NESCAC

[Futbolguy]

Thanks SL, I get a kick out of your review, especially with respect to Midd.  Have not won anything in recent memory?  How about NESCAC reg season champs and undefeated in 2024, along with final four appearance?  But I do agree with the gritty comment and the youth.  Time will tell.  Big match against Amherst this weekend.  Hopefully they can get payback for a tough but controversial loss against AM in last years National final 4 match in Vegas.  Will be an intense 90 minutes. 

[Newenglander]

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

Tufts supporter I assume...........

[Soccerlover]

Thanks SL, I get a kick out of your review, especially with respect to Midd.  Have not won anything in recent memory?  How about NESCAC reg season champs and undefeated in 2024, along with final four appearance?  But I do agree with the gritty comment and the youth.  Time will tell.  Big match against Amherst this weekend.  Hopefully they can get payback for a tough but controversial loss against AM in last years National final 4 match in Vegas.  Will be an intense 90 minutes. 

Futbolguy sorry to break it to you but there is no trophy for NESCAC regular season champs, and Midd lost 2 games in 2024. Don't think making it to the Final 4 counts as winning anything either. Let's be honest with ourselves moving forward...

[Futbolguy]

Correct SL - allow me to clarify - undefeated in regular season, lost in NESCAC finals to Conn and Amherst in national semis.  Tufts made it to neither.  Regardless, focusing on something different, what do folks here make of the low scoring thus far?  three 0-0 draws last weekend and scoring seems to be down.  Early season and lack of much of a pre-season? 

[Camelparent]

Slightly Biased opinion, but I think defensive talent in the past couple years has been much higher than offensive talent. Also as my least favorite pundit Michael Owen said it's easier to knock down a house then create one.

The Camels are mirroring their start to last season getting a draw and a win this past week, which felt more like a collective relief rather than joy, given how the games went. Against Bowdoin, the lads clearly had a shower, as Tyler Huck broke free and got a shot off that was brilliantly saved by Krongard, but the rebound he could do nothing about. Both sides probably feel they should have scored more, each missing big opportunities before Elliot Spatz (Spatzinator) jumped over the Bowdoin goalkeeper, who tried to claim a corner, and scored.

A similar theme played out in the second match vs Salve Regina, where Conn finally broke free after Max Haberman scooped the ball over the defense, and it was Volleyed in by Max Weis. Next up is Colby, which won't be the prettiest game as they will probably sit deep as they did against tufts, but it's one the Camels must win.

 

The more interesting game this weekend will be the Panthers facing off against the Mammoths. After spending some time at both the roulette and blackjack tables with members of both teams in Vegas, I can confirm they really do hate each other. Amherst may have won the national championship that weekend, but Middlebury walked away with a ridiculous amount of cash in their pockets. For predictions, I'm probably leaning more towards Amherst in this match as they always seem to get one over on Middlebury.

[nescac1]

NESCAC teams are a collective 24-2-2 in out of conference play so far.  No team save for Wesleyan has lost an out-of-conference game, and everyone, again save for Wesleyan, is currently over .500 in terms of the overall record.  It's safe to say, if anything like that pace continues, we may once again see eight NESCAC teams in the NCAAs. I think six would be the low end in terms of what to expect at this point. 

Of course, it could be even better - NESCAC women are an insane 28-0-0 in out of conference play. 

[Newenglander]

Slightly Biased opinion, but I think defensive talent in the past couple years has been much higher than offensive talent. Also as my least favorite pundit Michael Owen said it's easier to knock down a house then create one.

The Camels are mirroring their start to last season getting a draw and a win this past week, which felt more like a collective relief rather than joy, given how the games went. Against Bowdoin, the lads clearly had a shower, as Tyler Huck broke free and got a shot off that was brilliantly saved by Krongard, but the rebound he could do nothing about. Both sides probably feel they should have scored more, each missing big opportunities before Elliot Spatz (Spatzinator) jumped over the Bowdoin goalkeeper, who tried to claim a corner, and scored.

A similar theme played out in the second match vs Salve Regina, where Conn finally broke free after Max Haberman scooped the ball over the defense, and it was Volleyed in by Max Weis. Next up is Colby, which won't be the prettiest game as they will probably sit deep as they did against tufts, but it's one the Camels must win.

 

The more interesting game this weekend will be the Panthers facing off against the Mammoths. After spending some time at both the roulette and blackjack tables with members of both teams in Vegas, I can confirm they really do hate each other. Amherst may have won the national championship that weekend, but Middlebury walked away with a ridiculous amount of cash in their pockets. For predictions, I'm probably leaning more towards Amherst in this match as they always seem to get one over on Middlebury.

yes - don't think the lack of goals is new for Conn for example - they scored 2 goals through their first 5 NESCAC games last year before starting to find their footing in the back of the net.....

[Soccerlover]

Correct SL - allow me to clarify - undefeated in regular season, lost in NESCAC finals to Conn and Amherst in national semis.  Tufts made it to neither.  Regardless, focusing on something different, what do folks here make of the low scoring thus far?  three 0-0 draws last weekend and scoring seems to be down.  Early season and lack of much of a pre-season? 

... Tufts was the regular season champs (since you like that stat) and was actually undefeated 

[Camelparent]

Correct SL - allow me to clarify - undefeated in regular season, lost in NESCAC finals to Conn and Amherst in national semis.  Tufts made it to neither.  Regardless, focusing on something different, what do folks here make of the low scoring thus far?  three 0-0 draws last weekend and scoring seems to be down.  Early season and lack of much of a pre-season? 

... Tufts was the regular season champs (since you like that stat) and was actually undefeated 

Slightly Biased opinion, but I think defensive talent in the past couple years has been much higher than offensive talent. Also as my least favorite pundit Michael Owen said it's easier to knock down a house then create one.

The Camels are mirroring their start to last season getting a draw and a win this past week, which felt more like a collective relief rather than joy, given how the games went. Against Bowdoin, the lads clearly had a shower, as Tyler Huck broke free and got a shot off that was brilliantly saved by Krongard, but the rebound he could do nothing about. Both sides probably feel they should have scored more, each missing big opportunities before Elliot Spatz (Spatzinator) jumped over the Bowdoin goalkeeper, who tried to claim a corner, and scored.

A similar theme played out in the second match vs Salve Regina, where Conn finally broke free after Max Haberman scooped the ball over the defense, and it was Volleyed in by Max Weis. Next up is Colby, which won't be the prettiest game as they will probably sit deep as they did against tufts, but it's one the Camels must win.

 

The more interesting game this weekend will be the Panthers facing off against the Mammoths. After spending some time at both the roulette and blackjack tables with members of both teams in Vegas, I can confirm they really do hate each other. Amherst may have won the national championship that weekend, but Middlebury walked away with a ridiculous amount of cash in their pockets. For predictions, I'm probably leaning more towards Amherst in this match as they always seem to get one over on Middlebury.

yes - don't think the lack of goals is new for Conn for example - they scored 2 goals through their first 5 NESCAC games last year before starting to find their footing in the back of the net.....

As you noted, football is all about timing. Would hate to score a bunch of goals during the regular season and go undefeated just to exit early in the playoffs...

[Newenglander]

What also 100% has to impact the earlier parts of the season is the lack of much of a preseason for the NESCAC....still makes no sense IMO.....

[EnmoreCat]

Middlebury 0 Amherst 0

It looked a beautiful day in Vermont and I have to say I loved my visit there in 2023, it was a picturesque walk to the field on that sunny Saturday.  I only saw the final 30 minutes today, so observations are purely based on that.  I saw Amherst initially dominating and then the Panthers had a couple of decent chances, but were generally held well by a scrambling Mammoths defence.  It was the same at the other end and not for the first time since I have taken an active interest in these games, the teams were evenly matched.

There are many traits that I am sure Coach Serpone looks for his teams to display and the one most evident to me so far this season has been a gritty resilience.  A team incorporating so may new players could be forgiven for taking time to gel etc, but not for not working hard and the 2025 Mammoths are a hard working unit.  The performances thus far have exceeded my expectations and I think for those with this particular shade of purple in their hearts, there has been a lot to like.

Foul Count: Midd 17 Amherst 13 

[Soccerlover]

I am just going to come out and say it since I know we have been all thinking about it: What is going on with this Conn College team. For a program that is not new to having bad years (2022 comes to mind) this seems like an even lower low. 0 wins through their first four games in the NESCAC, including a home double-header weekend. If I were the coach, the team or any supporter of the program I would be scared that this group might not even make the NESCAC tournament. Seems like they are really missing something in the final third. I hope they get it together since it wouldn't feel right to have them in the post season but doesn't look like this group is going to get it done.

[FanofNescac]

It's a long season. All of your posts seem to focus on Tufts.

You called Conn soft in your standings while putting Tufts first, and then posted again now after Tufts won 2–1.

Last season, Tufts sat in first the whole year, only to lose early, while Conn won the NESCAC and went to the national final.

In 2022 (as you pointed to Conn), Tufts finished 7th, lost in the NESCAC quarterfinals, and went out in the NCAA second round — while Conn reached the NESCAC final as 8 seed.

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say. Tufts hasn't won anything since the Shapiro days. As you mentioned, there is no trophy for the regular season.

As a fan of Tufts, I would be really worried about Dezotell!

[rdanie03]

It's a long season. All of your posts seem to focus on Tufts.

You called Conn soft in your standings while putting Tufts first, and then posted again now after Tufts won 2–1.

Last season, Tufts sat in first the whole year, only to lose early, while Conn won the NESCAC and went to the national final.

In 2022 (as you pointed to Conn), Tufts finished 7th, lost in the NESCAC quarterfinals, and went out in the NCAA second round — while Conn reached the NESCAC final as 8 seed.

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say. Tufts hasn't won anything since the Shapiro days. As you mentioned, there is no trophy for the regular season.

As a fan of Tufts, I would be really worried about Dezotell!

That's not exactly true, the Jumbos did win a NESCAC title in Dez's 1st year

[Camelparent]

By Connecticut College's current standards, 2022 was a down year, that year we retained of most of what we had but really struggled with teams sitting deeper and deeper against us, and often got caught out on the counter, maybe a bit of complacency after the success of the previous year.

 

This year I believe the early-season struggles are more about inexperience than anything else. In the past couple years every NESCAC game for Conn, except for one or two, was decided by a single goal. In 4 NESCAC games conceding three set-piece goals, including two in the final five minutes, and giving away two penalties, highlights a Inexperienced team learning the hard way that you have to stay focused every second of the match.

 

Lot of time in the season to turn things around and Alumni day will be a good start with a big crowd, including myself who will be in full ultra mode. I Expect the leaders of the team to step up, and Burk to probably have 90% of the next couple practice defending corners(witch is never fun). I hope now the NESCAC starts to underestemate the Camels because even in our down season in 2022, once we win one we normally go on a run.