Every season has its ebbs and flows, featuring many ups and downs. With the college lacrosse season starting earlier and earlier every year, many teams are getting a chunk of their non-conference play done in February. These early months are when teams really find themselves and discover who they truly are. Some squads might build their resume and RPI in these early season matchups, but the reality is, it’s the end of the year when the wins matter the most. We are now on the brink of playoffs, and it’s do-or-die for just about every team.
So, which college lacrosse teams are performing at their peak in late April, and will that carry over into May? This is sometimes difficult to determine, as winning streaks towards the end of the year usually help build confidence. Late-season losses, on the other hand, can really sting and negatively affect any program’s momentum down the stretch. That said, there are three teams right now that have done everything possible over the past month to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the end of the season. So that begs the question: which teams are peaking at the right time?
Princeton (10-2)
The Princeton Tigers are having an extremely strong season. Their 10-2 record features an early season loss to Maryland and a tough Ivy League defeat against Cornell just about a month ago. Since that loss to the Big Red, the Tigers have been riding high on a six-game winning streak and look to close out the regular season against Yale on Saturday.
I’ve been hesitant about Princeton all season long. I think they’re a solid team, but I didn’t think they could truly make a run at a national championship or even Championship Weekend. However, there’s no denying their recent success has put them in a great position to peak at the right time heading into conference tournament play. Princeton has shown they can handle anyone in the Ivy League, even if some of the scorelines are closer than I’d like.
With quality wins over Penn State, Duke, and North Carolina, the Tigers have proven they can compete with top teams on any given day. Princeton has to be feeling pretty good about their season right now, and a six-game winning streak certainly boosts their confidence. It’ll be interesting to see if the Tigers can handle business down the stretch, but with a 10-2 record and one of the best winning streaks in the country, they’re getting hot at the right moment.
Penn State (9-3)
Even though Penn State has a solid record, I’m sure the coaching staff and players feel like they’ve left a lot on the table. A February overtime loss to Princeton is one they’d want back, especially considering they later took down the number-one team in the country, Cornell, just a few weeks later.
Penn State didn’t play its best games against Ohio State and Maryland, but since then, the team’s defense has really found a good rhythm. Their last three games include an 11-8 victory over Michigan, a 10-4 win over Johns Hopkins, and a 12-4 win over Rutgers. As we sit here in late April, heading into the conference tournament, Penn State is not a team I’d want to see on my schedule down the stretch. They’ve shown they have the talent to make it to Championship Weekend, but consistency is key. There’s no denying the Nittany Lions have been consistent in their last three games, but will that carry over into the conference tournament?
Penn State was in a similar position last year before making a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship, where they were absolutely demolished by Michigan. I’m sure Nittany Lions faithful don’t want to repeat that history this year. Regardless, Penn State is one of the hottest college lacrosse teams right now, which is everything they could hope for as we head into May.
Army (11-1)
Army has been nearly flawless all season long, boasting an 11-1 record. They’ve blown out just about everyone they’ve played and hold a nice ACC win over UNC. Their only loss came in mid-March against Boston University in overtime, but that feels like a distant memory now. The Black Knights are riding a four-game winning streak, which should extend to five after their matchup against Loyola on Friday.
Army sits in a good position to secure the Patriot League Tournament Championship if they continue handling business. It’s been well documented that this team has aspirations of making it back to Championship Weekend, and they truly feel they can compete for a national championship. While I wish Army was a little more battle-tested, there’s a good amount of confidence surrounding this team late in the season. With only one blemish on their resume and a near-flawless year, why can’t Army make a run?
America’s team is hot right now, and I’m sure they’re going to do everything in their power to avoid losing to Boston in the Patriot League Tournament like they did last year.
