high school for what it's worth http://www.nationalsoccerranking.com/high_school.htm try this one and the NSCAA site after a few weeks of the season when some results start coming in. Spader has Spring season soccer ratings up now. bear
I guess I need to add Worcester Academy (MA) to the list as they have been dominating in pre-season games, beating Brooks 4-2 yesterday.
True, but I don't think Beaver has much depth this year. I think this may have just been a fluke. Brooks' offense must just be off to a slow start. They have three regional-level attacking players and a terrific supporting midfield cast. Their keeper is great too. On paper, they are the favorites to win New Englands.
True, but from what I hear, Beaver still has a solid team and a great defense this upcoming year. Depth in terms of capable bench players may be lacking, but aren't they class D? They still manage to have a traditionally strong team every year. I give them respect for what they accomplish. On the otherhand, Brooks does seem to have a great team this year, atleast on paper.
I think Beaver may be Class C, but it really doesn't make much difference since the top 8 teams make the Class A tournament regardless of how they are classified for the regular season. I hear they may alter they way the tournament is run anyway to reflect the fact that the Classes are of little more than historical value. When I was talking about depth, I really meant who the 8,9, and 10 field players are on the team, not necessarily who the bench players are. When you look at teams like Brooks and Nobles who have National pool players leading their attacks with two or three Regional pool players as well, what will determine how they do against each other and the best teams is who has the best "bottom of the roster" players. That's where Beaver is probably a cut below the top level NEPSAC squads. That is also why I think Brooks is the best on paper. I don't know much about Worcester - they seem to be off to a huge start.
PG's Loomis definitely does have PG's. Phillips Andover and Phillips Exeter do as well. Exeter isn't so strong. Andover traditionally is a strong soccer school but hasn't been in the last few years. This year may be different, though, and they may be on an upswing. There are probably other schools that have PG's in New England (Deerfield comes to mind) but I don't know for sure.
Loomis don't look to be as strong as previous years either. Brunswick School who doesn't have any post graduates and aren't traditionally a soccer school could have beaten them. If the refs weren't blind we could have drawn instead we lost 2-1. I believe Kent, Taft, Choate and many other boarding schools in Connecticut allow PGs.
Thats interesting to hear about Loomis. On paper they still looked awfully strong. Meanwhile, about 1/3 into the season, some interesting events - Nobles just got upset by St. Pauls; Salisbury, Choate and Cheshire are undefeated so far. Brooks is undefeated in the ISL, beating Nobles 3-0. I stand by my prediction that Brooks will win it all this year - Charlie Davies is just too good. Four teams will fight it out for second place in the ISL - St Pauls, Belmont Hill, BBN and Nobles. I expect St Pauls to drop off after they face the other top teams head to head since they had a loss and a tie early against weak teams. If there actually is anyone out there interested in New England Prep School soccer here are two web sites that cover it: islboyssoccer.sps.edu www.eteamz.com/NEPSACSports
Prep School Coaches Ok guys, Which NE Prep school has the best (top 5) coaches. Based upon National license, playing experience, conections to college coaches, etc.?
Re: Prep School Coaches Its really hard to say unless you have seen the coach up close and personal over an extended period of time. I have been impressed with the Loomis coach the few times I saw his team play. They play a very "professional" 4-4-2 with the outside backs really adding to the attack. Of course it helps that they have a National team player inthe back. The St. Pauls coach seems to get the most out of his talent. The coach with the winningest record in New England in the past 10 years is probably the Nobles coach.
So the Class A New England Prep School Tournament starts Weds. Here are the seeds: 1. Brooks 2. Choate 3. Taft 4. Worcester Academy 5. Loomis 6. Andover 7. Belmont Hill 8. Deerfield My head says Brooks but my heart says Belmont Hill. Go Hillies ! My other preseseason pick - Nobles - qualified for the B Class tournament as the 3rd seed. Despite a record of 11-3-1, their season was probably disappointing to them since they had a ton of talent. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up winning the B tournament.
Brooks def. Deerfield (6-0) Loomis def. Worcester (4-2) Andover def. Taft (5-3) Belmont Hill def. Choate (1-0) semis on Saturday: Brooks v Loomis Andover v Belmont Hill
The best Prep would beat the best public most years. This year, I don't think there is a public school team around that can stay with Brooks. Both their strikers and their attacking mid are on the Regional '86 team. One of them, Charlie Davies, was the number one recruit for UConn and BC this year. Three other starters are/were on the Mass or NH. state teams. FWIW, Belmont Hill beat Medford 3-1 in a preseason scrimmage.
Brooks beat Phillips Andover 4-1 in a commanding performance to win the Class A title. Davies scored 3 goals, finishing his career with 101.
charlie davies is truly and exceptional play. It says a lot when you can score a hat trick in the finals. I have a feeling this won't be the last time we hear about him.
yah, about medford they really aren't that good. We were a #15 seed in the D1 bracket and we lost 1-0 in overtime. A few of my friends go to Belmont Hill and I know for a fact they would crap on us. And seeing as they got beat pretty badly by Brooks (like everyone else in the ISL) I would predict a score in the low to high teens.
How do people feel Pomfrets Chances are this year. There starting off alot better then last year and they believe this could be there year.
Western New England: As of right now it looks like Loomis is teh class of the league. Very strong squad that moves the ball well. Taft and Hotchkiss are both solid. While Choate was very good last year, they have some suprising results this year.
its looks to me that the darkhorse rye country day deserves to be mentioned among that class at 6-0 with no goals allowed as well as salisbury + wilbraham and monson + deerfield etc. also taft is having an abysmal season and hotchkiss isn't doing too fantastic either anything can happen