PNCLL Division 2 Midseason Review
By Casey LamonIn what is a relatively light weekend, only six teams will suit up for four games that might begin separating the contenders from the pretenders. It is also the midway point of the season. Because of this special occasion, I have chosen several Mid-season Awards, which are my own unofficial PNCLL D-II awards and all-stars at this point. Hopefully this will add a little more excitement to an otherwise light weekend.
The first game of the weekend takes place up in Tacoma as College of Idaho (0-2, 0-1) takes on Pacific Lutheran (0-4) as both look to gain their first win knowing that the loser will be the only winless team left in the PNCLL D-II. The Lutes come into this game being outscored 48-18 in their first four games and only being able to one team under double digits (Portland, 9). A team that has been in trouble with injuries all season has seen little go its way. But freshman midfielder Alex Lineweaver (3g, 3a) has been a breath of fresh air this season. Goalie Greg Fredlund (56.8%, 12gaa) has seen a drop in production as well, and a large part can be attributed to the overall lack of defense in front of him.
College of Idaho also comes off a disappointing weekend that saw them get outscored 32-8 but was able to put up a competitive performance against fellow PNCLL D-II South team, Southern Oregon. The Coyotes rely heavily on senior midfielder Nate Hample (2g, 1a) and attack Jeff Ball (2g, 1a) to lead a team that saw last season’s playoffs fade due to a tie-break on goal differential. College of Idaho will also need to see an extremely young defense grow this weekend as the trio of freshman and lone sophomore will take on the only other team in the league that has yet to put up double digits.
At the same time on Saturday, Whitman travels to Salem to take on Willamette. Last season Whitman controlled the Bearcats in both games and ruined their first trip to the playoffs with a first-round win in Walla Walla. This game will feature the two highest scoring freshmen in the league as Whitman’s Aedan Weber (12g, 1a) and Willamette’s Andrew King (15g, 3a) square off.
Weber will take on the Bearcats with the assistance (pun intended) of Bidnam Lee (3g, 11a) who put up seven assists against Central Washington last weekend. Whitman’s defense will be led by the two-headed monster in goal of freshmen Loigi Lollini and Stephen Toyofuku, who have each split time this season. King may be without attack Ian McAnnis-Entenman (12g, 3a) on Saturday, but the resurgance of Addam Fishel (10g, 4a) will help take some of the attention off of him. The Bearcat defense at this point is ranked second to last in the league and will need to tighten up if they want to keep this game within grasp.
Sunday will see Southern Oregon (3-3, 1-0) make the seven-hour trip north to Tacoma to play Pacific Lutheran in the Lutes second game of the weekend. Attack Lawrence VanEgdom (16g, 7a) leads the Raiders in both goals and assists and has made the transition very easy for freshman attack Tom Halley (12g, 3a). No one has handled the loss of Alex White worse than attack Tyler Baumann (6g, 5a) who has seen his points per game total fall by 65% from last season.
The most welcome surprise for the Raiders has been the play of goalie Carter Boggess (59.8%, 8.2gaa), who after a season and a half off has shown no signs of rust. While the play of his close defense hasn’t been bad, his play has been nothing short of great. Southern Oregon might be too much for Pacific Lutheran to handle on their second game of the weekend, but if there is one thing I have learned it’s not to underestimate the drive in determination Bubba installs into his players.
Also at noon on Sunday, the Yotes from College of Idaho finish their Washington trip off as they take on Central Washington (2-4, 0-1) in Ellensburg. The Wildcats come off a disappointing overtime loss to Western Oregon that showed how competitive they are right now. Central Washington brings two of the league leading scorers in midfielder Jake Mehl (17g, 11a) and freshman attack Bowen Hadley (20g, 6a). Mehl has been quietly performing at an extremely high level all season, as he has been putting up impressive numbers against all levels of competition. The defense is held together by the close defense of Kellen Gallacher (1a) whose stellar play has been enough to carry the team to as many wins so far as they had all last season. If the Coyotes come out of Saturday with a win over Pacific Lutheran, emotions and momentum could help them overcome odds against a Wildcats team that could easily overlook them.
Mid Season Awards:
First Half Champion: Western Washington University
The record of the team may look average at only 4-3, but when you look at their losses, they came by the hand of Simon Fraser, Utah Valley, and Westminster. The team was able to control games against top 25 teams Western Oregon and Southern Oregon. Undoubtedly the best team in the PNCLL-II right now.
Offensive Player of the First Half: Bidnam Lee, Whitman College
Calvin Davis was in my thought process, but that would seem to be more of a Tim Tebow lifetime achievement award than a deserved Offensive Player award. Lee is the best offensive player in the league right now and what’s more impressive is that he is leading the league in assists per game by a large margin. Creating for your team is more important than just goals.
Honorable Mention: Calvin Davis, Western Oregon; Andrew King, Willamette; Aedan Weber, Whitman
Defensive Player of the First Half: Carter Boggess, Southern Oregon University
There is no player that means more to the success of their defense than Boggess. He is pretty much the only defense that Southern Oregon has right now. He made the Western Washington loss look much more competitive than it actually was. It’s an interesting thought process to wonder where Southern Oregon could/would/should have gone in last season’s playoffs with Boggess in cage.
Honorable Mention: Kellen Gallacher, Central Washington; Ian LaBelle, Western Washington; Greg Fredlund, Pacific Lutheran
Freshman of the First Half: Andrew King, Willamette University
Willamette has won three games out of six, which is already one more than last season. While Aedan Weber and Jacob Bohince might seem like more logical picks, King is second in the league in goals per game (3.75) and third in points per game (4.5). Out of all freshmen, King ranks first in points per game, second in goals per game, and forth in assists per game (.75). The freshman from Chicago’s New Trier High School will surely be a crucial part of Willamette’s future in the PNCLL.
Honorable Mention: Jacob Bohince, Western Oregon; Aedan Weber, Whitman; Bowen Hadley, Central Washington
First Half Most Valuable Player: Adam Extine, Western Washington University
Yes, a defensive player for Most Valuable Player, which will never actually happen. But the best player on the best team makes Ian Labelle’s job a lot easier in cage. While they are only second in the league in points allowed per game, the competition they have played is much more impressive than Southern Oregon, who is in first.
Honorable Mention: Ian Bohince, Western Oregon; Cody Bludorn, Western Washington; Lawrence VanEgdom, Southern Oregon
First Half All-PNCLL II Team:
Attack: Bidnam Lee, Whitman
Attack: Andrew King, Willamette
Attack: Calvin Davis, Western Oregon
Attack: Aedan Weber, Whitman
Midfield: Jake Mehl, Central Washington
Midfield: Cody Bludorn , Western Washington
Midfield: Ian Bohince , Western Oregon
Midfield: Jacob Bohince, Western Oregon
Defense: Adam Extine, Western Washington
Defense: Kellen Gallacher, Central Washington
Defense: Sean Harding, Willamette University
Defense: Joe Robert, Southern Oregon
Goalie: Carter Boggess , Southern Oregon
Casey Lamon is an aspiring writer located in the great northwest and will be blogging on the news and notes throughout the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League’s Division II this season on CollegeLAX.
