NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament: A Wide-Open Race to Foxborough
The journey to collegiate lacrosse supremacy has commenced, with sixteen teams vying for the coveted national championship trophy. The road culminates on Memorial Day in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where the nation’s best will battle for ultimate glory. This year’s tournament field features a mix of familiar powerhouses and hungry contenders, promising an exciting and unpredictable postseason.
Notably absent from the bracket are several traditional lacrosse giants. Programs like Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Denver, and Loyola (Maryland), all with rich histories and national titles to their names, failed to qualify for this year’s tournament. Their absence opens the door for new teams to rise and potentially challenge the established order. However, despite the missing blue bloods, the tournament remains heavily populated with programs that have experienced championship success, even if some victories are distant memories.
The opening weekend features eight compelling matchups, with seeded teams enjoying the advantage of playing on their home turf. Victors will advance to the quarterfinal round, hosted in Hempstead, New York, and Annapolis, Maryland, setting the stage for intense battles on the path to Championship Weekend.
A compelling narrative mirroring the recent men’s basketball tournament surrounds this year’s lacrosse championship: the quest for a rare three-peat. Notre Dame, the two-time defending champion, faces a daunting challenge in their pursuit of a third consecutive title. The last program to achieve this feat was Princeton, which dominated the sport from 1996 to 1998. The Fighting Irish, while managing to secure a tournament berth, did not earn a seed, highlighting the difficult road ahead.
Their title defense begins with a challenging road game against Big Ten tournament champion Ohio State. The irony of this matchup is palpable, considering it was Ohio State that defeated Notre Dame in football, preventing them from claiming that national crown. While arguably the most intriguing matchup of the round of 16, the pairing seems particularly unfavorable for both teams. Ohio State previously secured a narrow 10-9 victory at Notre Dame earlier in the season, but an early-season loss to Utah negatively impacted their overall seeding.
The weekend also features a rematch between Harvard and Syracuse. Harvard pulled off a 15-14 victory at Syracuse earlier in the season, a result that ultimately played a crucial role in Harvard securing the final at-large bid, edging out Army.
Beyond the team narratives, individual star power will be on full display throughout the tournament. Cornell’s CJ Kirst is the undisputed star of the college lacrosse world this year. The Tewaaraton Award favorite shattered the Division I record for career goals earlier in the season. Kirst enters the tournament with a remarkable 98 points, consisting of 68 goals and 30 assists, averaging an impressive 6.53 points per game. His offensive prowess, coupled with the contributions of teammates Ryan Goldstein and Michael Long, fuels a Cornell offense that leads the nation in scoring, averaging 16.47 goals per game.
However, the tournament isn’t solely about new faces. Reigning Championship Weekend most outstanding player Chris Kavanagh returns for Notre Dame, eager to lead his team on another deep tournament run. Other notable players to watch include Syracuse attackman Joey Spallina, Maryland goalkeeper Logan McNaney, and Duke’s versatile midfielder Andrew McAdorey. These players possess the talent and experience to significantly impact their teams’ chances of success.
Ohio State and Penn State are two programs that have reached Championship Weekend in the past but have yet to secure the ultimate prize. This year, unfortunately, only one of them can advance to Foxborough, as they are slated to meet in the quarterfinal round if they both emerge victorious this weekend. Similar to Ohio State, Penn State faces a challenging first-round matchup against a high-scoring Colgate squad that found its stride at the perfect time, winning the Patriot League tournament.
The path to the national championship is paved with challenges, compelling storylines, and exceptional talent. The opening weekend promises to deliver thrilling lacrosse action as teams battle for the opportunity to advance and continue their pursuit of the ultimate goal.
First Round Schedule:
Saturday, May 10 (All Times Eastern)
- Richmond (13-3) at North Carolina (10-4), noon
- Towson (11-5) at Princeton (12-3), 2:30 p.m.
- Colgate (10-7) at Penn State (10-4), 5 p.m.
- Georgetown (11-4) at Duke (12-5), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 11
- Notre Dame (8-4) at Ohio State (14-2), noon
- Air Force (9-7) at Maryland (11-3), 2:30 p.m.
- Harvard (10-4) at Syracuse (11-5), 5 p.m.
- Albany (10-8) at Cornell (14-1), 7:30 p.m.
The tournament promises a blend of established programs seeking to reaffirm their dominance and hungry underdogs eager to disrupt the status quo. The absence of some traditional powers creates opportunities for new contenders to emerge, adding an element of unpredictability to the proceedings. With star players ready to shine and compelling matchups on the horizon, the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament is poised to deliver a thrilling journey to the championship game. The road to Foxborough is open, and the quest for the title is officially underway.
