Weekend One-Liners: What to Watch for in Women's Lacrosse

Izzy Scane is clearly back. In her second game since returning from an ACL tear in 2021, Scane blitzed the No. 14 Notre Dame defense for 10 goals and two assists in an 18-14 win for No. 6 Northwestern.

Scane’s 10 goals tied her own program record. Molly Laliberty, the transfer from Division III Tufts, impressed once again, stopping 10 of the 22 shots she faced (.591) in a bounce-back game for Northwestern.

.@izzyscane27 ties her own single-game program record with her 10th goal of the game @NCAALAX | @NU_Sports pic.twitter.com/fcxIoiwzi7

— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) February 17, 2023

Another challenge awaits Northwestern Sunday in national runner-up and third-ranked Boston College.

But the battle between the Nos. 3 and 6 teams isn’t even the game of the week. That one happens when No. 2 Maryland travels to No. 4 Syracuse Friday afternoon.

That’s the great thing about college lacrosse — it tends to skip right over the cupcake appetizers and go right for the mains and desserts (I started this column on Valentine’s Day afternoon, can you tell?).

Though coaches of top-tier programs schedule their share of early season cakewalks (at least on paper. Last food reference, I promise), you’ll also see marquee matchups right from the outset. It separates it from college hoops, where powerhouse programs often play a bunch of glorified scrimmages before conference action begins around the holidays.

Exhibit A: Last weekend’s NCAA tournament grudge match between Syracuse and Northwestern. The game already feels like a distant memory following Exhibit B, last night’s epic performance from Scane. If you missed either or both, make it up to yourself by starting your lacrosse-filled, three-day weekend early.

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 2 Maryland (1-0) at No. 4 Syracuse (1-0) — Friday, 3 p.m. (ACCX)

Maryland’s star-studded defense will be put to the test against a reloaded Syracuse offense that looked sharp and focused in last weekend’s win against Northwestern.

No. 18 Michigan (1-1) at No. 5 Stony Brook — Friday, 4 p.m. (Flosports)

USA Lacrosse Preseason Midfielder of the Year Ellie Masera leads the Seawolves into their first game, where they’ll have to contend with Michigan’s rising sophomore star Jill Smith, who scored 11 goals on 20 shots in two games last weekend.

UPSET WATCH

No. 8 Florida (1-0) at No. 1 UNC (2-0) — Saturday, 12 p.m. (ACCX)

The Gators typically run through the AAC, so a February win over a UNC team that at times looked like it was still figuring things out against James Madison could be a resume-padder come May.

No. 9 Denver (2-0) at Colorado (1-1) — Saturday, 3 p.m. (Colorado Live Stream)

Denver will have a chance to exact revenge against in-state rival Colorado, who stunned the Pios in a 12-10 win in late April 2022.

No. 20 Johns Hopkins (1-0) at No 14 Loyola (0-0) — Saturday, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

Life after Livy Rosenzweig and Sam Fiedler begins for the Greyhound, as they host a Johns Hopkins team that handled Albany and cracked into the Top 20 last week.

No. 11 Virginia (2-0) vs. No. 17 Princeton (0-0) — Saturday, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Jenn Cook era begins in the Garden State when the Tigers take on a Cavs team with a young, gelling offense headlined by sophomore Rachel Clark.

Ohio State (2-0) at No. 16 USC (0-1) — Sunday, 4 p.m. (USC Live Stream)

Ohio State impressed in a 10-9 win over Temple but will face a tall task in the Women of Troy, who are looking to right the ship after an 11-goal opening-weekend loss to Boston College.

No. 3 Boston College (2-0) at No. 6 Northwestern (1-1) — Sunday, 1 p.m. (BTN+)

Perennial national semifinalists collide in what, on any other weekend, would be the game of the week.