Counterpoint, camo, is that COLLEGE soccer is different than what is watched all over the world in a few fundamental ways.

We've talked about the subbing.

And there is the weird way the clock is managed in college soccer.

I don't think tweaking the NPI formula (again, not a thing anywhere else in the world) would be such a radical move, for example.

I don't think taking players off is a great idea, because at 10v10 I think the difference is marginal and at 8v8, now you are asking guys to cover a TON more turf and we come back to player safety/attrition.

Quote from: camosfan on November 24, 2025, 07:38:39 PM24 hours between games is reasonable at this level, when you have almost limitless substitution. These teams will be coming off two weeks rest.

But, it's not limitless. Saying "almost" isn't an accurate qualifier. I coached youth soccer... That's limitless.

If you were able to start a guy, pull him after 20 and then put him back in at 35-- and do the same thing in the second... That's "almost" limitless.

Not being able to bring a person back in after subbing them out during a half is limited subbing.

And we'll just agree to disagree about 24 hours being adequate time to recover.

Kuiper - I'm gonna find a few choice quotes of your posts to sign your praises over the last few week. Your analysis and content have been really incredible all season, but have really been spectacular during the tournament.

You guys are correct. Given the existing schedule, coaches need to be more circumspect.

But other than the NESCAC, who has a weirdly truncated schedule, not many other teams in D3 have a Sat/Sun schedule as a regular feature.

I'm not suggesting NESCAC has an unfair advantage, but, really... When you get this deep into November, I just don't think it's fair to ask teams to play this many minutes inside of 48 hours.

Again, not a NESCAC hater. On any level. I just think the last 4 weeks of D3 soccer are not representative of the overall landscape.

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 24, 2025, 05:47:35 PMAnybody watching the D1 tournament?? 1-3 seeds lost in the 2nd round (they had byes) to include last years winner, no. 1 seed Vermont in the snow to unseeded Hofstra 3-2. They would have lost Maryland if not for its really good German goalkeeper who made an English Premier PK at the end of the shootout to move on.

I know we've discussed this before, but first round was on Thursday at home for half and then on Sunday for 2nd round  FYI, Maryland if it wins all its games till semis, they play at home. 3rd round is on this upcoming Saturday/Sunday. Quarters on Friday/Saturday Dec. 5 or 6. and then semis on Friday Dec. 12. Final on Monday Dec. 15.

IMO, D3 is not taken seriously. 

You and I are aligned on this. The rounding error of an extra night at a hotel and meals is silly when you think about the "fairness' of having guys play back-to-back soccer games at the highest level.

It's silly.

To build on your D1 point, and I know you know this, but for the good of the order. The B1G soccer tournament was hosted at Ludwig (MD). They played the semis on Wednesday. They played the final game on SUNDAY(!?) While I found that situation ridiculous, the reality is that UCLA showed up in College Park on MONDAY(!). They were in the DMV for pretty much a week.

But, Yahweh forbid we have 8* teams stay an extra night at the Courtyard for one additional night.

Gimme a break.

* - I'll give away the first weekend if I have to. The S16 and E8 should not be playing on barely 24 hours' rest.

Ridiculous.

The weird hatred of Messiah fascinates me. Like... It's not like they have a heated conference foe... That's just not a thing in the MAC-C.

Something weirdly personal is going on here. To come to a pretty sleepy message board with a vendetta unsupported by the facts is weird.

Like... We're not a bunch of bumpkins. No one is looking at an Elite 8 exit(!!!) and saying, wow, Messiah is a program in decline. We're mostly middle-aged dudes with an odd hobby. We certainly aren't going to be stirred up by quasi-delusional rhetoric.

Just odd. Come back in 2-3 years of them NOT winning the conference and making an Elite 8 exit and pop off.

Or just admit that Messiah and the coaching staff did you dirty somehow... Eat the pain and move on, Footy.

Not very good trolling, frankly. No one is buying what you're selling.

Quote from: rdanie03 on November 24, 2025, 06:01:02 PM

Quote from: Hopkins92 on November 24, 2025, 01:32:47 PMOnce again, the argument to give these lads a days rest rears its head. I think I'd be less annoyed with this set up if programs spent a couple of weekends in late September or October running a few Sat/Sun weekends to understand what it actually looks like in practice.

As it stands, some of the most important games of the year take place with at least one of the sides exhausted, usually both. I don't like attrition playing such an outsized role.

Great point. I know there's a whole thing about their truncated schedule, but this is BIG deal come November dancing time.

This is why the NESCAC has teams in the championship game every year. Each team has at least 3 of those weekends every year(plus another if they make it to the NESCAC final), so they are plenty used to it.

Once again, the argument to give these lads a days rest rears its head. I think I'd be less annoyed with this set up if programs spent a couple of weekends in late September or October running a few Sat/Sun weekends to understand what it actually looks like in practice.

As it stands, some of the most important games of the year take place with at least one of the sides exhausted, usually both. I don't like attrition playing such an outsized role.

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 24, 2025, 11:27:31 AM

Quote from: Mr_November on November 24, 2025, 10:50:32 AMCan't help but feel sorry for Dickinson, who end the season undefeated and bow out at the Elite 8. Iwowo and Jarden bow out after phenomenal collegiate careers for the Red Devils. Been a joy and a pleasure to watch them work their magic in Carlisle, PA.

Iwowo's Career Stats across 4 seasons...
86 GS, 82 GP - 53 Goals, 21 Assists. Astounding numbers...

Truly so. FYI, Dickinson was pretty much a punchline in the Cent. Conf. before they showed up plus don't forget Jorge Chapoy, who really got them moving! By his third year, he really made many of us look at Dickinson as a rising power. Also Potter who was their keeper played great all year. Most of us did not give them much credit till their run in the NCAAs last year.

33-4-11 over the last two years.

Obviously, question will be if they can continue with these guys who graduate.

They are just a fun team to watch. But, yeah, replacing that guy is going to be very difficult.

(I almost went to Dickinson and a guy that was in my wedding party wound up there and loved his college experience.)

The board was pretty wonky and I couldn't post for a bit.

Emory stole that game in PKs. They were exhausted and Dickinson just couldn't seal the deal. Even in Pks, they made the first save and looked like they had momentum.

I don't want to go all NESCAC-level drama here, but the final PK winner from Emory went right over to the Dickinson bench to do the CR cellie... Extremely disrespectful and unnecessary and almost turned into a brawl. Just... why?

He was interviewed after the game and said, straight up, Dickinson was the better team on the day. Take your W and Final Four berth and move on.

I will say, Dickinson's bench is VERY vocal. When my boys were getting walked off the field in the CC finals, I am old enough to find the humor in the taunting, but... I can see why their yapping might lead to what Emory did at the end.

Headed to OT down in Lynchburg.

Field feels pretty tilted in the Red Devils direction, but you can also see the quality Emory possesses.

50/50 battles going to Dickinson... There's something about their mentality... Very scrappy but they also go forward in a flash.

Dickinson seems the more dangerous of the two at the moment.

The sun behind the Dickinson goal makes it almost impossible to see the action. Beautiful day across the region.

Quote from: SierraFD3soccer on November 22, 2025, 03:16:56 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on November 22, 2025, 03:01:53 PMFINAL:  Dickinson 1 - Lynchburg 0

Tight game, but Dickinson defense proves that they are underrated and may be the strength of the team

Definitely, just checked - Dickinson has not allowed a goal in 6 games. That includes 3 NCAA games and 2 CC tournament games. They tied McDaniel 1-1 back on Oct. 25. Lynchburg until this game had scored 66 goals (3 per game).

Seeing them in person a few weeks ago... They are a very difficult team to deal with on both ends of the field. I think they struggle when you take away their #11 (striker), but they have other guys that can score.

Quote from: Hillcountryview on November 17, 2025, 01:31:08 PM

Quote from: Another Mom on November 17, 2025, 01:24:07 PMI am rooting for Lynchburg.  They are a strong team, and they don't get a lot of attention on the forum. (I know probably because of the Flo Sports paywall) (which, by the way, I took great pleasure in canceling yesterday)

Agreed. I'm rooting for Lynchburg too.

Dickinson is a tough out and they are playing probably as well as they've played all year. They ran my boys off the field to win the CC and took both of its pod games in relative ease.

Should be a great game. Always have to respect an ODAC opponent this time of year.

Hopkins lost to John Carrol in a snow storm in the not so distant past. That field was turf, as well, but there's a point where adapting to that is really fortitude and luck.

Not taking anything away from the Smurfs, but not a lot of kids outside of certain northern regions have any experience playing in snow. Rain, wind, super hot, humid... Yep.

Substance that makes the ball and your footing incredibly unnerving and unpredictable? Now we're playing a different game.