The most anticipated lacrosse season in recent memory also might be the hardest season to forecast given the upheaval of the past year. Army was scheduled to play UMass this weekend. Instead, Army takes on Virginia. Expect more changes, and not just in the rankings. The landscape can shift on a week-to-week, if not-day-to-day, basis.
Still, with the return of lacrosse, we couldn’t help ourselves.
Here a five bold predictions for 2021.
1. Mac O’Keefe sets NCAA goals record before April
The three-time All-American from Syosset (N.Y.) has scored as many collegiate goals, 192, as Gary Gait. Still, O’Keefe was left off many preseason first-team All-American lists, in large part because of Grant Ament’s graduation.
After O’Keefe broke onto the scene with 51 goals his freshman year, he scored 35 goals in 14 games when Ament was sidelined for the entire 2018 season with a foot injury. Ament’s return in 2019 coincided with O’Keefe scoring a Big Ten single-season record 78 goals that helped propel the Nittany Lions to their first Final Four in program history. Last year, he registered 28 through seven games, which leaves him 20 away from tying the mark set by Justin Guterding.
“Is that good?” Ament asked, rhetorically, on Twitter in response to the US Lacrosse Magazine Penn State preview that highlighted that statistic. Correlation does not always imply causation.
The first half of Nittany Lions’ schedule, announced last week, features five conference games through March 20. You do the math.
2. Four ACC Teams Make Final Four
After Virginia and UNC’s performances this weekend, it’s not that hard to imagine the Final Four turning into a de facto ACC tournament, which will not be held this year.
Despite Duke’s early struggles against both Denver and Robert Morris, the Blue Devils prevailed in both contests in large part because of their unfathomable depth. They’re bound to only get better as the offense builds continuity and personnel combinations get more defined.
It’s still early. Other top teams like Maryland and Penn State in the Big Ten have yet to take the field. We won’t get our first looks at Notre Dame (No.10) or Syracuse (No. 2) until this weekend, either.
But if this past weekend was any indication, we’re in for a treat.