D3 Football: MIT Unveils 2018 Schedule

Udgam_webfront_Endicott_story — Udgam Goyal will look to quarterback the Engineers to their first NEWMAC title this fall. (PHOTO CREDIT: MIT Athletics)

By NoontimeSports.com

It was announced just a short time ago the MIT football schedule for the 2018 season.

The Engineers, who concluded their 2017 campaign 7-3 overall, will kick-off their new season on Friday, August 31st when they host Becker College at 7 p.m. before traveling to Curry College one week later for a 7 p.m. kick-off on Friday, September 7th.

MIT topped Becker last season, but fell to Curry at home by a score of 15-7. The Engineers will play their final non-conference game the following Saturday – that would be September, 15th, to be exact – when they visit Endicott College for a 1 p.m. start.

One week later, the Engineers will hop into New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play, beginning with back-to-back home dates against Catholic University and Merchant Marine. The Engineers scored wins over both squads last season – both games occurred on the road.

MIT will compete in just a trio of games in October before closing out their regular season slate with a pair of early November tilts against Norwich University and Springfield College. The game against Springfield will be the team’s ‘Senior Day.’

The Engineers are slated to compete against Coast Guard Academy, Maine Maritime and WPI in October.

This season will mark a new era for the Engineers as they will be led by first-year coach Brian Bubna. Bubna is entering his ninth season with the program – he was previously the squad’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.

Who will we be watching this season on MIT’s Football?

Udgam Goyal (QB): Goyal enjoyed one of his better seasons under center last fall, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,922 yards. He tossed 14 touchdowns, while rushing for a career-best 337 yards on 58 carries for five scores.
John Roberts (RB): The soon-to-be junior led the Engineers’ rushing attack with 882 yards on 166 carries for 11 touchdowns.
Andrew DeNucci (LB): DeNucci was always on our radar last fall, finishings econd on the team in total tackles (70.0). He registered 7.5 tackles for a loss of 25 yards and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 10 yards. He recorded 37 solo tackles, while assisting on 36 stops.

Stay connected with Noontime Sports Football on Twitter: @Noontime_FB – we will have various updates on the Twitter handle on college, high school and professional football as we get closer to a brand new season.

D3 Football: WNE Unveils Its 2018 Schedule

fb-11-11 — Western New England unveiled its 2018 schedule. (PHOTO CREDIT: Rachael Margossian | WNE Athletics)

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

The Western New England Golden Bears recently unveiled its 2018 schedule, which includes five home dates, as well as their annual rivalry game with Springfield College.

WNE will visit the Pride in week one on Friday, August 31st with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Last season, the Pride defeated the Golden Bears in the Fifth Annual Pynchon Saw Game. Quarterback Anthony Service concluded the contest with 235 passing yards – he also rushed for a team-high 49 yards.

The Golden Bears will host their initial home game of the 2018 season one week later when they entertain Westfield State on Saturday, September 8 before making the trek to Husson University on Saturday, September 15th. The Eagles lost to the Golden Bears last season by a touchdown, but did lead at the break by two scores (14-0). Husson was the lone New England squad to advance to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Tournament last fall.

WNE will close out the month of September with back-to-back games against Anna Maria College and Salve Regina.

The Golden Bears will compete in a trio of conference contests in October, including a pair of home games against Curry College and University of New England before closing out its regular season slate with games against Endicott College and Becker College in November.

WNE concluded its 2017 campaign 8-3 overall and 5-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). The Golden Bears captured the inaugural CCC title with back-to-back wins over Curry and Salve Regina to secure the crown before advancing to the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Delaware Valley.

Lax Notebook: D3 Games To Watch This Week

NS Lax Notebook2018

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

It’s the final week of the NCAA D3 Lacrosse regular season, so let’s dish out some games to watch, follow or attend this week in New England, which you know I will be tweeting about @MattNoonan11!

Men’s Lacrosse: Salve Regina at Curry College (Tues., Apr. 24th at 7 p.m.): Both teams enter tonight’s contest in a two-way tie for third place. This game could go either way, but I think Curry will find a way late in the game to pull out the W! PICK: Curry

Men’s Lacrosse: Mitchell College at Becker College (Weds., Apr. 25th at 4 p.m.): One goal by Becker in the fourth quarter was the difference in the initial meeting, but look for Mitchell to bounce back. The winner of this game advances to Dean College this weekend to contend for the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) crown. PICK: Mitchell

Women’s Lacrosse: MIT at Coast Guard Academy (Weds., Apr. 25th at 4 p.m.): The Bears have enjoyed a VERY successful fourth season, but this maybe a tough one for them to snag – the Engineers enter the contest with a lot of momentum. PICK: MIT

Men’s Lacrosse: Conn. College at Wesleyan University (Weds., Apr. 25th at 4:30 p.m.): The Cardinals will be a team to watch in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament, but don’t expect the Red and Black to soar past a solid Conn. College squad, which has been an exciting story this spring. PICK: Wesleyan

Women’s Lacrosse: Amherst College at Trinity College (Weds., Apr. 25th at 6:30 p.m.): My pick is the Mammoths in this one. Their defense is legit and should be able to slow down the Bantams’ offense. PICK: Amherst

Men’s Lacrosse: Bowdoin College at Tufts University (Weds., Apr. 25th at 7 p.m.): The Jumbos will look to cap their regular season slate with a solid win over a Polar Bears squad, which fell to Williams College this past weekend. PICK: Tufts

Men’s Lacrosse: MIT at Babson College (Weds., Apr. 25th at 7 p.m.): The Beavers’ final week of the regular season is certainly not an easy one, so expect the Engineers to provide some challenges for the Green and White in all four quarters. PICK: Babson

Men’s Lacrosse: Clark University at Springfield College (Weds., Apr. 25th at 7 p.m.): This is a must-win for the Cougars, who will look to secure a spot in the upcoming New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament. The race for the final four spots will be fun to watch! PICK: Clark

Women’s Lacrosse: Salve Regina at Framingham State (Thurs., Apr. 26th): The Rams appeared in last week’s regional rankings and will be a team to watch in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). PICK: Framingham State

Men’s Lacrosse: Coast Guard Academy at Babson College (Sat., Apr. 28th at 12 p.m.): The Bears will attempt to cap its regular season slate with a win over the Beavers, who appear to be the front-runner for the top seed in the NEWMAC Tournament. Pick: Coast Guard Academy

D3 Lacrosse: 2018 Women’s Midseason Report

NS D3Lax Midseason Report

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

Welcome to April, New England D3 Lax fans! We have officially made it to the mid-way point of the 2018 season – crazy, right?

With just a few weeks remaining before conference tournaments begin, let’s take a spin around the New England landscape and check-in on every conference.

Stay connected with Noontime Sports lacrosse by following us on Twitter: @Noontime_Lax

Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC): Endicott College and Roger Williams meet in an important Wednesday afternoon showdown – the winner of this game will most likely be the front-runner for the top seed in the CCC Tournament. Endicott will look to bounce back following a tough loss to Tufts University, while the Hawks will look to extend their winning streak to four games.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Roger Williams. The Hawks boast the best overall record in the CCC and should find a way to not only get past Endicott this afternoon, but also their remaining league foes.

Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC): Despite an early season setback to Colby-Sawyer, the Mount Ida College Mustangs have been on a roll, winning eight-straight. They will face Johnson & Wales in two weeks – that game will most likely decide the regular season winner.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Mount Ida – let’s go Mustang City!

Little East Conference (LEC): Plymouth State should remain the favorite in the LEC, but don’t be shocked if Keene State catches up to them. The Owls are currently riding a four-game winning streak, as of early Wednesday (Apr. 4th) afternoon, and will certainly be read for their showdown with Plymouth State in a few weeks.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): As much as I want to pick Keene State, I think Plymouth State will find a way to win the regular season crown.

Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC): Westfield State was my initial pick earlier this season, but I certainly wouldn’t overlook Framingham State, which is one of four teams that currently boasts a 1-0 league ledger. The Rams face a tough task this weekend against a talented Bridgewater State squad that is also 1-0 in MASCAC play. A win for Framingham State could certainly be a momentum boost for the Black and Gold, but the Bears should find a way to slow down their rival.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Bridgewater State. The Bears have done quite well outside the conference and should be the team to beat in late April/early May.

New England Collegiate Conference (NECC): At the moment, the race for the regular season crown is wide open, but perhaps this is the year Southern Vermont wins it all? The Mountaineers have appeared in the NECC playoffs the past three seasons and should certainly be a team to watch over the next few weeks.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Southern Vermont. The Mountaineers scored their first win of the season earlier this week over Newbury College and should be able to gain some momentum over the next few weeks, especially with a win over Becker College on Saturday, April 7th.

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): Middlebury College is clearly the favorite, but don’t count out the following: Amherst College, Trinity College and Tufts University. All three teams certainly has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the Panthers, but this maybe the year the Panthers win the conference and go deep in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Middlebury College. As much as I would like to pick Trinity or Tufts, I think the road to a NESCAC crown will go through Vermont.

New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC): Babson College scored an impressive win recently over Springfield College, which could help them claim the regular season crown. The Beavers still need to a few more wins to sew up the top seed – one game to circle will be a conference tilt with Coast Guard Academy next Saturday, April 14th. The Bears have been a great story this season, winning eight of nine contests thus far, as of early Wednesday (Apr. 4th) afternoon.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Babson College. The Beavers’ win over Springfield College last month was exactly what the Green and White needed to set themselves up for a successful final few weeks of the regular season.

North Atlantic Conference (NAC): As of now, it appears New England College is the front-runner, but make sure to keep an eye on Castleton University and Husson University over the next few weeks. This conference maybe run currently by NEC, but come tournament time, anything this possible!

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): New England College. The Pilgrims are averaging close tp 15 goals per game – they currently average 14.90 markers per contest. Their offense could provide challenges for Castleton or Husson, but a match-up in the final against Colby-Sawyer could be an interesting one.

D3 Lacrosse: 2018 Men’s Midseason Report

NS D3Lax Midseason Report

By Matt Noonan (@MattNoonan11)

Welcome to April, New England D3 Lax fans! We have officially made it to the mid-way point of the 2018 season – crazy, right?

With just a few weeks remaining before conference tournaments begin, let’s take a spin around the New England landscape and check-in on every conference.

Stay connected with Noontime Sports lacrosse by following us on Twitter: @Noontime_Lax

Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC): It should come as no surprise that Endicott College and Western New England remain the top two teams in the CCC. Both squads will meet on Saturday (Apr. 7th) in a pivotal regular season match-up. The winner will most likely be the top seed in the upcoming postseason tournament.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Western New England. The Golden Bears seem to be the team to beat in the CCC this spring and should take care of business on Saturday against the Gulls. Maybe they get tripped up down the stretch by Roger Williams or Salve Regina, but the Golden Bears are my pick to win the regular season crown and host the 2018 CCC Tournament.

Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC): This is an interesting conference to watch – there really isn’t a favorite. Lasell College captured the GNAC crown last season, but appears to have rebounded from a difficult start. The Lasers boast a 2-0 ledger in league play and can really push ahead for good with a win this weekend over Mount Ida College. The Mustangs are certainly in contention for the regular season crown, as well as Johnson & Wales, Norwich University and Rivier University.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Despite a slow start, I still like Lasell College, especially if they can find a way past Mount Ida this weekend.

Little East Conference (LEC): Keene State will remain the favorite in the LEC, but it will be interesting to watch a few teams over the next few weeks, including UMass Dartmouth, which is riding a three-game winning streak. The Corsairs will meet the Owls this weekend in New Hampshire.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): Let’s go with … Keene State! The Owls will secure the top seed. Sure, they may get tripped up once (or twice?) down the stretch, but they will be the team to beat in the LEC postseason.

New England Collegiate Conference (NECC): Dean College appears to be the team to beat in the NECC. They currently boast a 5-3 overall ledger and will begin conference play this Saturday, April 7 when they host Mitchell College at 1 p.m.

All three NECC teams will qualify for the tournament later this month, but as of now, it appears the Bulldogs have the upper hand against Mitchell and Becker College.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): The Dean Bulldogs should most likely be the team that hosts the championship game on Saturday, April 28.

New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC): As expected, the NESCAC has been a fun conference to follow this season – a majority of their team’s have continued to appear in our weekly Top 10 poll.

My guess, as of now, is Amherst College will find a way to secure the top seed, but I wouldn’t rule out Tufts University or Wesleyan University. All three teams will meet over the next few weeks, which will help determine the regular season champion.

Keep an eye on Bowdoin College, Connecticut College and Williams College over the next few weeks, as well.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): I think Amherst College is the team to beat in the NESCAC this season. They remain our top team in the latest Noontime Sports Top 10 Poll and will most likely be the squad that hosts the semifinals and championships next month.

New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NESCAC): Coast Guard Academy has been the team to watch – can they continue their March momentum this month against MIT and Springfield College? Their mid-week match against the Pride in two weeks will most likely determine the top seed in the NEWMAC.

Springfield has enjoyed another successful regular season campaign, as well. They boast a solid 6-3 ledger, which includes some non-conference wins over SUNY Cortland, Nazareth and Union College.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): I think Coast Guard Academy will find a way to get past Springfield to secure the top seed in the NEWMAC.

North Atlantic Conference (NAC): Once again, New England College appears to be the favorite – I am not sure if Castleton University will catch the Pilgrims, but we shall see.

NEC has rebounded from an 0-4 start with seven-straight wins, including some non-league victories over University of New England, Mount Ida and Norwich University.

Regular Season Champion (Prediction): The New England College Pilgrims will finish its conference slate undefeated and secure the top spot in the NAC playoffs.