CATLAX MAN wrote:
I sense that there could be a changing of the guard in (what I would call) the "second tier" WCLL teams (below SB & SSU). We should find out something this weekend about one of the teams that I suspect will step up and that is UCSD. They were on the verge of breaking through last year and meeting Chapman should be a good indicator for that team.
Hit that one on the head, Catlax. John Hughes was one of the biggest reasons Sonoma got where it was and seems to be doing a great job for the Tritons too. They have a few tests in the next few weeks, including games against Poly and UCSB, but it looks like their make or break weekend will come on March 12/13 when Arizona and ASU come to town on consecutive days. UCSD has to win one of those games to hope to make the WCLL playoffs.
Coaches Donnelly and Burke are two people that I really respect at Chapman, but I think they are going to have a tough time of it this year. Their conference includes USC and UCLA, both improving squads, (not to mention LMU) and will be hard pressed to take second in their division as well.
Always on point . . .
Alex Smith
CSU Lacrosse '03