SECOND MDIA Div. B Top 25 Poll is out (3/9/06)!

[Rob Graff]

I concur - the issue isn't Montana as #1. I don't mind that a pollster votes them as #1 (or UVSC) - as I mentioned initially, I think such a vote is defensible. Here's what I wrote:

3. Montana and UVSC have not played any other top 6 Div. B team this year and until they play each other, it is not wrong for voters - especially from those regions - to highly rank them. Both teams did well at nationals last year from what I recall. And if both brought on good talent, and the evaluator believes the WCLL teams to be a step below last year an evaluator will be able defend such a vote - this is a defense of the Montana/UVSC # 1 spot votes.


Subsequent posts were defending alot of pollsters decision to NOT give SJU any #1 votes as well as pollsters decision to move SJU to #2.

I agree - each person does their own poll - and that is key to this system.

[lil lady lax fan]

After watching all three of the top three teams play at the shootout I believe they are pretty closely matched. There really isn't much delineation between those three spots IMHO. All are good teams and all are shooting for that number one bracket. If San Diego wins today that would effectively mean a three-way tie (Sound familiar, oh Division A pollsters?? ) There are bigger question marks about UVSC and Montana that have yet to be addressed. By the next poll I'm hoping we will have a better idea where they stand in the thick of things. This looks to be a much tighter race than last year, full of surprises and more jockeying for the top spots. Should make for a very exciting competition at Nationals.

Sidenote: This is the most debate I've heard on the topic of Division B teams and their rankings since I joined the boards last spring. It's nice to hear the chatter!!

[Kyle Berggren]

In my eyes the PLU vs. Montana game is just as big, because of the PLU 12 goal losses at Irvine... For Montana's sake I hope the field dries up & they show up ready to play, but a big win (assuming a win), should add another team to the mix for many poll voters.

I wish I could see the Claremont vs. USD game tonight.... and I'm still debating on if I want to tape or watch the game for PLU vs. Montana (there isn't a good vantage point over the top). Good luck to all this weekend, it promises to make the poll voting worse.

[Zeuslax]

I concur. It is nice to see some good conversation about the B side. Its shows as a whole that teams are getting more organized. I think the days our gone where one team will dominate a conference or nationally. Yes, you will see ebbs and tides as teams cycle through thier perspective athletes, but things are leveling out.

To say that the early polls don't matter could be a mistake. Remember, there are at large bids this season. From what I understand the selections for the atlarge bids will be dependent on the polls. Teams could potentially be jockeying for position at this early stage in the season. I am a firm believer that as the season progresses the cream will rise to the top.

Timely conversation as selections are being decided for March Madness.........

[Dan Wishengrad]

From WCLL.com:

#3 San Diego 6
#1 Claremont 3

The next B poll is due for another shake-up...

[Andy Sharp]

Doe see doe, swing your partner. Thanks, like voting wasn't hard enough already.

I did a double-take when I saw that score, whoa, welcome back SD.

Please someone tell us, what does it take to hold a team that previously averaged 17.8 goals a game to 3 goals? Was it the weather or was the game ended after one quarter?

[camthrax]

Where was Dylan Sheridan? How could his rolly style of play not get around the SD poles? That score makes absolutely no sense.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

It's like many other sports. . .when the teams are evenly matched, as USD, Claremont and St. John's are. . .any team can win on any given day. It's going to be fun to see how it all plays out, and whether or not UVSC and Montana can crack the top 3 now. . .

[lil lady lax fan]

Where was Dylan Sheridan? How could his rolly style of play not get around the SD poles? That score makes absolutely no sense.

I am not surprised at all by the score. Although San Diego lost some of their key players they have a good crop of new recruits. They've had a month to prepare for this matchup, plus two polls in the #3 spot. I'm sure that was motivation enough. Add to that the fact that these two teams always go at it strong and you've got the makings of a classical grudge match. The Cougs have had a chance to see how San Diego has adjusted to their losses and will be working on adjusting their own strategies accordingly. All I have to say is wait until April in Santa Barbara. Can you say REMATCH???

As for San Diego keeping Dylan in check, they know what to expect from him and work very hard at shutting him down. If you look at the stats from last year they did the same thing. I'm sure he's working out ways to throw them for a loop in their next matchup.

This definitely makes a muddle of the polls. This game only goes to show how closely matched the top three are. As PLULax stated, "on any given day..." I'm interested to see how the UVSC-Montana game plays out. Arizona's loss to Chapman last night may not help UVSC poll-wise, though that is only my opinion. The pollsters may think otherwise. In any event, I think the first three teams are in the right place, with all three good enough for the #1 spot. Let's see how this plays out in the next month.

Andy, I doubt if it was ended in the first quarter. This matchup never ends in the first quarter. The fight like cats and dogs all the way through with each team taking their fair share of flesh. We'll know more after the teams do their writeups on the game. They're both going to be busy with the Final Four event today, so check the stats page after the weekend.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Tomorrow's game between Montana and PLU should also shed a little light, being that San Diego and Claremont both beat PLU by 12. . .

The history is interesting here. . .PLU at home and on the road are two completely different animals. PLU practices and plays in a mud pit, which dramatically impacts the game. . .and as a result over the years PLU has lost very few games at home. In the last five years at Gonyea field they have beat every PNCLL A division team at least once, and Montana has never won on that field.

It certainly makes the game interesting for Sunday. . .and we'll find out for sure if Montana deserves to be considered one of the elite B division teams this season.

[Andy Sharp]

Since we have little else to base ourselves lately, I'll report that we just finished a scrimmage (you can safely assume that I didn't tell my guys it wasn't a game, but I can't speak for WMU, it was basically a regular game with only one ref on a below average field during a beautiful day) against CCLA-A Western Michigan.

Calvin performed well established a 10-4 lead in the second half and finished with a 10-7 win. It felt like a great game for us, good to get outside finally.

Sorry we don't have more to promote ourselves with, no Div B games til April now.

[Matt_Gardiner]

I think pollsters need to watch Dayton. They are new to the league (previously in the NCLL) and not much is known about them, but they have played both Purdue and Oakland to respectable losses, while defeating Taylor 9-2. They are lead by a good coach and I believe they will play their way into the top 25 (if not 15) before season's end.

They have not earned their way into the top 25 yet, but I just wanted to throw their name out there for consideration.

Does anyone else have any input on any unknown teams that could be top 25 teams before years end?

[Adam G]

If Wisconsin-Eau Claire plays to their ability against UST, and continues their early season success to the culiminating game vs SJU, I think they'll crack top 25. B-poll has them 5 slots out of the 25 right now, with 2 division games vs. top 10 teams. Although I may be a bit biased

[usdlax8]

honestly, i think i am most interested in how the season for calvin pans out. they had a good showing last season and this talk about montana is very surprising considering the much better showing by calvin last year in the national tourney. a good recruiting class isn't everything (hence usd's loss to st. johns), calvin did well last year and seems to really have an underrated team. as for montana, we played them last year and they must have improved a lot to be in the top 5. uvsc, calvin, claremont, usd, and st. johns compose a powerful top five and i don't think montana could even crack one of those teams, at least consistently. either way all of this talk makes it tough on pollsters, the national tourney is really where everything is at stake. all i have to say is go ucsd, what a game!

[Kyle Berggren]

Well, the Montana talk is all from me... Everyone else seems to share you're point of view, so we'll see if Montana can make the tourney & change your mind.