PNCLL Week #8 (3/22-3/28) -- Predict, Scores & Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

Thursday, March 23rd
Claremont 19 Western Washington 3

Friday, March 24th
Ft. Lewis 14 Linfield 12

Saturday, March 25th
Utah Valley State 17 Montana 12

Sunday, March 26th
Chico St 10 Oregon State 5
Montana 15 Linfield 6

Monday, March 27th
Oregon 19 Dominican University 1
Utah Valley State 13 Linfield 6

Tuesday, March 28th
Notre Dame de Namur 16 Oregon 8
Utah State 17 Linfield 11


With schools on Spring Break, the PNCLL hosts not a single game this week. But there IS a big conference game, nevertheless, between Montana (5-0; 6-0) and Linfield (4-2; 4-4) on a neutral field at Utah Valley State. Linfield needs a win to push ahead of Southern Oregon in B-South. The two teams are currently tied in the standings but SOU owns the important head-to-head tiebreaker based on their earlier victory over LC. So the Wildcats need to upset Montana for any realistic chance to finish ahead of the Raiders in the standings. A Linfield loss to Montana in this game and a win by SOU over Willamette on April 8th clinches second-place in B-South for the Raiders. Montana needs a win over UVSC (2-0; 2-2) on Saturday to have a shot at moving up in the Top 25 B Poll. But the Grizzlies can't afford to pay so much attention to the Wolverines in this huge OOC game that they risk a loss to Linfield the next day, either. The Wildcats play undefeated Ft. Lewis (2-0; 4-0) on Friday, then get to scout both Montana and UVSC on Staurday. After playing Montana themselves on Sunday, Linfield has games with UVSC Monday and A-Division Utah State (0-1; 2-6) on Tuesday. Four games in five days for Linfield -- a brutal run in the state of Utah for the Wildcats.

Western Washington (5-1; 5-2) flies south to battle top-ranked (at least until the new B Top 25 poll comes out on Thursday) Claremont (2-0; 9-1) in Southern California on Thursday. This represents both the toughest OOC foe the Vikings have faced in years, as well as the longest road-trip that WWU has ever undertaken. While this is a costly trip to undertake for only a single game, it will certainly prove worthwhile if the Vikes can pull the big upset. A Western win would surely shake up the polls.

Like WWU, Oregon State (5-0; 7-2) also heads down to WCLL-country for a critical OOC game at Chico State (1-1; 5-4). The Beavers can greatly boost their stock with the pollsters by beating a ranked team. OSU has impressive wins over Simon Fraser and Texas, but also a pair of losses to Missouri and Stanford which have kept the Beavs down among the unranked. Beating the Wildcats in front of the brutally hostile Chico fans would grant even more legitimacy to one of the PNCLL's rising stars.

Oregon has a pair of games against NCAA D-II teams. While the Ducks will likely quack all over Dominican (1-7), keeping their record undefeated over an NDNU (1-3) team which has already handled MDIA #1 Colorado State would definitely be considered an upset. The Argonauts lost by only 16-13 at D-II #3 NYIT and in overtime at #7 Molloy. Notre Dame de Namur will prove a stern test for the Ducks, but also an important tune-up for upcoming MDIA games which include Sonoma State and BYU.

[lincoln02]

oregon is going to rock dominican.

[Chris Long]

3/23
Claremont 14, WWU 8
3/24
Linfield 11, Ft. Lewis 3
3/25
Montana 12, UVS 8
3/26
Chico 13, OSU 9
Montana 15, Linfield 7
3/27
UO 18, Dominican 3
UVS 12, Linfield 5
3/28
ND dM 14, UO 9
Utah St 13, Linfield 4

Best of luck to all, especially Oregon at Notre Dame de Namur.

OUT

[Dan Wishengrad]

Congrats to Oregon, the newly-ranked #4 team in the latest MDIA Top 25 Poll. This represents a high-water mark for the Ducks in terms of national prestige.

[Timbalaned]

Congrats to Oregon, the newly-ranked #4 team in the latest MDIA Top 25 Poll. This represents a high-water mark for the Ducks in terms of national prestige.

What is the highest a PNCLL team has ever gotten?

[Tim Whitehead]

We got as high as #2 or #3 in the late 90's or 2000.

[mikey]

Doesn't OSU play NDNU on the 27th?

[OState18]

that is correct

some other games as well:
March 26th-OSU AT Chico State
March 27th-OSU AT Notre Dame de Namur
March 29th-OSU AT Loyola Marymount
March 31st-OSU AT Chapman

[Dan Wishengrad]

Congrats to the Southern Oregon Raiders for earning a national ranking in only their second season!

[lil lady lax fan]

At halftime Western Washington was down 2-10 to Claremont. Didn't see who scored the first goal, but the second goal was an unassisted shot from the right by #42 John Healy. #11 Noah Symington was doing a good job in the cage, considering the amount of pressure he was getting. Saw some good saves on his part.

Sorry I can't give you the final score but we had to leave at the half. Hopefully it will be posted soon.

[Kyle Berggren]

WOW!!! I didn't expect that.... I didn't expect a WWU win, but I didn't expect a 10-2 showing. Any comments on what they were struggling with? Their goalie has been a huge bright spot on that team, but I expected more offense. Are they still sliding from the crease? is it coming late? with no 2?

[Maple Leaf]

final score...

claremont 19 western washington 3

claremont had the ball most of the game, winning something like 21 of 26 faceoffs

[Kyle Berggren]

Wow, good win for Claremont! WI am surprised they couldn't put the ball in the back of the net more than that... 21 face-offs won sounds like the huge difference in the game, and idea on how many shots WWU took? Sounds like they didn't get it in the box much.

[lil lady lax fan]

From what I saw in the first half they had a few glimpses at the cage but Claremont's defense kept things pretty tight. A few good takeaways by WWU's defense and good keeping by their goalie. Can't speak for how they did in the second half.

Good luck to the Vikings in their upcoming games. Glad I got to see y'all play.

[Chunk]

Halftime scored called in... Fort Lewis 8, Linfield 5. We are hanging in there despite being pretty banged up.