2008 MCLA Division 1 Bracket

[PigPen]

gotta agree there-UMD will be ready-I think they may even make to Saturday. Michigan also gets past the quarters this year.

[SoCalLaxDoctor]

4 Really Interesting First Round Games:

UCSB/ASU- Hard to beat any team 3 times in one season...Big revenge facor here.

BYU/Boston College- Good rematch from last year.

UGA/Sonoma- UGA's goalie can keep them in any game.

FSU/SFU- This has potential for a fast paced, high scoring affair.

UCSB will be hungry and I agree with Evan, 3peats are tough
BYU by a landslide...
FSU/SFU should be very fun to watch but I think FSU is the sleeper in this bracket

[wheelz33]

gotta agree there-UMD will be ready-I think they may even make to Saturday. Michigan also gets past the quarters this year.

Michigan gets past the quarters, only to lose in the semis to BYU....

[Zamboni_Driver]

Winners & Losers in the MCLA Seeds -

(not a prediction of who will win, just how they match up)

Winners-

Simon Fraser with FSU at #12. Simon Fraser is a young squad that has BYU in its bracket, which it lost to 11-17 earlier in the season. Simon Fraser believes it has improved. They must want a shot at a rematch. Standing in their way is an FSU team that doesn’t appear to have improved over the course of the year. An example of this is their inability to close the gap between then and GA over a season. Additionally, FSU against teams at the tournament is only averaging less than 10 pts a game. Whereas Simon Fraser has scored double digits against all regular season opponents at the tournament win or lose. I believe Simon Fraser wants a safe environment to get its young guys experience, and if they had to pick between FSU and UCSB, I’m guessing they are pretty happy. [Personally here, I think the Canadien style of lacrosse, will throw off the young FSU guys]

Chapman with Minn-Duluth at #3. The alternative would have been BYU at #3 after the RMLC tournament. Chapman played BYU to a tremendous victory in California early in the season. A rematch would not be best for their title chances. The winner of the top bracket to face Chapman will be a good one, but it will save a rematch or a match up of undefeateds to the title game.

UCSB at #11 facing #6 ASU. Most obvious here is the fact in this re-rematch UCSB should know ASU and be able to make adjustments. This knowledge could propel them to a day 2 appearance. However, getting this game is even bigger for a larger picture. Essentially, both these teams are back in 2009. A third straight loss would essentially lower UCSB’s confidence against ASU and their status in the WCLL next year, but a win would set a tone for this team going into 2009.

Losers –

Boston College at #13 as oppose to #14. Moving up that 1 spot may have hurt BC’s chances at a day 2 at the tournament. BC at #14 was going to face #3 Minn-Duluth, who beat BC 10-5 earlier in the season, which happened to be the day after BC played CSU. Back to back games may have been an issue for BC. One could argue that Minn-Duluth was just as hampered by the fact it was really their first game of the season and they were still working out the bugs. Either way, I believe BC would have liked a rematch against an opponent that they had already seen and one that was only averaging T25 GFA of 8.8 and one that hasn’t played a legite game in over 53 days, as opposed to BYU’s T25 GFA of 13.4 and recent win over #7 CSU.

Georgia at #9 as oppose to #10. Georgia is a heavily dominated senior team that is centered around their goalie. At #10 Georgia would have played #7 CSU, who is a relatively young squad. A squad that has not put up double digits (10+) goals against anyone who will be at the MCLA’s. At #10 Georgia had to like their chances against a low-output young offense. However, at #9 Georgia pulls #8 Sonoma State that is a junior/senior dominated team with a stellar goalie. Sonoma is Georgia’s mirror image, except Sonoma has beat 1 team seeded above them and lose to 2 more by an average of 1.5 pts.

Colorado State with VT at #10. #7 CSU has not put up tremendous numbers all year long. Although their defense has given up only 7.5 GAA against T25 competition, that number rises dramatically when you look at those that are present at the MCLA’s and it becomes a GAA of 9.8. VT has a GFA of 15. Many will quickly argue that those numbers are only against SELC opponents. And that makes my point, how will CSU scout and prepare for VT. If GA were at #10 they could atleast converses with Utah. But no one has seen VT. I’m sure they’ll say they prepare the same way regardless of the competition, but having seen a team, knowing their sets, trick plays, goalie play always helps.

Any Others?? Any Thoughts??

[nhoskins]

Winners & Losers in the MCLA Seeds -

(not a prediction of who will win, just how they match up)

Winners-

Simon Fraser with FSU at #12. Simon Fraser is a young squad that has BYU in its bracket, which it lost to 11-17 earlier in the season. Simon Fraser believes it has improved. They must want a shot at a rematch. Standing in their way is an FSU team that doesn’t appear to have improved over the course of the year. An example of this is their inability to close the gap between then and GA over a season. Additionally, FSU against teams at the tournament is only averaging less than 10 pts a game. Whereas Simon Fraser has scored double digits against all regular season opponents at the tournament win or lose. I believe Simon Fraser wants a safe environment to get its young guys experience, and if they had to pick between FSU and UCSB, I’m guessing they are pretty happy. [Personally here, I think the Canadien style of lacrosse, will throw off the young FSU guys]

Chapman with Minn-Duluth at #3. The alternative would have been BYU at #3 after the RMLC tournament. Chapman played BYU to a tremendous victory in California early in the season. A rematch would not be best for their title chances. The winner of the top bracket to face Chapman will be a good one, but it will save a rematch or a match up of undefeateds to the title game.

UCSB at #11 facing #6 ASU. Most obvious here is the fact in this re-rematch UCSB should know ASU and be able to make adjustments. This knowledge could propel them to a day 2 appearance. However, getting this game is even bigger for a larger picture. Essentially, both these teams are back in 2009. A third straight loss would essentially lower UCSB’s confidence against ASU and their status in the WCLL next year, but a win would set a tone for this team going into 2009.

Losers –

Boston College at #13 as oppose to #14. Moving up that 1 spot may have hurt BC’s chances at a day 2 at the tournament. BC at #14 was going to face #3 Minn-Duluth, who beat BC 10-5 earlier in the season, which happened to be the day after BC played CSU. Back to back games may have been an issue for BC. One could argue that Minn-Duluth was just as hampered by the fact it was really their first game of the season and they were still working out the bugs. Either way, I believe BC would have liked a rematch against an opponent that they had already seen and one that was only averaging T25 GFA of 8.8 and one that hasn’t played a legite game in over 53 days, as opposed to BYU’s T25 GFA of 13.4 and recent win over #7 CSU.

Georgia at #9 as oppose to #10. Georgia is a heavily dominated senior team that is centered around their goalie. At #10 Georgia would have played #7 CSU, who is a relatively young squad. A squad that has not put up double digits (10+) goals against anyone who will be at the MCLA’s. At #10 Georgia had to like their chances against a low-output young offense. However, at #9 Georgia pulls #8 Sonoma State that is a junior/senior dominated team with a stellar goalie. Sonoma is Georgia’s mirror image, except Sonoma has beat 1 team seeded above them and lose to 2 more by an average of 1.5 pts.

Colorado State with VT at #10. #7 CSU has not put up tremendous numbers all year long. Although their defense has given up only 7.5 GAA against T25 competition, that number rises dramatically when you look at those that are present at the MCLA’s and it becomes a GAA of 9.8. VT has a GFA of 15. Many will quickly argue that those numbers are only against SELC opponents. And that makes my point, how will CSU scout and prepare for VT. If GA were at #10 they could atleast converses with Utah. But no one has seen VT. I’m sure they’ll say they prepare the same way regardless of the competition, but having seen a team, knowing their sets, trick plays, goalie play always helps.

Any Others?? Any Thoughts??

I think UCSB is a loser for getting ASU. This is an ASU team that has beat UCSB by one goal then dominated them in the WCLL playoffs. If it was the other way around, I'd see UCSB as a winner, but going from a one-goal loss to a 6-goal loss isn't progress.

I think CSU has gotta like VT as well. I'd put them as a winner. They're facing a VT team that is largely untested against high caliber teams, whereas CSU has faced BYU, Michigan, SSU, UMD... they may be young, but they've seen the best. And VT isn't gonna slow the Rams down for a second.

SSU is a team that just played a great Chapman team to a 2-goal loss. I also think SSU have repaired their confidence with a few blowout wins and that close loss to Chapman since UCSB hammered them. Not only that, but Georgia isn't from the west coast, so of course they're going to lose to a WCLL team

BC would have done well to avoid BYU, but I don't think UMD would have been that much better, aside from seeing them in person. The biggest thing here, is that BC had the opportunity to avoid the top 5 teams, and blew it with that loss to BU. They made their bed.. now its time to sleep in it.

I think the big winner here is ASU. They're getting to face a UCSB team they know well, and then facing a UMD team that hasn't played a game that mattered since March 21st. I think they beat both no problem and advance to the final four.

I also think that the right side of the bracket looks a lot worse than the left side. Rankings aside, Chapman and ASU are both offensive forces sure to test any goalie. You can never count out the Rams, and UMD has had a great year.

On the left side, you have Michigan who snuck by CSU 9-8, but otherwise haven't played anyone of note since March 8th. A four loss BYU team, that has looked strong of late but couldn't take any of the top 3 teams earlier in the year. SSU who has been up-and-down all year, and an SFU team that Ravaging Beast could beat single-handedly.

It's gonna be a great tournament!

[NYBuilt]

upset: TAMU beats UMD. its been a while since UMD has played anyone of note and combine that with the game being in Texas, i see TAMU stealing the game.

The stars would have to be aligned perfectly...maybe if this were a home game for the aggies, but dallas is 4 hours away...

[nhoskins]

upset: TAMU beats UMD. its been a while since UMD has played anyone of note and combine that with the game being in Texas, i see TAMU stealing the game.

The stars would have to be aligned perfectly...maybe if this were a home game for the aggies, but dallas is 4 hours away...

Maybe if UMD didn't come to the game, TAMU would take it. But even then, I'd say its only 50-50

[gobblerlax05]

right here: http://laxmagazine.cstv.com/sports/s-cl ... 08aag.html

[cjwilhelmi]

When you look at the draw it looks like UMD actually has the best seed. They have Chapman in the semi's but in my opinion your going to see the Bulldogs in the finals.

[Dan Wishengrad]

IMO the SELC, which has sent four solid teams to the tourney in '08, will nevertheless go 0-4 in first-round games. Georgia may have the best shot over 'Noma, but I think the Seawolves will win a 10-6 type game over the Bulldogs and that FSU, VT and Florida will head straight to the loser's bracket after Tuesday's games are played.

[Danny Hogan]

probably correct

[NYBuilt]

that will make for some boring consolation games huh...

[louie26]

upset: TAMU beats UMD. its been a while since UMD has played anyone of note and combine that with the game being in Texas, i see TAMU stealing the game.

Don't count on this one, Minnesota went down to play TAMU and lost by six. Then Minnesota came back and got thumped bad by UMD. Granted Minnesota has fell apart at the end, UMD is a potential contender. It is going to get interesting though to see if the get ASU or UCSB.

[UkraineNotWeak]

I think the SELC will probably go 4-0 in the first round. Watch out now...do do do do do.

[Danny Hogan]

that will make for some boring consolation games huh...

most are