Welcome to the Gameday Guide.

Every weekend during the college lacrosse season, US Lacrosse Magazine staff will riff here on the juiciest matchups, trendiest topics, biggest storylines and hottest takes.

In case you forgot, Virginia is still the reigning national champion.

The Cavaliers reminded everyone that they are a Memorial Day Weekend contender again during their first game in 355 days — a 20-11 win over Towson at Klöckner Stadium last Saturday. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact the scoring ledger didn’t include Matt Moore, Ian Laviano or Dox Aitken. The senior trio (Aitken is a fifth year) have combined for 304 goals at Virginia.

Instead it was another trio — Payton Cormier, Charlie Bertrand and Connor Shellenberger — who spurred the blowout win with 14 goals and six assists between them.

“Depth is always important,” Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany said after the game. “It’s extremely important in 2021 because at any time — through no fault of your own or your own fault — you could get knocked out or not be available for a game.”

If depth proves to be a deciding factor this season, adaptability is not far behind, as Patrick Stevens detailed in how Virginia’s game against Army came together in a matter of days. 

The top-20 matchup headlines this weekend’s slate of games.

GAMES TO WATCH
All times Eastern

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 14 Army at No. 3 Virginia

This game did not exist less than a week ago. Now it’s an intriguing top-20 contest and the first time these schools have played each other since the quarterfinals of the 1985 NCAA tournament (Virginia won 10-6). Unfortunately, because it was switched from Saturday to Sunday due to field conditions in Charlottesville, it will not be streamed.

While Army attackman Brendan Nichtern ranked top ten nationally in assists (3.38) and points (5.75) per game last spring, it’s UVA’s high powered offense against Army’s perennially strong defense that will draw the most attention. A week after dropping 20 goals on Towson, the Cavaliers should face a tougher test in the Black Knights, whose defense allowed only 7.25 goals per game in 2020.

“I’m not sure they’d want us to travel seven hours to just play anybody, but they realize it’s the defending national champions,” Army head coach Joe Alberici told Patrick Stevens earlier this week. “Our goal here is to play against the best so we can be the best, and certainly Virginia fits the mold.”

While you were all watching the #SuperBowl last night - Lars Tiffany was looking for a lacrosse game for Saturday #GoHoospic.twitter.com/KnaVPIi1lC

— Virginia Men's Lacrosse (@UVAMensLax) February 8, 2021

UPSET WATCH
Air Force at No. 9 Denver

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before. Air Force faces a top ten opponent in February and walks away with a statement win. Duke was victim to that outcome both last year and in 2017. The Falcons have experienced less success against Denver. The Pioneers boast an all-time 22-2 record and have won the last 13 meetings. Still, after Denver dropped games to Duke and UNC last weekend, this might be Air Force’s best chance to secure a win at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium since 2009. 

BEST GAME NO ONE’S TALKING ABOUT
No. 12 Loyola at No. 16 Richmond

This game should receive some more attention after it was moved from Saturday to Sunday due to forecasted inclement weather in Richmond. In some ways, though, it’s fitting that it might not have the buzz of the contest happening in Charlottesville on Saturday. While Loyola or Richmond might not have the marquee names of a Virginia, they still have potential to make some noise in May.

Seniors Kevin Lindley and Aidan Olmstead will ignite the Greyhounds’ attack. The Spiders return 90 percent of their scoring from 2020, including Ryan Lanchbury and Richie Connell. Connell’s 19 goals in seven games ranked second among all freshmen in Division I last year.

“We return every significant contributor, minus one or two,” Richmond coach Dan Chemotti told Inside Lacrosse earlier this week. “We’re very excited about the group we have.” 

UNDER-THE-RADAR STARS

Ryan Smith, Robert Morris

The graduate student attackman from Burlington, Ontario, showed flashes of why he was drafted third overall by the Rochester Knighthawks in the 2020 NLL Draft. Smith scored three goals and added an assist in the Colonials’ season-opening 16-12 loss to Duke. The program’s single-game record holder for points (10), Smith will be essential for the “Road Warriors” to get in the win column on Saturday at High Point.

Brandon Dodd, Air Force

A little over a year ago, Dodd announced his presence on the college lacrosse scene in a big way. He scored four goals and dished out four assists in a 14-13 upset of Duke. It was his first collegiate game. We’ll see if history repeats itself on Saturday against Denver for the 6’3” sophomore attackman who led the Falcons in 2020 with 11 goals and 16 assists through seven games.

Wyatt Schupler, Army

A year after sitting behind second-team All-American AJ Barretto, Schupler answered any questions the Black Knights might have had when it came to the goalie position. The Florida native worked his way onto the Tewaaraton Watch List in 2020 with a .617 save percentage that helped bolster the second-best scoring defense in the nation. Entering his junior season, Schupler will be tested early against Virginia and the Cavaliers’ seemingly limitless number of scoring options.