NW women preseason hype!

Ok, so now that the preseason is drawing to close here's some
preseason ranking from the toughest region in the nation.

So the top three in the region are actually all from the same section!

1.Stanford - defending champs. The prototype of an ultimate
powerhouse, Stanford has won more titles and turned out more quality
club players than any other college women's program. Gwen Ambler will
be hard to replace, but Jen Burney, Karen Milch, and Enessa Janes will
continue to be standouts. They also pick up an experienced handler
from Harvard.

2.UC Davis - This team was great last  year! Unfortunately they  had a
tough regionals with their star player sick. If they had gotten out of
the region they would have been my pick to make semis at nationals.
Only slightly behind stanford this year because stanford has a better
mental game. Has probably the most intact roster of the top teams.
They graduate handler, Lisa Kim but most of the crew that has built
this team is still together. All region and  club national champ Julie
Baker leads this squad (the best thrower in college women's hands
down). They pick up Sarah Pittiglio from Berkeley (tear) to join an
already experienced squad.

3.UC Berkeley - this is my personal favorite :) The pie queens
graduate a number of players most notably receivers courtney fogal and
cody williams. But they keep all of their handler core including all
region players rowan sill, and andrea jung. 4 grad school school
transfers (2 from michigan, 1 MIT, 1 Chicago) and a phenomenal
recruiting class make this team deeper and stronger than last year.

4.Oregon - still good, still have chelsea, meryl, mary, serena... plus
I hear they may be adding another infant on the sidelines.

UBC don't know where to put them. Don't know who they have. I know
they have Megan, and this little fast french canadian who loves celine
dion... Anyways have always been competitive and at least in the
backdoor game to go since I've been coaching. Always fast, athletic,
and love the IO flick.

5.Santa Cruz - a great young team that came a long way last year. Club
national Champ and all region Claire Meneely, and Bonnie and Jamie
McPike anchor this talented team. They add freshman phenom Lillian who
has junior's experience, to an already fun to watch team. Sol is well
coached and could be dangerous by the end of the year - a spoiler at
regionals.

The rest? I'm not sure mebbe chico, uw, plu, whitman.

The Berkeley B team may have something to say about stanford's claim
of being the best b-team in the nation this year.

So whaddya think? The top three in the region this year will all be
nationally competitive, in the top 6 nationally. One of them will stay
home. Why couldn't have Berkeley beat Brown and got that strength
wildcard...

matt tsang