2026 D3 Men's Soccer National Perspective

[SierraFD3soccer]

Sosho has been fighting the good fight and sticking up for his concept. He's had multiple well thought out responses to the attacks by many people outside of soccer and have no real idea.

He also has some thoughtful backers like this x from a over 10 yr D1 trainer. Great prospective into why the split (not all year round) season should go through. https://x.com/HuntSportsMed/status/2117715202632511882?a=myDRxpIFIX5FMabb7Gg&s=20

[CollegeSoccerFan]

Sosho has been fighting the good fight and sticking up for his concept. He's had multiple well thought out responses to the attacks by many people outside of soccer and have no real idea.

He also has some thoughtful backers like this x from a over 10 yr D1 trainer. Great prospective into why the split (not all year round) season should go through. https://x.com/HuntSportsMed/status/2117715202632511882?a=myDRxpIFIX5FMabb7Gg&s=20

From what I have been able to keep up with, it seems both sides have valid points.

Sasho has spent a lot time on this and is clearly passionate about getting it passed and has done the work to be the most educated in this area.

But I also feel the detractors have a good point in that even though it works for Maryland (along with a good amount of other schools), one size does not fit all.

Will be interesting to see the fallout after this passes or not on Friday. Because even though the finish line for voting is Friday, the finish line for this plan is far from close.

[stlawus]

Sosho has been fighting the good fight and sticking up for his concept. He's had multiple well thought out responses to the attacks by many people outside of soccer and have no real idea.

He also has some thoughtful backers like this x from a over 10 yr D1 trainer. Great prospective into why the split (not all year round) season should go through. https://x.com/HuntSportsMed/status/2117715202632511882?a=myDRxpIFIX5FMabb7Gg&s=20

He's also has tons of rebuts by people who have a real idea and he's conveniently ignored them.  He wants to be seen as a professional coach, not a college coach.   

[Kuiper]

Some upsets in conference tournaments with implications for NCAA bids

Moravian 1 - Catholic 0

Catholic was #46 in the latest NPI, while Moravian was #72.  Unless Moravian beats Scranton, in the Landmark Finals, I expect it will be a one bid league with Catholic falling off the bubble.

Wheaton 1 - North Central 1 (Wheaton winning in PKs)

Big upset here.  North Central, like Catholic, was hanging around in the bubble at #44.  This likely ends their chances of an At Large bid, although the tie is a half win (but not a great half win since Wheaton was #206).  Unless Augustana tonight or Wheaton on Saturday upset North Park, it seems like CCIW will also be a one bid league.

[stlawus]

Big upset here.  North Central, like Catholic, was hanging around in the bubble at #44.  This likely ends their chances of an At Large bid, although the tie is a half win (although not a great half win since Wheaton was #206)

Any team at 40 or below that doesn't win is pretty well cooked after the results from today

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton 1 - North Central 1 (Wheaton winning in PKs)

Big upset here.  North Central, like Catholic, was hanging around in the bubble at #44.  This likely ends their chances of an At Large bid, although the tie is a half win (but not a great half win since Wheaton was #206).  Unless Augustana tonight or Wheaton on Saturday upset North Park, it seems like CCIW will also be a one bid league.

Lotta drama in both of the CCIW semifinals tonight, as I described on the CCIW board. While a part of me, as a North Park fan, would've preferred going to Naperville on Saturday to play North Central in the championship and potentially gain a lot of NPI (the Vikings are still hopeful, no pun intended, that hosting privileges might come their way if Hope upends Calvin), I have to admit that a rivalry showdown with Wheaton has that two-gunfighters-facing-each-other-on-a-dusty-street vibe that you love in a championship situation. Plus, selfishly, this means that I get to call the championship match rather than my North Central counterpart.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Just wanted to give a shoutout to Earlham. They've made it to the HCAC championship game where they'll face Transylvania on Saturday.
The Quakers (9-6-4, 3-4-2 HCAC) hadn't even made the conference tournament since 2015, and were picked to finish dead last in the preseason poll. Just 5 years ago they went 0-16.
Earlham lost the first meeting about a month ago 3-2 to the Pioneers.

[SKUD]

Sounds like that Coach needs to do a Simple Coach interview.

[Kuiper]

I just realized that the Coast-to-Coast tournament, being played at Salisbury, only has 4 teams

Warren Wilson v. Salisbury (Salisbury just won 2-0)

Regent v. Mary Washington @ 2 pm ET

I assume the AQ is off the table since they only have 5 teams with Regent and JWU Charlotte transitioning to D3, which explains why Christopher Newport and UC Santa Cruz opted out this year, but it sure seems like a sad event.  For Salisbury, which is on the bubble at #41 in the latest NPI, it might push them to At Large status or dash their bid.

[mngopher]

Some upsets in conference tournaments with implications for NCAA bids

Moravian 1 - Catholic 0

Catholic was #46 in the latest NPI, while Moravian was #72.  Unless Moravian beats Scranton, in the Landmark Finals, I expect it will be a one bid league with Catholic falling off the bubble.

Wheaton 1 - North Central 1 (Wheaton winning in PKs)

Big upset here.  North Central, like Catholic, was hanging around in the bubble at #44.  This likely ends their chances of an At Large bid, although the tie is a half win (but not a great half win since Wheaton was #206).  Unless Augustana tonight or Wheaton on Saturday upset North Park, it seems like CCIW will also be a one bid league.

Yea that is an interesting outcome for North Park. I'd think they almost would have preferred North Central even if it would have been an away match against a tougher (at least according to records/NPI) opponent. That might have given a chance to get into the top 16, and even with a loss they wouldn't drop much.

But getting Wheaton means there might not be enough meat on the bone to jump into the top 16, and there is the downside that a loss to #196 could potentially put them into one of the last few spots in as an at large. They should be safe even with a loss, but it would put them relatively close to the cut line which is not a fun place to live this time of year.

[VASoccerDad]

I just realized that the Coast-to-Coast tournament, being played at Salisbury, only has 4 teams

Warren Wilson v. Salisbury (Salisbury just won 2-0)

Regent v. Mary Washington @ 2 pm ET

I assume the AQ is off the table since they only have 5 teams with Regent and JWU Charlotte transitioning to D3, which explains why Christopher Newport and UC Santa Cruz opted out this year, but it sure seems like a sad event.  For Salisbury, which is on the bubble at #41 in the latest NPI, it might push them to At Large status or dash their bid.

Do we think maybe this is the C2C's way of getting 2 teams into the tournament? CNU is already in so have them sit out, now they can give the AQ to someone else, most likely UMW.

[Kuiper]

I just realized that the Coast-to-Coast tournament, being played at Salisbury, only has 4 teams

Warren Wilson v. Salisbury (Salisbury just won 2-0)

Regent v. Mary Washington @ 2 pm ET

I assume the AQ is off the table since they only have 5 teams with Regent and JWU Charlotte transitioning to D3, which explains why Christopher Newport and UC Santa Cruz opted out this year, but it sure seems like a sad event.  For Salisbury, which is on the bubble at #41 in the latest NPI, it might push them to At Large status or dash their bid.

Do we think maybe this is the C2C's way of getting 2 teams into the tournament? CNU is already in so have them sit out, now they can give the AQ to someone else, most likely UMW.

I'm not positive they have an AQ this year.  Normally, you need 6 schools to have an AQ.  C2C has 7, but two - JWU Charlotte and Regent - are not full D3 members.  I think in the past you had a waiver for a year or two if you went under 6 members, but I'm not sure that's in effect this year.  If it is, then Salisbury would be the likely AQ beneficiary.  They beat UMW earlier this season 2-0 and the championships are being hosted at Salisbury.

Incidentally, I think Salisbury got nothing from its victory over Warren Wilson.  Because WW is #365 in the NPI rankings, Salisbury takes the win and then drops it as one of its bad wins.  So, if it doesn't get the AQ if it wins the conference tournament, the only chance for a benefit would be a win in the finals over Mary Washington.

[stlawus]

C2C lost their waiver for this year since the grace period is up.