PCLL Rivals Represent Well

[NUlaxN17]

PCLL Rivals Represent Well, One Comes out on Top, Two in Nationals?

This weekend will mean different things to different teams around the country. However, it will also mean different things to two teams within four miles of each other, Boston College and Northeastern University. The first will be finalizing plans for their trip to Dallas, the latter will be waiting to get the MCLA final poll results so they can make arrangements to leave. But do both deserve to go?

After losing to Boston College in the final three seconds of the Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League Championship game, the Northeastern University Men's Lacrosse team finishes their conference and non-conference play with a record of 16-2. With the one goal win, the automatic bid for the PCLL goes to the 15-1 Boston College Eagles, making it a sweep of one goal wins against the Huskies this season. Though their competition came to a heated close Sunday, both made strides for the PCLL this year when they did well in their spring trips to the west coast in early March.

Following last year's tournament the Huskies hoped to face some stiffer competition in their non-conference play. So they scheduled Arizona, a 2006 final four team, UCSD, who finished at #7 in 2006, and University of San Diego, back to back 2005 and 2006 National B champions who also beat UCSD in 2006. After the WCLL competition was underway this season, however, the Huskies understood that the competition would not be as great as expected. The Huskies did not let this effect them negatively as they came away with four victories on the trip, including a convincing 10-4 win over current #8 in the MCLA and WCLL finalist, Arizona.

Boston College traveled west a week after the Huskies did. There, the Eagles defeated current #25 Claremont very convincingly with a score of 14-7, while also defeating USC 15-4. The Eagles then played perennial powerhouse and the 2007 WCLL champion, UCSB, close. With those three games, and after having only little time to get prepared outside back in the Northeast before their efforts, the Eagles showed early in the season why they should be a considered a dangerous threat in the tournament this year.

However, this brings up the following issue. Boston College is in, Northeastern University is...? Well before an answer to this question can be reached, what exactly does the Husky resume look like?

The Huskies' problems this year came at the hands of the Boston College's defense, coordinated by BC head coach and MLL goalie Mike Levin. The Eagles defense held its opponents to an MCLA second best goals against average this season. For two straight games the BC Eagles held Northeastern below 10 goals, marking the only times that happened all season. The result, was two one goal losses, both decided by plays within the last minute of games. In the April 12 loss, a missed shot with 4 seconds left by Husky captain, Chris Cook, helped clinch the 7-6 win for the Eagles, while the PCLL final had Eagles midfielder Matt Johnson scoring with 3 seconds left to break a 5-5 tie.

Now, the Huskies await the CCLA and RMLC conference play to conclude before they know if the season ends for seniors: Jason Aloma, Chris Cook, Kevin Crowder, Joe Lang, Foster Malcolm, Will Miller, Craig Sini and Rylan Summit. This group of players have been largely responsible for the Northeastern Huskies rise to MCLA notability throughout their career. In their four year career the Huskies have gone 57-15, 48-9 in the last three seasons. This group of seniors have also led the Huskies to a 3-3 record in National Tournament play in the last two years, with wins over Arizona, Virgina Tech and Texas, the respective 12, 8 and 16 seeds of those tournaments; while losses have come to Michigan, Sonoma State and UCSD, the respective 4, 2 and 7 seeds of those tournaments. This year's team is considered to be their best yet.

Despite these successes, the Huskies have not guaranteed their place in the 2007 tournament, due to not earning the automatic bid from the PCLL. Senior defensive captain Joe Lang said, "It is really a shame we no longer control our own destiny. We can only hope now that these two one goal losses do not prevent us from playing in the tournament. We feel very capable of giving anyone in the country big match up problems." With the possibility that the Huskies could go to the tournament, 2007 could represent the first time that two PCLL tournament teams make the tournament.

Goalie and Captain, Craig Sini, understands that their schedule might not be the most impressive, but is also quick to point out that, "no body wants to come to the Northeast and play during their spring break. Why would they? I think we played one game with the weather over 60 degrees, and most of our games are under 40 degrees. It felt like it was snowing or raining every time we played this year." Still, this year the Huskies have proven they have the ability to beat top 10 teams (Arizona). Yet, the Northeastern Huskies, with the MCLA's third ranked defense (in terms of GAA), and second only to Oregon in total goals scored, await the pollsters and conference tournament competition to determine whether or not they get into the tournament. The seniors can only hope that the chips fall in the right places and the Huskies get an opportunity to take another step forward for their program and school. They feel ready, able and deserving; and their bags are packed.