2008 Lax World MCLA Division 1 Top 25 Poll (4/9/08) is out

[CATLAX MAN]

One thing for sure is that one of the two Top Ten teams (UCSB & ASU) is not going to make it out of the first round of the WCLL playoffs.

[Sonny]

WCLL and PNCLL forum reporting that Sonoma beat Oregon today 17 - 5.

[CATLAX MAN]

Bad weekend for Oregon. Don't be surprised if they fall to the 16-18 range in the next poll.

[ineedmorecowbell]

lindenwood beat utah today 12-11. or maybe it was 13-12. it was a one goal game though.

utah just makes some dumb mistakes. that's what cost them this game.

[SoCalLaxDoctor]

Michigan and Chapman squeak by with one goal victories. Wow. I think there is ample evidence now -- despite all these arguments about the poll rankings -- that the MCLA NC in Dallas could be really wide open and that almost any of the sixteen teams invited could win it all.

I think you are on the target but not a bulls eye. From what I have seen this year, it is going to come down to coaching and depth when these teams get to the likely WARM and humid confines of Dallas. I don't think all 16 teams will be contenders, but I like the top 10 right now, moving FSU up to 10 and dropping Oregon down to 13 or below. In my opinion FSU is the sleeper in the mix. Corey Noonan is the real deal. Also watch out for the Clan. The UCSB at ASU likely rematch should be real fun to watch. That will be a coaching chess match. I would think that a close game should send both teams to Dallas. Props to Chapman for winning in the Pit (Beast has that ever happened before ) I am a bit concerned though that Chapman has come out fast in each of their last two games and then let their opponents back into the game. I would have thought each to have been greater margins of victory (from what I have seen of Chapman this year). With Chapmans depth they should be able to finish as strongly as they start.

[iDinosaur!]

So based on the current poll, here is the break down of W/L against ranked opponents. Unlike Zamboni's breakdowns, the rankings are not locked at the time of the game, but are adjusted to match the current poll.

(Rather than try and format and all that jive, I just did a screen shot of my excel file. Pretty clever eh?)

[TrainerDan]

lindenwood beat utah today 12-11. or maybe it was 13-12. it was a one goal game though.

utah just makes some dumb mistakes. that's what cost them this game.

C'mon Utah...you go out to Colorado and beat CU and CSU but then turnaround and lose at home to Lindenwood. Any momentum the Utes gain they turnaround and have a game like this. It's got to be hard to be so up and down.

[Ravaging Beast]

I would think that a close game should send both teams to Dallas. Props to Chapman for winning in the Pit (Beast has that ever happened before )

I am sure it has happened in the past, but Chapman has never beaten UCSB as far back as I know. Last year they won, but they had to forfeit their season. I only lost one game on the Pit in my four years and it was my last home game against UCSD.

What a crazy weekend. Oregon will likely be knocked out of Nationals unless they can win the PNCLL. UCSB shows that they can hang with teams like Chapman and probably deserve a top 10 ranking. CSU shows some promise against Michigan. And Utah continues what it normally does...play inconstant lacrosse. And I'm a little worried about UMD. While every other top team is playing some of their toughest games of the season, UMD continue to play poor teams. Will they be ready for Nationals? Will a first round matchup be a huge surprise for them? We will see...

[CATLAX MAN]

Last year they won, but they had to forfeit their season.

Actually, they didn't forfeit their season, they just were ineligible for the WCLL playoffs & MCLA tournament. THe games counted in the standings.

[iDinosaur!]

And I'm a little worried about UMD. While every other top team is playing some of their toughest games of the season, UMD continue to play poor teams. Will they be ready for Nationals? Will a first round matchup be a huge surprise for them? We will see...

Going into the National Tournament, they will have not played a ranked team since March 21 (BYU). Unfortunately for them, unlike many conferences (RMLC, WCLL, SELC ) they don't have teams in the conference tourney that can give them a top 15 challenge to gear them up for Dallas.

[nhoskins]

I would think that a close game should send both teams to Dallas. Props to Chapman for winning in the Pit (Beast has that ever happened before )

I am sure it has happened in the past, but Chapman has never beaten UCSB as far back as I know. Last year they won, but they had to forfeit their season. I only lost one game on the Pit in my four years and it was my last home game against UCSD.

What a crazy weekend. Oregon will likely be knocked out of Nationals unless they can win the PCLL. UCSB shows that they can hang with teams like Chapman and probably deserve a top 10 ranking. CSU shows some promise against Michigan. And Utah continues what it normally does...play inconstant lacrosse. And I'm a little worried about UMD. While every other top team is playing some of their toughest games of the season, UMD continue to play poor teams. Will they be ready for Nationals? Will a first round matchup be a huge surprise for them? We will see...

It'll be really hard for Oregon to win the PCLL... Not that I don't think they can beat BC, but mainly because they play in the PNCLL

[Gooseguy10]

Ravaging-

According to your posting history, you probably don't believe UMD should even be at nationals. So whether they will be ready is not even a factor

[Ravaging Beast]

Ravaging-

According to your posting history, you probably don't believe UMD should even be at nationals. So whether they will be ready is not even a factor

You are right. I usually hate on UMD pretty hard, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be at nationals. I just don't see them winning a National Championship. It might be hard for you to believe, but I actually have some respect for UMD now. But there is a huge advantage in playing in a competitive league. It's sort of a warm up for Nationals.

And if you think I am just hating on UMD, I also think Michigan will have a very tough time ever winning a national championship. They get out of school much earlier than most colleges, so it kind of messes up their routine. For some, that might seem like something minor, but classes and lacrosse adds a lot of structure to your life and keeps you focused on a single goal. When you shake that up, and all of the sudden you have all of this free time to party, catch some sun, or travel (I don't know what kind of rules JP has for his team) it has to screw with the team. This is also true for teams that have finals during or around nationals.

[BYULAX31]

Ravaging-

According to your posting history, you probably don't believe UMD should even be at nationals. So whether they will be ready is not even a factor

And if you think I am just hating on UMD, I also think Michigan will have a very tough time ever winning a national championship. They get out of school much earlier than most colleges, so it kind of messes up their routine. For some, that might seem like something minor, but classes and lacrosse adds a lot of structure to your life and keeps you focused on a single goal. When you shake that up, and all of the sudden you have all of this free time to party, catch some sun, or travel (I don't know what kind of rules JP has for his team) it has to screw with the team. This is also true for teams that have finals during or around nationals.

BYU is out in one week and is always done a full month before Nationals.

[Highheat]

Ravaging-

According to your posting history, you probably don't believe UMD should even be at nationals. So whether they will be ready is not even a factor

And if you think I am just hating on UMD, I also think Michigan will have a very tough time ever winning a national championship. They get out of school much earlier than most colleges, so it kind of messes up their routine. For some, that might seem like something minor, but classes and lacrosse adds a lot of structure to your life and keeps you focused on a single goal. When you shake that up, and all of the sudden you have all of this free time to party, catch some sun, or travel (I don't know what kind of rules JP has for his team) it has to screw with the team. This is also true for teams that have finals during or around nationals.

BYU is out in one week and is always done a full month before Nationals.

For some reason i get a feeling that BYU doesn't have the same penchant for partying as most other schools might