WCLL Action (Feb. 3-5)-Discuss Games/Report Scores

[lil lady lax fan]

This week the season begins in earnest with a boatload of season openers in the mix.
Which will be blowouts?
Which are too close to call?
Where might we see upsets?
Who are THE teams to watch this week?

Well, for my part, in the A division I'll be interested in hearing how UCSB does in their season opener. The Gauchos have home field advantage, but Cal had a chance to work out some of their problem spots in their matchup against the mighty Slugs. There are also quite a few questions floating around the boards with regard to how the Gauchos will do this year. Both teams have some pretty decent rookies on their squads. It will be interesting to see whether this game is closer than it was last year.

The LMU-UCSD game should also prove interesting. LMU is purported to have a stronger squad this year than they did the year before. Opinions are mixed as to who will win. UCSD is favored to win, but ya never know...

Stanford, UCLA, USC and Cal Poly also have their first Div. A games of the year.

Division B opens its season with a pair of games. First and foremost in my book is the Claremont-Pepperdine game. Pepperdine has home field advantage this game, and comes off two straight losses. There's no doubt they will be trying to avoid a three-loss start to their year. Unfortunately they are coming up against one of the powerhouses in the Division B conference. True, Pepperdine is also nationally ranked in the top ten, but they can't hold a candle to Claremont in the frustration department when it comes to Nationals. With a real shot at making it to Nationals this year, the Cougs will be more determined than ever to win.

UNLV will also be playing their first official game in the WCLL Division B against Biola. UNLV did go up against a number of the Div. B teams last year in preparation for this year's competition. Biola has more experience, but UNLV has home field advantage. Should be an interesting game.

[Bigdaddy11]

Gauchos win big with their stifling D. GO GAUCHOS!!!!!!!

[WaterBoy]

Call me a skeptic... I'm fully open minded about the Bears coming back and having a better season this year. I am, however, somewhat hesitant to think that they're going to come from a relatively unsuccesful year last year to downing the national champion in their A Division debut for the season.

Don't get me wrong, but I think they have a long way to go.

I'll also respectfully disagree about LMU having any real chance against UCSD. All of the arguments I've heard about LMU have been to their credit- that they were young last year and are returning a solid squad. I also know that the same is true for UCSD, who (after checking their roster) only graduated three players, one of which was a starter. I'm usually all for underdogs, but if I were a bettin man, I wouldn't put money on them in these cases.

[lil lady lax fan]

Notice I didn't say the Bears would win, only that the score might be a little closer this year.

As for LMU, it would be nice to see someone like LMU or Chapman dishing out a few surprises to the perennial favorites. Makes things more interesting down the road.

[laxmountain]

anyone at the games posting scores today?

[laxmountain]

I mean... Is anyone at the game going to post game updates while the game is in progress? What games?

[CPLaxGM]

I'm not at the game, so this is a second hand report but here's the word:

UCSB 12 - Cal 4 midway through the 4th quarter. Apparently, it was tied 2-2 at halftime, but the Gauchos went on a big run to go up 9-2 in the third.

[CATLAX MAN]

Ole, ole, ole, ole. . . . . .

[Bluevelvet]

Notice I didn't say the Bears would win, only that the score might be a little closer this year.

Final score: 12-4 UCSB over Cal. Last year the score was 10-3, UCSB.

[DTwizzie]

The first half was very close with SB running their offense like they normally do. They just weren't able to convert their opportunities. The score was 2-2 at half. In the second half SB started to put their shots in and clamped down on rides. Cal crossed the mid line in the third quarter maybe two or three times. SB went on a 8-0 run in the third.

[batman]

UCSD 23
LMU 9

Very one-sided game

[TrojanLaxman5]

I would love the USC vs. UC Irvine score from last night. If anyone hears the USC vs. Stanford score tonight, please post!

Thanks.

[Maple Leaf]

unofficial claremont 19 pepperdine 7 or 19-8.

The game was close in the first half with claremont leading 7-6 at one point, and pepperdine scoring 4 man up goals in the first half. Claremont was able to stay out of the box in the second half, and used their team depth to pull away in the second half.

pepperdine struggled a little clearing the ball, but the team is very talented overall, and has a great face off guy. look for this team to improve as the season progresses

[laxative]

February 3rd - USC-19 vs. UCI-7

February 4th - USC-11 vs. Stanford-8

[lil lady lax fan]

unofficial claremont 19 pepperdine 7 or 19-8.

What?!! Only 12 points?!! ....just kidding. Great start for the season!!

Thanks for the update, Maple Leaf. Good luck with Biola this Wednesday. I'll be pulling for ya.