Decision Day

 

PRESENTED BY THE CITY OF SALEM "Virginia's Championship City" JANUARY 25, 2021 | written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III Our goal is to keep you - the influencers in DIII athletics - apprised of what's happening around Division III - the games, polls, news, happenings, awards, calendar of events, and much more. We hope you enjoy d3Playbook and that you'll share this with your friends, colleagues and co-workers.   >> Good Monday Morning! Thanks Buffalo Bills. I enjoyed the ride.  >> Today's Word Count: 936. Concise. Smart. >> Thanks for reading D3Playbook. Remember to follow us on Twitter @D3Playbook for the latest news and transactions   Subscribe to d3Playbook TOP STORY 1.  Decision Day The Division III Championships Committee met via videoconference on January 7. The committee has asked institutions to declare their intentions on the conduct of winter competition and if their participation would make them eligible for winter championships selection. Responses to the request are due today - January 25. Due to reduced bracket sizes in baseball and softball, the committee approved a recommendation to push back championship selections by one week. The delay fills the gap left by the elimination of the super regional round. Baseball selections will be made on May 23 with regionals scheduled for May 27-30 and the finals June 4-7. Softball will choose its field on May 16 with regionals May 20-23 and the finals set for May 27-June 1. >> Complete Report   SOCCER 2. From Camel to Red Bull   Connecticut College standout goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the third round of last week's Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. He becomes the first athlete from Conn to ever be drafted by a major American sports league. Marcucci was a two-time first-team All-America selection for the Camels. During his time at Connecticut College, he amassed 54 starts, a 0.50 goals-against average, an .887 save percentage and a 33-10-8 record with 22 shutouts. Marcucci finished the 2019 season with a 0.58 goals against average, an .859 save percentage and eight shutouts. He was the lone Division III selected in the SuperDraft. DIII Selections in the MLS SuperDraft 2016: Marshall Hollingsworth, M, Wheaton, Ill., Columbus Crew (R2, 41st pick) 2015: Mike Ramos, F, Whitworth, Toronto FC (R3, 50th) 2004: Khari Stephenson, M, Williams, Chicago Fire (R3, 28th) 2003: Alex Blake, F, Williams, Colorado Rapids (R3, 28th) 2003: Hayden Woodworth, M, Messiah, D.C. United (R4, 31st) 2002: Jeff Moore, M, Stockton, MetroStars (R6, 66th) >> Quotable: "He has earned this opportunity, and we couldn’t be happier and more excited for him, said Conn head coach Reuben Burk. "AJ is a true example of how dedication, commitment, and self-belief can open up doors that others might say can’t be opened.  >> Go Deeper   LACROSSE 3.  Gulls, Panthers Favored   11-15: York, Amherst, Lynchburg, Franklin & Marshall, St. John Fisher. 16-20: Middlebury, Rensselaer, Christopher Newport, Washington and Lee, Stevenson. >> A framework emerged as we compiled our Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseason Top 20, with familiar faces carrying the national pecking order.  >> Conference Call: NESCAC (5), Centennial (3), Liberty (3), C2C (2), MAC (2), ODAC (2), Atlantic East (1), Empire 8 (1), NCAC (1). 11-15: Catholic, TCNJ, Mary Washington, Colby, St. John Fisher. 16-20: Ithaca, Denison, Brockport, Colorado College, William Smith. >> Middlebury once again remains the team to beat in Division III women’s lacrosse, returning to the top spot in the Nike/US Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 following a 2019 national championship with a trio of wins before the 2020 season ended abruptly due to COVID-19. >> Conference Call: NESCAC (6), C2C (2), Centennial (2), Liberty (2), Empire 8 (1), Landmark (1), MAC (1), NCAC (1), NJAC (1), ODAC (1), SCAC (1), SUNYAC (1). >> Complete Poll   SPONSORED MESSAGE   The City of Salem and Salem Parks & Recreation along with other localities in the Roanoke Valley host a variety of softball and baseball tournaments throughout the year. We work with Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Botetourt County and Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge. USA, NSA, USSSA, Got Game, Softball Nations, Freedom Sports and ISF are organizations that bring tournaments to the Roanoke Valley.   Find out more at SalemChampionships.com   COVID 4. Full Stop The University of Mary Washington has decided to cancel winter and fall sport competitions for the remainder of the academic year. These teams will be permitted to organize practices within pre-determined segments as long as they adhere strictly to Mary Washington's MMDC protocols. The Atlantic East Conference Presidents’ Council and athletic administrators have come to the decision to cancel conference competition in fall and winter sports during the spring 2021 semester with the exception of a possible swimming championship due to its low-risk exposure category and the possibility to run the championship virtually. The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) announced that the eight MASCAC Presidents made the difficult decision to cancel the fall in spring semester athletic conference competition, including all indoor and outdoor athletic conference competition.  The decision ends the possibility of resuming the fall conference competition during the spring of 2021 but will allow fall and winter student-athletes training opportunities.   REVIEW 5. Weekend Stars    WBB: Savannah LeGate (pictured) set a SAA record with 43 points and also grabbed 21 boards in Oglethorpe's 114-104 victory against Birmingham-Southern.    WBB: Louisiana College sophomore Alex Harrison scored 21 points and collected 20 rebounds as the 'Cats defeated Ozarks, 84-75, in overtime.   WBB: East Texas Baptist improved to 14-0 with a 69-63 win at Howard Payne.   MBB: Josiah Johnson hit the 30-point mark for the sixth time this season, ripping the cords for 35 in Mary Hardin-Baylor's 94-66 win at McMurry.   MBB: Tharon Suggs put up 30 points as Lynchburg downed Eastern Mennonite in overtime, 95-87.   MIH: Milwaukee School of Engineering scored two power-play goals in a 1:32 span of the third period to down Adrian, 3-1, and remain undefeated (3-0). Rock Boynton made 38 saves for MSOE.   MWR: Concordia-Wisconsin's Cameron Mercer pulled out a 5-4 decision at 285 to secure a 20-19 victory over Wheaton. The Falcons were 4-0 on the day in their CUW Duals.   TRANSACTIONS 6.  Comings and Goings   ALMA - Catherine Boerner named head athletic trainer FERRUM - Brock Vaughn named assistant men's soccer coach HOUGHTON - Announced discontinuation of men's and women's lacrosse programs following spring 2021 season KEUKA - Jake Scott named men's basketball coach MARYMOUNT - Paige Knussman named softball coach MICHIGAN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - Lawrence Beamer named to staff as intern RANDOLPH - Lee Lewis and Greg Hofmann named co-head swimming coaches ST. MARY'S, Md. - Dominic Milburn promoted to associate head men's basketball coach SUNY MORRISVILLE - Ashley Holdridge named women's lacrosse coach WIDENER - Tanner Pajakins named assistant men's lacrosse coach   1 THING 7.  The New Way to Feed   I love this. Get ready for spring sports. https://t.co/MDEke40ptK — D3Playbook (@d3Playbook) January 23, 2021 Subscribe to d3Playbook

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