IMO success is the single biggest variable, as success just breeds success, as long as there is sufficient institutional/administrative support (with the latter being the second most critical factor).

This statement is a great topic for another thread.  I'm always curious about the teams that used to be nationally strong, but then fall by the wayside.  And I'm not talking about teams lucky enough to capture magic in a bottle because they happen to get a super-stud - I'm looking at you Kean and Freddy Gurian. But rather, the teams that seemed to be Top 20 every year but now you don't hear from them.  Is it a coaching change? Lack of institutional support? Something else?  I know I'm going back some years, but TCNJ (Trenton State) was a powerhouse in the early 90's having reached the final 3x and winning once.  That winning coach from '96 is still there - has the game simply past him by? I'm sure there are other more recent examples - Dominican was very good for a time, no?

The defender who was ostensibly guarding Newton simply let the Centre junior forward blow by him (and Newton even had his hand up, signaling for a pass) and didn't even kick it into high gear until Newton had the ball at his feet and was penetrating the box, at which point you can see that MSU defender lean forward, pump his arms, and sprint in pursuit of Newton, whom he didn't catch up to until the shot was two-thirds of the way to the net.

Yes, this. He simply didn't track back but rather decided to pass Newton off to the center back who was unfortunately out of position to defend against the run and a perfectly weighted ball.

Who looks better is irrelevant.  Grady had a better season and is more deserving.

I caught the tail end of half 1 and thought Luther was very much on the front foot, but didn't really generate any chances.  OWU looked very organized and compact in the back. 

I then caught the tail end of half 2 and both OTs, and thought OWU looked much more dangerous.

If momentum means anything, I give the edge to OWU in PKs.

Apologies in advance, but I have to chuckle at the sky is falling comments from the SLU crew. You guys make it sound like you're on the path to becoming Bard.  Of your 8 losses this year, 5 were by 1 goal, 4 were to then-top20 teams, and 4 were to eventual tournament teams.  And yes you made some pretty brutal mistakes - as most teams do - but you weren't terrible.  You can't have a 12-3-3 season every year.  Have faith boys. Things will turn around.

Gettysburg up 2-0 on W&L in the first half.  Kinda surprising as W&L seems to be having the better of the run of play.  Goal #1 was an own-goal.

All-Centennial Conference Awards: http://www.centennial.org/sports/msoc/2019-20/releases/All-CC
       
Honorable Mention       

F-Joe Barile, Swarthmore Jr. River Vale, N.J. / Bergen Catholic
F-Alex Lalovic, Franklin & Marshall   Jr.   Lititz, Pa. / Warwick
F-Jacob Wells, McDaniel   Jr.   Hanover, Pa. / South Western
F-Pablo Martinez, Johns Hopkins !   Jr.   Darien, Conn. / Darien
F-Bless Tumushabe, Swarthmore   Fr.   Washington, D.C. / Woodrow Wilson
M-Shay Adamson, Franklin & Marshall   Fr.   Allen, Texas / Einstein School
M-Noah Schwab, Haverford   So.   Millburn, N.J. / Millburn
M-Isaac Bradbury, Dickinson   Fr.   Toronto, Canada / St. Andrew's College
M-Connor O'Donnell, Gettysburg   So.   Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North
D-Tim Treinen, Johns Hopkins   So.   Glendale, Calif. / Flintridge Preparatory School
D-Felix Laniyan, Swarthmore %   Sr.   Baltimore, Md. / St. Paul's School
D-Pat Palin, McDaniel   Sr.   Ellicott City, Md. / Mt. Hebron
D-Mark Walter, Muhlenberg %   So.   Westfield, N.J. / Westfield

Well, look at that! Shay Adamson was the son of @mom1234 who some of you may recall was absolutely hammered by some board members over her comments about her son's abilities as it related to D1vsD3 and NESCAC recruiting (or something like that).

One thing I've noticed throughout the past few years is that soooo much emphasis (too much in my opinion) is placed on SoS.