USLIA top-25 polls

by **Dr. Jason Stockton** on Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:41 pm

For those of you that missed it, the pre-season polls were released for the A and B division for the 2006 season.

Congrats to Oregon and their #7 ranking in the A division poll.

Also congrats to Montana (#4), PLU (#8), UPS (#21), Linfield (#22), Whitman (#23), and Western Washington (#25) who all made the pre-season poll.

The strength of our B division from last year is reflected in that 6 teams made the top-25 poll to start the season in 2006.

**Sponsor**

by **Hi-Line Lax** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:52 am

I also wanted to say congratulations to all the B teams that made the Top 25 this year, but also wanted to comment a little on the rankings. Although I don't have a ton of experience with our OCC opponents, I will say that judging off of last season I would put all of our PNCLL teams higher in the national polls. After going to the tournament and seeing the "best of the best", I would say that really only USD was a step ahead...and not even far one at that. Last season, PLU, UPS, & Whitman all gave us harder runs than St. John's...and I know we didn't play Western or Linfield, but judging by how their seasons went I would say they play at the same caliber. Our score with SD also had a lot to do with only having 16 guys on the field and horrible conditions the day before, so for those of you who will see them this fall, do not be intimidated. There are a lot of really solid B programs out here in the PNCLL and it is really a privilege to represent this conference at the national stage...to Jason and Bubba, Kyle, Dave, Tim & everybody else, I really admire what you guys are doing. So good luck to everybody this year.....although for your sake I hope they decide to add some at-larges this year 'cause I'm gonna be taking my Grizzlies to wherever they decide to host this thing. Sorry, but I gotta represent.

by **Pinball** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:24 pm

Hi-Line Lax wrote: Last season, PLU, UPS, & Whitman all gave us harder runs than St. John's....

Im assuming you didnt have to play them in 33 degree sleet. You were the better team on that day, because you were simply more motivated after coming 10 hours on bus. We walked out our back door and simply wanted to go back in. Being the "home" team hurt us.

by **PNWLaxer** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:50 pm

The weather in Montana and the rest of the PNCLL can be pretty nasty during the season. I made the trek out to Missoula for 1 game in April and it was 33 with sleet/snow/rain.

Regardless it was a National Championship game and there is no excuse for not being motivated to win. A win should be congratulated and a loss should be a learning experience.

by **Pinball** on Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:32 pm

PNWLaxer wrote: A win should be congratulated and a loss should be a learning experience.

Yes montana was the better team on that day, no question about it

by **BearcatLax** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:47 am

Pinball wrote:Im assuming you didnt have to play them in 33 degree sleet. You were the better team on that day, because you were simply more motivated after coming 10 hours on bus. We walked out our back door and simply wanted to go back in. Being the "home" team hurt us.

I'm assuming you realize the irony of coming into another league's board and complaining about the weather in your own state and talking down on the league like we play all our games in sunny California. Check the facts, PNCLL don't play dat. Keep on keepin' on Montana, we are impressed with you even if the rest of the B division isn't

by **Hi-Line Lax** on Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:32 pm

Also, I really don't see how a 20 hour (yes, we're a bit further than 10 hours) bus trip could have possibly helped us...and we would be happy to play St. John's out here anytime they would like the advantage of a cross-country road trip. In addition, our first game against Whitman was in the 30's with sleet and snow...just to clarify.

by **Kyle Berggren** on Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:12 pm

Alright Guys, back to the topic at hand. You left it on the field in Blaine, you've left an invite for a future rematch, and we'll see how the season unfolds.

For the record, for as long as I can remember, PLU has been undefeated in the snow. Back in the day, they actually beat Montana @ Montana in the snow with 12 guys I believe, again beat Montana @ WSU (in Martin Stadium), along with another historic win over SFU (I'm sure many more to come :lol:

) @ a muddy snow covered Gonyea field. So now, officially, PLU is the best team in the snow, in the PNCLL. Everyone challenge PLU for that crown. You can reach bubba through the pncll website, he'll take all challengers.

by **ben012685** on Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:53 pm

I don't think it would be that hard to convince all the PLU guys to play anybody at Snoqualmie or Rainier.

Gotta protect those esteemed bragging rights....!?

by **grizmid** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:55 pm

i think if your talking about bragging right to a home field advantage, i would then have to say that we here at Montana have the greatest advantage being that no one really wants to come play us here in Missoula. and i know for a fact that we would love to have more teams come here since for the first few months of the season were always on the road.

by **PNWLaxer** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:43 pm

Part of the issue with games at Montana is that the league has been told each year that home games must be played in April. That makes it a little more difficult to schedule home games when other teams can play any time at home.

Its not so much that teams do not want to go to Missoula to play, in fact teams in the B division have to go there either for divisional play (B South) or when their rotation comes up (A North).

by **Kyle Berggren** on Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:25 pm

It is a homefield advantage, no one likes to drive that far... and every away game you have is equally as bad on you, but an adjustment that you've made over time.

Now the thread Nazi shows up,

If we want to discuss homefield advantage, I suggest a new thread, even make a poll... My vote goes in for PLU right now. I've won playing on their "field," and now I've lost coaching on that "field." When I was coaching I nearly drown as they conveniently moved the field to put us (ME!) into the biggest puddle allowable. I can appreciate that though, thanks Bubba, I would do the same to you if I could!

by **Hi-Line Lax** on Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:26 am

I would have to agree with Kyle that as far as field surfaces go...PLU has some horrible away facilities. I seem to remember a field that got turfed by somebody the night before our match up there...six inch tire treads in the surface on one end...that's no fun. Also though...I've been at the league meeting for the past three years and at no point can I remember the league ever saying that games cannot or should not be scheduled in Montana before April. I know that I've done my best to schedule games in Missoula as late in the season as possible, but that was more of a just in case. I don't think our weather is any worse than anybody else in the PNCLL...at least the northern teams (gotta love the 60's and sunny in Boise during early Feb) but it's not like we have a ton of snow. We could host games at any time during the season...the real problem is that nobody wants to spend the money to come out here. I can also comment on our home field advantage over the past few seasons...two and three years ago, when our team couldn't win a game (or come within 20 of Simon Fraser and Oregon) our only chance to win was at home...this was the only time during the season that we would have more than 11 or 12 guys at a game. I know it didn't work every time, but our regular season wins for 2003 and 2004 all came at home (except for a 5 1/2 hour triple overtime win at Washington State in 2003). And to make this post just a little longer...we've still only played at home five times in the past three seasons, just so everybody out here that complains about travel can realize that they are nowhere near the bottom. And to somehow relate this to the original post...we have much love for the B teams out here and I'll say it again...all of you are underrated nationally...we're all like the Seahawks out here...no respect.

by **Dan Wishengrad** on Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:46 am

The problem with home games in Missoula has little or nothing to do with lack of respect, or with teams being afraid to come play at Montana, or even with the winter weather. The problem is the number of US Lacrosse certified refs who live within an eight hours' drive of Missoula -- ZERO!

If officials have to always be sent tremendous distances to work your home games, and if this pool of zebras is generally unwilling to go more often, you can't expect to get more home games. What has happened to all the people you have nominated to be trained as lacrosse refs, which has been required on the annual MDIA Membership Application? Has even ONE of the folks followed through with training as a lax zebra?

by **Dr. Jason Stockton** on Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:07 pm

I'd like to reiterate what Dan just said. . .the lack of home games in Missoula is not based on weather, facilities or any other superficial matter. The cost of sending officials on airplanes to officiate games is hard on our league financially. . .and honestly, most of the officials don't like to make the trip. Granted, nobody wants to drive over 2 mountain passes in February, but honestly it is really difficult to get the officials out to Missoula any time during the season.

If Montana could find a few officials, get them trained and rated, I am sure that you would get many more home games out there. Try your local YMCA basketball refs - or former players living in the area. . .not too many people will balk at getting paid around $120 for 3 hours of work.

If you get officials trained in Missoula (which is part of your U.S.Lacrosse responsibility), you will get more home games.

Personally, I love the trip to Missoula. . .and if the Grizzlies continue to maintain a top program out there, I know you'll get more and more teams willing to make the trip. I know MSU is coming to town - I'm sure there are some California teams filled with ski bums that would love to take their spring break in Missoula for a couple lacrosse games and a couple days on the mountain for spring break. Schools like USD, Claremont and UC Irvine would be great teams to lobby to make a trip to Missoula next spring. Couple that with a team like PLU or Western. . .and you have an excellent "tournament" setting in Missoula.

Just my two cents. . .