NESCAC

[Hotskull]

NESCAC 2025 Season Predictions

I think Tufts is my choice to win the league this year. They've been right there the last few years, defending as well as anyone in the country, but they just haven't had the goals in the big moments. If they can find a true #9 or just a couple guys who step up and finish chances when it matters, I don't see anyone stopping them. Tufts has to be asking themselves right now, "are we going to keep falling short, or are we going to step up and be the top dogs this year." This all comes down to goal-scoring and if their players are going to grab goals when it matters. 

Defensive player of the year for me is without a doubt Taylor Feinberg from Tufts. Rock solid and the kind of guy you build a back line around. The kid is going into his 5th year and is a brick wall but also grabs goals when they seem to matter. He will be the focal point of a tufts defensive looking to keep up the form they've had the last few years.

Offensive player of the year I'll go with either Keagan Harder from Middlebury or Xavier Canfin from Tufts. Harder was on fire at the end of last season and if he keeps that form he'll be tough to beat. But if Xavier stays healthy and locks in, it's his award. He has to stay away from the Boston nightclub scene and the distraction of all the beautiful girls at Tufts! Xavier if you are reading this, 8 hours of sleep every night, 3-5 fully balanced meals a day, and lots of water young lad!!! He's got the talent, it's just about focus and having the confidence to take defenders 1v1 and FINISH.

Tufts has the depth, and Dezotell finally has four full years of his own recruits. He's settled into the job and I think he's ready to take a team all the way. They'll miss a few of the guys who left but with the returners and some freshmen who can make an impact, I'm backing them.

Player to watch is sophomore Will Nicholas. Scored a worldie last season and had some big games. The question is, is he going to be happy being good or does he want to be great? Especially when you see a guy like Harder exploding as a freshman at Middlebury. Nicholas has to decide if he's going to let another man outshine him. Mr. Nicholas, go be GREAT!

For the title race, I've got Tufts, Middlebury, and Amherst as the big three. Conn can't totally be ignored but Jake Creus is retired now and whatever voodoo or weird rituals he had working for them is gone.

I'm pumped for this season. Tufts is hungry, Middlebury has firepower, Amherst is Amherst, and the whole thing is wide open.

[nescac1]

I realize Hotskull is a big Tufts homer but that's some ridiculous Mohammed Nuhu erasure. 

Also some Williams erasure - they do return nearly every goal from a Sweet 16 team (which was one of the few to beat Amherst) and defense should be bolstered by return of Griff Labonski, a DPOTY candidate, from injury.  F Ruehlmann and G Anglada are worth watching in the ROTY race.  A fully healthy year from Coehlho and growth from last year's FY stars Bethencourt and Mitchell should help offense as well.

[CACDaddy]

I wouldn't count Tyler Huck out for offensive player of the year honors. The Ross, California native has lit the NESCAC on fire since he arrived back in 2022, winning ROTY honors his freshman season and then back-to-back first team all-conference nods. He was also a third-team all American last year. He's coming off the highest goal total of his career and the complementary pieces in the Bowdoin attack are all retained from last Fall.

[SimpleCoach]

Watching @Conn v. @Hartford.  Don't find it particularly inspiring from Conn.  Same with Williams. 

SC

[Kuiper]

Watching @Conn v. @Hartford.  Don't find it particularly inspiring from Conn.  Same with Williams. 

SC

Conn College outshot Hartford 21-0, only had 6 on goal, and couldn't put one in?  Wow!  Was this just a park the bus + great goalkeeping situation or did Conn run out of ideas and strikers?

[CACDaddy]

Bowdoin 4 - University Of New England 0

The Polar Bears looked sharp in their regular season opener, downing the University of New England Nor'easters in a decisive 4-0 victory. Tyler Huck looks to be every bit of his All-American, All-Conference self, and opened the scoring just 6 minutes into the game. Fellow senior Mateo Pacelli found Huck just inside the 18 yard box essentially unmarked, and it was a routine finish for Huck from there. Huck scored another unassisted in the 41st minute. Do not sleep on this kid. I'm going to double down on my bet for Huck as a NESCAC POTY candidate. He has first team all-American potential. Mateo Pacelli assisted another goal to sophomore Adam Prince in the 58th minute, and then with just 3 minutes remaining in regulation, Liam Elias nets his first collegiate goal. I expect Pacelli to continue contributing on offense for the Polar Bears, whether it be scoring goals or dishing assists. The senior trio of Pacelli, Huck, and Rueda-Duran (who I was surprised to see coming off the bench) could provide a lot of points for the Polar Bears this year.

The point defense was essentially untested in their season opener. The Polar Bears outshot the Nor'easters 31-4, and I imagine Alex Ainsworth was bored in net. Bowdoin started an underclassmen duo at CB, Liam Myers and Lucas Nuernberg. It will be interesting to see how those two fair against higher-quality NESCAC opponents. Bowdoin has had a strong history of all-conference CB and CDM (Dylan Reid, Jack Selig, Julian Juanterona). A strong back line has generally been crucial to their success. We'll see how the two young bucks hold up as the year progresses.

[Bucket]

Middlebury rolls over Bridgewater State in its season opener, 6-0.

Eduardo Casanova and Will Sawin each with two goals and an assist. Keegan Harder, last year's Freshman of the Year and the Panther's leading scorer, added a goal and an assist.

Some notes:

• Replacing a defender like Luke Madden is no easy task, but Pablo Gonzalez, the transfer from UConn, looked solid in his Panther debut
• Midd started two first-years—defender Orlando Cavaceppi-Dove and midfielder Hamin Kim
• Was great to see Antonio Cosentino back on the pitch as a starting fullback, just 10 months after a brutal injury ended his impressive 2025 first-year season.
• Just as great to see Harper Nichol back and playing fut again. The forward from Brooklyn was super impressive during his first-year in 2023, before missing all of last season with an injury. His return adds to the depth and dynamism of the Panther offense.
• First player off the bench was another first-year with a familiar surname: Payne. Dylan Payne (one assist) is the younger brother of recent Panther standout Tyler Payne, who graduated last year.

Panthers travel to Clinton, New York on Saturday to start NESCAC play against Hamilton.