Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Barring an upset on Tuesday, we're headed for an epic 1-2 showdown between Albany and Maryland this weekend. Connor Kelly put on a show for Maryland, ranked No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse poll, in a 12-10 win over Notre Dame on Saturday. Kelly had 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) to help Maryland end a four-game series losing streak against Notre Dame.
Sunday was TD Ierlan's turn to steal the thunder, as No. 2 Albany's sophomore faceoff specialist won all 24 draws to help the Great Danes rally for an 11-9 victory over Cornell. Albany scored four goals in the final 3:18 to secure the victory.
Albany, ranked No. 1 in the USILA coaches poll and the Inside Lacrosse media rankings, plays at Massachusetts on Tuesday.
2. Florida picked up one of the best wins in school history as junior Haley Hicklen set a school record with 16 saves in a 17-10 victory over No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.
Shayna Pirreca had a career-high six goals for the Gators and Lindsey Ronbeck scored five.
PHOTO BY PEYTON WILLIAMS
With 16 saves, Florida goalie Haley Hicklen sets a program record in Florida's 17-10 upset of No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.
3. Tucker Dordevic wrote his name into Syracuse lore, and he's only put on the uniform four times. The freshman from Oregon scored four goals on Sunday, including game-winner with 13 seconds left as the Orange beat Virginia 12-11.
Dramatic win for @CuseMLAX. Tucker Dordevic's fourth goal of the game comes with 13 seconds left and lifts the Orange past Virginia 12-11. pic.twitter.com/JWwN8rzx2k
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 4, 2018
4. Taking some of the sting out of the loss in Charlottesville was a wild 17-16 victory for Virginia's women's team earlier in the day. The Cavaliers are 5-0 for the first time since 2007, a season that ended with Virginia playing in the NCAA championship game.
5. The Pac-12, featured on the March cover of US Lacrosse Magazine, flexed its muscles this weekend. Stanford blew out No. 16 Duke 15-5 on Friday and followed it up with a 17-10 win over Elon on Sunday behind a school-record 10 points from Kelsey Murray (5g, 5a).
Not to be outdone, Colorado likely played its way back into the national rankings with a stunning 18-3 blowout of No. 15 Virginia Tech in Boulder on Sunday behind five goals and three assists from Miranda Stinson.
Preseason league favorite USC was idle this weekend, but hosts unbeaten Boston College in a big game on Wednesday.
6. The Midwest Lacrosse Classic in Pontiac, Mich. was all kinds of crazy this weekend. No. 16 Marquette upset unbeaten No. 7 Ohio State 8-7 in overtime on Friday, only to turn around and fall 7-6 in double overtime on Sunday to a Bellarmine team that came into the game with a 1-4 record. Ohio State needed a second-half rally to avoid a winless weekend, nipping Detroit Mercy 8-7 on Sunday.
7. No. 6 Villanova stayed unbeaten with a 13-12 victory over No. 18 Delaware on Saturday. Christian Cuccinello poured in seven goals to lead the Wildcats to the victory.
PHOTO BY KEVIN P. TUCKER
Christian Cuccinello had seven goals, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter, as No. 6 Villanova stayed unbeaten with a 13-12 victory over No. 18 Delaware on Saturday.