NCAA Men's Lacrosse Week 10 Preview: Odds, Rivalries, More

Schedule | TV Listings | Rankings

It doesn’t get much better than this. A pair of top five matchups and two of the best rivalries in any sport – Army vs. Navy and Duke vs. North Carolina – highlight this weekend’s calendar. 

All of this comes against a shrinking backdrop of opportunities to make a case for the NCAA tournament. 

In this week’s bracketology report, Patrick Stevens has a unique scenario where, based on the current numbers, the last three teams in are from the ACC (Syracuse, Notre Dame and Duke) while the first three teams out are from the Big Ten (Michigan, Johns Hopkins and Rutgers). 

Obviously this weekend’s results will play a role in altering those metrics and setting the table for what’s to come in May.

FIVE TO WATCH

No. 18 Fairfield (10-1, 3-1 CAA) at Delaware (6-4, 2-2 CAA)

Sat 12 pm EDT | Watch: Flo Sports | DK: Delaware -1.5

Fairfield storyline to watch: It’s rare that a longstick midfielder is the best-known player on a team, but Julian Radossich has been creating chaos from the jump in the Stag’s magical 10-1 season. Just a sophomore, he’s already set the school record with 59 caused turnovers in his career – including a single-season record 32 so far this year.

Delaware storyline to watch: On a relatively young Blue Hen offense, junior Brendan Powers is having a breakout season. The son of one of Delaware’s all-time greats – Randy Powers – the younger Powers leads Delaware with 38 points (28g, 10a). He’s notched 27 of those in the last five games and has scored at least five goals four times this season.

No. 7 Army (9-1, 4-1 PL) at Navy (7-4, 3-2 PL)

Sat 12:30 pm EDT | Watch: CBS Sports Network | DK: Army -5

Army storyline to watch: Army being shut out of the NCAA tourney last year means they’ll be laser-focused for every game this season. Not that getting ready for its biggest rival is ever a challenge. Army has won the last two meetings in this historic series by five goals, but had lost four of five before that. The veterans will be key this game and senior Jackson Eicher is closing his career in style. He leads the team in goals (35) and assists (25) and has scored at least seven points in six of the last seven games.

Navy storyline to watch: The Mids ended a string of five straight games in single digits with a 14-8 victory over Lafayette last Friday night. Navy has stayed afloat – winning three of its last four – thanks to the defense and junior goalie Dan Daly. Daly has made 49 saves during that stretch, including 35 in the last two games. To match Army, though, the young offense will need to carry the momentum from Lafayette. Two of the top three scorers – William Goers and Jack Ponzio – are first-years.

No. 4 Maryland (8-2, 1-2 B1G) at No. 2 Ohio State (11-1, 3-0 B1G)

Sat 2 pm EDT | Watch: Big Ten Network | DK: Maryland -1.5

Maryland storyline to watch: The Terps scored a season-low six goals in last week’s 8-6 upset loss to Rutgers. Ohio State’s ninth-ranked defense isn’t the ideal salve for an offense that hasn’t been dominant all year. Maryland has shot fairly well this year, its 32.1 shooting percentage is 11th in the country, but they’ll need to be even better on Saturday against one of the nation’s best goalies. Ohio State’s Caleb Fyock ranks third in the country with a 62.6 save percentage.

Ohio State storyline to watch: One of the few blemishes during Ohio State’s nation’s best 11-game winning streak has been protecting the ball. The Buckeyes are averaging 17.7 turnovers per game, ranking 56th in the country. That’s usually a recipe for disaster against Maryland’s efficiency. Ohio State has won four games this year in which they turned it over at least 20 times, but they won’t want to press their luck being careless with the ball this weekend.

No. 5 Syracuse (9-2) vs. No. 1 Cornell (9-1) in Uniondale, N.Y.

Sat 4 pm EDT | Watch: Corrigan Sports Network | DK: Cornell -1.5

Syracuse storyline to watch: Owen Hiltz, Michael Leo and Joey Spallina have combined for a little under half of Syracuse’s goals. Who else will step up in a game in which Syracuse needs a big offensive showing? Cornell has scored at least a dozen goals every game this year, so the Orange offense will have to bring it.

Cornell storyline to watch: The Big Red’s offense, ranked No. 1 in the country, has been fueled by very strong work on faceoffs. Jack Cascadden has won 140 of 234 draws this year, but he’ll face his toughest challenge of the year in Syracuse’s John Mullen. Mullen ranks fourth in the country with a 64.7 winning percentage and is coming off a 16 of 23 effort against a strong Notre Dame unit. Can Cascadden win extra possession for Cornell?

No. 11 North Carolina (8-2, 1-0 ACC) at No. 10 Duke (9-3, 0-1 ACC)

Sat 4 pm EDT | Watch: ACC Network | DK: UNC -2.5

North Carolina storyline to watch: Owen Duffy and Dom Pietramala get the headlines, but the Tar Heels defense blanked Virginia for the final 24-plus minutes of Saturday’s 18-9 victory. It was the seventh time North Carolina has held an opponent to single digits and the Tar Heels defense could be a key against a Duke offense that’s not as explosive as it’s been in recent years. Carolina has 85 caused turnovers this season, led by freshman Chase Cellucci’s 16.

Duke storyline to watch: As noted earlier, Duke is the last team currently projected in the NCAA tournament field, so it’s very clear how important this game is for the Blue Devils. A key player to watch is junior midfielder Max Sloat. He’s second on the team in scoring with 31 points (18g, 13a) and he’s had at least a hat trick in the Blue Devils last three wins – Providence, Richmond and Boston University.