The Essential NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Final Four Preview
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The Essential NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Final Four Preview
Fri May 26 2023 | Matt DaSilva | College
College Men NCAA Lacrosse Final Four
PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/UVA ATHLETICS
Connor Shellenberger and Virginia take on Chris Fake and Notre Dame in the NCAA semifinals Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
HOW YA LIKE ME NOW?
The NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse semifinals include three teams that didn’t even make the tournament last year. Duke and Notre Dame notably sat out the dance despite demonstrating down the stretch that they were championship weekend-caliber outfits. Penn State’s season was sandbagged by April.
What a difference a year makes.
Here’s a look at the matchups, how they got here, what to watch for, the latest lines and more at the climax of the 2023 college lacrosse season.
(5) PENN STATE VS. (1) DUKE
Date: Saturday, May 27
Time: 12 p.m. EDT
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
City: Philadelphia
Tickets: Buy Here
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Watch ESPN
HOW THEY GOT HERE
(5) Penn State (11-4, 4-1 Big Ten)
The Nittany Lions were better than their abysmal 3-11 record in 2022. Six of their losses were by two goals or fewer. TJ Malone missed the entire season while rehabbing from hip and sports hernia surgeries. Jack Traynor played in just six games. Now they’re the top two scorers for Penn State, the Big Ten regular season co-champion. Malone (33 goals, 32 assists) and Traynor (31 goals, 16 assists) lead a deep Nittany Lions offense with nine players producing double figures.
Penn State advanced to championship weekend for the second time in four years (it was the top seed in 2019) by erasing a six-goal deficit to beat Princeton 13-12 in the first round and holding off Army in a 10-9 quarterfinal win last week in Annapolis, Md.
(1) Duke (15-2, 5-1 ACC)
That first-round scare against Delaware prepared the Blue Devils well for their quarterfinal defeat of Michigan in Albany, N.Y. They were excellent on both ends of the field. Brennan O’Neill put on a Tewaaraton-worthy performance with six goals in the 15-8 victory. Kenny Brower anchored a defense that snuffed out the red-hot Wolverines, causing four turnovers. Duke caused 12 of Michigan’s 18 turnovers overall. And when the Wolverines were able to muster an attack, St. Lawrence transfer William Helm proved a reliable safety valve. The 6-foot-3 graduate goalie William Helm made 14 saves.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first game between Penn State and Duke since 2010. The Blue Devils are 8-0 all-time in the series.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
How much zone defense Penn State plays. The Nittany Lions have had success toggling between man-to-man and zone sets, but the Blue Devils are so multi-dimensional on offense that they’ll capitalize quickly on matchup uncertainty. Penn State’s defensive game plan also hinges on the health of honorable mention All-American defenseman Jack Posey, who exited last week’s game against Army with a leg injury.
THE LATEST LINES
Duke is a four-goal favorite on DraftKings and a 4.5-goal favorite on FanDuel, with the total set at 25.5 on both sites.
COACH SPEAK
Jeff Tambroni, Penn State: “In 2019, there was definitely a lot of pressure on that team coming in as the No. 1 seed. There was a lot of notoriety, a lot of publicity. Our first time ever winning a playoff game. First time ever being in the final four. The pressure to win was greater than the privilege and pleasure to be there. With this group, there were not a lot of expectations.
Maybe that is a good thing.”
John Danowski, Duke: “Besides the team meeting we had the day after the season ended, we haven’t really talked about [not making the 2022 tournament] much. That was last year. I’m not living in the past.”
(3) NOTRE DAME VS. (2) VIRGINIA
Date: Saturday, May 27
Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
City: Philadelphia
Tickets: Buy Here
TV: ESPN2
Stream: Watch ESPN
HOW THEY GOT HERE
(3) Notre Dame (12-2, 4-2 ACC)
Contrary to Duke, Notre Dame has openly and repeatedly talked about the snub. It comes up in just about every interview coach Kevin Corrigan and the players do. They’ve mobilized around the concept of a revenge tour — the kind of narrative that just might serve them well against the only team that has gotten the better of them this season.
The Fighting Irish sidestepped a Johns Hopkins shutoff of Pat Kavanagh and smothered the Blue Jays on defense in a 12-9 NCAA quarterfinal win to advance to championship weekend for the first time since 2015.
(2) Virginia (13-3, 4-2 ACC)
By having the best offense in the country by every standard. The Cavaliers score more goals (17.56 per game), generate more assists (11.69 per game) and shoot for higher accuracy (38.4 percent) than any other team in Division I men’s lacrosse. And for good measure, they feed that prolific offense additional opportunities by coming up with more ground balls (40.25 per game) than anyone. Connor Shellenberger has returned to peak form with a combined 16 points in NCAA tournament wins over Richmond and Georgetown.
SERIES HISTORY
Virginia has won six straight games in the series, dealing Notre Dame its only two defeats this season. The Cavaliers won 15-10 at Arlotta Stadium on March 25 and 12-8 in the regular-season finale on April 30 at Klöckner Stadium.
The last time they met in the NCAA tournament was in the 2012 quarterfinals, a Fighting Irish victory.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
How Virginia uses its length on defense to mitigate Notre Dame’s top threats. The Cavaliers have had better success than most teams doing damage control with the Kavanagh brothers, limiting them to a combined five goals in two games.
THE LATEST LINES
Virginia is a 1.5-goal favorite on DraftKings and FanDuel, with an expected total of 27.5 on both sites.
COACH SPEAK
Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame: “I haven’t noticed [Shellenberger] being hurt. That must be in games not against Notre Dame. He’s a terrific player. He elevates any offense he’s a part of.”
Lars Tiffany, Virginia: “When people are asking me about Duke, they’ll say, ‘It’s really hard to beat a team a third time.’ Really? I don’t know that. Show me the data. Show me the statistical assessments of professional and college and high school sports over the last 100 years that proves it.
Playing a talented team like Notre Dame a third time, I hope my team ignores the first two [games] and just uses that as information in terms of slide packages and matchups. Hopefully you guys are asking me the same question Sunday, as we’re getting ready to play a Duke team that we obviously don’t have a great history playing against. And I’m going to say the same thing. We’re going to ignore the history.”
Penn State
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The Essential NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Final Four Preview
May 26 2023 | Matt DaSilva
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Notre Dame Takes Down Virginia: D1 Men’s Lacrosse Semifinal Recap
The lacrosse world was treated to a captivating showdown as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish collided with the Virginia Cavaliers in a high-stakes battle for a spot in the NCAA D1 Men’s Lacrosse National Championship.
In a contest filled with suspense and exhilarating moments, it was Notre Dame who prevailed in a nail-biting overtime victory, earning their well-deserved ticket to the prestigious title game. Let’s dive into the remarkable events that unfolded in each quarter, leading up to the breathtaking climax that left fans yearning for more.
First Quarter (Notre Dame 4 – Virginia 3)
The opening faceoff favored Notre Dame, who wasted no time making their presence felt on the scoreboard. Eric Dobson swiftly found the back of the net within the first minute, giving the Fighting Irish an early advantage. Building on their momentum, Jack Simmons extended Notre Dame’s lead to two goals, showcasing their offensive prowess. The Fighting Irish defense held strong, making timely stops and benefiting from exceptional goalie play. Virginia struggled to convert their opportunities but finally found their footing with two quick goals from Patrick Mcintosh and Grayson Sallade.
Virginia gained momentum as the first quarter progressed and capped off the period with a goal from Connor Shellenberger, setting the stage for an intense battle ahead.
Second Quarter (Notre Dame 6 – Virginia 6)
Virginia seized control at the start of the second quarter, with Connor Shellenberger and Payton Cormier connecting on impressive goals, propelling the Cavaliers ahead. Not to be outdone, Notre Dame’s Ben Ramsey responded with an unassisted goal, tying the game at 5-5. The second quarter showcased exceptional goaltending, as both teams struggled to find the back of the net amidst remarkable saves. Patrick Mcintosh and Eric Dobson added goals for their respective teams, resulting in a deadlock at halftime. The evenly matched contest left fans eagerly anticipating the adjustments and strategies the coaches would employ in the second half.
Third Quarter (Notre Dame 8 – Virginia 9)
The third quarter commenced with a goal from Eric Dobson, leveling the playing field for Notre Dame.
However, Virginia’s Xander Dickson swiftly replied, regaining the lead for the Cavaliers. Connor Shellenberger continued his impressive performance, contributing another goal to Virginia’s tally. Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Peter Garno exchanged goals, keeping the score close heading into the final quarter. Both teams showcased relentless determination, leaving everything on the field as they fought tooth and nail for the coveted victory.
Fourth Quarter (Notre Dame 12 – Virginia 12)
With the game hanging in the balance, the fourth quarter intensified the already electrifying atmosphere. Virginia’s Griffin Schutz and Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh traded goals, ensuring a tight contest until the very end. Virginia capitalized on crucial opportunities, as Petey Lasalla found the back of the net, maintaining their slim advantage. Notre Dame, however, refused to back down, clawing their way back to level terms with a goal from Chris Kavanagh.