WCLL Final Four updates (Report Scores/Discuss games here)!

[onpoint]

Any predictions for tomorrow? Chico didn't seem to help their case too much with a 10 goal loss. Looks like Arizona may get the nod after all.

[CATLAX MAN]

Although Sonoma won today by 4 goals, the game was a lot closer than that. Gotta give credit to UCSD for playing hard and doing what they needed to do to keep the game close. UCSD definitely belongs at the tournament.

[eplsoccer77]

looked like sonoma had a little bit of trouble on offense when SD threw their zone against em...but they had good transition offense which helped them. plus they had a goal not count at the begining of the 3rd because the clock didnt start. but they won any ways. will be a good game tommorrow.

[WaterBoy]

From WCLL.com

Sonoma State
In spite of numerous logistical problems, including clocks not starting (which was compounded by officiating crew negating an SSU goal on the opening face of the second half), phantom TO calls, confusion over whether balls went out over sidelines or endlines (which led to a horn blown after the restart), three erroneously delayed restarts that led to UCSD substitutions, and apparent confusion as to whether we were supposed to line the field according to 1990 or 2005 rules, the game came off. Hats off to an enthusiastic and talented UCSD team who clearly deserve their ranking.

I don't think it was all that bad. I don't think I understand the motivation behind trying to clarify a WIN.

Clocks? If you were there, they were an issue, and (as a spectator) I have no idea what was going on. Things like this happen though, and the whistle was blown BEFORE the shot, as the keeper had already started to step clear of the cage. The whistle was blown when a Sonoma player was just crossing into the box from the top, and the shot was about four steps later. The whistle was close to the time of the shot, but before (and clearly not intended to alter the game). Was the ref supposed to wait till a "more appropriate time" to start the clock?

Phantom TO calls? Yup. The ref made a mistake. A ref thought he heard a team call a timeout on a dead ball. When he saw that no timeout was called, he accepted responsibility and resumed the game. Mistakes happen. Oh, and during the confusion of the timeout, UCSD scored all 6 of their goals (sarcasm for those not there- mentally or physically).

In terms of the UCSD substitutions, I didn't see three of them. I don't know if it necessarily implied three substitutions (rather three delayed restarts). The only substitution I saw during stopped play was when the official called an equipment timeout during gameplay for a Sonoma player that had to tie his shoe. Don't sniff the gift fish on this one. In all of the games I've seen, when a player needs to tie their shoe, they sub off and take care of it. I can't claim that I know all of the rules on this point, but I didn't see any type of harm/benefit given either team based on the timeout. It saved Noma the trouble of having to sub the guy off (or playing man down while he tied his shoe).

I am neither a coach, nor do I have any type of game book with actual stats. Here is- to the best of my recollection, a game report of the GAME and not a gripe list.

Seemed pretty clear that both teams came out to play- Noma took a pretty strong hold of possession for the majority of the clock. Noma tagged the first score, and UCSD answered several minutes later, and the quarter ended 1-1. UCSD was having some problems running their normal offense, and the Noma settled offense was fairly flat. The second quarter was a little more lively. Noma jumped to more of a lead and scored two goals in pretty quick succession, coming from their middies (Sorry for lack of names, I don't really remember and I don't want to mis-state). Noma was flagged for a slash, and that put UCSD man up, and they scored relatively quickly into the penalty.

The ensuing face off saw UCSD's faceoff (Sildorf) coming out with possession over Noma's man (Hamman) (and as a side note, the faceoffs in the game were very well fought, as Hamman and Sildorf are # 1 and 2 in the League) and drawing a push with possession for another 30 seconds of man up. UCSD tallied their third just after the penalty was released to tie the game at 3. The teams then traded goals to 4. Sonoma put another in the cage to end the half 5-4 in their favor.

The third quarter scoring started out with UCSD to tie the game at 5, and the rest of the quarter was relatively quiet until the last two minutes. I have no idea what happened in the last 2-3 minutes of the quarter with timing (I'm a fan and therefore not on the "in"), but Sonoma scored two very well played goals at the end of the quarter, making the score 7-5.

The fourth quarter belonged to Noma in traditional Cossack (it's too early for their to be "Seawolf tradition," but they're working on it) and they outscored UCSD 3-1 to end out the game 10-6, not 10-5 as reported by Noma on WCLL, probably just a mistake.

Of note in the game was the matchup between Nick Dean (WCLL Offensive Player of the Year) and Michael Cannis (WCLL Defensive Player of the Year). Early in the game, Cannis was very effective at shutting Dean down, and limiting the Triton's ability to operate their offensive style. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the face off battles were very intense, as the game pitted #1 and #2 in the WCLL against each other. Also- there were no couches at the game.

Please feel free to correct me/amend/append what I've written. I can take it. Just thought I'd give as much perspective as I could into what happened.

[Albert Man]

You are correct... the actual final score was 10-6 not 10-5 as reported on wcll.com. (This will be corrected on wcll.com soon)

it was 1-1 after 1, 5-4 at half, 7-5 at 3, and 10-6 final

There were some confusion regarding time, but it affected both teams.

Regardless, Sonoma played very well and the Tritons wish the best of luck to both the Gauchos and Seawolves in tomorrow's WCLL Final.

[Bluevelvet]

Just wanted to add an assessment of the WCLL final Four.
Despite the early misinformation and complaints about the tournament ticket prices, the event was very well run (the much complained about clock malfunction in the second game was inconsequential and had no effect on the score of the game).
There were numerous junior teams in action on several fields. The main WCLL events were in the stadium which was pretty close to capacity for both Saturday games. The organizers probably did alright because there seemed to be a different group of fans for the Sonoma game and the Chico game. The UCSB people stayed on for the Sonoma game to scout and because they had a team dinner after the second game in Moraga. But, the Chico people left after their game and the UCSD people did not arrive until after game one. There were several thousand different people on site but they were not all there at the same time.
The progams and posters were beautifully done in full color and on high quality paper. They were reasonably priced at $2 per program and $1 per poster. There were numerous vender tents outside the stadium which seemed to be fairly busy.
Thanks to Steve Dini , Cal and Miramonte HS for putting on such a nice event.
The difference in attendance between SF and LA makes me wonder whether the tournament should pick a San Diego site and a Bay Area site and alternate between them until LA becomes more of a lacrosse hotbed.

[mcneito]

Any word on the san diego, claremont game???

[WaterBoy]

I will chime into that- I was one of the skeptics as to the ticket prices, thinking they might drive away some of the less "involved" fans.

The even was run wonderfully, and I think that the organizers did a magnificent job. It was great to see not only the high level of lacrosse played, but also the draw from the local youth who played their games, and then decided to attend the event.

Member #1 of the converted, right here. Great job.

[TrojanLaxman5]

Any news on the Sonoma vs. UCSB game

[Sean Lenihan]

SSU 6
UCSB 4
3rd qtr

[Sean Lenihan]

SSU 6
UCSB 5
end of the 3rd

[Sean Lenihan]

SSU 7
UCSB 8
FINAL

SB scores game winner with about 1 min left in the game.

updates courtesy of Dirk Dewatcher, THANKS Dirk!

Final Four & Championship photos:
http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?storefront?b=1&c=03RD

[batman]

with sonoma up by one, Will Patton scored with about 2+ minutes left to tie it on a sick left handed 5-hole bounce shot, top right. SB won the face off and Will again scored the winner falling down, right handed to beat Pringle off-hip. Patton was MVP.

[Baller1]

I don't know the score, but USD beat Claremont with ease.

[Sonny]

Still need a final score from the WCLL Div. B Final: USD vs. Claremont

Thanks.