CCLA Week #1 (2/2/05 - 2/8/05)

[John Paul]

I'm surprised to hear that. I've known their staff for a long time, and I've found them to be great guys who really seem to care about the game. Of course I didn't go through the recruiting process with them, but this is the first I've heard anyone say something like that about them.

[Dwayne Hicks]

The Lax:

Thanks for the heads up. I've only heard good things about the program. I'm looking forward to the game. Recruiting is a very tough business. Feeling can get hurt and coaches jobs are on the line. It happens a lot more than you think. But thanks for the insight.

Head Coach
Oakland University

[Joe Oakland]

The Lax:

Thanks for the good luck wish, but I feel it's necessary for me to echo what Coach Paul and Hicks said. I've played against them before with another team and we recieved nothing but first class treatment and sportsmanship. It was an absolutely beautiful campus, too.

-Joe Opron

[UVAlax15]

Any insight or scores from scrimmages?

Michigan vs. Wittenberg

Oakland vs. EMU

Others??

[John Paul]

We beat Wittenberg 12-4. To be fair, they haven't spent much time outside yet - just a few days - and we've been full field all year. We both played the first four quarters like a real game, except we rotated three of our goalies, and Witt split halves with two of theirs (it sounds like he hasn't figured out who's starting yet - they're both good). We played a fifth quarter, with no scoring kept, for all the guys who didn't play in the first four. Witt is young. They'll be pretty good as the year goes on.

[the lax]

I'd say that not being outside is a cop out unless all 12 goals were scored on transition. Either way, good start for Michigan.

Do you have Nike uniforms this year?

PLEASE WIN YOUR QUARTERFINAL GAME

[oaklandlax]

The score was 10-1 at half, final 20-3. Eastern did not have 4 of there starters. They are a young team. The move from B to A will be tuff for them this season but still think they might shock some teams. They played with much class and showed class through out the game. Much respect to Scott and the rest of the EMU players, Look forward to the trip to Texas in late Feb.

[naptownlax]

here are the preliminary results from the northern michigan tournament. not sure of completely accurate scores, but someone else should probably be able to put up more definitive information somewhere soon:

Calvin: 10, W-E. Claire: 1
Calvin: 10, Bethel: 2
Calvin: 9?, Michigan Tech: 3
Calvin: 7, Northern Michigan: 1 (championship)

[Andy Sharp]

Calvin won all four games for the weekend. The two official games were 10-1 vs WI-Eau Claire and 9-2 vs Bethel College.



We did play two up and coming Michigan teams, Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, and these teams are coming together nicely. NMU brought out some ~40 guys and were much improved over last year. I'd say they are up to the quality of several current CCLA teams, our score was 2-1 at half-time. Michigan Tech is a first year team, which includes several downstate hs players, and gets the award for the most unique uniforms:


The tourney did have some last minute drop-outs, one former GRLC-B team who is now in the Great Lakes conference and one current UMLL-A team. It worked out fine though, everyone played everyone and we just held the championship on Saturday night.



I'll give props to the guys from Bethel College, my guys thought you were cool and were impressed with how sportsmanlike you played. Wish there was that much civility in some other games.

We had a great time in da UP, eh. We'll look into making the 2006 tournament even better, maybe more UMLL-B vs. CCLA-B games.

[oaklandlax]

you guys from Clavin are crazy

Respect

[the lax]

Id give Calvin the edge for best uniforms.

[laxfan25]

Coach,
Yes, it's too bad you didn't get to play the Irish. It would have been a good learning experience for your boys, as they would have gotten run off the field and seen how far they can and need to progress! There is a WIDE world of difference between the skill level at ND, now that they are a top 20 team and the MDIA. (Maybe if you were able to suit up Mr. Shay you might have hung a little bit!)
It would remind me of the time that Hopkins came out and played MSU when State had a playoff-caliber team. Every time State got the ball JHU was comfortably settled back on defense. Every time the Blue Jays got it they were fast-breaking up field. The difference in team speed was startling! The fact that the Hopkins defense had a guy named Dave Petremaglia sp? anchoring their defense didn't hurt! It was obvious why he was the Player of the Year and is now the Hopkins coach.

[Danny Hogan]

i doubt anyone who thinks there is a 'g' in the coach of hopkins name has any real insight on the talent gap between oakland and ND.

[laxfan25]

Gee Danny, sorry I didn't run spell-check on his name. That obviously reflects a lack of knowledge of the game. Just so you are aware, I have very good first-hand knowledge about both teams, and stand by my assertions.
By the way, what would someone from the lacrosse hotbed of Disney World know about the game. Must be an imposter.

[mholtz]

i doubt anyone who thinks there is a 'g' in the coach of hopkins name has any real insight on the talent gap between oakland and ND.

I have watched a bunch of HS players go to a lot of programs, and I can say, without a doubt, that there is a HUGE gap between top25 MDIA, and top25 NCAA D1.

The best players in MDIA from Michigan got a few looks from a few programs. Some may have even been recruited heavily. The difference doesn't lie in the best players, it lies in the rest of the players.

You have to remember that EVERY player (at least those that see the field) on a D1 NCAA program was recruited by a D1 NCAA program. It's kinda like the old question, would the D1-A National Football champions be able to hang with the Detroit Lions? The answer is absolutly not. Yes, the lions suck as a pro team, but every player on their team was still the best player on their college team.

Just my $0.02.