Cloud Classic Tournament recap

by **HuskyLax16** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:28 am

This past weekend saw the successful annual Cloud Classic tournament take place in St. Cloud's new Husky Stadium.

There were some very good lacrosse games, and everyone had a good time.

Action started bright and early at 8:30 am Saturday when St. Cloud State took on the Alumni team to kick off the tournament, after jumping out to an early lead, St. Cloud State fell out of rhythm allowing the Alums to capitalize and come back and win.

Next an always improving St. John's team took on Team deBeer. St. John's gave deBeer a run for it's money, but deBeer kept finding ways to score.

Mankato took on newcomers NDSU, and their game didn't falter. They took off and ran with the game. NDSU however showed that they have a lot of talent and potential, they have not had much time to practice as a team. They will be a fun team to watch grow and mature in the UMLL in years to come.

Iowa State took on University of Wisconsin in the last quarterfinal game. Wisconsin has a good squad with a good coach and played very disciplined lacrosse. Iowa State was outnumbered by Wisconsin's full bench, but was still able to come up and play hard.

Team deBeer played the SCSU Alums in semifinal action. This was a fun game to watch, both teams have tons of exciting players, but in the end it was deBeer that came up with the W.

St. Cloud State played St. John's in the consolation semis. These teams are familiar with each other and have a friendly rivalry. Both teams came out with verve. But St. John's defense was stellar and St. Cloud just couldn't seem to put the ball in the net.

Wisconsin took on Mankato in the semis. Mankato was sluggish and it was visible. They played 2 games back to back and had a short bench. Unfortunately they also suffered a few injuries, and fell to a fresh Wisconsin squad.

Iowa State played NDSU in the consolation semis. NDSU played hard but just couldn't break Iowa St.'s defense. Iowa St. utilized all of their weapons as they blanked NDSU to advance.

The third place game between St. Cloud's Alumni and Mankato was very exciting. It was a back and forth game till the last five minutes when Nick Thorson and the SCSU Alums caught fire and for a few minutes looked unstoppable.

The John P. Hopper game between St. Cloud State and NDSU started slow but St. Cloud found their rhythm and were led by a flurry of goals from attackman Adam Christianson. NDSU did not get blanked this time and started to look like a team as they settled into the game.

The consolation championship was battled between St. John's and Iowa State. Iowa St. was very short of players and had to borrow a few, but St. John's played hard, very disciplined lacrosse and walked away with the consolation title.

The championship game was between Team deBeer and Wisconsin. This was the closest game of the tournament, and after deBeer led for most of the game Wisconsin pulled ahead with only a minute or two left on the clock. This was just enough to hold out for the win.

Congratulations to the Universty of Wisconsin, 2005 Cloud Classic Champions

Also thanks to all teams that participated this year, hope everyone had a great time in the new facility and we'll see you next year!

**Sponsor**

by **DanGenck** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:11 pm

This was a great event. The new facility and the competition was great and I hope we get even more teams out next year.

Great job St. Cloud State for putting on such a fine event.

by **Cameron pederson** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:36 pm

Wow! I am suprised to see that wisconsin topped team debeer. Are they for real or was team debeer shorthanded? I think if wisconsin joined the USLIA they would be a pretty successful team. Does anyone know why they do not want to join?

by **Dulax31** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:45 pm

PostPosted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:36 pm Post subject:
Wow! I am suprised to see that wisconsin topped team debeer. Are they for real or was team debeer shorthanded? I think if wisconsin joined the USLIA they would be a pretty successful team. Does anyone know why they do not want to join?

The reason I believe that Wisconsin - Madison doesn't join the USLIA is because that have Alumni and Grad students that play for them also.

by **Dylan Dickey** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:55 pm

DeBeer wasn't playing all of their players, if I remember correctly they didn't even have enough to play against Madison...so they recruited players that were hanging around the dome. :shock:

Madison plays a lot of people that aren't eligible. I’m sure there’s more to it than that, but that’s one thing I’ve heard brought up more than once.

I’m curious as to what will happen at the Husky Dome once regulation games start taking place, the field wasn’t laid out to regulation specs. The top of the box was moved half way through the tournament. Great facility otherwise!!!

Dylan

by **Chris Larson** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:56 pm

Cost of league dues and travel, centralized scheduling, strict adherence to the NCAA rulebook are among the issues for Madison.

by **DanGenck** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:58 pm

With regard to Madison... Team DeBeer was very shorthanded. I do not think Wisconsin would field a very competitive team in the UMLL.

by **bste_lax** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:26 pm

I think Madison would field a top 4 team in the UMLL after a season or two if they were in the UMLL and followed all USL MDIA rules. They got some talented players up there from the Chicago area along with those who played high school in Wisconsin and other areas.

by **DawgLax25** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:29 pm

I agree. If Madison would join the UMLL, I think within 3 years they would have a competitive team. I think it would also keep some athletes in state instead of them going out of state to play for a MDIA school or going to a school that does not compete in the UMLL. I know at least 4 players I coached this summer that went out of state to play. With more high school programs and more UW system schools having lacrosse, the talent will stay in state. This of course will be good for the growth of the game and hopefully the UMLL.

by **DavidDouglas** on Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:26 pm

I am a high school lax coach in Madison, and several of my players have reservations about playing for UW because of their club "non-USLIA" status. Many of them will be attending Minnesota-area and other USLIA institutions.

Wisconsin has several alumni and non enrolled players playing, but they have plenty of undergrads who could field a top 3 UMLL team. It’s just my opinion, but I have seen the best in the USLIA and feel this predication is correct.

The team has some players who would thrive under a USLIA concept and others who would probably quit because of the time commitment (like any other school). Madison is one of the most fun cities in the US for a college guy and it’s hard to convince people to leave town every other weekend. That’s the unfortunate truth. (It’s not how I would have felt as an undergrad; it’s just the facts on the ground).

There coach is a very committed guy who tries to follow the wishes of the players. If there was a strong majority of players who wanted to play in the USLIA, they would have it, but that environment does not yet exist. If the coach decided to do it unilaterally, it would also happen, but this has not been the case as of yet. In my opinion it is inevitable, because the conference Wisconsin is playing in is destined to become a feeder program for USLIA A and USLIA B teams. However, time will dictate that prediction.

The one thing I know is that my lacrosse experience at WashU was so memorable because of the USLIA. The league championship and national championships meant so much to me and my development as a lax player. I feel a lot of sympathy for the Wisconsin guys who will never get to experience that. On the other hand, I stress those feelings to my high school players who are developing the same attitude I have to the USLIA and lacrosse in general.

Back to the Law Library,

by **Cameron pederson** on Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:24 am

You hit it on the head David. The USLIA does have a lot to offer college players. The chance to play for a league championship and an automatic qualifier to nationals makes it fun for every team that plays. It doesn't matter if you are a top team or a bottom team, just having the possibility of success or pulling an upset makes it worth while. You really realize it when you are no longer playing.
I think it is only a matter of time before madison has a few players that really make a push to join the USLIA. Just a hunch.

by **Frank Clark** on Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:42 pm

Team DeBeer was extremly short handed. Especially the second day. From what I heard Wisconsin had some players.

by **HuskyLax16** on Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:20 am

Let's give credit where credit is due, deBeer was very shorthanded, but they still had some great players. Wisconsin played disciplined lacrosse and looked like they had a lot of talent. I hope they continue to play in preseason UMLL tournaments like the Classic.

by **shep** on Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:46 am

Lets not get carried away...6 deBeer players played against UW, the rest of the team was last second pickups off of other teams that were hanging around and had played earlier. No starting defenseman, no goalie, etc.

UW definitely had a couple of good players, it was a fun game. We look forward to their return to MPLS to play deBeer again in April.

by **OAKS** on Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:22 pm

I have a good friend at UW... I was up there this fall and played in a tourney in Milwaukee with UW Whitewater, Marquette, Wisconsin, and Mad Cow.

When I saw them play, I don't think they had any alumni suited up, but there are 2 or 3 grad students and 5th year players. I heard they didn't account for many goals or anything in the St. Cloud Tourney.

They have some quality players from the traditional lacrosse hotbeds (baltimore, ny), and some decent players from around the wisconsin area. I feel that they could match last year's Minnesota team and would easily be in the top 2-3 in the UMLL right now.