Apropos of nothing, I've been interested to observe the differences among some Centennial Conference teams in terms of how much playing time their first-year players are getting.

Dickinson, who lost relatively few players and did well in the NCAAs, has played very few first-years through the first four games. Three first-years have played so far for a total of 189 minutes. Average first-year playing time is 47 mins. per game.

F&M, who lost more players, has played four first-years through four games for a total of 632 minutes. Average first-year playing time is 158 mins. per game.

JHU, who lost a ton of players, has played 12 first-years through four games for a total of 1780 minutes. Average first-year playing time is 445 mins. per game. Note that for Hopkins, first-years includes transfers. Hopkins has four transfers this year - 2 grad transfers and 2 undergrad transfers. All four have played for a total of 579 minutes or 145 mins per game.

If you only count freshmen, JHU has played 8 freshmen for a total of 1201 minutes or an average of 300 mins per game.

Sewanee played a very aggressive press. Hopkins lost their freshman starting center back 2 minutes into the game and never recovered. As previous posters have said, first two goals were the result of Sewanee pressure and poor Hopkins play in the back. Third was a penalty that looked like feet getting tangled but it was in the box so no real complaint. Last one was Hopkins crumbling mentally.

Two players I would have expected to start or play significant minutes, CJ Feldman and Jason Pang, didn't play this weekend. I am guessing they are nursing injures.

Centennial Conf. highlights
JHU 3, Rhodes 0
Stockton 2, F&M 1
Dickinson 1, Virginia Wesleyan 1
Muhlenberg 0, Alvernia 0

Notably, 8 of Hopkins' 9 freshmen are over 6 feet and other one is 5' 11". This is a notable change from past years and one Coach Appleby highlighted recently.

Hopkins 2025 roster is now posted
https://hopkinssports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster

4 transfers - 2 grad students and 2 undergrads
9 freshmen

They replace 10 departed players (seniors or grad students).

Quote from: Kuiper on August 21, 2025, 11:28:47 AMEither that or they are old fashioned and wait until the season is about to start because in the old days rosters weren't set until they announced who among the walk-ons had made the team.

I resemble that remark. I've been checking daily too but no 2025 roster yet.

Quote from: Kuiper on December 10, 2024, 04:52:05 PMI know some longer-time coaches still do, but are active players aware of it?  I know they used to be, but I'm just not sure if they are anymore and you (and other parents of current players) probably have some insight on that.

My son is a Bowdoin grad and some of his friends who still play soccer there read the board.

As a Green Bay Packers shareholder, I can say that I am very pleased with the team's ownership.

Dickinson is going to terrorize the Centennial next year. In addition to the four already mentioned, I've been impressed by Westin Fryberger, Daniel Spataro, and Luke Finkielstein. Fryberger and Spataro are first years, Finkielstein is a junior.

One area that could perhaps use some improvement is goalkeeping. During the regular season game between Dickinson and Hopkins this year, Gavin Marr (another first year) played the second half and was markedly better than the starter.

The Red Devils have a very skewed age structure on their team - lots of excellent juniors and first years, far fewer seniors and sophomores.

Quote from: Bucket on November 23, 2024, 08:18:44 PMAlas, sides must now be drawn, and I officially notified Little Bucket, a freshman at Dickinson, that I'll be cheering for W&L tomorrow. I know his Aunt Sarah, a Red Devil alumna, will join him in fandom.

With Hopkins eliminated, I can now join my wife, a Red Devil alumna, and my daughter, a Red Devil sophomore, in rooting for Dickinson, although I expect W&L to win.

Quote from: gocamels on November 17, 2024, 05:14:16 PMAfter handling Franklin and Marshall, lets head to Mary Washington (another two-name school that will end next weekend with less wins than names).

GO CAMELS

Fewer

Quote from: Garden12 on November 17, 2024, 07:55:25 PMIs it possible that the Hopkins style of play just doesn't work in the tournament? Their endless possession just doesnt seem to consistently create chances against teams that are solid defensively. Maybe they sometimes make a small run but I could never see them winning the 6/6 needed to win a tournament.

Maybe. That has been a concern for Hopkins fans (or at least this one) for some time. This year's team seemed capable of playing a number of styles, however. As I noted earlier, they have demonstrated an ability to absorb a lot of pressure and then play more directly (Centennial Conference semi-final v. Dickinson). I thought they had the upper hand in the second half of today's game and in the two overtimes after nearly getting run off the field in the first half.

That said, they are never going to be volume shooters. They spend a lot of time and effort (maybe too much) trying to get good shots instead of ripping it from 20 yds on occasion. Jason Pan's game winner yesterday was a notable exception to the rule.

JHU and W&L going to OT. As I expected, Hopkins looked much better in the second half. Still, the goal Hopkins scored was a bit of a fluke. Long ball that W&L keeper booted forward, only for it to hit off of his defender. Hopkins player managed to launch the rebound toward goal and it just snuck inside the post.

Quote from: Another Mom on November 17, 2024, 03:55:27 PMNo commentary on the W&L Hopkins game?

W&L is dominating. Lots of pressure on Hopkins. Hopkins not having their best CB has hurt as it means their best player, Francis Meyer, is playing center back rather than CDM.

Hopkins has given up lots of pressure in the first half before and come back (see the Dickinson game in the Centennial Conference tournament) but this will be a tough hill to climb in the second half.

Hopkins looks to be missing Mikkel Andersen, their all-CC center back. He limped off the field yesterday and didn't start today.