MCLA-A Top 25 Results: March 12-18th

[Zamboni_Driver]

Below are the results from this past week. NOTES: Wins over ranked oppenents are frozen at the time of the poll. Several Top 25 match-ups occured this week prior to the release of the poll, so keep that in mind for the rankings. Also, the schedule of any new team joining the Top 25 is included and denoted by [] so you can see how they got there.

If there are any mistakes please post it for everyone.

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Rank...Team..................Results............................Record.....Top 25 W/L

1........Oregon...............W Boise State 19-5 ...............10-0.....3/0

2........BYU....................W #5 Minnesota-Duluth 9-8.....8-2.....6/1
....................................W Illinois 14-5

3........Michigan..............W Western Michigan 17-5.......5-0.....1/0

4........Colorado State.....W #12 Utah 11-4..................6-2.....4/2
....................................W #8 Minnesota-Duluth 7-6

5........Minnesota-Duluth..L #5 Colorado State 6-7..........2-3.....2/3
....................................L #2 BYU 8-9
....................................L #14 Utah 9-10

6........Sonoma State......W SDSU 13-4.........................4-3.....0/3
....................................W UCSD 9-4

7........Colorado...............Idle......................................4-1.....2/0

8........Florida State.........W Buffalo 10-4.......................12-3.....4/1
.....................................L Bentley (D2) 6-11

9........Northeastern..........CANCELLED-Maine.................5-0.....1/0

10......UC Santa Barbara..W #21 LMU 18-7....................9-2.....3/2
.....................................W Boston College 8-5

11.......Arizona.................W #17 Texas A&M 16-11........8-2.....5/2

12.......Cal Poly SLO..........W Santa Clara 10-9...............8-3.....2/2
.......................................L California 7-8(OT)

13.......Arizona State.........W #17 Texas A&M 17-11........5-1.....3/1

14.......Utah......................L #5 Colorado State 4-11.......2-3.....2/3
.......................................W #5 Minnesota-Duluth 10-9
15.......Lindenwood..........CANCELLED-Kansas State.........6-3.....1/3

16.......Florida..................Idle........................................6-1.....2/1

17.......Texas A&M...........[W Texas State 12-10] .............5-2.....1/2
.....................................[W Texas Tech 18-11]
.....................................[W Baylor 15-4]
.....................................[W #2 Colorado 7-5]
.....................................[W Missouri 15-9]
.....................................L #11 Arizona 11-16
.....................................L #13 Arizona State 11-17

18.......Chapman.............W UCLA 11-3 ...........................6-3.....1/3

19.......Virginia Tech........W #23 Georgia Tech 8-7(OT).....6-1.....1/1
.....................................W Buffalo 10-9(OT)

20.......Michigan State......Idle.........................................2-1.....0/1

21.......Loyola Marymount..L #10 UCSB 7-18....................6-3.....1/3

22.......Georgia...............Idle..........................................5-2.....0/2

23.......Georgia Tech........L #19 Virginia Tech 7-8(OT).......5-3.....1/2

24.......Texas..................W SDSU 9-7..............................7-3.....0/2
.....................................W UCSD 8-7

25.......Simon Fraiser......[W Oregon State 15-10]..............7-1.....0/1
....................................[L #8 Oregan 18-9]
...................................[W Idaho 29-2]
...................................[W Gonzaga 18-8]
...................................[W Boise State 22-7]
...................................W Montana 21-13
...................................W Rhode Island 14-6
...................................W Texas Tech 23-11

[Zamboni_Driver]

I would like for this thread to go beyond an update area. I would like it to be an area where analytical critiques of Top 25 match-ups are posted. Again, not an area where we debate wins/losses in terms of ranking, or how many games were played in a weekend, but discussion the keys to the game and the strengths/deficiencies of the top teams. I suggest that we keep this to games where two Top 25 teams met.

I'll go first with the only top 25 match-up I saw. I know many tuned into this game, so I'd love to hear more opinions, but in case you missed it -

#2 BYU - #5 MINNESOTA-DULUTH: 9-8

- Both teams are big, strong, and fast. Each has great ball control with few un-forced turnovers

- BYU's 2-2-2 is constantly moving and creates confusion on the defense, or atleast extends slides. Ball movement is impressive and guys see the next push, requiring defenses to see 3rd slide. #4 is a true iso threat with great finishing skills, however, I think the rest of the offense is looking to draw and dump. UMD slide was too early in my opinion on many of them, playing into BYU's offense, and thus giving too many open shots.

- UMD ran several offenses. I liked the variety, and early in the game it looked like they were bringing back the goalie screen. Their 1-3-2 (from the top) looked good at getting BYU to slide and rotate, which gave some open looks because BYU's D is so aggressive at pushing out. The have some big guys who can dodge, however, they also have a few role players out there who just keep the ball moving. Defenses that force them to handle to ball in stressful situations may cause them to give up more turn-overs

- Overall, the key to the game was BYU's ride. On screen I couldn't quite tell if it was a 10-man or just great hustle at the midline, but UMD's long poles faced pressure without any outlets all game long. UMD did a great job adjusting in the 2nd by bringing a short stick down and using more motion up top, however, BYU's ride must have caused several turn-overs increasing their time of possession, and thus giving them more opportunities.

[ME]

So any predictions on what the new poll coming out in a week might look like?
With Cal Poly losing to unranked Cal
UMD going 0-3 on its Utah trip.... Including a loss to Utah who is ranked #14. What happens to both those teams in the ranking now??

[bullhighutewoozgriffclam]

utah moves up poly goes down right? utah goes to 12 11 or 10. poly drops dramatically, 16+. the last few years it's been those two teams on the bubble. i'd like to see two other teams go at it. or i'd like to see them both get a secure at large. their conferences are difficult and they both deserve it over the aq's of lesser conferences. utah still has their chance to rise as they still play cu, oregon, chapman, and byu. they have one of the toughest schedules again this year. much respect to utah for the difficult schedule.

[bullhighutewoozgriffclam]

byu likes the 10 man. not sure if they ran it against umd, but i wouldn't be surprised.

[Johnnielax13]

I would have to think that UMD will drop a few positions. It is tough to lose three games in a row (even if it was by one goal each time) and not slip. I imagine they will end up in the 9-11 range. They shouldn't drop much futher then that considering they had a GREAT showing against all three of their opponensts, during one of the most challenging road trips of any team this season.

[CATLAX MAN]

It is tough to lose three games in a row (even if it was by one goal each time) and not slip.

Well, that depends...... but that was exactly the point I tried to make before.

[Champ]

I would have to think that UMD will drop a few positions. It is tough to lose three games in a row (even if it was by one goal each time) and not slip. I imagine they will end up in the 9-11 range. They shouldn't drop much futher then that considering they had a GREAT showing against all three of their opponensts, during one of the most challenging road trips of any team this season.

Why would UMD slip more than 1-2 spots? Who would go in front of them?

Sonoma? 9-4 win over an unranked team. UMD beat Lindenwood and Cal Poly by that margin or more against top 15 teams.
Colorado? no games played, hard to move them around
FSU? again, 10-4 win over an unranked
Northeastern? No games played hard to move
UCSB? Nice win over LMU but close one vs. unranked BC (8-5)
Arizona? Nice win over A&M
Cal Poly? UMD beat these guys and they are a top WCLL team.
etc.

Keep in mind UMD played at elevation and from what I hear the game temp was ~80 degrees against Utah which led to an almost trip to the emergency room for their starting goalie late in the 3rd for heat stroke/exhaustion. It is hard as an athlete to adjust to altitude at the end of two grueling games then try a third with the temp being 50 degrees warmer than you are acclimated to. Utah scored 6-7 Man up goals (I think), and missed opportunities in the last 30 seconds to tie the game against CSU and BYU (one of which was a goal that got overturned against CSU). BYU and Utah were also home teams.

UMD is legit.

[sohotrightnow]

I think you left out a few excuses for why they lost all 3 games.

[Ravaging Beast]

I could easily see UMD slipping more than two spots. Three losses in a row is three losses and has to be treated that way regardless of the score. I can see any of the top ten teams being ranked ahead of UMD (Sonoma, FSU, CU, Northeastern, UCSB, etc). Three close losses spread out over the entire season might have been a different story, but they chose to play those three games, and they have to face the consequences.

[scooter]

I could easily see UMD slipping more than two spots. Three losses in a row is three losses and has to be treated that way regardless of the score.

i absolutely disagree...3 losses by 3 goals, one of which to the number 2 team in the country doesnt warrant a 5 spot drop...there are very few teams, if any, who deserve to be ranked higher than them

[Ravaging Beast]

I could easily see UMD slipping more than two spots. Three losses in a row is three losses and has to be treated that way regardless of the score.

i absolutely disagree...3 losses by 3 goals, one of which to the number 2 team in the country doesnt warrant a 5 spot drop...there are very few teams, if any, who deserve to be ranked higher than them

I could name six who could be ranked higher. Don't forget that one of the losses was to the #14 team.

[ME]

First off champ almost made every excuse in the book for UMD losing. You did mention that UMD played in the heat but you forgot to mention Utah played in the same game same heat.... UMD, I agree, is legit, but they also lost to a team that is ranked nine spots behind them. Which leads to the real question for voters to decide: Is Utah more legit than we thought and worth a top 10 spot and/or is UMD's 3 close loses to tthose teams worth dropping them 3-4 spots??

[Champ]

I could easily see UMD slipping more than two spots. Three losses in a row is three losses and has to be treated that way regardless of the score. I can see any of the top ten teams being ranked ahead of UMD (Sonoma, FSU, CU, Northeastern, UCSB, etc). Three close losses spread out over the entire season might have been a different story, but they chose to play those three games, and they have to face the consequences.

The only teams I can see moving up are Northeastern and Sonoma. UCSB lost 15-4 to BYU I don't think that justifies moving them above Duluth. CU played no games this week and lost to #17, how could you put them up there? Like I said excuses or no there still isn't a list of more than 2 teams that would be in front of Duluth anyways. I think you guys also underestimate the climate and elevation changes. Much more difficult playing in heat when your body is acclimated to mid 20's vs. mid 40's.

[Champ]

And something about this situation seemed fishy to me, and I checked into it and from what I gathered this scenario happened last year to Sonoma (please correct me if I am wrong, I may be).

Last year, Sonoma lost to Utah and BYU the 17th and 19th of April.

10-9 to Utah
excerpt from the poll that week:
"Sonoma State (687 points) fell one spot to the third position. The Seawolves lost Monday evening to No. 12 Utah. The one-goal loss to the Utes was only Sonoma's second loss of the season. Sonoma will battle fourth ranked BYU on Wednesday afternoon in Provo, Utah. "

13-7 to BYU

The following weeks poll:
"BYU (611 points) owns the 5th position in the poll. The Cougars (10 - 7) beat No. 2 Sonoma and No. 13 Utah to conclude the regular season before falling to No. 3 Colorado in the RMLC Conference Championships."

Sonoma loses a game to a #12 and moves to #3, loses to #5 and moves up to #2.

Maybe Utah just has some upset power people don't take into consideration.