LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

What team(s) do you expect to be the suprise team of '06? I am thinking along the lines of FSU last year. Some may say that with the talent FSU had it wasn't too much of suprise, but they did suprise folks in Blaine.

So, who's your pick for the suprise team in '06? Sorry if this has been discussed already.

The team most likely to jump into the mix, in my opinion, is Colorado. They showed a lot last year at Blaine, and I think returned the bulk of their team. They had Sonoma on the ropes but couldn't finish it. That experience can only help them this year.

If John Galvin is still the coach at Colorado, then I would agree that they could be a big threat.

Agreed on Colorado. I saw them twice in the fall and they will be very good. Better goaltending than last year. Very good attack. Would not be surprised if they beat BYU or CSU this year. I would anticipate they come home from Plano 3-0.

As CATLAX said, don't know if they qualify as a "surprise", but I think they're ready to jump into that top group that had been UCSB, Noma, BYU, CSU and Mich for a long, long time.

I know FSU and Oregon backers think they're in that same group, and they very well may be, but I simply have not seen enough of those squads to have an opinion.

I don't disagree about Colorado - but how about UCSD?

If Chapman keeps up what they have done so far, I could see them being a possibility.

I've seen Chapman, UCSD and UCSB play so far this year. I think Chapman is a little bit behind the other two- which of course is really hard to say because Chapman took UCSB to overtime... at UCSB. So far I think the three question marks in the WCLL are Sonoma State (and I don't think anyone argues about them being up on or very near the top), UCSD (They just haven't played any big games yet (but they will this weekend with Cal Poly and Michigan), and Arizona (who has played only one game so far, but winning it pretty cleanly).

I think either Arizona or UCSD could surprise people this year- UCSD because I've seen them play and they are improved from last year- Arizona because I think generally nobody has seen them play, they won against a generally solid team, and there's simply not enough info out there to figure out what kind of threat they pose.

I will be at the UCSD/UCSB game- and I think it's a huge game this year, possibly realigning the power in what was once the "WCLL South."

Arizona has had the same coach now for a few years, so hopefully his system will finally have all the kids on the same page. I know new coaches usually get about a year and a half of struggle just because of putting in a new system... so I feel like Arizona could be better this year because of the stability.

I saw UCSD in Minnesota last year, and I thought they were pretty good. Is the word that they are better this year?

WaterBoy wrote:I will be at the UCSD/UCSB game- and I think it's a huge game this year, possibly realigning the power in what was once the "WCLL South."

I believe they are in different divisions, so this game will have no effect on the WCLL playoffs. It does have national implications, however.

CATLAX MAN wrote:

WaterBoy wrote:I will be at the UCSD/UCSB game- and I think it's a huge game this year, possibly realigning the power in what was once the "WCLL South."

I believe they are in different divisions, so this game will have no effect on the WCLL playoffs. It does have national implications, however.

UCSB is in the "Los Angeles" Division while UCSD is in the "South".

Trust me, I'm aware of the configuration of the WCLL. If you read my post, it explains that it will be a battle for the crown over the old WCLL South, a reference to the layout of the WCLL before the changes a year ago.

Just had to defend my own rep... yo.

CAL POLY

a little B division love...

st. johns has to be a surprise, i doubt many people thought they would beat san diego

Maple Leaf wrote:a little B division love...

st. johns has to be a surprise, i doubt many people thought they would beat san diego

Heaven knows they have some fire power. Wicked offense on that team.

Maple Leaf wrote:a little B division love...

st. johns has to be a surprise, i doubt many people thought they would beat san diego

St. John's efforts in CA should be getting more attention. To beat the defending B division champ, win convincingly against a competitive UCI squad and then play the second best (according to last season) WCLL-B team to one goal, all in one weekend and on the road, is impressive.