Taking a Look: PNCLL 2015 season preview

(Photo: Simon Fraser Lacrosse)

The Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse Conference houses several of the MCLA’s storied programs, such as Oregon and Simon Fraser, both of whom have served as national runner-ups at varying times in the league’s history. Can the PNCLL return to that greatness in 2015 after an off-year during which it was a one-bid conference?

~WCSN lacrosse editor Trey Lanthier

Looking back at 2014

As a conference that is often overshadowed by west coast titans such as the SLC or WCLL, the PNCLL could be the league’s best-kept secret. The great northwest, where the PNCLL takes residence, plays host to a horde of talented squads, but could injuries decimate a conference favorite and title contender?

2014 in the PNCLL was highlighted by explosive offense assisted by stout defending on the most part. Simon Fraser unsurprisingly stormed to the top, riding an undefeated conference record all the way to the national tournament, where they were bounced by a talented Colorado State squad in the first round. The second-place finisher in the conference was Oregon State in a season which followed up a Beavers’ conference championship in 2013, but their national tournament hopes were ultimately derailed with a devastating loss to rival Oregon in the PNCLL Tournament. On the other end of the spectrum, a young and inexperienced Portland State roster suffered an overall record of 0-12, eventually driving the program into Division 2. Not too far ahead of last were the Washington State Cougars, who had four overall wins, only one of which came in conference play. The beauty of the PNCLL lies in its unexpectedness, and one can only guess as to who will rise to the top this coming season.

Looking ahead to 2015 (2014 results in parentheses)

Simon Fraser University (14-4, 8-0 PNCLL)

With one of the more potent offenses in all of the MCLA, the Clan looks to carry the momentum of last year’s success into this season. Unfortunately, a huge chunk of that offense came from superstar attackman Tyler Kirkby (MCLA-leading 65 goals in 2014), who had offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL.  Head coach Brent Hoskins diagnosed his team’s ability to fill in the gap with confidence.

“I don’t think you can necessarily replace that on your roster,” Hoskins said. “But we have a lot of firepower coming back that are more than capable of picking up and carrying some of that offensive load that Tyler (Kirkby) provided for us last year.”

They do have an impressive roster with enough proficiency to carry the point production, with players such as First Team All-American midfielder Sam Clare. Five of the team’s top 10 point-scorers are returning, which should help keep the offense intact to brace for the loss of Kirkby. After a first-place finish in the PNCLL, Hoskins was disappointed with the early exit from the national tournament, but with the added experience coming into this year, a deep run is more than possible.

Oregon State University (10-5, 7-1 PNCLL)

OSU has always consistently been a top-tier team in the PNCLL, but it’s always struggled to make a national impact. Despite a fantastic season, dropping only one conference game (against Simon Fraser), the Beavers were shocked with a loss the first round of the conference tournament to in-state rival Oregon. With complete stability at the head coaching position, Chad Stelling and the rest of the Beavers squad are a force to be reckoned with. Even conference foes are praising the Beavers, such as Idaho head coach Sammy Seidenberg: “They may be the team to beat.” With a talented team consisting of two returning First Team All-Conference players, Oregon State lacrosse is in prime position to make a solid run towards national recognition.

University of Oregon (8-7, 6-2 PNCLL)

While the Ducks’ football team is thriving in the first-ever NCAA College Football Playoff, Oregon’s lacrosse team is still looking to find its groove and earn the program’s first-ever MCLA title. After a nine-year stretch between 2004 and 2012 during which Oregon took the PNCLL title seven times, the team has not been as dominant over the past two years. A team that boasted a total of over 15 freshman and eligible rookies last year, the Ducks look to take an average 8-7 season, and improve to return to their status as an upper-echelon competitor. Despite the youth of this squad, Oregon did suffer some serious losses, as all four team captains played in their senior year this past season, and only one, Evan Merritt, has eligibility remaining. However, the Ducks consistently perform and exceed expectations, and with added experience throughout the this year, the Ducks have the potential to soar to the top.

University of Montana (6-9, 3-5 PNCLL)

The Grizzlies, despite a sub-par 6-9 record last year, have proven that they are not to be slept on. They undoubtedly can compete with the best, which was displayed as the Grizzlies defeated rival Montana State twice last year, a team who made their way to the national tournament. Despite a few disappointing losses, Montana has the talent to be an extremely improved team. They have some very young talent in Eric Larson and Kit Jeffrey on the attacking side who have proven their natural ability to produce points. On the other end of the spectrum, Cody Dems, my defensemen to watch is returning with another year under his belt. Remember, this was a team that made a national splash at the Division 2 level, with an MCLA D2 national title under its belt from 2007. Montana was able to quietly sneak into the PNCLL playoffs last year, but the Grizzlies will look to make even more noise on the conference front this season.

Boise State University (6-7, 5-3 PNCLL)

The Broncos were edged out of the conference playoffs last season due to an unfortunate rules infraction, and suddenly, excitement turned to deflation for a BSU squad that had a decent season up until it came crashing down in the end. Thus, it became time to revamp, and new head coach John Mundy (after serving as an assistant at Boise in 2014) has taken the reigns and is looking to make a name for himself on the collegiate front in the form of a true playoff push. With one of the more talented short-stick defenders returning in All-American Adam Smith to keep the heat on both the offensive (81 points in his two seasons combined) and defensive (112 career ground balls) side of the ball, the Broncos have potential. The talent is not the question, but the rookie coach at the helm may be faced with pressure early. Boise State had a PNCLL playoff berth ripped from its grasp last year, and the Broncos will try and make the postseason for only the second time in the school’s history in 2015.

University of Idaho (6-7, 3-5 PNCLL)

After what could best be described as a transitional year in 2013, the Idaho Vandals procured their best record in school history, finishing 6-7 overall despite a first-year coach in Sammy Seidenberg. Looking to carry that momentum into the season ahead, the Vandals only lost one out of their top six scorers, which could prove vital in the scoring department. Aside from the offensive depth, Seidenberg prides the team on their strong defensive abilities, with goalie Craig Patrick, an All-Conference talent holding down the fort in the crease.“We have one of the best goalies in the conference,” Seidenberg said of Patrick. “We’ve had a really good defensive core for the past years and I think our defense is going to be really good again this year.” The Vandals have accomplished a great deal in their short history, and look to add a conference title to their list of honors in 2015.

University of Washington (3-10, 3-5 PNCLL)

The Huskies had quite the roller-coaster season, as they suffered a few unfortunate defeats to teams like rival Washington State, but also had quality performances, such as a win over Idaho as well as a narrow defeat to the third-place Oregon Ducks. UW finished the season with a record of 3-10, but this year it’s a team looking to flip the switch. With a sensational midfielder-turned-attackman in Alex Crane still with the team, the Huskies’ attack unit will try to find its groove.  Washington allowed the second-most goals in conference last year, so they will need their defense to step up its game in order to compete with conference powerhouses such as Simon Fraser and Oregon State. “Guys like Kevin Park will lead our defense,” head coach Jack Cerchiara said. “He’s our senior captain.” True senior leadership will likely help out a struggling Huskies team. Washington needs to prove this year that it is a worthy competitor in the PNCLL conference.

Washington State University (4-9, 1-7 PNCLL)

After a disappointing season, the Washington State Cougars could be falling further. Up until the latter part of the season, nothing seemed to click for the Cougars. They picked up a few wins toward the end, but by then, it was a bit too late. Fortunately, the never-give-up mentality that head coach Nick Lyon has adopted will hopefully carry over on to the team’s attitude. “With the incoming freshmen that we have and what we are building off of last year,” Lyon said. “I really think that we can make the PNCLL playoffs this year.” The conference playoffs could be a tough-to-attain goal for a Cougars team looking to rebuild, particularly with a defensive unit in need of work. They are regrouping, and it starts with true freshman goalie, Devin Ehli, in net. If Ehli can become a stalwart, maybe Washington State can flip the unfortunate script that has led to 19 total losses over the past two campaigns.

All-Conference Watch

Attack: Kevin Cathcart, Oregon State Beavers

Cathcart stormed onto the scene last year earning PNCLL Rookie of the Year honors, amongst other accolades as well. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound attacker uses his size to his advantage, muscling his way to 42 points in only 14 games played. In the final game of the regular season, Cathcart put on a scoring clinic, netting seven goals to help the Beavers defeat the Oregon Ducks 12-9. Being with a talented Beaver squad will only aid in his progression as he still has three years of eligibility remaining. The sky is the limit for this young attacker.

Midfield: Sam Clare, Simon Fraser Clan

Simon Fraser suffered a shocking blow recently when they found out that superstar attacker Tyler Kirkby will likely be absent for the season due to an ACL tear. However, it’s not a lock that Kirkby was even the best player on his own team. Enter Sam Clare, now a senior captain, who was an imposing force in the midfield last year tallying 54 points, steadily increasing his totals from his first two seasons. Clare has racked up his fair share of awards over the course of his college career, including a three-time PNCLL First Team midfielder, the 2014 PNCLL Offensive player of the Year, and an MCLA First Team midfield honor. These accolades are well deserved, and in Clare’s final season, he will aim to go out on a high note.

Defense: Cody Dems, Montana Grizzlies

Heading into his fourth year as a starter for the Grizzlies squad, Dems remains one of the most-respected defensemen in the PNCLL. The Montana crew prides itself on strong defensive play, and with a stout unit led by Dems, Montana is in great position to make the postseason once again. Dems is heading into his second year of captaincy for the Grizzlies, and as a senior, will be looked upon as a veteran on the back-line. He received Second Team All-PNCLL honors in 2014, and is only improving on his game. His ground ball statistics have steadily improved throughout his career with Montana, and the talented Dems looks to keep up that play.

Face-off Specialist: Janssen Levin, Oregon State Beavers

The junior face-off specialist made his mark last year, earning an honorable mention All-American award for his skills at the face-off X. Levin’s statistics speak for themselves. Last year he accumulated an extremely impressive record of 162 face-offs won out of 212 tries on the draw. If Levin can continue to earn possession on a consistent basis for the Beavers, Oregon State will continue to put points up on the board.

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