Who's gonna take it all this year, A & B.

[Hugh Nunn]

As excited as I am at the strides FSU has recently taken, and the long-term possibilities that have been bandied about, I think FSU will struggle as they did last year unless they get a LOT more aggressive on defense than they showed even this fall. I only saw a couple of games this fall, but the Noles were too willing to allow the attack easy passes around the offensive zone. They have the athletes to run with almost anyone in the country. The thing is, that the talent and athleticism is there. If they can fix this one glaring hole, then I feel they have a shot to do some real damage in Blaine this May. Aside from this issue on the defense, their attack and mids are dangerous...period. Romanchuck and Quinn at attack are just plain sick. SR Mike Borkowski is no slouch, and will always draw the third defender... Look for Bork to have a huge year.

On mid, Kevin Paustian is as good on both ends of the field as anyone in the country and would probably be competitive for any first line in the MDIA.

Becoming more consistent defensively is a big job. But if they get even somewhat better at controlling that end of the field, you may see some top teams going home at their hands.

Mid March is when FSU takes its first trip to the WCLL. After that week, I think you'll see what the 'Noles really have in store for Nationals.

[OAKS]

Romanchuck and Quinn at attack are just plain sick.

I heard Quinn isn't playing this season - and his name isn't on the roster. How do you think this is gonna affect them?

[Danny Hogan]

i didn't want to be the one to break the story, but quinn is redshirting because he is having ankle surgery. bork and dj will have to bear the brunt as quinn usually drew the #1 defender last year

[Hugh Nunn]

Doh!

[StrykerFSU]

I can confirm that Shawn Quinn is not playing this year. With or without Quinn, I don't think FSU is ready to make The Leap just yet. They are too shallow at the midfield and lack the skill on defense to control some of the more high powered teams. They are making great strides but need to concentrate on dominating their own conference before getting all starry eyed in Mn.

Now, that's called tough love boys.

[TrojanLaxman5]

I would consider Arizona in the top four and I think they could give CSU, UCSB, or SSU at the very least a run for their money. I watched U of A beat BYU in Vegas this fall and they have a solid team.

[champlaxer]

For Div. B I'd say Calvin will be there in the end... especially with their core of veterans combined with the abnormally large incoming talent, it will interesting to see who takes the cake.

[Rob Graff]

IF Calvin is properly #1 (and i mean IF - because I'm still learning about Div B all over the country), I'd put St. Johns (MN) pretty close to them (as the national poll indicates).

I mean no disrespect to Calvin or other Div B teams by the above - I just haven't seen enough cross-conference play at that level to gauge how the various teams would do against each other. I'm pleased that the Div B teams are really stepping up and traveling this spring. I believe that will resolve this issue of cross-conference play, and make the seedings in the National Div B tournament reflect reality.

As a basis for my St. Johns v. Calvin comment, I note the following. We split UMD's squad for fall ball, and played both Calvin and St. Johns as a split squad. Based upon those games, I think that those two teams would be a great matchup. But I also think that the RMLC and WCLL Div B teams that win their conferences will be strong national title threats.

I don't know/have not seen GRLC/SELC/LSA/PNCLL Div B teams, so I reserve comment on them.

I also think that St. Thomas from MN will be a strong Div B team, and I'm curious to see Carleton's Div B team - a returning UMLL member who, in the early 1990's was a strong team with many "east coast" players.

[the lax]

Final 4
CSU
UCSB
BYU
Arizona

Finals
Arizona
UCSB

UCSB national champs

Michigan loses AGAIN in the quarterfinals

[jessexy]

i think A&M advances to the semis this season in MINN.....but only because they play Michigan, who tanks again this season.

[stillwater killa]

Watch out for Colorado this year. Word on the street is they picked up some new players to fill the spots of the graduating seniors. Even though they lost two All-Americans, they could be a darkhorse contender for the RMLC championship and perhaps the national championship. You heard it hear first.

Killa

[TrainerDan]

I see the Final Four being:
CSU
UCSB
BYU
Michigan

The first three have proven that, year in and year out, they know how to get to this point. As for Michigan I think they finally get over the hump. Of course that is contingent upon them not having to face CSU, UCSB, or BYU in the quarterfinals. As for the final, I'm going to be a homer here:
BYU vs. CSU
BYU wins!
Go Cougars!

Yes, I am biased in this prediction of the championship.,

[JHBYU33]

Watch out for Colorado this year. Word on the street is they picked up some new players to fill the spots of the graduating seniors. Even though they lost two All-Americans, they could be a darkhorse contender for the RMLC championship and perhaps the national championship. You heard it hear first.

Killa

It all depends on how their goalie/defense plays. losing bluse was huge, if they can play well back on D they will be a great team. Having played against alot of their players in high school i can say they alot of talent on attack and midfield

[CSUalum32]

UCSB, CSU and BYU are the top three teams in the league. i am sure these three teams will be participating in the final four, however upsets have occurred in the national championships, who would have thought that stanford would have made it to the 2001 national championship game? granted they were a good team and beat good teams on the way, but i dont think anyone had them as a pick for the finals at the beginning of the week.

That fourth spot could be an interesting toss-up. there are a few teams that could be in the running for that final spot. with arizona knocking off BYU in the fall, they showed that they are capable of playing some good lacrosse, not that they have not in the past. arizona has has always put up a good fight in the lou, i am expecting the same this year. however, i just dont think CU has what it takes to make the final four, not just because i am a CSU grad, simply because they have been like the Buffalo Bills of the uslia for the past few years. they have gone into the tourney with high expectations but end up falling apart when it came down to crunch time, losing to teams that they could obviously beat. of coarse sanoma is always a favorite. of coarse you cant leave out florida state, even though i still have a grudge with them after the whole florida trip fiasco in 2003 when most of the games were cancelled. as a team we still had a great time.

but as a prediction, it is the usual, UCSB, CSU, BYU and Sonoma State. just dont think there too many teams that have the depth needed for a five day tourney to beat these teams.

Good luck to all teams, look forward to an exciting season.

[the lax]

Depth is an important factor which has gone unmentioned to this point. Not surprised a CSU alumnus brought it up. We aren't 12 year olds that can go for days straight, without needing deodorant or having to wash our faces, you know. Especially if a team gets a bad time draw, I think the groundball effort would be the trouble spot for most teams. If a wing player is hoping his faceoff man wins the draw cleanly so he can go off for the top offensive player, the team will be in for a long day.
But I am going to disagree on your 4th seed selection. As good as Sonoma was last year with one of the best goalies in the league, they were only able to get to the semis. This year they don't have that keeper. Look for Arizona or Michigan, as they are tournament proven teams. Dark dark horses are FSU and A&M.