PNCLL Week #5 (2/27-3/4) -- Predict/Report Scores/Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

Essentially, when Montana has the ball, they score... they just don't have the ball often.

The Griz outshot us 58-32 in this game, Kyle. That reflects a significant disparity in both time of possession and offense generated, which they dominated. Clearly the only way we were able to win was because our goalie played out of his mind, yet again. If Cammy didn't come up huge I'd say we lose about 20-14 or worse. We'd also be 2-4 or even 1-5 instead of 5-1 this season with a lesser goalie. I'll be disappointed for Cam if he's not voted a PNCLL All-Star in 2008. With all due respect to the fine goalies we have seen so far this year, I wouldn't "trade" ours for any of them...

I believe that Montana and Washington are pretty similiar this season. Both teams have very productive and balanced offenses, but both of us need to markedly improve our team defenses if we hope to compete successfully against the top MCLA DI squads. We both have some talented long-poles, but we both give up way too many open looks on the crease to our opponents which means our slides just aren't getting there fast enough, if at all.

[Kyle Berggren]

I get it ... You don't have to post twice...

[Dan Wishengrad]

I get it ... You don't have to post twice...

Sorry, fixed that... must have zigged when I meant to zag

And speaking of Zags, anybody hear a score from last night's GU vs UCSD game?

EDIT UPDATE: Tritons beat the Zags 14-8 at Cal. Good luck to GU today against a tough Santa Clara team

[UCLABruins]

CWU - 11
Whitman - 10

Official

[AndyP]

unofficial:

SFU 16 Montana 13

clan were leading 14-7 at one point and montana had a flurry of late goals but sfu sealed the deal with a minute or so left

highlight of the game: montana had a 2 on 0 breakaway, sfu goalie stewart made a snazzy save off the first attackman. second montana attackman picked up the rebound and steward stoned him too.

[Kyle Berggren]

UPS 17
L&C 1

We've got a long week of practice to get ready for CWU & WWU. Wow, big weekend.

[Movin' a Couch]

Hard to watch another one-goal loss for Whitman. It's fun to see how much of the league is so evenly matched, though. With Montana gone and Western Washington softened a little by graduation and injury, things look wide open. I hope playoffs are exciting.

Central has improved again. They have steadily risen over the past few years, and I think they'll likely make playoffs. I know this is a team sport, yada yada yada, but I doubt they would have pulled off this victory without #13 (Hodge?). He scored at middie and attack, was great in transition and on ground balls, and he played some excellent middie D. He's fast, smart, scrappy, and has really skinny legs. #8 is as fast as I remember. He's quick, and his right-to-left split dodge is stellar. Unfortunately, his left hand is not stellar, and he looked awkward trying to get back to his right after he split. #14 has the loudest cleats in the game. Apparently he also indicated that they are expensive. He's decently quick, his right hand is good, and he had some goals, but I just can't get over guys who have NO left. He also flipped off the fans and told them to "keep talking" as he "ran away" at the end of the game. I asked the refs, and they couldn't hear him over the roar of his orange cleats. The attackman with the knee brace (forgot his number) is solid. He made good decisions, slowed things down, and didn't really turn the ball over. Central's D are mostly giant. They're hardworking guys with pretty good sticks, and they played a tough game today. The goalie is nothing special, but not bad.

Peter (no longer at all affiliated with the Whitman team) Drake

[PNWLaxer]

Score posted above is correct 16-13 SFU over the Griz.

Towner with a bunch for the Clan. Hall and Ault led Montana's O.
As Andy mentioned going into the 3rd the score was 14-6 SFU but a mad scoring spree from the Griz narrowed the lead to 2 at 15-13 but a late SFU goal sealed the win.

Both teams D need some work as there were far too many breakdowns for either coach to be happy. Lots of laundry on the field but I felt that most were deserved, definitely did not affect the outcome. Simultaneous 3 min non releasable stick fouls late in the fourth was strange but did not affect the game.

[Mark Brown]

From Ashland, OR
SOU 15
Willamette 5

Coach Patton definitely has Willamette moving in the right direction, and he showed up in a shirt and tie!!!
Carter had a huge game for us collecting 16 saves.
Iron man lacrosse lives on in Ashland as we played w/o Snell again and fellow captain L. Van Egdom played sparingly due to an injury from last week. 2-3 subs is fun lacrosse. Looking forward to next term when we get a few guys back so we might have 5 subs!

[laxer818]

Thanks for the report (and the laughs), Drake.

I'm sure it's tough to stomach three consecutive one-goal losses against (arguably) the top three teams in the league, but it looks like you guys are right up there among Div. B's best. Hopefully, you'll be able to continue improving and get some wins under your belt to get into the playoffs and exact some revenge. You guys are right on the doorstep--now you have to put it all together. Good luck the rest of the way.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

#14 has the loudest cleats in the game. Apparently he also indicated that they are expensive. He's decently quick, his right hand is good, and he had some goals, but I just can't get over guys who have NO left. He also flipped off the fans and told them to "keep talking" as he "ran away" at the end of the game.

I hate it when a moment like this puts a little black eye on a huge win by CWU. I know Whitman's fans can be tough, but this is certainly not the kind of behavior we want to see from our players. . .

I don't care how raucous the fans are, this behavior is petty and hopefully coach J.C. saw this and had some words with his player.

Nice win Central. I can't believe Whitman has lost 3 one-goal games in about one week. . .Our D2 is so confusing right now. Hopefully Dan's week 6 preview will clear it all up for us.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Santa Clara 8
Gonzaga 4

Respectable showing by the vastly improved Zags. SCU is tough, they beat Cal 12-6 last week and look to be a WCLL playoff team. Chins up, Bulldogs, you guys are definitely a program on the rise.

[TheBearcatHimself]

Some good showings by the D1 squads this weekend. Wish I could have seen the Montana/UW game.

This is not a complaint at all but an exact quote from a Southern Oregon dpole talking during our game today: "Man this game would be so much more fun if the refs weren't here." I love it. I would pay money to see SOU play WU with no refs, there would be several hospitalizations on both sides.

Side note, I talked with Mark Brown today about this, no one from the league contacted me about scheduling our field for the PLU/SOU game on March 15th. I will have to find out tomorrow if we can secure the field, but it would be nice if these issues would go through the coach of the neutral site host before being scheduled.

Am I not on an email list I need to be? I haven't gotten the ref bill either but have heard from three coaches who have.....

[Mark Brown]

I'm glad that I didn't hear my defense man make that comment Will. That is un-acceptable!!
We are a young team and definitely have some maturing to do.
I understand why you were frustrated today.
As for the PLU game, I'm not sure how it got scheduled at your place w/o the League schedulers checking w/ you to make sure that was ok. I hope it works out.
Great game Willamette! We'll see you 2 out of the next 3 w/e's.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Will,

I will talk to Marilyn Hoskins about your bill. . .I am surprised you have not received it - we will get to the bottom of that tomorrow.

As for WU vs. SOU with no refs? Very, very scary. . .

And with reference to the neutral site game and securing a field, it is actually the responsibility of the coaches involved to get that done. I'm sorry that one slipped through the cracks. . .if you have trouble securing a field please contact me right away and I will help all parties involved find a field down there.