PNCLL 2008 All-Conference

[AndyP]

Great job Montana on broadcasting the game. I have just one problem with the all-league selections...no Oregon middies?

Yeah, that is a bit strange I would've thought Deservio would've been 2nd or 1st team. I'd put Swanson 2nd team at least.

Also thought either Brown or Castagner from SFU would've made first-team defense. They're definitely the anchors for an SFU Defense which is the stingiest in the league.

But overall I thought it was fair and selections were evenly distributed throughout the teams (if you think that's a good thing). Not everyone is going to agree on everything.

[Ballaholic]

I am disappointed to see Montana goalie colin connery with no recognition. I know his numbers dont look good this year but you cant deny the fact that he is one the best goalies in the PNCLL and IMO the entire MCLA.

[Steno]

After his performance against UO yesterday (especially on 1 v goalie shots), no one should deny his ability.

[AndyP]

I hear what you guys are saying, but with so many good players in the league this year, there is almost no possibility of a unanimous selection.

I find the exclusion and inclusion of many players on this list highly debatable, if not questionable, but I'm sure lots of time and effort were made by people who know their stuff to come to a good compromise.

The goaltending position in this league is especially difficult to rank. With so many good goalies, I'd say even including 5 on the current list is too many. 5 of 9 starting goaltenders in the conference got recognition, deservedly so.

I agree Connery is a great goaltender, as his play yesterday proved. However, who do you take off that list to make room for him? Stewart? Carman? Azevedo? Any team whose goalie doesn't make the list isn't going to be happy, but at this point it's a crapshoot and there is very little difference in quality of play between the 1st team goaltender, and the HAs.

[WOULAX21]

After an AMAZING 8 hour car ride home, I on behalf of the entire WOU program, would like to extend our congratulations to all of those who played hard all season and earned their conference accolades. I understand that some have shown some agreement and disagreement with the decisions, but that will always be. Those of you who received 1st, 2nd, and HM, great job! We are very proud to be able to represent PNCLL D2 on a National stage this coming tourney. Good job to all who competed in this Final Four PNCLL Tourney.

[TheBearcatHimself]

JC -

Actually, it was recommended by the MCLA that we follow the same format they use for all-americans. . .4A, 4M, 4D, G, FOS and LSM. That is why a change was made. . .just trying to have our lists coincide with what the MCLA does at the National level. . .

Congrats to all of the players that received awards and recognition for their outstanding play this season. The list is never perfect, but I think it is a good representation of the best the PNCLL has to offer.

In terms of the 4 at each position, I think it is a GREAT way to do it, because in case the detractors haven't noticed: the Honorable Mention list isn't 5 pages long anymore. In years past, there would be small 1st and 2nd team lists and then 40 players from all the teams that deserved mention. This has made it more of an honor to be named period IMHO.

I would like to congratulate Simon Fraser and WOU on fabulous performances at the Final Four and wish them the best of luck at Nationals, they will represent the PNCLL well!!

To make a quick recognition of my Coach of the Year award, I would like to graciously thank the coaches who recognize the work I have put in at Willamette, and warn them that I feel we have only scratched the surface of our potential here at WU. At the same time I would like to deflect some recognition to my players, without whom I would not have been able to turn this program around.

Also thanks to Brian Miller for all his work and representing us at the Final Four, I hope he didn't get in everyone's hair I'm joking Brian.

I would like to ask everyone to take a step back and look at the level of play in our league this season, easily the highest ever and the most exciting season and finish ever!! May we reach greater heights in years to come!

[WOULAX21]

Congrats Will. U deserve it!

[Scrape Mode]

I agree Connery is a great goaltender, as his play yesterday proved. However, who do you take off that list to make room for him? Stewart? Carman? Azevedo?

Hmm, can the 1st teamer get low quick enough to stop a 70mph shot at the feet?!?! IMO, Carman (and Connery if you say so) is about 10x better...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO_bBAjQ3Do

[Sean Forsyth]

In an otherwise well composed all league list, there were two omissions that stood out more than the goalie selections (i think that Moore, Asavedo, Stewart, Carman, Swanson, and maybe the Wazzu keeper all could easily be argued worthy of all-league honors). No UO middies on either the first OR the second team, and the absence of an SFU close defenseman on the first team. Oregon's middies were very tough, smart and talented. Simon Fraser's defensemen were agressive, talented, and authoritative. Final Four this year was a blast, I felt like a real collegiate athlete, (other than the minor difference that most of the fans for out tournament were dressed as aluminum stadium seats). I was impressed with the level of professionalism the PNCLL and Montana people exhibited, it was reflected in the quality of the Final Four event.

[teslax14]

No UO middies on either the first OR the second team

...or honorable mention

[Tim Whitehead]

No UO middies on either the first OR the second team

...or honorable mention

Oregon's highest scoring middie (not including one who only played 8 games) scored 1.33 goals per game this year. And those were the only ones who scored more than 1 goal per game. Just sayin'

[Dan Wishengrad]

There will always be controvery on all-conference selections, and I see that 2008 is no exception. A few thoughts in response to postings above with my own two cents:

1) Goalie was really, really tough. Every team from #1 SFU down to #9 WSU had a very good Keeper this year. Azevedo got the most votes from opposing D1 coaches and so despite what any of us think this earns the OSU Senior his spot. Kudos to Josh on a great season and career. Cammy Moore was simply phenomenal all season, and anybody who saw him stand on his head, again, on Saturday vs SFU knows his 2nd team honor was well-deserved. Cam had 25 saves and I believe that three were stuffs of wide-open shooters standing on the crease right in front of him. Absolutely sick. Swanson and Stewart are terrific, as are Carman and Connery. This was the toughest position -- by far -- to rate. The PNCLL is simply loaded here.

2) Oregon has some outstanding middies, but it's hard to pick a guy who stood out. Matusiefsky missed most of season. McMurdo was awesome all weekend, but the Ducks simply rotated so many middies into the games in Montana that their depth and balance diluted the pool. Desiervo, Whyte, Kopca, Loranger, Pittinger and Eckenroad and others all contributed and had me checking my program constantly to see who they were. No wonder that the PNCLL coaches didn't cast more votes for Duck middies -- who should they pick? If I had a vote McMurdo would definitely be All-PNCLL, but I don't. But the guys who made the 1st and 2nd team were all deserving also.

3) Simon Fraser's close defense is a similiar conundrum. Their four top poles there -- Brown, Castagner, Clifford and Brascia -- leave little to choose between and nobody really stood out head-and-shoulders above the others. In the second half of the championship game it was #39 Miyashita who was out there the whole time and playing tremendously. I don't know if this was a coaching decision or due to injury, but there was no fall-off in skill or effectiveness. Manning was a beast in all six SFU games I saw this year and really stood out. His play on man-down against us -- stripping the ball and going coast-to-coast when we had pulled within 12-8 -- killed our momentum and effectively ended any hopes we might have had to reach the Finals. Curtis is well-deserving of his PNCLL MVP honor, and should be a factor in Dallas.

4) Finally, I support and applaud the selection of Cathrea & Hoskins as co-Coaches of the Year, despite my earlier public lobbying here for Ryan Hanavan. Brent and Jeff validated their honor by doing a great job this weekend. They were constantly making adjustments, and seemed to make all the right moves in both games. Just one example was in our semi-final when they switched to a lock-off on Tierney. An obvious move, certainly, but they made it at just the right moment after Nick had really put the Huskies on his back and powered us back into the game. Denying him touches from that point on was definitely a game-changer, and one we just couldn't overcome.Congrats to Jeff & Brent.

PS Russel Thomas is flat-out sick. He scored a ridiculous goal to break a 2nd-half tie after every member of the the Duck defense had body checked him enroute to the cage. I want to watch that one again, can't wait to buy my copy of the DVD from Will Moss. Had Oregon won the game Jardim would have gotten my vote, this kid played with heart and tenacity all weekend long and was simply a stud for the Ducks.

[Thrilla]

No UO middies on either the first OR the second team

...or honorable mention

Oregon's highest scoring middie (not including one who only played 8 games) scored 1.33 goals per game this year. And those were the only ones who scored more than 1 goal per game. Just sayin'

How does that compare to the stats of anyone except Niehuser of those middies on 2nd team and HM?

And how do you compare those middie's to Oregon's when Oregon's first line was out of the game by the first half against the teams of the 2nd and HM middies?

McMurdo, Whyte did an excellent job stepping in for last year's graduating middies playing outstanding between the lines and coming up with key plays this season. Kopca provided leadership as the only senior midfielder, Eck, Pittenger, K Clarck, all stepped up when the team needed them, providing stiff defense and consistent clearing, pretty impressive for freshmen. Although they weren't awarded honors, they all endured incredible adversity (I assure you) that few athletes face, and did their job enough to warrant a conference championship appearance. If that doesn't earn personal honors, they earned my respect and appreciation for their dedication to the program and never giving up.

[nhoskins]

No UO middies on either the first OR the second team

...or honorable mention

Oregon's highest scoring middie (not including one who only played 8 games) scored 1.33 goals per game this year. And those were the only ones who scored more than 1 goal per game. Just sayin'

How does that compare to the stats of anyone except Niehuser of those middies on 2nd team and HM?

And how do you compare those middie's to Oregon's when Oregon's first line was out of the game by the first half against the teams of the 2nd and HM middies?

McMurdo, Whyte did an excellent job stepping in for last year's graduating middies playing outstanding between the lines and coming up with key plays this season. Kopca provided leadership as the only senior midfielder, Eck, Pittenger, K Clarck, all stepped up when the team needed them, providing stiff defense and consistent clearing, pretty impressive for freshmen. Although they weren't awarded honors, they all endured incredible adversity (I assure you) that few athletes face, and did their job enough to warrant a conference championship appearance. If that doesn't earn personal honors, they earned my respect and appreciation for their dedication to the program and never giving up.

Agreed that the Oregon middies did a good job stepping in for the departed seniors. But one of the problems with having the depth that Oregon does is that no one really stands out. It's also tough to pick a stand out middie when the UO starters were likely sitting for the games against WSU, UI, UM (first time), BSU, and GU.

One thing that was clear Sunday was that when Oregon needed a midfield hero, no one was there. Players like McMurdo played well, but I don't think any of UO's middies made an impact like Tierney/Cramer, Thomas or Hall.

The second team and HM could be debated, but I'd have a hard time placing an Oregon middie over Thomson, Niehuser or Shaw, who were epic on their respective teams.

As a unit, the Oregon midfield is great.. they remind of Michigan a bit in that they have a ton of guys who all look and play the same, as if they have a midfield robot factory just pumping out green and gold machines. That kind of parity doesn't lend itself well to garnering all-conference honors however.

[Tim Whitehead]

No UO middies on either the first OR the second team

...or honorable mention

Oregon's highest scoring middie (not including one who only played 8 games) scored 1.33 goals per game this year. And those were the only ones who scored more than 1 goal per game. Just sayin'

How does that compare to the stats of anyone except Niehuser of those middies on 2nd team and HM?

And how do you compare those middie's to Oregon's when Oregon's first line was out of the game by the first half against the teams of the 2nd and HM middies?

McMurdo, Whyte did an excellent job stepping in for last year's graduating middies playing outstanding between the lines and coming up with key plays this season. Kopca provided leadership as the only senior midfielder, Eck, Pittenger, K Clarck, all stepped up when the team needed them, providing stiff defense and consistent clearing, pretty impressive for freshmen. Although they weren't awarded honors, they all endured incredible adversity (I assure you) that few athletes face, and did their job enough to warrant a conference championship appearance. If that doesn't earn personal honors, they earned my respect and appreciation for their dedication to the program and never giving up.

All I'm saying is that no one really stood out. Tell me who you'd take off the team to put all of Oregon's deserving middies on there. I'm sure Oregon has some good middies. I'm sure SFU does too. But they only got one middie on the three teams. Oregon was well represented on the all-conference team, and to whine about them not getting more is ridiculous.