Weekend One-Liners: What to Watch for in Women’s Lacrosse

Coaches like to say preseason rankings don’t mean much. It can come off as a throwaway line, but it’s proven true this week.

Though Saturday is the sport’s most jam-packed day, a series of Wednesday games have already guaranteed a Top 20 shakeup next Monday. No. 10 James Madison took down No. 6 Maryland 8-7 behind Katelyn Morgan’s four-point evening (1 G, 3 A). It’s the second straight season JMU has beaten the Terps, who were second in the preseason Top 20. Of course, last year, Maryland went on to play in the Final Four — so March 1 games may mean as much as preseason rankings.

Elsewhere, No. 18 Princeton beat No. 15 Rutgers 18-12 in a battle for Garden State supremacy. Kari Buonanno (4 G, 4 A) and rookie Jami MacDonald (6 G, 1 A) led the Tigers, who appear to be turning the page after graduating record-breakers like Kyla Sears and Sam Fish and losing star defender Marge Donovan (now with Maryland).

No. 7 Denver survived a scare from No. 17 Michigan in a 7-5 win. Denver’s defense is good — really good. The Pios haven’t let in double-digit goals in five games this season.

In short, there’s truth to another throwaway line: The results are why they play the games.

And it’s why we watch. Tune into these this weekend and enjoy the ride, starting with the anticipated title-game rematch Friday afternoon.

Game of the Week: No. 4 Boston College (3-1) at No. 1 UNC (4-0), Friday, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)

Jay Bilas & Co. will be in town for Duke-UNC men’s basketball College Gameday, and they should stop by Dorrance Field to see old rivals collide, each with new stars who have emerged since last year’s national championship.

Arizona State (1-2) at No. 19 Jacksonville (1-3), 4 p.m. (Dolphins All-Access)

Two first-year head coaches, Taryn VanThof (ASU) and Tara Singleton (Jacksonville), will lead their respective teams in this Southwest-Southeast battle.

Clemson (4-1) at No. 8 Virginia (4-0), Friday, 5 p.m. (ACCX)

Clemson played Notre Dame tough in its ACC opener but will run into a tall task in a Virginia offense led by surging sophomore Rachel Clark (20 G, 2 A)

No. 17 Michigan (3-3) at Colorado (0-3), Friday, 5 p.m. (Colorado Live Stream)

After a tough go in Denver, No. 17 Michigan remains in the Rocky Mountain state to play a Buffs squad looking for its first win of the year.

No. 5 Stony Brook (3-0) vs. No. 20 Stanford (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m. in San Diego (SDSU Live Stream)

No. 20 Stanford got an impressive win over Cornell on Monday night and hopes to ride that momentum against No. 5 Stony Brook in what could be a preview of a first- or second-round NCAA tournament game.

Upset watch: No. 12 Loyola (3-0) at Penn State (4-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. (BIG+)

Penn State is quietly 4-0, but the Nittany Lions could make noise with a win over a No. 12 Loyola squad that toppled Penn 15-7 on Wednesday.

Ohio State at No. 10 James Madison (4-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Ohio State is coming off a 13-12 overtime win over Cincinnati, and No. 10 James Madison just upended Maryland — expect a pair of confident teams looking to brush off any notion of a “letdown game” early.

Upset watch: Yale at No. 20 Princeton (2-1), Saturday, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Stony Brook’s Joe Spallina predicted Yale would win the Ivy League after the Seawolves beat the Bulldogs on Saturday, but Princeton is flying high after a win over Rutgers — this Ancient Eight opener is anyone’s game.

No. 13 Notre Dame at No. 10 Duke (4-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. in Charlotte, N.C. (ACCX)

These two teams are attempting to scratch their way into the top tier of the gauntlet ACC, so yes, even March games matter here.

No. 14 Army (4-0) at Hofstra (2-3), Saturday, 3 p.m. (Flosports)

Hofstra nipped Army 13-12 in February 2022, but much has changed for the Black Knights in the last 12 months — and the last week, even.

Virginia Tech (1-3) at No. 2 Syracuse (5-0), Sunday, 11 a.m. (ACCX)

Virginia Tech played UNC close in its ACC opener and could provide a challenge to a second-ranked Syracuse team that has looked healthy and dangerous through five games (all wins).

No. 8 Denver (5-0) at No. 6 Maryland (3-1), Sunday, 12 p.m. (BIG+)

Maryland’s offense has struggled to find footing post-Aurora Cordingley and now has a bout with a Denver defense allowing fewer than six goals per game.

Arizona State (1-2) at No. 9 Florida (2-2), Sunday, 12 p.m. (ACCX)

VanThof spent six years as Mandy O’Leary’s assistant at Florida but will head to the visitor’s locker room with her Sun Devils on Sunday.

Villanova (4-0) at No. 16 USC (2-1), Sunday, 4 p.m. (USC Live Stream)

Jill Batcheller, who also spearheaded Drexel’s rise, has the Wildcats on the cusp of starting the season 5-0 for the first time in program history but will have to earn it against No. 16 USC.