Men's Sectional Previews: Mid-Atlantic

By Ryan Harmanis

Third Round - Friday

Quarterfinals - Saturday

Sectional Final, 1:00 pm ET

How they reached the Sweet 16

2015 Statistical Overview

Tufts Season Review

Tufts 2015 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After winning six straight road games to claim the national championship—including consecutive victories over the three most storied programs in Division III in Messiah (Elite Eight), Ohio Wesleyan (Final Four), and Wheaton (Ill.) (National Championship)—everyone was waiting to see what the Jumbos would do for an encore. Tufts would have to replace its leading scorer (Gus Santos), its target forward (Maxime Hoppenot), and a D3Soccer.com First Team All-American centerback (Sam Williams). But many expected Coach Shapiro’s team to pick up right where it left off, particularly behind its stellar returning midfield players.

The Jumbos didn’t disappoint in the early season and won five straight, but the wheels came off after a 1-0 loss to Brandeis. Tufts was perhaps the better side, but the hangover started a 0-3-1 run that included a crucial conference overtime loss to Amherst. The defense turned things up a notch and posted six straight shutouts, including one in a win over Middlebury that would become crucial on Selection Monday, but the offensive woes returned for back-to-back games against Bowdoin. That included a 1-0 loss in the NESCAC quarterfinals, and many thought Tufts’ season was over. But Tufts’ killer schedule and quality wins were enough, and the Jumbos picked up right where they left off in last year’s tournament. A hard-fought win over Salisbury set up one of the marquee matchups of the opening weekend against No. 6 Montclair State. For awhile it looked like the magic would come to an end, but two goals in the final seven minutes meant Tufts’ road show would continue to Kenyon.

Tufts relies heavily on its sturdy defense, as the defense has surrendered only 11 goals all season while posting 10 shutouts. It’s a necessity for a team that struggles to score and had only found the back of the net 20 times before last weekend. Tufts still has firepower when needed, as evidenced by last weekend’s goal eruption (five in two games), and the forward line is led by dangerous junior Nathan Majumder. With Connor Brown and Jason Kayne continuing to operate in midfield, this Tufts edition has rounded into form at the right time and will fear no one this weekend.

Kenyon Season Review

Kenyon entered the 2015 season with a big question mark—actually, four big question marks—along its back line. The Lords’ 2014 season was predicated on a suffocating defense, but all four starters graduated and many (myself included) wondered if Kenyon could fill the void. In hindsight, we shouldn’t have worried, especially considering Kenyon returned 2014 D3Soccer.com Goalkeeper of the Year Sam Clougher. If anything, the Lords are an improved version of last year’s squad because Coach Brown has coupled another strong defense and great goalkeeping with a more dominant midfield and one of the most dangerous front men in Division III soccer.

Kenyon was far the better side in an early 4-3 win over Carnegie Mellon, but the rest of Kenyon’s non-conference schedule (minus a cancelled game against Case Western) was nothing to write home about. The Lords entered NCAC play with a perfect record but without having been truly tested, and failed their first exam in a home loss to DePauw. But, just as Kenyon did when it last won the regular season title, the Lords won a tight game at rival Ohio Wesleyan to seal Kenyon’s first NCAC title since 2007. The rematch in the NCAC tournament championship saw the single craziest finish I’ve ever seen, as Kenyon put the clamps on OWU in the second half and led 2-0 with only 61 seconds to play. OWU somehow scored two goals in 30 seconds to draw level, but Kenyon responded by drawing a penalty with just 2.3 seconds remaining to win its second straight NCAC tournament.

Kenyon’s strength comes through the spine of the team, starting with Clougher in the back (11 shutouts) and ending with junior Tony Amolo (18g, 5a). My early-season thoughts were that Kenyon goes as Amolo goes, and he has come through in the clutch time and again, including goals in both games against OWU and the tying goal against Chicago in the second round. The defense is strong and no-nonsense, and the midfield is athletic and capable of squeezing the life out of opponents. At times Kenyon can run out of ideas in the offensive end despite dominating possession and field position, but with Amolo and his supporting cast the Lords always have goals in them.

Frank. & Marsh. Season Review

Franklin and Marshall came into 2015 looking to get over the hump. The Diplomats made a surprise run to the Elite Eight in 2013 only to run into the buzz saw that was Messiah, and last season they returned to the Sweet Sixteen only to fall to a powerful Oneonta State team. But F&M lost a fantastic class last year, including three All-Region players, and you wondered if the Diplomats had missed their chance.

Franklin and Marshall quickly quieted the doubters and came out of the gates like a team on a mission, rattling off fourteen straight wins with 11 shutouts. Then Haverford struck, taking the Centennial regular-season title in an entertaining 3-1 win, and the Fords planted just a seed of doubt as to whether F&M was really ready to take the next step this year. Those concerns only intensified after Franklin and Marshall dropped back-to-back 1-0 decisions to Dickinson, but F&M was creating chances and Coach Wagner had to believe the goals would come eventually.

Boy, did they ever. Few teams were more impressive last weekend, as they shelled a hot-but-overmatched Babson squad with three goals in the first hour and repeated the trick the next day against Gordon. But questions remain, particularly regarding offensive consistency. F&M can certainly score, and seniors Chase TenBrook (12g, 2a, 4 GWG) and Devon Malfitano (3g, 2a, 2 GWG) are physically gifted, talented players leading the attack, but in the biggest games the Diplomats sometimes create a host of chances with no end product. The defense has been fantastic, however, limiting opponents to just two shots on goal per game, and Devon Malfitano is capable of running the game in midfield. A promising stat: seven Diplomats found the net last weekend, and F&M scored eight times even though TenBrook only found the net once. If F&M has its shooting boots on, watch out!

Calvin Season Review

Calvin’s biggest unknown coming into 2015 was how they would replace the production of Travis Vegter (23g, 10a) in attack. And the opening weekend only added to those concerns, with Calvin drawing a blank against Endicott and only scoring once against Gordon. But the defense looked airtight, and as the season rolled along Calvin’s offense rounded into form. The MIAA greatly restricts Calvin’s ability to schedule out-of-conference games because each team plays 14 conference games. In many season that isn’t as big of an issue because rival Hope provides a litmus test for where Calvin stands. Alas, Hope greatly underperformed in 2015, meaning that Calvin was not truly tested after the middle of September.

Because of the MIAA’s lack of competition, it seemed like the consensus was “let’s see how Calvin reacts when they run into somebody good in November.” We got our wish in the NCAA second round, which provided the best game of the tournament thus far. In a rematch of the 2011 national championship game and a second-round game in 2014 that went to penalties, it looked like Calvin’s soft schedule (and another game with OWU) would be its Achilles’ heel. OWU shell-shocked the Knights with an early goal, and Calvin could have been three goals and a man down as they struggled to play their style and keep their composure. Whatever Coach Souders said at halftime worked, as Calvin turned the screws during the middle of the second half and scored twice in quick succession with 20 minutes remaining. Having survived its first real scare and knocked off a heavyweight in a very, very good game, Calvin should be that much more confident and prepared going forward.

Calvin features a balanced attack and a dominant defense (18 shutouts) led by the MIAA’s most valuable player in centerback Nick Groenewold. The Knights like to play in the wide areas and, in my opinion, Calvin’s most effective and dangerous midfielder is sophomore Mitch Stark (8g, 16 assists) who regularly beats his defender and can put in dangerous ball after dangerous ball. Calvin does not aimlessly cross the ball into the box, either, as they regularly use cutbacks and driven passes that provide easy tap-ins for the front men. The other aspect of Calvin’s game is set pieces. Groenewold and the backs provide towering height to attack headers, and freshman Trent Vegter has a long throw that can reach the penalty spot on a rope. Great defense, dangerous attack, and strength on set pieces? That sounds like a team poised for a deep tournament run.

Head Coaches

Seniors' 4-year Record (through Nov. 15)

Tournament Experience

Tufts has the best recent experience to draw upon as the defending champs, but Kenyon and Franklin and Marshall have both made the Sweet Sixteen in consecutive seasons. Calvin is somehow the least experienced of the bunch, despite making the championship game in 2011 and 2009, as this is the Knights first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 2011 after early exits in 2012 and 2014 and a lost season in 2013.

Players to Watch

Tufts: F Nathan Majumder (Jr.) – 9g, 1a (1st Team All-NESCAC) | M Jason Kayne (Sr.) – 1g, 2a (1st Team All-NESCAC) | M Connor Brown (Sr.) – 3g, 2a | GK Scott Greenwood (Jr.) – 9 ShO, 0.61 GAA, 0.828 Sv. Pct.

Kenyon: F Tony Amolo (Jr.) – 18g, 5a (2x 1st Team All-NCAC, 2014 3rd Team NSCAA All-American) | GK Sam Clougher – 11 ShO, 0.58 GAA, 0.782 Sv. Pct. (2x 1st Team All-NCAC, 2014 D3Soccer.com Goalkeeper of the Year) | M Jeremiah Barnes (Sr.) – 2g, 3a (2x 1st Team All-NCAC, 2014 2nd Team All- Region) | M Alberto Carmona (Fr.) – 3g, 1a (2nd Team All-NCAC & Newcomer of the Year)

Frank. & Marsh.: F Chase TenBrook (Sr.) – 12g, 2a (1st Team All-Centennial) | Devon Malfitano (Sr.) – 3g, 2a (1st Team All-Centennial) | Ugo Okolie (Fr.) – 6g, 6a (2nd Team All-Centennial & Rookie of the Year) | D Wyatt Fabian (So.) – 2g, 0a (2nd Team All-Centennial)

Calvin: D Nick Groenewold (Sr.) – 6g, 3a (MIAA MVP, 2x 1st Team All-MIAA) | Mitch Stark (So.) – 8g, 16a (2nd Team All-MIAA) | GK Niko Giantsopoulos – 17 ShO, 0.22 GAA, 0.896 Sv. Pct. (3x 1st Team All-MIAA, 2014 NSCAA 3rd Team All-American) | Taylor Pruis (Sr.) – 9g, 12a (3x 1st Team All-MIAA, 2014 1st Team All- Region)

Tournament Re-Matches

Unfortunately, nothing to see here, as none of these teams met in the regular season or in recent NCAA appearances.

Why they will advance to the Final Four

Tufts: Let’s see. Quarterfinal upset loss in the NESCAC playoffs? Check. Wins on the road in the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament? Check. Traveling to play the number one team in the country? Check. This is just what the Jumbos do. Tufts matches Kenyon punch-for-punch in the midfield, smothers Amolo, and uses some of that big-game moxie to knock out the Lords. With another trip to Kansas City in sight, the Jumbos put the clamps on Franklin and Marshall or Calvin—neither team has looked dominant against top sides this year—and suddenly Tufts is peaking again at exactly the right time.

Kenyon: Kenyon has been better than Tufts all season, the Lords have shown a consistency that the Jumbos lack, and they’re playing at home. Also, when in doubt, go with the best player on the field, and it’s hard to argue with what Tony Amolo has done this season. Kenyon scores early on Tufts and shuts up shop, setting up a showdown with Franklin and Marshall or Calvin. If the opponent is F&M, the Lords have too much in the midfield. If it’s Calvin, Kenyon can handle the physicality and set pieces, and the Lords already beat the team that had Calvin on the ropes . . . twice. Third time’s lucky for Kenyon in the second weekend and the Lords finally break through to the Final Four.

Frank. & Marsh.: The Diplomats are experienced and battle-tested, and after disappointing losses the last two years in the second weekend they’re ready for anything Calvin has to offer. Coach Wagner uses the formula Ohio Wesleyan discovered against Calvin, jumping on the Knights early and pressing to force Calvin away from their style of play. F&M then uses its possession game to halt Calvin’s usual barrage of set pieces and crosses, and the Diplomats advance to see the winner of Friday’s early cage match. Franklin and Marshall was by far the most dominant of these teams last weekend, and after two years of coming so, so close, neither the defending champs nor the country’s top team have enough to stop a Diplomats squad that found its goal-scoring touch at just the right time.

Calvin: Nobody is going to get the drop on the Knights again after what happened last weekend, and Calvin has perhaps the best combination of attacking talent and stellar defense in the sectional. Throw in dominance at set pieces—Calvin won both games last weekend off corners—and the Knights simply have too many ways to beat you. Franklin and Marshall has not performed in its biggest games this season, and Calvin continues where it left off in the second half last weekend to roll through the opening game. The Knights then have the size and athleticism to match up with Tufts or Kenyon, plus the technical players to unlock either team’s defense. Calvin has been this close to lifting a national championship in recent years, and the Knights take another big step toward finally doing so.

Comments or feedback for the author?  E-mail Ryan Harmanis.