Anonymous wrote:Who cares. Some games teams play well and the other team doesn’t. Any of the top 20 teams can beat each other on any given day. Not the end of the world for M and D or Heroes or Capital or Coppermine or Skywalkers to lose to each other or any other top 20 team. Worry more about how your daughter is developing in the program she is in and thank god there is a great number of teams that will provide great competition for each other so they are not playing the same 5 teams every tournament.

Why is it expectable for perceived top teams to have losses, yet tier 2/3 teams that beat them or compete closely aren't recognized as improving?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, what happened to M&D Black this weekend? I did not see that coming in that bracket.

In looking at the scores, they finished 2-0-2. Are you seeing something different?

I think it is not a stretch to think that M&D with their new additions and being in the second bracket was thinking they were going to be 4-0 this weekend and ties to LI Liberty and CClax are not something to celebrate.

Much like Heros was probably hoping their new additions would cement them as the top team in the country, but instead they lost/tied more games this weekend than basically the entire summer last year.

Aces

Hero’s close games with top teams is understandable. The teams at the top are going to trade wins, and some weekends will be better than others. M&D playing tight games with second or third tier teams in a lower bracket is more concerning. Why were they down in a lower bracket in the first place?

Hero's was in the lower bracket at Chesapeake last weekend and tied LI Liberty. That same "second or third tier team" mentioned above.

As PPs have stated, any of the top 10 teams can beat each other or be competitive. Teams are figuring out lineups and what works and what doesn't work.

Nice troll attempt though

You have to admit that M&D Black, as of the premier clubs in the country, performed below expectations at MidAtlantic, no?

CCLax BLACK (Prior Year #24) - Tie
LI Liberty Black (Prior Year #26) - Tie
Jesters Black (Prior year #15) - Win by 1
Team 180 Elite (Never heard of them) - Win by 6

Team 180 is Urban Elite from last year who ended the season as #16

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which one of you is over on BOTC saying they've heard rumors of players looking to leave their team and relocate to Capital this winter?

That's doozy of a rumor. Likely made up, or as they say in the intel world, intended to influence rather than inform.

Would Capital even take a midseason addition? After all the to-do about their tryout process it seems unlikely to me?

Anonymous wrote:Which one of you is over on BOTC saying they've heard rumors of players looking to leave their team and relocate to Capital this winter?

That's doozy of a rumor. Likely made up, or as they say in the intel world, intended to influence rather than inform.

Which one of you is over on BOTC saying they've heard rumors of players looking to leave their team and relocate to Capital this winter?

Who cares. Some games teams play well and the other team doesn’t. Any of the top 20 teams can beat each other on any given day. Not the end of the world for M and D or Heroes or Capital or Coppermine or Skywalkers to lose to each other or any other top 20 team. Worry more about how your daughter is developing in the program she is in and thank god there is a great number of teams that will provide great competition for each other so they are not playing the same 5 teams every tournament.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, what happened to M&D Black this weekend? I did not see that coming in that bracket.

In looking at the scores, they finished 2-0-2. Are you seeing something different?

I think it is not a stretch to think that M&D with their new additions and being in the second bracket was thinking they were going to be 4-0 this weekend and ties to LI Liberty and CClax are not something to celebrate.

Much like Heros was probably hoping their new additions would cement them as the top team in the country, but instead they lost/tied more games this weekend than basically the entire summer last year.

Aces

Hero’s close games with top teams is understandable. The teams at the top are going to trade wins, and some weekends will be better than others. M&D playing tight games with second or third tier teams in a lower bracket is more concerning. Why were they down in a lower bracket in the first place?

Hero's was in the lower bracket at Chesapeake last weekend and tied LI Liberty. That same "second or third tier team" mentioned above.

As PPs have stated, any of the top 10 teams can beat each other or be competitive. Teams are figuring out lineups and what works and what doesn't work.

Nice troll attempt though

You have to admit that M&D Black, as of the premier clubs in the country, performed below expectations at MidAtlantic, no?

CCLax BLACK (Prior Year #24) - Tie
LI Liberty Black (Prior Year #26) - Tie
Jesters Black (Prior year #15) - Win by 1
Team 180 Elite (Never heard of them) - Win by 6

Multiple top ten teams have beaten Jesters by 1 goal this season (M&D, Crush, Heros). They play a very good zone that has gotten progressively better throughout the season. Heros also tied Liberty. Liberty is not a bad team. The only surprising result there is CCLax.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, what happened to M&D Black this weekend? I did not see that coming in that bracket.

In looking at the scores, they finished 2-0-2. Are you seeing something different?

I think it is not a stretch to think that M&D with their new additions and being in the second bracket was thinking they were going to be 4-0 this weekend and ties to LI Liberty and CClax are not something to celebrate.

Much like Heros was probably hoping their new additions would cement them as the top team in the country, but instead they lost/tied more games this weekend than basically the entire summer last year.

Aces

Hero’s close games with top teams is understandable. The teams at the top are going to trade wins, and some weekends will be better than others. M&D playing tight games with second or third tier teams in a lower bracket is more concerning. Why were they down in a lower bracket in the first place?

Hero's was in the lower bracket at Chesapeake last weekend and tied LI Liberty. That same "second or third tier team" mentioned above.

As PPs have stated, any of the top 10 teams can beat each other or be competitive. Teams are figuring out lineups and what works and what doesn't work.

Nice troll attempt though

You have to admit that M&D Black, as of the premier clubs in the country, performed below expectations at MidAtlantic, no?

CCLax BLACK (Prior Year #24) - Tie
LI Liberty Black (Prior Year #26) - Tie
Jesters Black (Prior year #15) - Win by 1
Team 180 Elite (Never heard of them) - Win by 6

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weekends:
28s is a strong division with alot of good teams and good parity... whichever team shows up and makes less mistakes will win.

Capital - Still has some work to do, but they have some good pieces to build off
M&D - definitely improved, but figuring out their new players
Coppermine - probably taken a step back, but have the talent to compete
Heroes - probably the most talent but are figuring out roles and need to be more consistent
Crush - steady, consistent probably not the best team but are always in the mix
SW - who knows which team will show, don't think their adds added anything
Eagles Stix - might have the top 2028 but have some weaknesses
Jesters and Liberty - a few good players and can challenge but not as deep
Aces - a couple of really good players but not that deep

No need to hate on any of these teams, the games are fun, competitive and good lacrosse

Good assessment. I would add that locally MDU East may remain relevant as well (they pounded Jesters and lost by one to Liberty). And M&D and Capital will play Laxachusetts next weekend so we can get a relative read on the MA teams (as LXC played Mass Elite). Will need to wait until mid-summer to see what Florida, Colorado, and CA are bringing to the table a the high school level.

And MDU East, beat CClax by 1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah, what happened to M&D Black this weekend? I did not see that coming in that bracket.

In looking at the scores, they finished 2-0-2. Are you seeing something different?

I think it is not a stretch to think that M&D with their new additions and being in the second bracket was thinking they were going to be 4-0 this weekend and ties to LI Liberty and CClax are not something to celebrate.

Much like Heros was probably hoping their new additions would cement them as the top team in the country, but instead they lost/tied more games this weekend than basically the entire summer last year.

Aces

Hero’s close games with top teams is understandable. The teams at the top are going to trade wins, and some weekends will be better than others. M&D playing tight games with second or third tier teams in a lower bracket is more concerning. Why were they down in a lower bracket in the first place?

Hero's was in the lower bracket at Chesapeake last weekend and tied LI Liberty. That same "second or third tier team" mentioned above.

As PPs have stated, any of the top 10 teams can beat each other or be competitive. Teams are figuring out lineups and what works and what doesn't work.

Nice troll attempt though

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weekends:
28s is a strong division with alot of good teams and good parity... whichever team shows up and makes less mistakes will win.

Capital - Still has some work to do, but they have some good pieces to build off
M&D - definitely improved, but figuring out their new players
Coppermine - probably taken a step back, but have the talent to compete
Heroes - probably the most talent but are figuring out roles and need to be more consistent
Crush - steady, consistent probably not the best team but are always in the mix
SW - who knows which team will show, don't think their adds added anything
Eagles Stix - might have the top 2028 but have some weaknesses
Jesters and Liberty - a few good players and can challenge but not as deep
Aces - a couple of really good players but not that deep

No need to hate on any of these teams, the games are fun, competitive and good lacrosse

Good assessment. I would add that locally MDU East may remain relevant as well (they pounded Jesters and lost by one to Liberty). And M&D and Capital will play Laxachusetts next weekend so we can get a relative read on the MA teams (as LXC played Mass Elite). Will need to wait until mid-summer to see what Florida, Colorado, and CA are bringing to the table a the high school level.

Anonymous wrote:After 2 weekends:
28s is a strong division with alot of good teams and good parity... whichever team shows up and makes less mistakes will win.

Capital - Still has some work to do, but they have some good pieces to build off
M&D - definitely improved, but figuring out their new players
Coppermine - probably taken a step back, but have the talent to compete
Heroes - probably the most talent but are figuring out roles and need to be more consistent
Crush - steady, consistent probably not the best team but are always in the mix
SW - who knows which team will show, don't think their adds added anything
Eagles Stix - might have the top 2028 but have some weaknesses
Jesters and Liberty - a few good players and can challenge but not as deep
Aces - a couple of really good players but not that deep

No need to hate on any of these teams, the games are fun, competitive and good lacrosse

I think another reason why we're seeing up and down results from some teams (aside from it being fall) is that many teams are getting used to playing a team game where the goal is to showcase all rather than win. I saw some of the Coppermine/Heros game this weekend and I think this made a huge difference. I don't think Coppermine sub their offense at all and their top two players get double the touches anyone else on the field gets. Heros added some great players, but they're subbing a ton and trying to figure out how to play a team game that doesn't always key on "all-star" players. The goal of the game has shifted somewhat for a lot of teams, including Capital who is obviously probably still trying to figure out who works well together and working to get everyone on the same page.

Nitpicking, but there weren't vastly fewer youth participants then. And college adds there's been a bump, but most of those dozen teams are on the struggle bus. And the most relevant recruiting perception will be the 27s. But I digress.

The 28s had a good weekend. Maybe a foretelling weekend. Let's see if they can keep it up.

Anonymous wrote:When you look across all three Capital Blue Teams this fall it is clear they are in a bit of decline relative to years past - specifically talking about teams in the the 2018-2021 age range

My last time responding to a Capital troll post, but a few things need to be said.

--First, my daughter was 9 in 2018. Truly don't care about those teams in an era when lacrosse had vastly fewer youth participants and a smaller group of D1 programs; I love history, but totally uninterested in your perception, without data, on this. The relevant recruiting classes and coaches perception will be on the 2025s and 2026s, not the 2018 Cap Blue team for goodness sakes.

--Second, if the 2026 team represents a "decline", I want the "decline" for my daughter and her teammates too. Clearly among the best recruiting results in the country, and a top 10 team that appears to have a strong culture.

--Third, even after just two weekends of playing together, a few things are clear about the 2028s--they are a talented and hard-working group of girls who will be competitive against anyone over the next 3 seasons, and they are nice, smart kids to boot. They have experienced and dedicated coaches who have already given my daughter more specific developmental feedback and positive affirmation than any group she has played for in the past. And the parents are great people who I enjoy being around. That's a pretty good situation.

--Fourth, Capital will be the best club to support recruiting for the 2028s in the DC area for at least 50 miles north, and all the way south, and is unmatched with Ivies and high-academics over the past several classes.

So, you can take your "decline" and stuff it somewhere. We are all set here.

After 2 weekends:
28s is a strong division with alot of good teams and good parity... whichever team shows up and makes less mistakes will win.

Capital - Still has some work to do, but they have some good pieces to build off
M&D - definitely improved, but figuring out their new players
Coppermine - probably taken a step back, but have the talent to compete
Heroes - probably the most talent but are figuring out roles and need to be more consistent
Crush - steady, consistent probably not the best team but are always in the mix
SW - who knows which team will show, don't think their adds added anything
Eagles Stix - might have the top 2028 but have some weaknesses
Jesters and Liberty - a few good players and can challenge but not as deep
Aces - a couple of really good players but not that deep

No need to hate on any of these teams, the games are fun, competitive and good lacrosse