WCLL Week 2 (2/2 - 2/8): Schedule, Thoughts, & Scores

[CATLAX MAN]

UCSB totally dismantled NDNU today. NDNU got an early 2-1 lead and from that point on it was all UCSB on both sides of the ball. The score could have been worse as SB must have missed at least 6 close in opportunities while NDNU was man down for a 3 minute unreleasable penalty. Eric Johnson had 3 goals while Will Patton & Luke Wilson also chipped in with multiple goals.

From early in the game the SB defense just totally smothered the NDNU offense. By the 2nd quarter, predictably, they got very frustrated at not even being able to get a shot off and that led to the beginning of some very chippy play initiated by NDNU and responded to by SB. The refs let this game get away from them early as they allowed NDNU to get away with slashing players away from the ball in front of the crease as they were running by. At one point, a NDNU middie buttended Will Patton in the sternum right in the middle of the field in full view of everyone and no call was made. Things went down hill from there which ended up with multiple players in the box.

Frankly, I was disappointed that this was not a more competitive game. I expected that NDNU would give SB a better game, being that this is their 2nd year of being varsity and having crushed both Stanford & Chico prior to this game. It will be interesting to see how SB matches up with an established D3 program, Whittier, in a couple of weeks.

[Billax]

Thanks for the post, Catlax Man! I, too, am interested to see how the Whittier game turns out.

[Bluevelvet]

I think that it should be mentioned that NDNU was a very good team. I do not see them losing many games to WCLL teams this year.
In this game, in the second quarter when the UCSB defense started to dominate, it seemed as if NDNU sort of lost their poise. They played yesterday in Chico at 4PM and probably didn't get back until fairly late. Maybe they were tired.
The score at half was 4-2. About 2 minutes into the third quarter the score was 6-2 and the rout was on. UCSB scored 10 second half goals and played the back ups in the 4th quarter.
The Gauchos kept the NDNU team (loaded with Canadian Box players) on the outside where their stick skills were nullified. The NDNU defense was, as last year, rugged but a bit slow.
Despite the score, NDNU is a good team and should win alot of games. Keeping their poise would certainly help them against better competition.

[laxaholic]

Props to Circus, small can, and the general for lighting up the net today. Having played against NDNU before I know they have a lot of talent, but until they learn how to win and LOSE with class, I don't consider them a good team.

[neil]

If you're going to talk about a team's class, you should probably back up your argument with some facts. Sunday's game ceratinly got chippy at times on both ends- but you have a tough case to make if you want to state that it was one sided. NDNU's 3 minute non-releasable penalty came during a pushing contest in which players came onto the field from UCSB's bench to get involved in the scrap- UCSB got only one minute in the box for the effort. Tough way to start the second half of a close game. UCSB looked good, they were definitely the sharper team Sunday and deserving of their #1 USLIA ranking.

[CATLAX MAN]

but you have a tough case to make if you want to state that it was one sided.

I didn't see anyone here say that it was one-sided. Where did you get that from?

[Bluevelvet]

NDNU's 3 minute non-releasable penalty came during a pushing contest ....Tough way to start the second half of a close game.

The game was no longer close when NDNU got their 3 minute unreleasable penalty. 6-2 or 7-2 is not close. The penalty turned out to have little or no effect on the outcome of the game when UCSB missed 6 or 7 shots during the penalty and failed to score.
The actions that were not penalized were the chippy stuff that NDNU did both this year and last that have inspired the complaints on this board. The butt end of the stick on Will Patton 20 yeards from the ball, the shots at the UCSB goalie's facemask 80 yards from the ball when UCSB had the ball in their attack zone, the holding UCSB players on the ground who had lost their footing, etc. The stuff that drew the penalty was 2 guys going at it after the whistle.

[the lax]

Sounds like if I'm Coach Allen I remove ND from my schedule next year and keep them off.

[Bluevelvet]

Sounds like if I'm Coach Allen I remove ND from my schedule next year and keep them off.

Good Idea.

[CATLAX MAN]

Perhaps Sonoma "can find a date" next year.

[neil]

Catlax- you stated that the chippy play was initiated from NDNU- sounded like from that comment that it was one sided- if thats not what you meant, then my apologies.

Bluevelvet- 6-2 isn't a close game? Are you playing soccer or lacrosse?

[CATLAX MAN]

Catlax- you stated that the chippy play was initiated from NDNU- sounded like from that comment that it was one sided- if thats not what you meant, then my apologies.

No, that's is what I meant. It was initiated by NDNU, but I also pointed out very clearly that SB responded to it also. Both teams participated, so that is not one-sided in my book.

[onpoint]

I don't know, I've heard that Patton talk some trash. I can't see anything that he would do to deserve that except continually run around them!

[Bluevelvet]

Bluevelvet- 6-2 isn't a close game? Are you playing soccer or lacrosse?

Hope springs eternal. I didn't realize that when a team has tripled it's opponent's score in the third quarter and is dominating every phase of the game, that the game could still be considered close.

[neil]

I bet you'd make a great coach. Alright guys- we're down a few with only 25 minutes left in the game. Let's pack it in.