PNCLL Week #5 (3/1-3/7) -- Predict, Scores & Discuss

[CATLAX MAN]

SFU beat an ASU team at ASU and they aren't slouches. They also lost two games to quality teams in Utah and UofA on the road.

You are over estimating here. I saw ASU play last weekend and I have to say that I was not impressed. They struggled mightily against a winless and very young Santa Clara team, pulling the game out in the final minutes. ASU is not going to be ranked any time this year, and if they are, they will not have gotten those votes from anyone who has actually seen them play. Utah was heavily over rated at the beginning of the season and could easily finish this season with 10 losses. Arizona is a quality team and looks better than their #15 ranking, but SFU lost to them by 7.

You can spin this any way you want, but this narrow win by Oregon is going to hurt them a little.

[Timbalaned]

If it hurts us, then so be it, but it really shouldn't. We played our hearts out, got the win and that is what mattered. It was the first time we did have to play 60 minutes and we showed that we could. You must also remember that this is a rivalry game and anything can happen. So to base our preformance on this one game is a shame, but we have plenty of time to prove to the rest of the country that we belong. I just don't really see how we can drop in the polls after winning the game. USC didn't drop after beating ND on the last play of the game, what difference is a 10-9 victory?

[Laxfan87]

You are over estimating here. I saw ASU play last weekend and I have to say that I was not impressed. They struggled mightily against a winless and very young Santa Clara team, pulling the game out in the final minutes. ASU is not going to be ranked any time this year, and if they are, they will not have gotten those votes from anyone who has actually seen them play. Utah was heavily over rated at the beginning of the season and could easily finish this season with 10 losses. Arizona is a quality team and looks better than their #15 ranking, but SFU lost to them by 7.

You can spin this any way you want, but this narrow win by Oregon is going to hurt them a little.

Very good points here. ASU isnt great, but they arent bad. They did beat Arizona(albeit last year) I think its hard to judge the Arizona and Utah games IMO. Yes they lost by 6 and 7 but middle of the road trip games seem to be the hardest, with Arizona and Utah being the 3rd and 4th game. The arizona game i believe was very close going into the 4th,(13-10? 10-8 at the half) with the Laxcats pulling away in 4th.(possibly fatigue i dont know) Arizona is a very good team and is top 10 IMO especially with their recent win over BYU. The end fact is, Utah and Arizona beat SFU and we could deliberate what would happen if Utah and Arizona travelled to Canada, but it wont mean anything. See it would maybe help if Arizona faced Oregon this year, but that isnt happening.

I've said it before, Oregon will drop a bit(10 is my prediction) Arizona will definitly make top 10, maybe 8? SFU may rise(maybe as high as 21. 22 or 23 is likely) but it all depends how voters view the game. Whether as a falter of Oregon or an achievement of SFU.(kinda weird calling a loss an achievement) The best thing to take from this (as i said before as well) is a rising competiveness between inter-conference play in the PNCLL and Oregon may have to rethink the idea that every game in the Division will be a cakewalk.

[Laxfan87]

It it hurts us, then so be it, but it really shouldn't. We played our hearts out, got the win and that is what mattered. It was the first time we did have to play 60 minutes and we showed that we could. You must also remember that this is a rivalry game and anything can happen. So to base our preformance on this one game is a shame, but we have plenty of time the rest of the to prove that we belong. I just don't really see how we can drop in the polls after winning the game. USC didn't drop after beating ND on the last play of the game, what difference is a 10-9 victory?

Yeah it would be weird dropping even though you won. It depends on how much voters take margin of victory. If they do take it into account, that is where I can see Arizona getting votes, because they won by 7. But if SFU played in Eugene the result may have been different(although they did win last year, i dont mean that in a negative way, just a fact) And if Arizona played in Canada it may have been different, these long travels do have an effect somtimes.

I'm sure even though it doesnt look as good, I can imagine you and your teammates enjoyed the competitive game a lot more then a blowout. Winning big is relaxing and all, but the close games is what makes the sport so great. You guys, SFU and the fans must have had one heck of a ride as the game was unfolding with emotional swings constantly in the back and forth game. You guys should be happy you won (obviously you are) and all it does is make you look forward to April and get that mental preparedness for playoffs. Now you wont walk into the OOC games unsure of what it is like to be down a goal.

[Dan Wishengrad]

I thought our B Division was very strong before the season began, but now after the rapid ascension of Albertson, Western Oregon and especially Southern Oregon into the mix, the PNCLL B seems even better than I had thought possible. SOU wins at Whitman and then knocks off PLU (who just beat Western Washington last week). Unbelievable! The B playoff race is going to be really, really interesting. Montana may be the dominant team, but there looks to be parity among 7-8 teams and the jockeying for post-season berths should be tremendous down the stretch.

In the A Division, Oregon and Oregon State are now tied at 4-0 atop the standings. Tomorrow's SFU-OSU game seems hugely important, but in reflection maybe it is not at all. Even with a loss, the Beavers have all but sewn up no worse than third place already. If OSU knocks off the Clansmen, SFU can still take third place by winning out. A Simon Fraser-Oregon State semi-final clash looks highly plausible at this point, regardless of tomorrow's outcome. The final #4 seed will come down to either Boise State, Gonzaga, Idaho or Washington -- none of whom who have played each other yet.

Of course if OSU upsets SFU, it will set up a showdown for the #1 seed later in April when the Beavers take on the Ducks.

[Laxfan87]

Good points all-around Dan. The B Div. is looking mighty interesting with everybody beating everybody.

Very true for the A div. SFU should beat State tomorrow, and probably finish second and even if they dont they will likely win out and grab 3rd. So its essentially a battle for 4th and I'm not going to guess who will grab it because like you said, none of them have played eachother yet. Today's SFU Oregon game was essentially the battle for top seed.(no offense to Oregon State, but I just think these two teams are a cut above) But say SFU wins against Oregon, it doesnt change much anyway, just a simple seed, cause unless these teams falter greatly(shouldnt) they will meet in the finals regardless of whos 1st,2nd or 3rd, which would make it the 4th meeting in a row. Should be fun and interesting

One last thing Dan, your team has played both teams losing 9-4 and 14-6 respectively. Care to offer any insight on who will win based on the two games and your expertise? See any players or aspect of the game that will be the "x" factor? Possibly containing Tiption? Or Christians(34 goals it think) Although looking at the stats SFU seems to have a lot of offensive options

Should be a good game, if State is on 13-9 SFU. If State shows fatigue, 16-6 SFU. I see SFU coming out hard because of the Oregon loss.

[jtlax]

Laxfan87, i'm just curious who you are? you've had quite a lot to say lately. As for the Oregon-SFU game, I think it was a well fought game for both teams. It was a grind right to the very end. If the final score hurts Oregon's poll position, so be it. Oregon will get plenty of opportunities in the near future to prove where they belong.

As far as some of the comments being made about Oregon's loss due to graduation, I would like to point to one important fact. The unique aspect of collegiate athletics is that a team must to some extent rebuild each year. In almost every case, a team is going to lose a key contributor or contributors to graduation, and must fill the gap of the vacated seniors. There is nothing one can do to stop this. Younger players must rise to the challenge. I believe Oregon has filled the vacancies due to graduation very nicely, and I should know because I am one of those graduates. Trust me, it was killing me not to be on that field playing today, but I was very proud of the way our team fought through adversary to come up with the victory. This team has the ability to achieve the goals it has set out to accomplish. This was not an easy game to win, and I hope each of our players learned a lesson from that game.

Jeremy Tesar

[Dan Wishengrad]

Boise State 16
Utah State 12

Congrats to the Broncos for the OOC win and for representing the PNCLL well.

[Kojima]

OSU has beaten SFU, 16-15.

I don't know the details but I heard it was a sloppy game.

[pncllfan2006]

"You are over estimating here. I saw ASU play last weekend and I have to say that I was not impressed. They struggled mightily against a winless and very young Santa Clara team, pulling the game out in the final minutes. ASU is not going to be ranked any time this year, and if they are, they will not have gotten those votes from anyone who has actually seen them play"

ASU 12, Chapman 11......any change of heart Catlaxman?

[kankrum83]

Big W for the Beavs today!

Good job boys...

Edit:

...Really TWO big W's this weekend. Congrats guys!

5-0 in the league!!!

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

PLU 17 Linfield 7. . .I guess PLU took 51 shots yesterday in the loss to SOU. . .most of which missed the cage. . .but they found the goal today I guess.

[TheBearcatHimself]

Whitman 8, Willamette 3

Fun game, WU spent the majority of the game penalty killing it seemed, two three-minute stick penalties hurt us, but I believe we only gave up one goal in that whole 6 minute man down period. Thanks for coming out Whitman!

[Dan Wishengrad]

Oregon 10
Washington 3

[CATLAX MAN]

"You are over estimating here. I saw ASU play last weekend and I have to say that I was not impressed. They struggled mightily against a winless and very young Santa Clara team, pulling the game out in the final minutes. ASU is not going to be ranked any time this year, and if they are, they will not have gotten those votes from anyone who has actually seen them play"

ASU 12, Chapman 11......any change of heart Catlaxman?

Not at all. Santa Clara had Chapman at 9-9 well into the 4th quarter before succumbing 13-9. Chapman is not as good as previously thought. They have now lost a number of games including to unranked UCLA recently. Their season has become somewhat unraveled. As soon as ASU steps in against a top team, you will see what I am talking about.