NESCAC

[laker4141]

From the outside looking in (UAA supporter), it is nice to see the NESCAC beating up on each other week 1 to set the table (excitedly) for the rest of their conference season. For my people in this circle:

Is Williams for real? Off to a 2-0 start. Has anyone seen them in person?



 

[LibbyMoore]

Josemourino, I don't think I've ever gotten into an Amhate conversation on this forum because I don't have Amhate, but this particular statement goes a bridge too far.

Perhaps not in your time, but I was present for a game in which I heard an Amherst player using an ugly homophobic slur directed at a rather small and slender opponent player. And I'm not a player or a ref, so if I heard it, plenty of others did as well. One can only hope this single, isolated incident of bigotry has been fully obliterated through the culture of inclusivity and tolerance you describe.

 

Profanity, racial, sexist, homophobic, or other derogatory comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, spectators, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition.

I am actually glad you brought this up, because it is something I take very seriously, and it cuts to the core of what I think is actually a misconception about Amherst. Some of the actions you may see on camera may not be your cup of tea, but our program has NEVER crossed the line in terms of hateful/derogatory language. It is common knowledge around the league that the Middlebury team is homophobic, but no one ever brings it up because it does not fit the narrative. There have been a few instances of them even directing some of that homophobic language at players of our team. I won't go into specifics because this is not the place for it. I am proud to be a Mammoth because, although we might ruffle some feathers and leave a foot late into a challenge, I know none of our players would use discriminatory language towards others as a way to make people feel like they don't belong.

I feel the contempt that gets thrown at us misses some of the bigger/more pressing issues in our league. I'd rather be called "classless" by some middle-aged grumps than be known as an intolerant bigot by my peers.

[nescac1]

Is Williams for real? Off to a 2-0 start. Has anyone seen them in person?

Nice to see any sort of break from the annual conversation about Amherst's demeanor and antics (maybe we've gotten it out of the way early this year!). 

Williams definitely looks good in some areas but has room to improve in others. The biggest question coming into the season was GK and it appears that the Ephs have two capable (at worst) young goalies who have split time.  Perhaps one will emerge in time at the go-to keeper, how high their collective upside is remains to be seen. Both are massive, Diffley-sized players certainly, and both seem like good athletes, so the future seems bright there.  The Ephs defense has looked very stout, Caires, Labonski, Gibson, and frosh phenom Greer (who is also a threat with long throw-ins) form a very tough back-line, any of those guys could end up as all-league players.  The Ephs definitely have more finishing punch than they've had in recent years with the duo of Ruehlmann (who Hamilton seemed to be marking VERY tightly after his hot start) and Mitchell at target striker, plus some good set-up players led by Bethencourt.

What the Ephs' haven't been able to do yet is own the possession game in the middle of the field and it would be good to see them create more good chances with some more patient build-up rather than just scores off set-pieces and counter-attacks.  I believe Amherst usually plays a sort of similar style so we may see a lot of long balls back and forth on Saturday. Williams has a favorable schedule after that game with most remaining games at home (three road league games out of the way early, including Tufts and Amherst, is helpful).  Whichever team (if either) wins that game will be in a strong position going forward.   

Hamilton by the way is going to be very tough to score on this year.  But they also seemed to play very conservatively and I'm not sure they have a lot of firepower who can make an impact against the better teams in the league. 

[laker4141]

Is Williams for real? Off to a 2-0 start. Has anyone seen them in person?

Nice to see any sort of break from the annual conversation about Amherst's demeanor and antics (maybe we've gotten it out of the way early this year!). 

Williams definitely looks good in some areas but has room to improve in others. The biggest question coming into the season was GK and it appears that the Ephs have two capable (at worst) young goalies who have split time.  Perhaps one will emerge in time at the go-to keeper, how high their collective upside is remains to be seen. Both are massive, Diffley-sized players certainly, and both seem like good athletes, so the future seems bright there.  The Ephs defense has looked very stout, Caires, Labonski, Gibson, and frosh phenom Greer (who is also a threat with long throw-ins) form a very tough back-line, any of those guys could end up as all-league players.  The Ephs definitely have more finishing punch than they've had in recent years with the duo of Ruehlmann (who Hamilton seemed to be marking VERY tightly after his hot start) and Mitchell at target striker, plus some good set-up players led by Bethencourt.

What the Ephs' haven't been able to do yet is own the possession game in the middle of the field and it would be good to see them create more good chances with some more patient build-up rather than just scores off set-pieces and counter-attacks.  I believe Amherst usually plays a sort of similar style so we may see a lot of long balls back and forth on Saturday. Williams has a favorable schedule after that game with most remaining games at home (three road league games out of the way early, including Tufts and Amherst, is helpful).  Whichever team (if either) wins that game will be in a strong position going forward.   

Hamilton by the way is going to be very tough to score on this year.  But they also seemed to play very conservatively and I'm not sure they have a lot of firepower who can make an impact against the better teams in the league. 

Great insight! Sounds like the winner of Amherst/Williams will have an excellent spot moving forward in NPI and NESCAC. Exciting times!

[Ron Boerger]

After three matches, Trinity (2-0-1/0-0-1 NESCAC) has won as many matches as all last season (2-12) and has already broken their 14-match losing/non-tie streak in conference against Bates (who were the last team they defeated in 2023).  Will be interesting to see what they do the rest of the way.

[Camelparent]

After locking in their first victory of the season, due to goals from Elliot Spatz (The Spatzinator) and freshman Daniel Woodward (Woody),the Camels got the first W of the season.
Next up they head northward to Maine to face the formidable Polar Bears, a team that last year's graduating class never beat in 90 or 110 miniuts of action. This year's squad is determined to  finally beat our self called bogey team. With a promising new formation and a strong-looking freshman class, hopes are high.

Offensively, the key will be breaking down Bowdoin's disciplined mid-block. On the defensive end, expect someone new to be handed the Ji-Sung Park role, tasked with breathing down Tyler Huck neck all game long. Last year, that assignment was executed perfectly by a graduating senior who purposely didn't shower for 3 days just to become more effective.

While the past two results were 0-0 I am going with 1-0. With the the Spatzinator scoring again

[LibbyMoore]

Ha, now that is committment! (The lack of showering!)

[Yipper]

The fellow who embraced the strategy of not showering is going to have a long and happy married life.

[goamherst]

As a long-time Amherst alum and fan, I hate that my first post on these boards has to come under these circumstances. It's become clear that the men's soccer team culture has been nothing but trouble over the past few years. Whether that stems from Serpone or the players themselves, I can't say—but it's certainly different from when I was there, and it pains me to admit it.

Jose, I understand the instinct to defend Amherst, but there was no need for name-calling or insults. I've followed the boards for a few years now, and I almost feel accountable for the young Amherst supporter who has spoiled the friendly nature of this thread. We need more voices like EnmoreCat representing us here.

I hope this is the last post on the subject—it doesn't need or deserve any more stage time.

[Bret Clement]

We all know Amherst are masters at what the kids these days call "rage baiting", but I have personally enjoyed most of the antics whilst playing against Amherst on Hitchcock. It brings a lot of passion to a league that is followed by so few.

It has also been interesting to see their success against conn given their shaky start against Suffolk and losing so many players like fan favorite enmore kitten. It will be interesting to see how they lineup against an in form Williams who play a similar style of soccer. Id guess that there isn't 3 consecutive passes completed in that game. Not a matchup for the spectator. I'd also be curious to see if Williams can continue their form with such a lack of talent.

[Kuiper]

Conn College once again takes awhile to get going on the offensive end (it only had one shot in the first half), but got a goal in the 89th minute from Spatz off a corner kick to salvage a tie with Bowdoin.

[complexcoach]

Grotesque and contemptuous antics from the Williams bench.. unsurprising, though.

[Newenglander]

Grotesque and contemptuous antics from the Williams bench.. unsurprising, though.

at the half- 4 Amherst cards to 1 Williams.......

[EnmoreCat]

Amherst 0 Williams 0

Definitely not a game for the purists, but that really couldn't have been a surprise, but in this particular part of Massachusetts this game is a big deal.  I had the sound down for all but the last 20 minutes or so as I was watching Crystal Palace also draw and it appeared the Mammoths had more of the ball in the Williams area, without really testing the keeper properly (I have a gripe with save statistics, but can leave that for another time) but equally, the Ephs, whilst dangerous on the break, were largely well handled by the White Shirt defence.

I did manage to get to see a rather poor incident involving one of the Amherst subs on a Williams player who had come across to the bench.  Oh actually, it was a Williams sub pushing over an Amherst player, but that probably doesn't fit with the narrative in here.  I'll hold off on allegations about the Williams culture under Coach Siebert, for the moment at least.  There looked to be a good-sized crowd in attendance and there will always be passion.  Things boiled over a few times, but at the end I saw a decent spirit from both sides.

4 points in conference play, plus an overall undefeated record is an impressive start for what is a very young Amherst group.  I suspect the trip to Vermont next week, may be the better gauge of where the 2025 Mammoths really are at, but I have liked what I have seen so far.

Foul Count: Amherst 18 Williams 16

[Soccerlover]

My Nescac Season Predictions

1. Tufts - Slow start but from watching them play they have the most quality & depth in the NESCAC. Sometimes a couple bad results in the beginning get the best teams going.
2. Amherst - Lost some big players but still think they are as effective as they have ever been
3. Williams - Have been impressed by their start and have good young talent. They are a frustrating team to  play.
4. Middlebury - Will be good this year but a step down from where they were last year. Have some young talent but won't be gritty enough. Haven't won anything in recent memory and this year certainly won't be their year to end that streak.
5. Conn. College - Good team but pretty soft to be honest
6. Wesleyan - They are due for a decent year and think they will end up mid-table
7. Bowdoin - Can never really put it together and do not think they will this year. Such a frustrating team to follow. I feel bad for Bowdoin fans.
8. Bates - Hard to beat and think they will clinch a NESCAC tourney spot this year
9. Hamilton - They will struggle to make the NESCAC tournament this year - do not see a lot of talent there.
10. Colby - Never great; won't be great this year either
11. Trinity - Trending up but still the bottom of the barrel