Topic: MU Mens Soccer Finishes #12 in final poll

[chris88]

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-di-men/

UK dropped down to 6th after their only loss (should have been third IMO). Pitt finished 8th. UVA 16th. Elon got a vote in RV. With Indiana finishing 2nd, MU went 2-1-1 vs top 16 in final poll

Natl Champ only got 6 of 8 first place votes. Indiana got one and Vermont got one. Dumb.  Happened to us too

[MicDrass1]

I?m wondering if the Herd was full strength against Indiana would they have won it all???

[svherd]

I?m wondering if the Herd was full strength against Indiana would they have won it all???

I do think that played a big role. Good point. I hope Grassie can find a solid scorer to replace Bell and a few good mids. At first I thought Bell may come back but don't think he will now. ugh!

[parshall2marshall]

Was Vinny Fernandes' situation fully explained ? I kept looking for him to return to the lineup but it never happened.

[gochneaur645]

I hope we're able to tailor our schedules in the future to help us out more with the RPI. It's obviously a flawed system if it had us rated in the 30's this season, but we've got to have that in mind when deciding who to play OOC.

[Garbanjo]

Was Vinny Fernandes' situation fully explained ? I kept looking for him to return to the lineup but it never happened.

He was injured and couldn't go

Losing Vinny and Alves really hurt against Indiana but that's life

Go Herd!

[The E-Man]

Even though we came up short, I consider this season to be a step in the right direction. We will build off of this year and hopefully get better and finish next season higher hopefully with another championship..

[Garbanjo]

Even though we came up short, I consider this season to be a step in the right direction. We will build off of this year and hopefully get better and finish next season higher hopefully with another championship..

We have to replace a lot of dudes but I'm cautiously optimistic

Have to replace:

Semmle, Mocyunas, Alves, Vinny, Souza (I think), Milo and Bell (Probably)

[whf]

It feels like the challenge to keep MU at the top of the D1 soccer scene is HUGE. It will take money in the program, fan support in the bleachers, and some of the best recruiting Grassie and team have ever done. We have to find a way to make/continue to make Marshall "the" place where the most select of college players want to play.  It has been a real pleasure being able to speak to soccer folks about MU soccer. I hope it will be something sustainable, next year is a real test IMHO.

[svherd]

It feels like the challenge to keep MU at the top of the D1 soccer scene is HUGE. It will take money in the program, fan support in the bleachers, and some of the best recruiting Grassie and team have ever done. We have to find a way to make/continue to make Marshall "the" place where the most select of college players want to play.  It has been a real pleasure being able to speak to soccer folks about MU soccer. I hope it will be something sustainable, next year is a real test IMHO.

The fan support is there, no question. Had good crowds for all the games and excellent crowds for WVU, Pitt and a few others. The booster club is growing as well.
Agree, Grassie will have to push hard to get quality kids in here to produce at a high level next season or '23 could be his first "rebuilding" year as opposed to re-loading.

[CoachMaclid]

Top Drawer has us finished at #11...

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-national-rankings/men

[svherd]

I hope we're able to tailor our schedules in the future to help us out more with the RPI. It's obviously a flawed system if it had us rated in the 30's this season, but we've got to have that in mind when deciding who to play OOC.

WVU (now SB member), Pitt, Akron are pretty good programs. Maybe add another strong program or two but its a fine line. We deserved a better seeding in this years tourney, everyone but the committee knew it. Most of the top seeds lost early - the big school bias is still alive and not sure that will change. Grassie isn't afraid to play the big boys.

[chris88]

Outside MU and UK the league wasn't as strong as the last version of CUSA.  WVU will almost certainly be better next year and schools like Ga Southern and SCar are young.  JMU came on very strong late.  We also add UCF next year who didn't make tourney but had higher RPI than many other members.

Playing 3 teams (Cleveland St, Wright St, RMorris?) from worst rated RPI league (Horizon) hurt as well despite winning all three and Pacific and VCU were both down from their normal teams.  If those teams have normal years the schedule would have been fine. It happens. The biggest thing was losing to ODU at home and then JMU in tourney. Those two losses sent us from #11 RPI to 30s. BTW, Grassie tried to schedule one of better MAC schools but couldn't find a date that would work.  Other larger schools are still somewhat reluctant to play us but I think that is changing. I hope he can find good OOC home opponent next year as WVU match goes to Motown.  We get UK in Hton.  It didn't seem to hurt Pitt to play us. In fact it probably helped them vs UK as they got to see them play us.  We likely return the trip to Pitt this year. Pitt lost to Indiana in college cup (final four).

Not too worried about recruiting.  I think Grassie will start swimming in better pools to add to his already extensive network of contacts. Duggan worked out quite well as did Aoumach (one of top assist guys in SB) as transfers. Bell and Holmes were really good as FR. The Coastal transfer was in running for SB POY.  With our defensive structure I'm not too worried about GK at this point. We need a ball moving wingback or two (more like Leinhos and Alves), more size in midfield, and  replacements for Bell and Milo.  I can see the Coastal guy playing striker.  We should have more depth with Brito and Gouga back along with Yoioshi (sp). We need a goal scorer at wing for sure as we lose almost all of our scoring from this season assuming Bell is gone. Even if we added nobody but the Coastal guy I think we'd be good enough for NCAA tourney. We beat a top 4 seed on road without Vinny and only lost to national runner up on road without Vinny and Alves 0-1. Of course we'll probably have some attrition too. Spring should be interesting.

[Garbanjo]

Outside MU and UK the league wasn't as strong as the last version of CUSA.  WVU will almost certainly be better next year and schools like Ga Southern and SCar are young.  JMU came on very strong late.  We also add UCF next year who didn't make tourney but had higher RPI than many other members.

Playing 3 teams (Cleveland St, Wright St, RMorris?) from worst rated RPI league (Horizon) hurt as well despite winning all three and Pacific and VCU were both down from their normal teams.  If those teams have normal years the schedule would have been fine. It happens. The biggest thing was losing to ODU at home and then JMU in tourney. Those two losses sent us from #11 RPI to 30s. BTW, Grassie tried to schedule one of better MAC schools but couldn't find a date that would work.  Other larger schools are still somewhat reluctant to play us but I think that is changing. I hope he can find good OOC home opponent next year as WVU match goes to Motown.  We get UK in Hton.  It didn't seem to hurt Pitt to play us. In fact it probably helped them vs UK as they got to see them play us.  We likely return the trip to Pitt this year. Pitt lost to Indiana in college cup (final four).

Not too worried about recruiting.  I think Grassie will start swimming in better pools to add to his already extensive network of contacts. Duggan worked out quite well as did Aoumach (one of top assist guys in SB) as transfers. Bell and Holmes were really good as FR. The Coastal transfer was in running for SB POY.  With our defensive structure I'm not too worried about GK at this point. We need a ball moving wingback or two (more like Leinhos), more size in midfield, and  replacements for Bell and Milo.  I can see the Coastal guy playing striker.  We should have more depth with Brito and Gouga back along with Yoioshi (sp). We need a goal scorer at wing for sure as we lose almost all of our scoring from this season assuming Bell is gone. Even if we added nobody but the Coastal guy I think we'd be good enough for NCAA tourney. We beat a top 4 seed on road without Vinny and only lost to national runner up on road without Vinny and Alves 0-1. Of course we'll probably have some attrition too. Spring should be interesting.

We will be strong up front again and at CB

Need to get dudes at midfield, fullback and goalie

I'm sure Grassie will get us some dudes

Go Herd!

[jsbowen]

It would be nice to add a perennial tournament team to the schedule.  We've played Virginia and UNC in the tourney recently, which would be a nice addition.  I wonder if playing in the Spring League with Ohio State, Louisville and Michigan could result in one of those teams being added to the fall schedule.  Didn't happen this year, but would be nice.

Indiana can stick it though ;)  Don't want to play them unless we are sending them home in the tourney.

[CoachMaclid]

The three MAC Hermann finalists were named-
Levonte Johnson (Syracuse)
Duncan McGuire (Creighton)
Peter Stroud (Duke)

Draft is next Tuesday.  Buzz is that Alves apparently had a very good MLS Showcase tryout.  Once we get past the draft, I think we are full speed ahead for 2023...

The video board purchase for The Vet was approved, so we should have a video board installed for fall.

[MicDrass1]

The three MAC Hermann finalists were named-
Levonte Johnson (Syracuse)
Duncan McGuire (Creighton)
Peter Stroud (Duke)

Draft is next Tuesday.  Buzz is that Alves apparently had a very good MLS Showcase tryout.  Once we get past the draft, I think we are full speed ahead for 2023...

The video board purchase for The Vet was approved, so we should have a video board installed for fall.

He plays like a pro.  Glad to hear.

[luckytoes99]

The three MAC Hermann finalists were named-
Levonte Johnson (Syracuse)
Duncan McGuire (Creighton)
Peter Stroud (Duke)

Draft is next Tuesday.  Buzz is that Alves apparently had a very good MLS Showcase tryout.  Once we get past the draft, I think we are full speed ahead for 2023...

The video board purchase for The Vet was approved, so we should have a video board installed for fall.

Thanks for the info.

Any word on how Bell and Semmle performed?

[Garbanjo]

Don't forget our striker is in the truck:

https://twitter.com/LukeCreasy/status/1594056295866597376/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1594056295866597376%7Ctwgr%5E8135ac5c4e9900856e949d8838c9331a3784fab3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.herdfans.com%2F12thman%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D114777.0

[Garbanjo]

New signee:

https://www.soccerzz.com/player.php?id=624423&edicao_id=132141

[Garbanjo]

Our new goal keeper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Rose_(footballer,_born_2003)

[Garbanjo]

Alvaro Garcia-Pascual

https://youtu.be/QBxgkHp896c

[coalherd]

Gosh, looking at that final poll I notice that the "Mighty Chickeneers" didn't get NARY a VOTE!!  Sort of breaks your heart, don't it??  ;D  ;D

[jsbowen]

Another new signee. Appears to be a midfielder from France.
https://twitter.com/herdmsoccer/status/1604618002430935041?s=46&t=Bu11tcdhrKIdvTl505W5fg

[CoachMaclid]

French midfielder Theo Godard from Jura Dolois Football club - He is actually a little bit older, coming in next fall at 22 years old.  I've mentioned in a few other threads that our biggest recruiting need this year is to find some scoring threats or specialists from the midfield.  Found a youtube game highlight video where he scored 2 goals, the first is at the 1:05 mark of the video and the second is at 2:08. - I really like the way he handled the second goal here...

---------------

I want to go on a bit about this goalkeeper we picked up yesterday, Dan Rose.  He's likely the real deal - he's 6'4", he's played internationally for the Irish U-21 national team, he turned down a U-19 deal with Arsenal to go train at Schalke (Germany), which has been described as the "Harvard of Goalkeeping".  In interviews, he's stated his goal of being the best in the world and to represent Ireland on their national team.  This is a pretty interesting pickup, and he will be interesting to watch in the coming years.