National POTY

[Ejay]

Matt McDonald named D3 Men's Player of the year by United Soccer Coaches.
https://gomessiah.com/news/2022/12/13/mens-soccer-matt-mcdonald-named-the-national-player-of-the-year.aspx

An btw, "McDonald is expected to use his fifth year of eligibility in the fall of 2023 after the COVID pandemic wiped away his sophomore season in 2020."

Messiah players have won 11 of the last 20 POTY awards.  Crazy!

[EnmoreCat]

I know D3 is a less regular conduit to the professional game, but have any of that 20 played professionally?

[Maine Soccer Fan]

The Messiah coaching staff has done quite a job developing Matt MacDonald. He arrived at college as a central defender, was quickly moved up top, and had to develop the skills of a striker along the way. He was much more a raw athlete than a finished player his first two years at Messiah. That he became a good striker is quite an accomplishment; that he developed so much that he earned player of the year is remarkable.

[Hopkins92]

I know D3 is a less regular conduit to the professional game, but have any of that 20 played professionally?

There have been a few, at least one dude out of Messiah and another goalie that picked up by either Red Bull or NYCFC.

The folks that normally squat on this board and would know are likely taking a much deserved break.

[Kuiper]

I know D3 is a less regular conduit to the professional game, but have any of that 20 played professionally?

There have been a few, at least one dude out of Messiah and another goalie that picked up by either Red Bull or NYCFC.

The folks that normally squat on this board and would know are likely taking a much deserved break.

AJ Marcucci from Connecticut College is a GK with NY Red Bulls.  He was drafted by NY and has been the starter for Red Bulls II in USL for the last two years.  I don't believe he was player of the year in D3, although he was first team All American at GK for his last two years, so I suppose he was GK of the year. 

[Saint of Old]

Matt McDonald named D3 Men's Player of the year by United Soccer Coaches.
https://gomessiah.com/news/2022/12/13/mens-soccer-matt-mcdonald-named-the-national-player-of-the-year.aspx

An btw, "McDonald is expected to use his fifth year of eligibility in the fall of 2023 after the COVID pandemic wiped away his sophomore season in 2020."

Messiah players have won 11 of the last 20 POTY awards.  Crazy!

First.
Congrats to the young man.
Just even being in the conversation here is a great accomplishment.
Good for this young man, and the great Messiah program.

My personal choice would have been Marvin Sibanda from St.Lawrence, not because I am a Saint, but because I love good footballers and this guy is one.
No complaints, but if it were going to go to a player who didnt win or in the final four, meaning, just the true baller in all of D3, then I think that the Sibanda  could have gotten a look.
Again, a matter of opinion and like I said, perhaps any of the first team All-Americans, and even a couple other players would all be deserved winners as well.

[SimpleCoach]

Matt McDonald named D3 Men's Player of the year by United Soccer Coaches.
https://gomessiah.com/news/2022/12/13/mens-soccer-matt-mcdonald-named-the-national-player-of-the-year.aspx

An btw, "McDonald is expected to use his fifth year of eligibility in the fall of 2023 after the COVID pandemic wiped away his sophomore season in 2020."

Messiah players have won 11 of the last 20 POTY awards.  Crazy!

First.
Congrats to the young man.
Just even being in the conversation here is a great accomplishment.
Good for this young man, and the great Messiah program.

My personal choice would have been Marvin Sibanda from St.Lawrence, not because I am a Saint, but because I love good footballers and this guy is one.
No complaints, but if it were going to go to a player who didnt win or in the final four, meaning, just the true baller in all of D3, then I think that the Sibanda  could have gotten a look.
Again, a matter of opinion and like I said, perhaps any of the first team All-Americans, and even a couple other players would all be deserved winners as well.

Funny, but I wouldn't disagree with you.  He was easily one of my top 5 players in the US. But if left up to me, I would have stuck with a Messiah player.  Luke Groothoff. 

SC.

[Ejay]

The Messiah coaching staff has done quite a job developing Matt MacDonald. He arrived at college as a central defender, was quickly moved up top, and had to develop the skills of a striker along the way. He was much more a raw athlete than a finished player his first two years at Messiah. That he became a good striker is quite an accomplishment; that he developed so much that he earned player of the year is remarkable.

A bit misleading.  McDonald played all over the place in HS, mostly MF but also as a striker and occasional defender.  I believe he actually led his team in scoring both Jr and Sr year.  But your point is taken - he wasn't a stud striker from day 1 at Messiah and truly blossomed this past year after showing tremendous promise and ability last season. He's a great example of waiting your turn and taking advantage of the opportunity.

[d4_Pace]

One of the things I find fascinating is that Messiah seems to change players positions much more so than other top programs. I remember playing the 2014 team, which I think a lot of Messiah faithful will rank as one of their best ever teams, who started Jacob Bender at right back a few seasons before he went on to win NPOY as an attacking midfielder. I wonder if its simply a case of getting your best players on the field wherever you can or if switching positions is something the program actively evaluates?

[Ejay]

I was speaking with a successful D3 coach about this very thing a few years ago after watching him convert a rookie CAM to RB.  He said he already had two CAMs he liked but wanted that other kid on the field because of his vision and IQ. He played the entire season at RB (CB on occasion) and then midway through season 2 the starting CAM went down with an injury.  CAM2 stepped in and was fine, but really struggled in a tournament game.  At HT, the coach moved the RB up to his "natural" position for the first time and he responded by netting the game winner.  Never went back to RB again.

Good coaches find a way to get their best players on the field.

Current Messiah LB Jarec Morlot (starter since freshman year) was a stud CM in HS. One of my favorite Messiah players was Shay Quintin who was also a stud CM in HS, moved to outside back FR year and had a tremendous career.  I honestly think one of the reasons Messiah is so successful with their style of play is they basically have a bunch of holding MF's at every position. The great Messiah teams supplement that with a "natural" stud at CB/ST. 

[soccerpapa]

Most players playing at the top D3 Programs were likely the studs playing CM on their club/HS teams.   Its not uncommon to see most recruits on a team as being labeled as CM prior to their arrival at college.   Players need to be open to playing other positions.  A coachable/high level club player playing CM can convert to most positions on the field successfully.  IMO the only positions specifically recruited for (other than obvious goalie) are central defenders and true strikers. 

[PaulNewman]

Congrats to McDonald...well deserved, outstanding season.  An irony is that probably some of the only folks really disappointed are Messiah fans, who perhaps even foreshadowed this outcome with some anxiety and hoped to avert it with a preference for Groothoff.

Groothoff is great and no doubt will go down as one of the all-time Messiah greats.  I'm not sure this year was his best season, but certainly few would have complained if he won....and of course there are D3soccer.com awards still to come (I think).  I'm not sure any of us have a full grasp of everyone in the country who might deserve consideration, but a few others who come to mind are Wada, Gillespie, Boardman, and maybe Akintade.

I'm no historian but when I think of D3 and a professional career the first person that comes to mind for me is Khari Stephenson from Jamaica who starred at Williams (2000-2003) and had a solid professional career with stints in Sweden, Norway, in MLS, and with the Jamaican national team.  There was Kai Kasiguran of Messiah fame who was drafted in MLS but didn't have more than a cup of coffee before spending some time in the USL.  There probably have been a handful of Messiah alums who had decent USL-type careers, but perhaps less of a professional career than some might have projected (not unlike what we may see from GG who certainly showed that he could play at a place like Maryland but wasn't a star and by the end of the season was barely playing and I think was available).  There was I think a CB for Redlands who may have spent some time in MLS as well.

Another guy who had a brief career after being drafted by the Columbus Crew was Marshall Hollingsworth (Wheaton Ill) and spending a couple of years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

[PaulNewman]

In my haste above, I forgot about Sibanda.  I agree with Saint that he is as deserving as any of the other players named.

[Kuiper]

Congrats to McDonald...well deserved, outstanding season.  An irony is that probably some of the only folks really disappointed are Messiah fans, who perhaps even foreshadowed this outcome with some anxiety and hoped to avert it with a preference for Groothoff.

Groothoff is great and no doubt will go down as one of the all-time Messiah greats.  I'm not sure this year was his best season, but certainly few would have complained if he won....and of course there are D3soccer.com awards still to come (I think).  I'm not sure any of us have a full grasp of everyone in the country who might deserve consideration, but a few others who come to mind are Wada, Gillespie, Boardman, and maybe Akintade.

I'm no historian but when I think of D3 and a professional career the first person that comes to mind for me is Khari Stephenson from Jamaica who starred at Williams (2000-2003) and had a solid professional career with stints in Sweden, Norway, in MLS, and with the Jamaican national team.  There was Kai Kasiguran of Messiah fame who was drafted in MLS but didn't have more than a cup of coffee before spending some time in the USL.  There probably have been a handful of Messiah alums who had decent USL-type careers, but perhaps less of a professional career than some might have projected (not unlike what we may see from GG who certainly showed that he could play at a place like Maryland but wasn't a star and by the end of the season was barely playing and I think was available).  There was I think a CB for Redlands who may have spent some time in MLS as well.

Another guy who had a brief career after being drafted by the Columbus Crew was Marshall Hollingsworth (Wheaton Ill) and spending a couple of years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Redlands conveniently has a page on its website listing its alum who went on to play in MLS

https://www.goredlands.com/sports/msoc/records/bulldogs_mls

You're thinking of defender Richie Marquez, who played 4-5 years (69 appearances and 66 starts) with the Philadelphia Union, but they also can claim Ross Schunk (who had a few appearances for the Colorado Rapids) and Adam Acosta, a forward who had a cup of coffee with RSL.

[Kuiper]

In addition to Marcucci and the players @PaulNewman mentioned, other DIII men's soccer players to play in MLS include the following:

Alex Blake for Williams (3 appearances and 23 minutes in 2003 for the Colorado Rapids)

Jeff Moore for Richard Stockton (18 appearances and 17 starts for the New York Metrostars/Red Bulls in 2002)

Gregg Sutton, a 6'6" GK for St. Lawrence (50 starts in MLS for a ton of teams, including Chicago Fire, NY Red Bulls, Toronto FC in a pro career that spanned 13 years)

Dan Calichman for Williams (played over 50 games in Japan and then 100+ games in MLS with the LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, and New England Revolution)

Far less common today, when there are fewer college players in the league at any level after the creation of the Development Academy (now MLS Next) and MLS2 squads in USL and MLS Next Pro

If you're looking for an example of a current player who is playing in the lower pro leagues after a DIII soccer career, check out Noah Cavanaugh from Whitman.  He is currently a player for Flower City Union in Rochester, which plays in NISA, but played for a number of years professionally in Australia too.