What an interesting year this has been.  I have to say that CA and Chatfield made me believers this year.  They have two of the best coaching staffs in the state and know how to neutralize other team’s strengths and expose their weaknesses.

My top 8 (had to expand it) going into playoffs

1) Arapahoe - they have done everything asked of them.  There stars stepped it up and they have a lot more depth than I expected.  Davis Guenther is my top Defensive player for the regular season

2) Cherry Creek - Depth, Depth and more Depth.  I still don't think they have the go to player that they will need to beat Arapahoe, but both teams play solid D and can make it to Invesco

3) CA - count me as a believer.  At the start of the year I thought Regis had the best D, I then thought it might be Fort Collins but know I am going with CA.  FCU and Regis might have kids going to bigger named colleges at goalie but I think Jordan Ulrich is the top goalie in state.  It’s hard to believe how he has come back from Vail a couple years ago.

4) Chatfield - Their coaching staff has been able to devise game plans to completely stop other teams.  They have held Mullen to 3 goals and Fort Collins to 4.  They might not win pretty all the time, but I wouldn't want to play them.  They are a senior lead team that has a chip on their shoulder, a good combination if you want to go deep in the playoff’s

5) Regis - what a turn around.  The defense has jelled, although I would still take CA's D over them.  Offense is up and down, but that seems to be how they are coached.  They want the unsettled situation and if they can get it they are much better offensively than if you force them into a ball control game. 

6) Kent - They are very young, but they are well coached and have some good goal tending.  I hate to count them out, but I think they will be watching the Semi's again this year.

7) Fort Collins - They have the stars you need to win it all, but they make too many mistakes.  Someone has to tell these guys that you can't take stupid penalty after stupid penalty and expect to win against the top teams.

8) Mullen - I think spring break took its toll on this team.  To me it seems that this is a team that is going in six different directions.  They have the players to be a great offense.  If things don't go well they have a tendency to start pointing fingers, and worrying about who's getting the stats.  Has the talent to be playing at Invesco, but also have the ability to implode and not make it to the Qrts.

Has anyone seen Air Academy play yet? I have been to a few games and their team can be dangerous. Tell me your thoughts of them because i think that they can make it past a first maybe even second round game in the playoffs.

Teams like Wheat Ridge, Heritage and Mtn Vista have played more top teams than Monarch, but have not had any high quality wins. Against the top programs, those teams have a mix of (i) some bad losses and (ii) some narrower than expected losses. So there's probably not a strong reason to rank any of those much ahead of any others at this point. Monarch and Wheat Ridge will play head-to-head.

who has Monarch played that makes them deserve to be in the top 10? besides getting crushed by FoCo

They have a good record but are not top ten.

Were almost a third of the way into the year, and at the beginning of the year I had some big questions for the top 6 teams, and some of them have answered some of them and others are still searching for those answers.

My top 6 now along with their pre-season question are:

1 Arapahoe - Needs: Depth to go with returning stars.  I have to say I am very impressed with this team's depth.  They are the most well rounded team in the state at this point of the season

2 Cherry Creek - Needs: To find a go to player in tight situations - I think they are still searching for this, although they way they have played as long as they can get a lead, they will be very hard to beat.

3 Fort Collins - Needs: Someone to score so they don't pass the ball around the circle all game.  They seem to be getting good scoring from the mid field, but they need to get scoring from the attack.  Defense gets a slight lean over Arapahoe because of the goalie position.

4. Mullen - Needs: A good not great Defense.  They still haven't found a Defense.  If they do their going to be scary, but they have to find a way to limit the other team.  Saturday vs Fort Collins should be telling.

5. CA - Needs Depth.  I was hoping they would have showed better  against Highlands Prep in FL.

6. Chatfield After they beat Kent I thought they had a chance to jump into the top 4, but was shocked by the lost to CA and their lack of offense against a very good CA defense.

Dropped

Regis - Defense - average without Tanners, and Still No Offense.  I think they will be back but don't think they will make the final 4 without a big change on the offensive side

Kent- Don't count them out, they could be in the top 4 before the end of the year.

Congratulations to Arapahoe for representing Colorado Lacrosse so well in Texas this week. Huge wins over #13 Dallas Episcopal 9-4 and #1 St. Marks 8-7 in overtime. The coachng staff and players at Arapahoe deserve the best!!!

It appears to be a down year for Kent. They looked terrible last night against Arapahoe. On the other hand, I don't beleive Arapahoe knows how good and how deep they are this year. Great coaching from Arapahoe's staff. The team was running on all cylinders.

Speed- Menter, Leary and LSM Thompson.

Defense - Gunter is the real deal.

Faceoff - Leary had Kent's number.

Goal - Thompson was on. Heard he just came back from broken arm.

Attack - Hunter Hall led the team last night. Colosimo needed an ice pack from all the shots he took.

Up and Comers - The coaching staff has a lot of young studs in Parietti and Bobzien.

Should be intetresting to see how the how the season shakes out for Arapahoe.

Kent's offense was timid and sloppy. Unlike Kent teams from the past. Their defense was on their heels all night. The score did not reflect the game. Total dominance from Arapahoe.

Juan Diego Catholic High School is the best team in the nation..

There are great contests this week with openers for several of the top 10 teams.  It will be a great week for lacrosse in colorado!  3 games have my interest:

Kent vs Chatfield

Regis vs Mullen

Creek vs Fort Collins Unified

These rankings might get shaken up a bit by the weekend.

Any thoughts?

Interesting assessment. I agree that anyone could win it, but not necessarily with your order.

Creek's go to Attackman will be Kendall Williams. Only a sophomore, but the closest thing to last years' Eric Law in the state. Most of Creek's talent is young, so I think they are a year away.

Kent is also young. They've got some big strong seniors middies, but their best team may be a year away, with their young talent.

Mullen will be an offensive force. Last year their middies were the scorers, this year it'll be their attack. They are senior laden at attack, so if they find a defense, this could be your 2010 champion.

Arapahoe has a lot more depth than you may realize. They graduated 18 seniors off last years' varsity, but just like the other big six, have a great sophomore class. I heard something in the neighborhood of 120 kids are trying out.

Regis, I believe you are very close on. I think you underestimate their defense however. Somehow, scoring or not, they always seem to be there towards the end.

You are also right on with FOCO. Except, there are two sophomore attackmen, and they are both very good. Arubarrena (sp?) and Ranson, are both going to be steller players.

2010 is going to be a fun year.  I think any of the top 6 can win it all.  All have great strenghts but also have some holes to fill.

My Top 6

1 Cherry Creek - Great all around team.  Very good under rated Goalie.  D, Middies and Attack are all solid.  Great coaching. (Needs: To find a go to player in tight situations)

2. Kent - Best Coaching staff which will be needed with a young team.  Very good goalies, down side two goalies.  Middies are talented but young.  Solid D. (Needs: Will Horn to lead middies to reach potential)

3. Mullen - Westside is right Best Offense in the state. But I think they will miss the finals because of their D.  Middies are solid.  They lack the Goalie to make it to the finals. (Needs: A good not great Defense)

4. Arapahoe - Solid all around team, with some stand outs in all three field positions.  Gunter (D), Colosimo (A) and Leary (M) but I don't think they have the needed depth around them or the Goalie to win it all.  (Needs: Depth to go with returning stars)

5. Regis - Will they score?  I think Marcus is there top offensive threat, but they will have trouble when it comes to winning games against good D's.  There D is good, but I wouldn't say the top in the state.  The Goalie position is solid, but I would put it behind Creek, Kent and Fort Collins.  (Needs: Consistant Offense)

6. Fort Collins  I think they have the strongest D with Newman, Kitchell and Laplante.  But there attack is being lead by a small sophomore and their mid-field doesn't have anyone I would worry about putting a LSM on. (Needs: Someone to score so they don't pass the ball around the circle all game)

2010 will be fun because all 6 teams can win it all.