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.

The schedule below seems almost too good to be true. Six top-20 matchups. The return of Big Ten play, where rivals will become even more familiar with one another because of the conference-only schedule format. The first games at Homewood Field and the Carrier Dome since last March.

Before we dig into any breakdown of the weekend slate, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the differences, both big and small. Yesterday’s announcement from the Ivy League council of presidents felt inevitable, but no less painful considering the way last season ended. The Carrier Dome won’t be filled with thousands of Orange faithful. Blue Jay goals at Homewood will not be followed by renditions of “To Win” and chants of “We Want More!” from the school’s pep band.

“The JHU Pep Band will not be performing this semester due to current COVID-19 restrictions, but look forward to returning to activities once it is safe to do so,” the university’s Pep Band Director informed US Lacrosse Magazine earlier this week via email.

So for now, let’s enjoy the games we do get to watch.

GAMES TO WATCH
All times Eastern

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 14 Army at No. 2 Syracuse

With six top-20 matchups this weekend, this was a tough choice. It’s hard not to pick the Black Knights and Orange, though. Eight of the last 10 games between the schools have been decided by two goals or fewer, including Syracuse’s 9-7 comeback win last February at home thanks in large part to five goals from Jamie Trimboli.

While no fans will be allowed in the Carrier Dome on Sunday, it will still be a must watch.

BEST GAME NO ONE’S TALKING ABOUT
No. 10 Georgetown at No. 20 Villanova

Our first look at the two Big East contenders after Villanova’s game against Delaware last weekend was canceled might not be as flashy as some of the other top-20 matchups but features no shortage of talent from the likes of Georgetown’s Jake Carraway to the Wildcats’ Keegan Khan.

“Year in, year out, no matter how much success Georgetown lacrosse has, we’re put down compared to other teams,” Carraway, a fifth-year senior attackman, said last spring of the annually underrated Hoyas.

UNDER-THE-RADAR STARS

Josh Zawada, Michigan

The Hill Academy (Ont.) product from North Carolina led all freshmen in points last spring with 16 goals and 16 assists.

Garrett Zungailia, Towson

A 6’7” redshirt sophomore defenseman from nearby Timonium (Md.), Zungailia earned USILA Team of the Week honors after causing three turnovers and collecting three ground balls to help secure the Tigers’ first win in 2021. He will have to play big if the Tigers have any hope of slowing down Duke’s intimidating attack.

Jack Kelly, Penn State

The senior midfielder from Toronto who scored 12 goals through seven games last season while shooting 50 percent will be crucial to keeping the Penn State offense humming after the graduation of Grant Ament.

Milestone Watch

155

Denver’s all-time scoring record held by Mark Matthews. After a five-goal performance last weekend, fifth-year senior attackman Ethan Walker is one goal shy of Matthews’ mark. Get it?

99

Number of career goals for Rutgers redshirt-senior attackman Kieran Mullins through 47 games. The preseason USILA honorable mention All-American has a good chance to break the 100-goal barrier when the Scarlet Knights take on Penn State tomorrow at noon in Piscataway (N.J.)

Small School Game of the Week
Randolph at No. 13 Lynchburg

Despite a losing record in 2020 and the graduation of Inside Lacrosse’s DIII player of the year Kevin Rogers, who’s now lighting up the score sheet at High Point, No. 13 Lynchburg enters 2021 as the preseason favorite in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).

Led by a core of fifth-year seniors like defenseman Tyler Gallagher and midfielder Colin Dean, the Hornets kick off their season on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Randolph College.

“All of us as athletes long for the game day,” Lynchburg head lacrosse coach and assistant athletic director Steve Koudelka said last month. “Not as much the practice, but the game day is what wakes you up in the middle of the night still to this day.”

Lynchburg Men’s Lacrosse:
1st practice today... Thank you to alumnus Leon Bournes ‘07 for narrating the lyrics “You’ll Never Walk Alone” - Hammerstein#StandAloneTogether pic.twitter.com/3wqRnJ5x6h

— Lynchburg M Lacrosse (@LynchburgMLAX) January 16, 2021