LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

I have always been a fan of the underdog, and root for them when i dont care about the game. I want to know who has the best shot, or the most votes to upset their opponent.

I think you could see as many as 3 upsets in the 1st round. Even if there are none, after the 1st round, all bets are off as this is the most evenly matched set of teams that this tournament has ever seen. Quite a number of teams could win this thing.

All bets are off as this is the most evenly matched set of teams that this tournament has ever seen.

I think there is more palpable excitement about this year's tournament than in past ones because of that exact point CLM

I voted for Duluth over CU, but I think almost all the games except SSU vs. NE and CSU vs. Texas are very closely matched

Is it really an upset if Poly beats FSU, UCSB beats UCSD (this maybe different because UCSB has already lost to UCSD twice), or Oregon over Zona. All of those games are very evenly matched. I wouldn't be shocked for those games to be decided by a goal or two a piece.

If one of the top 5 seeds loses... that would be a major upset. CU and BYU better take care of business in the first round. LU and UMD are very good teams and are playing for respect.

Agree ^^^^^^^^^^^

Champ wrote:I voted for Duluth over CU, but I think almost all the games except SSU vs. NE and CSU vs. Texas are very closely matched

What in God's name leads you to this statement? Have you seen Northeastern even play? I think any one of these teams has a shot. Northeastern has one of the USLIA's top players in Chris Cook. I am sick to death of the message boards condeming a team to a loss without even seeing them play. Before making pronoucements like this, check out the competition first, you might be surprised.

I admire your passion Daniel. However, I think people have heard these claims before, and come tournament time, these teams (lower seeds) are usually dominated. In addition, several perceived top players in the less competitive leagues usually do not perform at the same level when they play a top 10 team in the tournament. I am not saying that these lower seeds do not stand a chance, but history is against them.

The biggest upsets since I have been following MDIA championship tournaments were in 2001 when #12 Stanford beat #5 Simon Fraser and #4 Sonoma in the second round. Also, that year, #9 UCSB beat #1 Michigan in the second round.
The following year, 2002, #7 UCSB beat #2 Auburn in the second round but most people thought that was not an upset. 2002 was the year that simultaneous second round overtime games were played on adjacent fields. #8 Arizona lost to #1 Sonoma and #3 CSU beat #6 Stanford. UCSB and BYU played a double overtime game in the consolation (3rd place) game that year as well, with UCSB prevailing. That was a very exciting year.

Can anyone recall a team seeded lower than #12 winning a game?

Let us of course also not forget last year's FSU win in the second round.

And in agreement with sohotrightnow, history is certainly against teams like Northeastern. I think in this year more than any past, an upset is possible anywhere in the first round, but it's certainly not likely as the splits grow larger.

I can tell you why people are probably not expecting a win from NU, and that is that they have only played two teams ranked above them, actually ranked at all for that matter, and though they beat Oakland, they lost to Lindenwood by 5.

Once again, don't get me wrong, I'm not making a statement claiming that they have no chance, but it certainly would not be what people would expect from the game. After losing to number 12 by 5, I don't think people are expecting big moves against number 2... but an upset like this would sure make things interesting in Plano (not that I don't think they will be).

Champ wrote:I voted for Duluth over CU, but I think almost all the games except SSU vs. NE and CSU vs. Texas are very closely matched

Texas played Colorado close, I wouldnt count them out...

nothing against NE, but from what i've seen first hand experience in a big event like this is invaluable. the first time players step onto the fields and look around and see who their playing against, with, and adjacent to is overwhelming. it makes it hard to focus. but more power to the upsets!!

Daniel Morris wrote:

Champ wrote:I voted for Duluth over CU, but I think almost all the games except SSU vs. NE and CSU vs. Texas are very closely matched

What in God's name leads you to this statement? Have you seen Northeastern even play? I think any one of these teams has a shot. Northeastern has one of the USLIA's top players in Chris Cook. I am sick to death of the message boards condeming a team to a loss without even seeing them play. Before making pronoucements like this, check out the competition first, you might be surprised.

Geez I didn't think I'd take so much flack on an upset prediction thread.

Anyways, SSU has proven talent for years, and will beat Northeastern. Sure it's possible for Northeastern to win, but I do not think it will happen. Last I checked it takes a team of guys not just one great player. Look at Lindenwood, last year they had "one of the best attackmen" in the USLIA and didn't win a first round over a lower seeded opponent (I hope I remember that right).

Same thing with Texas and CSU for whoever else posted.

I believe Lindenwood lost to Colorado, a higher ranked seed

cjwilhelmi wrote:I believe Lindenwood lost to Colorado, a higher ranked seed

That is correct.

LINK to the final regular season poll results:
http://www.uslia.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=176

LU was seeded 12th and Colorado 5th last year in Minnesota after CSU was removed from the tournament field.