Support
Network analysis is the process of analyzing the structure of a network through graphical and statistical procedures. In other words, network analysis looks at how a set of units (nodes) are connected to one another through directional or non-directional links (edges). For my research project, I explored network analysis and investigated through statistical methods how the directional relationship of assists to goals influences winning percentages for Division III Liberty League soccer teams from 2013-2021. I built a linear regression model to identify what connections or aspects of teammate interactions lead to higher winner percentages for these teams. I found that a team in the Liberty League has a higher winning percentage if they have a lower connectedness score (transitivity in network analysis). This means that a team is predicted to be more successful if they score a lot of goals and have one main goal scorer and assister. I hope to continue this research in the future and add more variables besides goals and assists in the model to see how that would influence win percentage.