NESCAC

[stlawus]

Do folks realize this is why people don't like the NESCAC?  It's hard to view these games in a truly neutral, for the love of the game type of lens.  I get that message boards aren't necessarily reflective of real life, but some of you folks make it really hard by creating this self perpetuating cycle of elitist snobbery.

[Hotskull]

What are any of you trying to get at? I didn't realize "dominated the game" gets you a trophy.. Like seriously, do you think it make you feel any better as a player/fan going home after losing a final saying but...but... we dominated? Tufts were #1 in the NESCAC regular season, #1 in the National Rankings, and won not 1 or 2 BUT 3 win or go home games. That is championship team. When I see the takes from SimpleCoach, LibbyMoore, NescacInNovember, and more specifically NewEnglander, I just assume that none of you have every played for or supported a winning team. You do what it takes to win! Ultimately that is all that matters.

Utmost respect to Conn College's #7. He is a heck of a player and can probably dictate the game against pretty much every team in the league. Unfortunately he didn't do enough today though.

I am sure the boys over in Medford are real sad right now that they got "dominated" today and conceded 2 goals yesterday. It is real unfortunate that these factors leave them with a depressing 4 games and 4 wins against Midd and Conn this season. They must be really lucky to have made it this far with a 14-1-3 record as well and I am sure they are mortified going into the tournament given all of this.

Do you now hear how ridiculous you sound? @SimpleCoach @LibbyMoore @NescacInNovember

Tufts vs Everybody.. Evidently. If you need support I have attached a solid resource:

The Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) is available 24/7, 365 days per year and is available for all residents of Massachusetts. Call or text 833-773-2445. Visit the website to chat online.

[camosfan]

Sport success is not a function of population size, even in NESCAC, Williams and Amherst are more successful than Tufts! IN the wider world Jamaica in track and field, Croatia and Uruguay in soccer.

[Soccerlover]

It seems like there is a significant amount of Tufts envy on this messaging board, so I want to come out and sincerely apologize to any player (or parent of a player) who wasn't good enough to play at Tufts. It's an accomplishment to play at most NESCAC schools, so just be proud you (or your son) got there.

[Bucket]

Do folks realize this is why people don't like the NESCAC?  It's hard to view these games in a truly neutral, for the love of the game type of lens.  I get that message boards aren't necessarily reflective of real life, but some of you folks make it really hard by creating this self perpetuating cycle of elitist snobbery.

Couldn't agree more. And I'm sure I'll be accused of exhibiting a Simpson-esque "Old Man Yells at Clouds" (if the Yutes understood the reference), but it's becoming unbearable here.

[camosfan]

Trash talk is as much a part of sports as coin toss, have you guy ever looked on an EPL club fan site? MIT players trash talks Tufts when they meet, no one morns about it!

[d3_fanatic]

People have criticized Tufts and Dezotell for postseason results in recent years and then they win the NESCAC and it's all "they conceded 2 to Middlebury" and "they got dominated." Last week, you all said the jumbos couldn't get it done without penalty kicks. What happened this weekend? Sure, today wasn't the prettiest soccer from Tufts. Sure, the jumbos conceded 2 to Middlebury yesterday. But... they came back from 2-0 down and scored 3 unanswered goals against a top defensive side in Middlebury. Name any other team in the country that would come back from that game. And then today showed that pretty soccer doesn't mean anything. Results matter. Ranked #1 in the country nearly all season, regular season champs and ultimately NESCAC champs.  The grit, resilience,and ultimate dawg the jumbos showed this weekend proved exactly why they are the #1 team in the country and are poised for a deep NCAA tournament run. Congrats to Dezotell and the jumbos.

[MunnyTim]

Just catching up on the posts from the last two days - made the trip to Medford for yesterday's semis (saw the second half of the first game and the entirety of the second) and today's finals.  Four very good teams.

All trash talk and chest beating aside, really good weekend of soccer.  Would not be surprised if any of those four made a deep run in the NCAA's.

I will be honest in wondering where all the vitriol for Conn being in the NESCAC is coming from.  Looking at the spectrum of D3 conferences, each and every one has a fairly wide spread when it comes to ranking/selectivity, etc.  My read (as someone who has worked as an admin AND coached in multiple higher level D3 conferences), the NESCAC may have the narrowest of range when it comes to US News Rankings (Williams is I think ranked #1, Conn is the lowest at 50).  Looking across the conference, the one that does not fit in terms of institutional profile is Tufts (Tufts is actually a Research 1 institution) - this is similar to Hopkins being in the Centennial.  Both probably profile more like UAA schools, but institutions have the right to apply for and compete in their preferred athletic conference.

As for Coach Dezotell, he comes across as a great guy (I have met him and am happy for his success).  But I am not sure that Justin Serpone or any of the other NESCAC coaches are staying up late at night trying to get inside his head.  As someone who was in Vegas last year with Midd, Amherst, and our Camels, there is a ton of coaching talent across the top levels of D3.

As for our Camels today - outshot the Jumbos 15-6 (including 12-2 in the second half when we had the wind at our back - literally).  Just couldn't find the right combo to put it in the net.  On top next week with some lessons learned.  And yes, #7 was a boss today in the middle of the field.

[deiscanton]

Selections were revealed a few hours ago on the final DIII Men's Soccer NPI summary report of the season.
 

The report is available at http://stats.ncaa.org/selection_rankings/nitty_gritties/46698

NESCAC teams nationally ranked by NPI as of this report

1.) Tufts (#1 in NPI)-- 62.667 NESCAC Champions-- NESCAC AQ
2.) Connecticut College (#7 in NPI)-- 59.386 (At large pick #4)
3.) Bowdoin (#9 in NPI)-- 58.796 (At large pick #6)
4.) Wesleyan (#13 in NPI)-- 58.604 (At large pick #8)
5.) Middlebury (#15 in NPI)-- 58.135 (At large pick #9)
6.) Williams (#17 in NPI)-- 57.892 (At large pick #10)
7.) Amherst (#28 in NPI)-- 56.877 (At large pick #18)
8.) Hamilton (#36 in NPI)-- 56.179
9.) Colby (#48 in NPI)-- 55.335
10.) Bates (#54 in NPI)-- 55.182

10 of the 11 NESCAC men's soccer teams currently carry quality win bonuses, as their NPIs are above 54.

11.)  Trinity (CT)  (#144 in NPI)-- 51.770