SC Men’s 2025 Top 25
Only my second ranking in what is a very odd year.
SC.
| Team | Record | Rat | NCAA | NPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denison | 10-0-2 | 4 | 3 | 13 | Think that have shown to be the most consistent team in the country. Playing at a high level. And yes, they tied a good Otterbein team, and a very tough College of Wooster. Lot to be determined this month, but right now, my number one. |
| 2 | Williams | 7-1-3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | They could easily be number one in the country. Two classic Nescac ties against Amherst and Bowdoin, but some great wins against Colby, Bates, Hamilton and a 3-1 beating of Tufts. They could be 12-0-3 by tournament time. |
| 3 | Emory | 10-0-2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | The best of the UAA if you ask me. |
| 4 | Chicago | 7-1-4 | 7 | 19 | 20 | Another UAA team on fire. Quietly winning the games before them. These next couple of weeks will determine if they are back. |
| 5 | Augsburg | 13-1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | Augsburgh finally coming into its own. This has been a work in progress for a number of years. Despite the stumble against a very good and “accurate” St. Johns, this is a team to contend with. |
| 6 | Washington StL | 10-1 | 12 | 7 | 8 | Anyone not looking at Wash U does it at their own peril. Ask Brandeis who beat them 4-0… |
| 7 | St Olaf | 11-1-2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | St. Olaf has had a great run going, tying Chicago and Luther, and beating Carleton, Macalaster, Gustavus and St. Johns. Has the look of the team that won it all. |
| 8 | Tufts | 8-1-2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | Early season loss to Williams hasn’t stopped the Jumbos. Making their way through the Nescac. Will say, they one of my favorites to win it all …. And they still are. |
| 9 | Cortland St | 8-1-4 | 10 | 13 | 14 | Only loss is to Rowan, and tied Ithaca, Scranton, and Oneonta.This team has a lot of upside and if it matures by end of the season, could make a deep run in the tournament. |
| 10 | Dickinson | 9-0-5 | 13 | 9 | 19 | This team has been consistently good throughout the season and think they are the Centennial favorite. |
| 11 | Trinity TX | 10-1 | 8 | 6 | 18 | Only loss to #13 Christopher Newport. At some point they will answer my question in the affirmative… is this the year for them? |
| 12 | Chris Newport | 8-1-4 | 15 | 20 | 17 | Like this team and how they have been playing. Can compete with anyone. Lost to #25 VA Wesleyan, and then tied Mary Washington then Washington & Lee. Tough rest of the way forward but not counting them out. |
| 13 | Lynchburg | 9-0-2 | 14 | 17 | 9 | Lynchburg always struck me as a good team but short of being one of the blue bloods in Division III. That said, since tying, they have gone on an 8 game win streak. And against some tough opponents like Mary Washington, Franklin and Marshall. This weekend they face VA Wesleyan which should be a cracker of a game. |
| 14 | Wesleyan CT | 7-2-2 | 16 | 4 | 3 | Little topsy turvey to start the year, but have won 3 in a row against Middlebury, Amherst and Trinity. Next up is Williams. Could be the game of the season for Wesleyan. |
| 15 | WI Eau Claire | 8-2-2 | 19 | NR | 29 | Eau Claire taking the Ws where it should and building a successful season. Team doesn’t pack the punch like last year, but still a force to be reckioned with |
| 16 | Gust Adolphus | 9-3-1 | 9 | RV | 23 | Big time loss to St. Olaf, 6-1 |
| 17 | Lake Forest | 13-0 | 20 | 11 | 5 | They are the only undefeatable and that is a tough thing to do at this point in the season for any team. Beat a very good Calving team 30. Next top 100 team they face is 6-3 WI Whitewater. |
| 18 | Hobart & Smith | 10-0-2 | 24 | 22 | 11 | Remain undefeated, with a most recent win against Skidmore. Have a tough close out of the season which will determnine their Liberty League aspirations. |
| 19 | Bowdoin | 7-2-2 | 22 | NR | 25 | Still have too face Amherst and Tufts. |
| 20 | Amherst | 6-2-3 | 11 | RV | 16 | Not the same team as last year. Seems to lack the motivation or play with a chip on their shoulder. Still will make the tournament which is where I suspect they will zealously guard their title. |
| 21 | Hampden-Sydney | 8-1-2 | 18 | 21 | 28 | Quite the year for this ODAC team. |
| 22 | Brandeis | 18-1-3 | 28 | 12 | 7 | Successful season so far with some great results. Only loss is to Wash U. |
| 23 | Colorado Col | 7-0-5 | 25 | RV | 35 | Just tied Concordia, but hasn’t lost a game yet. Not last years team, but has a lot going for them, including a 5:1 goals for ratio…. |
| 24 | SW Univ TX | 11-0-2 | 40 | 14 | 15 | There is another team in Texas that is buring it up. And they will both face of the last game of the season. Until then, this team is to be feared. |
| 30 | Scranton | 9-0-3 | 30 | 15 | 24 | At 9-0-3, the Royals are quietly putting together an impressive season. Along with Catholic, Scranton is leading the Landmark that could possible get two landmark teams to the NCAAs. |
The NCAA has Hope College ranked #9. You don’t have them in your top 25?
Hi Michael. Thanks for the comment. I like Hope. I watched them take care of Wabash in convincing fashion. I do have them on my radar but need to see more out them. Think if they dispatch DePauw and Chicago, they will definitely be in consideration of the Top 25.
GAC vs MAC game was actually postponed over the weekend due to weather delays. They finished the balance of game yesterday evening, resulting in a 1-0 Win for the Gusties. That said, it was a very even game.
Who do you like in the Dennison v. Mary Washington game?
This is most definitely a tough one. I think Denison is peaking at the right time, and Mary Washington has been pretty dominant. I am going to go with Mary Washington. Am thinking this may be their year.
The shadow of Dave Brandt is finally waning and exposing the Machine that was Messiah Mens Soccer. Dave Brandt has shown that he can coach. He has adapted, and delivered success at different levels and programs. HIs successful runs at Messiah perpetuated a system that was based upon the ability to recruit talent that far surpassed the division. Messiah could effectively do what they wanted, and bullied other schools. Brad McCarty inherited this reality, and simply ran the same system year after year. However, the world has changed. D3 soccer is not what it was, and there is a new and emerging parity that never existed. The talent will only increase as D1 roster limits drive players that normally would have happily held bloated roster spots at a D1 program out to other divisions. Brad McCarty is showing his limited coaching ability and his inability to adapt. Messiah has always been predictable, but teams still couldn’t match the talent. Now that the talent can be and is matched – Messiah must adapt to survive. However, the inability…… and honestly the arrogance of McCarty is on full display. Teams must adapt, and coaches must make adjustments based on personnel. However, the theme at Messiah is to force players into the system, which leads to great talents only getting worse under McCarty’s direction. As one example, look at the phenomena of Matt McDonald. He took the nation by storm his Senior year to win the NPOY – only to return for a 5th season to turn in a year that was lackluster at best……this reality was based on the country knowing who he was, adjusting to cover him (man marking and doubling), and McCarty not adjusting shape or scheme to take advantage of his amazing talent. Instead – the same system is run, and one man (even a NPOY) cannot be greater than his algorithm. The bloom is coming off the rose…and I think questions will continue about Brad McCarty. At minimum, the soccer world should be wondering why he was suspended from coaching this past spring for knowledge of and inappropriate reporting and handling of hazing traditions within his team.
Messiah creating confusion is a kind descriptor….I think this culture may be showing that it is more cult than anything……..Saying that, I wont entirely count them out – as they should be able, in spite of their challenges be able to at least bully the MAC and have success win conference….time will tell.