Tufts reminds us once again that Messiah wasn't ever at a national contender level.  Soft opening weekend draw - regardless what one might think or argue based on opponents records. They should have seen a nescac caliber team opening weekend with that record.  Opened with a touch of luck - then got drug. 

Quote from: Kuiper on October 10, 2025, 12:00:48 PMHere is an interesting D3 to D1 story I have been following.  Kevin Box was a good goalkeeper for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for three years.  Not a "special" one though.  No All-SCIAC awards, let alone all region X awards.  Played 27 games over three years, but wasn't a locked-in starter until senior year.  Might have been All-SCIAC if he had stayed last season for a COVID year, but instead entered a grad program at UCLA as a regular student.  In the Spring of his first year, he came out for the UCLA Men's Soccer team as a tryout player, mostly because they had a number of transfers and needed a body in goal.  Then, as things shake out between transfers and recruits, they have an extra spot and offer him.  He takes it as a 3rd string GK. The 1st string GK starts, but the team is losing and he gave up a bunch of goals against UC Irvine.  Then they start the prized freshman recruit, but he is worst in the Big Ten in a number of metrics.  Last game, they turned to Box against Maryland and he pitched a shutout. 

QuoteIn his debut, graduate student goalkeeper Kevin Box and the Bruins' defense kept the Terrapins scoreless.

"Kevin was phenomenal. Phenomenal. First game, first shut out, first clean sheet," said graduate student defender Schinieder Mimy.

More than that, the UCLA coach said that they wanted to use his superior skills with his feet to control Maryland's press.

QuoteJorden said the decision to start Box was influenced by the goalkeeper's on-ball ability, which helped stifle the Terrapins' attacking options – an arsenal headlined by Masereka, who is tied for sixth-most individual goals in the Big Ten, and forward Stephane Njike, who has recorded a shot on goal in all but two games this season.

He added that Box was able to act as an 11th player in possession for the Bruins.

"They have maybe the two most dynamic attacking players in their two wingers, means that they're going to play some direct stuff behind," Jorden said. "Kevin does a good job athletically in covering and dealing with that. We knew that could be a feature. We also knew that the way they were going to press there was a reality that we were going to need the additional outfield player in possession."

Think about that.  The 6'0" (generously) D3 good, but not great, GK, was the guy they went to because he was better with his feet and better as an extra field player than the two guys who are MLS Academy and USYNT players.  Pretty cool.

Love it.  Another D3 to D1 story is Adam Carter, Messiah's stand out GK the last two seasons.  He transferred to UConn.  While serving in a reserve role, impressive shift to a highly regarded program with a history of producing exceptional GKs.

Quote from: Footy on October 09, 2025, 10:20:50 AM

Quote from: D3SoccerTalker on October 09, 2025, 10:04:06 AM

Quote from: Footy on October 09, 2025, 09:42:32 AMFor a team like Messiah - championships have been the expectation, and as stated, even though the record was not typical last year, they still won conference, and made it just as far in the NCAA as the better record team in 2023.....This year is by far a greater outlier.  Saying that, and further to some comments made earlier - things have shifted.  Not only is this team not winning championships, I don't think they are  built to win them anymore. They need change - D3 aint what it used to be , the parity is so much greater -and you simply aren't going to be able to muscle the competition with the same play book every year.  While I know that any school would take McCarty's record and success - the point is that he hasn't had to adapt, is literally running his predecessors playbook - and we are seeing the evidence of adapt or die.  He has great talent on his team - so at a certain point you have to question the person doing the X's and O's. Waning success like this will also hurt future recruitment.....and I am not sure if you have heard about McCarty, but he isn't the most warm, fuzzy, affable guy.  We are the best - so don't call us, we will call you isn't going to hunt anymore with recruits......

I think the attacks on record and overall performance of the team thus far is fair and obviously valid, but the blatant and irreverent attacks on someone's personal character is a little bland and personally below what the majority of us are concerned with on this board.

Thank you for the contributions, but I believe your comments would be better suited for a different/less formal discussion board.


Thanks

Not at all an attack on character....far from it - just an observation on approach and affect.  Appreciate the feedback - but simply addressing the wholisic situation.  And a "less formal" board - not sure this one caries the Market on formality or decorum.  But again, appreciate the feedback....

Blatant, Irreverent?  Sorry had to come back to that.  Not Warm, Fuzzy, or affable.....I woudldant call that irreverent or blatant.  Style and approach  - NOT character.  Affable - "easy to talk to" in the event we weren't clear on that discriptor.  I haven't called him a bad person. I didnt call him unethical, or immoral.....I simply represented that he reserved, not overly warm, not the most forward communicator.....he hasn't had to be - players have flocked to play there.....this , just like the style of play needs adjustment

Quote from: D3SoccerTalker on October 09, 2025, 10:04:06 AM

Quote from: Footy on October 09, 2025, 09:42:32 AMFor a team like Messiah - championships have been the expectation, and as stated, even though the record was not typical last year, they still won conference, and made it just as far in the NCAA as the better record team in 2023.....This year is by far a greater outlier.  Saying that, and further to some comments made earlier - things have shifted.  Not only is this team not winning championships, I don't think they are  built to win them anymore. They need change - D3 aint what it used to be , the parity is so much greater -and you simply aren't going to be able to muscle the competition with the same play book every year.  While I know that any school would take McCarty's record and success - the point is that he hasn't had to adapt, is literally running his predecessors playbook - and we are seeing the evidence of adapt or die.  He has great talent on his team - so at a certain point you have to question the person doing the X's and O's. Waning success like this will also hurt future recruitment.....and I am not sure if you have heard about McCarty, but he isn't the most warm, fuzzy, affable guy.  We are the best - so don't call us, we will call you isn't going to hunt anymore with recruits......

I think the attacks on record and overall performance of the team thus far is fair and obviously valid, but the blatant and irreverent attacks on someone's personal character is a little bland and personally below what the majority of us are concerned with on this board.

Thank you for the contributions, but I believe your comments would be better suited for a different/less formal discussion board.


Thanks

Not at all an attack on character....far from it - just an observation on approach and affect.  Appreciate the feedback - but simply addressing the wholisic situation.  And a "less formal" board - not sure this one caries the Market on formality or decorum.  But again, appreciate the feedback....

For a team like Messiah - championships have been the expectation, and as stated, even though the record was not typical last year, they still won conference, and made it just as far in the NCAA as the better record team in 2023.....This year is by far a greater outlier.  Saying that, and further to some comments made earlier - things have shifted.  Not only is this team not winning championships, I don't think they are  built to win them anymore. They need change - D3 aint what it used to be , the parity is so much greater -and you simply aren't going to be able to muscle the competition with the same play book every year.  While I know that any school would take McCarty's record and success - the point is that he hasn't had to adapt, is literally running his predecessors playbook - and we are seeing the evidence of adapt or die.  He has great talent on his team - so at a certain point you have to question the person doing the X's and O's. Waning success like this will also hurt future recruitment.....and I am not sure if you have heard about McCarty, but he isn't the most warm, fuzzy, affable guy.  We are the best - so don't call us, we will call you isn't going to hunt anymore with recruits......

Quote from: jknezek on October 08, 2025, 10:09:51 PM

Quote from: NEPAFAN on October 08, 2025, 09:32:07 PMWoof Messiah...

I mean, yeah, but Lynchburg is 9-0-2 right now. Not the hardest schedule, but they are making it count. Huge backloaded ODAC schedule with Va Wes and H-SC, then Roanoke and W&L, with just a pair of easy games scattered in.


First time since 1987 that Messiah gave up 5 goals.......first time since 1993 that they lost 7 games...and still some season to play.  Double woof.  Where's the magic Coach McCarty??

But yeah, Messiah is ugly right now.

Lynchburg 5 Messiah 1.  First time since 1987 that Messiah has given up 5 goals in a game.......First time since 1993 that they have lost 7 or more...

Messiah 0 Widener 0. First non win ever for Messiah against Widener.  First conference tie or loss since 2015 for Messiah.

This was fun. I bet someone $50 that I could get the Board hyping Messiah even though they started the season 0-5....happened quicker than I thought. Did flush out a hazing scandal along the way too. I should get paid more just for that.

Thank you. Carry on.

Correct!  not a flash at all....and anyone would die for his playbook- it worked perfectly for 15+ years.  Thats the point. The world has changed.  The program hasn't - seems it needs to because D3 soccer ain't what it used to be.

Not at all meaning to be overly personal. But the buck stops somewhere.  And I think the shift in parity in the division requires change - and one person can direct change.  My take was and is based on the radical shift.

No. I'm not the 2017 lycoming player. Not remotely close

Just offering a take that I believe has merit.

And while I agree that there have been far worse cases and outcomes of hazing, it is a slippery slope to minimize it. It is wrong, it is illegal, and coaches and universities should be held to a high standard.

Regardless , McCarty is not the wizard folks have historically assumed he was.

Further to the reality that is unfolding with Messiah - Id offer more evidence related to the inability to adapt, and McCarty's inability to coach - which is the lack of improvement and impact with key talent.  Matt McDonald took the country by storm his senior season and won NPOY - he was a unique and very gifted talent - and as a result of his monstrous season - all eyes were on him and Messiah when he came back for his 5th season.  However, his 5th year was a shadow of the year prior - and I would argue was based on him being a known entity that others adjusted to.  He was man marked and doubled the entire season - and instead of adjusting the shape and scheme to support McDonald - Messiah and Coach McCarty rolled out the only play book he knew - and the results were predictable.  Dave Brandt has shown his ability to be successful at different programs and levels - including putting Bucknell on the map.....and he did this by adapting, by recruiting , and showing that he is a coach.  McCarty continues to show that he operates like the head coach in "The Waterboy" - if it isn't in his "stolen" playbook - he doesn't  have a great means to create or deliver.  Poor results will affect recruiting, and his other tired play book of " Dont call us, we will call you" will be negatively affected as well.  Now, they clearly still have great talent, and this is greatly helped with a very weak conference - which should always give them an AQ path each year...however - much needs to change - or I think the current state may just be the future state.  Its been a great run.....

A coach with limited ability and creativity , a broken culture, and an arrogance not to know the difference.......yes, not a suprise at all that they are off to the start that they are.

Quote from: Kuiper on September 15, 2025, 09:06:40 PM

Quote from: paclassic89 on September 15, 2025, 08:05:01 PMThe MAC Commonwealth is even worse than normal this year so Messiah will still probably go undefeated in conference play (York could potentially give them a game). 

Has Messiah been switching things around, playing freshman, etc in recent games?  That's what I've been seeing from some other traditionally strong schools out west who lost a string of non-conference games and now appear to have conceded that they won't have a chance under the NPI of getting a bid unless it's the automatic conference bid.  They appear to be re-setting their goals for conference play and using the last few non-conference games to heal up, rotate some players, and try some things.  Still trying to win, of course, which is important for mentality if nothing else, but doing more things to set themselves up for conference play than to scrap out non-conference wins.

I'm not sure Messiah et al would do anything differently if it was still under the old committee selection process, but I suspect the NPI, being just an algorithm, is very unforgiving if you don't have enough wins no matter how good your strength of schedule is or how great you are trending after a poor start.  In that sense, it would make sense if they have already turned their focus to the conference season and are just viewing the remaining non-conference games as like preseason games.

The irony of Messiah, Mary Washington, Franklin & Marshall, St. Lawrence, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Redlands, Occidental etc being not as strong straight out of the gate is that if they don't pick things up in conference play, a bunch of schools that thought they were going to get a SoS bump playing them under NPI are going to end up empty-handed or hurt by playing them.  By contrast, other schools that thought they were playing an easy schedule might get an SoS bump from unexpected sources.

The magic  of Dave Brandt is gone, and McCarty has simply been running his playbook for years. The problem is that this playbook was largely succesful because Messiah simply out recruited everyone.  With the parity increasing in D3 soccer, McCarty is showing his weakness as a coach, and his inability to adapt.  Messiah has always been predictable, but in the past, it didn't matter, as their personnel was simply better. Not the case anymore.  They should still be able to handle a very non competitive Mac Commonwealth, but I think the national power is fading.....They only lost 3-4 starters from last season, and haven't seen to be able to adjust. The freshman seem to have potential- but McCarty is going to need to show an ability to field a team based on talent and his opponent verses running the only game plan he seems to know.