2006 MDIA Division A Preseason Top 25 Poll

[Bluevelvet]

To tell the truth, I don't know about UCSB. They will be good. I'm not sure how good. They have 4 starters back out of 10. They have new starters with alot of talent and experience on the defensive end.
They have a very large & talented freshman class, who will contribute more in the years to come. But they will probably have 2 or 3 new players start this year.
They have a nice blend of new talent and experience.
I think it will depend on how the new players listen and learn from the experienced players. They are a little light on experience. In my opinion they could be quite good by the end of the season.

[JJLax10]

I was wondering if anyone could explain why UNH is not ranked but BC and Northeastern are both ranked 18 and 16 respectively. UNH beat both teams in the regular season and then lost to Northeastern in the PCLL championship. The only hit they took as far as graduating seniors was at attack graduating Boyce and Churchill. Several younger players showed that they can step in at attack during fallball however. On defense they have two returners in Taylor and Upton. Gagne graduated at defense but they are depth at this position with the returners who didn't start last year and the incoming freshmen will easily make up for the loss. They are returning all of the starting middies with Dahl(79% win on faceoffs), Fawcett, and Cosco. And the two goalies who saw time last year are both returning. I do not understand how they are ranked below BC and not closer to Northeastern.

[CATLAX MAN]

. . .and then lost to Northeastern in the PCLL championship.

You answered your own question here. Don't forget to factor in last year's loss to a lowly Cal team and their barely getting by A&M & Texas Tech. When put in context, their results do not look as good as their won-loss record. There are other teams throughout the country the pollsters thought were a better choice.

[mholtz]

Also, the "also receiving votes" are alphabetical, not in order of points. For all we know, they could have been 1 pt out of the top 25.

[O'McLaxer]

I don't get why Arizona is getting so much love. They did lose to Arizona State. A game towards the end of their season if I'm not mistaken. Maybe BYU should take a hit for giving up a game the could have been a W instead of Arizona getting all this love. That being said Noma earned that number one spot last year. They were an even match with UCSB, both games they played could have gone either way. The same is true for the double OT lose to CSU at CSU's house. BYU I know hasn't beat them at all in the past four years. Rando Cannis has been the top D-man in the WCLL for a while, Cito Williams as a freshman gets National Tourney offensive MVP, Brian Johnson is a top three Middie in the league, Pringle was the best goalie in the WCLL last year as a freshman. The only place where they lost something is the faceoff where they might only win 50% instead of the 90% from prior years.

The last thing that should be considered is leadership on teams. UCSB lost all their on field leaders. CSU lost Harper. Noma lost Esposito. This is something that needs to be considered but is hard to measure.

[Danny Hogan]

could be wrong but i believe BYU won the RMLC last year over CSU?

[Bluevelvet]

I don't get why Arizona is getting so much love.

Arizona is not getting very much love. They are ranked #15.

[CATLAX MAN]

The last thing that should be considered is leadership on teams. UCSB lost all their on field leaders. CSU lost Harper. Noma lost Esposito. This is something that needs to be considered but is hard to measure.

Sonoma only had one on-field leader?

[Bluevelvet]

The last thing that should be considered is leadership on teams. UCSB lost all their on field leaders. CSU lost Harper. Noma lost Esposito. This is something that needs to be considered but is hard to measure.

In addition to Esposito, didn't Sonoma lose WCLL all stars: JD Hamann, Jon Wiley and Chris O'Mahoney?
So, Sonoma lost 4 WCLL all stars; UCSB lost 6.

[CATLAX MAN]

In addition to Esposito, didn't Sonoma lose WCLL all stars: JD Hamann, Jon Wiley and Chris O'Mahoney?

And senior D-man Brian Bianchi?

[jmaxwell2]

Rando Cannis has been the top D-man in the WCLL for a while, Cito Williams as a freshman gets National Tourney offensive MVP, Brian Johnson is a top three Middie in the league, Pringle was the best goalie in the WCLL last year as a freshman. The only place where they lost something is the faceoff where they might only win 50% instead of the 90% from prior years.

I think SSU has a face-off person that will still win 90% of the face-offs. But you will just have to wait and see if I'm correct. Sorry, but I cannot divulge his name.

[Bluevelvet]

The USL MDIA announced today that the 2006 National Championship was awarded to Sonoma St. University.
In forgoing the regular season and the playoffs, MDIA spokesman Harley Braggadosio announced that since Sonoma was returning 4 allstar players and a mystery faceoff man, the other teams obviously had no chance. "Why bother with an expensive, meaningless season when Sonoma St has already crowned themselves as champions?"
When reached for comment, a Sonoma St representative said, "We are disappointed that the season has been cancelled but it was the right decision. I will particularly miss the UCSB game. We had scheduled them at Sonoma, on a Wednesday in the middle of their spring break. But, hey, that was the only day we could play them. Seriously, we have Cannis, Johnson, Williams and Pringle. We don't need 10 players. We have a faceoff guy that will win each and every face off so the other team will never have the ball. We have already won on paper. Why play the games?"

[UNH2001]

I think SSU has a face-off person that will still win 90% of the face-offs. But you will just have to wait and see if I'm correct. Sorry, but I cannot divulge his name.

Has anyone actually won 90% of faceoffs over a season? If so, I want him on my summer league team...and I thought the UNH faceoff guy (at 79%) was good!

[O'McLaxer]

"And senior D-man Brian Bianchi?"

Screw that guy. All he ever did for the team was increase its sex appeal and draw out all the ladies.

And who cries about a mid week game? If Sonoma is your spring break road trip then you should be stoked. You'll get more of a spring break then every other team that gives their's up for LAX.

[Bubba 18]

hey blue velvet, I think you misunderstand what the other two guys were saying, we (as noma fans) are fired up to be seeing the gauchos this season. I for one think sonoma owes the gauchos at least one heck of a game. I am also way excited to have the wcll finals in santa barbara. i salivate just thinking about the road trip... Noma will not be forgoing any kind of season. They will be playing every game the only way they know how... LIKE NOMA. ANd if you dont believe me, show up on wednesday in ropo and watch in person. Bianchi OUT!