UNH & BC's Poll Rankings

[Daniel Morris]

Well, with a win over a #9 ranked Boston College, UNH could probably jump 5 spots in the next poll, barring a loss to Northeastern or Bridgewater.

BC took a loss to a lower ranked UNH, but it was a rivalry match between two of the PCLL's best, and I personally think UNH was underanked anyway. The Cal loss was their first game in almost a month and they took a one goal fluke loss.

BC may slide a little in the polls because of the UNH loss, but since it was their only loss of the year, a heated rivalry, the fact that UNH was a ranked opponent, and they bounced back with a big, if not pretty win over Pittsburgh, I think they stay Top 10. The other teams around them have taken losses that are comparable or worse to BC's, so if they drop, I see it only being one or two spots.

If both teams win out the remainder of the season, where does that leave the PCLL in the rankings? Is it possible we could send two teams to the National Tournament? It certainly isn't impossible. If UNH beat BC in the finals, could BC still get an at large bid?

What do people think about poll movement and the possibility (although a long shot) of the PCLL sending two teams?

[Parkyourcar39]

I think if UNH was to win the PCLL tournament it would be extremely difficult for BC to get an at large bid...It could happen but I wouldn't put my money on it. If BC was to win the PCLL I see it the same way for UNH.

If we had won the regular season and then lost in the Championship to UNH then I think the chances would have been good to have two PCLL teams at nationals

[Tim Gray]

If we had won the regular season and then lost in the Championship to UNH then I think the chances would have been good to have two PCLL teams at nationals

Unfortuneately, I have to agree with this statement. I think the best chance that the PCLL had of getting two teams to Blaine was if BC won the regular season by going undefeated, kept the top 10 raking, but then lost in the finals to a team who had only previously lost only to BC in the regular season.

[Daniel Morris]

Anyone witness the UNH/BC faceoff battles during their game? Ashenfelter is one of the best in the country, All-American and a standout in the national tourney. But I heard that freshman UNH player Matt Dahl took him 13 to 11. Anyone else see this and can comment? This is a fairly significant statistic that probably altered the flow of the game. It also means that Dahl is a player to watch as he matures in the league. Any other faceoff stats for Dahl from other games?

[Tim Gray]

After seeing him first hand last night, I can attest that the UNH FOGO is very good indeed.

[eaglelax5]

I was at the game. Seemed like almost half of the draws were decided by the refs (I wasn't keeping that stat), lots of procedure calls. But the UNH kid is good.[/quote]

[GoldFish7]

The refs did make alot of proceddure calls that altered the stats. The UNH kid played well but I dought he won more than 8 or 9 clean.

[BClax16]

there were definately a bunch of procedure calls, including the final faceoff in OT

[PmackLax]

As a correction, Matt Dahl is a sophomore, not a freshman, he just didn't play his freshman year.

[laxfan25]

Seemed like almost half of the draws were decided by the refs, lots of procedure calls.

I would pin that squarely on the face-off guys. Face-offs have been areaql point of contention the last couple of years, as you've noticed the constant changing of mechanics ( last year the face-off ref coming in from the side, now back to behind the players in the neutral zone).
If the players follow a few simple rules, there should never be a need for a procedure call.
1) Everything has to be left of the head of the stick (Your head, elbows, knees, feet, etc.) The ref wants to see a clear neutral zone where the heads are overlapping.
2) Both hands wrapped around the crosse with both hands on the ground.
3) Stick straight up and down (no tilting toward the ball), with the shaft parallel to the mid-line.
4) the heads should overlap evenly, with the ball centered in the middle of the head.
4) Hands and stick can be up to, but not touching the 4" midline.
5) No grasping of the plastic on the head (very frequent), no grasping of the pocket or strings.

"SET" - Whistle. If you're violating these rules, you will likely be told to stand and the ball will be awarded the other way. You may want to nicely ask the ref what you did wrong, and don't do it again!
At the lower levels, 5/6th grade, middle school and JV, I will coach the face-off players to get them legal. At the higher levels, the expectation is that you should know the rules, they've been widely talked about, and there may not be as much leniency on violations.

Not having been at the BC game, does anyone know what aspects the violations were on?
Part of the problem is that a few refs were not policing the face-offs effectively, so the higher levels of lacrosse officiating have put out the word to enforce the rules or risk your assignments. Not to be picky, but I've seen shots from high D1 games where the face-off middies were touching heads before the whistle! This is what they're trying to get control over again.

[TMcCourt]

The BC procedural calls were calls, I believe, on jumping too early. However, there were several times when from the sideline it was questionable that some one jumped. Sometimes it looked like the face off was actually won so cleanly that I could see some one assuming a jump. Ashfelter was a second team all american in Face offs last year and I gurantee he knows the rules of face offs. However, credit goes to the UNH F.O. man because a win is a win and he was winning more than BC.

[Parkyourcar39]

I also thought that refs would no long be giving warnings on improper set up; however, more than once in that game the ref would have both players stand up and reset after they had gone down. Not saying that it gave either player an advantage, but I did notice it on more than one faceoff.

[UNHGuru]

I am a close follower of the UNH lacrosse team. I was at the B.C. vs. UNH game standing on the mid-line. In response to how faceoffs went during this game I have a few Comments. The refs blew procedures for jumping early on both players. But I happened to notice, that the B.C. player jumped on most of the faceoffs he won. The refs called him on only 2 or 3 procedures when it was more like 8 or 9 that should have been called. I believe he didn't get called on these faceoffs due to his reputation. The UNH kid won majority of the faceoffs the B.C. man didn't jump on. For people wondering the UNH F.O.G.O.'s season stats he is hovering around 80% for the season. He looks to be a major force in the coming years.

[TMcCourt]

Well, two different point of views from opposing sides isnt unlikely. I doubt he jumped uncalled nine times or that the ref even knew who he was before the game (reputation matters to a ref as a face off man in club lax???). However, it was a great game and for the third straight year BC loses to UNH in the regular season and has to attempt to redeem themselves in the playoffs. Should be an interesting playoff picture and we will all have to wait and see if BC can beat UNH in the playoffs when it matters most. We also can't forget that NU is still out there waiting to beat BC or UNH.

[UNHGuru]

UNH beat NU Last night 13-8 and I believe the B.C. vs. NU game is Next Thurs. The 21st of April Should be a good one!