NCAA Women's Lacrosse Week 2 Preview: Schedule, Sneaky Must-Watch

Valentine’s Day is Friday, and we love that there are games.

But there’s no love lost between some of the non-conference rivals set to lock horns this weekend. It’s all tongue-in-cheek, of course. Some of the top players at Boston College and Northwestern, who will meet in an NCAA title game rematch on Saturday, won gold in Hong Kong, China as part of USA Women’s U20 National Team this summer.

The Northwestern-Boston College rivalry has been brewing in the short term, a result of meeting in the last two NCAA finals. Other teams set to meet this weekend, primarily Maryland and Syracuse, have longer-standing rivalries. Chapters include 2020’s pre-pandemic Snowgate (an emotional Syracuse “take that” win in an unexpected road game) and a Terps overtime victory last year.

Other rivals, new and old — products of close tournament games, proximity or former conference affiliation — meet again this weekend in the first full slate of games of the early season.

Make a date with your computer, phone or TV. These are the weekend games we love on paper.

LINKS

» Schedule   
» TV Listings 
» Rankings

PICK FIVE

No. 8 Syracuse (1-0) at No. 9 Maryland (0-0)

11 a.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: BTN+

Syracuse storyline to watch: The usual suspects stepped up for Syracuse on offense against UAlbany in a 21-9 blowout, with Olivia Adamson and Emma Ward combining for 11 points. Some new names emerged for the Orange in key roles, with junior Megan Rode collecting 11 draws sans graduated Kate Mashewske, and Daniella Guyette got her first career start in net (.333 SV%). How will they — and other Orange — fare against a power-conference foe?

Maryland storyline to watch: Kori Edmonson and Kennedy Major will lead a Maryland program that hasn’t seen its roster this gutted by graduation since it won the 2019 NCAA championship. Who will step into the shoes of the likes of Emily Sterling, Eloise Clevenger, Hannah Leubecker, Libby Way, Shaylan Ahearn, Brianna Lamoureux and Aiden Peduzzi? The saving grace for the Terps is that the Orange have similar questions to answer.

X-Factor: Possessions. Gaining and holding possessions will be vital in a game with so much “new” to sort out. As lopsided as the UAlbany game was, the draw was one area that Syracuse didn’t completely dominate (19-14 Orange). Syracuse also committed 17 turnovers (UAlbany had 18). The Terps have much to sort out on the circle, with Ahearn (111 DC) and Meghan Ball (77 DC) also watching the game on BTN+ (or from the stands) as program alums.

No. 4 North Carolina (2-0) at No. 7 Florida (2-0)

12 p.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: ESPN+

North Carolina storyline to watch: At the risk of speaking in hyperboles when there’s still snow in the forecast, no team looked better than UNC over the weekend. The Heels’ formerly injured players came back like they never left in wins over James Madison (14-2) and Liberty (21-1), with Chloe Humphrey arriving in college lacrosse as advertised (8G, 2A, 3GB).  

Florida storyline to watch: Georgia Hoey got the starting nod over Elyse Finnelle, who stepped in and stepped up when Hoey got injured last year and led the Gators to the final four. For her part, Hoey showed why she won the job in the offseason, making 10 saves in a statement win over Johns Hopkins before stopping five shots against Kennesaw State. All told, she’s started the season with a .577 save percentage.

X-Factor: As solid as Hoey and the Gators’ defense looked last weekend, they will have their hands full with UNC. A near-perfect effort will be needed to shut down an offense without a single hole.

No. 3 Michigan (1-0) at No. 6 Yale (0-0)

12 p.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: ESPN+

Michigan storyline to watch: We didn’t expect many new names to emerge on Michigan’s depth chart with so many players returning, but Calli Norris proved that preseason predictions are often for naught, finishing second to known entity Kaylee Dyer (5G) with a hat trick, assist and three draws in Michigan’s first win over Jacksonville. Norris played in 10 games off the bench last year but started against the Dolphins.

Yale storyline to watch: Like the Wolverines, Yale is among the few Top 20 teams not on the hunt for a new identity because of a graduation-fueled roster gut. The reigning Ivy champs return nearly everyone. It’s unlikely chemistry will need to be taught to All-Americans Jenna Collignon (attack), Fallon Vaughn (midfielder) and Emmy Pascal (defender).

X-Factor: Both teams finished in the top three last season in scoring defense (7.55 for Michigan; 8.35 for Yale). So, let’s go the other way with X-factor: Whichever offense can work methodically and efficiently enough will walk away with this one, potentially by one or two goals.

No. 5 Virginia (1-0) at No. 16 Princeton (0-0)

12 p.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: ESPN+

Virginia storyline to watch: Mel Josephson was lights out against Liberty, stopping seven of the 10 shots she faced. She needs to be on her “A” game again.

Princeton storyline to watch: With the Ivy League slated to be as competitive as ever (Yale is the unquestioned preseason favorite), these early February games mean something to the Tigers, who might be vying for an at-large bid in a few months. The Tigers nearly knocked off Virginia this time last year (14-12 loss) and beat Penn State in February (18-13). Strong showings did, in fact, earn the Tigers an NCAA bid after losing in the conference semifinal.

X-Factor: Draws. It was a weak spot for both teams last season, and Liberty held a 17-12 advantage in the circle in the Hoos’ season-opening 20-5 rout. (That said, Princeton got 19 of 29 draws last year and still came up short.)

No. 1 Boston College (2-0) at No. 2 Northwestern (2-0)

1 p.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: BTN+

Boston College storyline to watch: The Eagles offense kicked off 2025 at a breakneck pace, putting up 21 goals in each game against Loyola and Boston University. Rachel Clark (12G) and Emma LaPinto (7G, 4A) are picking up right where they left off.

Northwestern storyline to watch: Madison Taylor grabbed the keys and hit the gas, pouring in 11 goals in wins over Notre Dame and Canisius. But it’s the other end of the field with a battle brewing: Senior Cara Nugent (.400 SV%) and redshirt sophomore Francesca Argentieri (.474 SV%) each logged one start opening weekend, and Syracuse transfer Delaney Sweitzer has yet to see action.

X-Factor: Turnovers. In such a high-profile battle, the little things matter. The Eagles played clean in their first two games, combining for 12 turnovers — a “good” number for a single contest. The Wildcats committed 34 turnovers.

SNEAKY MUST-WATCH

UConn (2-0) vs. No. 18 James Madison (1-0)

12 p.m. Eastern Saturday | Watch: GoLiveSports

James Madison has long had the upper hand over the Huskies, winning nine of the last 10 games and every meeting since 2016. UConn could break the hex this year.

The Huskies looked more impressive in week one, earning an early season overtime win over Drexel, a fringe Top 20 team with an All-American goalie in Jenika Cuocco. Meanwhile, the Dukes struggled mightily against UNC. To be fair, it was UNC, but it remains to be seen just how they’ll replace the likes of Isabella Peterson, Katelyn Morgan and Kacey Knobloch.

Maddie Epke, who scored four goals against the Huskies in a 15-14 JMU win last year, will be on the field at USA Lacrosse Headquarters again this year, though. But Rayea Davis, who had a hat trick against James Madison last year and Drexel on Saturday, is back for UConn.

While neither team hails from a power conference, this one could be exciting, and we’d say that even if it weren’t being played in our literal backyard.

SUNDAY FUNDAY

No. 12 Penn (0-0) vs. Drexel (1-1)

12 p.m. Eastern Sunday | Watch: Lacrosse TV

Colorado (0-0*) at USC (0-1)

4 p.m. Eastern Sunday | Watch: No stream listed

Saturday gets the lion's share of the attention in the lacrosse world, but don’t sleep on the games this Sunday. Penn opens its season against Drexel in a city flying high after an Eagles Super Bowl win a week ago. And former Pac-12 rivals continue to play like the conference never sunsetted.

Colorado opens its season against Stanford before heading back to California Memorial Stadium, where it dispatched USC in the semifinals of the final Pac-12 tournament last spring. Will revenge be on the returning Trojans’ minds? Likely.

USC will be coming off a Friday evening matchup against Cal, which is now in the ACC. USC is looking to bounce back after a loss to another former Pac-12 rival, Stanford, 18-6, last weekend.

*plays Stanford Thursday