MCLA DI Top Twenty: It’s Not Too Early

The holiday season is coming, and the best gift that many of us lacrosse players and fans will receive is the start of a brand new season. This time of year is a glorious one, where every team in the country starts with a clean slate, and anybody could run the tables and be crowned the 2017 national champions. Somewhere, Cinderella is prepping for the ball right now, and it’s going to be a blast to see who makes a run this year.

Of course, resetting every team’s record to 0-0 does not actually mean that all teams are created equal. While I don’t intend to crush anybody’s hopes and dreams too early, I think we can all agree that some teams do have a better chance than others. With that in mind, let’s look at the LaxAllStars Too-Early MCLA Top 20 for 2017!

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20. Simon Fraser

Our neighbors to the north kick things off. The Clan are only three years removed from being PNCLL champions, and look to get right back into the thick of the competition in 2017. A tough schedule proved their downfall last year, but should have helped to season a younger squad to prepare for a run this coming season.

The good news for Fraser? They host conference playoffs this year, getting the ultimate home field advantage against PNCLL competition who will have to cross the border to bring home the trophy.

19. UConn

The Huskies had a breakout season last year, finishing as the PCLL runner-up. This is a squad led by a strong defense, and defense is always something that I’m looking for in my Cinderella squads.

I expect big things from goalie Dominick Serio, who earned himself 2nd team All-PCLL as a freshman. The Huskies will need to solve Boston College to make it to nationals, as the Eagles handed them two of their three losses in 2016.

18. SMU

The Mustangs came out of nowhere last year to dominate the Lone Star Alliance and snag the automatic bid to nationals. Their high scoring offense shred defenses across Texas, and their 11-3 loss to national runner-up Cal Poly is nothing to be ashamed of.

If this squad can build on the experience they gained by attending nationals and run the table in the LSA again, expect to see SMU right back in Orange County, and potentially garnering a higher seed in 2017.

17. Virginia Tech

The Hokies missed nationals in 2016, which surprised me after their 2015 performance that saw them lose the semifinal in a classic vs Colorado. I don’t see the Hokies making the semis again, but I don’t see them missing playoffs either.

The rise of Georgia Tech has taken the pressure off VT, and I think they enjoy a dark horse run at an at-large bid for 2017.

16. New Hampshire

The PCLL coaches gave UNH the 2 spot in their preseason poll, and they even picked up a first-place vote. That shows the anticipation brimming for the Wildcats in 2017, after finishing 8-3 last year.

Only an overtime loss to UConn kept them from the conference final, and they put up a strong showing against the RMLC early last year. Consider UNH the upset pick in the PCLL.

15. Florida State

Florida State was on the rise last year, cracking the top ten before off-field issues dragged them down. With new leadership and a new culture being built in Tallahassee, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if FSU takes the SELC auto-bid in 2017.

This is a team built to score, and one that posted some big victories over playoff squads last year. If the ‘Noles keep it clean off the field, this team can be nasty on it.

14. Cal

The Golden Bears are one of those teams who cannot be defined by their record last year. They didn’t suffer a single loss that I would consider a “bad” loss. When you play a schedule as hard as Cal did last season, 9-5 is absolutely respectable.

Even better, they improved over the year (look at their first game against Cal Poly compared to their second to see that), and finished by putting up a great fight in nationals vs Georgia Tech. All Cal needs to do is turn a few of those quality losses into quality wins, and you’re looking at a potential top 10 squad for 2017.

13. Oregon

The Ducks rebounded from 2-13 to 11-3 last season. They were sitting pretty at the end of the regular season, with an 11-2 record and a top ten ranking. Unfortunately for the Ducks, their rivals in Corvallis got the last laugh in the conference championship to take away their chance at the PNCLL bid to playoffs.

Despite graduating 1st team All-American Grant Clifford, the Ducks should still be a force to be reckoned with this year. The question for Oregon will be how a coaching change shakes things up in Eugene this season, as PNCLL Coach of the Year Jon Bongiorno has been surprisingly replaced by last year’s defensive coordinator Markus McCaine.

12. Arizona

The Wildcats probably would’ve been the favorite in four or five conferences last year. Of course, nothing is gained easily in the SLC. Arizona returns plenty of talent for 2017, but will again face a very difficult schedule. Luckily for the Laxcats, they return a ton of scoring talent. They’ll need it, as they’ll be forced to break in a new goalie after the graduation of stud keeper Tanner Knego.

Arizona has always had a solid defense, but will need the offense to take the next step to compete for the SLC title. I would expect seniors Christian Turri and Jerome Rigor to take this offense to the next level in their final years, and help propel Arizona back into SLC contention for 2017.

11. Arizona State

The Sun Devils are a powerhouse program, but one that doesn’t have a national championship to its name. ASU has had plenty of top five seeds at nationals recently, but also has had more than a few early exits. ASU won’t begin this season as a favorite in their conference, and that might be just what Arizona State needs to take the next step.

With the pressure off, Arizona State can perhaps calm down and gel a little more this season before having to battle it out in the SLC. Last year, Arizona State played a difficult slate, but also finished at .500. They’ll need to do better to get the benefit of the doubt two years straight. With all three attackmen returning, they might have the firepower to do just that.

10. Oregon State

At some point, we have to give credit where credit is due. In three of the last four seasons, the Beavers have finished the season hoisting the PNCLL trophy and taking their talents to nationals. All of that despite the fact that nobody seems to ever pick them to finish better than second in the conference, and often considered the third team in their own conference.

The Beavers start this season the preseason favorite in the PNCLL coaches poll. It’s time to see how the Beavers handle things at the top, rather than as underdogs. Laced with returners and featuring a potential breakout star in sophomore attackman Kyle Baldes, the Beavers can aim higher than just a third straight PNCLL title. This program is making nationals into an expectation, and should be aiming for a deeper run in 2017.

9. UCSB

UCSB made a huge push late last season to be included in nationals, and they were rewarded for an SLC semis performance with a spot at nationals. That should inspire a lot of confidence in the Gauchos going into 2017. The coaches have picked them to finish above both Arizona and Arizona State in the SLC, and that should tell you a lot about the hype that’s building in Santa Barbara.

Attackman Alex Dixon scored 51 goals for the Gauchos last year as a freshman, and I fully expect him to compete for the SLC Offensive Player of the Year this upcoming season. This UCSB team has shooters from the top down, goalie included. That’s the sort of team that the SLC likes.

If they can build on a solid defense from last year, they’ve got a chance to upset the SLC and take the autobid. Even if they can’t overcome Chapman, they’ll still be primed for an at-large spot in 2017.

8. Colorado State

The Rams might only have been picked as the third best team by the coaches of the RMLC, but they picked up 2 first-place votes in the preseason poll. That should show just how close the RMLC is expected to be in 2017. CSU has always been a defensive prowess as a program, and I’d expect that to be the Rams’ calling card once again this season.

Jake Bender is a rock in goal, and this squad routinely puts poles onto the All-RMLC team. Colorado State lost a lot of talent to graduation, but I never write off CSU until I’ve seen them play. This program has proved time and time again that they don’t rebuild, but rather reload.

Expect Colorado State to dominate possessions. Ryan Chamberlain is one of the best FOS in the nation, and was the RMLC Defensive Player of the Year to boot. That’s the sort of building block this team will need as it breaks in new players.

7. Boston College

The Eagles rolled right on through the PCLL last season, and are expected to do the same exact thing this season. Boston College usually dominates their conference, but will have to improve their out-of-conference performance to make a deeper run this season. Luckily for the Eagles, they’ve got some serious building blocks to work with this season. Sophomore Lawson Pisani returns to lead the midfield after putting up 70 points and 40 GBs last season.

He’s joined by junior attackman Kevin Sheridan (42 points) on offense, and the two of them should lead a strong, more seasoned offense into the coming season. Boston College has the stars to score with the best of them. If the defense can improve in big games, even a little bit, the Eagles can shoot their way into the semis.

Replacing goalie Mike Shepard (1st team All-PCLL, 62% SV) will be the biggest task for Boston College heading into 2017.

6. Grand Canyon

I maintain the position that Grand Canyon finished last season as the hottest team in America. This was a team that was written off across the board early in the season, at least as a championship contender. Then came the winning streak, as the ‘Lopes rattled off eight straight wins, and ten of their final eleven, to roar back into the top five and head towards nationals.

The only thing that could slow them down was Cal Poly and their elite defense. The Lopes lose a stud in Dean Fairall, but return perhaps the best attackman in the nation in Joe Balestrerie (87 points, 1st team All-American). He’ll lead the attack, but for once I don’t see the attack as the true strength of this GCU squad. Rather, take a look at the midfield to see the scary part of this 2017 Grand Canyon squad.

They return a boatload of midfielders, including star freshman Cam Wengreniuk (2nd team All-American). Grand Canyon is a proven power since joining the MCLA, and they should be considered a contender in both the SLC and the MCLA as a whole.

5. Colorado

Never count Colorado out. The program’s dynasty rolls on, though it’s now seceded two straight titles to the SLC. Colorado littered the 1st team All-RMLC in 2016, and brings back a minimum of four of those players for 2017.

Start with Jensen Makarov, who was the best goalie in the RMLC last season and who will have fellow 1st team All-RMLC defenseman Penn Lukens on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, Ben Wharton leads the attack, but will be joined by Jake Gonzales in the midfield as returning top teamers. Colorado might be top heavy, but they’ve got star power at every position on the field. The Buffs are always a contender, and they look every bit the part of a potential national title team again in 2017.

The scariest part about Colorado? They’re balanced. This is a team that can win shootouts and defensive battles, and that should frighten a lot of teams.

4. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets are an easy favorite for the SELC, which is nothing to scoff at considering the growing talent in that conference. But when you go 16-1 on your way to a spot in the national semifinals, you deserve respect.

This is a squad that didn’t lose a regular season game in 2016, and still hasn’t lost to a team east of the Rockies since 2015. This is a team that shows few flaws heading into 2017. It starts with attackman Brian Connolly (83 points), who followed up a 1st team All-SELC run in 2016 with a spot on the All-Tournament team at nationals.

On the defensive side of the ball, they return multiple members of one of the best defenses in the nation from last season, starting with returner Will Byars (1st team All-America) and heading on down the list. Georgia Tech is a program that is stacked at every position, and looks primed to head right back to nationals.

The only reason they aren’t higher on this list is based on the merit of other program. Don’t doubt the Yellow Jackets.

3. BYU

There is a reason that BYU is the preseason favorite in the eyes of the RMLC coaches. The Cougars were a young squad last season, and they still managed to finish the season as a quarterfinalist. Heading into 2017, BYU looks as scary as ever. They return an attack line that put up 146 combined points last year despite being entirely made up of underclassmen.

Led by 2016 Rookie of the Year Chris Severson (59 points), the Cougars’ offense should be one of the scariest in the entire league. On defense, Harrison Wardle (1st team All-RMLC) leads a unit that will need to replace its goalie, but returns a strong core that also includes arguably the best LSM in the nation in Max Neser.

Finding a flaw in BYU on paper is pretty difficult, and this team should only get better as its underclassmen pick up the game even more. BYU will likely start the season as a top five team, and I would be shocked if they don’t finish the season the exact same way.

2. Cal Poly

The Mustangs lost twice last year, by a combined five goals. One of those losses just so happened to be in the national championship. While it stings to have gotten so close without bringing home the trophy, Cal Poly should return as good as ever, and hungrier than ever before.

The Mustangs were shockingly young for a national runner-up last year, and that should prove to make them even more intimidating this year. They should be returning every single 1st team All-Conference player they had last season. That includes attackmen John Corbolotti (3rd team All-American) and AJ Guralas (1st team All-WCLL), giving the Mustangs one of the best attack lines in the nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngh4GvQy_MY

That’s good news for a team that should dominate possessions, as they return FOS Austin Lord (2nd team All-American) as well as one of the stingiest defenses in America, led by goalie Sean Pihl (2nd team All-American) and defenseman Gideon Baum (1st team All-American). Just those players alone would make Cal Poly a contender, but that’s just the cream of a very deep crop.

If anybody is primed to steal the national championship back from the SLC, it’s Cal Poly. The Mustangs should be incredibly hard to break in 2017.

1. Chapman

Oh, come on. You didn’t think anybody else would be #1, did you? Chapman hasn’t lost a game since 2015, and that loss came in the national semifinals to that year’s national champion. This team performed as a consistent powerhouse last year, routinely dominating teams that would end up joining them at nationals. They won three games by one goal, proving they could win in crunch time.

Blowout wins? Check. Comeback wins? Check. Overtime win? Check. There is nothing that this team didn’t do last year, except lose.

Headed into 2017, there’s no reason they can’t do the same exact thing. Start with the reigning Player of the Year, which Chapman returns in Dylan Garner. He’s joined on offense by attackman Wesley Greason (1st team All-American) in what should remain one of the best offenses in the nation.

The defense will be led by Nicky Mullen (1st team All-American) and, though the Panthers will need to replace their goalie, the defense shows few holes on paper.

Regardless of how the Panthers look for 2017, though, there’s no way that the reigning national champions, who won’t have lost a game in nearly two years when they finally take the field again in 2017, can be picked as anything less than the preseason #1.

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So, what do you think? Is one of the teams above your 2017 national champions, or is the national champion lurking outside this list? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments, or on twitter!