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Messages - Midwest Soccer

#1
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 NCAA Tournament
November 16, 2016, 02:03:36 PM
As a reminder, this is the second consecutive year that there has been controversy surrounding the UMass Boston team as they enter the NCAA Tournament. Last year it was 3 players being suspended for tweeting inappropriate things at ESPN announcer Taylor Twellman.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/11/13/taylor-twellman-umass-boston-soccer-twitter/

This is a pretty awful look for this program. They are getting results yes, but the behavior in which they are conducting themselves is flat out embarrassing. As a Division III soccer program, it's not good to find yourself making national news for the wrong thing even one time (the tweets), but to follow that up with this effort where you have an assault on a referee, a separate head butt, and a punted ball into the face of an opponent....wait til this goes viral.

#2
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 Great Lakes Region
November 08, 2016, 09:50:31 AM
Agreed with NCAC. Hats off to the KC Lords. Anyone else wonder why Amolo and Glassman didn't start the 2OT vs Oberlin? And then a freshman who is in their place buries the game winner....bold move that paid off.


#3
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 Great Lakes Region
November 03, 2016, 06:01:16 PM
Domino,

I can appreciate your overall sentiment but saying Hanover gets screwed if they don't get an at large is a stretch considering as you stated, they had opportunity to take down DePauw and OWU and didn't. They have 1 ranked win against a very impressive Carthage team but if you look closely, Carthage had a red card in the 14th minute. That's not intended to take away from Hanover because they are a very deserving team, but they have had their opportunity in the regular season. Racking up wins vs the lesser HCAC teams doesn't warrant an at large NCAA bid when you lose the close ones to the teams who are ahead of you. Having said all this, I think Hanover will win the AQ this Saturday.

JCU is 8-0-1 in their last 9 which is very impressive and they are a very good team. But they too have had their opportunity to pull off ranked wins and currently sit at 0-3-1. I would not be surprised in the slightest if John Carroll takes down ONU this weekend either. JCU has gotten better and better as the season has worn on. I wonder if they wish they could have started with the OAC schedule and then moved onto the non-conference. Playing at Brandeis in your opening game is no easy task.

Bottom line: This is a flawed system. If ONU gets upset and doesn't make the tournament then they will probably be one of the best teams to ever not play in the NCAA tournament.
#4
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 Great Lakes Region
November 03, 2016, 02:40:22 PM
Domino,

Good analysis but I think it's a far stretch to hope that the loser of the HCAC championship would jump from the bottom 2 rankings into the top 4-5 which is likely where you have to be in order to be selected.

Oberlin is also in a tough spot- Wabash falls from the rankings so they lose a ranked win from the regular season and fail to pick up another ranked win last night in their grudge match even though Wabash is a quality side. Oberlin is 1-3 vs ranked teams this year including head to head losses to 3 teams that are ahead of them (ONU 0-4, Kenyon 2-3, OWU 0-3) . I think their only way into the NCAA tournament is by winning in Gambier on Saturday unless the Great Lakes gets 4-5 at large bids which is highly unlikely.

1.) PSU-B 2.) TM 3.) ONU/JCU (but not both, albeit it would be a travesty if ONU is not in the tournament field, their numbers don't match up well), 4.) R-H/Hanover (but not both), 5.) DePauw 6.) Kenyon and then maybe 7a.) OWU 7b.) Oberlin 7c.) CMU.

For OWU, they need Hanover to stay in the rankings. For CMU, they need JCU to win the OAC and hopefully hop back in the rankings giving them 2 ranked wins. Oberlin...as I said before, I think they need to win the NCAC Championship to guarantee a spot. If they fail to, they fall to 1-4 RvR which will be tough to get in unless the GL region gets more at larges this year than last (they received 3 last year: DePauw, OWU, and Thomas More).
#5
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 D3 Season: NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
October 02, 2016, 01:12:54 PM
Oberlin is in the drivers seat right now in terms of NCAC play. Kenyon, Oberlin, DePauw and OWU/Wabash/Hiram for the last spot.

Also, OWU looks to be on the outside looking in of even making the NCAC tournament. 2 points from 2 games vs Denison and Wabash and still yet to face DePauw, Oberlin, and Kenyon. Not ruling them out by any means but a tough road ahead nonetheless.
#6
Men's soccer / Re: 2016 Great Lakes Region
September 27, 2016, 11:20:22 PM
Agreed that Kenyon and ONU are the top 2 teams in the region.

Here's a question:

What if ONU runs table in regular season, finishes 0 losses on the year, and then gets upset in the OAC tourny? Do they have a strong enough resume to get them in 100%? I know they are a top team this year if not the top team in the region, but unless Capital gets ranked in the region (and assuming they beat Capital which is anything but a sure thing), their only hope for a win vs a ranked team is a CWRU team who is 4-4-1 currently which definitely can happen with the teams they still have left to play (they have the toughest SOS in the region by a mile). Just for arguments' sake, let's say they finish the year being upset in OAC tourny needing an at large to get in. With a 0-0-1 record vs regionally ranked teams (if OWU is ranked which isn't a given either) and an SOS of what I'm assuming will be absolutely awful given the likes of their non-conference schedule, are they 100% a lock? The same question could apply to Calvin as well and I believe we had similar conversations about them last year because I don't believe they had a regionally ranked win on the year (not 100% sure on that though) but they took the AQ so it didn't matter.

I heard rumors that the MIAA is getting away from their home and home series which is great for those teams to get out and play other regional teams to help with their chances of getting more than 1 team in the tournament.





#7
Men's soccer / Re: IIAC 2016
September 13, 2016, 09:35:17 AM
I don't think any Loras fan is worried, rightfully so. Once in a blue moon a team as good as Loras will have a result like this and bring them back down to earth for a second before they take off again. What isn't measured in the stat sheet is that Loras/Messiah/Wheaton/Amherst get everyone's best game, every.single.game. Which makes it all the more impressive they have been able to be as good as they are over the last 10 years. They run like a well-oiled machine. Minor blip in what will surely be another good/great season for Loras.
#8
Men's soccer / 2016 Recruiting Classes
February 25, 2016, 09:25:30 AM
Great addition to the website to basically add a live tracker of programs 2016 commitments! You never know how many of these are actually legitimate or who is going to try out for programs but cool to see none the less.

http://d3soccer.com/notables/commitments/men/2016-mens-recruiting-classes
#9
Men's soccer / Re: 2014 / 2015 Coaching Carousel
January 05, 2016, 11:01:30 PM
Quote from: lastguyoffthebench on January 05, 2016, 10:26:30 AM
Quote from: Midwest Soccer on January 05, 2016, 10:14:06 AM
Quote from: lastguyoffthebench on January 05, 2016, 09:54:00 AM
With that being said, does Serpone have the easiest job in D3 sticking to their motto of; Kick. Run. Study.  He still has to mentor and develop his players...

He still has to get the most out of his players which he clearly does. Attractive or not, the guy has been leading 1 of the most, if not the most successful programs over the last 3-4 years. You don't just do that by running sub-par trainings. He has all those players bought into his system. I don't think he has the easiest job in D3 by any means. He's in the NESCAC in addition to the the academic standards you already mentioned.

Definitely the #2 - #5 program in the nation over his tenure.  Now that they've won the NCAA title, 4 NESCAC titles, and 2 NESCAC finalists over the last 10 years +  their overall record, I'd put them #2, behind Messiah. #3 Wheaton, #4 OWU, #5 Calvin, #6 Loras, #7 Trinity, #8 MSU.   This seems fair enough given the spread of the regions.... #9 SLU/Stevens.

Wheaton at #3? Sort of high if you ask me. Only 1 Final Four Appearance in last 6 years. Would have to go back to 2006 to their previous Final Four appearance prior to 2014. Wheaton, OWU, and Messiah at the same 2006 Final Four....I remember the Wheaton v OWU semi was a snoozefest. Messiah just trounced everyone but as a fan of Division III history, that's pretty cool to have had the 3 most successful programs (historically) at the same Final Four

Wheaton would be high on my list as well, just not sure at #3 without a title and not many Final Four appearances...I would give Loras the nod over them, maybe even Oneonta St as well. Good picks overall though!
#10
Men's soccer / Re: 2014 / 2015 Coaching Carousel
January 05, 2016, 10:14:06 AM
Quote from: lastguyoffthebench on January 05, 2016, 09:54:00 AM
With that being said, does Serpone have the easiest job in D3 sticking to their motto of; Kick. Run. Study.  He still has to mentor and develop his players...

He still has to get the most out of his players which he clearly does. Attractive or not, the guy has been leading 1 of the most, if not the most successful programs over the last 3-4 years. You don't just do that by running sub-par trainings. He has all those players bought into his system. I don't think he has the easiest job in D3 by any means. He's in the NESCAC in addition to the the academic standards you already mentioned.
#11
Men's soccer / Re: 2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD
November 23, 2015, 12:15:22 PM
Calvin plays on grass Domino
#12
Men's soccer / Re: Best teams from the past
November 18, 2015, 11:16:11 AM
Quote from: Gol2Gol on November 18, 2015, 10:41:22 AM
Camden is never going to win a sportsmanship award or be accused of having a nice bunch of kids (even by NJAC standards). That starts and ends on the sidelines...

Back to the topic. I think we can take Camden or any team who didn't win the National Championship should be out of the equation. I believe you have to win it to be considered.

1. almost any Messiah team that did win it...they dominated championships with a classy style of play and players. Whichever was their best team i would put on top.
2. 94' Bethany- had a bunch of Gambian national team players and a one year wonder team that made it look easy.
3. UNC Greensboro dominated 80's
4. OWU- 1st Championship team

Interesting side note:3 current coaches in NJAC won it as players..Rutler (stockton @ Stockton), Baker (Rowan @ Rowan), East (RUN @ kean)


I heard once that the 1998 OWU team and its' 6 losses are the most a Martin coached team has had. Pretty insane if true. Even crazier that his "most loss" team is 1 of his 2 championship teams...

Unfortunately Trinity in 2007 didn't win it all (fell in PK's to Middlebury in final and finished with a 23-1 record because of it but they never trailed in a game the entire year and beat Messiah in the Final 4 in an absolute classic. 1 of the better games I've ever seen in the NCAA tournament.
#13
Men's soccer / Re: 2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT THREAD
November 11, 2015, 08:34:59 AM
Quote from: lastguyoffthebench on November 11, 2015, 02:08:50 AM
Amherst has the easiest road - Cabrini, Lycoming, Brandeis/Trinity.
Amherst could get to final 4 without conceding a goal

MSU 2nd easiest - Daniel "bye" Webster, Tufts, Kenyon, F&M/Calvin/OWU
This reminds me of 2011, Camden wins NJAC and loses Elite 8 to Oneonta St in 2OT at SLU; MSU makes it to Final 4.  MSU too much fire power for the likes of Kenyon and Calvin. 

Loras 3rd - ONU, Wash/DePauw, Wheaton
Loras gets perennial chokers UAA Conference team, Washington and 2-10 tourney DePauw.  Wheaton is a serious threat to their chances.  I think the Thunder buddies pull it off.

Haverford toughest - W&L, SLU, Oneonta/Camden/Bowdoin/Plattsburgh St...
Fords will have tough match ups each round, and this is the most wide open pod, IMO


I don't care what the "rankings" say, but MSU pod has weak conference champions; Salisbury, Gordon, Babson, MSOE. ---- C'monnnn.   Battle tested teams with not enough to beat MSU; Tufts, CMU, Chicago, OWU, F&M.   And of course you have Kenyon & Calvin - untested strong programs.  Then you have TMC a non AQ from weak conference... It's the weakest in terms of SOS, IMO.

Sorry but when did MSU become the program to beat? I'll take Kenyon/Chicago/TMC over them if they get past Tufts.
#14
Men's soccer / Re: 2015 POOL C
November 06, 2015, 09:46:08 AM
Great question

My 2 cents (probably wrong):

1.) F
2.) D
3.) B

E, C, and A I feel for.

A, the SOS is too low.

C, was sort of a toss up with B but I gave B the edge for tougher SOS and 4 wins and above .500 RvR vs a tougher SOS.

E, Great win percentage, middle of the road SOS, but 1 ranked win and below .500 record RvR...

I'm sure all 3 would be worthy teams of bids as well...
#15
Men's soccer / Re: Final 4 Predictions
November 01, 2015, 08:59:57 AM
Quote from: wingtips2 on November 01, 2015, 07:58:58 AM
Quote from: Shooter McGavin on October 27, 2015, 12:59:41 PM
Final 4:
Amherst
Haverford
Montclair St.
Ohio Wesleyan

Elite 8:
Oneonta St.
Brandeis
Kenyon
Messiah
I lov people picking OWU - if they fail to beat DePauw this week they could miss the tourney entirely.

Was the same situation last year....doesn't matter how you get in?

The loser of that game could be squarely on the bubble, although I think both are deserving of bids.