Fresh off a sweep in Texas, the Arizona men's lacrosse team opens its home season this weekend with matches against Oakland and Texas Tech.
Tonight the Laxcats face a Grizzlies squad soaked in recent controversy. The US Lacrosse Men's Division Intercollegiate Associates board of directors ruled Tuesday that Oakland will be placed on three years' probation for allowing an ineligible player to compete. According to uslia.com, the team has since agreed to forfeit every game from its 2002 and 2003 seasons, and has been automatically eliminated from tournament play in 2004.
For 11th-ranked Oakland (1-0), the ruling negates what was promising to be a strong season. Attackmen William Binge (five goals per game) and Towbey Kassa (4.3 gpg, 1.7 assists per game) are ranked one and two in the CCLA Conference point standings. Oakland is first in its division.
Arizona is riding high after two strong road victories last weekend. The Laxcats (2-1) overtook two of the Lone Star State's best teams, No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 23 Texas, by scores of 8-5 and 14-12, respectively. Senior attackman Jeems Lochridge scored three goals in each game, while sophomore attackmen Adam Paris and Greg Polheber each scored six points against the Longhorns.
Laxcats head coach Kenny Broschart said the wins weren't unexpected.
"I wasn't surprised. I thought our play last weekend was pretty characteristic of our team," he said.
Arizona returns to Murphy Stadium Sunday afternoon to face 25th-ranked Texas Tech, which, like the Laxcats, has an age-challenged lineup. The team features only four seniors, including attackman Scott Gallagher and middleman Eric Glass.
Coming off a 25-2 dismantling of Rice, the Red Raiders face Arizona State and Oakland this weekend before their meeting with Arizona.
"These games against ranked teams are must-win games," said Broschart, whose Laxcats will play their fourth consecutive top 25 opponent. "They show what the team's going to be like for the rest of the season."