The NCAA D1 Lacrosse Tournament Quarterfinals is the payoff round. Six of the eight participants didn’t qualify for last year’s NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. Duke, Michigan, Army, Penn State. Johns Hopkins, and Notre Dame were all spectators last May.
Duke vs. Michigan
Date: Saturday, May 20
Location: Albany
Stream: ESPNU
Time: 12:00 pm
Commentators: Chris Cotter and Paul Carcaterra
This doesn’t appear to be a great matchup on paper for Michigan, but games aren’t played on paper. Duke comes off a wake-up call, a 12-11 first-round win over Delaware, where they overcame their crucible moment. The Wolverines own regular-season losses to Virginia and Notre Dame out of the ACC, so they understand what they are facing. Michigan has been prone to late-game errors during the 2023 campaign, although they’ve learned to finish during their five-game win streak. Attackman catalyst Ryan Cohen did not play in the Cornell win, and his continued absence would be felt. The faceoff battle will be intense, with Duke’s Jake Naso squaring off against Nick Rowlett and Justin Wietfeldt. Darby draws the O’Neill assignment.
Georgetown vs. Virginia
Date: Saturday, May 20
Location: Albany
Stream: ESPNU
Time: 2:30 pm
Commentators: Chris Cotter and Paul Carcaterra
Cade Saustad will likely cover Tucker Dordevic, and Cole Kastner may draw the Brian Minicus assignment. The Hoya midfielder production will be a barometer as Virginia relies on three-and-a-half shorties. Meanwhile, UVA’s offensive interior passing with crease cuts from Xander Dickson and Payton Cormier will tax the Hoya defense, who’ve had off-ball issues all spring. FOGO Petey LaSalla may have an edge if James Reilly isn’t 100% for Georgetown. Hoya defender and PLL draft pick Will Bowen will likely draw the Connor Shellenberger assignment. How do the Georgetown defenders navigate thru picks and screens at X? Virginia has been vulnerable to transition attacks from opponents all year long, and Georgetown must morph turnovers gained into unsettled goal-scoring opportunities. When these teams met in the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament Quarterfinals at Hofstra, UVA bullied Georgetown, jumping out to a 10-1 halftime lead in a game that coined the moniker, Jurassic Park. I don’t see that happening again; I worry about Georgetown making enough defensive stops. We will see.
Buckle up, this game projects be lively with both teams capable of reaching the teens.
Notre Dame vs. Johns Hopkins
Date: Sunday, May 21
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium
Stream: ESPNU
Time: 12:00 pm
Commentators: Anish Shroff and Quint Kessenich
The Irish are a prohibitive favorite (4.5 goals) against the Blue Jays. If the Jays can find some faceoff success and goalie Tim Marcille gets hot, this may be a sixty-minute game. The Hopkins’ motion offense is a tricky cover. For Notre Dame, it’ll feel like defending Syracuse this spring. Meanwhile, the Kavanagh brothers will cause chaos off the ground and on the ride. Does Hopkins have defensive answers? Can they clear? The Jays are vulnerable at the SSDM position and must support and slide to Notre Dame dodging midfielders like Eric Dobson, Quinn McCahon, Brian Tevlin, and Reilly Gray.
How do Notre Dame defenders navigate through picks? Can Garrett Degnon find quality looks from range if they pack it in? Do the Irish whip out the ten-man ride? Nobody in the Big Ten rides particularly hard. The pressure and expectation for success weigh heavily on the Irish, a program seeking its first NCAA Lacrosse Tournament title. Can Hopkins get groundballs and win the gritty plays against a more athletic rival? The Blue Jay’s resurgent season has put the program back on the map after a three-year skid that featured records of 2-4, 4-9, and 7-9. A partisan Hopkins crowd with their pesky pep band is expected in Annapolis. The tailgating will be festive, with temperatures expected to hit 72 degrees with no rain forecasted.
Penn State vs. Army
Date: Sunday, May 21
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium
Stream: ESPNU
Time: 2:30 pm
Commentators: Anish Shroff and Quint Kessenich
Army gets a well-needed and advantageous extra day of rest. The irony of the Black Knights playing in Navy-Marine Corps Stadium hits hard. Defense comes first for Army. They are long, rangy, and more athletic than a typical Patriot League defensive unit. Anything is possible if they can handle the moment like they did in College Park. Once again, they’ll need contributions from all offensive parts; overreliance on Reese Burek and Jacob Morin won’t cut it. Will Coletti at the faceoff dot is a proven commodity and could tilt the possession war, while goalie Knox Dent stands tall between the pipes. AJ Pilate is likely to guard TJ Malone. Zone offense must be rehearsed in practice. Rising hard against Penn State will be critical. Staying true to your identity is essential in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament.
America’s team is easy to root for and neutral fans will swing to Army, even in Annapolis.
TJ Malone, Jack and Matt Traynor, and Jeff Winkoff stir the drink on offense for Penn State. Jack Posey is their best cover man. Their defensive improvement has been radical. Goalie Jack Fracyon has put together an All-American caliber season. Army and Penn State were resilient in their opening-round victories, showcasing uncommon resolve and competitive toughness. They were able to take a punch and get off the canvas.
Enjoy the games. Get out to Albany or Navy and purchase your tickets for Championship Weekend in Philadelphia!
