Welcome to the Gameday Guide.

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

Check out the rankings and TV listings for more.

THE OVERARCHING THEME OF THE 2022 DIVISION I WOMEN’S SEASON IS A SIMPLE ONE: NOBODY’S SAFE.

An intriguing storyline — albeit not a fun one for rankings-makers — and one that adds chapters each week. Ranked teams have been dropping like flies. It’s a sign of the growing parity in women’s lacrosse.

While the upper echelon of teams remains firm, the talent gap is closing, and it’s only a matter of time before we see the type of monumental upset that completely shakes things up.

There are opportunities for just that this weekend. A handful of ranked teams match up against unranked foes who are off to fast starts. They’re the type of trap games that could really zest things up.

Let’s take a look.

GAMES TO WATCH
ALL TIMES EASTERN

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 11 Florida at No. 4 Maryland

The last meetup between Florida and Maryland was Feb. 15, 2020, and even though it came on the season’s second weekend, it was a candidate for game of the year. The Gators snapped Maryland’s 86-game home winning streak — a streak that last nearly eight full years — with a 15-14 win. Shannon Kavanagh scored eight goals, including the winner with 49 seconds left, in that one.

But both of these teams are now drastically different. Kavanagh chose not to return for a fifth year, as did every other Florida player who had the same option. Amanda O’Leary’s team is young and boasts considerable potential.

Whereas Florida was flush with veteran talent in the past two years, Maryland had been lacking in that department. The Terps are lacking no more. Cathy Reese bolstered her roster through the transfer portal, adding headliners Aurora Cordingley and Abby Bosco. Those players, along with the natural progression of her younger players, have Maryland looking more like its old self.

USA Lacrosse Magazine will be on site in College Park for the action, so stay tuned Saturday for a full game story and analysis.

UPSET WATCH

No. 3 Syracuse at Notre Dame

These are two teams moving in opposite directions. Notre Dame is 1-3 and Syracuse is 3-0, after all. But these ACC opponents are both loaded with talent, and recent results could indicate that the tides could turn this weekend.

Notre Dame lost to No. 5 Northwestern on Wednesday, but it was in a 17-16 slugfest. After unexpected losses to Michigan and Vanderbilt, Notre Dame might even be able to take some solace in a loss like that.

On the other hand, Syracuse just barely outlasted No. 4 Stony Brook despite an offense with considerable more experience and depth. Is a perfect storm brewing for the host Irish?

BEST GAME NO ONE’S TALKING ABOUT

No. 19 Jacksonville at No. 2 North Carolina

After the 2008 NBA Finals, Kevin Garnett famously yelled “anything is possible!” in an on-court interview celebrating the Celtics’ win over the Lakers. Saturday’s Jacksonville-UNC game doesn’t quite carry the same weight (it’s February, after all), but don’t sleep on this Dolphins team.

You have to play a near-perfect game to keep up with the Tar Heels, let alone beat them. Their offense is relentless. Their defense is suffocating. Their goalkeeping is spectacular. But Jacksonville does something that few other teams can do at the same level — score.

According to Lacrosse Reference, Jacksonville is No. 14 nationally in terms of offensive efficiency (34.5 percent). In terms of overall efficiency (which combines defense), Jacksonville ranks 10th (43.2 percent). UNC ranks 18th overall (38.3 percent).

This bit here isn’t necessarily meant to make the case for Jacksonville winning. But if nothing else, this should prove that UNC won’t just run roughshod over the Dolphins. This game has sneaky shootout potential.

UNDER-THE-RADAR STARS

Georgia Esmond, Johns Hopkins

The Blue Jays have just five assisted on their 20 goals scored in a 1-1 start, but Esmond is responsible for four of them. A senior, Esmond played sporadically in 2021 and didn’t start her first game until this spring. Hopkins is still looking for its identity, but Esmond should be at the heart of the offense moving forward.

Katie Shallow, Temple

Temple keeps churning out star defenders. It was Courtney Taylor last year, an All-American who transferred to Boston College for her grad year. The new defensive anchor is Shallow, a sophomore from Havertown, Pa. The talent was evident as a freshman, as she started all 19 games and finished with 31 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers. She’s well on her way to those numbers — and then some — in Year 2. She already has nine ground balls and seven caused turnovers with the Owls off to a 3-0 start.

Dymin Gerow, UMBC

Lacrosse Reference runs a statistical Tewaaraton category that takes on-field play and turns it into a prediction of who will win the award at the end of the year. It’s credible. Charlotte North is currently in the lead, after all. But Gerow checks in at No. 7, which might be a surprise to people who haven’t seen the UMBC sophomore play. She has 13 goals and four assists during the Retrievers’ 2-1 start, and she’s shooting 54.2 percent.

SMALL SCHOOLS GAMES OF THE WEEK

Division II — No. 4 Queens at No. 9 Florida Southern

These are two of the heavyweights in the South Region, and the game outcome often carries ramifications for the postseason. Sunday’s game caps a quick two-game Florida swing for Queens, last year’s national runner up. The Royals start the trip with Friday afternoon’s game at St. Leo. Meanwhile, the Mocs are well rested, having not played since their 19-13 win over St. Leo on Feb. 9. — Paul Ohanian

Division III —  No. 3 Washington & Lee at No. 1 Salisbury

With the exception of last year, these powerhouse programs have squared off in this early season non-conference battle every year since 2010. The defending champion Sea Gulls bring a 22-game winning streak into their home opener, with impressive victories at Stevenson and No. 13 Catholic to begin the season. Washington & Lee has also started well, with wins over No. 4 Franklin & Marshall as well as Mary Washington. — Paul Ohanian

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