Goal Differential

by **Shawn Carman** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:59 pm

Does anyone know exactly how goal differential works during playoffs??? I am curious, so if anyone knows how goal differential works, fill me in.

Thanks...

Shawn #18

**Sponsor**

by **The Hammer** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:16 pm

From what I understand the max is 10 goals per game, and it's the last issue used to determine the seeds.

by **Shawn Carman** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:39 pm

I am curious in the Div A playoffs, because there is a possibility of a tie between Gonzaga, SFU and BSU and I know that Washington also has something to do with how the top 4 teams are seeded. So if someone could clear that whole situation up for me, it would help a lot.

Shawn #18

by **Dan Wishengrad** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:10 pm

Lax4LifeGoalie wrote:I am curious in the Div A playoffs, because there is a possibility of a tie between Gonzaga, SFU and BSU and I know that Washington also has something to do with how the top 4 teams are seeded. So if someone could clear that whole situation up for me, it would help a lot.

Shawn #18

First of all, there is NO possibility of a tie between GU, SFU and BSU. BSU finished conference play at 2-4. SFU and GU are both 2-2, and each has two games remaining including a game against each other. Somebody will have to win that game, and that team will have 3 conference wins and take 3rd place.

But let's suppose UW beats both Gonzaga and Idaho. If SFU also defeats GU, then Boise State, Gonzaga and Washington would each finish conference play at 2-4 -- a three-way tie for 4th place. Head-to-head is the first tie-breaker, but in this scenario it would decide nothing -- BSU beat UW, GU beat BSU, UW beat GU, all finish at 1-1 in games among the three tied teams. Goal Differential would be the next tie-breaker. Let's assume, for the sake of this discussion, that UW beats Gonzaga by 2 goals, 14-12. Goal differential ranks the teams this way:

1. UW (lost to BSU by 1; beat GU by 2) = +1 goal differential
2. BSU (Lost to GU by 1; beat UW by 1) = 0 goal differential
3. GU (lost to UW by 2; beat BSU by 1) = -1 goal differential

However, if UW beats GU by 1 goal also, say 14-13, all three teams would be at 0 for goal differential. The next tie-breaker would fewest goals allowed in these three games:

1. BSU (allowed 7 goals to UW, 11 goals to GU) = 18
2. UW (allowed 8 goals to BSU, 13 goals to GU) = 21
3. GU ((allowed 10 goals to BSU, allowed 14 goals to UW) = 24

There could be a three-way tie at 2-4 between SFU, BSU and Idaho (if Idaho beats UW and SFU and SFU loses to GU). There could also be a 3 way tie-breaker between BSU, UW and SFU (if both GU and Idaho both beat UW and SFU).

by **Laxfan23** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:23 pm

I was under the impression that BSU was in their probationary year...making this null and void anyways.

by **Dan Wishengrad** on Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:47 pm

Laxfan23 wrote:I was under the impression that BSU was in their probationary year...making this null and void anyways.

No, Boise State would be eligible for the playoffs. The PNCLL changed this rule back at the Fall 2004 meetings. First-year teams would be considered probationary through the regular season. Then, if a team had met all its commitments to the league, the probation would be lifted and it would be eligible for playoffs. Last year, Wetsern Oregon had their first-year probation lifted after the regular season and competed in the post-season.

Besides, Boise State is not a first-year program anyway, but simply changed conferences. The Broncos will be in PNCLL semi-finals should they win a three-way tie-breaker for 4th place.

by **kladis** on Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:22 am

we'll go ahead and see what we can do about simplifying this whole deal for everyone just to prevent all the thinking.

the saying goes: "They who are unaware of their past are destined to repeat it."

However, both GU and UW are well aware of the past games between the two teams, and who knows if it could still be repeated. Since I can remember, the GU-UW game has been a down to the wire game. The difference though is that usually, being at the end of the season, this little rivalry rarely held playoff implications since they were solidified prior to the contest which led to teams resting players and things of the sort- so each game wasn't held with as much pride in the "W". HOWEVER, this year, its worth enough to make up for the past few!!!

For UW to go through what they did with the coaching deal and getting basically a new team and fighting through a tough schedule, playoffs would be an impressive feat for a young squad and new coach. For GU, after a solid and rapidly improving start, dealing with injuries and some really tough losses through the middle stretch, to get their wind at the end of the season and win 3 (possible 4) league games in a row would be tramendous from a young team. Its young squad vs. young squad for lots-who can grow up the quickest?

I'm real excited for a great game- can you tell?

by **Shawn Carman** on Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:21 pm

Thanks...now things have been cleard up for me...and maybe for some other individuals as well.

So now it is just a matter of waiting to see what happens...

Shawn #18

by **ZagGrad** on Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:23 pm

I've been waiting for that play-off picture post for a while now...thanks Wish.

GU-UW has been a pretty good rivalry...