IIAC 2013

Started by Puerco Espin, July 03, 2013, 12:38:32 AM

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Madhatter5

Preseason Rankings are out. http://www.nscaatv.com/rankings

Messiah #1
Loras #2
Williams #3

Some other local noteworthy teams:
Wheaton #6
Dominican #10-T
UWP #17



Ambush004

UWP is no way deserving to be on that list.  Does anyone know who these big time teams are playing for their preseason games?? Would like to see a couple playing a team a division or two up in competition.

Puerco Espin

@Ambush I'll break it down by class.

Juniors - Johnny Rummelhart has the after-burners that will give Usain Bolt a challenge. (Okay maybe not quite that fast, but could be one of the fastest players in DIII). Tom Fluegel has the elusive moves that could turn a defender's legs into an Auntie Anne's pretzel. Look for him to step up and see time either as a forward or an attacking mid this year.

Sophomores - Jorge Simon earned quality minutes in the defensive mid in the NCAA Tournament. I look for him to continue to grow in skill and confidence. Wouldn't be surprised if he's an everyday starter his junior year. Ben Avery, a midseason call-up, showed that even at 6-4, he can be elusively quick to strip opponents of the ball as well as be a human wrecking ball inside the 18. I'm also interested to see the play of Sam Koenig. Similar in physical fitness to that of Captain Dan Figura, if he can pick up the intangibles, he has a strong chance of being an everyday starter in the near future.
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Puerco Espin

I believe UW-P was included based on their finish in 2012...without much consideration given to the senior class that graduated. I wouldn't be surprised if they find the exit from the Top 25 within the first two weeks of the season.
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Ambush004

I'm excited to see how Wartburg does this season. It's always a thrill watching the other IIAC teams compete against each other, other than Loras of course. Don't sleep on Wartburg is my opinion.

Does anyone in the IIAC have a respective schedule other than Loras?

Puerco Espin

Notable non-conference opponents for the Knights are:

UW-Whitewater
UW-Oshkosh
#17 UW-Platteville
Gustavus
#22 Carleton
St. Thomas.

The Spartans have a significantly easier schedule:
Lake Forest
#17 UW-Platteville
#19 North Park

Even though Oshkosh and Whitewater are not a preseason Top 25, I think Wartburg will drop at least one of those matches, if not both. Put those teams on UD's schedule and they lose them both.
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

casualfan

Puerco, you really have something against Dubuque don't you? haha.

You have:

Notable non-conference opponents for the Knights are:

UW-Whitewater
UW-Oshkosh
#17 UW-Platteville
Gustavus
#22 Carleton
St. Thomas.

The Spartans have a significantly easier schedule:
Lake Forest
#17 UW-Platteville
#19 North Park

While Dubuque also plays UW-Whitewater, St. Thomas like Wartburg.
They also play Augsburg and Illinois Wesleyan, two solid D3 opponents.

Lay off on Spartan haterade for all of us, please.  And this is coming from a fan outside of the IIAC.

Puerco Espin

Must've looked over those other common opponents, my apologies.

Both squads will have fun competing to see who gets their season ended in the Conference Championship. Always have to have something to look forward to, right?
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Ambush004

Dubuque having a tough schedule puts I CAN'T in their heart. They need to have a cake walk schedule if they want to have confidence. 2010 was it that they made #24 on the top 25 list. Wartburg loves to fight, They need to stop hitting up bars the knight before games.

Madhatter5

#24
Casual- Puerco probably has something against Dubuque because every year their fans or players have a bigger bark then they do bite and overstep themselves.

To say Illinois- Wes is a solid D3 program is comical to say the least. I'll give you Augsburg though.

I wouldn't put St. Thomas on either of those lists though seeing how they are always inconsistent and applying a bit of adversity and pressure against their team will see them crumble.

UWP, NP and UWW will be good tests for UD though to see what they are really made of before the start of conference play. They better gain confidence from those games instead of losing a step or those walk through IIAC games will become challenges/loses that they can't afford come NCAA Tourny bid time.

I do look forward to Wartburg coming back to the old ways sometime soon. Would like to see more than 1 or 2 IIAC teams make it to tourny and having the second team in be a solid entry rather than a one and done.

Puerco Espin

I think we'd all agree that 2011 was a good example of what we'd like to see from the IIAC, with Luther making it to the Sweet 16. It's just unfortunate that it can't happen on a year in year out basis.

You think Luther makes the tourney that year if they don't beat Loras in the regular season?
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Madhatter5

I think beating Loras was a good resume builder for them and I don't know what their schedule looked like that year so it's uncertain if some of those teams they played helped either. If anything it had to help with their confidence to push them.

Even when Wartburg was making the touny in the mid 2000's they would get out in the first or second round so Lurther getting to the Sweet 16 was a good accomplishment. Too bad that attitude didn't stick.

Ambush004

When going to check out the Loras preseason I have found a liking for the two transfers. Very smooth and technical. One of them starting in the 11's game both times and the other being a role in the central mid with Cavers. Looks like the duhawks won't skip a beat in the defensive area for sure. UD on the other hand, what are they doing? My 30+ men's league could give them a game. Someone needs to tell them the All Europe honor used on their player bio's is used as a door prize for playing soccer.

doolittledog

If UD sucks that bad, what does it say about the rest of the league ;D

2nd place in 2012
3rd place tie in 2011
1st place tie in 2010

Yeah, that is one sucky program over at UD. 

Puerco Espin

I don't think any of us will argue that the Iowa Conference is a powerhouse for men's soccer. The Spartans have never tasted the NCAA Tournament, haven't even come close to be honest. They have yet to appear in a conference tournament championship.

If you check their Athletics site, they fail to mention who sent them packing each year. Must be too hard to swallow.

2010 - Lost to the Duhawks in Semis.
2011 - Lost to Wartburg (PKs) in Opening Round.
2012 - Lost to Central in Semis.

Comparing the Spartan soccer program to the development of a child...they've just discovered what body hair is like.
NCAA Final Four: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015
NCAA Sweet 16: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
NCAA Tournament: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IIAC Champions: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015