2005 CCLA Division A Preseason Poll

by **Sonny** on Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:00 pm

A Division:
1. Oakland University (6)
2. University of Michigan (5)
3. Miami University of Ohio (1)
4. Michigan State University
5. University of Pittsburgh
6. Western Michigan University
7. Indiana University
8. West Virginia University
9. Purdue University
10. University of Buffalo
11. Central Michigan University
12. Eastern Michigan University

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by **the lax** on Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:36 pm

Does Miami really deserve a No. 1 vote?

by **UVAlax15** on Sat Jan 22, 2005 3:04 pm

Good question . . . why would they deserve a vote? Are there other teams in the CCLA that are better than them? Or is the CCLA going to come down to just Michigan and Oakland? Who else might be in the running for the CCLA championship?

by **onpoint** on Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:21 pm

Sorry, UVA, I've already claimed the stalking tiger icon. You can see my first post at 9:33 am. Take it to the bank. :twisted:

by **defense_wins_championship** on Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:14 am

To answer your question the_lax, yes Miami definitly deserves a first place vote. After Michigan was beaten in overtime by Oakland last year in the CCLA semifinals in overtime, the championship was also decided in overtime by Oakland edging out Miami. Miami is a great team, they will be very tough again this year, with strong coaching. Michigan, Oakland and Miami are definitely the top three but I wouldn't rule out a few other CCLA teams. According to Oaklands team site Coach Hicks says this years team is probably the most talented he's had and having seen them play already this year I would watch out. I would look for Oakland to make some big noise this year.

by **Bentiss** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:13 am

NO MIAMI DOES NOT DESERVE A #1 VOTE...

#2 at best. I am not saying that they are not good, but only Oakland(reigning champs) and Michigan deserve a #1 vote.

I wish Miami luck...

by **comatose** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:42 am

I'd love to see Miami do well this year, there are a lot of central ohio talents that head out to that school and it gives kids that weren't the all-stars of their team or came from schools that aren't perenial talents a time to shine. It'd really help put their program on the map if they made it to the Conference Finals this year.

I think Oakland has an impressive setup this year and won't disappoint, Michigan will again be strong, but with a program like theirs you expect that every year. I think those two will end up being the top two like the poll reads now, Miami is a little further away from garnering that kind of National attention yet.

by **the lax** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:24 pm

Comatose,

Is this the year Michigan saddles up and makes it past the quarterfinals?

by **UVAlax15** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:43 pm

Comatose,

Your statement said Miami will gain national recognition if they make it to the conference finals. They did that last year, in their first year in the USLIA/CCLA.

by **comatose** on Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:33 pm

Yes they did make it to the finals this past year, but if they can pull a second trip is the question. Last year Michigan bowed out to Oakland after whooping Miami 13-4 in the regular season, Oakland barely got away with a 9-8 win in the finals I believe. (In hindsight did Oakland really struggle with Miami or were they just beat after their game with Michigan?)

Oakland is playing a pretty competitive schedule (scrimmaging Notre Dame, and 1st game is against St. Vincent a division 2 team), whereas Michigan continues their tradition of scheduling to face tough out of conference teams (they also play St. Vincent).

I don't really know what to expect of Michigan though, if they face Colorado State again in the quaterfinals I think they might be able give them a real game. Colorado lost a lot to graduation (even though they bring back a lot of talent at Defense, they lose a decent amount at attack, LSM and Midfield in general). Oakland sounds like a tough team this year and might win the conference finals again, we'll see though.

I think Miami has a lot more ability this year, and though they did make the conference finals last year, making a consecutive trip, though it looks unlikely, would really gain them some respect (if not in the community at least in the polls). Again, last year they lost to Michigan 13-4 and then only lost to Oakland 9-8, some may squander their appearance in the finals, but the fact remains that they still made it that far.

If Miami can make another go of it, and reach the finals, then why not give them a few more number one rankings next year, cause sooner or later they might win the darn thing.