Anonymous wrote:SJC - clear favorite to dominate the area and a legit national # 1 contender, especially with face-off upgrade. Very strong at every single position on the field and very well coached. Lucky for them they didn't lose the bulk of their 2022 class to an attempted mutiny.
Landon - ascending - yes they lost a lot of goals with U of Michigan graduate, but 22 class has talent, particularly at keeper and D. Younger players on attack showed their potential last year and should only get better. Early IAC favorite.
Prep - descending - will be taking a step backwards in 2022. Lost just about all their firepower from last year. Not sure the 23s will be ready for prime time. May win the possession battle, but lose a lot of games.
Bullis - descending. While Prep lost a lot of goals, Bullis graduated top players at the other end of the field at Goalie and D. Rising senior Middie might be the best all around player in the conference, but once teams started to lock him down last year, rest of team struggled to put ball in net. Could be a long season.
PVI - Looking back at 2021, how to interpret losing to a dominant SJC or beating an awful Gonzaga? Regardless, losing to a weak Episcopal team in VA St tourney may have been more revealing of where PVI sits in the pecking order. No clear superstars, but plenty of kids that can play at a high level. Expect a team that will be fighting for 2nd in WCAC, but won't come within 5 goals of STJ and probably not as strong, at least on paper, as the top teams in even a weakened IAC.
SSSA - most inconsistent team last year with some big wins and some terrible losses. 2x Rising seniors at attack can run up goals in a hurry, goalie can be red hot or ice cold, just not sure about the rest of the field. And unless they solve their face-off woes they might struggle to get the ball up to their potent attack. Good coaching and a maturing goalie who finds more confidence could see SSSA outperforming expectations and finishing 3rd in the IAC ahead of either Bullis or Prep.
Gonzaga - who knows? Last season was a total disaster - started later than most, couldn't play at home, injuries. Team seemed to just give up by the end. Will this be a bounce back year or was last season the beginning of a spiral downward for this group?
Episcopal - Nobody outside the Commonwealth of VA was impressed with their state title last year. Chickening out of the IAC tourney was weak tea. Lost a key player in transfer portal, but otherwise not sure team gets much better or worse heading into 2022 season - will compete among the bottom half of the conference and maybe pull off an upset or two, but not contending.
STA - last in area, but kids will go to good colleges.
Prep’s face off kid and their class of 2023 will have them back in position as a top three team in the area. Landon will not win a face off. I agree that the Bears have some nice young players who will be big time contributors, but it will not be enough.
Also, what mutiny happened at St. John’s? Are the coaches crazy?