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

The ACC and Big Ten have been the two lacrosse powerhouses since the Big Ten started sponsoring the sport in 2013 and Northwestern moved over from the now-defunct American Lacrosse Conference.

But over the last two years, the ACC has taken centerstage. The last two NCAA championships have been all-ACC affairs (Boston College and Syracuse in 2021; Boston College and North Carolina in 2022). Syracuse has downed the top two teams in the Big Ten to start the season (Northwestern and Maryland, if you’re new to these parts), though the Wildcats proved every bit an early contender with a win over ACC juggernaut Boston College last weekend.

Regardless, the ACC schedule begins this weekend. It’s only week three, and other conferences — including the Big Ten — don’t start playing each other until mid-March.

Still, it signals the tide is about to shift. Games aren’t going to be tune-ups or ways for teams to pad their resumes or stats. They’ll soon matter for home-field advantage in league championships. For smaller schools, that could be the difference between playing in May and watching streams from home.

This weekend, nearly everyone plays, though. Check out our TV Listings for the full slate of streamed and televised games, or just bookmark these.

Virginia Tech (1-2) at No. 1 North Carolina (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m. (ACCX)

The Tar Heels’ 43-game regular-season winning streak is the third longest in NCAA history, dating back to 2021.

Upset watch: No. 20 Princeton (0-1) at Temple (3-1), Saturday, 12 p.m.  (ESPN+)

After letting in 20 goals against Virginia, the Tigers have to contend with an Owls offense that includes Belle Mastropietro, who has 11 goals in four games.

No. 9 Duke (3-0) at No. 4 Boston College (2-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ACCX)

Draw control queen Maddie Jenner and the Blue Devils face their first real test of the season in an Eagles team bruising from last week’s one-goal heartbreaker against Northwestern.

No. 2 Syracuse (3-0) at Pitt (2-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ACCX)

Because any day you get to watch Meaghan Tyrrell play college lacrosse is a good one.

Yale (2-0) at No. 4 Stony Brook (1-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. (Flosports)

After a six-point opening game against Michigan, Jaden Hampel looks to lead the Seawolves past a 2-0 Yale team that emerged in 2022.

No. 7 Rutgers (3-0) at Army (3-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Army’s win over Jacksonville looks even better with the Dolphins’ upset of Stanford Monday — don’t expect the Black Knights to roll over against the Scarlet ones.

Game of the week: No. 6 Maryland (2-1) at No. 11 Florida (1-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Maryland’s loss to Syracuse and Florida’s loss to UNC were two of the toughest setbacks last weekend, so expect both teams to come out with a chip Saturday.

No. 8 Denver (3-0) at Ohio State (3-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. (BIG+)

The Nicole Ferrara-led Buckeyes challenged Temple in a one-goal loss earlier this month and will likely contend with a No. 8 Denver team that has won two games by one goal.

No. 19 Louisville (2-1) at No. 10 Virginia (3-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. (ACCX)

No. 19 Louisville entered the Top 20 this week but faces a tough test in Rachel Clark and the rest of the Virginia offense that just dropped 20 on Princeton.

Clemson (3-0) at No. 15 Notre Dame (2-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. (ACCX)

The first-year Clemson program leads Division I in goals per game (21) and makes its historic ACC debut in South Bend. 

Penn (1-0) at Johns Hopkins (1-1), Saturday, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

Freshman Ava Angello’s BTB trickery is already making her appointment viewing.

Central Michigan (1-2) at No. 18 Michigan (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. (BIG+)

Michigan has had a rollercoaster start to 2023, but Sunday’s game offers a chance to get a second-straight win for the first time this season.