Ncaa lacrosse bracket challenge. NCAA Lacrosse Tournament 2023: ACC Teams Dominate Top Seeds

How does the ACC perform in NCAA lacrosse. Which ACC teams secured top seeds for the 2023 tournament. What are the key statistics and players to watch in ACC men’s lacrosse.

ACC’s Dominance in the 2023 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has once again demonstrated its prowess in men’s lacrosse, securing the top three seeds in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. This remarkable achievement marks only the second time in tournament history that a single conference has claimed the top three spots, with the ACC previously accomplishing this feat in 2015.

Duke, Virginia, and Notre Dame have earned the first, second, and third seeds respectively, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament. This seeding reflects the ACC’s continued dominance in the sport and highlights the conference’s depth of talent.

Tournament Schedule for ACC Teams

• Virginia vs. Richmond – Saturday, May 13, 12:00 PM ET (ESPNU)
• Notre Dame vs. Utah – Saturday, May 13, 2:30 PM ET (ESPNU)
• Duke vs. Delaware – Sunday, May 14, 5:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

All first-round NCAA games will be broadcast on ESPNU, giving fans ample opportunity to watch these top-seeded teams in action.

ACC’s Historical Success in NCAA Lacrosse

The ACC’s current membership boasts an impressive collective total of 25 NCAA championships in men’s lacrosse. This includes nine of the last 14 titles and 14 championships since 2000, underlining the conference’s sustained excellence in the sport.

Syracuse leads the pack with 10 NCAA titles, the most of any program in the country. Virginia follows with seven championships, while North Carolina has five and Duke has secured three.

Are ACC teams consistently present in the later stages of the tournament? Indeed, at least one current ACC member has advanced to the national semifinals in 40 of the last 42 seasons, showcasing the conference’s remarkable consistency at the highest level of competition.

ACC’s Dominance in Non-Conference Play

The ACC’s strength is not limited to tournament play. During the 2023 regular season, ACC teams posted an outstanding 34-6 record in non-conference games, translating to an 85% win rate. This performance far outpaces other conferences, with the Big Ten coming in second at 68.1%.

Such dominance in non-conference play underscores the ACC’s overall strength and depth, providing further evidence of why the conference secured the top three seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

ACC Players in the Spotlight

The ACC’s impact on men’s lacrosse extends beyond team success to individual player achievements. The conference boasts some of the most talented players in the country, as evidenced by their representation in various awards and draft selections.

Tewaaraton Award Finalists

Three of the five finalists for the prestigious Tewaaraton Award, often referred to as the Heisman Trophy of lacrosse, hail from ACC schools:

• Brennan O’Neill – Duke
• Pat Kavanagh – Notre Dame
• Connor Shellenberger – Virginia

In total, eight ACC players were nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, more than any other conference, further highlighting the concentration of talent within the ACC.

Premier Lacrosse League Draft

The 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Draft, held on May 9, saw eight ACC players selected, including three in the top 11 picks:

1. Thomas McConvey (Virginia) – 8th overall
2. Brian Tevlin (Notre Dame) – 10th overall
3. Xander Dickson (Virginia) – 11th overall
4. Connor Maher (North Carolina) – 13th overall
5. Petey LaSalla (Virginia) – 14th overall
6. Cole Kirst (Syracuse) – 18th overall
7. Garrett Leadmon (Duke) – 22nd overall
8. Chris Fake (Notre Dame) – 24th overall

This strong showing in the professional draft further cements the ACC’s reputation as a breeding ground for top lacrosse talent.

Statistical Leaders from ACC Schools

ACC players dominate various statistical categories, showcasing the conference’s offensive firepower and defensive prowess.

Career Goal Scorers

Four of the nation’s top 10 active career goal scorers compete for ACC schools:

• Thomas McConvey (Virginia) – 4th with 153 goals
• Payton Cormier (Virginia) – 8th with 150 goals
• Dyson Williams (Duke) – Tied for 10th with 142 goals
• Brennan O’Neill (Duke) – Tied for 10th with 142 goals

Career Assist Leaders

ACC players also feature prominently among the nation’s active career assist leaders:

• Connor Shellenberger (Virginia) – 1st with 129 assists
• Pat Kavanagh (Notre Dame) – 2nd with 128 assists
• Tommy Schelling (Duke) – Tied for 7th with 98 assists
• Logan McGovern (North Carolina) – Tied for 7th with 98 assists

ACC Teams’ Offensive and Defensive Rankings

The ACC’s dominance is further reflected in national team statistics, with conference members ranking highly in both offensive and defensive categories.

Scoring Offense

Five ACC teams rank among the top 13 scoring offenses in the nation:

1. Virginia – 1st (17.6 goals per game)
2. Notre Dame – 3rd (15.8 goals per game)
3. Duke – 4th (15.3 goals per game)
4. North Carolina – 8th (14.6 goals per game)
5. Syracuse – 13th (14.3 goals per game)

Scoring Margin

ACC teams also dominate in scoring margin, occupying three of the top four spots nationally:

1. Notre Dame – 1st (+6.0)
2. Virginia – 3rd (+5.4)
3. Duke – 4th (+4.7)

Scoring Defense

While known for their offensive prowess, ACC teams also excel defensively:

• Notre Dame – 6th (9.9 goals allowed per game)
• Duke – 16th (10.7 goals allowed per game)

Individual Statistical Leaders

ACC players not only dominate team statistics but also shine individually on the national stage.

Which ACC players lead in key statistical categories? Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger rank first and second nationally in assists per game, showcasing the conference’s playmaking ability. These two players’ performances have been instrumental in their teams’ success and their high seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

The combination of team success, individual accolades, and statistical dominance paints a clear picture of the ACC’s strength in men’s lacrosse. As the 2023 NCAA Tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Duke, Virginia, and Notre Dame to see if they can convert their regular-season success and top seedings into postseason glory.

The Road Ahead: NCAA Tournament Predictions

With the ACC securing the top three seeds in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, expectations are high for deep runs from Duke, Virginia, and Notre Dame. The conference’s historical success, combined with its dominant regular-season performance, suggests that we may see multiple ACC teams in the later rounds of the tournament.

Duke, as the number one overall seed, enters the tournament as the favorite. The Blue Devils’ balanced attack, led by Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams, coupled with their strong defensive record, makes them a formidable opponent for any team in the field.

Virginia, the second seed, boasts the nation’s top scoring offense. With Connor Shellenberger orchestrating the attack and Thomas McConvey providing a constant scoring threat, the Cavaliers have the firepower to overwhelm opponents.

Notre Dame, seeded third, presents perhaps the most balanced team in the tournament. The Fighting Irish lead the nation in scoring margin and feature prominently in both offensive and defensive rankings. Pat Kavanagh’s playmaking ability could be the key to a deep tournament run for Notre Dame.

While these three teams are favored to advance, the unpredictable nature of tournament play means that upsets are always possible. The first round matchups against Richmond, Utah, and Delaware will be crucial for the ACC’s top seeds to set the tone for their tournament campaigns.

Impact on the Future of ACC Lacrosse

The ACC’s dominant performance in the 2023 season and its strong representation in the NCAA Tournament could have far-reaching implications for the future of lacrosse in the conference and beyond.

How might this success affect recruiting for ACC schools? The conference’s ability to consistently produce top-tier talent and compete at the highest level is likely to attract even more elite high school players. This could create a self-reinforcing cycle of success, with top recruits joining ACC programs and further strengthening the conference’s position in the sport.

The ACC’s success may also influence the broader landscape of college lacrosse. Other conferences may look to the ACC as a model for how to build strong lacrosse programs and elevate the sport’s profile within their own institutions.

Furthermore, the high level of play exhibited by ACC teams and players could contribute to the growing popularity of lacrosse at both the collegiate and professional levels. As more fans are exposed to the exciting brand of lacrosse played in the ACC, interest in the sport may continue to expand beyond its traditional strongholds.

In conclusion, the 2023 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament represents not just an opportunity for ACC teams to compete for a national championship, but also a showcase for the conference’s overall strength in the sport. As Duke, Virginia, and Notre Dame begin their tournament journeys, they carry with them the weight of the ACC’s impressive legacy and the potential to further cement the conference’s status as the premier destination for college lacrosse.

ACC Men’s Lacrosse Begins NCAA Tournament Action This Weekend

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ACC Notes Package
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GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – ACC Men’s Lacrosse shifts into postseason mode this weekend as the 2023 NCAA Championship opens with first-round play at campus sites.

Three ACC teams earned NCAA Tournament bids, including the top three seeds: Duke (1), Virginia (2) and Notre Dame (3). This marks just the second time in tournament history that a conference earned the top three seeds in the field. The ACC also had the top three seeds in 2015 (No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 2 Syracuse and No. 3 UNC).

Virginia opens at noon Saturday at home against Richmond. Notre Dame follows with a 2:30 p.m. Saturday contest against Utah. Duke entertains Delaware at 5 p.m. Sunday. ESPNU will broadcast all eight first-round NCAA games on Saturday and Sunday.

Current ACC membership collectively owns 25 NCAA championships, including nine of the last 14 as well as 14 titles since 2000. ACC programs (at the time of the event) have won 17 NCAA titles.

Results/Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, May 6

No. 3/3 Notre Dame 18, at No. rv/18 North Carolina 9

Sunday, May 7

No. 1/1 Duke 14, Merrimack 2

 (at Bethpage, N.Y.)

NCAA Tournament First Round

Saturday, May 13

Richmond at No. 2 Virginia | Noon | ESPNU

Utah at No. 3 Notre Dame | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU

Sunday, May 14

Delaware at No. 1 Duke | 5 p.m. | ESPNU

NCAA Quarterfinals

Saturday, May 20 (Albany, N.Y.)

Richmond/UVa vs. Georgetown/Yale | TBA | ESPNU

Delaware/Duke vs. Cornell/Michigan | TBA | ESPNU

Sunday, May 21 (Annapolis, Md.)

Utah/ND vs Johns Hopkins/Bryant | TBA | ESPNU

All times Eastern

Noting ACC Men’s Lacrosse

• Syracuse owns 10 NCAA titles (most of any NCAA program), while Virginia has won seven, UNC five and Duke three.

• At least one current ACC member has advanced to the national semifinals in 40 of the last 42 seasons. 

• The ACC boasts 73 appearances in Championship Weekend, while current membership has combined for 82 appearances.

• A current ACC school has played in the NCAA Championship game in 18 of the last 21 tournaments.

• ACC teams were 34-6 (85%) in non-conference play in the regular season, by far the best win percentage of any conference (Big Ten is second at 68.1%). 

• For the 13th straight week, an ACC team holds the No. 1 national ranking, as Duke reclaimed the No. 1 spot in both polls. It marks the Blue Devils’ third week at No. 1 this year. In the 13-week stretch, UVa was No. 1 for six weeks, ND for four weeks and Duke for three weeks.

• In the final NCAA RPI, ACC teams held the top three spots and five of the top 25 with Duke (1), Notre Dame (2), Virginia (3), North Carolina (17) and Syracuse (22).

• Three of the five Tewaaraton Award finalists hail from the ACC: Duke’s Brennan O’Neill, Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger. Eight ACC players were nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, also the most of any conference. 

• Duke earned its 10th ACC Championship in program history and second in the last three years. The Blue Devils have won 13 regular-season crowns titles and seven ACC Tournament championships. The ACC Tournament determined the league champion from 1989-2019.

• Eight ACC players were chosen in the 2023 Premier Lacrosse League Draft, held May 9: UVa’s Thomas McConvey (No. 8 overall), ND’s Brian Tevlin (10), UVa’s Xander Dickson (11), UNC’s Connor Maher (13), UVa’s Petey LaSalla (14), SU’s Cole Kirst (18), Duke’s Garrett Leadmon (22), ND’s Chris Fake (24).

• The ACC features four of the nation’s top 10 active career goal scorers: UVa’s Thomas McConvey (4th, 153) and Payton Cormier (8th, 150), Duke’s Dyson Williams and Duke’s Brennan O’Neill (T10th, 142).

• Four ACC players are among the top five in the nation’s active career assists leaders: UVa’s Connor Shellenberger (1st, 129), ND’s Pat Kavanagh (2nd, 128), Duke’s Tommy Schelling and UNC’s Logan McGovern (T7th, 98). 

• ACC teams comprise five of the top 13 scoring offenses in the nation: Virginia (1st, 17.6), Notre Dame (3rd, 15.8), Duke (4th, 15.3), North Carolina (8th, 14.6) and Syracuse (13th, 14.3).

• ACC teams boast three of the top four scoring margins in the nation: ND (1st, 6.0), Virginia (3rd, 5.4) and Duke (4th, 4.7).

• Notre Dame (6th, 9.9) and Duke (16th, 10. 7) also rank among the teams nationally in scoring defense.

• Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and UVa’s Connor Shellenberger rank first and second nationally in assists per game, respectively, at 3.75 and 3.31.

• Five ACC players rank among the top 20 players nationally in goals per game: UVa’s Xander Dickson (3rd, 4.0) and Payton Cormier (5th, 3.6), Duke’s Dyson Williams (7th, 3.4), ND’s Chris Kavanagh (12th, 3.2) and Duke’s Brennan O’Neill (19th, 2.9).

• ND goalie Liam Entenmann ranks sixth in the nation in goals-against average (9.7), while Duke’s William Helm is 17th (10.7).

• Four ACC coaches rank among the top 10 in career wins among active coaches, most of any conference: Duke’s John Danowski (first, 456), ND’s Kevin Corrigan (third, 341), UNC’s Joe Breschi (fifth, 244) and Virginia’s Lars Tiffany (ninth, 191).

• Danowski owns the most wins of any active Division I head coach (456) and is third all-time.

• The ACC returns two previous Tewaaraton finalists: Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger (2022) and Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh (2021).

• Virginia made its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season, reaching the quarterfinals. 

Virginia Men’s Lacrosse | Virginia Earns No. 2 Seed in NCAA Tournament; Hosts Richmond Saturday

NCAA FIRST ROUND TICKET & PARKING INFORMATION
Tickets are $10 for general admission, $15 for reserved seats and $5 for students. Tickets go on sale Monday (May 8) beginning at 9 a.m. Fans may purchase tickets in advance via UVAtix.com or by calling the Virginia Athletics ticket office (434-924-8821). Fans may also purchase tickets at the Klöckner Stadium box office starting one hour prior to the event.

Reserved season-ticket members may purchase their seats held during the regular season by calling the Virginia Athletics ticket office. Tickets will be held until 5 p.m. on Monday before being released to the public.

Parking is $10 per space at the John Paul Jones South and West Lots and may be purchased in advance or upon drive up, subject to availability. Parking passes must be purchased using a valid credit/debit card; cash will not be accepted on site. Spots are first come, first served. Free parking is also available at the UVA Emmett/Ivy Garage.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The second-ranked Virginia men’s lacrosse team (11-3) will be a No. 2 seed and host Richmond (11-4) in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Saturday (May 13). Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for noon on ESPNU.

The Cavaliers will make their fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Lars Tiffany, also the program’s 42nd overall. Virginia earned a top-2 seed for the first time since 2010. Saturday’s game at Klöckner Stadium marks UVA’s 30^th NCAA Tournament game in Charlottesville and 17th at Klöckner Stadium. The ACC’s Duke (1) and Notre Dame (3) also earned top-3 seeds after both programs were not selected to participate in last year’s tournament.

In its first year in the Atlantic 10, Richmond defeated High Point, 15-8, in the conference championship game on Saturday (May 6). After dropping their first A10 game of the season to Saint Joseph’s, the Spiders closed out the regular season with four straight conference wins.

The Cavaliers lead the all-time series over Richmond, 8-1. The two teams squared off earlier this season on March 4 at Klöckner Stadium, when UVA earned its largest win in series history, 25-8. The Spiders started their program in 2014 and hosted UVA in its inaugural matchup in Richmond.

The winner of Virginia and Richmond will face the winner of seventh-seeded Georgetown (12-3) and Yale (9-5) in the quarterfinals in Albany, N.Y. at University of Albany’s Tom & Mary Casey Stadium on Saturday, May 20. Opening faceoff will commence at either noon for 2:30 p. m. on ESPNU.

Championship Weekend is set for May 25 and 27 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Both semifinal matchups will be broadcast on ESPN2 on May 25, while the championship game is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN on Memorial Day (May 27).

NOTES ON THE HOOS AND THE 2023 NCAA TOURNAMENT

• Virginia earned its fifth straight NCAA Tournament berth under Lars Tiffany, the program’s 42nd overall.
• Saturday’s home contest marks UVA’s 30th NCAA Tournament game held in Charlottesville and 17^th at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers are 21-8 in NCAA Tournament games in Charlottesville and 13-3 at Klöckner Stadium.
• Saturday’s game marks the first NCAA Tournament game between UVA and Richmond.
• The last time UVA was a top-2 seed in the NCAA Tournament was in 2010.
• The last time Championship Weekend was held at Lincoln Financial Field was in 2019, when the Cavaliers captured the program’s sixth NCAA title and eighth national championship overall.