The main area in which the PCLL expanded was in the B division. Three teams have been added for the 2006 season: the University of Maine – Orono, Salem (MA) State College, and the University of Rochester (NY). Not only did the league grow in size with these three teams, but it also expanded its boundaries both north into Maine and west into New York. Salem State is the only team, as of now, with a head coach in place, Trevor Eaton who played at Salem when it was a NCAA varsity program.
These three new B division teams will compete with Framingham (MA) State College, Central Connecticut State University, and University of New Haven for the B division league championship and the PCLL’s first ever B division automatic qualifier to the National Tournament. The PCLL did not have a B division AQ last year, because it had less than the minimum six teams to qualify for the AQ.
The A division also expanded as the 2005 division B champion, US Coast Guard Academy, petitioned and was accepted to move up to division A. Head Coach Jon Davignon said the move was made because they felt they were ready, both on and off the field, to compete at a higher level for years to come.
Not only was there movement and expansion by the teams, but there was also some movement and expansion in the executive board. Tim Gray, head coach of Northeastern University, was elected to replace Dan Warren as Vice Commissioner. Warren stepped down from his position, as well as head coach of Bridgewater State College to coach high school lacrosse. Gregg Pathiakis was re-elected as League Secretary. The board also expanded by one with a new position of Communications Director being added. This position will be tasked with, among other things, writing press releases and news articles for the conference, and coordinating photography of PCLL teams. Ben Clark, head coach of WPI, was elected to the inaugural position. All three positions are 2-year terms.
Keeping with the theme of expansion, the PCLL started 3 new committees; a Membership Committee, a Championship Weekend Committee, and a PCLL Invitational Committee.
The Membership Committee, which will be headed up by Jack Rodican, former head coach of the University of New Haven, will be in charge of communications with teams interested in joining the PCLL in future years. It will also be in charge of continued expansion of the league with a primary area of concentration of New York City/New Jersey as well as north into Maine and west into New York, trying to fill in the gaps between two of the new B teams and the rest of the league.
The Championship Weekend Committee, co-chaired by Ben Clark and Gregg Pathiakis will be in charge of continued growth of the Championship Weekend Tournament. They will try to secure sponsorships, organize volunteers, as well as sell apparel and refreshments. The 2006 PCLL Championship Weekend will be held at WPI for the second consecutive year.
The third committee, the PCLL Invitational Committee, will be headed up by Tim Gray. This committee will be in charge of setting up the first ever PCLL Invitational Tournament to be held sometime in 2007. The committee will be in charge of all matters of getting the tournament ready including, but not limited to, securing a date and location, inviting teams, attracting sponsors and hiring volunteers. The tournament is being set up to draw top national ranked teams to the northeast as well as showcase the league’s teams on a national scale while providing all teams involved a chance for quality out-of-conference games.
In their 2006 preseason polls, the coaches of the PCLL tabbed Northeastern University to repeat as Division A champions, while Framingham State, the 2005 Division B runner-up, was picked to win the B division championship.
2006 Division A Preseason Poll (points, 1st place votes)
1. Northeastern University (206, 11)
2. Boston College (177)
3. New Hampshire (163, 4)
4. Stonehill College (116, 1)
5. Bridgewater State College (114)
6. Boston University (95)
7. Rhode Island (94)
8. Connecticut (80)
9. W.P.I. (65)
10. US Coast Guard Academy (60)
2006 Division B Preseason Poll (points, 1st place votes)
1. Framingham State College (164,
2. Central Connecticut State (155, 3)
3. Rochester (141, 4)
4. New Haven (132)
5. Salem State College (118, 1)
6. Maine (100)
For more information, contact Communications Direction, Ben Clark, at bcclark@gmail.com.
