D-I Women's Final Four Preview: History, Pregame Reading and More

The last weekend of the 2023 lacrosse season is here.

And there’s excitement in the air. There won’t be a repeat women’s champion this weekend at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., and even though we’ve gotten used to seeing the likes of Northwestern and Boston College at Championship Weekend, there’s still plenty of intrigue surrounding both teams.

The other half of the Final Four is Syracuse and Denver, and both teams are looking to win their first-ever national titles. Syracuse and Denver were once neck and neck to see who could finish a perfect season, but now Denver is the lone unbeaten remaining in the field. We had an unbeaten champion last year in North Carolina (which Denver beat in the quarterfinals). Can the Pios defy the odds and do it themselves?

The action begins Friday afternoon with rain in the forecast for Sunday’s championship game. The rain won’t bother the next NCAA champion, that’s for sure.

QUARTERFINALS RECAP | FULL BRACKET | DIVISION I TOP 20

SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY — ALL TIMES EASTERN

3 p.m. — (1) Northwestern v. (5) Denver, ESPNU
5:30 p.m. — (2) Syracuse v. (3) Boston College, ESPNU

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Sunday, May 28, 12 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU

(1) NORTHWESTERN V. (5) DENVER

PREGAME READING ON NORTHWESTERN: Back on Track: The Scane Train Rumbles into Championship Weekend; Women's Tewaaraton Stock Watch: Scane's Goals or Tyrrell's Assists?​

PREGAME READING ON DENVER: 'D' is for Denver: 'Keep Underestimating It. You'll Struggle to Beat It.'; Denver Dethrones UNC with Defensive Performance for the Ages

SERIES HISTORY: Northwestern and Denver have played just six times since 2004, and the Wildcats won the last five meetings. In 2021, Northwestern beat the visiting Pioneers 19-4 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. 

ONE-LINER: The No. 1 offense takes on the No. 1 defense in a game that is certainly intriguing, but the question on the minds of everyone: can the Denver defense keep up with two Tewaaraton finalists in Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall?

(2) SYRACUSE V. (3) BOSTON COLLEGE

PREGAME READING ON SYRACUSE: Two-Week Reset Fueled Syracuse's Final Four Run; Meaghan Tyrrell Sets Syracuse's All-Time Points Record

PREGAME READING ON BOSTON COLLEGE : Shea Dolce Thrives as Freshman Goalie in the Final Four; Boston College Bounces Notre Dame, Continues Final Four Streak

SERIES HISTORY: Syracuse is 17-10 all time against the Eagles, but the most recent game is all that matters to the Orange. Boston College downed them 17-16 on April 20, ending what was a perfect season to that point. Boston College has won the last three meetings overall.

ONE-LINER: Syracuse likely cannot wait for another crack at Boston College, which has found itself in peak form at the perfect time — shocking no one if another championship run takes shape in the next few days.