PM
When the NCAA updated their regional rankings this afternoon, they reloaded the wrong data sheets for the women.  They need to reupload the data sheets from Nov 6, 2017.  They currently have the data sheets from November 6, 2016 posted.  They had the correct data sheets updated yesterday.

UPDATE-- Correct data sheets now up as of Wednesday, November 8, at 3:21 AM Eastern.  The data sheets were uploaded a few hours after I initially wrote this post, and I was able to get the information yesterday evening.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 07, 2017, 02:12:54 PM
Quote from: Purplegatorade on November 06, 2017, 07:43:57 PM
http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/soccer-women/d3

After looking at this year's bracket.  Which first round match ups caught your eye?  These match ups have caught my eye:
UW-Whitewater vs Hope
Stevens vs. Brandeis
MHB vs. Trinity
Illinois Wesleyan vs. Centre

These matchups seem to be the first round games to watch.  I am interested in finding out how the new Brandeis starting goalkeeper, grad student Frankie Pinto fares in her 5th college game as goalkeeper.  I knew Frankie Pinto from her 4 years of service on the Brandeis women's basketball team.  She did play some soccer in high school, but she was more known for her high school basketball play.  Brandeis goalkeeper coach John Conlon is doing a terrific job of getting her ready for the games.  Brandeis lost goalkeepers Victoria Richardson and Sierra Dana to season ending injuries, thus making it necessary for getting new players to serve as goalkeepers for the rest of the season.  2 new capable goalkeepers in Maura Kohler and Gemma Curnin are ready to stand by to back Pinto up if needed. Both of the new back up players played on the Brandeis women's club soccer team and got promoted to varsity. I make Stevens a clear favorite in the first round, but Brandeis will play hard.  The Stevens goalkeeper kept a clean sheet at Messiah this season.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 07, 2017, 03:36:02 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 07, 2017, 02:12:54 PM
I am interested in finding out how the new Brandeis starting goalkeeper, grad student Frankie Pinto fares in her 5th college game as goalkeeper.  I knew Frankie Pinto from her 4 years of service on the Brandeis women's basketball team.  She did play some soccer in high school, but she was more known for her high school basketball play.  Brandeis goalkeeper coach John Conlon is doing a terrific job of getting her ready for the games.  Brandeis lost goalkeepers Victoria Richardson and Sierra Dana to season ending injuries, thus making it necessary for getting new players to serve as goalkeepers for the rest of the season.  2 new capable goalkeepers in Maura Kohler and Gemma Curnin are ready to stand by to back Pinto up if needed. Both of the new back up players played on the Brandeis women's club soccer team and got promoted to varsity.

That is the craziest story, but it will be one for the ages if Brandeis can advance a few rounds or more.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on November 08, 2017, 01:10:26 PM
Upset pick of first round...

Western CT over Middlebury
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: jaybird44 on November 08, 2017, 09:27:36 PM
For those who are interested in watching the 1st and 2nd Round games at Washington University in St. Louis, we have made it easier for you to access our broadcasts directly through your TV. 

We announced last week that our viewers can access free HD Video content from the WashU Sports Network, through custom applications on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.  By downloading the free apps, you can watch our broadcasts directly through your TV...without the need to patch cords from a computer to a TV.

Click on the link below for the story, and the links to Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV:

http://washubears.com/general/2017-18/releases/20171031rw7ib5

I hope you enjoy our broadcasts this weekend of the 1st and 2nd Round games!

Jay Murry
Play-By-Play Broadcaster
Washington University in St. Louis
Baseball, Football, Men's/Women's Basketball & Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Track & Field
93 broadcasts in both 2016-17 and 2015-16, 500th WashU broadcast in 2017-18
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: cciw83 on November 08, 2017, 10:59:24 PM
Some interesting things in this post-season, really like the info on the Brandeis gk situation. Glad to see what Washington U. is doing for their broadcasts.

Agree with the interesting open round games, just can't get a read on UW-Whitewater this year. Have not seen Mary Hardin this year but the matchup with Trinity seems to be a really good opening round game.

IL Wesleyan v Centre will be young team versus young team as both lineups are loaded with freshmen and sophomores. IWU will play a little more direct and CCIW can be a little more physical . Centre hit a rough stretch early in the season after they lost a starting forward and center back to season ending injuries in the first three games, but after moving around personnel and experimenting with formations  seemed to rebound. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: PlaySimple on November 09, 2017, 08:06:09 AM
^^ Illinois Wesleyan is racked with injuries now. Centre will have the advantage in the game because their injuries were early in the season and they've had time to adjust. IWU has, from what I've heard, a few ACLs, a broken leg, multiple concussions, etc. They're depleted and running on fumes.

I have no connection to Illinois Wesleyan but a friend's daughter has been considering some D3 schools that are strong academically and that have historically good soccer programs. IWU is one of the schools she is considering. Having lived in Chicagoland most of my life, I know of IWU's academic reputation. IWU also has a decent soccer program. I told my friend that I would try to watch some games and give my impression.  cciw83 says that IWU will play direct. While that can be true, what I've noticed is that they play direct when the opposition plays direct. In the Wheaton games I watched, they played more direct in the first game and they got their clocks cleaned. In the 2nd game, the CCIW championship game, IWU played direct in the 1st half and, again, were getting soundly beaten. In the 2nd half they seemed to play a more possession oriented game and in my opinion seemed to have the run of play. IWU nearly scored a few times but came up short and lost, 1-0. A few position changes seemed to help as well. There was better defense played against Wheaton's more dangerous offensive weapons, in particular the big Wheaton frosh forward that is so dangerous. Her chances where really limited in the second half.

(As an aside, the referees for that game were awful. On multiple occasions, when IWU was fouled but still had advantage, they blew the whistle. That probably happened three times while IWU was moving toward their attacking 1/3. On several more plays there were really bad fouls called. Even the announcers on the stream, probably Wheaton students, commented on it. I understand about the referee shortage but it's a shame to put a crew like that on a league championship game.)

Out of the 4 or 5 times I've watched IWU this season, I believe that when they play possession they are a much better team. I'm not sure why the coach will often choose the more direct route. In my mind, unless you have players in the attacking 1/3 that are going to control the ball, you're essentially giving the ball to the other team. IWU will also play more direct when there is high pressure in the opponents attacking 1/3. It never made sense to me when teams try to get out of that pressure by booting the ball up the field. Make the forwards from the other team chase the ball and tire them out. Another peculiar thing that I have seen IWU do this year, and I think it was only vs Wheaton and Wheaton does the same thing, is to kick the ball hard toward the opponents goal at the kickoff. It is often kicked to the keeper. This is another big head scratcher for me. Why do that? A team is just as well off to tell the opponent "Here, you take possession." That is essentially what they're doing. This isn't American Football!! I see other teams doing this also. It's really stupid soccer.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on November 09, 2017, 01:30:35 PM
My goodness so many devastating injuries.  Best wishes to all of those injured kids and good luck to their teams going forward. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: bricullen on November 10, 2017, 08:04:54 AM
Tournament weather has officially hit the Northeast!!  I'll take my guess at the Final Four: TCNJ, Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, and Williams.  Although, all of these teams face significant hurdles to get to the final four.  TCNJ could potentially have to beat Tufts, undefeated Chris Newport and then Messiah just to reach the Final Four(of course you never know).  Let the games begin.  Everyone going out to the games stay warm.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 10:04:09 AM
I echo bricullen's sentiments on the weather. It will be very chilly in Boston and New England this weekend.

As for the Final Four picks-- TCNJ, Carnegie Mellon, and Williams are decent picks.  How does Chicago handle Wash U should the teams meet up in the Elite Eight?  Chicago's second half goalkeeper Miranda Malone and the defense would have to do a better job in the rematch in order for the Maroons to advance.  Or does Chicago's first half goalkeeper Katie Donovan play the entire match in that one? 

Anyway-- tournament play starts at 11 AM Central/Noon Eastern with Chicago playing St Catherine, followed by UW-Whitewater vs Hope.  This evening, the pod at Lorasplays their first round games.  The rest of the pods start tomorrow.  Best of luck to all the teams.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 10:25:48 AM
Word of advice for anyone planning to buy merchandise at the tourney sites this weekend-- be prepared to spend a lot.  According to info I got from Brandeis sports information, the t-shirts are going for $25; the baseball caps are $28, and the sweatshirts are going for $35.  That is in addition to the $6 spent for general admission.  I always hate how the NCAA prices their merchandise and makes you go to the tournament sites to buy them-- you just cannot order these on-line from the NCAA store.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on November 10, 2017, 10:48:28 AM
That, and making the championship programs all-digital a few years back.   Kind of hard to read those on a cell and I'm not lugging a tablet to events.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 10:54:56 AM
Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 10, 2017, 10:48:28 AM
That, and making the championship programs all-digital a few years back.   Kind of hard to read those on a cell and I'm not lugging a tablet to events.

I agree with that sentiment, but at least if you watch the women's games at MIT, you will not have to bring a WiFi hotspot with you.  Steinbrenner Stadium has plenty of WiFi access for MIT guests.  Of course, having a personal WiFi hotspot is always handy in emergencies, and you can check up on other tourney action around the country if you are watching some games in person.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 11:53:06 AM
It looks like it is snowing in Chicago.  Some light snow/flurries on the ground at Stagg Field as we head to game time.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 01:00:25 PM
Chicago up 1-0 at the half over St Catherine on a snow covered pitch at Stagg Field.  On the video feed, the Chicago commentators thought that the goal was a St Catherine OG, but live stats are giving the goal to Chicago's #5 Clare Suter for her first goal of the season.  Chicago leading comfortably in shots, SOG, and corners.

Update-- Chicago twitter feed now confirming that the first goal was a St Catherine OG.  Twitter feed also has a hashtag of yesitssnowy
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 01:20:43 PM
Chicago now up 2-0 on a Mia Calamari PK 5 minutes into the second half.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 10, 2017, 01:32:08 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 10:25:48 AMAccording to info I got from Brandeis sports information, the t-shirts are going for $25; the baseball caps are $28, and the sweatshirts are going for $35.  That is in addition to the $6 spent for general admission.  I always hate how the NCAA prices their merchandise and makes you go to the tournament sites to buy them--you just cannot order these on-line from the NCAA store.

It would be interesting to see the economics behind the pricing.  Do they figure that 80-90% of the perspective buyers are parents and close friends who will buy a t-shirt no matter what?  And, that other fans will not be interested enough to have a souvenir?
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 02:09:31 PM
Quote from: WUH on November 10, 2017, 01:32:08 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 10:25:48 AMAccording to info I got from Brandeis sports information, the t-shirts are going for $25; the baseball caps are $28, and the sweatshirts are going for $35.  That is in addition to the $6 spent for general admission.  I always hate how the NCAA prices their merchandise and makes you go to the tournament sites to buy them--you just cannot order these on-line from the NCAA store.

It would be interesting to see the economics behind the pricing.  Do they figure that 80-90% of the perspective buyers are parents and close friends who will buy a t-shirt no matter what?  And, that other fans will not be interested enough to have a souvenir?

It would not surprise me at all if that were the case.  Anyway, we have Chicago moving on comfortably to the second round to face the winner of UW-Whitewater and Hope.  This next game was noted earlier as one first round game to watch, so I will watch.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 10, 2017, 04:40:14 PM
Hope defeats UW-Whitewater 1-0 on an early second half goal from Rylie Dalton.  Dalton was playing most of the game on a yellow card that she got midway through the first half, but managed to avoid a 2nd yellow card.  The Flying Dutch advance to play Chicago tomorrow afternoon for a spot in the Sweet 16.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 11, 2017, 08:13:00 AM
The remainder of the first round takes place today starting at 11 AM Eastern and continuing throughout the day.  2 Second round games-- Chicago vs Hope and Loras vs Wheaton (IL) also taking place today.  Loras and Wheaton (IL) posted clean sheet wins over their first round opponents last night.

Wind chills in the teens in the Boston, MA area this morning, so I will probably watch the games on-line.

Among the games to watch this afternoon, we have purplegatorade's picks of Stevens vs Brandeis, UMHB vs Trinity (TX), and Illinois Wesleyan vs Centre.

We also have 2xfaux's game of Western Connecticut vs Middlebury, in which Western Connecticut was picked to upset Middlebury.

An exciting day of action on hand starting at 11 AM Eastern for those of you watching on-line today.  For those of you braving the elements to attend your games in person, have a good time at your games.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 11, 2017, 12:48:28 PM
Action so far on the New England side--

There may be 8 New England AQs, but 5 of them are going down handily.

Lesley held on in the first half, but Williams scored 2 early second half goals to take control.

A goalfest in Cambridge, MA as MIT led at halftime, 4-2, over Castleton and then scored 2 second half goals for a 6-2 lead.  Shoutout to blooter442 who is at that game.

Messiah currently up 4-0 over Westfield State early in the second half.

William Smith and TCNJ also comfortably leading over Lasell and Roger Williams respectively.

Update-- Williams and MIT on to the next round.  MIT won 7-2 over Castleton.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 11, 2017, 03:34:12 PM
Brandeis defeats Stevens, 3-1, to advance to their second ever meeting with Williams tomorrow.  Brandeis and Stevens were 0-0 at halftime.  The first goal was scored by Brandeis's Sasha Sunday with an assist from Samantha Schwartz.  With 20 minutes left, Stevens added a lot of pressure, but Brandeis was able to counter with a goal from Haliana Burhans to make it 2-0.  Stevens spoiled Brandeis's clean sheet attempt with 4:12 remaining, but the Judges quickly countered with their third goal of the day. 

Brandeis and Williams last met in the 2010 NCAA tournament's second round.  As a Deis fan, I am not going to say anything further about that game....
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 11, 2017, 09:24:14 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on November 11, 2017, 12:48:28 PM
A goalfest in Cambridge, MA as MIT led at halftime, 4-2, over Castleton and then scored 2 second half goals for a 6-2 lead.  Shoutout to blooter442 who is at that game.

Thanks for the shoutout. ;) Excited to see 'Deis women in action tomorrow!
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on November 12, 2017, 10:09:33 AM
Undefeated #3 Hardin-Simmons (20-0) face #9 Trinity (TX) (19-1) this afternoon in Abilene.   HSU has had the better of this match-up in recent history, defeating Trinity in the second round in both 2015 and 2012.   The last time the Trinity women defeated HSU was the second round of 2011.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:04:07 PM
MIT and Middlebury about to get underway.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:06:13 PM
MIT with some good pressure in the first couple of minutes — Midd. looks flat.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:12:06 PM
Midd. growing into the game, but MIT's O. Struckman puts a great ball in from the left which just misses a crowd of players. Then, MIT #3 just gets beat to a through ball by the Panthers GK.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:16:22 PM
STRuckman with the game's first shot, but an easy save for the GK.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:28:15 PM
MIT goes 1-0 up as S. Struckman — who just got her first career goal yesterday — finishes a through ball halfway through the first. Having never scored for the Engineers before yesterday, she now has 2 in 2 NCAA games.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 01:41:08 PM
Middlebury with some pressure, but the MIT defense keeps them out.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 02:08:00 PM
MIT with one saved off the line a minute into the second.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 02:16:18 PM
Middlebury with a HUGE chance but puts it just over. 35 left.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 02:30:39 PM
MIT cranking up the pressure but no second goal yet. O. Struckman is a handful at LF.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 02:46:36 PM
S. Struckman hits the bar for MIT! 7 left.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: blooter442 on November 12, 2017, 03:11:54 PM
MIT 1-0 over Middlebury is the final.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 03:15:00 PM
Thanks, blooter442, for your coverage of MIT v Middlebury today.

MIT won 1-0 to advance, while Williams advanced with a 3-0 scoreline over Brandeis today.  Williams was up 1-0 at halftime, while Williams's Sydney Jones scored a 2nd half brace, with the second goal of that brace coming in the 90th minute. 

Note: It is not really a 2 leg tie when the games between Williams and Brandeis are played 7 years apart, right? LOL. Anyway, Williams is a fantastic program, congrats to the Ephs on advancing.  Late night for Ephs fans as the match between Cal Lutheran and Pacific Lutheran is at 10 PM Eastern-- winner plays Williams in the round of 16.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 03:24:03 PM
Looking ahead, I think that Williams will be hosting next weekend.  In the sectional, Williams is the only team ranked #1 in a respective region, while Cal Lutheran, Johns Hopkins, and Geneseo State are #2 in their respective regions.   The winner of Cal Lutheran and Pacific Lutheran will have to fly to the sectional, while the other teams can bus.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on November 12, 2017, 03:45:04 PM
Hardin-Simmons has trailed much of the match but ties Trinity at 2 with eight minutes remaining off a corner.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Ron Boerger on November 12, 2017, 03:53:18 PM
And Evan Pipkin scores in the 90th minute to send the Cowgirls to the Sweet 16.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: cciw83 on November 12, 2017, 04:08:44 PM
Watched the second half of the Hardin-Simmons- Trinity TX match, this was a game where you hate to see one of the teams go out this early. Hardin-Simmons is even more athletic than the last few years. Thought Trinity was going to hold on, the set pieces did them in. It was an enjoyable game to watch as a neutral. 

I thought the one AA forward for Hardin was going to be out for the season, but I saw she was playing with a knee brace.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 09:45:08 PM
Wash U and Wittenberg are still goalless with under 12 min to play in regulation.  Wash U's Darcy Cunningham had to be helped off the field due to injury, and is not expected to return to the game tonight.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 09:56:35 PM
Taylor Cohen scores for Wash U with 2:50 to go.  Assist by Jessica Kovach.  Wash U up 1-0 over Wittenberg.

Update-- That goal was the game winner.  Wash U advances to the round of 16 to play UW-LaCrosse.  Chicago and Wheaton IL are the other two teams in the pod with the sectional to be played Friday and Saturday.  The sectional may be played at UW-LaCrosse, because Chicago may be awarded to host a men's sectional that must also be played on Friday and Saturday next weekend.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 10:52:28 PM
Cal Lutheran and Pacific Lutheran are tied at 0-0 at halftime.  Very defensively minded game with few shots taken so far.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 12, 2017, 11:56:28 PM
Cal Lutheran and Pacific Lutheran are tied 1-1 after 90 minutes.  Heading to golden goal extra time.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 13, 2017, 12:21:52 AM
Game ends tied at 1-1.  Heading to PKs to decide who plays Williams.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 13, 2017, 12:32:48 AM
Cal Lutheran advances, 5-4 on PKs, to play Williams in the round of 16.

Update-- corrected line by box score result.  The video feed incorrectly said 6-5, but my own count said 5-4.  I was wondering as I was watching the video stream last night where I missed a round of PKs, but the feed was incorrect.  Really late night staying up watching that game.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on November 13, 2017, 06:41:23 AM
NCAA will release their sectional hosts on the women's side this morning.

The NCAA, through their official printable bracket, has announced that North Park, Chicago, Messiah, and Tufts will be hosting men's sectionals next weekend.

Based on this information, my projected women's sectional hosts are:

TCNJ, UW- La Crosse, William Smith, and Williams.

Update--

NCAA has picked Chicago, TCNJ, William Smith and Williams to host women's sectionals this upcoming weekend.

Chicago will probably host the men's sectionals on Friday and Saturday afternoon, while the Chicago women's sectional will probably be on Friday and Saturday evening-- in accordance with the priority rules set for this weekend.

Chicago's successful hosting of both men's and women's pods over the weekend probably gave the NCAA confidence that Chicago could pull off hosting both men's and women's sectionals this weekend as well. 

The Wheaton IL women and the Calvin men do not play on Sundays for religious reasons, therefore both Chicago sectionals must be played this upcoming Friday and Saturday.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on November 13, 2017, 02:03:15 PM
Friday will be a busy soccer day in Chicago.  Have the men and women played sectionals at the same site before?  Maybe at Messiah but I am not sure.  I think Chicago has a good shot at bringing home both the men's and women's trophies.  Again, I am not sure but I think only Messiah has done that in the past.  It should be an exciting weekend everywhere.   
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Jim Matson on November 13, 2017, 05:53:17 PM
It will indeed be a great soccer weekend in Chicago. North Park hosts, and Chicago hosts the women (early matches), and the men (late matches).

I doubt that this has ever happened in NCAA soccer history; three sectionals within 20 miles of each other.

Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: CarpIsNotAFish on November 17, 2017, 08:46:04 AM
Any upset predictions for today or Saturday?

My pick is the 1.5 goal underdog Lynchburg over undefeated TCNJ.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 17, 2017, 03:44:04 PM
Absolutely miserable conditions in Chicago as far as I can tell.  45 degrees, 10-15 mph winds and raining.

Chicago defeated Wheaton 2-0.  No surprise there.

UW-Lax just scored on Washington University to go up 1-0 early in the second half.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 17, 2017, 04:15:32 PM
UW-Lax scored an insurance goal with 10 minutes left.  Washington University responded with a long distance strike by Hannah Menard.  Lax leads 2-1 with 9 minutes left. #miracleneeded
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on November 17, 2017, 04:28:51 PM
Congratulations to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on the 2-1 win.

Washington University had the better of the play as far as I can tell (watched intermittently), but such is soccer.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: PlaySimple on November 18, 2017, 03:13:23 PM
Quote from: WUH on November 17, 2017, 03:44:04 PM

Chicago defeated Wheaton 2-0.  No surprise there.


In looking at the  box of Chicago vs Wheaton, it seems that the Maroons didn't have a lot of problems dispatching Wheaton. What surprised me most about the game was the shot count. Wheaton only had 1 shot the entire game. Chicago had 15 shots with 6 on frame. I thought that Wheaton would give Chicago a bit more of a challenge. The 15 shots that Chicago had, while a lot, might be a little on the low side for them, though. I'm wondering why Wheaton's stud frosh forward Isabelle Oliver, the CCIW newcomer of the year, didn't play. Anyone? I don't think her presence would have changed the outcome of the game but Wheaton may have had a few more shots and possibly even put 1 on the scoreboard. She is a difference maker.

Chicago taking it to UW-LaCrosse today.

In the American Regional today, Ohio Northern beat William Smith, 1-0, in OT. The OT period was only 23 seconds in. Some may view this as a big surprise but ONU has a solid side. Last week in ONU's 2-0 win over Illinois Wesleyan, they out-shot the Titans, 19-6. That is pretty impressive given IWU's stout defense. IWU did have a few season-ending injuries but that is still impressive.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 01, 2017, 07:41:09 AM
National semifinals in Greensboro on NCAA.com today-- you will need the NCAA Sports App to watch these games on a mobile tablet or smartphone.

The app is not needed if you are watching these games on a laptop.

Dave McHugh is in Greensboro with the call.

1.). Chicago vs TCNJ-- 11 AM Eastern.
2.). Williams vs Hardin-Simmons

Winners play tomorrow for the national title.

Two great games coming today to start the day in Greensboro before the men play this evening.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 01, 2017, 12:01:13 PM
Chicago 1 TCNJ 0 at halftime.

Dave McHugh and Ira Thor on the call on NCAA.com

Chicago goal in the 6th minute from Hannah Watkins-- assist from Madori Spiker.

Chicago's first half keeper, Katie Donovan, was subbed due to injury midway through the half.  Miranda Malone, who is the Chicago keeper for second halves and extra time, finished the first half and will be the keeper for the rest of the game.

Natural grass pitch is perfectly cut with lots of "curling" circles on it.  Field slopes a little bit at the ends, according to the live stream.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 01, 2017, 01:01:54 PM
Final score from semifinal #1-- Chicago 1 TCNJ 0

Chicago Maroons advance to their second ever national title game.  They will attempt to become the first UChicago team to win a national championship in any d3 sport tomorrow when they face either Williams or Hardin-Simmons.

Update-- Semifinal #2 starts at 1:50 PM Eastern on NCAA.com
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: WUPHF on December 01, 2017, 01:40:03 PM
Congratulations to Chicago.

I did not get to watch, but the Chicago Maroons Twitter feed has a slow-motion video of the Watkins goal which is definitely worth watching: https://twitter.com/ChicagoMaroons
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 01, 2017, 02:39:30 PM
Halftime--

Hardin-Simmons and Williams are goalless.

According to Dave McHugh, Williams seemed to have the majority of the possession in the first half.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 01, 2017, 03:48:15 PM
Williams wins, 1-0, over Hardin-Simmons as Alison Lu gets the game winner with less than 5 minutes left in regulation.

This is the first loss for the Cowgirls since Sept 1, 2016, as last season ended for the Cowgirls on PKs after they drew with Wash U.

Chicago plays Williams tomorrow for the championship.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: 2xfaux on December 02, 2017, 01:38:57 PM
This should be great game with two big, athletic, and skilled teams.  Earlier in the season I saw Williams play a couple of games where they seemed unfocused and a bit sloppy but they are certainly playing really well now. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: deiscanton on December 03, 2017, 07:22:37 AM
Congratulations to Williams on winning their second d3 women's soccer title.

Entertaining final, particularly the second half.  I can't blame Dave McHugh for mispronouncing Williams's #13 Aspen Pierson's hometown wrong all weekend.  For the record, Pierson hails from Framingham, MA and is a graduate of Rivers School.  However, the Williams website misspelled the name of the home city as "Farmingham, MA", and "D-Mac" dutifully pronounced the city all weekend as it was misspelled.  The fault is on the Williams sports info department for not getting the spelling right.

Williams kept 6 clean sheets for the tournament. 
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on December 03, 2017, 04:27:30 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on December 03, 2017, 07:22:37 AM
Congratulations to Williams on winning their second d3 women's soccer title.

Entertaining final, particularly the second half.  I can't blame Dave McHugh for mispronouncing Williams's #13 Aspen Pierson's hometown wrong all weekend.  For the record, Pierson hails from Framingham, MA and is a graduate of Rivers School.  However, the Williams website misspelled the name of the home city as "Farmingham, MA", and "D-Mac" dutifully pronounced the city all weekend as it was misspelled.  The fault is on the Williams sports info department for not getting the spelling right.

Williams kept 6 clean sheets for the tournament.

Wait...what?!

Not only on their website... but on the Word roster, PDFs, and anything else I was handed (and copied) said Farmingham!!! And since I know, very well, there is a difference between Farmingham and Framingham in that state... I was being careful!!!

Un-freaken-real. SMH
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: irapthor on December 03, 2017, 09:42:30 PM
Quote from: deiscanton on December 03, 2017, 07:22:37 AM
Congratulations to Williams on winning their second d3 women's soccer title.

Entertaining final, particularly the second half.  I can't blame Dave McHugh for mispronouncing Williams's #13 Aspen Pierson's hometown wrong all weekend.  For the record, Pierson hails from Framingham, MA and is a graduate of Rivers School.  However, the Williams website misspelled the name of the home city as "Farmingham, MA", and "D-Mac" dutifully pronounced the city all weekend as it was misspelled.  The fault is on the Williams sports info department for not getting the spelling right.

Williams kept 6 clean sheets for the tournament.


On a positive note, I was sooooo impressed with how Williams possessed the ball. It was some of the prettiest soccer I've ever seen in Division III...their style of soccer is gorgeous and it was a joy to call these games.
Title: Re: D3 Women's Soccer 2017 Season
Post by: nescac1 on December 04, 2017, 10:34:33 AM
Congrats to the Ephs on a spectacular year and an amazing four-year run!   In six final four games over that stretch, they had 5 wins, one tie (losing in PKs) and only one goal allowed in total.  Unreal.  The Ephs changed their entire offensive style this year, amazing for a team which has had so much recent success, but they kept improving over time and culminated with a tremendous run of play in the NCAAs.

Williams didn't have 1-2 superstar scorers up front like they relied on in their prior championship runs (although they have 3-4 players who probably could have scored a bunch more goals had they been featured more heavily as a primary striker) but the hallmark of the team this year was fantastic pace and an ability to score from a wide variety of personnel, and a wide variety of positions on the field, enabled by tremendous depth.   And of course, their backline and goalkeeper were rock-solid, as reflected by no goals allowed in the tournament (although JHU and Chicago both could have scored several, certainly). 

Only the goalie and two of the key defenders / defensive midfielders played 90 minutes each game -- everyone else on the roster basically split time, keeping the team fresh.  Now, those two 90 minute defensive-oriented players, all-American Sim and  all-Region Gancedo, will be tough to replace, as will Albaneze, who had a tremendous year up front and probably deserved to be higher than a third-team all-American.  But because of so much depth employed during this year, Williams will still return two proven, experienced performers at every spot up front, and at least one at every spot in the backfield.  Although the Ephs don't return any all-American players, they have a few who are waiting in the wings to claim such honors, in particular, GK Barnhill, F Lu, B Webber, and MFs Laino and Turner-Wyatt, all of whom are exceptional players desitined for individual accolades in the future.  The Ephs should keep right on rolling!