In last week’s Division 1 Media Poll, there were 10 teams receiving votes (RV). For those unaware, that means there are 10 teams that at least one voter put in their Top 20 but didn’t quite have enough votes to average a Top 20 total. This means that the lacrosse landscape is as competitive as ever.
This week we look at games involving those RV teams and see who may propel themselves into the Top 20 next week.
Duke @ Syracuse
Date: Saturday, March 26, 12:00pm
Stream: ESPNU
Two teams that have stumbled throughout the season, ‘Cuse can vault themselves into the Top 20 with a win against Duke. Can the Syracuse defense stop this daunting Blue Devil attack?
Detroit Mercy @ High Point
Date: Saturday, March 26, 12:00pm
Stream: ESPN+
High Point has four losses all against top 11 teams, all of which were competitive. A win doesn’t move the needle much here, but a loss puts them below .500 and raises serious questions.
Army @ Loyola
Date: Saturday, March 26, 1:00pm
Stream: ESPN+
The winner of this game is in the Top 20 guaranteed, while the loser is likely out. Loyola lost four straight competitive games before winning three straight. Which Greyhound team will we get? Army has top end talent but might lack the consistent play and depth to be the Top 10 team we thought they were earlier this year.
Mercer @ Utah
Date: Saturday, March 26, 1:00pm
Stream: N/A
Utah has a chance to win their last six games coming off of a loss to Georgetown. A win against Mercer might be the spark they need before conference play.
Michigan @ Johns Hopkins
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2:00pm
Stream: ESPNU
The first big ten match for both squads, we’ll see which team is for real by the end of the day Saturday.
Saint Joseph’s @ Wagner
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2:30pm
Stream: NEC Front Row
Saint Joseph’s schedule is lackluster until they play Penn in late April. At 6-2 they control their own fate and Wagner is nothing more than a stumbling block.
Richmond @ Hampton
Date: Saturday, March 26, 3:00pm
Stream: N/A
The Spiders control their own destiny. They have a talented team that has played Top 10 teams closely. The much improved Pirates are a program that you can’t overlook, as a loss would be deadly to playoff hopes.
Delaware @ Villanova
Date: Saturday, March 26, 4:00pm
Stream: N/A
These two teams are interchangeable in many Division 1 rankings, the Blue Hens sit at 6-2 with losses against Michigan and Duke, while Villanova has three losses to highly ranked Ivy League teams by a total of 5 goals. While the Wildcats are the lower ranked team, they are my favorite in this matchup.
Dartmouth @ Harvard
Date: Saturday, March 26, 4:00pm
Stream: ESPN+
Harvard has impressed everyone this year but Dartmouth has quietly had a 4-2 season with the steady play of goalie Daniel Hincks. The Crimson look to continue this historic run with a win over an Ivy League foe.
