WCLL Conference Favorites

[obwan006]

Any thoughts on the favorites to win each region of Division A (North, Central, LA and South)? Who is your favorite and are there any thoughts on sleepers who stand the best chance to pose an upset of the favorite and why?

[WCLLPREZ]

Okay I'll bite!

North: Sonoma as usual the favorite. From what I here, Chico could push them this year but the addition of WCLL scoring leader Jon Wiley has to help.

Central: favorite has to be Cal Poly. Cal, Stanford Santa Clara are all in rebuilding phases, I believe. Newcomer St. Mary's probably has a way to go. As for SCU, how much more could be expected from a 4-12 team last season, but we can only hope.

LA: UCSB the favorite not only for the region but for the WCLL and MDIA crowns as well. Chapman and Loyola Marymount have new coaches and key player losses to cope with.

South: Arizona again as the favorite. Much has been made of UC San Diego and Arizona State as potentially challenging for the title but not sure either program has the depth or the history to know of UA.

Just my humble opinion.

What are the opinions of others in the WCLL-know: CATLAX man, Bluevelvet?

[CATLAX MAN]

Can't disagree with your analysis, and I am pulling for Santa Clara to improve this year and make the playoffs.

[the lax]

Jon Wiley transferred to Chico from LMU?

[Danny Hogan]

Can't disagree with your analysis, and I am pulling for Santa Clara to improve this year and make the playoffs.

would probably create some severe middle-child syndrome if you didn't

[CATLAX MAN]

No, to Sonoma.

[the lax]

Chapman still has Danny Metoyer 1st AA capable of taking over every game he plays in. Also, they dodge UCSB in the regular season so they would be in great position to upset them in the WCLL playoffs.

[Bluevelvet]

UCSB plays Chapman on 4/16 @ Chapman. All division opponents in the WCLL play each other evey year.
I just looked up Chapman's schedule and it is one of the easiest WCLL schedules that I have ever seen. No Sonoma, No Cal Poly. They play Arizona, VaTech and SFU out of their division in the WCLL.

[CATLAX MAN]

Chapman's 3rd OOC game is against Washington. Bluevelvet is right about their schedule; it's not that difficult. They're probably a lock to make the WCLL playoffs as the LA #2 seed and will probably have to face Arizona in the 1st round. It would appear to be a "schedule for success" attempt. If they make the tourney in MN, they definitely will not be as battle-tested as some of the other teams that will make it.

[the lax]

Why'd Wiley bail to Sonoma?

And, how do I get premium membership status?

[obwan006]

You get premium member status when you officially spend more time checking the message board than you do real work for your job or school.

Ha!!!!!

[CATLAX MAN]

And, how do I get premium membership status?

For info on how to be a Premium Member, check here:

http://forums.uslia.com/viewtopic.php?t=132

[the lax]

Anyone have information on wiley's motives for transfering? LMU must be really sore.

[Sean Lenihan]

LMU is NOT sore about Wiley transfering. LMU will do just fine this season.

[Bluevelvet]

UCSB returning just about everyone is just not true. They have lost 4 year all american attack Hank Calkins, 4 year all american defenseman Tycho Suter, and all american middie Tom Smith. They have also lost starting attackman Steve Chrisensen to injury.
They had such depth last year that the replacements for these players have already been battle tested and ready, but these guys will be missed.