NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

Williams goes up on Hamilton 1-0 and as predicted its a goal fest in Hartford as Wesleyan and Trinity stuck at 2-2. If these results hold, Wesleyan will be dropped from the rankings and Williams might slip in with their SOS....Not a given but a definite possibility. The other factor at play here is that Williams would pass Wesleyan for the #5 seed in Nescac playoffs and Trinity will stay alive for a #8 or #7 seed. Hamilton could once again for the fourth time in 5 years miss out on the Nescac play-offs. That Hamilton v Colby game this week-end will be a MUST win for both teams, NO DRAWS

[FourMoreYears]

Trinity beats Wesleyan in OT 3-2 on a goal by sam Milbury

[PaulNewman]

Trinity beats Wesleyan in OT 3-2 on a goal by sam Milbury

Well, at Wesleyan's SOS will go up 

[blooter442]

Eight of Trinity's 14 games have gone to OT this year. Had they won all eight instead of just three, they'd be 11-3. Not realistic to expect, obviously, but still something to think about: when you go to OT, you're - excluding the chance of a draw - "technically" odds-even with the other team. The Bantams have all of the pieces, but just can't seem to put it together (on an ironic note, how many times have we said that about Wesleyan this year?)

[Corazon]

Trinity beats Wesleyan in OT 3-2 on a goal by sam Milbury

Wow. That must have been heart breaking for Wes.

[PaulNewman]

At this point it's probably almost better for Wesleyan to know they must win AQ.  The odds of that obviously aren't great, but they go up significantly if you knock off a favorite in the quarters.  They are capable of playing competitively with any team in the NESCAC.

[Corazon]

At this point it's probably almost better for Wesleyan to know they must win AQ.  The odds of that obviously aren't great, but they go up significantly if you knock off a favorite in the quarters.  They are capable of playing competitively with any team in the NESCAC.

Agree. Wes is one of those teams I always respect and wouldn't be shocked if they beat an Amherst on any given day.

[Corazon]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

[FourMoreYears]

as of October 21st

1.   8-0-0   24 pts   Amherst             home Wesleyan, at Trinity
2.   5-2-1   16 pts   Middlebury           at Bates, home Williams
3.   4-2-2   14 pts   Tufts                  at Williams, home Bowdoin
4.   4-3-1   13 pts   Conn College       home Bowdoin, home Wesleyan
4.   4-3-1   13 pts   Williams               home Tufts, at Middlebury
6.   3-4-1   10 pts   Wesleyan             at Amherst, at Conn College
6.   3-5-1   10 pts   Trinity                  home Amherst
8.   2-3-3   09 pts   Bowdoin               at Conn College, at Tufts

9.   2-4-2   08 pts   Bates                   home Middlebury, at Colby
10. 2-7-0   06 pts   Hamilton               home Colby
11. 1-5-2   05 pts   Colby                   at Hamilton, home Bates

Here's an interesting scenario:
Wesleyan loses to Amherst and Conn College.
Bowdoin wins one of their last two games.
Bates beats Colby.
Wesleyan is out of the NESCAC playoffs, losing the tie-breaker to Trinity based on today's game.
Not out of the realm of possibility?

[All NESCAC]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

Agree Corazon, but I also believe Murphy has adjusted his coaching style (for the better) given the off season turmoil, and also his playing style....and HUGE props for freshman class especially Leone, Lockwood and Manoogian.  Leone should probably be ROY.  They will be severely tested vs Bowdoin and Wesleyan in last two games....hoping the Camels can continue winning ways on this positive season.

[blooter442]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

They have some really nice players, and I agree with the talented, under the radar recruits. How highly-touted was Hawkey? He was a fantastic player, could both create for himself and finish chances. Wish I'd gotten the chance to see him more.

[All NESCAC]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

They have some really nice players, and I agree with the talented, under the radar recruits. How highly-touted was Hawkey? He was a fantastic player, could both create for himself and finish chances. Wish I'd gotten the chance to see him more.

Hawkey was highly touted coming out of NJ.  Conn has done a very good job of recruiting plucking 1 or 2 highly-touted recruits for each class over the past 5 or 6 years, but every team needs a finisher like Hawkey or Leone or conn's now assistant Prophet...scoring goals leads to winning and winning cures all ills.

[FourMoreYears]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

Agree Corazon, but I also believe Murphy has adjusted his coaching style (for the better) given the off season turmoil, and also his playing style....and HUGE props for freshman class especially Leone, Lockwood and Manoogian.  Leone should probably be ROY.  They will be severely tested vs Bowdoin and Wesleyan in last two games....hoping the Camels can continue winning ways on this positive season.

Agree with All NESCAC.  There is no doubt that Murphy has done a remarkable job this year, silencing his critics and those that predicted a poor season for the Camels.  But the posters who pointed out that his style was rubbing young players and recruits the wrong way were not incorrect.  While no coach is going to get along with every potential recruit, the first-hand accounts of him berating high school players that chose another school over Conn College, refusing to shake hands after games with players that spurned him etc, those things were real.  Hopefully he has changed those tendencies, and winning certainly cures many ills.  In the end, I'm fond of coaches that mold young men into better people, as well as better players on the pitch.  That's just part of what a NESCAC experience in particular should do in my book.  And none of the above criticisms change the fact that Murphy is an excellent coach.  He is.  Conn College is indeed a "feel-good" story this season, both players and coaches have really done an outstanding job.  I think it's also important to note that we all have our own opinions on stuff and I fully respect those that post on this board, with no exceptions.  I say that specifically to Corazon, who obviously has forgotten more about soccer than I know. So no disrespect intended, even when we disagree!

[Mr.Right]

For me, I think the feel-good story in the NESCAC this year has to be Conn. There were many comments on these boards about how Kenny Murphy was too negative and that many players weren't coming back. Well, the board was wrong ...

I've personally seen how hard that coaching staff worked to bring in talented, under the radar recruits. Plus props for this year's exciting freshman class and for allowing them to do their thing. They are a fun group to watch.

They have some really nice players, and I agree with the talented, under the radar recruits. How highly-touted was Hawkey? He was a fantastic player, could both create for himself and finish chances. Wish I'd gotten the chance to see him more.

Hawkey was highly touted but Murphy got him away from another school for which I cannot remember. When Hawkey was a junior and senior Murphy would play a 4-4-1-1 or what looked to be a 4-5-1. Hawkey was not only one of the better players in Nescac he was also one of the fittest. He would be on an island up top and did the best he could. Defensively, Conn would drop numbers when they lost the ball but they would pressure High and Hawkey did that alone...He would run all day pressing opposing teams backs when they had the ball. He was a machine but I think Prophet was a more clinical striker who was actually recruited by \the now departed Bill Lessig. Murphy did not inherit much from Lessig but he did get Prophet from him.

I also must say I was pleasantly surprised to see Conn's change of style this year. From what I have heard from some insiders is that the players have bought into Murphy and what he is preaching. This team got rid of some of the "cancers" on the team last year(Mutala and Hillomenez) and they are playing like a solid core....All that being said, they still have much work to do to get a Pool C. They are ranked #7 now but their record v ranked will be 1-3-0 unless Bowdoin or Williams could sneak into the rankings and I am guessing Wesleyan will drop out.

[blooter442]

Agree with All NESCAC.  There is no doubt that Murphy has done a remarkable job this year, silencing his critics and those that predicted a poor season for the Camels.  But the posters who pointed out that his style was rubbing young players and recruits the wrong way were not incorrect.  While no coach is going to get along with every potential recruit, the first-hand accounts of him berating high school players that chose another school over Conn College, refusing to shake hands after games with players that spurned him etc, those things were real. 

That's a real shame. I know that recruiting can be an emotional and time-consuming process for both parties, so I get that a coach would be disappointed if a recruit who had strung him along instead chose a rival program, but it's in the coach's best interest to take the high road. Doing otherwise is just petty IMHO.

And none of the above criticisms change the fact that Murphy is an excellent coach.  He is.  Conn College is indeed a "feel-good" story this season, both players and coaches have really done an outstanding job.

Definitely true. I really like their collective workrate, and they have some good skill to boot. They have to reach the NESCAC final in my book to have a shot at Pool C, but I think if they were to get to NCAAs they have the tools to be a Sweet Sixteen team. And once you're there, who knows?