PNCLL Week #1 (2/1-2/7) -- Predict, Scores & Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

Saturday, Feb 4th
Simon Fraser 17 Western Washington 7
Gonzaga 14 Puget Sound 3

Sunday, Feb 5th
Pacific Lutheran 11 Gonzaga 10 (OT)

Scores are unofficial, shown as reported by others below...

Three intriguing A/B matchups kick off the 2006 PNCLL season. The Gonzaga Bulldogs travel across the state and (hopefully) traverse the heavy snows of Snoqualmie Pass for a pair of Tacoma games against UPS and PLU.

On Saturday, the Zags take on the Loggers in a game that may answer a number of questions about these two teams' potential form for 2006. Both made the playoffs last season, but both failed to make it out of the first round. Head Coach Rick Kladis has some nice returning players including Aaron Niehauser at Midfield, Ben Stein on Attack and Lachlan MacLean on Defense, but he won't have that Kladis guy to quarterback the offense for the first time in four years.

Puget Sound also has some talented returners, led by Chris Andree and Scott McAmis on offense. But UPS is also reportedly quite thin on experienced players, so it may take a few games for Head Coach Kyle Berggren to assimilate the youngsters into the flow and gain this year's squad the needed exposure to game conditions. Taking on A-Division playoff teams will likely prove a baptism under fire this week and next for the Loggers, but should help the squad prepare for a grueling PNCLL B Division later on.

Also on Saturday, Simon Fraser crosses the international border for the quick hop down to Bellingham for a game against traditional rival Western Washington. SFU vs WWU was, for many seasons, "THE GAME" to watch in the PNCLL. The Clansmen still have Victoria-products Mike Christians and Aaron Pascas to lead the offense and defense, respectively, and a talented supporting cast that features the likes of long-pole wizard Anthio Yuen. After a strong start to the '05 season that saw SFU earn impressive road wins over higher-ranked Oregon and Chico State, the Canadians stumbled in mid-season and fell completely from the rankings. SFU rebounded to avenge an earlier home loss to UW in the playoffs, but then got routed by the Ducks for the second straight year in the PNCLL Finals, and found themselves sitting out a national tournament for only the second time ever. Co-Coaches Brent Hoskins and Jeff Cathrea will surely have a good team, but whether or not SFU can re-gain past glory and make a trip to Dallas is anyone's guess at this point. How well they handle this first game against a quality B team may provide some answers.

Adam Lent takes over as Head Coach at Western Washington, which failed to make the playoffs out of the tough B-North in 2005, losing a few heart-breakers to the likes of PLU and UPS -- once in triple-ovetime. The Vikings lost some offensive talent to graduation and also Defenseman Andrew Vincent, who transferred to Oregon. But with a great Frosh Goalie in Noah Symington and big Jim Baumstark to lead the close defenders, WWU looks to be solid defensively. The questions will be whether the Vikings can find enough offense to run with SFU and with the likes of Montana and PLU in B-Division play. This game with the Clansmen may shed some light.

On Sunday, the Zags take on the Lutes of PLU before the Seahawks take the field in Detroit for SuperBowl XL. PLU Head Coach Bubba Gutherless has had a long off-season to contemplate a tough Finals loss to Montana last May, in a game where the Lutes played brilliantly early but couldn't maintain the lead against a talented bunch of Grizzlies. PLU returns some nice players including Kris Olsen on Attack, Matt Kennedy at Midfield and "Homer" Roark on defense. Ben Blankenship takes over in Goal, trying to fill the shoes of graduated stud-Keeper Brett Bartell. PLU must also replace two key Attackmen -- Chris Jensen, who graduated and Josu Zubizarreta, who fell in love and decided to remain in Spain. The Lutes have only this game and one next week at UW to prepare for the key early-season OOC trip down to California to play MDIA heavyweights San Diego and Claremont. PLU gets the chance to scout Gonzaga the day before, and will try to take advantage in a game all the Northwest will be watching closely.

[pncllfan2006]

I think the both the Gonzaga games will be good games with Gonzaga coming out ahead by about 4-5 goals in each game. It will be interesting to see how Gonzaga's offense responds to the loss of their star attackman Rick Kladis but their program has made amazing strides in the last few years so I dont see them losing to a B division team. I See SFU winning easily in the other matchup on the weekend.

[Kyle Berggren]

I wouldn't quite go as far to say Gonzaga will come out ahead 4-5 goals in both games. PLU has been playing together for quite a while, has a bit of new talent, and is in game shape.... UPS is just starting back up (3rd week of January is when we come back to school), and Dan is dead on... How good can we be this early in the season...? I love the new players I have, but mud, and a lack of time could mean a strong Gonzaga team just roll over us.... We'll see this weekend.

[ZagGrad]

Berggren, does this mean we'll get to meet up this weekend? I can't wait to be yelling at you from the other side of the coach's box.

[Kyle Berggren]

If you get hit by a ball, don't be upset... it will probably come from our box anyhoo.

[Chris Long]

Gonzaga 12, UPS 4
Simon Fraser 18, WWU 7

Upset: PLU 8, Gonzaga 6

PLU will be fresh and play tough, Zags a little tired.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Shogun,

Unfortunately I won't be able to yell at you from the coach's box Sunday, but I'll be on the sidelines for both games to heckle you as much as possible this weekend.

In all seriousness, good luck this weekend. It will be fun to see how good GU can be in the post-Kladis era. . .my guess is you guys will still be really good - but I know PLU is pretty loaded as well so Sunday's game should be very interesting.

[ZagGrad]

Nice...

Post-Kladis era, huh? Hard to be post-Kladis when he is the head coach, thus implementing his ideas and techniques in to the young minds of our players.

I'm sure Rick would jump down my throat if I said what I felt was going to happen this weekend...just kidding. I'm really looking forward to being a coach in this league. It will be harder to keep my mouth shut, but I'm sure I can do it...hahaha. In all seriousness, should be some great matchups and a fun time this weekend. See you guys in a few days

Oh, I'm not adding predictions either...don't think I'm allowed.

[Chris Long]

BUBBA -

BRING IT ON SUNDAY (but none of those calf length bumblebee socks, please).

Good luck to you.

Long

[Dan Wishengrad]

Ah, the PNCLL kicks off on a day described as the fiercest storm in seven years with winds howling to 60 MPH, rain coming down (or sideways) in buckets, trees crashing down and power outtages everywhere.

Got lacrosse?

[TheNino57]

Got lacrosse?

Amen to that!

[Timbalaned]

Any scores?

[ZagGrad]

Gonzaga 14--UPS 3

[Dan Wishengrad]

Anybody have the SFU-WWU result?

[PNWLaxer]

17-7 SFU