By
Jeff Lund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Despite bumps in the road, ultimate goal still in sights.
The season deemed "the year of the 'Cat" by head coach Mickey-Miles Felton seemed to be right on as the Arizona men's lacrosse club team shot out to an 8-0 record in dominant fashion.
Then came a turning point in the season. A number of players were suspended for a violation of team rules, leaving the Laxcats vulnerable. Felton's team dropped the next two games to UC San Diego and NCAA Division III Wittier.
"Those were very winnable games had we been at full strength," Felton said following the losses.
The Laxcats rebounded with a win over No. 9 Auburn then league foe UCLA. There seemed to be something missing, however.
"We should have beat (UCLA and Auburn) by more," assistant coach Adam Hopkins said following the UCLA game.
But the Laxcats took the win and following a beating of the Tucson Lacrosse Club, they met their toughest weekend yet. A trip to Colorado to play No. 1 Colorado State and No. 11 Colorado.
Things fell apart for Arizona in the first game, as Colorado State proved it was the best team in the country with a 25-7 win. Still reeling from the loss, Colorado pulled away late in the game to hand Arizona its second straight loss.
The Laxcats avenged the loss to UC San Diego in the first round of the WCLL playoffs to set up a meeting with no. 4 Sonoma State.
The disciplined Cossacks kept the Laxcats out of their game and never let Felton's team in the game. Sonoma cruised to a 22-9 victory and eventually the WCLL championship.
In the consolation game, the Laxcats again took a loss to California, but in much different fashion. The Laxcats played spirited lacrosse and fought to a tie at the end of regulation, but eventually gave up a goal to the Golden Bears.
The Laxcats received an at-large bid to this month's National Championships where they will face none other than the Sonoma State.
But history may be on Arizona's side. After a loss to UCSD early in the season, the Laxcats dominated the Tritons in the rematch.
Felton said the opening game of the tournament is obviously important, and being that that game is against Sonoma makes it even more important.
"We will have to play like we did (against Cal)," Felton said. "If we maintain that throughout the tournament we will have a shot. I think playing Sonoma will test the character of the team. We know that we can play with them if we play our game."
