Players to watch in Texas

[OldRamAlum83]

Since everyone else are being homers I will start out that way too.

CSU players yet to be mentioned
Brian Stone -Attack - 5 goals in 6 shots against CU
Ryan MacDonald - Midfield
Stephen Lundberg- midfield
Others to watch - Tomlinson & Wallace

I was surprised that Justin Heir for BYU wasn't mentioned by the first two BYU guys, without him they may not have beat the Rams the second time around (5 goals). Hey what happened to Marshall Kay he was excellent against Michigan last year in the nationals. He hasn't hardly played at all.

Other teams with no one mentioned yet.
Arizona - come on guys they convincingly beat both ASU and Sonoma and made that potent ASU offense look like they needed viagra. Mark my words if they show up to play they could be a tough opponent for BYU(I know BYU beat them 14-7 early in the season) in the second round just like they were for CSU last year. I also want to see Tyler Westphal for ASU against CU in their rematch.

[laxdad03]

Guess I'd better respond with my two cents.

Nice picks, TrainerDan, and agreed (perhaps not surprisingly...), seems appropriate with the two of them at the top of the RMLC in total points. I don't see how in the world Mark didn't wind up 1st team all-conference, he has been truly terrific. From my perspective, Justin (it is actually Hier, BTW, there's been LOTS of confusion on that one) has at times really had rather a bit of an off-year for a while (I had noted his absence on byualum's and DG's lists too, perhaps that's why), what with just barely coming off of two years of nothing but walking around the Dominican Republic and all, but he seems to be coming back into form a bit for the playoffs (when it really matters), so Dallas should definitely be fun. Mark is amazingly smooth and slippery, almost makes it look too easy and not even noticed until you see the ball in the net. Marshall has had leg fracture difficulties (and is clearly missed), but Ted is so quick and changes directions so sharply, moving him to attack has worked very well, he's right up there too. The balance of the three of them is a thing of beauty, and I'd imagine it makes it very tough to assign poles (again, yes, said with some obvious bias, but homer picks do seem to abound on this thread, so maybe it's sort of ok, or at least sort of forgiveable...). I too am very much looking forward to seeing more of all the others (besides BYU attack, which for some reason I tend to watch) mentioned on this thread, too numerous to try to re-mention here without fear of slighting some others. There's truly getting to be some HUGE talent in the MCLA. Should be a great tourney!

[dulax19]

im with YoungOne i hear Peter Tumbas is SICK NASTY

[laxer0308]

last time byu played zona..........zona had a different attack out there compared to now, i hear they got some freshman phenom's they are breeding down in the old pueblo

[DG]

(I had noted his absence on byualum's and DG's lists too, perhaps that's why)

Laxdad,

I only put in guys that weren't obvious. Hier, Davis, Monteath, Smith, Harris, etc. are all too obvious. I was trying to point out guys that some people around the country won't have noticed or seen. First team all- RMLC guys fall into the former category, and not the latter.

DG

[Has No Left]

im with YoungOne i hear Peter Tumbas is SICK NASTY

Who plays for who?

[DG]

Hey what happened to Marshall Kay he was excellent against Michigan last year in the nationals. He hasn't hardly played at all.

Marshall has been out since the 3rd or 4th game of the season. He broke his leg in the fall, then had a hand injury that put him out for the year.

[byualum]

...Justin (it is actually Hier, BTW, there's been LOTS of confusion on that one) has at times really had rather a bit of an off-year for a while (I had noted his absence on byualum's and DG's lists too, perhaps that's why)

I left him off my list because of those horrible pink shooters I saw up on Boulder!!!

The beauty of BYU's attack this year is you really have three guys that could draw the #1 pole. In most teams I've seen, or read about this year, it's pretty easy to decide where your top pole goes (Stevens, Atwood, Coffman, Westfall).

[NCInDaPlaceTaBe]

I'm surprised no PNCLL advocate has mentioned the PNCLL Defensive MVP Todd Jolly. 6'4" 240lb Athlete from Oregon.

[bsleezy19]

I would have my money on watching out of for the HCD crew from Arizona. Scott Rickert is one of the better defensive midfielders in all the land.

[laxdad03]

I left him off my list because of those horrible pink shooters I saw up on Boulder!!!

Ah, NOW it's clear! The pink really is pretty gruesome...

And DG, I think I understand your slant, I was just trying to respond to OldRamAlum83's kind words and questions (and I know my writing tends to be complicated and dense, hard to read, etc., sorry about that). I suppose maybe one shouldn't come across as critical of a (conference-leading, top-honor) "off-year" as it may have seemed in comparison to capabilities one has seen...aw, crud, I don't think I'm saying any of this right. The guys are doing really well, and there'll be lots of great lacrosse to watch, with lots of great talent all across the league. Please try to be patient and understanding of my occasional "laxdad-isms"...