Report scores, discuss upcoming games, WCLL week 12

[Danny Hogan]

(not in terms of quality, but in terms of subjective variance).

way to sugar coat it. i'll have to remember that one.

[WaterBoy]

I just didn't want to be the first guy to get tagged with whining about officiating before a game. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be there, but I know that saying something about the officiating is a good way to get a slap on the wrist.

Ha. Subjective variance. Man I'm awesome.

[OldPoly75]

The number of goals scored by each team.

That's the smartest thing said all week. Let just play the games and stop talking. It WILL be fun.

[strykr11]

Cal 5 Stanford 1 (half)
Cal 9 Stanford 6 (final)

Cal was up 8-2 before Stanford mounted a 4th quarter Rally.

[Ty Webb]

Davis 5 Chico 2

[salami22]

Anyone know the score of the UCSD v SDSU game?

[sohotrightnow]

UCSD 12
SDSU 5

[ucdlax]

UCD 5
Chico 2

I know it's already posted...I'm just that excited about it.

We're at Cal Poly next weekend!

UCD #27

[CPLaxGM]

For anyone planning on attending the Cal Poly vs Santa Clara game this afternoon, the game has been moved to the Damon Garcia Sports Fields in San Luis Obispo. Damon Garcia is located on Broad Street at Industrial Way. The field complex is pretty hard to miss. It's still on grass, but the field is in much better shape than our campus field. Skies look clear today, so it should be a good day for a lacrosse game (start time is still slated for 2 p.m.).

Also, our congratulations go out to the UC Davis Aggies on their victory over Chico State last night. We are looking forward to hosting you next Saturday. One word of warning, next weekend is Open House/Poly Royal at Cal Poly. SLO town will be packed and you may have trouble finding hotels. I will email you with suggestions later this weekend.

[Bluevelvet]

UCSB 12 - USC 6.
Everyone got to play for UCSB. Also, quick turnaround with UCLA @ 1PM tomorrow after 7PM @ USC tonight. UCSB clinches playoffs tonight. Plays UCLA for first place in LA division tomorrow.

[Bluevelvet]

Arizona 14 - ASU 9.

So, UCSD travels to the winner of UCSB vs. UCLA. Arizona hosts the loser of UCSB vs. UCLA.

[lil lady lax fan]

Claremont finished off their season with a win over St. Mary's. I believe the final score was 15-4. Congrats to the Cougs on a heckuva great season. Good luck in Post season.

Kudos to St. Mary's for their hard-fought effort. Good luck in the future.

[Sonny]

Arizona 14 - ASU 9.

So, UCSD travels to the winner of UCSB vs. UCLA. Arizona hosts the loser of UCSB vs. UCLA.

Arizona State is out, correct?

[Bluevelvet]

This is the first round of the WCLL playoff picture:
(assuming that higher ranked UCSB beats UCLA)
(5 UC schools make the playoffs)

Cal @ #2 Sonoma St.
.........................................winners play in final 4
#5 UCSD @ #4 UCSB

UC Davis @ #10 Cal Poly
.........................................winners play in final 4
#22 UCLA @ #11 Arizona


Seems very uneven bracketing with 3 of the top 5 teams in the country on one side of the bracket and none on the otherside. Based on rankings, UCSB would have an easier path to the finals by losing to UCLA today and playing #11 AZ and #10 Cal Poly rather than #5 UCSD and #2 Sonoma. Of course, they would never purposely do this, but it illustrates how lopsided the seedings are this year.

2 top 5 teams will not make it to the finals. The real final will probably be the semi final game with UCSD/UCSB vs. Sonoma St. The final could be anti-climatic.

The first round is fine as it stands (with travel considerations and regional rivalries preserved). But I would suggest that, in the future, the final four be seeded according to ranking in the latest MDIA poll. With #1 vs. #4 and #2 vs. #3 regardless of division. That seems a fairer way to seed year in and year out.

[You'reARabbit]

I am tired of Santa Barbara taking the path of least resistance in regard to the WCLL playoffs.

When Whittier was still in the league, Santa Barbara realized that the only dominant team at the time in the then Northern Division was Cal. So rather than compete against Whittier and Arizona, they moved to the North.

Then the emergence of Sonoma in the North coupled with Whittier leaving the WCLL, Santa Barbara moved back to the South because it provided an easier road.

Now we have four divisions. But if we only had two, Santa Barbara would be third in the "old South" behind both Arizona and UCSD. In fact, if Santa Barbara were in the current South Division, they wouldn't even be in the playoffs after suffering losses to UCSD and UA.

The reality of the WCLL playoffs is that you have to win three tough games to take home the championship. The parity of our league is obvious. Sonoma State is the only team that doesn't have a loss within the league.

The thought of reseeding came up at the league meeting. The fear was that Sonoma State might meet Santa Barbara in the semis and that the league championship may not be "the best" two teams being showcased.

I ask, "Who are the best two teams?"

Santa Barbara, a #1 seed, lost to UCSD, Arizona and Sonoma.
Arizona, a #1 seed, lost to UCSD and beat Santa Barbara.
Cal Poly, a #1 seed, lost to UCSD, UCSB, and Sonoma.
UCSD, a #2 seed, has beat 3 of 4 #1 seeds with a 1 goal loss to Sonoma.

To reseed according to rankings could conceivably place UCSB higher than TWO teams that they have lost to head-to-head. They are lucky to have a first round home game.

Now I don't know who is going to take home the championship. Anyone who has been watching this year knows that this is still a horserace. The fact is that UCSB may EARN another championship. But for Bluevelvet to lobby for reseeding so that Santa Barbara can have an easier playoff makes as much sense as saying, "We're in the South. No, lets try the North. This is too tough, lets go back to the South."

Santa Barbara is at home throughout the playoffs. They don't need more help. Like all of the playoff teams, they need to strap on their gear and take on all comers for the championship that they are defending.

The system is fine, and the best team will be celebrating at the end of the day. Good luck to all the playoff teams. Now lets play.