A10 Womens Soccer All-Conference Predictions

[Chris R]

http://www.udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19171

These picks are always tough. A lot of solid players and not enough room to recognize all of them. LaSalle is going to take a couple spots away from worthy UD players, but thats how it should be. When UD wins the league, UD typically gets well represented too.

My biggest question mark is Midfielder of the Year. Garcia is very good. I just dont know if there's enough room in the A10 First Team for four worthy Flyers given the third place showing. And I just didnt take the time to scout the other midfielders around the league this season. Its hard for even the best midfielders to stand out at times because few heroics take place in the midfield.

	LaSalle LA SALLE In 1863, La Salle University was established through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which De La Salle founded 300 years ago. Located in Philadelphia, La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. La Salle's main campus is an ideal place for students to pursue an education. The 130-acre park-like setting includes 54 buildings and is located approximately six miles from Center City Philadelphia. The University can accommodate 2,114 resident students in its 12 residence halls, two apartment complexes, and 75 townhouses. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Explorers. Notable athletes include Tom Gola and Lionel Simmons.

[ud69]

From the La Salle web site - hence the formatting. Not posted on A-10 site. Room for a lot of disagreement, but it is what it is.

Coach of the Year – Paul Royal, La Salle
Offensive Player of the Year – Becca Wann, Richmond
Defensive Player of the Year – Melissa Sanger, La Salle
Midfielder of the Year – Mo Hawkins, Saint Joseph's
Rookie of the Year – Kelsey Haycook, La Salle


FIRST TEAM
Becca Wann, Richmond, F
Colleen Williams, Dayton, F
Kelsey Haycook, La Salle, F
Mo Hawkins, Saint Joseph's, MF
Renee Washington, La Salle, MF
Alexis Garcia, Dayton, MF
Tori Burchett, St. Bonaventure, MF
Jess Hopton, La Salle, D
Kathleen Beljan, Dayton, D
Meghan Collins, Massachusetts, D
Melissa Sanger, La Salle, GK

SECOND TEAM
Kelsey Smigel, Dayton, F
Julie Morrissey, Massachusetts, F
Niki Conn, Temple, F
Jen Pfeiffer, Saint Joseph's, F
Moa Mattsson, Massachusetts, MF
Alexis Veith, Rhode Island, MF
Natalie LeClair, Richmond, MF
Kristen Lescalleet, Richmond, D
Samantha Cloutier, G. Washington, D
Lauren Heap, Xavier, D
Emily Cota, Massachusetts, GK
Melissa Pacheco, Richmond, GK

ALL ROOKIE
Kelsey Haycook, La Salle
Kelsey Smigel, Dayton
Moa Mattsson, Massachusetts
Katie Markesberry, Xavier
Kristina Maksuti, Fordham
Melissa Alvarez-Freeman, Richmond
Tori Sousa, Massachusetts
Abbey Stock, Saint Louis
Maryam Huseini, La Salle
Ashley Williams, Richmond
Amanda Jones, Charlotte


ALL ACADEMIC
Kathleen Beljan, Dayton
Melissa Sanger, La Salle
Courtney David, Rhode Island
Jennifer Andrews, St. Bonaventure
Emily Kenyon, Dayton
Jourdan McVicker, La Salle
Colleen Williams, Dayton
Renee Washington, La Salle
Juliana Libertin, Dayton
Morgan Herbert, Duquesne
Diana Allen, La Salle

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Temple TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple College became Temple University in 1907. Located in Philadelphia, Temple is a comprehensive public research university with 34,000 students, 8 campuses, and 300 academic degree programs. Notable alumni include Bill Cosby and Daryl Hall. Temple's nickname is the Owls and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Richmond UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Founded in 1830, the private liberal arts university in the Commonwealth boasts 2,800 students in 57 majors within its picturesque 350-acre campus. The Robins School of Business is one of the Top-20 business schools in the country. Nickname is the Spiders and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND The University of Rhode Island was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892. Located in southern Rhode Island, URI is a quintessential New England campus - rural in feeling yet close to the city of Providence, the state's capital. Linked to the city, the beaches, and nearly every corner of the state by both rail and public transit, the campus is easily accessible from Boston and New York URI currently offers 100 majors in seven degree-granting colleges. There are more than 12,000 students on the Kingston campus, about 3,000 in Providence, and a complement of about 700 faculty. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams.

	Massachusetts MASSACHUSETTS UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system, sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. UMass enrolls over 20,000 undergraduates and 5,000 post-grad students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Minutemen. Women's teams known as the Minutewomen. Sports achievements include NCAA Final Four appearances in men's basketball and women's soccer.

	St Joseph's ST. JOSEPH'S Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive educational experience. One of only 139 schools nationwide with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,200 full-time undergraduates and 3,100 graduate, part-time and doctoral candidates. Located in urban Philadelphia, SJU is a fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Hawks. Athletic claim to fame is is the Hawk mascot, a university student on full scholarship who wears a Hawk uniform and flaps his wings continuously for an entire athletic event. School spirit slogan is "The Hawk Will Never Die."

	Fordham FORDHAM Fordham University is an independent Jesuit university established in 1841 as St. John's College on old Rose Hill Manor in the village of Fordham, then part of Westchester County in the Bronx, NY. The name Fordham is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "ford" and "ham," meaning a wading place or ford by a settlement. Rose Hill is the name given to the site in 1787 by Robert Watts, a wealthy New York merchant, in honor of his family's ancestral home of the same name in Scotland. The College was originally staffed by diocesan clergy. The name was officially changed to Fordham University in 1907. Fordham's 10 schools enroll 14,448 students. There are 7,652 undergraduates, of whom 3,842 live in University-managed housing either on-campus or in the local community. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams. Athletic claim to fame is consistent mediocrity in nearly all sports and few A10 title winning programs.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	LaSalle LA SALLE In 1863, La Salle University was established through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which De La Salle founded 300 years ago. Located in Philadelphia, La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. La Salle's main campus is an ideal place for students to pursue an education. The 130-acre park-like setting includes 54 buildings and is located approximately six miles from Center City Philadelphia. The University can accommodate 2,114 resident students in its 12 residence halls, two apartment complexes, and 75 townhouses. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Explorers. Notable athletes include Tom Gola and Lionel Simmons.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.

	Charlotte CHARLOTTE UNC Charlotte is one of a generation of universities founded in metropolitan areas of the United States immediately after World War II in response to rising education demands generated by the war and its technology. Now a research intensive university, UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest of the 16 institutions within the University of North Carolina system and the largest institution in the Charlotte region. The university comprises seven professional colleges and currently offers 18 doctoral programs, 62 master’s degree programs and 90 bachelor’s degrees. More than 900 full-time faculty comprise the university’s academic departments and the 2007 fall enrollment exceeded 22,300 students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the 49ers.

[Chris R]

A few thoughts:

- No gripes with Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year or Coach of the Year or Rookie of the Year. Great players on top teams.

All of the above I basically predicted would or could happen with few grumbles.

Midfielder of the Year Mo Hawkins from St. Joseph's has me somewhat baffled. For a Hawk team that finished 2-4-3 in the A10 and .500 overall, she must have been the greatest Midfielder since sliced bread to wield her dominance on a shaky team. The Flyers played and beat SJU and while the game was close, I dont remember a Hawk midfielder giving me the impression that 'wow, thats the best mid in the league.'

I realize there are a lot of good players in the league, but how does Temple finish 2-6-1 in the A10, 5-12-1 overall, but has a striker made the All-Conference team and Juliana Libertin doesn't even get a sniff with her numbers on a 16-3 team that beat Kentucky, Ohio State, and Kansas?

Williams and Garcia on First Team is fair. Beljan is a first team player all day and twice on Sundays, but she missed some matches this year and was never at full strength. I feel like Beljans street cred hurt Emily Kenyon's recognition here -- not that either really care.

Smigel on Second Team is fair.

And what can you say about Emily Kenyon, the bacon saver in many respects of the 2011 Flyer season. To say she's not one of the 20 best field players in the A10 is a slap in the face to anyone that follows the sport, let alone ever kicked a ball or two in their past lives. This is the Allie Giner snub from a year ago.

I understand the urge to share the recognition. Everybody gets a trophy of some size. Over the years however, there continues to be a giant void of legitimate scouting or care taken into some of these postseason awards. Its not an easy process. No one is totally happy. Still, my feeling is the league votes on box scores and not what their eyes tell them. Some of the best players in this league aren't boxscore friendly kind of players.

To think Libertin and Kenyon arent among the 15 best players in the league, let alone 20, is just certified nuts. I would not trade them for any other pair of players in the league, period.

	Temple TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple College became Temple University in 1907. Located in Philadelphia, Temple is a comprehensive public research university with 34,000 students, 8 campuses, and 300 academic degree programs. Notable alumni include Bill Cosby and Daryl Hall. Temple's nickname is the Owls and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	St Joseph's ST. JOSEPH'S Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive educational experience. One of only 139 schools nationwide with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,200 full-time undergraduates and 3,100 graduate, part-time and doctoral candidates. Located in urban Philadelphia, SJU is a fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Hawks. Athletic claim to fame is is the Hawk mascot, a university student on full scholarship who wears a Hawk uniform and flaps his wings continuously for an entire athletic event. School spirit slogan is "The Hawk Will Never Die."

[Chris R]

Resurrecting this thread. I emailed McGlade and the Director of Championships at the A10 about adding a Third Team All Conference to better reflect the top players in the league that are currently getting left out. A Third Team would also allow for a more accurate spread across the three teams based on how all the players did throughout the season.

The Big East has 16(?) soccer schools and has three teams. The A10 has 2 teams. The A10 is a large soccer conference, unlike 8- and 10-team leagues. We need a larger pool to recognize.

Space is always a factor in getting accurate representation. I dont know for sure how the A10 coaches ballots are designed to work, but Ive voted for A10 womens basketball and A10 soccer tourney teams in the past and there are a number of requirements you have to fulfill in order to cast the ballot.

For instance when I voted for the basketball media poll and preseason teams, you cant vote for any players on the host school in your media market.

As to how the A10 soccer coaches handle this, it's likely they nominate three or four players from their own team to the general A10 postseason awards ballot. Once the ballot is created with all the players, the coaches cast a limited number of votes for players on all teams but their own.

If thats the case, Coach Tucker's hands are totally tied on this. He's got 5-7 legitimate All-Conference talents that are absolutely fool-proof, but cannot get all of them on the ballot. So he has to pick favorites among his own team and make a couple players sacrificial lambs that are just as worthy. He's a victim of the system -- and the success he has created at UD. While its largely out of his control, I feel for the players. I feel for the Libertins and Kenyons that could start for just about any Big10 team they wanted, but elected to come here and be Flyers.

So adding a third team eases the congestion in how many players a coach can nominate and vote for. The league certainly has the size to add a third team, and certainly has the talent to. And with the unbalanced pods forcing coaches to cast ballots on some kids they never competed against during the season, it affords some greater flexibility and margin for error. Its not like the A10 is tabulating a million votes here. A couple fouled up ballots could mean the difference between a player making All-Conference or being left out completely. More votes spreads the risk of that happening to the most deserving players.

When you have Beljan, Kenyon, Willy, Libertin, Smigel, and Garcia, how are you supposed to choose just three or four when all of them are league bell cows? It puts a guy like MT is a lousy spot. Maybe they figured nobody in the league would ever have that many quality players on the same team at the same time. Regardless, I think there's room for tweaking the process and the selections.

What may invariably happen is some UD players miss out on All A10 recognition but end up making All Mid-Atlantic Region.

I'll post the letter I sent to the A10 later tonight, along with any response I get.

[Chris R]

The email I sent to the A10 office yesterday..

Bernadette, Ed, and Lucas-

I don’t write many letters to voice my opinion, but I feel compelled to do so in this instance.

As the primary curator of the University of Dayton fan base for the past 16 years, I’ve spent the last 12 providing coverage and support for the UD men’s and women’s soccer teams. More so, I’ve been a passionate follower of A10 soccer and without patting myself on the back too much, I’d like to think I can speak semi-intelligently on both the Flyers, the A10, and the historical context of A10 soccer over the last 12 seasons.

I’m asking you to consider adding a third All-Conference Team in the future to recognize the players that have made significant contributions to this league, but have been pushed out of post-season recognition because of the limited space in the existing nomination process. Let me be clear: the last thing any of us want is to hand out too many awards to water down the accomplishments of the very best. That said, I think the talent of the league and size of the league deserves a Third Team All-Conference for the following reasons:

1. The A10 is a large conference with 14 soccer-playing programs. Assuming the average A10 program utilizes 17 players in their normal playing rotation, that’s 238 players making weekly contributions to the conference. Acknowledging the Top 22 players on First and Second Teams recognizes just 9.2% of the eligible players. Were this an eight- or 10-team league, perhaps two teams would be adequate. The All Rookie team is just that: reserved for freshmen only and not necessarily a reflection of the best overall players in the conference.

2. Several teams in the A10 are regionally and nationally competitive, with many high-level players that oftentimes get side-stepped at the expense of space limitations on coaching ballots. Some schools in the A10 are clearly the class of the conference, but there is a temptation to spread the wealth and provide some recognition to every team. Rather than take away minimal but important recognition from less successful schools by piling up on players from the elite programs, adding a Third Team eases the congestion and allows more of the top players to receive recognition without adversely affecting players from less successful teams. With three teams, the talents of the player are also more accurately represented by placing them on teams with equally-skilled conference mates. Additionally, it provides the coaches with far greater flexibility to nominate players that might not stand out in season-ending A10 stat charts, but nonetheless pass the look test with their on-field play. Soccer is a fluid sport. The best players oftentimes affect matches in ways that do not show up in box scores.

3. With unbalanced pod scheduling, coaches do not see all of the teams and players during the season. The nomination process is already difficult. Asking coaches to vote for players sight unseen or on last year’s memory begs for a Third Team to provide more flexibility.

4. Finally, here are two examples of A10 players with All-Conference talent as good or better than this year’s selections, but overlooked because of space or other legitimate limitations in the nomination process:

Juliana Libertin (Sophomore, Dayton) – Libertin is one of just two A10 players to accumulate at least 10 goals and 10 assists this season, the other being Flyer All-American teammate Colleen Williams. In the last THREE seasons, Williams and Libertin are the only A10 players to post a double-double. She finished fifth in the A10 in points and was one of the toughest matchups for opposing teams all season. Libertin’s only crutch was sharing the field with two other 10-goal scorers (Williams, and 2nd Teamer Kelsey Smigel).

Emily Kenyon (Senior, Dayton) – Like Libertin, Kenyon suffers from the noise of association. Former Hermann Trophy nominee Kathleen Beljan (Dayton) is a worthy selection, but Kenyon has been as consistent and competent in the Flyer defense all season. In fact, she is having one of the best defensive seasons in Flyer history – which is no small compliment considering the pedigree of the program. Those that have watched and properly evaluated her play would come to the same conclusion I have.

I realize these All-Conference teams are not an exact science. Every year there are talented players not recognized. For the reasons I have outlined however and with two examples of players not recognized by the league but in all likelihood soon to be recognized as All Mid-Atlantic Region, now is the time to re-consider the nomination process, number of players recognized, and reconcile the fact that some teams in the A10 command greater attention than others. I’m sure there are other A10 players on other teams that played legitimate All-Conference soccer, but were casualties of a numbers game as well. The intent here is not to over-populate the recognition; rather, size the recognition fairly to the size and talent of the conference. The conference has a lot of good players. The NSCAA certainly thinks so. Amend the postseason All-Conference nomination process to reflect that.

Thanks for listening,