Two of the hottest teams are set to square off on Saturday as are the ACC’s defensive and offensive players of the week. 

Virginia goalie Charlie Campbell was exquisite in last week’s victories, turning aside 19 shots in just over 100 minutes of play, while Syracuse attacker Emily Hawryschuk has continued to light the lamp with a team-best 24 points on 18 goals and six assists this season. 

The honor roll is emblematic of two teams in form. The fifth-ranked Cavaliers (5-0) have been stifling on defense, allowing just 7.6 goals per game on 32.8 percent shooting. This is in large part to Campbell, a junior with a 7.72 goals-against average and 53.8 save percentage, who will face Syracuse in her first ACC start.

“It’s Syracuse – it’s an adventure to say the least,” Campbell said. “They’re an incredible team that’s really talented. I’m focused on being as prepared as we can and by hitting on the fundamentals.”

NO. 5 VIRGINIA AT NO. 4 SYRACUSE
WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 12 p.m.
LISTEN: WJPZ 89.1FM

Campbell was a bit philosophical about facing Hawryschuk, an All-ACC performer who is leading a Syracuse (5-1, 0-1 ACC) squad that’s been able to score at will during stretches this season.

“Nothing grand is achieved without a modicum of luck,” Campbell said. “I’m hoping to get a little lucky. She’s an incredible player and you have to respect her. You can’t be scared, though. That’s not how to block those shots. I just need to take a breath and be as ready as I can be. That’s my motivation, to not let my team down.”

Uniquely, Hawryschuk and her teammates have yet to face Campbell, so the scouting reports will be short as they’ll have just five performances at their disposal. Nevertheless, the Victor, N.Y., native insisted the focus is on the Orange offense.

“I think the chemistry we have on offense is like no other,” Hawryschuk said. “This is my junior year. I think the way we’re meshing and communicating, it’s really awesome. Our mindset is to focus on us and our offense because we know after the first half [Wednesday against Loyola] that our offense can dominate anyone.”

The Orange torched a rolling Loyola team for 10 goals in the opening 21 minutes, scoring on 10 of the first 15 shots. When the first half ended, Hawryschuk had four goals, Syracuse owned a 12-4 lead and the Orange would glide comfortably to a 15-11 win. 

Hawryschuk also cited the benefits of shooting against a top goalie like Asa Goldstock. 

“I love working with Asa. She’s amazing. She’s one of the best goalies in the country,” Hawryschuk glowed. “We make the joke if we can score on Asa, we will be good. She’s huge on communication. Even in practice or a game, if I’m not shooting well, she’ll pull me aside and tell me, ‘This is what you’re doing.’ Someone who is able to give her perspective is a huge help to the whole offense."

Other games highlighting the weekend include:

• No. 9 Northwestern at No. 3 North Carolina
  Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (ET), ACC Network Extra
  
  For the 15th straight season, Northwestern and North Carolina will tangle in the regular season. Both teams are coming off overtime road losses last weekend. The Tar Heels are opening their new UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium on the same site of the former Fetzer Field after the men take on Denver. The Heels have won seven of the last eight in the series, including two games last year by five goals each. 

• No. 14 Penn State at No. 12 Loyola
  Sunday, 12 p.m. (ET), Stadium Plus
  
  The weekend in redemption between ranked teams who lost will carry on to Baltimore. Both Penn State and Loyola were blitzed in the first halves of their mid-week losses to Princeton and Syracuse, respectively. Despite those results, each of their scoring stars shined. Loyola’s Livy Rosenzweig had an eight-point day on four goals and four assists at Syracuse, while Penn State’s Madison Carter had six points with five goals and one assist at Princeton. 

More Games On Our Radar

All times are listed in ET. For a full list of broadcast games, please visit our US Lacrosse TV listing page.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

3 p.m.

No. 20 Stanford at Albany

4 p.m.

William & Mary at No. 16 Duke (ACC Network Extra)

5 p.m.

Canisius at No. 8 James Madison (Facebook Live)

7 p.m.

No. 10 Stony Brook at Towson (TowsonTigers.com)

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

11 a.m.

No. 13 Florida at Navy (Patriot League Network)

12 p.m.

No. 2 Maryland at Hofstra (Hofstra Pride Productions)

1 p.m.

No. 18 Georgetown at Delaware (YouTube)
Yale at No. 6 Penn (ESPN+)
No. 17 Notre Dame at Louisville (ACC Network Extra)
No. 15 Princeton at Columbia (ESPN+)
Furman at No. 11 Johns Hopkins (Johns Hopkins)

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

12 p.m.

No. 20 Stanford at No. 10 Stony Brook (AmericaEast.tv)
USC at Boston University (Patriot League Network)

1 p.m.

No. 16 Duke at Elon (Phoenix All-Access)
Vanderbilt at No. 7 Denver (Pioneer All-Access)
Cincinnati at No. 19 Michigan