M Lax Wins
Just returned from the Michigan-Msu lacrosse game to determine who advances to the club nationals in Denver at the end of the month. Slowed down at the end of the game and let Sparty back in it, but held on to a 11-10 victory. Here's hoping we take nationals again while preparing for D-I!
How about a NC for LAX.
So I just saw them coming off and then spilling into the Sparty bench, didn't see what started it all, the tent obstructed my view.
I will say there was a huge drop off when Stone came out of the game, rough second half for Fowler. Either way, glad to be advancing.
I got a little clarification from another fan in the stands. It sounds like the stick from the State player was pretty non-confrontational (i.e. the little chippy things you do in a game that refs won't catch you doing).
It seems, if that's true, that Greiner's reaction - going into State's bench area from the sub box - was pretty inappropriate.
Yeah boys. Nice job. What is that, something like 25-1 against Sparty?
And unless the two teams meet in the national tournament week after next this was State's last chance to steal one.
better question is, how many days has it been since MSU has beaten UM in mens basketball or lacrosse?
State has only beaten UM once in lacrosse since Sparty cut their D1 program in 1997. That was April 29, 2006. So 1,835 days.
For basketball it has been 427 days. (March 7, 2010)
#UMichLacrosse: "Michigan finishes FINAL MCLA regular season with a 103-2 all-time record in CCLA competition." (emphasis added)
I found that pretty interesting as well. That's the first comment through any sort of official channel that D-1 is actually happening this year.
The schedule next year, I think, will probably consist of the natural rivalries of Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Penn State; the geographic rivalry of Detroit-Mercy; a game against Johns Hopkins because JP and Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala are buddies; and a bunch of games against lower-level D1 teams.
I'm hoping to see some Orange on Blue violence next year.
They reportedly will join the ECAC, which means games against Denver (a top-8 team this year), Air Force, Ohio State, Bellarmine, Hobart, Loyola, and Fairfield. However, there's also a report that Penn State and High Point (another new program) would possibly be looking to join the ECAC, which would result in a 10-team, 2-division conference. I would guess that wouldn't be for another year down the road.
Anyway, in addition to the ECAC slate, Detroit, Notre Dame, Hopkins and Penn State (if they're not in the ECAC) would be good bets. On top of those, some of the younger/worse programs, such as Mercer, High Point, and VMI, would be included to soften up an otherwise-tough schedule.
I've read, in what should probably be classified as 110% speculation, that Fairfield and Loyola might look to get back into the MAAC (since they're MAAC schools in everything else) now that the conference has lifted its scholarship limits. Probably not as soon as next year, but maybe eventually. If they were to do that who knows what the shuffling would end up doing, since that would put six actual MAAC schools in the conference.
Curious, why would Penn State try to join the ECAC and leave the CAA? That's a difficult conference but better for one's RPI than the ECAC and PSU is on the cusp of being a real contender there. I could see them leaving if invited to GWLL part deux, but the ECAC wouldn't make any sense to me unless they just really love playing Big Ten teams.
All the reasoning I've seen is the GWLL/Big Ten Bros thing. Reportedly, Tambroni isn't so keen on leaving the CAA though.
I would love to see the Eastern schools get out of the ECAC, or just see a Western-only lacrosse conference (GWLL redux) formed.
Maaaaaaaan, I wish they would just make an official announcement so all my speculative posts will be appropriate.
Any more rumblings Tim? I was getting concerned that they hadn't announced we would go varsity in 2013...it's kind of a pleasant surprise to hear that they're waiting to announce 2012 instead. It be pleasanter if it was official though.
I actually haven't heard anything recently, aside from the semi-cryptic tweet that is the first time an official source has said anything about it on the record.