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.

At last, the first weekend of the Division I women’s lacrosse season is upon us.

After weeks and weeks of preview content — which if you haven’t read, please peruse uslaxmagazine.com for immersive previews of every team in the top 20 and much, much more — live game action is happening on the field.

Let’s not waste any more time. It’s been 10-plus months. In future weeks, when the calendar is even more full, we’ll use this space to detail the biggest storylines in the game. But the storyline this week is that we’re back in action.

GAMES TO WATCH
All times Eastern

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 5 Stony Brook at No. 1 North Carolina

It came together in a matter of hours. Thank goodness it did. We now have a marquee, blockbuster matchup on the first weekend of the season, as No. 5 Stony Brook heads south to visit No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday at noon.

North Carolina, the easy choice for the No. 1 team in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20, instantly gets a test after No. 12 James Madison postponed the game originally scheduled for Saturday.

For Stony Brook, coach Joe Spallina has raved about his midfield depth. UNC coach Jenny Levy added to her midfield through the transfer portal, adding Kerrigan Miller and Katie Bourque. This one comes down to the draw and whether or not Stony Brook can handle the UNC offense.

Even on opening weekend, this is a candidate for one of the best games of the season.

Game No One’s Talking About
Delaware State at Longwood

There’s significance to this game. It’s Black History Month, and two Black coaches — Pamella Jenkins of Delaware State and Elaine Jones of Longwood — will square off Saturday at 1 p.m.

Last year, Jones’ Lancers earned a 22-4 win over Jenkins’ Hornets. But the importance here is beyond the result. Giving visibility to the matchup and celebrating the accomplishments of Jenkins and Jones is the best way to elevate the sport.

Brian Simpkins of Blaxers Blog will have more on this game Monday.

Under-the-Radar Stars

Siobhan Rafferty, Stony Brook

She’s back. Rafferty missed 2020 with an ACL injury, but the midfielder is healthy this spring. Last time we saw Rafferty, she finished her 2019 sophomore campaign with 50 goals, which ranked second on the team. Adding her back to an already deep offense should be a huge boon for Stony Brook.

Savannah Buchanan, Notre Dame

Andie Aldave gets the headlines. Last year, Madison Ahern and Kasey Choma were the touted freshmen who came in and immediately produced. But Buchanan quietly earned a spot on the Tewaaraton Watch List as a key member of a defense that finished second nationally by allowing just 7.29 goals per game.

Maria Auth, Penn State

Penn State could surprise some folks this year. With an uber-talented freshman class and some returning impact players, the Nittany Lions could crack the Top 20 this spring. Auth, a graduate student, started all seven games in 2020 and led the team with 22 goals and 33 points. She’s a difference-maker for the program.