who's up for the Div. B at large bids?

[Daniel Morris]

ok so that did not work like i wanted it to. Man that makes me mad. i hate that it wont freakin work like i wanted it to...

I think you had it wrong anyway, regardless of formatting issues (hard to tell though, that bracket was really messed up).

The top four teams have a bye on Wednesday, with 5 seed playing 12 seed, 6 playing 11, etc.

On Thursday, 1 seed plays the winner of the 8vs9 game, 2 seed plays winner of the 7vs10 game, 3 seed plays 6vs11 winner and 4 seed plays 5vs12 game winner.

[Rob Graff]

I concur w/ LLLF's opinion on what happens if UST loses to SJU.

UST has played a very challenging Div B schedule (including wins over Harding/Dordt/Creighton/Calvin) and has only lost to SJU - the #3 team in the country - by 1 goal

Another loss to the Johnnies would be emotionally wrenching to them, but to me, doesn't alter their poll position in the slightest.

Rob

[Kyle Berggren]

I agree, in order for me to move them in my poll, they'd have to get blown out pretty badly, and even then, it probably wouldn't be out of the top 7.

[Andy Sharp]

Is this what you were looking to create?

Here is what I quickly projected as the bracket based on the last poll:

[Andy Sharp]

So, before this weekend's championships, I'll toss this out, so as to not come across as begging at the last minute.

Having personally seen top teams in the PNCLL, RMLC, WCLL, UMLL and gone through a tough CCLA season, noting the CCLA's OOC games vs SELC and PCLL teams and St. Thomas' strong showing vs GRLC teams, I'd like to pose the argument that the CCLA is also a strong conference.

Carnegie Mellon, Dayton, and Ferris State have just recently been added to most pollster's radar thanks to their strong regular seasons . . . this trend should continue.

My team has had its difficulties, from our 2nd half slide to Dayton to our meltdown during the 3-Min-NR at the start of the 4th to Ferris State. These teams are good and if you take these losses into consideration and Calvin's early season 4-6 loss to St. Thomas, while playing without our top All-CCLA vote getting attackman (3.6gpg, 2.8apg) from Edmonton, AB who was in the midst of his hockey season that day, and the fact that Ferris State showed missing several starters in their UST loss as well, I believe it is rational to consider these top CCLA teams a bit more in the next poll.

- end pre-last-minute begging -

As always it will come down to the field. Division B is ripening very quickly, thanks for creating this new level of competition, Plano's gonna be hot!

Good luck everyone!

[USTLAX06]

The CCLA has some great teams no doubt. The thing I love seeing this year is that more and more teams are becoming competitive and are willing to travel. To be honest, I'd love to see 2 teams from the GRLC too. I'm just excited that more then one team from each conference can attend. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the players from Calvin, Ferris, Creighton, Harding and Dordt. I'm sure that feeling would be equaled by other teams from other conferences, but I just had the benefit of facing them this year. I think the debates for at large bids will be strong for many teams.

What I think will solidify a teams position is their ability to play at a high level despite hardships. Everyone had to travel, a lot of teams played back to back games with little sleep or before midterms/the same week. Everyone played a game with a top gun sick, injured, or on the sidelines not even suited. I'm not sure if anyone played many games this year at what they considered "full strength." That's why tournament time is so exciting, it's all about seeing if teams can play at a high level throughout the entire season at the right time despite the hardships, scheduling and what not. Adding the at large bids made this tournament that much more exciting. I can't wait to see the results. Good luck to all.

[lil lady lax fan]

(from the CCLA Forum) Calvin beat Dayton by 2. Ferris beat CMU 20-14

It looks like we have our first upset, folks. Dayton WILL NOT be the CCLA AQ. How will this impact the at-large bid? Well, Dayton is currently ranked above Northern Colorado who was the team voted most likely to get the nod. This loss, however, may lower Dayton in the final poll thus keeping Northern Colorado in that third spot. A lot will depend on what the pollsters do.

Congrats to Andy and his team on their upset of the #1 seed! One win away from your second trip to Nationals!!

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

I agree Dayton is in big trouble. . .

And with respect to St. Thomas and St. John's. . .I'd say St. John's is in regardless, but a St. Thomas loss in the semis could put them in jeopardy if some of the teams above them in the poll also run into trouble and don't get their conference AQ.

St. Thomas will likely get in, but it is certainly not guaranteed.

Huge win for Calvin. . .and a really disappointing loss by Dayton who had a fantastic season.

I'll hopefully be able to keep everyone updated on the PNCLL B division championships this weekend.

[Andy Sharp]

Thanks Cathi!

So, this wasn't what us pollsters anticipated, with Ferris State coming in at #28 beating the (5w-1L) #22 Carnegie Mellon team 20-14 and Calvin coming in at #17, avenging an earlier 8 goal loss, beating the (6W-0L) #9 Dayton team 6-4, even I am happily surprised that us Michigan teams pulled these upsets. I will say that part of our success had to be due to both Ferris & Calvin playing in these games on this field last year as well as preparing our players / installing the expectations that everyone will be there to play. With this being Dayton and CMU's first year in the league and first time to the CCLA play-offs, it's got to be something you need to get acquainted with, to walk in their first year and sweep would be an amazing feat.

As I've said before, they brought real quality programs to the CCLA and have raised the bar for all of us.

It is true, Dayton and CMU can no longer get to nationals, due to not having enough OOC games, so my argument for the CCLA's reps comes down to Ferris State and Calvin, both of which have played UMLL teams in February. The CCLA champion will have the edge in voting, but I'd argue that both are worthy.

Since this last poll my team has come around, we're up to 6 straight W's and Ferris State is still going strong, 20 goals today!, (have you heard about their #31 Attack Austin Freshour who transfered from NCAA DI Butler?) depending on Saturday's game it's looking like both these teams will be moving up and out of the mid teens in my own vote. I'd recommend others prepare to respond accordingly.

Love to hear reports of other Div B play-offs and their implications.

[unclaxman23]

uvsc held off unc today to win the rmlc in a very close two goal game

[lil lady lax fan]

Final list of the AQs and their current rankings:


CCLA: Calvin (17)
GRLC: Augustana(24)
LSA: Southwestern(16)
PCLL: Salem St(unranked)
PNCLL: Montana (6)
RMLC: UVSC (4)
SELC: Eckerd (8)
UMLL: UST (5)
WCLL: San Diego (1)

[KnoxVegas]

GRLC Final will be #4 Augustana vs. #3 Creighton.

[lil lady lax fan]

GRLC Final will be #4 Augustana vs. #3 Creighton.

This is certainly proving interesting for both the polls and the at-large bid race!

Congrats on your team's win!

[Maple Leaf]

with dayton and harding losing this really shakes up the at large births.... the pollsters are gonna have a lot of deciding to do... looks like they are gonna have to decide between harding, dayton, and northern colorado for the last at large birth.

northern colorado made the finals in the rmll
while harding and dayton lost in the semis

how much is this gonna shake up the polls?

if western washington wins the pncll, it could really shake things up, and all 3 of these teams could be left home. tomorrows games clearly have big implications.

[Jay Wisnieski]

looks like they are gonna have to decide between harding, dayton, and northern colorado for the last at large birth.

Dayton won't get an at large because they didn't play the required 2 OOC games to be eligible for it. Also, don't forget St. John's/St. Thomas and San Diego/Claremont...all teams that are ranked higher than Northern Colorado.