Just saw the Amherst box score... I didn't realize Amherst men's soccer was offering UFC courses this season. At what point does Amherst Athletics step in and ask some serious questions? The red cards, the continued drama, the lack of discipline, this is becoming a pattern. If I were an Amherst alum, I'd be furious. Maybe it's time to dial it down a notch and work on some passing patterns instead of taking shots at the opposition. I didn't see the red myself, though - can someone explain what happened?!
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#2
Men's soccer / Re: NESCAC
September 26, 2026, 02:20:57 PM
Just finished watching some good games, so naturally I have opinions nobody asked for. Here are the key takeaways:
Williams 1 – Amherst 0
Williams executed this game damn near perfectly. Ruehlmann looked good, the defense was solid, and Amherst looked like they were waiting for the game to magically fix itself.
At some point, you expect Amherst to switch something up, but nope — just Serpone and his assistant freaking out on the sideline like they've discovered soccer for the first time.
Serpone, maybe it's time to go get that USSF D License instead of collecting the 10 master's degrees. They teach you the basics of the game. Maybe even sportsmanship. Who knows.
All credit to Williams - they were excellent. Amherst, on the other hand, looks completely lost. A few more slip-ups and this season could be over before Halloween. Time to look in the mirror, Amherst.
And sick game from Darrell too.
Midd 2 – Bowdoin 0
The Panthers continue to look dangerous.
Huge fan of the two towers that come in around the midway point of each half: Horowitz and Dunlop. They create absolute havoc, and Horowitz is a legit threat.
Props to Payne and Cavaceppi Dove too. From what I've seen, those two can send basically any midfield trio into a full spin cycle.
Bowdoin just didn't have enough quality tonight. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how they were undefeated coming into this one.
Conn 2 – Hamilton 0
Burke looked completely rejuvenated, and Conn is flying right now.
Big props to Perugini - dude is a magician.
Will be very interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. The season is starting to get spicy.
Williams 1 – Amherst 0
Williams executed this game damn near perfectly. Ruehlmann looked good, the defense was solid, and Amherst looked like they were waiting for the game to magically fix itself.
At some point, you expect Amherst to switch something up, but nope — just Serpone and his assistant freaking out on the sideline like they've discovered soccer for the first time.
Serpone, maybe it's time to go get that USSF D License instead of collecting the 10 master's degrees. They teach you the basics of the game. Maybe even sportsmanship. Who knows.
All credit to Williams - they were excellent. Amherst, on the other hand, looks completely lost. A few more slip-ups and this season could be over before Halloween. Time to look in the mirror, Amherst.
And sick game from Darrell too.
Midd 2 – Bowdoin 0
The Panthers continue to look dangerous.
Huge fan of the two towers that come in around the midway point of each half: Horowitz and Dunlop. They create absolute havoc, and Horowitz is a legit threat.
Props to Payne and Cavaceppi Dove too. From what I've seen, those two can send basically any midfield trio into a full spin cycle.
Bowdoin just didn't have enough quality tonight. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how they were undefeated coming into this one.
Conn 2 – Hamilton 0
Burke looked completely rejuvenated, and Conn is flying right now.
Big props to Perugini - dude is a magician.
Will be very interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. The season is starting to get spicy.
#3
Men's soccer / Re: NESCAC
September 19, 2026, 05:31:32 PM
Back to NESCAC Saturdays. What a joy.
Couldn't catch every game, but seemed like a classic. A few observations from the trenches:
1. Amherst
Will Amherst Athletics — a great academic institution — really sit back and let Serpone keep cooking whatever this is?
It felt less like soccer and more like 1980s college football. Ohadike was in a wrestling match for 90% of the game.
Nuhu deserves credit, he's a great player. But it feels like Serpone has ruined him a bit with all the complaining, theatrics, and nonsense. Just play ball, because the kid can actually play.
The passing? The ball found the sideline more often than an Amherst teammate.
At some point, get Serpone a soccer certification. "By design" can only explain so much. Good ol' Serpone may have lost the plot. Time to reconsider, boss man.
Bright spots: Akanbo is back from injury, which is huge — great player. First-year Anuarbek is a player too. But Dinzeo at the 10? Come on. Put the man at left back and let him play.
Do Amherst alumnus really want this to be the identity of its program? Hope not.
2. Midd
Another great performance. While Amherst looks lost, Midd is rolling.
Sawin is making a serious case as an All-American. Dugan and Johnson were absolute warriors today. They look organized and dangerous.
3. Bowdoin
Cheers to Scott and the Polar Bears. Great win.
As I said, I don't think Wes has it in them. They remind me of Atlético Madrid — always on the fringe, even in their best years, but never quite getting over the hump.
Sorry boys.
4. Go Bants
Electric win from the fellas. Sarukawa is a baller and they look organized. Hopefully they put together a solid season.
I'm sure the boys have a very responsible night ahead in Hartford.
5. Conn–Tufts
Missed this one, but I'm sure it was a good game — other than, you know, the scoreline.
Signing off from another beautiful NESCAC Saturday.
God bless college soccer.
Couldn't catch every game, but seemed like a classic. A few observations from the trenches:
1. Amherst
Will Amherst Athletics — a great academic institution — really sit back and let Serpone keep cooking whatever this is?
It felt less like soccer and more like 1980s college football. Ohadike was in a wrestling match for 90% of the game.
Nuhu deserves credit, he's a great player. But it feels like Serpone has ruined him a bit with all the complaining, theatrics, and nonsense. Just play ball, because the kid can actually play.
The passing? The ball found the sideline more often than an Amherst teammate.
At some point, get Serpone a soccer certification. "By design" can only explain so much. Good ol' Serpone may have lost the plot. Time to reconsider, boss man.
Bright spots: Akanbo is back from injury, which is huge — great player. First-year Anuarbek is a player too. But Dinzeo at the 10? Come on. Put the man at left back and let him play.
Do Amherst alumnus really want this to be the identity of its program? Hope not.
2. Midd
Another great performance. While Amherst looks lost, Midd is rolling.
Sawin is making a serious case as an All-American. Dugan and Johnson were absolute warriors today. They look organized and dangerous.
3. Bowdoin
Cheers to Scott and the Polar Bears. Great win.
As I said, I don't think Wes has it in them. They remind me of Atlético Madrid — always on the fringe, even in their best years, but never quite getting over the hump.
Sorry boys.
4. Go Bants
Electric win from the fellas. Sarukawa is a baller and they look organized. Hopefully they put together a solid season.
I'm sure the boys have a very responsible night ahead in Hartford.
5. Conn–Tufts
Missed this one, but I'm sure it was a good game — other than, you know, the scoreline.
Signing off from another beautiful NESCAC Saturday.
God bless college soccer.
#4
Men's soccer / Re: NESCAC
September 14, 2026, 02:18:36 PM
NESCAC: Early Takes, Big Questions, and a Few Cold Hard Truths
Wesleyan: Now this is a team. Wesleyan look absolutely phenomenal out of the gate - clean, organized, nasty on set pieces and downright dangerous when they get you on the counter. Credit to Wheeler: these boys look like they know exactly what they're doing. Saeed, Jennings, Clack and Longerman have all stepped up, and there's a real bite to this group.
So here's the question: are Wesleyan actually coming for the Cup? Because if they keep playing like this, somebody better start paying attention.
Tufts: A little early-season rust, sure. Nothing to panic about. Canfin looks sharp. Denby looks sharp. They're dangerous on set pieces. But something feels off. There's a little something missing from this Tufts side, and I can't quite put my finger on it yet.
And while we're here: Bijan is a great player. The guy just makes things happen. He's a massive reason Tufts continue to sit at the national contender table. Don't sleep on them.
Conn: I was ready to crown Conn after they went into Amherst and put three past them. Then I started wondering whether Conn are actually that good - or whether Amherst have simply fallen off a cliff.
Perugini looks sharp. Hoke looks sharp. There's plenty to like. But Burke has to change something. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect the rest of the league to politely sit there and let you do it.
And Haberman? He's got to be better (if they do not want to lose 3-0 again). Ever since he sent Davis into low Earth orbit with that tackle against Amherst, he hasn't exactly been covering himself in glory.
Amherst: Oh boy.
This is bad. Really bad.
Amherst look like a shell of what they've been, and at some point you have to start asking serious questions. Serpone may want to consider hanging it up and taking a course in actually playing soccer rather than perfecting the dark arts of instructing players to hit others and taunting college-aged kids.
That said, there is at least one bright spot: first-year #15 Anuarbek looks like a legitimate player. There's something there.
Middlebury: The Panthers are cooking.
Zero goals conceded. Twelve scored. You don't need a degree in football economics to understand that's pretty damn good.
Elias looks like he's finally figured out the right pieces, and this team looks balanced from front to back. And then there's Dugan, who apparently woke up this year and decided he wants to take the #1 throne from Pertugini.
What. A. Player.
Sawin and Payne deserve plenty of love too. They've been excellent. Middlebury look like a team that knows exactly what it wants to be, and that's a dangerous thing this early in the season.
Williams: Look, the results are there. They've got the head start. Good for them.
But I'm not buying the hype. Not yet.
Kick-and-run can get you some wins. It can even get you pretty far. But eventually somebody good is going to make you play soccer, and then what?
Siebert needs to reconsider the approach.
The 2024 Amherst team got away with a similar style because they had an absolute rock of a defense and game-changers who could decide a match out of nowhere. Williams don't have that luxury — at least not from what I've seen so far.
So enjoy the early lead, boys. But the real tests are coming.
Bowdoin: No Huck, no party.
Feels like the Polar Bears are in a bit of a rebuild. Not a disaster, but certainly not the vintage Bowdoin we've come to expect. There are pieces, though. Sinicropi is a good little player in the midfield — tidy, competitive, and someone I'd keep an eye on as the season develops.
For now, though? Rebuilding.
Hamilton: Meh.
That's about all I've got. Nothing particularly offensive, nothing particularly inspiring. They're there. They play soccer. We move on.
Colby: Now the boys look good.
I'm a big fan of the Scott twins. Really good players, and they give Colby a serious punch. The problem is painfully obvious, though: there just isn't enough depth.
And in this league, that eventually catches up with you. You can have your stars, but once the legs get heavy and the injuries pile up, you need another guy who can step in and keep the level high.
I like Colby. I just don't think they have enough horses to actually get the job done.
Bates: Solid start. Results are pretty much what you'd expect, and there's nothing wrong with that.
They're organized, they compete, and they're getting what they should be getting. But I'm not sitting here pretending we've uncovered the next great NESCAC monster.
Good team. Good start. Carry on.
Trinity: Go Bants, boys.
Seriously, I want Trinity to do well. They're a fun school, the atmosphere is great, and frankly the league is better when they dont go 0-10 in the CAC.
But... it's just not there yet.
There are some decent pieces, and the first-years actually look pretty promising. That's the encouraging part. But this feels like a project rather than a contender.
Give them another five years. Maybe then we're talking.
For now, though: Go Bants.
Wesleyan: Now this is a team. Wesleyan look absolutely phenomenal out of the gate - clean, organized, nasty on set pieces and downright dangerous when they get you on the counter. Credit to Wheeler: these boys look like they know exactly what they're doing. Saeed, Jennings, Clack and Longerman have all stepped up, and there's a real bite to this group.
So here's the question: are Wesleyan actually coming for the Cup? Because if they keep playing like this, somebody better start paying attention.
Tufts: A little early-season rust, sure. Nothing to panic about. Canfin looks sharp. Denby looks sharp. They're dangerous on set pieces. But something feels off. There's a little something missing from this Tufts side, and I can't quite put my finger on it yet.
And while we're here: Bijan is a great player. The guy just makes things happen. He's a massive reason Tufts continue to sit at the national contender table. Don't sleep on them.
Conn: I was ready to crown Conn after they went into Amherst and put three past them. Then I started wondering whether Conn are actually that good - or whether Amherst have simply fallen off a cliff.
Perugini looks sharp. Hoke looks sharp. There's plenty to like. But Burke has to change something. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect the rest of the league to politely sit there and let you do it.
And Haberman? He's got to be better (if they do not want to lose 3-0 again). Ever since he sent Davis into low Earth orbit with that tackle against Amherst, he hasn't exactly been covering himself in glory.
Amherst: Oh boy.
This is bad. Really bad.
Amherst look like a shell of what they've been, and at some point you have to start asking serious questions. Serpone may want to consider hanging it up and taking a course in actually playing soccer rather than perfecting the dark arts of instructing players to hit others and taunting college-aged kids.
That said, there is at least one bright spot: first-year #15 Anuarbek looks like a legitimate player. There's something there.
Middlebury: The Panthers are cooking.
Zero goals conceded. Twelve scored. You don't need a degree in football economics to understand that's pretty damn good.
Elias looks like he's finally figured out the right pieces, and this team looks balanced from front to back. And then there's Dugan, who apparently woke up this year and decided he wants to take the #1 throne from Pertugini.
What. A. Player.
Sawin and Payne deserve plenty of love too. They've been excellent. Middlebury look like a team that knows exactly what it wants to be, and that's a dangerous thing this early in the season.
Williams: Look, the results are there. They've got the head start. Good for them.
But I'm not buying the hype. Not yet.
Kick-and-run can get you some wins. It can even get you pretty far. But eventually somebody good is going to make you play soccer, and then what?
Siebert needs to reconsider the approach.
The 2024 Amherst team got away with a similar style because they had an absolute rock of a defense and game-changers who could decide a match out of nowhere. Williams don't have that luxury — at least not from what I've seen so far.
So enjoy the early lead, boys. But the real tests are coming.
Bowdoin: No Huck, no party.
Feels like the Polar Bears are in a bit of a rebuild. Not a disaster, but certainly not the vintage Bowdoin we've come to expect. There are pieces, though. Sinicropi is a good little player in the midfield — tidy, competitive, and someone I'd keep an eye on as the season develops.
For now, though? Rebuilding.
Hamilton: Meh.
That's about all I've got. Nothing particularly offensive, nothing particularly inspiring. They're there. They play soccer. We move on.
Colby: Now the boys look good.
I'm a big fan of the Scott twins. Really good players, and they give Colby a serious punch. The problem is painfully obvious, though: there just isn't enough depth.
And in this league, that eventually catches up with you. You can have your stars, but once the legs get heavy and the injuries pile up, you need another guy who can step in and keep the level high.
I like Colby. I just don't think they have enough horses to actually get the job done.
Bates: Solid start. Results are pretty much what you'd expect, and there's nothing wrong with that.
They're organized, they compete, and they're getting what they should be getting. But I'm not sitting here pretending we've uncovered the next great NESCAC monster.
Good team. Good start. Carry on.
Trinity: Go Bants, boys.
Seriously, I want Trinity to do well. They're a fun school, the atmosphere is great, and frankly the league is better when they dont go 0-10 in the CAC.
But... it's just not there yet.
There are some decent pieces, and the first-years actually look pretty promising. That's the encouraging part. But this feels like a project rather than a contender.
Give them another five years. Maybe then we're talking.
For now, though: Go Bants.
#5
Men's soccer / Re: NESCAC
August 26, 2026, 08:28:24 PM
NESCAC Early Season Players to Watch
Season is basically here, so everything else is irrelevant. Early look at the guys I'm watching. Some takes will age well, some absolutely won't.
Conn: Perugini — kid is a magician and probably sits on the 1 throne. Has no business playing D3. Haberman — same conversation. Difference maker and just makes it happen. Hoke/Miles — feel like the same guy on the pitch, but Conn needs them to make the whole thing work.
Amherst: Dinzeo — huge fan. Wicked left foot, stand-up player, should come in and make a real impact. Nuhu — should have a huge year if he doesn't fall into Serpone's trance again. Kid is talented, just needs to wake up. Akanbo — could be the best second-ball winner in the league. Does the dirty work and actually has some sauce too. High upside.
Tufts: Henry Brown — touch leaves something to be desired, to put it nicely, but the kid is a warrior and somehow always gets on the end of things. Should be a big piece. Bijan — best defender in the league, no question. Sick player and ridiculous athlete. Pensky — fifth year, built like Casemiro and basically plays like him. Could completely change Tufts.
Midd: Dugan — I think he can outshine Perugini if he's actually locked in. Kid loves the bottle a little too much from what I've heard. Maybe put it down for a few months and let Middlebury cook. Harder — great player. If the young man did a little less of whatever it is he's doing and a little more playing, he'd have a real argument for best forward in the league. Cavaceppi-Dove — kid had a magnet on his foot every time I watched Midd last year. Breakout written all over him.
Hamilton: No one jumping off the page. Solid team, solid players, nothing that has me losing sleep.
Williams: Ruehlman — kid is a unit and a good player, but somehow never gets enough service. Honestly think Siebert makes both Ruehlman and Bethencourt look worse than they actually are. The talent is there, the setup just doesn't do them any favors. Labonski — nothing fancy, just a warrior. Bethencourt — actual player/gamechanger. Put him at Conn, Midd or Tufts and we'd be talking about him way more.
Wesleyan: Clack — downgraded Haberman, but still a good player. Keeps the tempo moving and gives Wes some stability. Jennings — sometimes looks like one of the best wingers in the league, then disappears for 40 minutes. Pick a version and stick with it. Saeed — has all the tools to be very good. At some point the tools need to become production.
Trinity: Tough one. Hope the best for the Bantams. Don't have much on the soccer side yet, but they probably throw the best parties in the NESCAC, so they've got that going for them.
Bowdoin: Prince — really good player. Quick, explosive, actually wants to take guys on. Myers — big defender and will be massive for them. Biggest question is who replaces Huck, because that is not exactly a small hole.
Colby: Scott twins — two big towers running around being physical and annoying. Good players, apparently good guys too. Counts for something.
Bates: Not sure. Someone enlighten me.
Early names I'm circling: Perugini, Haberman, Dugan, Dinzeo, Bijan, Akanbo, Cavaceppi-Dove, Bethencourt.
Season is basically here, so everything else is irrelevant. Early look at the guys I'm watching. Some takes will age well, some absolutely won't.
Conn: Perugini — kid is a magician and probably sits on the 1 throne. Has no business playing D3. Haberman — same conversation. Difference maker and just makes it happen. Hoke/Miles — feel like the same guy on the pitch, but Conn needs them to make the whole thing work.
Amherst: Dinzeo — huge fan. Wicked left foot, stand-up player, should come in and make a real impact. Nuhu — should have a huge year if he doesn't fall into Serpone's trance again. Kid is talented, just needs to wake up. Akanbo — could be the best second-ball winner in the league. Does the dirty work and actually has some sauce too. High upside.
Tufts: Henry Brown — touch leaves something to be desired, to put it nicely, but the kid is a warrior and somehow always gets on the end of things. Should be a big piece. Bijan — best defender in the league, no question. Sick player and ridiculous athlete. Pensky — fifth year, built like Casemiro and basically plays like him. Could completely change Tufts.
Midd: Dugan — I think he can outshine Perugini if he's actually locked in. Kid loves the bottle a little too much from what I've heard. Maybe put it down for a few months and let Middlebury cook. Harder — great player. If the young man did a little less of whatever it is he's doing and a little more playing, he'd have a real argument for best forward in the league. Cavaceppi-Dove — kid had a magnet on his foot every time I watched Midd last year. Breakout written all over him.
Hamilton: No one jumping off the page. Solid team, solid players, nothing that has me losing sleep.
Williams: Ruehlman — kid is a unit and a good player, but somehow never gets enough service. Honestly think Siebert makes both Ruehlman and Bethencourt look worse than they actually are. The talent is there, the setup just doesn't do them any favors. Labonski — nothing fancy, just a warrior. Bethencourt — actual player/gamechanger. Put him at Conn, Midd or Tufts and we'd be talking about him way more.
Wesleyan: Clack — downgraded Haberman, but still a good player. Keeps the tempo moving and gives Wes some stability. Jennings — sometimes looks like one of the best wingers in the league, then disappears for 40 minutes. Pick a version and stick with it. Saeed — has all the tools to be very good. At some point the tools need to become production.
Trinity: Tough one. Hope the best for the Bantams. Don't have much on the soccer side yet, but they probably throw the best parties in the NESCAC, so they've got that going for them.
Bowdoin: Prince — really good player. Quick, explosive, actually wants to take guys on. Myers — big defender and will be massive for them. Biggest question is who replaces Huck, because that is not exactly a small hole.
Colby: Scott twins — two big towers running around being physical and annoying. Good players, apparently good guys too. Counts for something.
Bates: Not sure. Someone enlighten me.
Early names I'm circling: Perugini, Haberman, Dugan, Dinzeo, Bijan, Akanbo, Cavaceppi-Dove, Bethencourt.
#6
Men's soccer / Re: NESCAC
March 10, 2026, 02:57:09 PM
Early Cac Predictions:
1. Tufts
Hard to see them moving from the top spot. They lose Bargagna, who was an absolute menace, but they return the core of a championship-level squad. With fifth-years Pensky and Antic coming back, the experience and talent should keep them at #1. Dezotell's style of play confuses me a bit, but the overall depth and quality likely keeps them on top.
2. Connecticut College
Haberman and Perugini are magicians in midfield and probably play the most attractive soccer in the NESCAC. The backline pairing of Miles and Hoke is also tough to break down. If they can bring in one or two quality forwards, they could easily challenge Tufts for the top spot.
3. Williams
A bit of a sneaky pick here. If they can connect more than two passes in possession, they could be dangerous. Ruehlman has the tools to terrorize defenses next season, and the backline should be solid. For the sake of the beautiful game, hopefully they tighten up the build-up play.
4. Middlebury
A lot depends on Dugan's health. If he's fully fit, he might be the best player in the NESCAC (hot take). Losing Gonzales and Waterman in the backline is significant, but there's still plenty of talent in the squad. If Harder and Dugan click, Midd could climb higher.
5. Amherst
This group doesn't look particularly special right now. If Nuhu continues to create drama with Serpone, that could hurt the team dynamic. From an outside perspective, Amherst alums might start questioning things quickly. That said, Akanbo is a serious player and Dinzeo is someone I'm personally a big fan of.
6. Bowdoin
Very solid backline, but losing Huck is a major blow that might limit their ceiling.
7. Wesleyan
Quietly solid. If one of the teams above them underperforms, Wesleyan could easily move up the table.
8. Colby
They actually play some decent soccer, but the coaching situation makes it hard to know what to expect.
9. Bates
Huge turnaround from the Bobcats. The coach deserves credit for building an organized and committed group. They lack a true star player, but they could push into the top eight.
10. Hamilton
An average team overall. Hard to see them breaking into the top half of the conference.
11. Trinity
Tough outlook for Bantam fans heading into the season.
1. Tufts
Hard to see them moving from the top spot. They lose Bargagna, who was an absolute menace, but they return the core of a championship-level squad. With fifth-years Pensky and Antic coming back, the experience and talent should keep them at #1. Dezotell's style of play confuses me a bit, but the overall depth and quality likely keeps them on top.
2. Connecticut College
Haberman and Perugini are magicians in midfield and probably play the most attractive soccer in the NESCAC. The backline pairing of Miles and Hoke is also tough to break down. If they can bring in one or two quality forwards, they could easily challenge Tufts for the top spot.
3. Williams
A bit of a sneaky pick here. If they can connect more than two passes in possession, they could be dangerous. Ruehlman has the tools to terrorize defenses next season, and the backline should be solid. For the sake of the beautiful game, hopefully they tighten up the build-up play.
4. Middlebury
A lot depends on Dugan's health. If he's fully fit, he might be the best player in the NESCAC (hot take). Losing Gonzales and Waterman in the backline is significant, but there's still plenty of talent in the squad. If Harder and Dugan click, Midd could climb higher.
5. Amherst
This group doesn't look particularly special right now. If Nuhu continues to create drama with Serpone, that could hurt the team dynamic. From an outside perspective, Amherst alums might start questioning things quickly. That said, Akanbo is a serious player and Dinzeo is someone I'm personally a big fan of.
6. Bowdoin
Very solid backline, but losing Huck is a major blow that might limit their ceiling.
7. Wesleyan
Quietly solid. If one of the teams above them underperforms, Wesleyan could easily move up the table.
8. Colby
They actually play some decent soccer, but the coaching situation makes it hard to know what to expect.
9. Bates
Huge turnaround from the Bobcats. The coach deserves credit for building an organized and committed group. They lack a true star player, but they could push into the top eight.
10. Hamilton
An average team overall. Hard to see them breaking into the top half of the conference.
11. Trinity
Tough outlook for Bantam fans heading into the season.
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