Ejay’s Weekly Pool – Week One

And so it begins. Below is a link where you can register to pick your winners, losers and scores.

To participate in the weekly EJay Pool, follow this link – https://forms.gle/HQNDjyo5U3FhuD1j9

Below are some of the rules and how it is scored –

• Closes Thursday Night
• 5 points for each game outcome
• 10 points for each correct score
• after dropping your lowest weekly score, season winner is participant with most points
• this season’s prize is once again nothing 🙂
• Pod with Simplecoach forthcoming

And as a service to my readers, here is a quick analysis of each game

Oglethorpe v Washington & Lee @ Emory

• W&L lost some big time players to graduation.  Defender PJ Ryan, leading scorer Weyimi Agbeyegbe, some big shoes to fill.  They got better as the year progressed, and 2^nd year coach Lumumba Shabazz will have to be ready out of the gate.
• The Stormy Petrels a bit of a mystery to me.  9-3-6 last year, including a 3-0 loss to W&L   They were 14-3-2 the previous year.  Bit of a see saw, but they are bringing in 8 transfers and have a couple of grad students.
  • Belmont, Young Harris College (D2), Clayton State (D2), Dallas Baptist, South Carolina Baptist (D2)
  • Question is how much of an impact will they have?

• Going with the Generals, 2-1

Ohio Wesleyan @ Calvin

• 2024 MIAA Champs Calvin (14-6-2) is relatively young after losing 9 seniors and grad students to graduation, including leading scorer Alex White.  Also seemingly not on the roster is All Region Xtreme Hauk who had 8 goals for the season, 2nd best on the squad.
• The biggest question mark for me is Ohio Wesleyan stepping in to a new era with the retirement of the legendary Jay Martin and the elevation of longtime assistant Matt Weiss.  I watched their scrimmage against Ohio Dominican and they looked like a very different team than last year.  Very intent about getting forward.  Looking to press higher up the field, getting forward the ball.
• In spite of  being on the road, the Battling Bishops will take this 1-0.

Rutgers-Camden @ Haverford

• Rutgers Camden was 9-7-5 in 2024 that included a 1-0 win against Haverford.  Some solid senior class presence in defense, including senior captain goalkeeper Sean Boen.  They will be able to lock down the back, but as in last year, finding goals will be done by committee.
• Haverford is in a relegation battle down to Division IV.  Think Rutgers Camden will take this one 1-0

Dickinson @ Christopher Newport

•  Dickinson lost 10 to graduation last year, but there top 5 point getters. Including leading scorer Saul Iwowo (16g) is back.  That is a lot of firepower for a team that went 17-4-3.   I expect this team to do even more damage and win the centennial.
• Christopher Newport was 6-7-5 last year.  They do have a veteran senior class with the likes of All Region Asher Kuzemka anchoring the back line, and leading scorer Drew McWhinney is back. 
• Don’t think the Captains have the fire power to deal with Dickinson.  The Red Devils take this 3-1.

Transylvania @ Heidelberg

•  Transy consistently competes for the Heartland Conference against Rose Hulman and Hanover.  Will have a veteran team this year and could look to surprise a few teams.
• Heidelberg has had a rough go over the years although something is happening there.    New head coach Michael Wright, formerly an assistant at Mount Union, will have his hands full with a team that only won 1 game last year.  I think they will be more competitive this year.
• This game is Transylvania’s to lose.  The Student Princes will go down 3-1.

Chicago @ St. Olaf

•  National champions in 2022, Chicago has struggled getting its footing.  Last year they went 7-8-3.  They do have some promising sophomores who may be able to deliver goals, but think this team will need to be a bit more defensive minded and not allow so many goals…. 1.39 goals allowed per game.
• The 2023 National Champions, went 15-4-4 last year making it to the second round of the NCAAs.  Think this team has legs and a solid senior class to lead.  They did lose All American Shea Bechtel, but his brother Ryan could really pick up where he left off and provide the fire power they will need if they make a deep run.
• Not sure Chicago will improve much over last year.  I do think St. Olaf will be a team to keep an eye on.  St. Olaf will take this 3-1.

Franklin & Marshall @ Rowan

•  “He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Chicago way!”
• Lots of questions for me for F&M.  Lose a lot of talent and will be a relatively young squad.  Senior Jack Borden will have to provide the leadership to lead this team to success.
• I think Rowan can really make a move this year.  All American Johnny Troiano is back for his senior year which will be crucial for Rowan.    Think this team will be better than last year.
• Think this will be a battle.  2-2

Cortland @ St. Lawrence

•  Love this game.  Two great coaches in Steve Axtell and Mike Toshack
• Big question mark with the Red Dragons. Lost a very impactful… and large class. Incoming freshman and transfers could fill some spots, but definitely will be a case where there will be players that will have to step into some roles and make an impact.
• Veteran team that only lost two games last season… one to Cortland.  Lost in PKs to Vassar in the Liberty League Championship.  Leading Scorer Henry Brown is only a junior and they will need it.   
• Both of these teams have something to prove this year, but think St. Lawrence has more pieces of the puzzle.  SLU takes it 2-1

NYU @ Vassar

•  Average and inconsistent 2024 for NYU never quite finding any momentum during the season.  Lose their top 3 goal scorers to graduation and lost a lot of leadership.  Will be a young squad with a need for goals because defensively they will be inexperienced.
• Vassar is a team to watch.  Will have a very experience midfield with Diego Pastor-Valverde and Jared Fiske leading the team.  Sophomore Arden Tobolski is back after leading the team in goals with 13.  They have the pieces of the puzzle, question is does it come together this early in the season.
• At home, and looking to build on last year, I think Vassar takes this solidly.  3-0.

Blackburn @ Buena Vista

•  Blackburn went 3-10-5 last year and lost to Buena Vista at home 2-1.  Only graduated two seniors and had a roster with 21 freshman which included 4 of their 5 top scorers.  Think this team will show better, but may need another year of maturing before seeing the results.
• Buena Vista was 9-11 last year that saw then play a young squad.  Sophomores will need to step into some roles and deliver goals if  this team wants to go beyond what they did last year.
• Both teams are young, but Buena Vista has the edge.  2-0