US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2031 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

ML and Hawks great battle, good match up. Dukes very respectable showing. Outside of that it is slim. Interested to see if NL was able to get better. At the moment in time Long Island Teams cant compete with this group, big gap in talent. Rebels/Igloo are second tier programs, waiting on Express and 91 to figure it out.

NL lost a close one to crabs 4-3 in their first game of season and could tell team was feeling each other out. Few weeks later then handled them easily 9-5. Team looks stronger then last year for sure.

Problem will be finding teams to fill out the 2031 HOCO elite division. NL, ML, Hawks and Crabs have clearly separated themselves. Wolfpack lost almost their starting lineup, Zingos and 91 had long springs last season. Maybe Clippers, LTLC, and VLC will step up.

Clippers, Predators and VLC should absolutely step up this year and play in Elite

Before we make any rash decisions, let’s see how these teams fair at the NAL and or the remainder of fall ball. It wouldn’t make sense for them to move up and get smoked. But do agree, Zingos 91 and Wolfpack can no longer hack it.

VLC will get smoked if they play in Elite.

See the Hawks are back on the NAL schedule. Not a strong enough field but now playing in a bracket where the LI teams have crushed most of those teams in previous years less Madlax.

Think it is clear why hawks swapped now. Igloo won Saturday and they [Censored]. Hawks crushed them last year at NAL 9-0. Waste of time for the Hawks. At least tomorrow they get to play ML.

I heard big things about Predators, Lot of talk going on.

How’d the Hawks do today? Assuming they and ML ran the slate and played for the ‘ship - who won that one?

Is it clear why the Hawks swapped now?
Hawks came in 4th and Madlax 2nd.
Hawks lost to Sweetlax FL who were beat by S2S yesterday. S2S were then crushed by Igloo 10-4 in the Championship game.
Things change, teams get better, work harder. Can’t look at 6 months ago as a measure of how teams play…

ML got run off the field by SweetLax Florida, tied West Coast Starz. Not a strong performance from ML at NAL.

No need to make excuses but I think it’s obvious Sweetlax Florida wasn’t the same team Sunday as it was Saturday. S2S is horrendous and couldnt beat ML if ML tied their strong hand behind their backs. We are now waiting until next summer to figure it out but very happy to look back here in 7-8 months and say ML is a solid 10 goals better than S2S. Igloo is the same, not part of the conversation.

Isn’t this an excuse?
Why would the team be different? West Coast and Sweetlax FL were the same teams Saturday AND Sunday.

Maybe ML was just missing a lot of players. Lots of soccer tournaments, football super bowls, etc. going on this past weekend. Hard to believe a bunch of kids from Florida and California would take it to them like that if they were playing with their full squad.

ML played with their full squad, just couldn't hang with the boys from Florida.

You’re telling me that kids in 5th grade actually play other sports besides lacrosse in the fall!!! No way

Tiz, true. But the ones that play other sports are obviously not going D1. Head is already in wrong place.

So true. If they aren’t playing year round and taking over priced lessons they don’t stand a chance

This is densest thing I've heard and worst advice to give a young athlete. At this age playing just one sport doesn't prove where they will go in the sport. High School would be more realistic if they really have to focus on one and want to. Also to say their head is in the wrong place because they enjoy other sports along with this one is completely wrong.

Get a clue. If your kid is not focused solely on lax, taking over priced lessons, and considering holding back sooner than later . . . you're clearly not on the D1 track.

While you may say that with some sarcasm, truer words have not been spoken. The climb to DI and MIAA A is steep, better get going early on the climb if you want to get to the top. Focus on Lacrosse , Check ! , Get Private Lessons , Check ! , Hold him Back , Double Check !! , Sorry folks, it is what it is.

Heard HOCO brackets got released yesterday. What do we have for the divisions for the 2031s?

Elite - Hawks, Clippers, Crabs, Madlax, Next Level, Predators, Team 91, VLC
AAA - FCA, HoCo, Madlax, Next Level, Prostart, Wolfpack
AA - Swarm, Blue Claws, Cannons, Clippers Red, Legends, Rebels DMV, True Ches, True NOVA, Zingos, Carroll Manor
A - Bethesda Blue, G, HLC, Kelly Post, MD Mayhem, Team MD, Ville, Wolfpack 31/32

ML runs the table

Hawks are the favorites, adding top 2031 scorer from The Circuit pushes them past ML. NL, Crabs finish out the final four.

How will the new teams stack up? VLC has been rolling in the next level down, Team 91 likely improved.

Are Clippers and Predators new teams or rebrands of other clubs they acquired at this age group?

Clippers, Predators and VLC moving up is interesting. Not sure how they will do up there. Any ideas why Wolfpack dropped down? They always managed to hang in there with the big boys up in elite.

Wolfpack merged with Crabs.

Wolfpack dropping down very surprising. VLC will have difficulties hanging. Top 4 will be Crabs, Hawks, ML and NL (not in any order).

For enjoyment, what teams have the best:
FOGO
Attack
LSM
LSD
Goalie

Go.....

Team 91 will not win a game all year as usual

Surprised to see LTLC/Legends moving down to AA after going 6-1 last year in AAA. What's going on there?

They lost 4-5 of their better players from last season. I think 2 went to Preds and 2 went to FCA. Still figured they would compete in AAA, but maybe after fall competition decided otherwise.

Team is more about playing lacrosse and having fun then getting in MIAA as starting Freshman. Good move.

Imagine that…actually playing something for it to be fun and not shoving a team into a division where it doesn’t belong. having a goal difference of 100 plus not in your favor in the elite division definitely doesn’t sound fun 91.

Any big roster moves for elite?
Who will make a run at knocking off ML finally?

NL

Four team race, ML, Hawks, NL, & Crabs.
ML: Can they make it three in a row? Undersized, will that finally catch up with them or can they hold off until middle school when all madlax teams implode.
Hawks: Added leading scorer from the circuit, could be the missing piece on offense to push them to the title? Outstanding at all three levels, can they find a faceoff guy to get their offense the ball?
NL: Outstanding individual athletes, especially in the midfield. Can they play as team and sacrifice personal stats for team wins?
Crabs: Have the former Wolfpack and holdover Crabs jelled as a team? Do they have the depth to hang with ML, Hawks, and NL?

VLC, Clippers, and Preds new to the elite division, can they spring an upset on the top 4? Can Team 91 make into double digits on the scoreboard for the season? Hopefully they added some firepower to give the boys a chance this spring.

Seems like a pretty fair rundown. My two cents:

ML takes it again, no question. Don't think lack of size will catch up to them quite yet except maybe against the Hawks D - their individual talent and coaching is still top-notch.

If the Hawks goalie continues to play lights out, they have the best chance to make a run at ML. The kid from the Circuit is a good player but nothing special among the top attack lines on top Hoco teams (check out his stats against the 2 or 3 teams that actually competed with Nationals LC at the Circuit and didn't get blown out by 15), so I don't think that tips the balance too much.

NL will beat up on the bottom half of the league, have good games vs. Hawks and Crabs but won't be able to take it to ML. They won't get over the hump until the ML squad inevitably dissolves and NL takes on a bunch of that roster.

Crabs are still a year away at competing solidly with NL, Hawks and ML. Could surprise one or two of the better teams in the regular season, but won't be able to make a serious run at the 'ship quite yet.

VLC, Clippers and Preds will compete well with each other but won't be able to do any damage against the top teams. Clippers got smoked this weekend against NL and barely beat 91 at NL's tournament, and VLC didn't even bother competing in the top division at the tourney. Team 91 will have trouble scoring more than 10 goals in total this season.

HUGE DAY FOR JW AND HIS CRABS!! Going 3-0 with wins against Hawks and ML!! This new team will make a run for the ship this year! The defense, anchored by #0 will be something special to watch! The offense will continue to gel as the season begins this coming weekend! The future is bright for these young crabs!