~Eagles Embarrassed~
A much hyped UConn-BC matchup this past weekend did not live up to expectations...in the best way possible. The Huskies jumped out to a 6-2 lead at halftime and never looked back, handing the #12 Eagles an 11-5 loss. As stated in a previous email this is UConn's first victory over BC in ten attempts since the Eagles joined the MCLA in 2004.
Box Score: http://mcla.us/scores/games/11598/
~URI Defeated~
UConn went down to Kingston, RI yesterday afternoon to face off against a scrappy URI team. On what has to be one of the worst fields in the league the Huskies kept URI at arms length despite the Rams unwillingness to go down easy. At the end of regulation UConn pulled out a 10-9 victory over URI.
Box Score: http://mcla.us/scores/games/11599/
~Moving up the Polls~
With these two wins the 9-1 Huskies continue to move up the polls, and have reached #14 in the nation in the MCLA top 25. http://mcla.us/polls/ and #7 on Laxpower http://www.laxpower.com/update12/binmen/rating05.php A Top 10 ranking in both polls is a legitimate possibility depending on how the next 10 days go.
~Who's Next?~
Two teams remain on the UConn schedule; #8 Buffalo is the big one this Sunday (1pm Depot Field - Sherman Field rain site. We will have score updates on twitter) and the following weekend vs. last place Boston University at Nickerson Field. I'm sure many of you older guys are saying 'Buffalo is in the PCLL'? Buffalo used to be in the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association which housed a pre-varsity Michigan program, who won the conference every year and something like 5 MCLA national championships. Buffalo got sick of being Michigan's annual conference tournament punching bag and decided that a change in conference to the PCLL, despite their relative geographic isolation to its members, was an easier path to nationals. Ironically, shortly after Buffalo's move to the PCLL, Michigan moved up to Division I and now the CCLA is a relatively weak conference, but regardless Buffalo is now in the PCLL and we have to deal with them.
A win this weekend over the Bison would be significant in many ways. Assuming UConn beats BU (tough to assume, every game is a battle...see URI) they would secure the top seed in the conference tournament which I believe would then be held in Storrs. A win over Buffalo could also mean a trip to nationals regardless of how UConn performs in the PCLL tournament. Even if UConn was upset in the conference semifinals, three wins over nationally ranked opponents would be hard for the selection committee to ignore, and would put them in good position for an at-large bid. In many ways the playoffs start this Sunday vs. Buffalo, a loss is not season ending by any means, but a win takes this program to new heights previously unimaginable.
