The time goalkeepers must release the ball after gaining possession could increase to eight seconds next season. Officials would make an accompanying visual signal for the final five seconds of the count. If the goalkeeper doesn't release the ball within eight seconds, the opposing team would be awarded a corner kick. This change would align the NCAA with international rules.

Currently, goalkeepers have six seconds to release the ball after gaining possession, and if the ball isn't released, the opposing team receives an indirect free kick.

About time - I really hope it is enforced just like they do when taking the ball up court in basketball . Ref don't seem to even warn keepers with the 6 sec. penalty much less give indirect kicks.

Quote from: SimpleCoach on February 05, 2026, 12:58:07 PM

Quote from: Kuiper on February 04, 2026, 05:56:04 PMAs part of the process of merging New Jersey City University into Kean University, the NJCU men's soccer team, which finished last in the NJAC in 2025 with a 1-6-2 record in conference and a 4-11-4 record overall, will cease to exist.  The NJCU campus men's soccer players will be eligible to try out for the Kean men's soccer team and Kean will be permitted to have an expanded roster to accommodate players from NJCU.

Wonder if we should keep a list of all the D3 mens programs lost. That has to be 3 or 4 recently?

Going to guess that it will only be more as colleges fail.

Did find two websites tracking some of this - https://www.2adays.com/blog/every-college-sports-program-cut-closed-or-merged-july-2025-updated-list/

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/guest-post-closer-look-small-colleges-closed

Quote from: d4_Pace on January 26, 2026, 12:25:49 PM2014 Tufts may be the most recent comparable. Hadn't won an NCAA tournament game in over 20 years. Were 4 years removed from an 0-8 NESCAC campaign. It was year 4 of the new coach instead of year 2 like Indiana. Obviously the recent success has completely altered how the program is looked at, but that team came out of nowhere on the national stage and wasn't even sure if they'd make the NCAA tournament after losing in first round of NESCAC tourney.

True, but you can also say that student size wise Tufts always had the potential. 7k in students with all the other NESCAC had 3k or below. Hopkins is the same with over 6000k plus grad students and the other conf. schools under 2500k. I would say that Tufts was just looking for the right coach and always had a chance of getting there. What may be one of the reasons for Tufts and other schools doing better is the rise in D1 int'l players making American players looking at d3 schools.

Indiana maybe the same, but they did not have double or more students as Tufts and Hopkins. Indiana was a sure win forever for most teams. Right now and despite going 16-0 and 27-2 over 2 years, they are now either tied or just one/two above Northwestern for the most loses in NCAA history.

Quote from: Hopkins92 on January 21, 2026, 10:42:13 AMIt's a great topic, but I don't think you're going to find a like-for-like in any sport. The closest thing I think of in the NFL is a hypothetical where the Jets somehow go from - whatever that is -- to winning a Super Bowl.

So as to Super Bowl runs, 2007-08 Giants third Super Bowl where they were 10-6 and a wild card only to beat the 18-0 Pats? Yeah Jets did something, but Giants beat probably the greatest team in football.

2010-11 Giants were 9-7

Quote from: SimpleCoach on December 25, 2025, 10:50:10 AMAll -

From my home to yours, wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuckah or whatever it is you do with your family this time of year.  Thanks for all and looking forward to 2027!

Many Blessings.

SC.

Same to you Simple Coach!! Happy New Year!

BTW is there something we all need to know about 2026?? Could be???

Quote from: OldNed on December 12, 2025, 01:33:52 PMMy son is on the staff at UVM and I'm speaking only for myself but I hope they make the interim coach, Brad Cole, the coach and not Kyle Dezotell. No shade to Dezotell at all, I just think Brad Cole is better prepared to take the reins at UVM given his background. That being said, I think Kyle Dezotell has done a terrific job after taking over from Josh Shapiro at Tufts. I seem to recall a few people doubting his resume when he got the Tufts job, but I think he's put that argument to bed.

I am guessing and only guessing, but UVM's success may not continue or at least to the same level of 2024. It definitely has embraces the int'l player trend and obv was very successful. I follow American East bc of UMBC which I have connections to. UVM is the most successful team coming out of AE which before was a conf. that had one team qual for the NCAAs and were matched with a much higher rated conference. So usually one and done. AE collectively is not a great conf. (definitely not like NESCAC). I think the last team that got close before UVM was UMBC's run to the semis in 2014 which was amazing. Lot of lean years.

Coaching obv made a difference at UVM, but, like Marshall, it appears to have taken the int'l players has made it a success. As to college coaching, UVM probably does not have anywhere the resources Penn State has especially since UVM does not have football revenue.

Penn State has had some success in Big Ten soccer and has had some good coaches. So, while a challenge, Penn State currently does not have the same talent level of int'l players. I would guess that UVM's former coach will get paid more, better resources and may think he will not be able to repeat his success at UVM.

All saying this, bc, though Dezotell has done an incredible job, going on to coach semi prof soccer at UVM where the players are players first and students second is huge leap. Dezotell may have extensive int'l coaching experience though. Also int'l players don't stick. They often will be in one place a year or two and move on to other programs. Until the football/basketball portal, NCAA D1 mens' soccer had the highest rate by a lot of transferring. 

Some have made the D3 leap to D1 successfully, but not at the same level. Ex. being Dave Brandt from Messiah to Navy and now Bucknell, but not on to D1 nat'l championships. Probably others, but not going from a perennial D3 success to same success at D1 or at least nobody I remember. 

Quote from: Kuiper on December 12, 2025, 12:29:34 PMInterim Gettysburg Head Men's Soccer Coach, Dan Malone, Tabbed for the Permanent Job

Good move. Not sure where Gettysburg will be in the next couple of years, but Malone definitely stepped up the program.

Quote from: Kuiper on December 09, 2025, 04:52:50 PMIf you thought the fortunes of the Trinity men's soccer team could not have turned any worse when they conceded a goal with 4 seconds left in regulation in the finals against Tufts . . . 

Franklin County Firefighters Help Trinity U Soccer Team After Bus Slid off Roadway

QuoteMembers of the Snow Creek Volunteer Fire Department assisted soccer players from Trinity University after their team bus slid off the roadway on Monday, December 8.

The men's team had just finished runner-up on Sunday to Tufts University in the NCAA Division III National Championship held at Donald J Kerr Stadium in Salem.

Firefighters transported the team and staff to the station in Pinhook "in order to get the tour bus off the mountain and back down to safety," according to the Facebook post.

Fortunately, the photos in the story suggest no one was hurt.

I hear you, but I think that just made that experience even more special. True adventure.

I guessing they were taking a bus down to NC for a plane. NCAA probably wouldn't spring for the plane ride from Roanoke-Blacksburg.

I'm thinking that Goucher College may need a coach considering that the long-time AD and coach stepped back in after Mike Singleton left before the season. He had coached the team 14 or 15 years before. So I am thinking that might be an opening.

Which brings up - What Maryland/PA school that will need a coach and be a good fit for Mike Singleton??

Golden goal was brutal way to end the game. Especially rough on the keeper. Obv. he should have done better. Feet definitely should have been set better.

Crazy tough position and one mistake gets magnified despite Emory's lack of success in front of goal. That'll everyone will remember. Keeper is a junior and only allowed .66 goals per game with only allowing 13 goals all season. Like I said, brutal way to end their season

True as to Emory! Did not see that coming.

Freezing weather today in Salem especially as the sun sets so early. I think the snow will have come and gone by game time. Might be in the corners etc. Great its on turf. Melting snow for the finals is not great. https://weather.com/weather/today/l/cd3a86e5f64893bbb4e801f8f7f0f3d31adfd79b22f2c734c378aebb52aca333

Says snow showers so accumulation may not be as much.

Tufts will not sweep the womans and mens as the women lost in the semis. Either way that is pretty impressive they even had a chance.

So is Tufts now the D1 version of Connecticut basketball (2014 and 2004)?

All the holiday spots. Also I'm guessing, Salem is cheap.

Only 5 loses among the final 4. That is impressive! No Cinderella this year.

How far have Hop and F&M fallen??

Neither team had a player named to any of the 4 teams (47 players) on the 2025 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Men's All-Region V

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-NCAA-D3-Men-All-Region-Teams.pdf