Top 25 D2 Results for Poll #3

[Brew26]

Hey scooter,
"As for the WCLL, Fort Lewis is obviously the team to beat, but they really don't seemed to be challenged by anyone in their conference."

I think you might have made a little mistake but Fort Lewis is in the RMLC.

[wapiti]

While it is still early I think the polls are relatively accurate. We've not seen any significant upsets to change the polls significanlty. Notwithstanding the comments on the PNCLL, the OOC history does not appear to be there - and with the departure of Montana I would think we are looking at the conference champion going to Dallas.
The RMLC, historically strong, bears some watching. You've got #1 Westminster, a resurgent UVSC team, and Fort Lewis all battling for supremecy in the their west divsion ( with a much improve NAU squad ) and UNC, Montana State, and much improved Colorado Mines/newcomer Metro State in the east divison. Should be a dogfight, as only the top 4 make their conference tourney this year I think.
I also think the historically strong UMLL is ranked deservedly, as well as Emory out of the SELC. Charlotte has made a strong showing and I'd move thiem up. I think they've been under-rated - even last year.

[BucLax13]

Any comments on Southwestern? They seem to have no troubles against LSA II. Any OOC games in the future that can help pull the thread on this team?

they are playing NCAA Div. 3 Hendrix (a team that beat Harding by two to open the season), #12 Harding and Div. 1 Texas State in the coming weeks... they scheduled with three Div. 1 opponents and Westminster up until this point... I don't think they can brag about losing to west. but I am willing to say 3-2 at half and name another division 2 team that has held west. to single digit scoring?

I think they have finally put together a schedule that gets them competitive nationals and I know for a fact they are tired of playing consolation games... they are in a weak conference but at least they are scheduling some strong competion... now if I could just get them to win more... Bill

[Buc_em_up]

Although, one thing I'm having trouble understanding is the placement of Southwestern again this year. They are 4-4, which is fine, but the teams they've beaten have a combined record of 5-17. They've never showed particularly well in Dallas, yet they're banging on the top 10? I'm confused. he LSA isn't the RMLC, it's not like these teams are beating up on each other and ending up 4-4 on the year. Sorry to pick on SouthWestern, but it's how I see it.

Of course I am biased here so I wont deny it but I am wondering how showing well in Dallas in years past has any bearing on the polls this year? Also SU played #1 Westminster well for a 9-5 loss. While being down on 3-2 at half as BucLax13 mentioned.
If you want to bring in Last year's games in Dallas, SU was at one point in the lead in all games( UNC, Ft. Lewis, & WWU) and only lost in the last few moments of both the Ft. Lewis and WWU games. Maybe that is not showing PARTICULARLY well but it is a good enough showing considering the team's leading scorer couldnt make it to Dallas.

[Kyle Berggren]

If you want to bring in Last year's games in Dallas, SU was at one point in the lead in all games( UNC, Ft. Lewis, & WWU) and only lost in the last few moments of both the Ft. Lewis and WWU games. Maybe that is not showing PARTICULARLY well but it is a good enough showing considering the team's leading scorer couldnt make it to Dallas.

I'm not going to argue with you about consolation games in Dallas last year. I watched the WWU game in question, everyone played different positions... Attack @ D, etc. Playing Westminster that tightly is much more impressive, I just don't see much to hold Southwestern at that sort of rank. They haven't even beaten a team with a winning record, as a matter of fact, they've lost to multiple teams with losing records (although they are d1 teams).

[Hi-Line Lax]

I'd have to agree with Kyle... consolation games in Dallas mean very little and Southwestern has no impressive wins this year. We had lots of conference games that were tougher than our '06 game with Southwestern and they have been overrated for years. I think the game with Westminster in interesting, but not necessarily impressive... the games that are early in February usually have little to do with how teams end their seasons. Also it was Southwestern's 6th game and Westminster's 2nd. I wouldn't take a ton of stock in it... plus it's a loss anyway.

I'm too lazy to look it up, but has Southwestern ever beaten a Top 15 team?

[Dan Wishengrad]

I'm too lazy to...

...post '08 game reports? Or is "coming soon" all we should ever expect from the Griz?

Just kidding, Kev, I couldn't resist.

[Hi-Line Lax]

I guess I should have said "see www.grizlax.com", but it was too many letters... I'm so lazy... but that's why I hired Will, nice write up on the weekend Moss!

[BucLax13]

hi-line what???.. that was team that up put 11 on simon f. and played them to one goal? SU played a hard fought game... yah it a loss but at least they showing they can hang with some competition... still name a div 2 team that has held west. to single digit goals?

please don't start debating consolation games people... doesn't manner at this point

I'm too lazy to look it up, but has Southwestern ever beaten a Top 15 team?

it is hard to beat a top 15 when they fall out of the polls because of your win... Augustana, CMU, SLU all come too mind... but you are right they have never faired well against 1-7 competition... but most teams don't fair well against 1-7 competition

yah losses are losses but you have to play competition... SU has an aggressive schedule... I think the up coming games will really show how good they are

SU has never faired well at nationals... (i.e. smoked by SDU, Montana)... they had a moderate game with UNC last year... there is a reason that they are seeded 11th and 12th each year BECAUSE THEY WERE 17TH IN THE POLLS-> how is that over ranked years hi-line... 11th and 12th seeds are not supposed to beat number 4's & 5's but they they got in on AQ... hey were 5-4 in third quarter with UNC... they weren't even supposed to be there (UVSC reported, Montana State dropped early in their tourney to unranked NAU and lost some poll ranking, and then Calvin lost in their tourney and said we can't win/don't want to spend the money why go?)...

in retrospect the better team might have been UNC Char. but no one had any clue about how great Emory and the rest of the SELC was... that has been corrected in this years poll...

hey I am sorry that you had to waste your time beating up such horrible competition but how many teams actually beat SDU and Montana @ nationals... always over ranked... come on... SU, is not the most talented team nation, but has model program running at a school of less than 1300... I very proud of them representing their conference in OOC and Nationals... please don't knock SU because SU didn't place itself at 11... don't talk about where you were standing during different consolation games at nationals... schedule some OOC games if you want to get noted... don't worry there is plenty of time for the Pncll to leap frog the terrible SU lax team

kyle it is hard to rank a conference that only plays itself but SU did play the number one team in the nation... that is discrepancy you see

[Hi-Line Lax]

I could have seen that rant coming... and I still say you've been overrated for years.

I never said that you were an awful team, just that there are a lot of teams that are better.

[BucLax13]

so why haven't the pollsters found these better teams?

[sucoach23]

Daniel,

While I greatly appreciate your intensity even after you have left us as an alum, this is a no win situation.

I am very comfortable with our team, where we are and what we have accomplished, and if we are lucky enough to make it to nationals can hopefully represent the LSA and Division 2 quite admirably this year.

All will play out in time.

Bill Bowman
Coach
Southwestern Lacrosse
LSA D2 President

[Hi-Line Lax]

probably because the majority of them haven't seen very many teams... it happens, the league is young and not a lot of teams travel much.

What I think about Southwestern's ranking is just my opinion too. I also really appreciate the fact that they have shown up to represent their conference in the past, I know it's not easy.

[Zeuslax]

it is hard to beat a top 15 when they fall out of the polls because of your win... Augustana, CMU, SLU all come too mind...

I usually try to stay our of conversations like this, but just to clarify. Carnegie Mellon and Augustana did not fall out of the polls. Looks like Augustana has this season, but that hasn't been the historic record.

so why haven't the pollsters found these better teams?

Because they don't travel or play early and or often enough.

[Kyle Berggren]

To end the pick on SouthWestern thread:

It wasn't my intention to start a battle about how terrible any team is. As a matter of fact when I spoke with other voters & friends after National last year I compared them to a PLU team from years ago (my old team). They were much improved from the following year. Had some athelticism at every position, a work horse face-off man, 2 way middies. Each conference gets an AQ, if you dominate the LSA, that's your's & I'm all for it. Each conference needs representation, assuming they're not being punished. If you're ranked, great, take your ranking & run with it.

I'm just stating that every game I've seen Southwestern play in over the last 2 years (4 games), leads me to be confused as to their ranking. As a voter last year, I had them hovering between 12-15, but came back from Dallas thinking it was a bit too high. I'm assuming you've improved by leaps & bounds again this year because of the strides you previously made, but I don't believe an eleven ranking is justified.

I'm sorry you took the post so personally, but if I was ranked in the top 10, I'd be expecting people to say who'd they beat? If I hadn't beat a team with a winning record yet, I'd be ready for some skepticism as well. Hang my posts in the bus, read them at practice, use them as ammo to work harder at practice. I know you're a work horse team, I'm not questioning your effort, I am questioning your placement. For now, I'm going to go back to planning a practice against yet another terrible PNCLL team. If we're lucky enough to make it out of the PNCLL tournament, maybe we'll have a shot at playing you in Dallas. Good luck in the rest of your season.