Keene may have been weak last year based on their results, but certainly not their roster.  They were a talented team last year.  Alex Horne, who was perhaps the most dominating forward in the past 4 years suffered a neck injury but played through it because it was his senior season.  Keene also lost a few good defenders, who were extremely physical, including Senior Shawn Booth who was a good player.  They suffered a huge loss in Mike Cooley not returning to the team after a great junior campaign.

I would agree with STUDSUP that the plymouth team this year, in last years conference would most likely get beat up pretty bad.  The talent on all teams last year seemed to be a little better than this year as most teams lost some pretty good players.

ECSU was physically dominant last year, especially in the back four (whom all did not graduate).  They return one defender who was the least physical and the smallest of the four.  They brought three other small defenders in around him to stabalize their defense.  ECSU last year could control a game with their back four, but this year looks to be different.  I will also have to disagree with the "lack of skill" you thought ECSU had as they seemed to me one of the more skillful teams in the league.

I am surprised by how bad WCSU has done this year as i was unaware of any huge losses they may have had, beside their keeper who was a very good goalie. 

I think the league is overall a little weaker this year but this is due to a strong senior class on all teams.  Therefore plymouth might make it into the top 4 as STUDS UP stated before.

 Well, UMD can certainly prove something today vs Conn College. They have a very good central midfielder back and senior up top who can certainly score goals. I just dont know if they will have the physicality that it takes to be a top team in the LEC. I'm not taking anything away from them, because they have been a pest in the conference lately. In terms of southern maine, they have lost a ton of talent from last years team. Three all new england players, including Bajic who is arguably the best offensive player we've seen in the LEC since the days of Kyle Texiera. When I saw them vs Plymouth, they were solid and tough in the back and in the central midfield. Look for McHugh in the midfield to grab some games by the scruff of the neck and carry this team. I dont know much about western, but losing their keeper doesn't help much. I think the top 3 are set with keene eastern and ric in some sort of order. The 4,5 spots are for Southern Maine, Plymouth and UMD to battle it out.

Personally I do not feel UMD can compete with Conn College, especially due to CC coming off of perhaps its biggest win in the past few years beating regionally ranked #1 Amherst 4-1!!!!

Also, If you're referring to USM losing a ton of talent you have to look at all the facts.  They did indeed lose three all new england players, but only one was all new england in 2008,and he was a 3rd or 4th team pick in Reilly.  I feel Greg Cox was the best player on this team in 2008 as Bajic had a disappointing season.  I never felt Bajic was as good as advertised but obviosuly his numbers would speak differently.  Cox should have been the all new england pick from USM last year.

A lot of Bajic's goals were set up by cox and when one on one with a defender Bajic almost seemed lost at times.

I would have to throw Alex Horne into the conversation of best LEC Forwards and Maxim Fantl as well.  Horne had a couple more goals than Bajic in his career at 46, and Bajic at 44.  Fantl has 39 with 8 games plus any tournament games to go.  All comparable stats.  Kyle Tex was indeed a great player and fun to watch.  I played against him when he had a short stint with the Western Mass Pioneers and he was good for them as well.

SPeaking of those older guys.  Lets not forget thatthe RIC teamwith Texie also had Cory Lopes and Matt Borges.  All who played 4 years besides Lopes who is one of the best strikers in MA high school history (he played 2 years and dropped out).

 Bjsznik or whatever his name is..from Maine put up great numbers, but Cox was the stud.  Fantl is the big deal now in my eyes.  He's the only one I would say is great.  Horne was a very solid foward also.  To me, Cooley was the man though.  He dropped out I believe.  

 I believe that UMD picked up a Lopes also.  Maybe Cory's younger brother from Bristol Community College.

Interestingly enough, I do not think any of these forwards were all american players, yet all were all new england players.  Max Fantl was first team all new england this past year...I wonder if he could attain all-american honors.

A defender for ECSU attained All-American Honors last year in 2008, Any other LEC players in recent years??? 

A boat load of All- New England players it seems, yet not many All- American players.  What does it take to attain these kind of honors???

Interesting conversation about the lack of All Americans. It seems that over the past 4 or 5 years, Bedini from East Conn has been the only All-American to represent the LEC.  That is a surprise to me considering the talent that has gone through this over the past 5 or so years. Just from some quick research, it seems that most of the all americans from new england were NESCAC teams.  Maybe those coaches have more pull in the voting system, or maybe those teams usually make it deep into the NCAA tourney and get more exposure? I'm not sure, its up for discussion? Just an update conn college up 1-0 on UMD

I am pretty sure the USM coach is the only coach who has a vote regarding the NSCAA Regional and National awards.  I also know the Coast Guard coach is on the committee as well.

As much of a LEC fan as I am, I have to be honest and say the NESCAC is a better league, more talented teams throughout the entire league.  Teams such as Amherst and Middlebury make it deep in the NCAA tourney, so they should get "more" all-americans.

This being said, the LEC is not a weak league as there are some extremely talented players that have played the past 4 or 5 years.  Having only one all-american seems kind of crazy to me. 

So what does the rest of the year have in store for the Little East???

hey everyone im new to this so cut me some slack.

I think the little east is a really good conference i plan on joining one of the teams in this conference and have seen every team play so far.

Welcome to the group. So are you a HS Senior headed to college next year?

Soccerfan and Gattuso I liked reading your perspectives on the LEC while I was playing with it. Having played with or against all the forwards in mention I would like to put my perspective in. In terms of the stats for Goals take a look at this. Horne was a very good forward who had strength and speed going for him. Bajic when healthy could put these characteristics together as well. Fantle is without doubt a blaze on the field with amazing speed. However for all of them it is quite possible to get into their heads and this was when they got off their game. Horne seemed to be able to keep his cool the longest but even he could be gotten off his game. LEC is a conference that anyone can beat anyone on Saturday as we have already seen with just two games. Prior to the second week of the conference it looked like E Conn was playing very strong soccer and poised to take it easily. However Keene is having a strong start as well. I think the top 2 -3 are clear with E Conn, Keene and Ric but the rest is going to be a toss up. Whoever shows up on the most saturdays will get that spot

What can we conclude about those numbers? 

Some interesting results tonight: Keene loses at home to babson 3-1...USM goes on the road and beats Colby 3-0....West conn loses at home to Trinity 2-0...RIC and Framingham 3-3...Umass loses on the road to becker(haven't heard much about that program over the years) Finally Plymouth loses at middlebury 3-0(if i'm not mistaken, thats 4 in a row for plymouth, can they bounce back this saturday hosting west conn?) 

Plymouth beat Husson on Sunday during their Maine weekend to break the skid at 3. They have played Middlebury 4 years in a row now, and have yet to score a goal.

SoccerAlum- Very interesting point of view regarding the particular three forwards in your post.

Bajic was the easiest forward to get out of his element with a few words, or a little physical play.  He would rather talk to a defender than win the ball, and perhaps the game.There were a number of times where he would get involved with defenders or refs, and if his coach yelled at him to stop, he would turn away from his coach, not much discipline there.

Horne was rather tough to get out of his element as he was one of those true forwards who just liked to play the game.  He rarely talked much, and this includes friendly conversation, even to his own teammates.  He never gave orders or was a leader on the field, at least in games i played against him.  All in all i think Horne was a class act and think it was a shame how his last season went, especially when his first three were so dominant.

Fantl is just one of those fast, hardworking, determined forwards that tend to really frustrate a defender.  The kid just never stops running, its unbeleivable.  I rarely ever saw him get frustrated, but he doesnt show it by talking back or hitting someone, he was the type of player who you could see it on his face if he was frustrated, but he still never gave up, an inspiring characteristic.

So you obviously played in the LEC, in recent years...chances are we had some battles on the field as well.

Soccerfan I think that is a pretty fair assessment of the forwards.If Bajic could have stayed out of his own head he would have scored a many more goals. I think that is a fairly accurate on Fantle that he never stopped running. However I felt he did get a little bothered by physical play on him. He would try to use his speed to avoid all contact but if you were able to get a few hard tackles on him it would get to him. Horne truly was a quite person that did seem to just want to play. He even went so far to tell his own fans to get some class during a game they were losing. There prob was a good chance we had some battles but your perspective makes me feel that you were a defender as well.

Personally,Basjnc to me wasn't that good of a soccer player.  Just big, fast, and strong. 

Fantl, as you know, I think is very, very good.  Not the most skilled kid in the world, but makes up for it in every other aspect.  Maybe it is just that his work ethic overshadows his skill and you really don't notice it. 

As far as Cox,  I think it is unfair to look at numbers.  This kid could play ball.  Any style and almost anywhere on the field.  To me, he was the best SOCCER PLAYER of them all.  Also, he played coming out of the midfield, so the STATS don't really mean...much to me at least.

 Lets forget about the past, drop this old school conversation, and get to present day.  CURRENT THOUGHTS  about the LEC.  Players, coaches, anything with present day activity!

Gattuso don't get my wrong Cox is a phenominal player. Very skilled player that sees the field very well. But aren't you also contradicting yourself when you talk about Bajic (and at least spell it correct even if you don't like someone). Don't you want a forward who is big, fast and strong. I think Fantle does have some skills but you are correct that his speed and knowing where to be overshadows that point.

As for now, I think Keene looks to be playing very well with a good freshman class. Like I said I think Keene and Eastern should be the top of the table but as for 3-8 it could be a toss up as anyone can beat anyone on a saturday. 

Gattusso

I see the table a bit differently. Just curious as to why you have a 2-6 (0-2) in conference west conn team with a -12 gd ahead of a southern maine team who has shown they can beat the "4" team in plymouth, and is very tough to play at home?

 I'm not so big on keene this year. Yes they had a convincing win over east conn, but how far can you ride on the shoulders of 2 freshman before they stop producing? I havent seen eastern this year, but based on previous years they are well coached, diciplined and organized. I know they lost their back line, but its not like the kids playing now have not bought into the system that their coach has instilled in them since taking the job a few years back. I see the table finishing like this:

Eastern

Keene

RIC

USM

Plymouth

UMD

Boston

West Conn

I think this weekend is going to be one of the bigger weekends. Keene plays RIC and USM plays UMD. Both big games for both teams. I think the winner of Keene/RIC has a good chance for being top seed and I think winner of USM/UMD stand a good chance of getting the 4 seed. Also is playoffs 5 teams again this year like last or they going back to just 4?

No, the system went back to the TOP 4.  No longer the 5 team system.  It was a one-year deal and out I guess.

I am just sticking with my gut on the predictions that I had before the season started.  Not really looking into the current standings or anything of that nature.