Weekend Preview: Closing Time
Opinion
| Arizona State
| Baylor
| Cal State San Marcos
| Colorado
| Grand Canyon
| Minn-Duluth
| Mo. State
| Oklahoma
| Oklahoma State
| SMU
| St. Johns
| Texas
| Texas A&M
| UC Santa Barbara
by Jac Coyne | MCLA.us
LA CROSSE, Wis. – On Sunday, the calendar flips to April – the most important month in the MCLA calendar.
You might think that it’s May with the championships and all, but that’s just a byproduct of April.
The significance of April is multi-fold.
The primary reason that our fourth month is influential is the conference playoffs. The race for league tournament bids followed by the ensuing competition is what it’s all about. That's where many seasons are made or lost.
We’ll find out who grabs the automatic qualifiers, who stays in the at-large hunt and who fell off the cliff. Just one upset in a conference tournament – just one! – can shake up the entire Salt Lake City apple cart, from qualifiers to seeding.
There are two types of conference tournaments we’ll witness again this spring. The first is the all-or-nothing playoff with only the winner having any chance at nationals.
The UMLC Division I race would be one example of this situation. LSA Division II is another. Every play takes on a monumental level of importance that is hugely compelling.
Then you have your tournaments that are all about jockeying for national seeds. The UMLC Division II and RLMC Division I will be like that. All of it will be must-watch.
The other reason that April is a special is Senior Day season. It's that important time when the last home game rolls around and the seniors are feted.
I’ve written in the past in these pages and at other sites: Senior Day holds an extra special meaning in the MCLA.
It is a acknowledgement that a young man stuck it out for four years to help something larger than themselves grow and prosper.
I don’t care if he was the leading scorer or a back-up goalie or d-mid. These guys chose the harder, more challenging road in their college careers instead of taking a far easier path.
Their perseverance and dedication that results in them walking out on to the field with their parents and a plaque deserves adulation.
They will always get it from me.
Seniors, enjoy your last time in the home spotlight and the rest of you, get ready for another wild finish to an MCLA season.
* * *
Fresh conference tourney logo out of the @LSALacrosse.#mcla18 #RaceforSaltLake pic.twitter.com/q1Cxtm3hJ5
— MCLA Tournament '18 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 27, 2018
LSA Getting Close
Speaking of conference tournaments, we’re just two short weeks away from the opening of the first one. The Lone Star Alliance starts its quarterfinals in both divisions on the weekend of April 13-15 (any of the weekend days are an option).
The LSA is going to be a dogfight in both divisions. At this point, you’d probably have to hand Texas A&M and Missouri State the favorite status in Division I and II, respectively. Here’s what the draws would look like if the season ended today (with some guesses):
LSA Division I Quarterfinals
Texas Tech/Arkansas at Texas A&M
LSU at TCU
Texas State at Oklahoma
SMU at Texas
The SMU-Texas tilt right out of the game is a monster because each of those could legitimately make a run for the AQ. The winner runs smack dab into the Sooners in the semifinals. A&M appears to have the cushiest road to the finals as they have already breezed by three of the Aggies four potential opponents.
LSA Division II Quarterfinals
SLU/WashU at Missouri State
St. Edward’s at Baylor
UT-Dallas at Oklahoma State
Tulane at Rice
Again, there are plenty of moving parts, especially in Division II, to shake things up, but this will give you a taste.
Johnnies Rebound?
After racing out to a 7-0 record, No. 6 St. John’s has stumbled in its last two games, bowing to No. 7 Northern Arizona and No. 1 North Dakota State. A rebound victory would be just what the doctor ordered.
Unfortunately, the Johnnies will be entertaining No. 2 Minn.-Duluth tonight in Maple Grove. The Bulldogs have proven to be a bad team to host when you’re trying to break a losing streak.
Unlike some non-conference teams, St. John’s won’t be intimidated by Duluth and what they’ve accomplished. Last year, UMD entered the UMLC tournament having defeated St. Thomas and NDSU in back-to-back games.
The Johnnies proceeded to beat them in the first round of the conference tournament.
Another win for St. John’s seems like a long shot with the way Duluth is playing, but rivalries are funny.
What is the D-I Game of the Week for the period ending on Easter? #mcla18
— MCLA Tournament '18 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 27, 2018
NOTES: An overtime loss to No. 3 Colorado and a win over No. 22 Colorado State. Solid spring break business trip for UCSB to the Rockies… Congrats to Teddy Hicks for hitting the 50-win plateau with Cal State San Marcos. The Cougars are 8-0 and looking like a team that might be on a collision course with Northern Arizona for the SLC AQ…Saturday’s contest between No. 6 Grand Canyon and No. 16 should draw plenty of eyeballs. I’m expecting a rabid ASU outfit try to make one last regular season impression on the selection committee with a win…Minnesota at No. 14 Davenport is likely a preview of the #2-#3 CCLA semifinal.
The MCLA offices will be closed for most of the weekend due to a trip to the in-laws for Easter. I'll try to keep things moving on Twitter. Have a great Easter!