Preview: Breaking Ties

Photo by Lance Wendt

By: E.J. Freeman | MCLA.us  

ATLANTA-  As we enter the home stretch of the season with concentrations of conference games every weekend, I thought it would be wise to use this space to discuss the MCLA’s tie breakers.  This past offseason, the MCLA Board of Directors voted to enact common tie breakers across all nine of our conferences.  The idea being that consistency would eliminate any doubt or questions as to how different conferences handle their tie breaker scenarios.  The leaguewide tie breakers should provide enough clarity that we can project how different results might affect conference races. 

The first tie breaker is head-to-head.  This one is pretty easy and self-explanatory.  It becomes tricky once we get past a two-team tie. 

The next tie breaker is goal differential in games between the tied teams.  The differential is capped at eight goals per game as an eight goal margin is sufficient to show the superiority of the winning team without incentivizing them to pour it on late in games.  There is always discussion about using goals allowed as opposed to goal differential.  I can understand the argument for using goals allowed as it is not the typical view of running up the score to hold a team to a low goal total; but, I would argue winning 18-10 is just as dominant as a 12-4 win.  Both games have eight goal margins and using margin rather than goals allowed rewards the entire team rather than just the defense.  At the youth level I am on board with using goals allowed due to the discrepancies in talent at youth tournaments, but at the college level I am a proponent of using margin first.

If still no team has separated itself, we use goals allowed in games against the tied teams.  All those arguments in favor of using goals allowed can be used now, just one step later.

If we are still tied, we now repeat the same margin and goals allowed process using all required region or conference games depending on the situation. 

If somehow the teams are still tied we are then left with a coin toss.  The chances of the process getting this deep are very slim and at some point we have to find a way to break the tie.

It should be noted that in these three-team ties, once one team separates themselves we then start the process over with the remaining teams.  In a three-team tie, this should then be solved very quickly using head-to-head.  If we have a four-team tie and three teams remain, the process gets a little more drawn out, but eventually the process will provide us with a clear separation of teams and we will have the playoff situation sorted out.

MCLA Conference Tie Breakers

1.      Head-to-Head

2.      Goal Differential in games between tied teams (max 8 goals per game)

3.      Goals Allowed in games between tied teams

4.      Goal Differential in Region/Conference Games (max 8 goals per game)

5.      Goals  Allowed in Region/Conference Games

6.      Coin Toss

As we enter this weekend, there are several games that could have big conference playoff implications.  Most of these games are in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) as the SELC has the earliest conference tournament and therefore must have clarity in their standings first.

This week’s guest picker is Andrew Golden, a Purdue alumnus who runs the Varsity Club Lacrosse social media accounts, which are some of the most active and followed accounts covering the MCLA.  Thank you to Andrew for sitting down and taking the time to answer some questions with us and picking some games.  We started out with some questions about Andrew’s time in the MCLA as well as the media accounts.

MCLA: What was the impetus for starting Varsity Club Lacrosse? Did you ever imagine it would take off the way it has?

Andrew Golden:  The inspiration behind starting a Twitter account came from four accounts, Virtually Varsity, Redd Rankings, QuickStick and Hockey House. I started following the three lacrosse accounts my freshman year and thought it was pretty cool they were talking about the league. My freshman year Redd Rankings put out odds for all of the conference tournaments and they had us losing in the first round. We ended up winning and after the game we chirped them in the replies from the team account.

I first discovered the Hockey House account a couple weeks before Varsity Club Lacrosse was started. In the Purdue Club Sports GroupMe, the hockey team sent a tweet about a best jersey competition Hockey House was running.

A few days later I saw a tweet talking about the MCLA. The tweet had an opinion about the league that was pretty far off. It wasn’t necessarily negative, but it just wasn’t accurate. I replied with a more accurate depiction of what he was trying to say and we ended up exchanging a couple more replies after that. I was the President of the team while I was at Purdue so I replied to all of the emails, Instagram DMs, and any other inquiries. Most of them were asking for explanations of what the team and the MCLA was. If it was varsity, if we were going varsity soon, what it would be like playing in the MCLA, etc. We would also have high school players DM or email us while they were touring campus and ask to meet with member(s) of the team to ask questions. I met with a lot of the kids, so I probably had explained what the MCLA was about 100 times before I started the account, including explaining it to all of the freshmen and new players.

Also around that time Nick Ossello was tweeting about the MCLA, mainly asking people questions and trying to learn more about the league.

The combination of all of those things inspired me to create the account not long after the Twitter interaction. I recruited the best Tweeter I know, my teammate Tommy Chandler to run it with me

 No idea why we made Burt Reynolds the profile picture. I think I might have had a mustache at the time or possibly just saw another Twitter account with that profile picture. I didn’t watch Smokey and the Bandit until two years after the account was started.

I never imagined it would take off the way it has. I expected us to get bored with it after a couple weeks, which did happen, but we eventually got back to doing it. I had planned to stop running the account when it stopped growing or when I lost interest, but neither of those things have yet to happen.

MCLA: Have you thought about building it out as a full website with written content and other media?

 AG:  I’m actually looking to do less media and focus more on organizing games and tournaments. I currently run the Southern Men’s Lacrosse League (SMLL) with another guy named Sean Fredella who started the league. We’ve received a lot of support from 285 Lacrosse and Shootout for Soldiers and our third League Championship will be played April 11th in Huntsville.

I’ve also worked with American Pride Tours to organize the Varsity Club Lacrosse All-Stars vs the Australian U20 team in Australia back in December 2024. This past summer former San Marcos player Jason Thibeault put together a team for the Lake Tahoe Tournament and wore Varsity Club Lacrosse jerseys.

I tried to get an MCLA All-Star team going for the Shootout for Soldiers event in Kansas City this past fall, but it didn’t work out. I’m hoping to one day get an MCLA All-Star team assembled to face off against an NCAA DI/DII team or an international team. It’s a lofty goal for sure, but I think it can be done with time and effort. Having support from Shootout for Soldiers helps a lot.  

MCLA: Do you have a favorite memory from your time in the MCLA?

 AG: After my last ever game, which was the UMLC semi-finals at Minnesota, all of the upperclassmen went out in Minneapolis. When we got back to the hotel we charged a bunch of food to the rooms (sorry Coach Sahm) and hung out in the lobby until probably 2 am. It was sad because I had played my last game, but I’m glad we all got one last chance to hang out together as teammates.

MCLA: What has been the highlight of running VCL?

 AG:  The highlight has for sure been being able to help people through the account. It’s tough seeing players and coaches have to deal with injuries, illness, and death, but I’m at least glad that I can use the platform to spread awareness to what’s going on and get more eyes on fundraisers people put out. It’s awesome how much everyone in the MCLA community and lacrosse community in general looks out for each other.

MCLA: If there was one thing you could get people outside the league to understand about the MCLA what would it be?

 AG:  I think a lot of people focus too much on comparing the MCLA to the other leagues rather than just seeing it as more lacrosse to watch and follow. People watch College Football and the NFL, but not a lot of people spend time thinking “Could X college team beat X NFL team?” The MCLA isn’t on the same level as the NCAA, but the level it’s at still makes it worth watching and following.

I think people also underestimate the passion of the players. Everyone is playing hard to win every game, every team has the goal of winning a conference or national championship, everyone hates their school’s rival and wants to beat them every time they play, everyone is pissed when they lose. The lack of funding and NCAA recognition doesn’t take away from the passion.

Thanks to Andrew for taking the time to answer the questions, now on to this week’s games and picks.  5-0 is the standard that Ryan Kerr and Brian Barnhill have set, can Andrew match it?

#11 Florida Atlantic at #10 Grand Valley State 7pm Friday – The Lakers, whose early season choppy schedule has been discussed here, face their toughest opponent yet as the battle hardened Owls come to town.  The Lakers have been putting up big goal totals against everyone they have faced outside of Michigan State.  The Owls three losses are all to teams currently ranked in the top seven of the Division II poll.  Don’t expect the Owls to be intimidated by the Lakers.  This game has the makings of a real battle.  The Owls have played a tough schedule, but could certainly use a big time win over Grand Valley for their at-large and seeding resume.  Grand Valley will have chances for other wins in the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC), but will certainly want this one as well. Fan Pick: Grand Valley State (57%)

Andrew’s Take: I think GVSU will still be as good as they were last season when their only losses were to St. Thomas in the UMLC and National Championship. While still very good, I don’t think FAU is the Final Four team they were last season and trying to win at GVSU will be tough  PICK: Grand Valley

#5 Montana at #6 Montana State 8pm Friday  - This is a gem of a game befitting The Treasure State.  Montana State has won the last several games in this series, but rest assured the Grizzlies will be ready for this one.  Montana goalie Joey Cortner is a difference maker who can change the tenor of any game with his nearly 80% save percentage on the season.  Montana can score, but have generally won games with good offense and excellent defense.  The Bobcats are a little more reliant on their offense.  This is the kind of rivalry that is hotly contested when both teams are struggling, with both teams in the top-ten and looking to improve their seeding and at-large resumes things will definitely be feisty in Bozeman. Fan Pick: Montana (68%)

Andrew’s Take: One of the best rivalries in the MCLA, Montana State has won the last six and are hosting this year. I think this is the year Montana ends the Bobcats streak.  PICK: Montana

#6 Florida State vs. #7 Arizona in Minnesota 12pm Saturday – Two prolific offenses are meeting here in the land of 10,000 lakes.  Will it become the land of 10,000 goals?  As we’ve discussed, when Florida State wins faceoffs they are going to score goals.  The problems for the Seminoles arise when they are not dominant at the faceoff dot- enter the Wildcats who are winning 74% of their faceoffs on the season.  If faceoffs are neutral or even negative for Florida State, can they slow down Matthew Bechtold and his mates.  That may be a lot of pressure on the Florida State defense led by Jack Schiffl and Parker Clem.  Clem has not tallied any stats in the last few games for the Seminoles so his health will be something to monitor here.  Florida State is the highest ranked team on the Wildcats’ schedule and with the way the Southwest Lacrosse Conference looks, it is unlikely that the Wildcats will see another top ten team before Richmond.  This game is huge for both teams’ at-large hopes. Fan Pick: Arizona (57%)

Andrew’s Take: Florida State beat Arizona last year in Tallahassee, but I think this is a much different Arizona team. Arizona has a big win over San Diego State, but hasn't been tested much compared to Florida State’s five ranked games, three of which they’ve won. I’ll take Florida State in a close one. PICK: Florida State

Michigan State at Purdue 2pm Saturday – Andrew’s beloved Boilermakers will host the Spartans in a UMLC clash.  Purdue is still somewhat unknown with only four games played.  Michigan State has played eight games and is currently 4-4.  The Spartans were competitive in their trip west against Chapman and San Diego State, but lost both games.  FAN PICK: Michigan State (60%)

Andrew’s Take: Boilers by 90  PICK: Purdue

#3 South Carolina at #1 Utah Valley 1pm Saturday – This is the gem of the weekend on the Division I side.  Utah Valley is undefeated and their closest game was a five goal win over UC Santa Barbara.  South Carolina has had more close games, but their only loss was at Liberty the day after beating Virginia Tech and as the season has worn on it seems more and more likely that fatigue was a considerable factor in that game.  The Gamecocks will play Utah the night before while the Wolverines will be idle.  Will the rest disadvantage undo the Gamecocks again? The title teams in Columbia were largely built on the backs dominant faceoff men in Derek Isaac and Will Frith.  This year’s Gamecocks are doing it differently winning 56% of faceoffs on the season.  The Gamecocks will be facing a behemoth at the faceoff dot in the dominant Jake Lundin.  Behind Lundin’s efforts, the Wolverines are winning 77% of their faceoffs.  When the Gamecocks have the ball star attackman Nathan Wolfe will have to deal with Jack Baird in what will be a match up of likely first team All-America players.  On the other end, the Wolverines have a bevy of offensive players capable of putting up big numbers.  Utah Valley has six players averaging over three points per game.  The Gamecock defense is going to have to hold up against the relentless pressure of Utah Valley’s offense if they want to get the win.  Fan Pick: Utah Valley (75%)

Andrew’s Take: South Carolina is for sure up there as a National Championship contender, but I think Utah Valley has been ranked first all year for a reason. I also think not only having to travel out to Utah, but also having to play a solid Utah team less than 24 hours before playing Utah Valley is going to be tough for the Gamecocks.  PICK: Utah Valley

Other Games I’ll be Watching

UC Davis at #12 UC San Diego 7pm Friday – UC Davis got a big win over #18 San Diego on Tuesday.  Unfortunately for the Aggies, that is the worst time for a nice win in the MCLA.  By the time the poll voters are submitting ballots on Monday and Tuesday of the following week, the game from the prior Tuesday gets lost in the shuffle and overshadowed by the weekend games.  The Aggies will be looking to consolidate the gains made on Tuesday as they face UC San Diego on Friday.  One would think that #12 UC San Diego would be big favorites against the unranked Aggies, but both teams have one goal wins over San Diego.  UC Davis comes in winning two thirds of their faceoffs and will likely look to control possession against the Tritons.  UC San Diego has generally been playing fairly low scoring games so far, which could help the Aggies with their ball control strategy.   FAN PICK: UC San Diego (78%)

#20 Florida Gulf Coast at #7 Tampa 11:30am Saturday -  Gulf Coast needs to get their first region win, but will find the sledding to be tough against region favorites and #7 Tampa.  The Spartans are undefeated, but has not played a close game in over a month.  The last SELC playoff spot will likely come down to Miami and Florida Gulf Coast so the Eagles would get a massive leg up if they could knock off the Spartans.  A win for Tampa would lock up the top seed in the SELC South so they will be motivated as well.  Fan Pick: Tampa (73%)

East Carolina at #14 Wake Forest 2pm Sunday – Wake Forest is currently sitting atop the ALC North while East Carolina sits in second.  East Carolina has played competitive games against #8 UNC-Wilmington and #9 Coastal Carolina so #14 Wake Forest will not represent a jarring jump in competition.  Wake Forest has reeled off nine straight wins following a season opening loss against Georgia Southern.  If Wake can get past the Pirates only Virginia Tech DII stands between the Demon Deacons and an unblemished run through the ALC regular season.  East Carolina is scoring 11.38 goals per game while Wake Forest is scoring 15.5.  This one has sizable playoff seeding implications. FAN PICK: Wake Forest (100%)

#10 Clemson at #8 Virginia Tech 7pm Friday – Virginia Tech’s only loss is to #3 South Carolina while Clemson’s only loss is against #6 Florida State.  Virginia Tech is coming off a successful trip to Boston where they claimed wins against Boston College and Northeastern.  Clemson on the other hand has not played a game since February 28.  The Tigers may need to do an ice breaker game as part of their pregame warm up to make sure they all remember each other’s names.  Clemson wins 57% of their faceoffs on the season, but managed only 40% against Florida State in their lone loss.  Virginia Tech wins over 67% for the season, but managed to beat Boston College despite splitting 50/50.  Tiger duo Aidan McNulty and Landen Snyder are trouble for any defense and the Hokies will be no different.  Christian Edwards will likely draw the McNulty assignment, but how does Virginia Tech handle Snyder?  Clemson’s defensive midfielders looked like they were running in fast forward when transitioning from defense to offense early in the season, are they fully rested after a month off and ready to run hyper speed counter attacks?  Or is a month away from game speed too much leaving them just a step slower?  This game will be big for ALC seeding.  FAN PICK: Clemson (67%)

Arizona State at #13 San Diego State 7:30pm Friday – The Sun Devils have been finding their way under a new head coach following the loss of a strong senior class.  They went punch for punch against Brigham Young early in the season before letting the game get away from them.  The same thing happened against Boston College in Colorado; the game was tied at halftime before a two-goal second half from the Sun Devils allowed the Eagles to get the win.  San Diego State represents the next chance for Arizona State to take down a ranked team.  The Sun Devils have shown they can do it in spurts, but now they need to put a full game together in order to take down the Aztecs.  San Diego State lost their opening two games to Georgia and UC Santa Barbara, but since then has only lost to Arizona in a 9-6 stone quarrel.  Neither team faces off particularly well so the offenses should both have plenty of opportunities.  San Diego State looks to be headed for the bubbly and will want to make sure they do not have any unranked losses so the Aztecs have plenty to play for here.  FAN PICK: Arizona State (67%)

#18 Auburn at Florida 7pm Saturday – This one is massive for SELC South seeding.  Both teams have a loss in region to Central Florida.  If Auburn wins and wins the next day at Jacksonville as heavy favorites they will have one region loss along with Central Florida and will be guaranteed to make the SELC Playoffs, but seeding could be impacted by the Florida vs Florida State game.  If Florida wins, they too will have one region loss to Central Florida and they will set up a huge game against Florida State next week.  In that scenario Auburn will have two losses while Florida and Florida State only have one.  If Florida beats Florida State as well, Auburn has the head-to-head victory over Florida State which would then knock the Seminoles out of the conference tournament.  Would the selection committee consider a team that did not even make their conference tournament?  Auburn should expect to have a faceoff advantage in this game assuming Aidan Garrett is available.  The Gators have a solid defense, but can they hold up to relentless pressure from Auburn’s athletes if they have a significant possession advantage?  Being able to lock up a playoff spot should be hefty motivation for the Tigers while the Gators are fighting to keep their hopes alive and set up a chance to ruin their rival’s best regular season in a while.  FAN PICK: Auburn (70%)

As we embark on another MCLA weekend games with national and conference implications litter the schedule.  The last weekend of March means teams are running out of opportunities so they better make the most of them.

Head coaches, be sure to get your nominations for Warrior Player of the Week and PEARL Goalie of the Week to info@mcla.us by noon local time on Monday.

As its the last weekend of the month, be sure to turn in your nominations for Lacrosse Specialties Player of the Month as well.