NESCAC

[Kuiper]

On the broader question of NESCAC dominance, I think the NPI system has really elevated it to a whole new level.  When selection committees were making the decision, they naturally pushed back against having "too many" teams from one conference.  The NPI eliminates that influence.

Why is NESCAC so strong under the NPI?  Mostly it's because they are structurally set up to have magnificent non-conference records against mostly weaker teams that go on to do well in their local conferences.  I say structurally because they are close by and the obvious candidates for non-conference games.  Because they go on to do well, the opponents NPI score at the end of the season is usually pretty decent.  When all the teams in the conference follow this scheduling formula and mostly do well in non-conference games, it raises the SoS scores for all teams when they play each other in conference.  NESCAC then reinforces that with a large conference tournament that allows teams to build their SoS with more games against each other.

[nescac1]

NPI certainly helps the back-end tourney teams get in (but really they deserve it, is there ever a year where NESCAC doesn't have at least 7 of the best 64 teams in the country?).  But let's face it, those Tufts, Conn, and Amherst juggernauts were getting in the tourney under any system, and NPI doesn't help you win games (let alone titles) against other elite competition ...

[Kuiper]

NPI certainly helps the back-end tourney teams get in (but really they deserve it, is there ever a year where NESCAC doesn't have at least 7 of the best 64 teams in the country?).  But let's face it, those Tufts, Conn, and Amherst juggernauts were getting in the tourney under any system, and NPI doesn't help you win games (let alone titles) against other elite competition ...

As I said, NESCAC was strong before NPI, but the sheer number of teams getting in, which is what you emphasized in your original post, is a function of the NPI system.  NESCAC did have a natural advantage under the old system because their opponents spanned at least two regions, if not three, which increased their odds of getting wins over regionally ranked teams (that and the fact that they dominated in their own region), but there were definitely years where the selection committee left out some NESCAC teams to try to spread around the wealth.  Increasing the size of the tournament also helps in this regard and would have helped regardless of the system.

[nescac1]

Honestly, I was more focused on the top NESCAC teams dominating the tournament over the past ten years (why I focused on titles won and second place finishes) as opposed to more getting in - that's to me the more significant change from the first 20 years of NESCAC participation to the recent far more elevated rate of tourney success. 

[SierraFD3soccer]

NESCAC related but the other football. Apparently, NESCAC football teams are having roster limits now. From the Wesleyan football coach and imo has good points.

Worth checking out. https://x.com/CoachDiCenzo/status/2100366744040702010?s=20

Mentions that Tufts has 66 track athletes and Colby has 16 or so.

[Sandon Mibut]

Should be a fun weekend with Conn @ Tufts and Midd @ Amherst as games to watch and many NESCAC teams playing double-headers. Can Williams strengthen their grip atop the NESCAC with 2 more conference wins?! I don't put too much stock in the first couple weeks of the season but hey a W is a W. Last year Williams was undefeated until 10/11 when they lost to Wesleyan and ended their regular season with a 1-3-1 (0-3-0) stretch.

On this day last year:
Midd 3-0-1
Will 3-0-2
Amhe 3-0-2
Tuft 3-1-1
Bowd 3-1-1
Conn 2-1-2
Wesl 2-2-1


Looking ahead:

Amherst is staring down the barrel of Midd (home), at Williams, vs Tufts, at Babson as their next 4 games then an oddly busy (but easier) October with 9 games in 25 days.

Williams has a soft September and could potentially finish the month at 6-0-0 in conference play. Their season heats up in October vs Conn, vs Wheaton and ending their regular season at Wesleyan, vs Tufts, at Midd (10/17-10/27).

Wesleyan obviously had a huge win over Tufts and survived Brandeis now they have a few weeks of easier opponents before ending their season with 7 conference games in October. Their opponents in the final 2 weeks (10/13-10/27) are vs Midd, vs Williams, at Amherst and at Conn.

Tufts enters 3 consecutive weekends with Sat/Sun games including a steady diet of strong opponents: Conn tomorrow, Babson next Sunday, Amherst the following Saturday and finally Midd on 10/10 after a short week of rest.

Who knows what type of opponent Amherst will be tomorrow for Midd but after that game, Midd has a lull in their schedule followed by away games at Tufts and at Wesleyan (10/10, 10/13) and later ending their regular season vs Williams.

Finally, Conn continues a difficult early-season schedule at Tufts tomorrow and at Williams in 2 weeks. They have a reprieve after Williams before hosting Wesleyan for the final game of their season.

[Futbolguy]

Just watched the Amherst Midd tilt.  Seemed like Amherst knew the only way they could beat Midd was to resort to their old tactics of disrupting play with physicality.  Lots of and aggressive slides and tackles from behind.  Nuhu easily could have been awarded second yellow for clearing out Kim in the box - second half.  Final foul count was 21 Amherst to 9 Midd. 
Overall Midd controlled the play (dont let the number of shots deceive you), and let Amherst play outside of the box and take harmless shots.  Stupid foul at the 19 cost them the match.  Midd looks like the real deal this year.  Big win at Amherst home turf.

[nescacfootyfan]

Back to NESCAC Saturdays. What a joy.

Couldn't catch every game, but seemed like a classic. A few observations from the trenches:

1. Amherst
Will Amherst Athletics — a great academic institution — really sit back and let Serpone keep cooking whatever this is?

It felt less like soccer and more like 1980s college football. Ohadike was in a wrestling match for 90% of the game.

Nuhu deserves credit, he's a great player. But it feels like Serpone has ruined him a bit with all the complaining, theatrics, and nonsense. Just play ball, because the kid can actually play.

The passing? The ball found the sideline more often than an Amherst teammate.

At some point, get Serpone a soccer certification. "By design" can only explain so much. Good ol' Serpone may have lost the plot. Time to reconsider, boss man.

Bright spots: Akanbo is back from injury, which is huge — great player. First-year Anuarbek is a player too. But Dinzeo at the 10? Come on. Put the man at left back and let him play.

Do Amherst alumnus really want this to be the identity of its program? Hope not.

2. Midd
Another great performance. While Amherst looks lost, Midd is rolling.

Sawin is making a serious case as an All-American. Dugan and Johnson were absolute warriors today. They look organized and dangerous.

3. Bowdoin
Cheers to Scott and the Polar Bears. Great win.

As I said, I don't think Wes has it in them. They remind me of Atlético Madrid — always on the fringe, even in their best years, but never quite getting over the hump.

Sorry boys.

4. Go Bants
Electric win from the fellas. Sarukawa is a baller and they look organized. Hopefully they put together a solid season.

I'm sure the boys have a very responsible night ahead in Hartford.

5. Conn–Tufts
Missed this one, but I'm sure it was a good game — other than, you know, the scoreline.

Signing off from another beautiful NESCAC Saturday.

God bless college soccer.

[jumpshot]

Numerous of my amHerst friends are calling for change in the men's soccer program. As expressed above by others, 21 fouls and six yellow cards in a losing effort are completely out-of-bounds ....

[maineman]

Does anybody know what precipitated the bench yellow on Amherst.  Was it trash talk?

[Sandon Mibut]

Numerous of my amHerst friends are calling for change in the men's soccer program. As expressed above by others, 21 fouls and six yellow cards in a losing effort are completely out-of-bounds ....

Even in their good seasons lately they can barely go 30 minutes without a card. I fear they'll become a danger to opponents if/when they continue losing.

12 cards this season in 3 NESCAC games and another 3 weeks upcoming with brutal opponents.

Also: Bowdoin just went ahead of Williams 1-0 in 68th minute! Heyo!

[LibbyMoore]

Does anybody know what precipitated the bench yellow on Amherst.  Was it trash talk?

Believe it was directed at Serpone

[Beaudouin Dad]

Does anybody know what precipitated the bench yellow on Amherst.  Was it trash talk?

Believe it was directed at Serpone

It's interesting that out of the 8 Masters degree Serpone mentions in his Amherst bio, not a single one is in Sportsmanship