Top 25 D2 Results for Poll #6

[Steno]

unranked Whitman over #20 Central WA in OT 14-13

[Gvlax]

You guys need to give Westminster and St. Thomas a little more credit. They kept it close with Simon Fraser and Michigan State (both very good D1 teams) and beat Ft Lewis (a good d2 team) Also, St. Thomas has beat 5 ranked teams. GVSU has only played 1 ranked team and lost to a first year team that didn't get in to the MCLA.

Also, Ft. Lewis has only lost to one D2 team this year (Westminster). They should be higher than 7. We will see how they do against Northern Colorado but if they win, they should be right there as well.

Davenport is far from a first year team with talent. They are a varsity program. If they get into the CCLA this year (since most teams dont make it their first year they apply) then I bet they will be a top 10 team.

Also you say give credit to St. Thomas because they have beat 5 ranked opponents when it could have been 6 against GVSU but they didnt. thats why they are at 5 ranked opponents beat.

[Gvlax]

Dayton beat Emory 18-12 or 17-12...not sure of the score, just getting txt updates.

What does that mean for the polls...does a 5-6 goal loss for Emory still earn them at AL bid?

This hurts Emory's odds of an AL bid but they look to be fighting ft lewis, and sju for the last AL.

[WallyLaxFan]

Dayton beat Emory 18-12 or 17-12...not sure of the score, just getting txt updates.

What does that mean for the polls...does a 5-6 goal loss for Emory still earn them at AL bid?

This hurts Emory's odds of an AL bid but they look to be fighting ft lewis, and sju for the last AL.

GVLax:

Who do you (or anybody else for that matter) think will get the at large bids? Am I correct in saying that there are 4 at large bids given this year? I think Dayton and GVSU are locks, if SJU loses in the UMLL championship to St. Thomas, they will likely get one. The last one is up for grabs.

[Gvlax]

right now SJU needs to win out and get that AQ. I believe Emory and SJU are fighting for the last AL. If fort lewis does good against UNC tonight then they are with those two fighting for the last spot (assuming Westminster wins the conference).

GVSU vs Dayton game that could be played on May 3rd. I dont like to say that either team has a lock. But Daytons game over SJU and Emory helps them and GVSU's game over St. Thomas helps.

So right now to answer your question i would say the 4 AL bids look to be going to:
1. Dayton
2. GVSU
3. Who knows
4. Who Knows.


ill share my opinion more on the 30th with the next poll because i am curious as to where SJU, Emory and Ft. Lewis fall.


When i hear people say that St. Thomas had a bad game vs GVSU i can easily comeback and say GVSU had a rough game as well. The fact is both teams played their style of the game and it shut both teams down. They had to struggle keep in the game. I believe when two equal teams meet this kind of stuff happens. I keep watching the game over and over and i notice things both teams should have exploited or done different. I am just hoping that GVSU gets to see the best in D2 down in Dallas.

[WallyLaxFan]

right now SJU needs to win out and get that AQ. I believe Emory and SJU are fighting for the last AL. If fort lewis does good against UNC tonight then they are with those two fighting for the last spot (assuming Westminster wins the conference).

GVSU vs Dayton game that could be played on May 3rd. I dont like to say that either team has a lock. But Daytons game over SJU and Emory helps them and GVSU's game over St. Thomas helps.

So right now to answer your question i would say the 4 AL bids look to be going to:
1. Dayton
2. GVSU
3. Who knows
4. Who Knows.


ill share my opinion more on the 30th with the next poll because i am curious as to where SJU, Emory and Ft. Lewis fall.


When i hear people say that St. Thomas had a bad game vs GVSU i can easily comeback and say GVSU had a rough game as well. The fact is both teams played their style of the game and it shut both teams down. They had to struggle keep in the game. I believe when two equal teams meet this kind of stuff happens. I keep watching the game over and over and i notice things both teams should have exploited or done different. I am just hoping that GVSU gets to see the best in D2 down in Dallas.

Agreed. That Dayton vs. GVSU game will be huge. As far as the next poll, do you think with this weekends results, Elon will move ahead of Emory, Ft. Lewis, and SJU? I would think they would have to move ahead of Emory, it will be interesting to see if they move ahead of the other two.

[Gvlax]

I think it could go between those 4

elon
ft lewis
Emory
SJU

not saying this is the order but if i had to rank those 4 teams this is how i would do it. Elon has proved they can compete, ft lewis hasnt done anything to move them up high or bring them down, SJU has struggled lately, Emory didnt win SELC but they held UST to less goals then SJU.

[TheRev34]

I think there needs to be an AL from the rmlc, really whoever wins the playoff game between msu and fort lewis, provided the winner doesn't go on to upset westminster.

montana state has beaten four current top 25 teams, just played montana (who is 9-3 in division 1) to a one goal game decided by a goal with 45 seconds to go. Apart from a terrible first half against uvsc (before they lost their two players) we would be undefeated in division 2 this year with one of the tougher schedules around.

[USTLAX06]

[/quote]Also you say give credit to St. Thomas because they have beat 5 ranked opponents when it could have been 6 against GVSU but they didn't. thats why they are at 5 ranked opponents beat. [/quote]


Sure, they could have had 6, but 5 wins vs. top 25 puts UST heads and shoulders above the rest of MCLA Div II - and also credits them with having the largest stones to schedule all those games. It's also the reason they are at #2.

GVlax - I wouldn't discount what UST has done this year. Because your performance vs. them is the only reason you are in the conversation. If it wasn't for that win you guys would likely have to wait to beat Dayton to get in.

Why are people still making a stink about UST vs. GVSU anyways? That game was weeks ago. Both teams have likely changed since then. Look at the body of work for the teams. That's what you need to look at when determining poll positions. UST barely beat Emory in their second game of the year down in Atlanta. A few weeks ago, they beat Dayton by a good amount, and then Dayton turns around and beats Emory by 5 or so. Explain that. It's the body of work, it's peaking at the right time. Don't worry about GVSU vs. UST and who had a good game/bad game or who played more games that weekend or who had the flu when they played or what ever you want to do to enrich or degrade the performance. Those teams have a chance to meet again when it will really count, and then the previous game, way back when, just won't matter. And that's the way it should be.

[Brew26]

Here are the teams that most likely have the best chance to receive a AL bid and their records against top 25 teams.

#3 Dayton
Wins
#14 Harding
#5 SJU
#6 Emory
Losses
#2 UST

#4 GVSU
Wins
#2 UST
Losses
None

#5 SJU
Wins
#12 UVSC
#17 UNC
Losses
#2 UST
#3 Dayton

#6 Emory
Wins
#8 Elon
#15 Charlotte
Losses
#2 UST
#8 Elon
#3 Dayton

#7 Fort Lewis
Wins
#24 Mines
#22 Metro
#12 UVSC
Losses
#1 Westminster

#11 Montana State
Wins
#22 Metro
#17 UNC
#19 WW
#24 Mines
Losses
#12 UVSC

From the last poll, Dayton, GVSU, SJU and Emory would have received the AL bids.

I would say that Dayton has an AL locked up.

GVSU has to not lose big to Dayton and they should have an AL. Otherwise, they could get beat out by UST if SJU were to win, Emory if Emory's loss is a lot smaller than GVSU's in the Dayton games, and Fort Lewis with a strong showing in the RMLC playoffs.

SJU should take the third AL with a solid win over NDSU and a good showing against UST. Otherwise win the UMLL to get the AQ.

Emory has the fourth right now but needs Fort Lewis to have a poor performance in the RMLC playoffs or GVSU to lose big to Dayton to get an AL bid.

Fort Lewis and Montana State are on the outside but need to put up big numbers in the playoffs and they could steal Emory's spot or hope SJU loses big in their playoffs.

[Gvlax]

I think there needs to be an AL from the rmlc, really whoever wins the playoff game between msu and fort lewis, provided the winner doesn't go on to upset westminster.

montana state has beaten four current top 25 teams, just played montana (who is 9-3 in division 1) to a one goal game decided by a goal with 45 seconds to go. Apart from a terrible first half against uvsc (before they lost their two players) we would be undefeated in division 2 this year with one of the tougher schedules around.

yes montana st has won many top 25 games but their best win vs #12 UVSC didnt make the playoffs. #17 UNC didnt prove them self against UST or SJU. So yes they have beaten top 25 teams, but quality teams to prove an AL bid, voters havent thought so yet this year.

[Hi-Line Lax]

the RMLC-2 should get 2 bids for sure... easily the toughest Div 2 conference.

[Gvlax]

Here are the teams that most likely have the best chance to receive a AL bid and their records against top 25 teams.

#3 Dayton
Wins
#14 Harding
#5 SJU
#6 Emory
Losses
#2 UST

#4 GVSU
Wins
#2 UST
Losses
None

#5 SJU
Wins
#12 UVSC
#17 UNC
Losses
#2 UST
#3 Dayton

#6 Emory
Wins
#8 Elon
#15 Charlotte
Losses
#2 UST
#8 Elon
#3 Dayton

#7 Fort Lewis
Wins
#24 Mines
#22 Metro
#12 UVSC
Losses
#1 Westminster

#11 Montana State
Wins
#22 Metro
#17 UNC
#19 WW
#24 Mines
Losses
#12 UVSC

From the last poll, Dayton, GVSU, SJU and Emory would have received the AL bids.

I would say that Dayton has an AL locked up.

GVSU has to not lose big to Dayton and they should have an AL. Otherwise, they could get beat out by UST if SJU were to win, Emory if Emory's loss is a lot smaller than GVSU's in the Dayton games, and Fort Lewis with a strong showing in the RMLC playoffs.

SJU should take the third AL with a solid win over NDSU and a good showing against UST. Otherwise win the UMLL to get the AQ.

Emory has the fourth right now but needs Fort Lewis to have a poor performance in the RMLC playoffs or GVSU to lose big to Dayton to get an AL bid.

Fort Lewis and Montana State are on the outside but need to put up big numbers in the playoffs and they could steal Emory's spot or hope SJU loses big in their playoffs.

Yes GVSU top 25 is weak, that point has been pointed out many times. But the win GVSU has proved to the Voters that they can compete with the best and have looked past the SOS. I am confident to say that the reason we are not #2 right now is because of our SOS. GVSU needs to keep it close or win with Dayton to go on unless the voters feel GVSU with a loss, is still at the level to compete with the best.

[Gvlax]

the RMLC-2 should get 2 bids for sure... easily the toughest Div 2 conference.

Fort Lewis, if matched back up with Westminster for the finals will need to do better than their first match up with them to move higher in the polls. Both teams have probably improved since then. Montana St. will need to keep it really close with Westminster to have a shot of jumping up in AL contention.

as for the Montana vs Montana st. game, i read the game description and thats all i need to know about it. I congrats Montana st. with keeping it a close.

[Brew26]

GVLAX "Yes GVSU top 25 is weak, that point has been pointed out many times. But the win GVSU has proved to the Voters that they can compete with the best and have looked past the SOS. I am confident to say that the reason we are not #2 right now is because of our SOS. GVSU needs to keep it close or win with Dayton to go on unless the voters feel GVSU with a loss, is still at the level to compete with the best."

I am not saying where you should be in the poll or pointing out your weak schedule which you accomplished yourself again. This was to show the quality win/loss record for the teams competing for the 4 AL Bids. In my mind, those were the scenarios for each team to obtain one of the AL bids or lose their AL bid. But yes I would agree with you that GVSU has to beat out the margin of the Emory/Dayton game to keep their AL bid.