LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

I know we all gave them a hard time for not scheduling tough last year (even though they did have a couple big wins), but does this team deserve a spot in the top 25 after their rocky start this year? 19-1, even to a team like Michigan on the road is not a good sign for the Tigers.

Yes, we should give them a break. They did what eveyone said they should. They scheduled tough teams. After they do well in their conference no one will remember their start. But, they will have a better idea of what to expect in MN.

However, from the report on the game, the Michigan goaltenders only had 2 save opportunities in the game against Missouri. Granted Michigan is usually good defensively, but they are not going to win a lot of games if they have trouble getting shots off. They also lost to Arizona State, who lost to Utah last night, both unranked teams. They could be challenged in the GRLC this year. It's still early yet, and I agree with Bluevelvet that they are doing what needs to be done, but there are some signs for concern.

you shouldn't get a break for scheduling tough. it happens a lot in the top 25, especially the 8-15 range and it needs to stop.

Danny Hogan wrote:you shouldn't get a break for scheduling tough. it happens a lot in the top 25, especially the 8-15 range and it needs to stop.

Last year people said exactly the opposite. You shouldn't get credit for an nearly undefeated season against poor opposition. Teams like Missouri 2004, Oakland in 2003, Auburn 2002 scheduled weak and were roundly criticised as not worthy. I go with the team that takes chances and tries to improve, like Oregon in 2004. I guarantee that those teams are more ready to play in the national championship than the teams that cake walk through their powderpuff schedule. You have to reward teams that schedule tough, otherwise everyone will schedule weak in order to make the tournament field.
In the past there have been questionable teams on both ends of the spectrum. My point is that battle hardened teams with less than stellar records (Oregon 2004) do much better than the teams who are never challenged all year (Missouri 2004). So they deserve some reward for trying to improve even if they absorb a few losses along the way.
Pollsters should vote for the best teams not necessarily the teams with the best records.

but when it gets to a point where teams lose and don't drop in the rankings no matter what (oregon 04, CPSLO 04) it is going to the other extreme. +1 for scheduling the games, but you still have to show up. How bad the tx teams and missouri lost outweighs any respect they got for scheduling tough.

Danny Hogan wrote:but when it gets to a point where teams lose and don't drop in the rankings no matter what (oregon 04, CPSLO 04) it is going to the other extreme. +1 for scheduling the games, but you still have to show up. How bad the tx teams and missouri lost outweighs any respect they got for scheduling tough.

They lost to top 5 teams. It just shows how far the top 5 or 6 teams are ahead of everyone else. After Florida lost to TAMU, wouldn't you expect that CSU would pin a 20 goal loss on Florida also?
Regarding Cal Poly and Oregon in 2004, who was better? Florida, TAMU, Chapman? Didn't they all have 6 or so losses. If it had not been for Texas and GaTech making the field as upset AQ's, there wouldn't have even been a question.
By the way, how do you think the Ga Tech v. FSU game will affect the polls? I think Ga Tech should not drop far. They played a higher ranked team close. FSU will be better for having played a defensive team in a defensive game.

I don't think they deserve a spot in the poll. They haven't proved to anyone that they do, so until they turn their play around they should be left off. The GRLC this year is no cake walk either so whoever said they will win in conference and people will forget about their start, I'd take a look at the conference standings in a month and see if you still stick to that. A team that I do think will end up in the poll in place of Mizzou is Lindenwood University. They have a decent schedule and these guys are a solid team. Look out for them.

Bluevelvet wrote:

Danny Hogan wrote:but when it gets to a point where teams lose and don't drop in the rankings no matter what (oregon 04, CPSLO 04) it is going to the other extreme. +1 for scheduling the games, but you still have to show up. How bad the tx teams and missouri lost outweighs any respect they got for scheduling tough.

They lost to top 5 teams. It just shows how far the top 5 or 6 teams are ahead of everyone else. After Florida lost to TAMU, wouldn't you expect that CSU would pin a 20 goal loss on Florida also?
Regarding Cal Poly and Oregon in 2004, who was better? Florida, TAMU, Chapman? Didn't they all have 6 or so losses. If it had not been for Texas and GaTech making the field as upset AQ's, there wouldn't have even been a question.
By the way, how do you think the Ga Tech v. FSU game will affect the polls? I think Ga Tech should not drop far. They played a higher ranked team close. FSU will be better for having played a defensive team in a defensive game.

Cal Poly lost to Texas and Texas AM last year, Oregon got handled by Chico.

I do not think that CSU would beat Florida by anywhere near 20 goals, however they do deserve to drop just below wherever TAMU drops.

GT shouldn't drop all that much because they lost by about what the polls said they should lose by.

What do you think the Sonoma vs. AZ game will do to arizona's ranking?

Arizona may drop 1 or 2 spots behind Michigan and maybe FSU because their loss to a team ranked above them in the polls was expected.
Agree about GaTech. They won't drop far if at all.
I think Florida and just about every other MDIA team will get crushed by CSU. There are two levels in the top 25. There is the top 6 or 7 and everyone else. Missouri desrves credit for playing #5 Arizona, #6 Michigan. Those are blow out type games for many top 25 teams. Missouri is going for the AQ anyway. These games will show them how to play in the GRLC and help them toward the AQ.
As discussed in the Championship Chat forum, it really does not matter where you are in the polls because there are 14 locks for MN. Everyone else is going for the last 2 spots.
Florida, Ga Tech, Cal Poly & UCSD are in that group unless they win their conference. What do you think about UCSD's loss to UCSB. The game summary from WCLL.com indicates that the game was very close through 3 quarters 7-5. Then UCSB went on an offensive and defensive tear. Should UCSD move up by playing well against the #1 team? They didn't get blown out like Missouri. Stay the same? Apparently, my sources on UCSB tell me that UC San Diego is pretty darn good.

Agree that AZ will probably drop 1 or 2 spots. Expect that team to be there at the end of the season. You won't hear this excuse from them, but they have been playing without their starting goalie who was the difference in the WCLL playoff game between Sonoma & AZ last year. When they get him back, that team will get even stronger.

UCSD should also move up with a quality win over ranked Chapman and a good showing against UCSB. This is definitely a team on the rise.

Bluevelvet wrote:Arizona may drop 1 or 2 spots behind Michigan and maybe FSU because their loss to a team ranked above them in the polls was expected.
Agree about GaTech. They won't drop far if at all.
I think Florida and just about every other MDIA team will get crushed by CSU. There are two levels in the top 25. There is the top 6 or 7 and everyone else. Missouri desrves credit for playing #5 Arizona, #6 Michigan. Those are blow out type games for many top 25 teams. Missouri is going for the AQ anyway. These games will show them how to play in the GRLC and help them toward the AQ.
As discussed in the Championship Chat forum, it really does not matter where you are in the polls because there are 14 locks for MN. Everyone else is going for the last 2 spots.
Florida, Ga Tech, Cal Poly & UCSD are in that group unless they win their conference. What do you think about UCSD's loss to UCSB. The game summary from WCLL.com indicates that the game was very close through 3 quarters 7-5. Then UCSB went on an offensive and defensive tear. Should UCSD move up by playing well against the #1 team? They didn't get blown out like Missouri. Stay the same? Apparently, my sources on UCSB tell me that UC San Diego is pretty darn good.

UCSD's 'manner of loss' is a lot more impressive than missouri's or the tx teams. Florida didn't help their case by losing to TAMU, but they still have a lot of good teams on their schedule to prove themselves (Chico, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Florida State) unless they beat them, they will end up in the 10-25 jumble with the other also-rans.

Another team that should break into the rankings is Utah with their good showing against AZ and their win against ASU on the road.

While Missouri and now Illinois have been losing games, Lindenwood has been gaining confidence, playing time, and most importantly, wins. You may think that losing to good teams and varsitys improves a team. Im saying losing is losing and hurts a team when they do nothing but lose. You cant expect a team with that many losses to feel like they can win. they lost to AZ and AZ state, Michigan, probly lost too the two ncaa teams, and will lose next weekend to Tennessee and Virginia Tech and then have to play Illinois -- and all these games on the road. He may be a good coach but hes a horrible scheduler. Starting with 8 road games like those is just dumb. They wont recover and definately wont win the conference now that LU is elligable to win it.

Many of you critize teams for scheduling poor opponents, especially in the CCLA. I believe it is time that more teams in the West and South start doing more traveling. Most of the teams in the midwest have to travel south and west to get outside games in February and March, but April is a great time for teams in the South and West to reciprocate games that we have given in the past. I think that would help out tremendously in leveling out the playing field as far as strength and weakness of schedules.