LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Friday, February 9th, 2007
Willamette 13 at Pacific 5

Saturday, February 10th
Gonzaga 16 at Whitman 7
Simon Fraser 15 at Oregon State 10
Southern Oregon 4 at UC Davis 10
Washington 8 at Oregon 23
Western Washington 16 at Albertson 6
Willamette 4 at UC Santa Cruz 18

Sunday, February 11th
Linfield 4 at Central Washington 12
Simon Fraser 9 at Oregon 18
Southern Oregon 9 at St. Mary's 8
Washington 13 at Oregon State 18
Westminster 15 vs Western Washington 9 (at Albertson)

Greetings all and welcome to another season of PNCLL lacrosse! This is the thread to talk about the coming week's games, to make predictions, to report final scores and to offer commentary and analysis of what you expect to happen and what actually went down. Each week, I will kick off the thread with the schedule of games and a look at the upcoming B Division teams in action while my forum co-moderator, Kyle Berggren, previews the A Games.

The first week of play usually is only an appetizer -- a smattering of non-conference, A versus B kind of games. But not in 2007, when we get a hearty entree of key conference rivalries with susbstantial side dishes of OOC games at the opening dinner bell. For dessert, Week #1 serves up a huge #12 vs #13 Sunday contest matching pre-season B heavyweights on a neutral field in Caldwell, Idaho.

Kicking off our season, surprisingly, is Willamette down in Stockton, California for an OOC game (their first?) at UOP under the lights. The Bearcats ended a 27-game losing streak, dating back to March '03 (when Pacific last won a game), with a win at Lewis & Clark to end last season. Willamette would surely love to start a win streak against the Tigers, who have been "cellar-dwellers" in the WCLL since, well, since before there even WAS a WCLL -- back in the Dark Ages when I wore UOP's black and orange in the late 1970s. Yes, children, we did play lacrosse thirty years ago, and with sticks that weighed twice what yours do! The Bearcats will need to find some offense after recording only 19 goals in '06 and then losing their top two scorers and goalie to graduation. But hope springs eternal, and this is a brand-new season, one kicked-off with an OOC road-trip to demonstrate an increased commitment by Willamette Lacrosse. Afterwards, the Bearcats will wend their way through the the San Joaquin Delta and South Bay, traverse the coast mountains and then slalom downhill to the Pacific Ocean at Santa Cruz, where a Saturday afternoon game against UCSC awaits on the Banana Slugs field with its million-dollar view of the sea. A win or two is definitely possible for Willamette given the competition, so best of luck Bearcats. Represent the PNCLL well!

Speaking of representing, last year's surprise team from the B Division, Southern Oregon, also heads down to Cali. But waiting to face the Raiders down in the Golden State lie a couple of A Division WCLL opponents, UC Davis and St. Mary's. Jamison Whitehead and Alex White return to lead the Raider offense and big Dan Snell is back to anchor the close defense. SOU will need to really buck up against the Aggies and Gaels, and if Coach Brown's Raiders do compete well this weekend it will serve notice to the entire PNCLL B Division that SOU is still a force to be reckoned with in '07. Go get 'em, Raiders!

Last year's PNCLL B Division runner-up and the pre-season #12 pick, Western Washington, makes one of the longest trips any MCLA team will take for a conference game in '07 to open at Albertson. The Vikings have a talent-laden roster of returning stars led on offense by Attackman John Healy and Middie Jake Schuit and on defense by long-pole Jim Baumstark in front of Goalie Noah Symington. A recent shake-up, however, has Jesse Savage taking over from the departed Adam Lent as Head Coach at WWU as the season begins. The Yotes return eight Seniors including Cody Hart, the B Division's leading scorer in 2006. AC starts a Freshman in the cage, however, and the Vikings will likely provide a baptism under fire.

On Sunday, the Vikings play Head Coach Mason Goodhand's new team from Westminster College on Albertson's field. Westminster was tabbed #13 in the preseason poll, one slot behind WWU. This game will have significance for the first regular-season Top 25 which will be released in three weeks, as well as for the PNCLL's reputation nationally. Best of luck Vikes!

Central Washington hosts Linfield in Ellensburg in another '07 debut matching Wildcats all over the place. CWU would appear to have the edge in returning talent, especially on offense where graduation hit Coach Hart's LC team harder. But both teams reportedly looked good in Fall Ball, and this game will be an excellent barometer for what lies ahead in 2007. Good luck to both teams.

Whitman hosts the Bulldogs of Gonzaga in an A/B contest which Kyle will preview in his coming report on the PNCLL A Division games.

Good luck to all and let the games begin!

Go Yotes! I think some people will be surprised by ACI's numbers this season. They played in their first ever fall tournament, and actually have a respectably sized bench.

Also, while just about every first time Yote goalie receives a baptism by fire (a la me against Montana in 2005), Hos is a talented goalie and will handle it as well as any freshman could.

Underdogs or no, I'll make the drive to go see it!

Let me just say... awesome, awesome post. Very insightful and certainly very helpful to someone trying to get a good look at other conferences.

Props, kudos, and an enthusiastic air-five.

I just want to publicly praise Willamette for scheduling OOC games, getting organized, and hopefully turning the program around. Best of luck to both Willamette and WWU in this weekends OOC games!!!

Why is westminster not playing Albertson as well? No time? If I was bringing my team that far, I would want at least 2 games.

Due to snow still covering our game field, CWU will be hosting Linfield in Yakima at Chesterly Park.

BigheadTodd wrote:Why is westminster not playing Albertson as well? No time? If I was bringing my team that far, I would want at least 2 games.

Westminster called just a couple of weeks ago to try and schedule the game, because one of their other OOC games fell through. I think it was pretty much a money issue. I just don't think ACI could expand the budget that quickly.

TheNino57 wrote:Due to snow still covering our game field, CWU will be hosting Linfield in Yakima at Chesterly Park.

Thank you for the heads up, I was thinking about coming to Ellensburg to see that game.

Kyle Berggren wrote:

TheNino57 wrote:Due to snow still covering our game field, CWU will be hosting Linfield in Yakima at Chesterly Park.

Thank you for the heads up, I was thinking about coming to Ellensburg to see that game.

Kyle, if you still want to come, PM me and I'll give you directions.

Now for the A Division Preview.

Gonzaga will open their season with a trip to Walla Walla. Whitman made it to the PNCLL Playoffs in '06, I'll refrain from saying much more about Whitman, as I'll have my handsful coaching against them soon enough. The Zags also made it to the PNCLL playoffs in '06, but graduation has left them a much different team for '07. Rick Kladis is still running the show, but their roster boasts 4 upperclassmen, 12 sophomores, & 5 freshman. 2 of the Zags upperclassmen will be found anchoring the defense this season. The Zags should be young & fast, which may or may not be an advantage on what will most likely be a muddy Ankeny field @ whitman.

Simon Fraser & Washington travel to Oregon to play the PNCLL Pre-Season 1 & 2. Simon Fraser finished 3rd last season, but like Gonzaga, they're sporting a new team. The Clan has 6 upperclassmen, 8 sophomores, & 13 freshman. Luckily Lacrosse is the national sport & talented box players shouldn't be too tough to find. One notable player missing from the SFU line-up is goaltender Aaron Pascas (2 time PNCLL 1st Team selection).

Washington is going to get the short end of this report. Dan decided to write an espn page 2 quality write-up, & has left me to pull up the rear. Thank you Dan, thank you. UW has 10 upperclassmen, & a team packed with underclassmen. They are notably missing Midfielder Nick Tierney from their roster (UW '06 leading scorer). This will be Head Coach Fred Wilmot's first full season under the helm, & I couldn't imagine a tougher opening weekend for such a young squad.

Oregon State also has a young team, but they have retained three key players in '06 PNCLL Defensive Player of the Year Steve Carpenter, as well as both Tyler Tipton & Jordan Phillips (both averaged over 4ppg in '06). Should be an interesting season for the Beavs, they've got a larger roster than years past & great expectations. For the past few years they've been on the bubble of getting national attention, this season will could have the experience necessary to get by those tough games.

And finally we have the Oregon Ducks. What can I say about this program, they're the PNCLL Pre-Season #1, MCLA Preseason #8, return a 2nd team All-American, a 3rd team All-American, & countless other players... They're also missing a few familiar faces including defenseman Kyle Tolzman & goaltender Nate Cordova, as well as scorers Matt Connors & Chris Nelson. I'm curious as to whether Oregon will end up relying on Coffman & Tesar for scoring, or if they'll show a more balanced attack? Who will their new stars be? or will their be a drop in talent & Oregon falling from the polls...

Opening weekend is always a statement weekend, it's a chance for teams to show how much they've grown in the off-season & set the tone for the new. Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Gonzaga, & SFU all expect big things in '07. An upset this weekend could spell big things for some, & mean an uphill climb for others. Good luck to all, I hope for some good lacrosse this weekend.

Week 1 Predictions-

the following teams are my predicted winners

Friday
Willamette

Saturday
Gonzaga
Simon Fraiser
Southern Oregon
Oregon
Western Wash.
Santa Cruz

Sunday
Central Wash.
Oregon
Southern Oregon
Oregon State
Western Wash.
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Dan Wishengrad wrote:Kicking off our season, surprisingly, is Willamette down in Stockton, California for an OOC game (their first?) at UOP under the lights. ..... But hope springs eternal, and this is a brand-new season, one kicked-off with an OOC road-trip to demonstrate an increased commitment by Willamette Lacrosse.

Well I think you hit the nail on the head with our team at least here Dan, thank you! I definitely planned this trip to show the league that we have increased dedication and commitment, both in attitude and in our play on the field. This is our first OOC game that I know of, and this club has been around for awhile, so I am proud to have gotten this for us, and prouder that we can represent the PNCLL abroad as a newly invigorated team!

I also thank Coach Brown at SOU for the support, we send ours your way as well! Together we can show the league that those mountains are not impassable and there are indeed plenty of worthy foes down in Sunny California!

Good luck to all those in OOC games this weekend, may we all prove the superiority of our league ok just kidding about the whole superiority thing, don't want to make any WCLLers angry out there

I didn't really think this was appropriate for the "sleepers" post earlier, but I'm getting the feeling like this might be the year SFU comes back for a run at the A title...maybe not win it, but at least give it a good run. Nothing against Oregon (who has a great program and I expect to win this weekend) but I think the A playoffs will be closer this year.

Good luck to all the B teams out there representing.

Kick the tires and light the fires boys,

Willamette 13 over U of Pacific 5

It's been a really long day so there will be more to tell, we are somewhere around San Jose and heading to Santa Cruz tomorrow. It was a great day for the new look Bearcats for 2007. PNCLL representin' down in the Cali.[/b]

Congrats guys! It's always great to start the season with a Win!