PNCLL Week #8 (3/23-3/29) - Predict, Scores & Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

Friday, March 25th
Oregon 13 Florida 11 (at Michigan)
Gonzaga 16 Central Washington 3

Saturday, March 26th
Michigan 8 Oregon 7 (ot)

Sunday, March 27th
Colorado 11 Oregon 9
Whitman 13 Central Washington 9

Monday, March 28th
UC Davis 14 Pacific Lutheran 13 (OT)

Tuesday, March 29th
Simon Fraser 7 UC Davis 4


Spring Break rules throughout the league, not much on tap here.

Central Washington (6-3, 2-1) is at Whitman (4-2, 1-1) in a big B-East game Sunday. The loser of this game may not have much of a chance to challenge Montana for the sub-division title, and also falls back a step in the race for an at-large playoff berth. The winner is in good position however, so there's alot on the line in this battle for second-place.

Kyle will be along to preview the A Division and the Ducks at the Michigan Invitational Tournament in Ann Arbor...

[Kyle Berggren]

With as many that have written the Ducks off this year, they are 4-2. The Ducks showed what they've got in the first 10 minutes of their game last weekend against Sonoma State. The next day, they came out and played a complete game, beating a now 5-3 Cal Poly (#19). Now they're off to Michigan to play some of the best; Florida, #5 Michigan, #7 Colorado. Michigan has come out strong this year, only lossing to #3 BYU in a very tight game. Colorado's only loss this season also came from BYU. I doubt Oregon is looked at as a major threat to these elite top 7 teams, but we'll hope that the Ducks can shock them all and play the lacrosse they are capable of playing. Right now, sophomore Coffman is leading the team at 3ppg, while last season's MVP Ernst is second in the scoring. The Ducks will need these two to make their teammates look like stars to pull these games out. Let's hope these two can get their sharp shooter Matt Connor's a lot of open looks, as well as get Schofield and Nelson open looks on the crease. Good luck to the Ducks, lets get you guys firing on all cylinders before the PNCLL playoffs.... Washington, SFU, and Oregon State are watching these games closely.

Central Washington keeps their tough schedule going, and is off to Spokane to play the Bulldogs. Last week the Bulldogs pounded Boise St. and took a beating from Utah the next day after quite a bit of travel. Central has been a pretty big up and comer this season (I wonder who said they'd be good last season? weird), and looks to try and steal this one from Gonzaga. The Zags pulled out a tough one early in the season against Montana, who the Wildcats also played tough. This game could be interesting, we'll see if any CWU defensemen have enough experience to stop Rick Kladis.

#16 Simon Fraser will take on UC Davis on Sunday. SFU has also been written off by many pollsters this year, yet they are still 6-4, 2-1 against the top 20. They've been plagued with a bit of inconsistency this year, but with a new coach, you can't expect a completely fluid transfer. Rumor has it the Clan is starting to click. This UC Davis game could be a turning point for the Clan.

We're right about half way done PNCLL!

[BearcatLax]

This game could be interesting, we'll see if any CWU defensemen have enough experience to stop Rick Kladis.

My guess would be no, no disrespect, I just don't think Central has the D to stop a quality A division's offense. Central's strength is playing as a team, as a smart and controlled unit. Individually they can be picked apart with a talented team offensively. I'm willing to be impressed though, as always.

[CATLAX MAN]

Colorado's only loss this season also came from BYU.

They also lost to UCSB.

[Kyle Berggren]

Unfortunately it never got filled out on the rmlax website, so I missed it, I suck.

[Dan Wishengrad]

While Linfield (5-0), Puget Sound (3-0) and Montana (3-0) lead the B-South, B-North and B-East divisions, respectively, the race to capture the four at-large spots is rounding into shape, with five teams battling it out. Only eight conference games count towards winning the divisions, but ALL games against PNCLL B teams count in the race for at-large berths. Here's an update and analysis of where we are now. The record in parenthesis is a team's record against the rest of the league's B division, the number follwing is the TOTAL number of games a team is scheduled to play against the PNCLL B division (only):

PLU (3-1, 7) -- Games Remaining: UM, at CWU, UPS

WC (3-1, 9) -- Game Remaining: CWU, AC, at WWU, at CWU, at UM

CWU (5-3, 13) -- Games Remaining: at WC, UPS, PLU, WC, at UM

WOU (3-3, eight) -- Games Remaining: SOU, L&C

WWU (2-3, 7) -- Games Remaining: WC, at UPS


If PLU beats Central Washington in Ellensburg, the Lutes clinch an at-large bid, as then they would finish no worse than 4-3 and hold the head-to-head tie-breaker over Western Washington, who can finish no higher than 4-3 also. A sweep that includes a win over UPS by 4+ goals gives the Lutes the B-North division title.

Western Oregon has the softest remaining schedule and looks likely to finish at 5-3, which should be enough for the Wolves to earn an at-large bid. Even splitting these games might be good enough for 6th place.

Whitman has its fate in its own hands -- two wins in the five remaining games might be enough for an at-large, and since the Missionaries have a history of finishing strong, the B-East Division title is still distinctly possible with a win at UM by 3+ goals.

Central Washington has the toughest remaining schedule, and may have to win at least two games against higher-ranked opponents to capture the Wildcats a spot in the playoffs.

Western Washington needs to win at least one of its remaining two games and then needs some help, like CWU losing at least three games. The Vikings are a good team, and Central has a tough schedule, so this scenario isn't that far-fetched.

Anybody else care to weigh in?

[woulax4]

WOU also has a game against Willamette on April 9th so they have 9 total games and 3 games left.

[Kyle Berggren]

My loggers do not have the playoffs locked up yet. We're in about the same boat as PLU. We need atleast 1 game to get in, and have 4 very tough games coming (CWU, UM, WWU, PLU). 4 tough games left, we haven't had a gimme all year long, and could finish 4-4, out of the playoffs.

[Dan Wishengrad]

Oregon 13
Florida 11

Gonzaga 16
Central Washington 3

[NCInDaPlaceTaBe]

Michigan 8, Oregon 7 (OT)

[Dan Wishengrad]

Obviously a strong performance by the Ducks to take Michigan to O.T.

[Kyle Berggren]

Congrats for Oregon to step up in a huge game like that. Everyone has been trying to forget about you guys, good job. I hope you're happy with your performance even though you didn't get the win.

[cgarrigues]

Michigan 8, Oregon 7 (OT)

Hats off to Oregon as others have said. I was at the game and they had a defensive slide working that had Michigan's offense and us fans really frustrated. Michigan's website has a good recap, but Oregon's last stand in regulation was really something. I think Michigan had about three minutes of posession at the end of regulation and Oregon kept them out.

[BearcatLax]

Great job Oregon! I think you represented the PNCLL greatly at the tournament in Michigan. Stepping up and playing so well against three quality programs and two of the nation's very elite at that makes not only the PNCLL look good, but says wonders about your lacrosse program. The losses are tough, both in hotly contested and very close games, but you sent word to the nation that you are legit. Great job again, nothing to be dissapointed about in my book.

[Tim Whitehead]

Any word on UC Davis and PLU?