Mr.Rights Thoughts

[All NESCAC]

Mr. Right...who besides the typical Tier 1 group (Amherst, Williams, Midd, Tufts, Wesleyan) in NESCAC could take the next step next year and actually have a legitimate shot at finishing in NESCAC top 4 and a possible NCAA berth?  Bowdoin, Trinity, Conn, Colby, Bates, Hamilton?  Bowdoin is the most likely pick given their tournament run.  Are Conn, Trinity, Colby, Bates and Hamilton always going to be the bottom Tier?

[Mr.Right]

BTW, that Sectional at Williams was better than the Final Four.  Hopkins and Williams were better than NYU and Wheaton who both were riding waves of emotion to reach the Final Four and were no match for Messiah.  It was nice having three of the most storied D-III programs in the Final Four (OWU, Wheaton, Messiah), but it certainly didn't make for the best Final Four.
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I agree with this 100%. All the brackets were screwed up that year I think because Messiah dropped a game or two in the regular season so they did not host and got sent up to Williamstown. Messiah and Williams were the 2 best teams in the country that year. John Hopkins was 3rd. They had a great team that year. Both Williams and Hopkins gave Messiah fits and even the 4th team WNEC was very good. They were not as good as the other three but they had a couple players and I believe they only lost to Hopkins 2-1 and had chances to tie it up.

[Mr.Right]

Mr. Right...who besides the typical Tier 1 group (Amherst, Williams, Midd, Tufts, Wesleyan) in NESCAC could take the next step next year and actually have a legitimate shot at finishing in NESCAC top 4 and a possible NCAA berth?  Bowdoin, Trinity, Conn, Colby, Bates, Hamilton?  Bowdoin is the most likely pick given their tournament run.  Are Conn, Trinity, Colby, Bates and Hamilton always going to be the bottom Tier?

If Conn could find a decent GK they would be fine and a contender to crack the top 4. Bates and Hamilton need a major rebuild before they have a chance or in soccer's term of a rebuild a legit striker that can get 10-15 goals. Not going to happen. Even Colby, yes the coach is recruiting like crazy and yes I am interested to see what he pulls in the next 2 years but my money is for Colby to be outside the top 4 no matter what he rakes in. The wildcard is Trinity. If Pilger would really recruit hard for a year or two they could be really good. They are getting a brand new field either this year or next so that will help. Trinity and Conn can get players that other Nescac's cannot touch. The problem is that they begin to compete with other schools outside the region. Trinity has superior facilities to Conn so they should win any intrastate battles with them but Murphy out recruits Pilger year in and year out.

[Corazon]

I agree with these comments.  I've always wondered why Trinity doesn't do better.

[oldonionbag]

Absolutely- I've always wondered the same...academically, Trinity and Conn should be able to squeeze more kids in. I think the hardest place to recruit in the NESCAC has to be Bates or Colby. Tougher admissions standards than Trin or Conn, but will struggle to get Midd/Bowdoin/Tufts/Amherst/Williams kids. Couple that with the fact that both are in less than desirable locations (cold, small towns, etc) and it's very hard for a coach to convince someone to go.

A few years ago Trinity was in the top 4, and was one of the best NESCAC teams. It really comes down to recruiting year in and year out. Once you have a good team for a couple of years, you can't slack- you have to seize the moment and build on the fleeting success to ensure it remains!

[Mr.Right]

Trinity got into the top 4 in 2011 because of a legit sniper in Dan Mayerneck. They should have beaten Babson that year in the regional but let up a soft goal to Anderson's son in the 88th minute to tie it up and lost in PK's 3-0. A total lack of being prepared for PK's which stares right at Pilger. That was a good team. Also, in 2008 they had a top 4 finish with an equallly good team and got robbed of an NCAA Pool C. You must have a striker who can finish to get into the top 4 usually.

[Mr.Right]

Bates is the hardest place to recruit not Colby. Waterville is pretty nice compared to that armpit Lewiston.

[Mr.Right]

The coaches interviews were excellent. Thank you for all that. I think Byrne comes across as a tad over confident. We will see today

[Corazon]

I enjoyed the interviews as well.  Ver nice feature.

[Mr.Right]

good game between Oneonta and Wheaton. Wheaton looks good going forward and are as good as advertised however they are shaky on the backline and their keeper is a question mark. Oneonta looks solid in net and are going at Wheaton's backline by hitting long balls over the top from midfield. 1-1 with 15 minutes left.

[Mr.Right]

Oneonta sure can finish their chances. They do not look very dangerous but when they get their chances they finish them. Against Brandeis I thought the game was very even but Oneonta finished and Brandeis did not

[Mr.Right]

2-1 Oneonta at the half. Wheaton came out like gangbusters but after Oneonta scored they have lost a step and are not playing like they did in the first 20 minutes. They have taken their foot off the gas a bit. Let's see if the 2nd half changes this

[Mr.Right]

These keepers are killing their respective teams...STAY IN YOUR NET UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE. 2-2

[Mr.Right]

I love Wheaton's unselfishness

[KnightFalcon]

Agree on both those last posts. Wheaton really looking good on moving the ball around.

Fortunately the weather and field surface don't look to be an issue so far. Hope the field can withstand 3 more games today