PNCLL Week #1 (1/30-2/5) -- Predict/Report Scores/Discuss

[Dan Wishengrad]

Good catch by Jason.

Folks, it doesn't matter what it says on pncll.com, or on a team's website, or anywhere else, for that matter. The only info that counts is what is shown on Arbiter. Everybody has been notified to check their schedule and their team contact info on Arbiter.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Saturday, February 2nd
Oregon State at UC Davis 1pm

We have an intriguing start to the 2008 lacrosse season with an interconference matchup of two teams that will likely be battling for a spot in their respective league playoffs in 2008. As a U.C. Davis Alumnus, and a PNCLL homer -- my allegiances are certainly divided as I preview this matchup.

The Aggies had their first game of the 2008 season last week against Steve Dini's defensive-minded Cal Bears, and the Aggies fell in a close one 4-3. Davis took 38 shots in the game (22 on cage) but could only muster 3 unassisted goals. It's certainly difficult to know at this stage in the season whether that was a product of phenomenal goaltending or bad shooting. . .it certainly can't be the offense the Aggies are hoping to bring the rest of the way. With the bad weather, the administration at U.C. Davis is notorious for closing every field in sight, so my guess is that the Aggies didn't get a lot of practice in before their first game, and it showed on the offensive side of the ball. . .I imagine the Ags were quite happy with their defensive play, holding a good Cal team to 4 goals. Sophomore goalie Andy Marell logged 7 solid saves in defeat.

Oregon State is returning a boatload of talent. Anchoring their defense will be All-PNCLL senior keeper Josh Acevedo, who led the PNCLL last year in save percentage. He will have lots of help in All-PNCLL senior defenders Rian Lange and Greg Glascock. Offensively, there are some serious scorers returning for the Beavs - leading the way will likely be senior Jordan Phillips, who averaged 3.17 ppg last season. This will also likely be a breakout year for sophomore Matt McKinney, who earned first-team All-PNCLL honors in his spectacular freshman season. He leads a group of midfielders that is extremely deep and talented - so they should match up well with the small roster U.C. Davis has listed. I'll be shocked if this one is another defensive battle - Oregon State just has too many weapons to get totally shut down. I hope the field conditions are decent down there - watch the Doppler and bring some 2-inch screw-ins just in case. . .

Good luck this weekend Beavs. . .go easy on my Alma Mater. . .

[laxref53]

Thanks Dan for the statement about ARBITER. All teams should be checking it for accurate game info. Game date, time & site location should be checked. The refs don't check any other schedule.

[Dan Wishengrad]

One other note for Week #1, especially since we have many new coaches and player reps:

It is considered proper etiquette to send a game confirmation to the opposing Head Coach and Player Reps (and the Referee) at least 48 hours prior to any game (and more preferably a full week before). Confirm the game time, driving directions, where to park, the presence or absence of facilities like lockers and showers, the type of surface being played on, whether a Field Waiver has been filed and whether it is accepted, whether there will be a trainer or other medical personnel and any other pertinent or relevant info. Keep in touch with the visitors and refs if things like the weather might impact the game or travel adversely, which is certainly relevant this winter of 2008. Ask if your visitors have any special needs (i.e. wheelchair access for a disabled parent who is coming to watch would be an example).

Folks who are new might want to also review the PNCLL Guidelines which discuss game day responsibilities -- game balls, Athletic Trainer, water for visitors, triplicate scoresheet, horns, clocks, cones, etc. etc. etc. String your nets well before teams are due to start warm-ups. Having competent, trained people to run the scorer's table is always a good idea. Take pride in being good hosts to your visitors, even if they are your most heated and bitter rivals. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself the following year when you are on the road to play that rival. I can report from first-hand experience that all the schools have done an excellent job of hosting PNCLL games in the recent past. I hope this tradition continues in 2008.

[Ryan Hanavan]

Just to follow up on something Dan and I have talked about, the Kibbie Dome is not an option for us.

Unfortunately the staff would not entertain any ideas about pulling the basketball court and other tennis/track stuff out and laying the turf back down for the SFU and UW games.

I did spend many hours on a tractor this morning plowing the outdoor field and will continue to work on cleaning it. The weather forecast is bad for the next few days but it looks like next week will be warmer.

So my "meeting with the maintenance staff" was more like them handing me keys to a tractor....

[Dan Wishengrad]

I did spend many hours on a tractor this morning plowing the outdoor field and will continue to work on cleaning it.

Wow, at least you have a tractor! I'm kinda surprised they didn't hand you the reins of a stubborn ol' mule instead.

Seriously, Snoqualmie Pass has been shut down all day due to an avalanche, and if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate by next week we aren't going to be able to get over to Moscow to play you guys anyway. So rather than spending your day with your new boyfriend John Deere, perhaps you could commune with Mother Nature instead and order up a week of warm, dry weather? We're counting on you for this Ryan, don't let us down!

[nlyon02]

well if you guys are able to get over, we get our field plowed by athletics almost every night. I talk to Ryan and am now looking into the possibility of them using our field as well if Idaho is unusable.

[Sonny]

We posted the PNCLL weekly preview article to the main page as a featured article and will be running them weekly for the remainder of the season. Thanks to Dan and to Jason for taking the time to write a quality weekly preview!

[Scrape Mode]

Noah leaving WWU may just be the biggest loss that any D2 team will have this year. It will be interesting to see how much this affects them.

Clay Knope of Oregon, the league's "returning" leading scorer of last season for D1 will NOT be playing this season. Huge lose. Can the younger players fill in for the points lost with Clay..?!

PS. Let us hope Washington doesn't lose to a D2 team this week! That would be bad...

[Dan Wishengrad]

The loss of Clay will definitely hurt, but the Ducks have plenty of weapons in reserve. What about Brett Retallick, Julian? He was very impressive before he got injured last season, and I see he's not on the Oregon roster for '08 either...

PS If we get beat, we get beat. Losing to WWU might be "bad", but they are a legit team and we have a healthy respect for the Vikings. Our last winning season was 2005, a year in which we beat SFU, Cal, OSU and some other good A teams, yet we also had to come from behind to nip PLU of the B-Division by a single goal that season. Every game on our schedule will be a challenge in 2008, we'll have to "show up" to earn any victory.

[Ryan Hanavan]

I did spend many hours on a tractor this morning plowing the outdoor field and will continue to work on cleaning it.

Wow, at least you have a tractor! I'm kinda surprised they didn't hand you the reins of a stubborn ol' mule instead.

Seriously, Snoqualmie Pass has been shut down all day due to an avalanche, and if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate by next week we aren't going to be able to get over to Moscow to play you guys anyway. So rather than spending your day with your new boyfriend John Deere, perhaps you could commune with Mother Nature instead and order up a week of warm, dry weather? We're counting on you for this Ryan, don't let us down!

I actually don't mind being on the tractor. I just wish it went faster than 2mph! We should have facilities no matter what between WSU and UI. I will keep calling the big guy in the sky though to get the weather taken care of.

I'm also calling Al Gore to try and muster up some of that global warming because I'm only one man, with one tractor!

[Mark Brown]

Kevin,
With regards to your Port. St. ? They attended this years League meeting, are playing many PNCLL teams this year, and, it is my understanding, are planning on petitioning to join the PNCLL next year. Everything that I have heard about their club has been positive so far. I'll have first-hand experience as of 2/9 when they come to Ashland.

[Ballin']

why is knope not playing this year? that is a big loss for that team

[Scrape Mode]

why is knope not playing this year? that is a big loss for that team

He missed the seniors who graduated last season too much! Plus a lot of other reasons as well... Why is not as important as the fact that he won't be around to dominate the league along with Senior Josh Shane this season. Josh Shane! = PNCLL 08 Offensive MVP.

Bret Retallick is still out, rehabbing a knee injury.

[woulax23]

Both unofficial, the UW/WWU score more so than the SOU/L&C score: UW over WWU 14-9 and SOU over L&C 15-4