'08 PNCLL Final Fours in Missoula

[Ryan Hanavan]

Kevin or Will. . .

With the games Saturday being played adjacent to one another. . .and having never seen your soccer stadium. . .is there a location inside the stadium where you can go to the top of the stands and watch games on both fields? Just curious.

The stagger to the games is nice and I hope it works out so those of us stuck up in the booth can still catch some D2 action on Saturday.

We'll get those PGA headsets and just walk around. Complete coverage by Gary McCord and David Faraday, live in Missoula MT.

I'll have some binoculars but the fields are really close. Check out google earth (corner of South and Higgins). My house is a block from the fields. It's pretty easy to spot since there isn't any grass!

[plulax00]

Here are my picks for the Weekend!

Division II
Western Oregon over Whitman 17-11 - Whitman got nothing to lose in this one, but WO got too much offensive fire power. I can see a upset brewing if Whitman controls the tempo though. Good Luck Both Teams

Western Washington over U of Puget Sound 15-14. Sorry Kyle, but I think the ball may bounce the wrong way for you guys. Both teams are very good, and the game should be high pace and action packed. WWU always seems to hit their stride in late April. Good Luck to All involved.

Division I
SFU over UW 18-10 - Not much to say, Clan takes this one with ease.

Montana over Oregon 9-8 in OT. thats right calling for an OT upset of the Ducks. The Griz are playing in front of their hometown and will step up to the challenge. pick might have something to do with the butt kicking the ducks gave us (PLU) my freshman year 23-3. It was my first game I played in .

Championships
WOU over WWU 15-13 - this game is going to be a battle. Both teams will be coming off physical games the previous day. The team that will win this game will be the better conditioned team.

SFU over Montana 14-12. The Griz will surprise the Ducks, but not the Clan. I can't wait to watch this game on the website.


Good look to all teams this weekend. Make the PNCLL proud that we are the toughest league in the MCLA!

[AndyP]

Taking nothing away from Montana, they are a great team, I don't see how they beat Oregon.

Yes Montana has home field advantage, but Oregon is still a top 16 team for a reason. They really have no glaring weaknesses on their team and their starters all have big game experience.

I love upsets as much as anyone, and despite Oregon's bad recent losses, they will realize this is their last chance at redemption. Also, with a new coach they have a new outlook and attitude.

The Ducks can score in bunches, their middies are athletic, and their defense is tough, not to mention Swanson is nuts in goal. They're still a formidable team.

I see them making the finals and a very close contest vs the Clan.

[nhoskins]

I love upsets as much as anyone, and despite Oregon's bad recent losses, they will realize this is their last chance at redemption. Also, with a new coach they have a new outlook and attitude.

With all due respect, the new coach, new outlook and attitude didn't seem to help against BYU, who throttled the Ducks 17-7.

The Ducks have also lost 5 of their past 6, and seem ripe for an upset by a Montana team which has done nothing but impress since their early season stumbles. In fact, the Griz haven't lost a game since March 8th

[laxer818]

The Ducks have also lost 5 of their past 6, and seem ripe for an upset by a Montana team which has done nothing but impress since their early season stumbles. In fact, the Griz haven't lost a game since March 8th

I think the key to the game is going to be how well the Montana defenders can contain Blackmore. Having checked out some of Oregon's recent games on Youtube (thanks bhsvideodad), it seems to me that the Montana midfielders need to make Blackmore pay when they slide to him as he comes around the cage. Blackmore is really gifted--just a flat-out tremendous player. But a couple of solid hits early on might make him think twice about free-wheeling around the cage at full speed, which seems to me to be the strongest part of his game. Of course, with Blackmore's quickness, that may be easier said than done.

[bhsvideodad]

I love upsets as much as anyone, and despite Oregon's bad recent losses, they will realize this is their last chance at redemption. Also, with a new coach they have a new outlook and attitude.

With all due respect, the new coach, new outlook and attitude didn't seem to help against BYU, who throttled the Ducks 17-7.

The Ducks have also lost 5 of their past 6, and seem ripe for an upset by a Montana team which has done nothing but impress since their early season stumbles. In fact, the Griz haven't lost a game since March 8th

Oregon played the best in the BYU game that I have seen or taped this year. The first 17 minutes were amazing. It was 1-1 and should have been about 4-1 with any luck. Granted the next 13 minutes were not as good. They were 2 men down at minute 18 due to penalties and that didn't help. No excuses, but watch out for Oregon.

My prediction, Oregon 12 Montana 9. Sorry I won't be there.

bhsvideodad

[Thrilla]

My prediction, Oregon 12 Montana 9. Sorry I won't be there.

bhsvideodad

Ahhhhhhh..... bummer

[AndyP]

What time is the D1 final going to be on Sunday?

thanks
andy

[Hi-Line Lax]

D1 Championship is at 2:30 PM MST Sunday, unless there is some kind of super overtime thriller in the D2 game (which starts at 11 AM).

[plulax00]

With all the discussion of the Oregon vs. Montana game I just realize something; in the past 3 years both Oregon and Montana are 6-0 in Semifinal and Championship playoff games.

This Saturday will be the first day one of the teams seniors face defeat for the first time.

While some will argue Montana was in Division II, I still have to point out both teams know how to win in crunch time.

[Sonny]

PNCLL D1 Preview article is up on the main CL page:
http://www.collegelax.us/news/?p=7500

[laxer818]

Anyone with the score of Whitman/WOU?

[Forty Two]

LAX Power has WOU 19 - Whitman 7

[bhsvideodad]

Unofficial, Ducks 16 Montana 11, following the not so live feed was an adventure. Will have to wait for someone in attendance to give a run down. The ducks looked more patient on offense and they had a good ride going.
Go Ducks. I predicted 12-9, so they exceeded expectations.
bhsvideodad

[timekeeper]

I'm sure there will be more comprehensive recaps but the first D1 semi-final went 19-9 to SFU over UW. SFU got off to an 8-1 lead, but the Huskies closed the gap to 12-8. After halftime, the Clansmen put the clamps on UW and .methodically pulled away. The final goal for SFU came with 2 seconds left in the final quarter.

The second semi-final was a classic. UO raced out to a 4-0 lead but Montana tied the game at 5 in the second period. It went back and forth for the rest of the half, with the Ducks taking an 8-7 lead into halftime. After the break, Oregon raced out again, to a 15-7 lead, but the Griz pulled back to 15-10. Each team scored once more for the 16-11 Oregon victory.

I hear that Western Oregon beat Whitman and Western Washington outlasted UPS so the two finals tomorrow are set. Western Oregon vs. Western Washington for the DII crown and Oregon vs. Simon Fraser for the DI title.

Earlier, I predicted that this would be the most competitive PNCLL final four in league history and the teams proved me right.

Congratulations to all eight teams for making it to Missoula and good luck to the remaining teams tomorrow.

Kudos to Kevin Flynn, Will Moss, the University of Montana and the City of Missoula. This has been an exceptionally well run event. First class all the way and Kevin and Will and your school and city have set the bar exceedingly high for anyone who wants to bid for final fours in the future!