Is this finally UMs year?

[s-kim77]

They consistently choke at Nationals, so it would probably be silly to pick them. That being said-holding Oakland to one goal is very impressive.

I wouldn't quite say that Michigan consistently chokes at Nationals...With the exception of UCSB in 2001 (when UM was a #1 seed), they have lost to BYU in 2002, I believe BYU in 2003, and a close game to CSU in 2004. Prior to that they lost to CSU by one, I believe Simon Fraser by 1, I wouldn't say that was a choke job, again with the exception of 2001. There's no shame in losing to BYU or CSU, and I would hardly say it was a choke job, it's not like they lost to #15 or #14 seed.

One of these years UM is going to break the quarter-final jinx, and I would not be the least surprised if it is this year.

[DG]

They consistently choke at Nationals, so it would probably be silly to pick them. That being said-holding Oakland to one goal is very impressive.

I wouldn't quite say that Michigan consistently chokes at Nationals...With the exception of UCSB in 2001 (when UM was a #1 seed), they have lost to BYU in 2002, I believe BYU in 2003, and a close game to CSU in 2004. Prior to that they lost to CSU by one, I believe Simon Fraser by 1, I wouldn't say that was a choke job, again with the exception of 2001. There's no shame in losing to BYU or CSU, and I would hardly say it was a choke job, it's not like they lost to #15 or #14 seed.

One of these years UM is going to break the quarter-final jinx, and I would not be the least surprised if it is this year.

From what I understand, last year they controlled their game in St. Louis vs. CSU for 3 1/2 quarters before the game got away from them. I wasn't there, but heard it from multiple people, so I believe it is somewhat true...

I believe Michigan has what it takes to get to the semis and beyond. See my other post about 1, 2, 3 and you'll see what I mean.


DG

[CATLAX MAN]

DG, you're right about that. Michigan was doing everything right against CSU for 3 1/2 quarters shutting them down with tight defense and controlled offense. I don't remember the score, but I believe that they were up by 4 or 5 goals late in the 4th, when CSU committed a flagrant foul. After that, Michigan lost their cool and got away from what they were doing and CSU went on one of their patented multi-goal runs to take control back from Michigan.

[Sonny]

DG, you're right about that. Michigan was doing everything right against CSU for 3 1/2 quarters shutting them down with tight defense and controlled offense. I don't remember the score, but I believe that they were up by 4 or 5 goals late in the 4th, when CSU committed a flagrant foul. After that, Michigan lost their cool and got away from what they were doing and CSU went on one of their patented multi-goal runs to take control back from Michigan.

Although that game was amazingly intense (& entertaining), Michigan was never up 5 goals in that game. CSU won 11 - 7 with 7 goals in the final quarter. Michigan's largest lead was 2 goals and they were down early before coming back in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. They kept CSU scoreless for a long stretch in the 2nd and 3rd quarter and had a two goal lead at the start of the fourth before CSU exploded late.

http://www.umich.edu/~menslax/Articles/ ... CSUbox.htm

[onpoint]

. . . and I still don't remember this flagrant foul that keeps getting thrown around, but it must have been serious enough for Catlax Man to mention it five times in the past year.

[bbandlax]

I believe it was one of those Plonkey fouls where he just decided a Michigan player needed to go down (am I remembering this wrong Alex). For better or worse it fired up the Green and somehow they overcame being mandown for what seemed like the whole 4th quarter. It was weird watching that game. It felt as though no matter what Michigan did, or CSU, there was no way the Rams were going to loose. Everyone I was with said the same thing.

[CATLAX MAN]

Actually, I don't think it was Plonkey, amazingly enough. It was one of their middies, but I can't remember who, and by judging from my recollection of the score, I could be mistaken about that too. I do clearly remember that many people who were watching thought the foul was bad enough to warrant an ejection, which didn't happen. It shook up the Michigan players and fired up CSU and was definitely the turning point of the game that was not going CSU's way up until then.

[John Paul]

We've been involved in two amazing games with CSU at the tournament. In our second year there we built a pretty big lead on six first half goals from Jeff Hadwin, saw CSU come back on us in the second half and take a late lead on a Kale Nelson goal (he was a freshmen then). We worked for a good shot to tie it up in the final seconds, and the goalie made a great save to win it. That was before Alex played, but CSU always seems to have outstanding keepers.

I'd actually say the turning point last year came in the fourth quarter when it was 7-7 and Jeff Hanna scored an amazing diving, behind the back goal while being hit to put us up after CSU had come back to tie it up. The officials ruled that he landed in the crease though, so it was disallowed. Pretty big momentum swing. From there the key was CSU's ability to kill penalties. Plonkey scored in typical Plonkey fashion to give them the lead, and they got two late when we were doubling to try to get the ball back.

As Flip wrote in his journal this week, we missed playing CSU this year. We haven't had great success against them, but we've had some outstanding games that both teams get excited about playing.

[CATLAX MAN]

That's right, JP. I had forgotten about that. That crease call was also somewhat controversial as it appeared he had "help" from behind in landing in the crease. Tough call to make in a close game like that. By the way, that was an amazing shot he made. Drew a lot of "wows" from the crowd.

[stillwater killa]

I believe Michigan has a strong team with a lot of young talent. They have an especially talented long-stick middie, number 1 I believe. However, I think that you if you look at the quality of their wins at home, you have to factor in the venue in which they play. The facility where they host their home games is unfairly biased in their direction. The ceiling and walls are all painted white and it took me and my team around 3 games just to get comfortable. I'm not insinuating that this team is not good, clearly they are very good. But, I think with fairer circumstances, the outcome of some of those games would be different. I think they will perform fantastically in the tourney and upset one of the top teams.

[BClax16]

However, I think that you if you look at the quality of their wins at home, you have to factor in the venue in which they play. The facility where they host their home games is unfairly biased in their direction. The ceiling and walls are all painted white...

Are the walls not white for both teams?

[DG]

I believe Michigan has a strong team with a lot of young talent. They have an especially talented long-stick middie, number 1 I believe. However, I think that you if you look at the quality of their wins at home, you have to factor in the venue in which they play. The facility where they host their home games is unfairly biased in their direction. The ceiling and walls are all painted white and it took me and my team around 3 games just to get comfortable. I'm not insinuating that this team is not good, clearly they are very good. But, I think with fairer circumstances, the outcome of some of those games would be different. I think they will perform fantastically in the tourney and upset one of the top teams.

That's been the knock on them for a long time, and I believe that it was partially true. Here are the 3 most important games they played this year on the road...

03 / 02 Arizona Tucson, Arizona W 12-1
03 / 05 Brigham Young Provo, Utah L 7-6
04 / 13 Oakland Rochester, Michigan W 11-1

I think they adjusted OK.

I think they have 2 of he best close D men I saw all season. #4 in particular was very, very good.

DG

[stillwater killa]

Are the walls not white for both teams?[/quote]

Yea of course the walls are painted white for both teams. But, when you have ample time to practice in a facility where the visiting team is disadvantaged, you will have an advantage. It just takes time to get used to the venue and when you do, lax becomes a lot easier. Have they won any quality games on the road? Zona has lost to ASU and Oakland is not that good. Today they barely squeaked past Colorado who nobody seems to respect. So, is Michigan that good, or is it their facility? I guess time will tell...........

[bgigs2]

FYI- The walls are not white. They are BLUE pads.

[Bentiss]

You tell 'em Gigs...The walls are the same for both teams. If it is really that big of a disadvantage for the away team, then it is bigger a problem for the home team than they would lead you to believe. "Excuses, excuses, excuses..." That's all that I have to say. Michigan doesn't seem to have excuses EVER and I applaud them a ton for that. They are not only a great team, but almost as importantly a classy team...

CLASSY AND SEXY
You Jerry Springer people know what I mean...