Staples Boys Lacrosse Tops FCIAC rankings

Based on the FCIAC boys  lacrosse standings, Darien (11-0)  is one-half game better than Staples (10-0) for the league's  best record.

However, according to the points formula the FCIAC uses to determine its eight playoff teams, the Wreckers rank ahead of the Blue Wave.

Here's how the formula, which is similar to the state's high school footbll system, works: teams get 100 points for each conference victory and 10 points for each win attained by a league opponent it has beaten.

For example, Staples beat Norwalk, 14-1, on Saturday. The Bears have three league wins, so that's 30 bonus points for the Wreckers, in addition to 100 points for the win itself.

A team's final average is determined by dividing its aggregate point total by the number of games it has played.

Here are the top four though Saturday (each team has one league game left):

1. Staples (10-0)       142.0
2. Darien (11-0)        136.4
3. New Canaan (10-1)    125.4
4. Ridgefield (9-1)     118.4

It makes sense for the FCIAC to employ a points system from the standpoint that teams play an uneven number of league games (some play 12, other play 11). However, it seems really odd that the FCIAC would allow an unbalanced schedule, rather than a uniform one.

A couple things are interesting about Staples leading the FCIAC's points system. First, the Wreckers rank behind both Darien (first) and New Canaan (third) in laxpower.com's state rankings. Staples is fourth.

Also, the Wreckers did not play Darien and New Canaan during the regular season (Darien beat New Canaan, 11-5).

What this does suggest, however, is that Staples played a tougher overall FCIAC schedule than Darien. The Wreckers beat Ridgefield, 11-10, in overtime in their season opener, and Darien did not play the Tigers.

Still, you always have to take so-called formulas and computer rankings with a grain of salt because they leave out many variables that can't always be measured objectively. Fortunately, the FCIAC championship will be determined on the field, not by computers.

While Staples is having the best season in the program's history, some observers will say the Wreckers won't truly prove  themselves until they beat Darien or New Canaan. They likely will get that chance in the FCIAC playoffs.

After the eight playoff participants are named, the coaches will vote to determine the seedings one through seven. While coaches can't vote for their own team, this process frankly seems absurd.

One might think at this point that the actual standings would determine the seedings (otherwise, why even have  standings for the first eight teams?)

It won't look good, for example, if Staples is seeded/voted third even though the Wreckers could finish unbeaten in  league play.

The FCIAC may argue that the fairest way to seed the teams is through a vote since they don't play the same schedules (that is, a full round robin against every opponent in the league, like in baseball and softball.)

The argument does have some merit, except that  all the FCIAC football teams don't play each other in the same season, and the championship game in that sport is contested between the clubs with the two best records, period.